The Press.
London, England, 1854-02-04 00:00:00

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THE SESSION OPENED.
FEW seisions have been expected with more impa-
tience or were opened amid a more profound excite
ment than that which commenced on Tuesday last.
Unusual interest attached also to the royal progress,
brief as was its course. and frequent as have been its
repetitions, from Buckingham Palace to the House of
Lords. The crowd of spectators were numerous and
demonstrative far beyond the ordinary average, while
recent circumstances had made their demeanour a
matter of some anxiety before the event. Afterwards,
however, it was evident that all the doubts on the
subject had been unfounded. Her Majesty and the
Prince Consort were received with a greeting even
more hearty than usual on the part of her loyal sub-
jects. The Turkish Ambassador, M. 11Iusurus, who
followed in the train of carriages, was also welcomed
enthusiastically. His passage through the crowd
was a complete ovation, and on entering the house
he received a cordial greeting from many peers and
fellow-members of the diplomatic corps. It was no-
ticed that the Russian Envoy did not make his appear-
ance at the ceremony.
A few minutes after two o'clock the preliminary
preparations were complete in the Upper House, the
Commons were summoned, and the Queen declared
the session of 1854 opened in the following gracious
speech from the throne :
" My Loans AND GENTLEMEN,

" I am always happy to meet you in Parliament ; and on
the present occasion it is with peculiar satisfaction that I '
recur to your assistance and advice.
" The hopes which I expressed at the close of the last
session that a speedy settlement would be effected of
the differences existing between Russia and the Ottoman
Porte have not been realised, and 1 regret to say that a
state of warfare has ensued.
" I have continued to act in cordial &operation with the
Emperor of the French; and my endeavours,in conjunction
with my allies, to preserve and to restore peace between
the contending parties, although hitherto unsuccessful,
have been unremitting. I will not fail to persevere in
these endeavours; but as the continuance of the war may
deeply affect the interests of this country, and of Europe,
I think it requisite to make a further augmentation of
my naval and military forces, with the view of supporting
my representations, and of more effectually contributing to

the restoration of peace.
" I have directed that the papers explanatory of the ne-
gotiations which have taken place upon this subject shall
be communicated to you without delay.

" GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

" The estimates for the year will be laid before yon, and
I trust yon will find that, consistently with the exi-
gencies of the public service at this juncture, they hare
been framed with a due regard to economy.
" MY LORDS AND GENTLIMEN,
" In the year which has just terminated, the blessing
of an abundant harvest has notbeen vouchsafed to us. By
this dispensation of Providence the price of provisions has
been enhanced, and the privations of the poor have been
increased ; but their patience has been exemplary ; and
the care of the Legislature, evinced by the reduction of
taxes affecting the necessaries of life, has greatly tended to
preserve a spirit of contentment.

" I have the satisfaction of announcing to you that the
commerce of the country is still prosperous ; that trade,
both of export and import, has been largely on the increase ;
and that the revenue of the past year has been more than
adequate to the demands of the public service.
I recommend to your consideration a bill which I have
ordered to he framed fur opening the coasting trade of the
United Kingdom to the ships of all friendly nations ; and
I look forward with satisfaction to the removal of the lust
legislative restriction upon the use of foreign shipping for
the benefit of my people.
"Communications have been addressed by my command

to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, with refer-
ence to the improvements which it may be desirable to
effect in their institutions. These communications will
be laid before you, and measures will be proposed for your
consideration, with the view of giving effect to such im-
provements.
" The

requisite for the conduct of the
civil service, and the arrangements bearing upon its con-
dition, have recently been under review ; and I shall direct
a plan to be laid before you which will have for its object
to improve the system of admission, and thereby increase
the efficiency of the service.
" The recent measures of legal reform have proved
highly beneficial, and the success which has attended
them may well encourage you to proceed with further
amendments. Bills will be submitted to you for trans-

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