The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-05 00:00:00

OPENING

OF
PARLIAMENT.

(THIS DAY.)

The third .emaiou of the aixth parliawent of
Queen Victoria was opened to.day by her Majesty in
person, amid the mural circumstances of pomp and
owenimiy. Leak year the session commenced at an
unnaually early period -namely, on the 24th of
as 7, the cause of this being the‘reoent signing of
the treaty of commerce with Franz, the provOnons of
which required the early sanction of the Legislature. This
year the *meal is inaugurated, an usual, at the beginning of
the egged month of the yea, no extraordinary event having
warred to call for an earlier meeting of ;ornament.
The interval out of thaws seemed this morning as kern as
1111.1. The streets having now been well drie,l by the wind,
end the weather being Oderalily fettled, there was nothiug
in those respects to interfere with the gratification of that
loyal imams& which the appearance of her Majesty
la palm& never fails to awaken. The route from Bucking.
he. Mare to the Morse Guards, and thence from White.
hell to the Victoria Tower, was occupied by crowds of per.
mat from all parts of London, including a huge acoession
of provincial viaitori, and the usual intermixture of
foreigners.
At 12 o'clock the doors of the House of Commons were
thrown °pea to the posesomors of tickets, awl, though there
was so rush, the arrivals being gradual, the galleries all
round the august chamber were soon thronged with
elegantly-apparelled laelies. The peeresses, who on such
oreselews sit on the opposition side, were of course much
later In arriving. After 1 o'clock various celebrities,
Om% aall.radors, judges. he., appeared on the 'cape,
and aa Interchange of salutations and conversation filled up
the interval until the flourish of trumpet, announced the
approach of the procession which herald, the entritice of
M Majesty into the House of Lords.

The Queen hewing requested their Lorthhips to 1., ceated
the Corounoos were suwwwwwil, and after their aimed, het
firdrety, amid profound names, read the following
ROYAL SPEECH.

" MY lANADN ♦`ID GINTLIDISN,

" It is with great Natudaction that I inct,t you
again in Parliament, and have recourse to your
amistance and advice.

" My relations with foreign powers continue to
be friendly and satisfactory ; and I trust that the
moderation of the powers of Europe will prevent
any interruption of the general peace.
"Events of great importance are taking place in
Italy. Believing that the Italians ought to be left
to settle their own affairs, I have not thought it
right to exercise any active interference in those
matters. Papers on this subject will be laid before
you.

" I announced to you, at the close of the last
Session of Parliament, that the atrocities which
had then recently been committed in Syria had
induced me to concur with the Emperor of
Austria, the Emperor of the French, the Prince
Regent of Prussia, and the Emperor of Russia, in
entering into an engagement with the Sultan by
which temporary military assistance was to be
afforded to the Sultan for the purpose of establish-
ing order in that part of his dominions

"That militant* has been afforded by a body of
French troops, who have been sent to Syria as re-
preaenting the Allied Powers. The Sultan has also
placed a considerable military force in Syria, under
the direction of an able officer ; and I trust that
tranquillity will soon be re-established in that pro-
vince, and that the objects of the convention will
have been fully attained.
" I announced to you also, at the clone of the
last session of Parliament, that the pacific over
which my Envoy in China had made to the
Imperial Government at Peking having led to
no satisfactory result, my naval and military
forces, and those of my ally the Emperor of the
Fiench, were to advance towards the northern
provinces of China, for the purpose of supporting
the just demands of the allied powers, and that the
Earl of Elgin had been sent to China as Special
Ambassador to treat with the Chinese government.
" I am glad to inform you that the operations of
the allied forces have been attended with complete
MICODAS. After the capture of the forte at the
month of the Peiho, and several engagements
with the Chinese army, the allied fors es
became masters of the imperial city of Peking ;
and the Earl of Elgin and Baron Gros, the ambas-
sador of the Emperor of the French, were enabled
to übtain an honourable and satisfactory settlement
of all matters in dispute.
" Throughout these operations, and the negotia-
tions which followed them, the commanders and
ambassadors of the Allied Powers acted with the
must friendly concert. Papers on this subject will
be laid before you.

