The Press.
London, England, 1857-12-05 00:00:00

THE PRESS, DECEMBER 5, 1857.

lortigrc Q.raorresponbtute.

Vrott6ings inVartiantent.

PARIS, Dec. 3.

OPENING Oh THE SESSION.
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN opened Parliament in
person on Thursday last, with the usual ceremonials.
The attendance of Peers in the house was very
numerous on this occasion ; the Corps Diplomatique
was fully represented, the Siamese Ambassadors
taking conspicuous rank ; and the galleries and
corridors were crowded with distinguished visitors.
Her Majesty having ascended the Throne, the
Commons were summoned, and her Majesty de-
livered from the Throne the following
ROYAL SPEECH.
My Lord] and Gentlemen,
. .

THERE has been little political matter stirring this
week in Paris. Among purely French matters the
refusal of MM. Goudchaux and Carnot to take the
legal oath of a deputy on taking his seat in the Corps
Legislatif has failed in creating a great sensation in
France, and men of even extreme opinions blame
them greatly, but none more so than the moderate
Republicans. MM. Goadchaux and Carnot have
evidently aimed at effect, and they have been greatly
disappointed. Both these persons signed a docu-
ment permitting themselves to be announced as can-
didates, and by so doing evidently allowed their con-
stituents to believe that they were prepared to take
their seats should they be elected. All the time the
elections were going on they carried on this dupli-
city, and only when called to take the required oath
they refused, not from conscientious scruples, but to
keep up a spirit of opposition amongst the lowest
classes of republicanism. The conduct of MM.
Goudchaux and Carnot is disloyal and unworthy of
honest men ; and I feel certain that, so far from
weakening the Imperial authority, it has greatly
strengthened it.
I only notice the Danubian question to deny the
report of a proposition having been agreed to by
France and Russia, and which is to be submitted to
the Congress of Paris. For the moment this im-
portant question is in statu quo. As to the delimita-
tion of Bessarabia, several persons are occupied in
the offices of the Minister of War in preparing the
plans for the plenirortiaries. They are expected
to be ready in a few nays, when the ratifications will
be exchanged.
The Turkish Government has contrived singular
means to delay the grafting of the firman for the
construction of the Suez Canal. Redschid Pacha
now declines to grant his firman until " England has
evacuated the Island of Perim." Redschid Pacha
can never be seibus.
The financial crisis in France is subsiding favour-
ably, though great fears are entertained that the
many failures in Hamburg and Sweden may more or
less react upon some eminently mercantile houses in
Paris.
The French Government is annoyed at the refusal
of the Spanish Cabinet to receive M. de Lafragua,
the Mexican Minister. Had Spain acted with com-
mon prudence—had she adopted a conciliatory line
of politics, the Spanish-Mexican dispute might have
been long since settled.

Circumstances have recently arisen, connected with
the commercial interests of the country, which have in-
duced me to call Parliament together before the usual

time.
The failure of certain joint•stock banks, and of some
mercantile firms, produced Bach an extent of distrust as
led me to authorise my Ministera to recommend to the
Directors of the Bank of England the adoption of a course
of proceeding which arpeared necessary for allaying the
prevalent alarm. As that course has involved a departure
from the existing law, a Bill for indemnifying those who
advised and those who adopted it will ba submitted for your

consideration.
I have observed, with groat regret, that the disturbed
state of commercial transactions in general has occasioned
a diminution of employment in the manufacturing districts,
which I fear cannot fail to be attended with much local
distress; I trust, however, that this evil may not be of long
duration ; and the abundant harvest with which it has
graciously pleased Divine Providence to bless this land,
will, I hope, in some degree mitigate the sufferings which
this state of things must unavoidably priduce.
While I deeply deplore the severe suffering to which
many of my subjects in India have been exposed, and
while I grieve for the extensive bereavements and sorrow
which it has caused, T have derived the greatest satisfac-
tion from the distinguished successes which have attended
the heroic exertions of the comparatively small forces which
have been opposed to greatly superior numbers, without
the aid of the powerful reinforcements despatched from
this country to their assistance. The arrival of those re-
inforcements will, I trust, speedily complete the suppres-

