The Express.
London, England, 1861-11-13 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

BELGIUM.
OPENING OF THE CHAMBERS.

Yesterday afternoon at 1 o'clock, the legislative
session of 1861-2 of the Belgian Chambers was
opened by the King iu person. His Majesty, who
was accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of
Brabant and the Count of Flanders, was received
with enthusiaam. The King, having taken his seat
on the throne, read the following speech :

Gentlemen, -It is with great satisfaction that I again find
myself among the representatives of this faithful nation,
who have been united to me for more than thirty years
by the ties of affection and coutideuce which time has only
served to strengthen. The relations of Belgium with
foreign countries are maintained under circumstances which
are favourable to its interests and in harmony with its duties
of neutrality.
A treaty of commerce of the highest importance has been
concluded in the course of this year between Belgium and
France. Its result will be to cement more and more the
good relations between the two countries. The same prin-
ciples
will be applied in our negotiations with Great Britain,
and will serve as the basis for those which we shall have to
open with other states.
We continue, moreover, tdeoconrage our cornmereeas well
es our agricultural and indu►trial productions, by adding
new ways of communication to those numerous and varied
ones by which our country is already Intersected.
A convention recently concluded with the Netherlands has
put an end to the difficulties which had arisen relative to the
direction of the waters of the Meuse. This arrangement
will help to maintain our neighbourly relations with a
friendly nation, whose illustrious chief I was happy on
recent occasion to meet in the patriotic city of Liege.

The accounts of our harvest are less unfavourable than
was at first imagined. Abroad the barrage in those coun-
tries which export their cereals are generally satisfactory,
and the liberal regime adopted in Be!skim allows us to
state that the deficit will be easily supplied by commerce.
Several important laws presented in the sessions of 1831/ and
1860 will, I hope, be diseumed and voted in the course of
the present session. Other projects, not lees interesting.
will be submitted to your deliberation. Our militia laws
have for some time demanded reform. A bill will be
laid before you which, in cotrectin3 from an administra-
tive point of view the vices of the present system, will have
for its object to ensure an equitable compensation to those
who devote a portion of their youth to the noble career
of arms for the service of the state. ThN reform
will, I doubt not, have the happiest consequences as re-
spects the good constitution of the army, so worthy of our
solicitude. TllO civic guard rivals it in patriotism and
seal, and the greet suxes► which the national rifle prrctice
obaiu_d in its ranks shows its desire to perfect Its in-
struction.

Public education in all its branches, letters, science, and
the fine arts, participate in the general progress of the coup-
try, and meets from my government. as in theChambers,with
sympathetic ■nd persevering assistance.
The last Exhibition at Antwerp has cans: I the 'WILLI'
school to shine with new brilliancy ; and the artists of all
countries, assembled in the midst of our commercial metro-
polis, met with the hospitable reception which was due to
them from the ministry of /Whets and Vandyke.
In spite of the crises of divers kinds through which we are
passing, the financial situation is satisfactory. The execution
of the measures prescribed by the law fur the revision of
surveying operations is in active progress. Personal con-
tribution gives rise to well-founded complaints ; the law
which Las established it n ill be reveued.
The abuses which have been disclosed in the exercise of
electoral rights, and which cannot become general without
tarnishing the honour of our representative institutions,
call fur repressive measures which concern the interest and
dignity of all classes of opinion. The necessity is also re-
cognised of filing up the chasms which existing legislation
presents both in the foundatiou and the alministration of
properties appropriated for purpose of study, and for
the management and control of those which are consecrated
to worship.
Finally, gentlemen, the examination of questions relative
to the judicial organisation havits,4 been terminated, a law
will be presented to you for the regulation of this
important matter. The numerous works which are ready
for the activity of the Chamber permit us to hope for fruitful
results from the present session.

Representatives of the natiou,—May the spirit of experi-
ence, moderation, and calm which distinguishes the Belgian
Chambers continue to govern your deliberations; may tho
same patriotism inspire you ; and, thanks to the active and
friendly concurrence which f ask from your confidence,
my government will know how to consolidate and peKect
the nation►l work undertaken in common and placed under
our common protection.