The Express.
London, England, 1856-01-31 00:00:00

OPENING

OF
PARLIAMENT.

THIS DAY.

THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.

Parliament was this day opened by her Majesty
the Queen, in person. The doors of the hones of Lords
were thrown open to thetas who had the privilege of ad-
minion, shortly after twelve o'clock, and from that
period, up to the entrance of her Majesty, there was
gee continual raccession of arrivals. The greeter pro-
portion of the anditory consisted of ladies attired in
the most varied and perfect toilets, whi:e the chamber.,
galls r i ~, and corridon through which her Majesty passed
mn her way to the throne were equally crowded with fair
speciaton. The hishope' benches were appropriated to the
caps deplosetique, and wotleicke on the floor to the
Judges, most of whom were in attendance. The foreign
ambassadors appeared in their official uniforms, end their
presence served to increase the splendour of the 'pewee!"
which the interior of the ch ,mtier presented on the arrival
of her Majesty.
The royal procession, which left Backhighein Palace
shortly before 2 o'clock, exhibited no variation from former
years. There was the used display ef footmen in state
liv.rier, beweaten w,th javelin staffs, and well-mounted
dragoon', while the venerable state equipage was
drawn, as of old, by eight magnificent wean.-
coloured horses, and preceded by several royal
carriages containing the Lord Chamberlain (the Mai-
quis of Breadelbani ), the Lord 11:iwerd, the Captain of the
Yeomen of the Guard (Viseount Sidney), the Treasurer of
the Household (Lord Druslanrip), the Keeper of the Privy
Parse, and the Master (f the Household. Is the state coach
with her Majesty were his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
the Master of the H-irse (the Dab, of Wellington), and
the ?Citrate o' the horse. The cortices followed the same
mete as oa ell former ocoasioes—neseely, 'lon the lead-
leg avenue skirting S. hines',-pi 1 ice and Carl o--ernes,
thtoegh the Howe-Guards, and to oa down Parliament-
street to the Victoria Tower.

The customary arreagenteau were made ►y the polite,
who wen 'tattooed along the line of route. The bead of
the Soot. Fusilier Guards was in sttendaece is the fore-
court of Buckingham Palace ; that of the Gernad,er Guards
at the amuses to St. James's Palace ; and the band of the
Coldstream' at the Horse Guards. The Boyel escort cot-
silted of a troop of the Life Guards. Seam were erected in
the rear of the Horse Guards for the accommodatiou of the
diem connected with the War- >Mc*, Adjutant G
and Quartermaster-General's departments. The park and
streets were very mach thronged, notwithstanding the
Severity of the weather, and at different points her Majesty
was greeted with hearty cheers.

Her Majesty was received at the grand entrance under
the Victoria TOWS, by the genet 'Seers of state, and ,heoos
she was conducted to the Robing-room, where the ceremony
of robing was gone through. Her Majesty then proceeded
to the home, secompanied ley his Royal Michaels Prince
Albert, the Mistress of the Robes ( he Duchess of &ether-
law), the Lord thescellor, tha Masque of Lansdowne,
bearing tho Swo d of State, tho Duke of Well.egton the
Ctows, and the Ha qu,s of Wiochester the Cap of Ma s-
tn. alto.

Her Majesty liming wended tho throne, tho Yeoman
Usher of the Block Rol wee commenced to eutereoe the
Commons to the bar. In a few minutes afterwards tie
Speaker, attended by the Sergeant-at-Ara and a numerous
cluster of members, made Me appearance, when the Lord
Chancellor, kneeling, presented the speech to her Majnty.

. -.. . . .
Her Majesty, in a firm and dear tone of voice, then read
this anxiously looked tor document, which wu as foibles :
THE SPEECH.

Mr LOADS AND GINTLIDIEN,

Since the chaps of the last session of parliament
the arms of the Allies have achieved a signal and
important success. Sebastopol, the great stronghold
of Russia in the Black Bea, has yielded to the
persevering constancy and to the cluing bravery
of the allied forces. The naval and military pre-
paration■ for the ensuing year have necessarily
occupied my serious attention; but while deter-
mined to omit no effort which could give vigour to
the operations of the war, I have deemed it my duty
not to decline any overtures which might reasonably
afford a prospect of a safe acid honourable peace.
Accordingly, when the Emperor of Austria lately
offered to myself and to my august ally the Emperor
of the French, to employ his good offices
with the Emperor of Russia, with a view to
endeavour to bring about an amicable adjustment of
the mitten at issue between the contending Powers,
I consented, in concert with my Allies, to accept the
offer thus made, and I have the satisfaction to in-
form you that certain conditions have been agreed
upon which I hope may prove the fouudition of a
general treaty of peace.

Negotiations foe such a treaty will shortly be
opened at Paris.

In conducting those negotiations I shall be careful
not to loss sight of the objects for which the war was
undertaken; and I shall deem it right in no degree
to relax my naval and military preparations until a
satisfactory treaty of peace shall have been con-
cluded.

Although the war in which I am ergsged was
brought on by events in the South of Europe, my
attention has not been withdrawn from the state of
things in the North, and, in conjunction with the
Emperor of the French, I have concluded, with the
King of Sweden and Norway, a treaty containing de-
fensive engagements applicable to his dominions,
and tending to the preservation of the balance of
power in that part of Europe.

I have also oOncloded a Treaty of Frieodship,Com-
coerce, and Navigation with the Republic of Chili.
I have given directions that these treaties shall be
laid before you.
GENTLEMEN 01 THR HOLISM Of COMMONS,

The estimates for the enauiog year will be laid
before you. You will find them framed in such •
manner u to provide for the exigencies of war, if
peace should unfertonstely not be concluded.
MY LORDS AND GENTLEND N,

It is gratifying to me to observe that, notwith-
standing the pressure of the war, and the burthene and
sacrifices which it has unavoidably imposed upon my
people, the resources of my empire remain unimpaired.
I rely with confidence on the manly spirit and
enlightened patriotism of my loyal subjects for a
continuance of that support which they have 53
nobly afforded me, and they may be assured that I
shall not call upon them for exertions beyond what
may be required by a due regard for the great inte-
rests, the honour, and the dignity of the empire.
There are many subjects connected with internal
improvement which I recommend to your attentive

The difference which exists in several important
particulars bet wean the commercial laws of Scotland,
and those of the other parts of the United
Kingdom, Du occasioned inconvenience to a large
portion of my subjects engaged in trade. Measures
will be proposed to you for remedying this eviL
Measures will also be proposed to you for improving
the laws relating to partnership by simplifying those
lawn, and thee rendering move easy the employment
of capital in commerce.

The system under which merchant •hipping is
I liable to pay local dues and redoing tolls, has been
the subject of much complaint. Measures will be
proposed to you for affording relief in regard to those
matters.

Oilier important mesons tor improving the law
in Great Britain and in Inland will be proposed to

1700, which will, I doubt not, receive your attentive
consideration.

Upon thusnad all other matters upon which you
may deliberate, I fervently pray that the blessing of
Divine Providence may favour your councils, and
guide them to the promotion of the great object of
my unvarying solicitude, the welfare and the hap-
piness of my people.
At the oonclasion of the Speech, her Majesty left the
Home, and d to Buckingham Palace in the order
in which she cane from it.
The House then adjourned until five o'clock.

There will not be any amendment to the Address
in 111141Ver to the Speech from the Throne, prof o ed by the
Coaservative panel in either Loose of parliaokut. It was
rumoured that Mr. Roebuck would pro, on one, but we
undentanl that this is c of the cam.

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