No restrictions were placed to the free entry into
France of General Lamori6ere. The fact is that the
instant the Emperor learned that the son of the
general was seriously ill a passport was ordered to
be sent to General Lamoriciere. Unfortunately, it
arrived too late, the son dying the next morning.
The permission for the general to return to France
still continues, and I have reason for believing
that be will before long avail himself of the oppor-
tunity.
The financial crisis in Austria still continues. The
Government is seeking by every means to reduce the
public expenditure. It is now said that the fourth
battalion of each infantry regiment will be suppressed,
and the remaining three battalions reduced by two
companies each. The reduction in the cavalry will
only be 600 men, owing to the difficulty found in
selling the horses. The following is intended to be
the destination of the Austrian army :-100,100 men
in Hungary and the German provinces; 100,000 in
Italy ; and 30,000 men in Vienna and its environs.
King Maximilian of Bavaria returned to Munich
on the 10th November, having passed several weeks
in the Tyrolian mountains, hunting the chamois.
It is said that serious disturbances have broken
out in four different provinces in Persia. The
brother of the Governor of Asterabad has been
wounded, and is now blockaded in Bugeunard.
Troops have been sent to his relief.

sion of this widely spread revolt.
The gallantry of the troops employed against the muti -
neers, their courage in action, their endurance under
privation, fatigue, and the effects of climate; the high
spirit and self-devotion of the officers; the ability, skill, and
Fersevering energy of the commanders, have excited my
warmest admiration; and I have observed with equal
gratification that many civilians placed in extreme diffi-
culty and danger have displayed the highest qualities, in-
cluding, in some instances, those that would do honour to
veteran soldiers.
It is satisfactory to know that the general mass of the
population of India have taken no part in the rebellion,
while the moat considerable of the native princes have
acted in the most friendly manner, and have rendered im-
portant services.
I have given directions that papers relating to these
matters shall be laid before you.
The affairs of my East Indian dominions will require
your serious consideration, and I recommend them to your
earnest attention.
The nations of Europe are in the enjoyment of the
blessings of peace, which nothing seems likely to disturb.
The stipulations of the treaty which I concluded with
the Shah of Persia have been faithfully carried into execu-
tion : and the Persian forces have evacuated the territory
of Herat..

There has been a change in the Greek Ministry.
MM. Balgares and Sealister have retire,].
Miaonlis, the Minister of the Marine, is now Presi-
dent of the Council, M. Privilegios Minister of the
Interior, and M. Mattis Minister of Justice.

I conGdently commit to your wisdom the great interests
of my empire; awl I fervently pray that the blessing of
Almighty tiod may attend your counsels, and may guide
your deliberations to those ends which are dearest to my
heart—the happiness and prosperity of my loyal and faith-
ful people.
Her Majesty and the Court then returned to
Buckingham Palace, and the sitting of the house was
suspended until five p.m.
Their lordships then reassembled, when Baron
MACAULAY, introduced by Lord Campbell and Lord
Helper, advanced and took the oaths.
The LORD CHANCELLOR then read from the wool-
sack the Queen's Speech, which was again read by the
clerk at the table.

