The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-29 00:00:00

TIM SON. LONDON, SATURDAY EVENiNG, AUGUST 29, 1i3(33,

give their testimony to the merit of our distant
colonists. Sir R. MURCHISON remarked that he
regretted to hear some people allude to the time
when a separation would take place between Eng-
land and these colonies. He trusted that Australia
might long continue to be a source of strength
and wealth to the mother country, an 3 for ages
furnish an example that the people, "which lives
under a constitutional monarchy enjoys much
truer freedom than those that have formed part
of any democracy, either ancient or modern,"
Atter this interesting dissertation on Australia
was concluded the talented speaker went on to
discourse upon the great geographical wonder of
the day—the discovery of the Sources of the Nile.
This passage was, of course, particularly interest-
ing, from the importance of the subject, and the
attractive nature of the exciting history of the ex-

plorers.
The zeal which distinguished Captain SPEKE, and
affair with ati peculiarerhnoatsrsed untilua rodu es iettnohs tupee rgsr eei
glorious
otsa:mut i
times
wasit
es
ss rank
w who .
his resolute determination to proceed, invest the
moi
ofaiudnsearlierdpd riffisizeece
himpdius rcsonaumerd:
grit hegme
Sirß.MußcHisoN truly said that in this exploit we
have one of the greatest geographical triumphs of
all history. " For age after age had rolled on—tra-
veller after traveller, from the days of the Egyptian
priests and of the Roman Emperors, down to
modern periods, had endeavoured to ascend the
Nile to its sources, and all had failed ! By revers-
ing the line of research followed by all former tra-
vellers, and by proceeding from the east coast of
Africa, near Zanzibar, to the central, lofty, and
flat plateau-land forming in that meridian the
water-shed between North and South Africa, these
gallant Indian captains reached the true reservoir
from whence the Nile flows." He said it was very
gratifying to know that the QUEEN had signified
her satisfaction that two of her own gallant officers
had succeeded in an undertaking in which many a
European nation had failed. Some foreign nations
had also testified to the merits of these explorers,
and some medals which had been placed in his
hands to present to the adventurers reminded them
that, through the enterprise of her sons, " England
has won glory through many a danger at the
sources as well as at the month of the Nile." Sir.
R. MURCHISON concluded his very interesting
speech by referring to the most notable papers that
were about to be read at these meetings. It is a
great privilege for people to hear such speeches as
the one now referred to. Nothing can impart in-
formation in a more attractive form than to receive
it, as it were, from the fountain-head. All the most
important topics that are afloat concerning disco-
veries, explorations, and striking events are
briefly but emphatically touched upon. In
a country like England, such a compre-
hensive discourse is peculiarly appropriate, for
the largest foreign possessions appertain to our
sway, and the most daring feats performed in dis-
tant lands have been performed by the inhabitants
of the British isles. It has been truly observed
that " the chart of our colonies is a chart of the
world in outline, for we sweep round the globe
and touch every shore."

Opening of the Canadian Parliament.

On the 14th inst. the Canadian Parliament was
opened by the Governor-General, who delivered the
following address in both the French and English
languages :

" Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Counci

" Gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly—
" I have called you together at this unusual season
because I desired, as soon as was practicable after
the dissolution of the last Parliament, to obtain
your advice and assistance in reference to the public
Lffairs of the province.

" Although the period of the year at which you
are now assembled is one that renders it difficult
for many of you to leave your other avocations, in
order to give attention to your Parliamentary
duties, I am persuaded that you will cheerfully co-
operate with me at the present time in considering
such proposals as the exigencies of the public ser-
vice may demand.

"Measures of importance, the progress of which
in the late Parliament was interrupted by the dis-
solution, will again be submitted to your notice.
"I would specially direct your attention to the
existing Militia Law, which requires extensive
amendment in order to place this important arm of
the public defence in a condition of efficiency.
" The large increase which has occurred in the
volunteer force, and the offers of service which I
continue to receive from new companies, are grati-
fying proofs of the patriotic zeal which animates
the whole community in reference to the subject of
public defence.

"The interest which has been displayed in the
formation of (hill associations, and the manifest de-
sire of the youth of the country to perfect themselves
in the use of arms, are satisfactory evidences that
the people of Canada are prepared to submit to any
personal sacrifices which can reasonably be de-
manded of them, in order to enable them, in the
most efficient manner, to put forth their strength in
defence of their institutions and their homes, should
circumstances ever require from them such an ex.
hibition of patriotism.

" I trust to your wisdom to give a proper direc-
tion to the excellent spirit by which the people are
animated, and to your liberality to supply the
means by which practical advantages may be ob-
tained from it.

" A bill for the equitable adjustment of the rela-
tions between debtor and creditor and to afford relief
to insolvent debtors will be laid before you.
" Certain alterations in the laws regulating the
administration of justice will be submitted for your
approbation.