" The state of my Indian territories is progres-
sively improving, and I trust that their financial
condition will gradually partake of the general
amendment.
"An insurrection of a portion of the natives of
New Zealand has interrupted the peace of a part of
that colony ; but I hope that the measures which
have been taken will speedily suppress these dis-
turbances, and enable my government to concert
such arrangements as may prevent their recurrence.
" Serious differences have arisen among the States
of the North American Union. It is impossible
for me not to look with great concern upon
any events which can affect the happiness
and welfare of a people nearly allied to my
subjects by descent, and closely connected with
them by the most intimate and friendly relations.
My heartfelt wish is that these differences may be
susceptible of a satisfactory adjustment.
"The interest which I take in the well-being of
the people of the United States cannot but be in-
creased by the kind and cordial reception given by
them to the Prince of Wales during his recent
visit to the Continent of America.

" I am glad to take this opportunity of express-
ing my warm appreciation of the loyalty and
attachment to my lemon and throne manifested by
lay Oanndian awl other North American subjects
ea the oesaaion of the residence of the Prince of
Wales amotql them.
"I isms concluded with the Emperor of the
nen& conventions supplementary to the treaty of
egaiseree of the 23rd of January, 1800, and in
fartioaraace of the objects of that treaty.
" I have also concluded with the King of Sar-
dinia a convention for the reciprocal protection of
copyright.
" These conventions will be laid before you.

" Geer or Teehousa or Commas,
"I have the estimates for the ensuing
year to be lad before you. They have been
framed with a due regard to economy and to the
efficiency of the several branches of the pgilic
semis*.
"DIY Loau AM) I ;INTLIIIIIGN,
_ _

" Measures will be laid before you for the conso-
lidation of important parts of the criminal law ; for
the improvement of the law of bankruptcy and
insolvency ; for rendering more easy the transfer
of land ; for establishing a uniform system of
rating in England and Wales ; and for several
other purposes of public usefulness.
" I confidently commit the great interests of my
empire to your wisdom and care ; and I fervently
pray that the blessing of the Almighty may attend
your councils, and may guide your deliberations
to the attainment of the object of my constant
solicitude—the welfare and happiness of my
people."

The instant the speech was concluded, the royal proces-
sion quitted the house in the same order in which it had
entered, and the assemblage broke up.

Cbt Court.

The Court Court left Windsor Cantle yesterday after-
noon fur Buckingham Palace.
The Queen 11,1 d a Court and Privy Council in 1 the
afternoon.

Rerun Brunnow had an audience of her Majesty, and pre-
euted his credentials as Ambassador from the Emperor of
all the Russian. His Excellency was introduced by Viscount
Palmerston (officiating for Lord John Russell).
Colonel Arthur Oaten, her Majesty's Madras Engineers,
had an audience of the Queen, and received from her Ma-
jetty the honour of knighthood. Sir Arthur wan presented
by the Right Hoc. Sir Charles Wood.
Colonel the Hoe. Alexander Gordon bad an audience of
the Queen, and delivered to her Majesty the riband of the
Order of the Garter and the riband of the Order of the
Thistle, wore by his father, the late Earl of Aberdeen.
Lord Napier, by command of the Queen, wan sworn of
bee Majesty's Privy Conned.
The roll of High Sheriffs for the present year ler the
counties of England and Wales was pricked by the Queen.
Her Majesty's speech on opening the &Mono( Parliament
was submitted to the Queen in Council, and approved of.
The report of the Committee of the Privy Council res-
pecting the Ordinances of the Universities (Scotland) Corn
misaioners, with reference to Degrees in Medicine and
Surgery, was submitted and approved.
An extension of the period at naval bounties wan ordered,
and ► reduction of rate.

Mr. Arthur Helps, the Clerk of the Privy Council,
&Waded.

81rGeorge Grey, Chancellor of the Duchy of Leitcastor,
had an audience of the Queen.
Lord Napier, Earl Granville, the Duke of Somerset,
Viscount Palmerston, sad Sir George C. Lewis, had audiences
of her Majesty.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council eat yester•
day in the Council.chamber. The am of a petition for a
prolongation of Adams and Richardson 's patent (construc-
tion of railway■) (part heard) was concluded. Au appeal
from Hong Kong, •' Aged° v. Forbes," was heard.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-office
from the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands.
Despatches ware sent to the Governor of Malta.

PARLIAMENTARY ENTERTAINMENTS.
--•-•

Viscount Palmerston gave a full-drew banquet
last evening to the mover and seconder of the address, the
Speaker, and a numerous circle of the members of her Ma-
jesty's government in the House of Commons, at the noble
premier's resident* in Piccadilly.
Earl Granville, Lord President of the Privy Council. gave
a grand dinner last evening, at his residence in Bruton-
,,treet, to the mover and seconder of the address in the
House of Lords and a party peers.
The Earl of Derby had a parliamentary dinner last even-
ing, at his residence, in St. James's-square.
The Bight Hon. Benjamin Disraeli, M.P., as loader of
the conservative party in the House of Common., received
a select circle of his political friends at dinner, last evening,
at his residence, at Grosvenor-gate. The circle was confined
to Lent Stanley, General Peel, and his intimate friends in
the late government.

