The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-02-20 00:00:00

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Both Houses of Parliament niit at two o'clock on
rueaday for the despatch of business. The opening of
the first session id the present parliament formally
took place, indeed, in December last, but the meeting
of Tuesday may be regarded, practically and sub-
stantially, as the commencement of the Session.
Although it was generally known that the Queen
would not come in state, as waa once reported, to open
the session by reading the Speech from the throne,
there was it large number of persons about the
entrances from an early hour. The crowds who are
daily attracted to the Court of Queen's Bench by the
protracted and singular trial that is taking place in that
court increased the numbers of those present beyond
the proportion which usually assembles to see the
Legislators pass in to take their seats when her
Majesty does not come in person to inaugurate the
session. The fineness of the morning had also no doubt
brought many down to Palace-yard who would not
have ventured out in a less favourable state of the
weather.
To the old frequenters of the House of Commons
the absence of many familiar faces and the large ad-
mixture of strangers who passed through the mem-
bent' door were very noticeable. Several of the latter,
who did not come to London during the short meeting
in December, were in attendance waiting to be sworn

in.
The Prime Minister and the President of the Board
of Trade, who seemed to be the most anxiously in-
quired and looked for, did not appear. No Mr.
Disraeli, no Chancellor of the Exchequer, and, indeed,
no popular statesman gratified the people's curiosity.
Mr. Ayrton was recognised just as he disappeared
within the sacred precincts. Mr. Childers only passed
as a fine, handsome young English gentleman, name
and rank unproclaimed ; Mr. Bruce entered through
a more private entrance; Sir Stafford Northcote,
Mr. Gathorne Hardy, Mr. Mowbray, and other
stars of the last political firmament, were un-
recognised. The Lords, too, seemed to court the
corners uf their closed carriages more than the bright
sunshine demanded ; the Bishops rouised no enthusiasm ;
and the Duke of Cambridge alone, driving a superb
pair of bays, received the popular homage. The ab-
sence of Mr. Bright and Mr. Gladstone was evidently
somewhat of a "damper." As soon as the House
adjozrned after the preliminary proceedings the crowd
dispersed, and when, an hour later, the members
again assembled, the crowd appeared in a very
reduced state much smaller, in fact, than
during the celebrated Reform debates of two years
ago. Mr. Gladstone rode down in an open car-
riage, accompanied by his wife and slaughters, about
half-past four. He was cheered in Parliament-street,
also in Palace-yard, but, from not being recognised,
not by any means generally. Mr. Bright arrived in
his customary unassuming four-wheeler, out of which !
he got opposite the Star-court passage, and, enter-
ing thereby, was out of sight before half a dozen
persons knew of his arrivaL Mr. Lowe walked up
the hall arm-in-arm with a friend, and received a
running fire of applause, in deference to which he !
repeatedly doffed his hat. The nearest approach to the
expected sensation Was when the scarlet uniform and
Court dress of the mover and seconder were discerned
and when some turbaned foreigners alighted. Mr.
Disraeli drove into the Star-court well hidden from
view, and the other Opposition leaders acted in strict
harmony with their distinguished chief. Altogether it
must be said that the opening of l'arliament, so far DA
the outer world was concerned, was a very sober and
matter-of-fact event.
The usual formalities attending the summoning of
the members of the House of Commons to the House
of Lords having been gone through,
The Lord Chancellor, one of the Royal Com-
missioners, read
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN— .

I recur to your advice at the earliest period permitted by
the arrangements consequent upon the retirement of the late

- -
And it is with special interest that I commend to you the
resumption of your labours at a time when the popular
branch of the Legislature has been chosen with the advan-
tage of a greatly enlarged enfranchisement of my faithful
and loyal people.

- .
I am able to inform you that my relations with all Foreign
Powers continue to be most friendly; and I have the satis-
faction to believe that they cordially share in the desire by
which lam animated for the maintenance of peace. I shall
at all tiiges be anxious to use my best exertions for the pro-
motion of this most important object.
In concurrence with my Allies, I have endeavoured, by
friendly interposition, to effect a settlement of the differences
which have arisen between Turkey and Greece; and I re
juice that our joint efforts have aided in preventing any
serious interruption of tranquillity in the Levant.
I have been engaged in negotiations with the United
States of North America for the settlement of questions
which affect the interests and the International relations of
the two countries ; and it is my earnest hope that the result
of these negotiations may be to place on a firm and durable
basis the friendship which should ever exist between England
and America.

I have learnt with grief that disturbances have occurred
at New Zealand, and that at one spot they have been at-
tended with circumstances of atrocity. lam conlidc nt that
the Colonial Government and people will not ho wanting
either in energy to repress the outbreaks, or in the pru-
dence and moderation which I trust may prevent their
recurrence.