THE ADDRESS.
Lord PORTMAN moved the Address in reply to the
Speech from the Throne, recapitulating at length the
various subjects referred to, and briefly touched npcn
the gratifying announcement in the Royal Speech
with regard to the peaceful relations which existed
between this Government and other countries, and
concluded by moving the Address.
Lord CAREW seconded the Address, and adverted
at length to the principal topics mentioned in the
Speech from the Throne. He congratulated the
country on the fact that the commerce and in-
dustry of the sister island had not been incon-
venienced at all to the same degree by the commer-
cial distress which had prevailed on this side of the
Channel.
The Earl of DERBY said that, after a parliamentary
experience of thirty-six years, he had never known a
session commenced under such a complication of
anxieties and misfortunes as those which now called
Parliament together. Almost the sole paragraph in
the Royal Speech from which any satisfactioo could
Le gained was that in which allusion was made to
the peace which prevailed throughout Europe,
though, unfortunately, even that was so worded as to
convey almost a tone of disappointment, as if Lord
Palmerston, following out the remark he made some
time ago, was almost sorry that nothing should dis-
turb that peace :
It is calamitous to the noble lord at the head of the Govern•
went that there is no quarrel amongst the nations of
Europe--(laughter)—and that nothing seems likely to
disturb the blessings a peace. ( Laughter.) I Lelie%e
that if the noble lord at the bead of the Government
cannot disturb the peace of Europe nobody can.
(Laughter.) flat if tbe Government are very desirous
to maintain those great blessings of peace which we
now in Europe enjoy—if they are desirous of keeping
upon good terms with other nations of Europe,
they should not rise in their seats on public occa-
sions and make use of taunting expressions in regard
to the position of other military nations Stich expres-
sions were unworthy of tbe Prime Minister of this
country, and would have no other effect than that of
giving personal otlence ; besides, such unnecessary bluster
provcked tbe idea that the speaker laboured uuder the
sense of weakness. ( Hear, hear.)
Then there was no mention in the Royal Speech of
China :
- - -

There is not a sellable about Sir J. Bowring and his
admission to Canton ; not a hint about the signal chastise-
ment to be visited upon the unhappy barbarians who from
that time to this have been laughing at the impotence of
England. No reparation has been taken for the insult
offered to the British flag ; and all that we have done in
this urgent c,ntest that would not bear a moment's delay,
but for which we had not made the slightest preparation,
is to blockade the Canton river, and to pat a formidable
impediment in the way of our own commerce in those seas.
( Hear, hear.)
The house was told that the immediate cause
of Parliament being called together was the recent
suspension of the Bank Charter Act. He was not
prepared to say that Ministers were not justified in
the step which they had taken, and in asking Parlia-
ment for au Act of Indemnity, but, at least, they
must he prepared to show that the act was necessary
and required by the leading banks and commercial
men of London; whether, in point of fact, Govern-
ment took the step of suspension on their own re-
sponsibility, or only upon application. He was not
surprised that Government should require an indem-
nity for violating an Act of Parliament, but he was
____ surprised that after violating it twice in ten years
Gentlemen of Me House of Commons, they should ask for another Bill of Indemnity with-
I have given directions that the estimates for the next out attempting to amend the provisions of the act.
year shall be prepared forthe"purpose of being laid before But the Government, he thought, might have gone
further and told us the causes of all this commercial
yon. They will be framed with a careful regard to the
distress :
exigencies of the public service.
For years past we have beard continual laudations of the
My Lords and Gentlenew, enormous extension of our commercial transactions. We
Your attention will be called to the laws which regulate have been told that if we only ceased to clip the wings of
the representation of the people in Parliament, with a view commerce and to leave it free as the winds of Heaven there
would be no limit to our prosperity. I remember seeing an
to consider what amendments may be safely and bene- article in an important newspaper—the Tistea—nc longer
ficililly made therein. ago than last April or Mar, in which it was said that to
Measures will be submitted fur your consideration for I speak of the commerce of England was nrily,to repeat the
simplifying and amending the laws relating to real ppel ty,
and also for consolidating and amending several important ebreYr it ofw
'as ' PsraoisdPin ri
t" h . al t ppraaspePe
r rityd .
in pros
other ri
ptlacl es l
overrem e'
end
nI
ro
over again that the magnitude of our exports was the surest
branches of the criminal law. of all possible tests of our commercial prosperity. I have