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see the national representatives reunited around my constitutional throne.

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Public tranquillity has remained unaltered during the interval since the last Session. Peace and order-essential guarantees of the representative system, founded upon public liberty and prosperity, have been maintained without the necessity of extraordinary measures, which are always of a painful nature.

"The Portuguese nation, in the free use of the liberties guaranteed by the constitutional Charter, has become worthy the envy of the most civilized countries, in consequence of the peace and tranquillity it enjoys whilst Europe has been devastated by the flame of civil discord. The monarchical and social principles, in so many places threatened, derive their force in Portugal from the hearts of subjects essentially venerators of the Crown and of the religion of their ancestors.

"I have been careful to reciprocate the proofs of friendship I continue to receive from Foreign Powers, and my Government seeks still further to consolidate and cement the ties which ally them with the Portuguese nation.

"With profound sorrow I received accounts of the unhappy events which made the Holy Father consider it necessary to withdraw himself from his dominions and proceed to Gaeta, to which place he was followed by my Minister in Rome, who attended him in all his tribulations, according to my orders. "Animated by the religious sentiments which gained for my august predecessors the title I so much value, of Most Faithful Sons of the Church,' I sent a peer of the realm, who is a chamberlain of my

palace, upon an extraordinary mission to the Sacred Pontiff, to whom I wrote as an obedient daughter, assuring him of the joy it would cause me should he be pleased to sanctify these realms with his pre

sence.

"In consequence of these events, it is to be feared that delays will arise in the solution of pending negotiations, which are called for by the spiritual necessities of the people, and by the interests of the Crown, in the enjoyment of rights which were always held in great value by the monarchs of this kingdom.

Meanwhile, I have the satisfaction to announce to you that some resolutions, adapted to promote the religious wellbeing of Portuguese subjects, have been agreed upon in common accord with the Holy See, as my Government will in due time inform you.

"You will likewise be made acquainted with a convention entered into with the empire of Brazil for establishing a just reciprocity in navigation dues, founded upon the mutual convenience of both countries.

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The state of the public treasury suffers from the defects of the present system of taxation, in which important modifications have become of urgent necessity, in order to combine the bona fide collection of the imposts with the convenience of the people, founding the improvements of the system on the clearness and simplicity of its regulations, and the severe responsibility of its agents.

"My Government will lay before you the budget of the receipts and expenditure of the State, and will render you an account of the execution of the laws recently passed for the administration of the public revenues.

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Upon fixing the naval and military forces, you will attend to the exigencies of the public security and the honour of the nation, seconding my Government in the measures it has to propose for attaining those important results,

"All my ultramarine provinces continue in perfect tranquillity. If their position be not so prosperous as might be expected from their valuable resources, it has, however, generally improved. My Government will propose to you such mea sures as it considers most appropriate for aiding the development of those resources.

"I rely upon your devoting most serious attention to the examination of the budget and the proposals of organic laws which my Government will present to you, and thus promote, by care and united efforts, administrative improvements in the most important branches of the service, adopting, with respect to each, such measures as experience indicates and the public necessities demand.

"I hope that the Chambers will give to my Government the efficacious and enlightened co-operation which the cause of the monarchy, of order, and of liberty exacts."

In the month of March a new Cabinet was formed, consisting of the following Ministers :

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President of the Council and Minister of the Interior-The Count de Thomar.

HOLLAND.-On the 14th of February, William II., King of Holland, opened the Session of the States-General, with the following Speech from the Throne :

"Gentlemen, Members of the First and Second Chambers of the States-General,

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Conformably with that which is prescribed by the fundamental law, the mission of the two Chambers of the States-General, which have existed up to this day, is at this moment accomplished.

"The two Chambers, since the adoption of the modified fundamental law, have aided me with the most conscientious care, and they deserve our sincere gratitude for the assistance which they have always rendered us up to the new era upon which we this day enter.

"Gentlemen, it gives me much pleasure to see you assembled around me.

"Representatives of the nation which has proved by the recent elections its great estimation of the value of its political rights, and its firm resolve to carry them out with calmness and in a true spirit of order, you, gentlemen, will, I am persuaded, act in the same spirit; animated by ardent zeal, exempt from every prejudice, you will act in concert with me for the welfare of our country.

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I rejoice to be able to announce to you that a good understanding Foreign Affairs-The Count de is still maintained with the other Powers, notwithstanding the revo

Tojal.

Justice-M. Felix Pereira Ma- lutions and wars which have deso

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have nevertheless been maintained in the Duchy.

"The army has co-operated for the maintenance of this result in a most praiseworthy manner, and I cannot refrain from acknowledging the services which it has rendered there and elsewhere.

"When the serious events which took place last year rendered it necessary to augment the army, that augmentation, as well as the diminution which was subsequently gradually introduced, proved that the Netherlands can without difficulty and with promptitude develope and diminish its forces.

"In consequence of the measures which were taken, it is possible to leave untouched a considerable portion of the sums which had been accumulated in the budget of war for 1848.

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This year the diminution which has taken place in that budget is already considerable. A limited system of defence will introduce and consolidate new retrenchments.

"Our maritime forces continue to be a subject of great satisfaction by the services which they render.

"A considerable reinforcement of ships of the line has been sent to our possessions in the East and West Indies, and, in order to give more extensive protection to commerce, the eastern coast of Africa, along which commercial under takings are extending, has been visited by a ship of the line, and orders have been given to another ship of the line to proceed to the north-west coast of America.

