The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1879-08-19 00:00:00

THE PROMXIATION,

The ceremony of the pronsgation took place in the
House .4 Lords on Friday. .tt two o'clock, the hour
namesl for assembling, the House was absolutely
empty, :aye for a cluster of ladies Wh. I tilled the three
ls,c'k benches below the gangway on the Opposition
side. A few minutes after two Lord Denman entensl
and took his seat on a back bench to the right of the
woolsack, not without suspicion of MS. in his haul.
Immediately after came the Bishop St. 1)... ib, to
whom, a.. being the youngest bishop, fell the duty
laying prayers. Wheti the Isinl Chancellor arnved
and took his seat on the woolsack the sery ice coin.
menced forthwith, the congregation of wen. c,,usi,,ting
.4 the Ism' Chancellor awl Lord Gennutn. Lower
down at the table ..at the four clerks in wig and gown.
On the outskirtw of the congregation pniper was the
little cluster of ladies mentioned above, and facing the
undrapedThroneunderitsgorpousgiltcanopy was the
crowded Strangers' Gallery, into which a I kzen or so
of ladies hail strayed. The other galleries, occupied
on occasions by distinguished strangers, had f.,r
tenants the Envoy Extraordinary of the King of Siam
and his suite.

As noon as prayers were over something less than
a score of peers strolled in, Her Majesty's Ministers
being represented by the !Manful. of Salisbury ars!
Lord Cranbrook. Her Iroojesty's opposition was
represented by the Marquis of Ailrebury, who
seated* himself on the front Bench. The
Lord Chancellor, having temporarily left the
House, presently returned accompained by four
figures &need in scarlet gowns slashed with er-
mine, and carrying three-cornered cocked hats
in their hands. There were the felloow-Conuniesiooners
oof the Lon' Chancellor, the Duke of Northumber-
land, the Earl Beauchamp, the Earl of Harriwicke,
and Lent Skelinersdale. Taking their seats oon the
woolsack, they covered their heads with the
curious head-gear, completing an array regarded
with lively interest and evident approval by the
reffeeft.ntatiosea of the Ring of Siam. All being
now ready, Black Rood was despatched to 01111111,41
the Coin us to, hear the queen!. Speech, anol re-
ceive their olismirmal. They arrived, led by the
' Speaker, who walked between the Serjeant-at-
Arms (who did not carry the mace) and Black lb.!,
with the Chaplain in his gown following. The
Speaker's presence was acknowledgesi loy the Lords
Commissioners with solemn salutation. The right
hon. gentleman stood at the bar, behind him standing
shoulder to shoulder, the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
the Horne Secretary, the Poettuarrter-General, and the
First Lord oof the Admiralty. (lonely supportintf the
Chancellor oof the i:xeherrier was "the Admiral,"
faithful to the last—in at the death of the Session, as
he wan present at its birth, and he sat through more of
its hours, whether early or late.
The Commission was then read by the clerk, each of
""or well-behaves) and trusty conansellon." gravely
raising his cocked hat as his name was recited at fun
length. Then aune the giving of the Royal Assent to
the various Bill. passed, a weary performance
lengthened by the constant obeisances oof the clerks
who stand at either side oof the table, Ime reciting the
list of names and the other responding with the
monotonous refrain, "La Reyne le veult." The
Speech was next reed by the Lord Chancellor, and the
order"( prorogation proclaimed. At the words "this
Parliament is aeooivUngy Prorogued till Saturday, the
14 of November," the masons withdraw, the Lords
Commissioners disperse, and the ladies gather up their
skirts and goo rustling towards the door.