The Express.
London, England, 1866-02-07 00:00:00

THE QUEEN IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

(From the Daily New.)
That the meeting of the Sovereign and the Legis-
lature in dae constitutional form for the first time

for five years should have excited a mingled feeling
of interest and curiosity was but natural, and in a
certain sense creditable to the public, as it was re-
presented yesterday in the House of Peer.. The
statements that some modification would be made
in the prescriptive ceremonial added no doubt to
the curiosity, while what may be called personal
feeling towards her Majesty probably gave depth to
the intermit, as both were developed in the privileged
numbers who assembled to take part in that which

is one of the few English pageants which remain
extant. As soon u the doors of the House of Lords
were opened at twelve o'clock yesterday, those
ladles who had obtained the entree began to sweep

is gradually, but so orderly were things
ar-
ragged that there was neither bustle nor confusion,
and every one seemed to glide in noiselessly save
for the rustle of silk and ribbons. In a very

brief space the north and side galleries, which were
appropriated to those who, for want of a better
phrase, may be called the ladies of the com-
monalty, were occupied. The area of the house,
which (excepting the front benches and the railed
off pen at the back of the bishops' bench, which are
reserved for the diplomatic body) is set apart for
peeresees and the daughters of peers, filled more
slowly, and, indeed, it was not until nearly two
o'clock that the whole of the places thus bespoken
were quite fulL The moat obvious and special ob-
ject which met the eye on entering the house was
the garniture of the throne, over the seat
and elbows of which was cast carelessly
the robe of state which is usually worn by the
Queen on opening parliament, the white ermine
lining alone being visible. At this moment, and until
a ionsiderable time afterwards, it was to be re-
smirked that none of the seats or any visible place
in the home were occupied by gentlemen. By-
aad-bye a few of the rougher sex were installed in
the boxes on the two sides of the bar, which are
under the special dominion of the Usher of the
Black Rod ; and subsequently, in the gallery on
the left of and near the throne, a small group of
gentlemen in uniform—amongst them a Turkish
attaclid and Colonel Macdonald, aide-de-camp to
the Duke of Cambridge—were stationed as specta-
tors, and broke the continuity of feminine form
and costume which elsewhere prevailed before the
entrance of peers into the house. Many of their
lordships, in their " habits as they live," escorted
their fair relatives to their places in the earlier part
of the day, amongst the earliest of whom were
Lord Middleton, the Earl of Devon, Lord Houghton,
and Lord Helper. It need hardly be said
that the ladies were in the fullest dress,
every colour, every fabric, and every possinle
testa being exhibited, here and there rich
fur being observable, either in the form of cloaks
or what we believe is technically called trimming.
A few mourning costumes, toned down by dia-
monds, might have been seen, and there was one
lady who wore a widow's cap. Early in attendance,
and busied in anperinteuding the arrangements,
was Sir Edward Cl,os Master of the Ceremonies to
the Queen, gorgeous in blue and gold, and con-
spicuous by his order and Peninsular medal and
damps. Amongst the first arrivals of the diplo-
matiic corps was the American Minister. Then
peers, some in their robes, and others as yet un-
livened, came in, the latter generally escorting
ladies to their places, and conspicuous amongst
these latter were the Earl of Cardigan and
_

the Earl of Wilton, who gallantly hanited their
Countesses to the beet places they could procure
for them ; while the Karl of Lovelace was equally
careful of the interests of his daughter. In 'doff
and irregular succession might have been observed
the Marquis of Winchester, the Earl of Rodeo,
Lord Llanover, Lord Ravensworth, Lord St. Leon-
ard", Lord Colville of Cuirass, Lord Fortescue,
Lord Dynevor, Lord Lyveden, Lord Taunton, the
Earl of Shrewsbury the Duke of Manchester,
the Marquis of Westmeath, the Dukes of
Sutherland, Richmond, Rutland, and Bucking-
ham, the Marquis of Exeter, Lord Dufferin,
The Marquis of Normanby, the Earl of Hard wicke,
Lord Chelmsford, ito. Indeed, the attendance of
peers was strikingly numerous ; great difficulty
being found in accommodating them with seats.
The bishops also appeared in full numbers.
Amongst the earliest arrivals were the Arch-
bishop of York, the Bishops of Ripon, St. Asaph,
Lincoln, and Worcester, and in the result so impas-
sible was it for the prelates to find resting-places
on the single bench set apart for them, that
extra forms were brought in and ranged
by the table, while some of the right rev. gentle-
men were glad to take refuge beside the clerks.
About a quarter past one Earl Russell, bearing in
his hand a very remarkable feathered cocked bat,
and of course in his robes, accompanied by Earl de
Grey, entered and took his place in the centre of the
ministerial bench. He was followed soon by the
Earl of Clareudoa, the Duke of Argyll, and Lord
Stanley of Alderley, who were the only members
of the government that could be distin-
guished in the glittering and bewildering crowd.
In the meantime the seats reserved for the
ambassadors and ministers from foreign courts were
gradually being occupied, and presented the usual
galaxy—uniforms of all colours, blue, crimson and
white, picked out with gold and silver, lace and em-
broidery, flashing with stars, and radiant with ribands
of all hues. There could be made out Prince
de la Tour Auvergne, ambassador of France ;
Count Apponyi, of Austria, in a superb Hun-
garian costume ; M. Muslims, of Turkey;
Baron Brunnow, of Ruasia ; Count Bern-
storff, of Prussia ; Baron de Cetto, of Bavaria ;
the Marquis d'Azeglio, of Italy ; while perhaps the
most conspicuous by a dress " more guarded than
his fellows," was the Minister of San Salvador,
General Negretti. In a sort of procession the Lord
Chief Baron and the Barons of the Exchequer, in
their full robes of crimson and ermine, entered,
and took their places on the woolsack', which are
the presumptive seats of the judges. Not
long after came in the Lord Chief Justice
of England, attended by the Judges of
the Queen's Bench ; who were followed by
the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and his
learned coadjutors. At half-past one the house was
called upon to do reverence to the Lord Chancellor,
who entered in state, preceded by the Serjeant-at-
Arms of the House (Col. Talbot) beariug the mace,
and his puree-bearer, and attended by his secreta-
ries and gentlemen of the chair. His lordship having
taken his seat on the woolsack, prayers were read
by the Bisbopof Ely, the whole assemblage rising at
the introductory sentences ; and when the order of
tie prayers prescribed kneeling, every form was
bent into some attitude of devotion ; the change
from the precise uniformity which had been by this
time adopted, for the " house had been made,"
being very striking and effective. The bum of con-
versation immediately revived, and those who
bad settled into their places, peers and peeresses,
and the whole body of spectators, set themselves to
mark any incideats which might occur. Amongst
these, and one which did not attract much
attention, was the swearing of a batch of
peers ; but the arrival of the Duke of Cambridge,
who took his seat on the seat nearest the throne, on
the dukes' bench, was more noticeable, and so more
noticed. Presently a stir and a murmur, which
sounded like the phantom of a cheer, gave earnest
of the approach of the Prince and Princess of
Wales, attended by their suite. Her royal high-
ness was escorted by Lord Colville of Culross to
the woolsack, on which the Lord Chancellor sat,
and took her seat on its opposite side, facing the
throne ; and thus remained alone in a special place of
honour, with her back to the assembly, during the
sitting. For a time the conspicuousness of this
situation was relieved by the Duke of Cambridge,
who placed himself by the princess and conversed