"Our East India possessions are in a state of tranquillity.

"Measures have been taken to repair the shock which our arms, notwithstanding the bravery of our troops, have sustained at Bali.

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Tranquillity also reigns in our West Indian possessions; although it was interrupted in some places last year, it was promptly re-established.

"If we contemplate the internal state of the kingdom, we shall there find more grounds than one for satisfaction.

"Our dearly beloved fellowcountrymen continue to distinguish themselves by their attachment to the principles of order, by their respect for the law and authority.

"The commotions which have agitated Europe have, it is true, exercised an unfavourable influence on our commerce and manufactures also, but scarcely has tranquillity been apparently re-established when a favourable reaction has taken place, and, at the present moment, a bright prospect opens.

"With the exception of the recent disasters which have taken place in some parts of our country, we have not to deplore the destruction of dykes, or the visit of inundations.

"Since the revision of the fundamental law, my attention has been drawn to the expenditure of the State, on the best method of introducing a reduction without making violent changes, or interfering with the regularity of the administration; and to the laws which are requisite for the complete execution of the fundamental law.

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The report which has been presented to me by the Provisional Ministry, on the diminution of the expenses of the State, has already led to the adoption of some of the suggestions which it contained. Others are susceptible of modification and of development, and must be regulated by law.

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The interest and the credit of the State demand that the burden of the present moment shall not again be transmitted to the future, in order that in better times and amid more favourable results all be not paralyzed and rendered abortive by the oppression of former burdens.

"Gentlemen, let us continue in that spirit of union which is strength, and with ardent zeal and labour, for the welfare of our country; and may the Most High bless our efforts!

"I declare the present Session of the States-General to be open."

On the 17th of March the King died rather suddenly at the Hague. His eldest son, the Prince of Orange, happened at the time to be on a visit to this country, and he was immediately proclaimed King, by the title of William III.

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"It is a sweet and pleasing satisfaction to my heart to find myself surrounded by men who so becomingly represent the nation, and to assist at this solemn opening of Parliament. When it was inaugurated for the first time, our fortunes were different, but our hope was not greater. The latter has increased, because in addition to the efficacy of our former claims we have the sanction of experience, the merit of the trial, courage, and constancy in misfortune. The work to which you will have to devote yourselves in this second Session is varied and difficult, and therefore the more worthy of you. As regards anterior arrangements, your solicitude must be directed to develope the institutions we possess, to place them in perfect harmony with the genius and wants of the age, and to prosecute with ardour the end which is to be attained by the Constituent Assembly of the kingdom of Upper Italy. A constitutional government turns on two pivots, the king and the people. The first is the symbol of unity and power, and the second that of liberty and progress. I have accomplished my duty by granting free institutions to the nation, by conferring offices and honours on merit and not on fortune, by composing my Court of the chosen men of the State, and by devoting my life and that of my sons to the salvation and independence of the country. You have nobly

assisted me in that difficult task. Continue to co-operate with me, and rest assured that the intimate union of our endeavours must produce common felicity and security. We shall be aided in that glorious mission by the affection and esteem of the most civilized and illustrious nations of Europe, and in particular by those who are united to us by the common ties of nationality and country. Our efforts have tended to draw still closer those fraternal ties, and if the late events of Central Italy have suspended the effect of our labours, we are confident that that obstacle will not long endure. A confederation of the Italian princes and nations is one of the fondest wishes of our heart, and we will neglect nothing to realize it promptly. My Ministers will more fully explain to you the policy of the Government relative to the questions which agitate the Peninsula, and I am convinced that you will find it wise, generous, and national. As respects our land and sea forces, those bulwarks of our independence, the constant object of all our solicitude, I need only say that our troops have been reorganized and augmented, that they are in the best condition, and rival, in ap pearance and in heroism, our fleet. I have just visited them, and I could judge by their attitude and enthusiasm of the patriotic ardour that inflamed them. There is every reason to hope that the mediation offered to us by two generous and friendly Powers will arrive at a prompt solution. If our confidence be deceived, it will not prevent us from recommencing the war with the firm hope of success. But in order to conquer, the nation must co-operate with the army; and to this point I call your particular

attention. I therein include those provinces which occupy as important a place in our heart as in our kingdom, and recommend themselves by their virtues, as well as by the special merit of constancy and martyrdom. Console yourselves for the sacrifices which you may be called on to make in order to accomplish their success, and they will bear perpetual fruit. Prudence and energy combined must save us. Such is my desire, gentlemen, and such is your mission, in the accomplishment of which you shall ever have the example of your Prince."

Notwithstanding the result of the last campaign, and the obvious inability of the Piedmontese and Italian troops to cope with the military power of Austria, it became evident in the early part of the year that Charles Albert would be dragged, by the folly and obstinacy of his people, into another contest with that empire. The pretext for the renewal of the struggle was an alleged violation, on the part of Austria, of the conditions of the -armistice concluded in the month of August in the preceding year. Το pave the way for a second appeal peal to arms, M. Gioberti, the President of the Sardinian Ministry, addressed, at the latter end of January, a protest to the different Foreign Powers, in which he said,—

"When the Sardinian army was obliged to recross the Ticino, the Chief of the Staff signed, with the Austrian Quarter-Master-General, on the 5th of August, 1848, a suspension of hostilities, the terms of which are well known. Although onerous and productive of fatal political consequences, Sardinia felt in honour bound to execute the clauses of a convention in which she could only recognise a purely

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