The Marquis of Ailesbnry was prevented attend-
ing her Majesty, as Master of the Hone, on the occasion of
the opening of parliament today, in comequenoe of the
death of Mr. Granville E. Vernon, at Tottenham Park.

Mien Coutte entertained at dinner last evening,
at bar residence in Stratton-etreet, the Earl and Counter
Grey, Lady Clarence Paget, Lady Pakington, Sir Charles
and Lady Lyall, the Chaplain. General and Mrs. and Miss
Mag, Mr. Loch, Mr. Lindmy, Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Savage,
Mr. John Abel Smith, Miss Malcolm, Mr. Rooks, Mr.
Calvert, Mr. Noel Mundy, kc.

A great number of peers and members of the
Route of Commons arrived in town yesterday from various
parts of the kingdom, and the district. of Grosvenorequare
and Belgravia have in consequence assumed an air of busi•
nese activity which has not belonged to them for several
months past. The importance of the matters which will
come immediately before parliament leads to a presumption
that the season thus commenced will be continuous, and
gives rise to a well-founded hope of a prosperous spring
trade for the West•end of London.

Lord Herbert of Lea was prevented attending
Lord Granville's official dinners on Saturday and yesterday
in consequence of a domestic affliction.

The editor of the Beath Kepnmjaag (the Ulna-
tasted journal) informs the public that the Dent number of
his paper will contain a portrait of Louis Kossuth, "the
great patriot at present reeidiog in a foreign country."
At the meeting of the Royal Inatitute of British
Architects yesterday evening, the adjourned discussion on
the procaine' adopted for preserving the Houses of P.u-lia-
sent from decay was resumed, and again adjourned. The
chairman announced that instead of appointing • committee,
as at tirst proposed, it was intended to petition for the ap-
pointment of a commission, to consist of chemists, civil en-
giosers,and architects, to consider the subject.

The late Mn. Gore, who became a widow in 1846,
has been the mother of ten children, of whom two survive ;
Lady Edward Thynne, married to a son of the second filar•
quis of Bath ; and Augustin' Wentworth Gore, A.D.C. to
the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, who served with distinc-
tion on the staff at Lucknow and in the Rohileurnl campaign,
and wee repeatedly commended in despatches. Mrs. Gore
had for some time been deprived of sight.

The clear gain to the St. Paul's Cathedral Farad
from the oratorio amounts at the utmost to about GOO/.
It is hoped, however, that the meeting at the Mansion-
house on Friday nest, under the presidency of the Lord
Mayor, may stimulate the liberality of the public in aid of
the fund.

SirJueeph Paxton has written a letter objecting
strongly to a document issued by the commissioners for the
Great Exhibition of 1852, inviting tenders for the buildings.
His objections apply to the shortness of the time allowed
for tendering—viz , up to the 9th inst.—to the amount
which he says the buildings to be tendered for will
rd,ooof. —and generally to the loose manner
in which the proceedings are, he thinks, carried on. He
odds as one of the guarantors :—" While I readilyaequiesced
in the idea of getting up an Exhibition in 1861 or
1862, to represent the progress that arts and manufac-
tures have made since 1851, I never for a moment
contemplated (and I cannot for a moment suppose
that the subscribers to the guarantee fund thought
otherwise) that it could be seriously proposed to erect •
building at much greater cost than the building of the
Exhibition in 1851, and which would involve for the
building, which may be temporary, a total expenditure, if
got up on such • sale, little short of • quarter of • million
of money."
DOD'S PARLIAMENTARY COMPANION FOR 1861.
This valuable publication is now hi the twenty-ninth year
et its existence. The new edition, the revision of which
brought down to the very eve of the parliamentary ses-
sion, records many changes in the representation of the
country. Thirty-five members have, during the past year,
retired from parliament, or have died, and a corresponding
number have been elected to fill their places. The political
opinions of members have been carefully indicated by re-
cordiug the votes which each member has given during his
parliamentary career. The volume is indomeumble to all
who would follow the parliamentary debates with • know.
ledge of the speakers.