lords--nay, to all her lords? England was on her
trial; England's Government was on its trial; and the Queen's speech was
to shadow forth their line of defence for past legislation, and to
indicate those future measures which were to stay the famine, and
prevent its recurrence. Here is the portion of the speech relating to
Ireland:

"My LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,--

"It is with the deepest concern that, upon your again assembling, I have
to call your attention to the dearth of provisions which prevails in
Ireland, and in parts of Scotland.

"In Ireland, especially, the loss of the usual food of the people has
been the cause of severe sufferings, of disease, and of greatly
increased mortality among the poorer classes. Outrages have become more
frequent, chiefly directed against property, and the transit of
provisions has been rendered unsafe in some parts of the country.

"With a view to mitigate these evils, very large numbers of men have
been employed, and have received wages, in pursuance of an Act passed in
the last session of Parliament. Some deviations from that Act, which
have been authorized by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in order to
promote more useful employment, will, I trust, receive your sanction.
Means have been taken to lessen the pressure of want, in districts which
are most remote from the ordinary sources of supply. Outrages have been
repressed, as far as it was possible, by the military and police.

"It is satisfactory to me to observe, that in many of the most
distressed districts, the patience and resignation of the people have
been most exemplary.

"The deficiency of the harvest in France and Germany, and other parts of
Europe, has added to the difficulty of obtaining adequate supplies of
provisions.

"It will be your duty to consider, what further measures are required to
alleviate the existing distress. I recommend to you to take into your
serious consideration, whether, by increasing, for a limited period, the
facilities for importing from foreign countries, and by the admission of
sugar more freely into breweries and distilleries, the supply of food
may be beneficially augmented.

"I have also to direct your earnest attention to the permanent
consideration of Ireland. You will perceive, by the absence of political
excitement, an opportunity for taking a dispassionate survey of the
social evils which afflict that part of the United Kingdom. Various
measures will be laid before you, which