19th of February. As her majesty proceeded
to the walls of St. Stephen, a significant incident occurred: at the
corner of Bridge-street, one of the spectators exclaimed, "No monopoly!"
at which her majesty smiled, graciously bowing, at which a hundred
voices united in the shout of "God save the queen!" The speech delivered
by the queen first referred to friendly relations with allied powers; to
an adjustment of differences between the Ottoman Porte and the King of
Persia, to negociations pending for the pacification of the states of
Rio de la Plata, in which for several years a desolating and sanguinary
war had existed; and to the convention concluded with France last year
for the more effectual suppression of the slave-trade. On the dispute
with America her majesty remarked:--"I regret that the conflicting
claims of Great Britain and the United States, in respect of the
territory on the north-western coast of America, although they have been
made the subject of repeated negociation, still remain unsettled. You
may be assured that no effort consistent with national honour shall
be wanting on my part to bring this question to an early and peaceful
termination." Having adverted to the estimates, and to the crime of
assassination in Ireland, which was more flagrant than even in former
years, her majesty proceeded to say:--"I have to lament that in
consequence of a failure of the potato crop in several parts of the
United Kingdom, there will be a deficient supply of an article of food
which forms the chief subsistence of great numbers of my people. The
disease by which the plant has been affected, has prevailed to the
utmost extent in Ireland. I have adopted all such precautions as it was
in my power to adopt for the purpose of alleviating the sufferings which
maybe caused by this calamity; and I shall confidently rely on your
co-operation in devising such other means for effecting the same
benevolent purpose as may require the sanction of the legislature. I
have had great satisfaction in giving my assent to the measures which
you have presented to me from time to time, calculated to extend
commerce, and to stimulate domestic skill and industry, by the repeal of
prohibitory and restrictive duties. The prosperous state of the revenue;
the increased demand for labour, and the general improvement which
has taken place in the internal condition of the country, are strong
testimonies in favour of the course you have pursued. I re