" The existing laws affecting the registration of
titles to real property in Upper and Lower Canada
and concerning patents for inventions, as well as
the laws relating to the encouragement of agricul-
ture will also claim your attention.
" Gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly,—
" The estimates for the current year for which
provision was not made by the late Parliament,
together with such additional estimates as may be
necessary at the present time, will he laid before
you without delay.
" The last Session of Parliament having abruptly
terminated without the grant of the usual supplies
or carrying on the Government, I have been obliged
to undertake the responsibility of authorising ad-
vances out of the public chest to defray certain in-
dispensable charges. Statements will be submitted
to you from which you will perceive that these ad-
vances have been strictly limited to the unavoidable
requirements of the public service,
" Under these circumstances I confidently rely
upon your readiness to sanction the outlay which
has been thus incurred as well as to provide for the
necessary expenses of the Government for the cur-
rent year.

" Hon. Gentlemen and Gentlemen,—
"I urge upon your early attention the state of
the finances of the pi ovinces,and the relation which
its expenditure bears to its income and resources.
" You will not fail to concur with me in the ex-
pression of regret that for some years past the pub-
lic expenditure has exceeded the annual income,
and I cannot doubt that you will agree with IDE
that the time has arrived when a strenuous effort
should bo made to avert the continuance of this de-
ficiency.

"I have received a despatch from the Secretary
of State for the Colonies, enclosing copies of a cor-
respondence between her Majesty's: Government
end the agent of the Atlantic and Pacific Transit
and Telegraph Company, in reference to a proposal
made by that company for the establishment of a
telegraphic and postal communication between
Lake Superior and Now Westminster, in British
Columbia.

The importance of such an undertaking to the
British North American provinces, both in a com-
mercial and in a military point of view, in •
daces me to commend the subject to your conside-
ration. Copies of the correspondence shall be laid
before you, and I feel assured that, should any pro-
posal calculated to effect the establishment of such
communication on terms advantageously to the pro-
vince be submitted to you, it will receive encourage-
ment at your hands.

"I cannot refrain from congratulating you at
this season of the year upon the prospect which
everywhere prevails of an abundant harvest. I
sincerely trust that the prosperity with which it
appears likely Providence will this year bless the
agricultural classes, may produce a corresponding
improvement in our commerce and manufactures.

" In commending to your careful attention the
public affairs of this province, I depend upon your
zeal and ability to promote whatever may conduce
to the advancement of its future welfare, and I
humbly invoke the Divine blessing upon your deli-
berations, and they may be entered upon in an un-
selfish and impartial spirit, and may tend to
the increase of unanimity, prosperity, and content-
ment throughout the land.

" The members of the Legislative Assembly then
withdrew."

THE " DRESSOIR."—We moderns have exiled to

the kitchen a noble piece of furniture, which formed
one of the most conspicuous objects in the salons of the
French chateaux. This is the dressoir—a sideboard, rising
to some height, with shelves one above another, on which
were displayed the gold and silver vessels, costly vases,
candlesticks, and other choice ornaments of the owners.
The height of these dressoirs was fixed by etiquette. A noble
of a certain rank was entitled to use a dressoir of three stages,
whilst those of a lower rank were obliged to content them-
selves with two. Marie de Bourgoyne, as daughter of the
Count de Charolias, had five degres to her dressoir; but the
queens of France were alone entitled to a similar height.
Ladies of rank, on the occasion of the births of their chil-
dren, ceremoniously kept to their chambers for 15 days;
and these they decorated with all the articles " de luxe" at
their command. Their dressoirs were covered with bor-
dered linen, or embroidered velvet ; and upon the various
shelves, which receded in breadth till they terminated in a
dorsal, they placed vases of crystal, ornamented with gold
and precious stones, ewers of gold and silver, bowls, silver
candelabra, and sweetmeat boxes (drageoirs) of gold, en-
rished with precious stones. Persons coming to see madame
partook of these sweets, as well as of wine. When the
dressoir was so constructed as to admit of its being drawn
up to the dining table, or placed in the centre of a chamber,
it was called a buffet,—Builder.

A MODERN PILGRIMAGE.—On Saturday even-
ing upwards of 1,600 pilgrims arrived here from
Paris, accompanied by their priests; a number of distin-
guished members of the clergy also came. On Sunday
afternoon they joined the five parishes of Boulogne in the
grand procession, composed, as on preceding occasions, of
banners, reliquaries, groups of fishermen, young girls in
white bearing garlands of lowers, but richer and more
numerous than on preceding occasions. The ceremony
was presided over by Monseigneur Morris, Bishop of Troy,
who closed the procession, attired in full canonicals.
When it is considered that every class of the popula-
tion join in these processions, many incurring a con-
siderable e:epcuse and inconvenience to do so, we cannot
help admiring the religious spirit which draws the pious
crowd to the shrine of the Virgin. The elegant decorations
of the houses in the principal streets of the town, and the
orderly demeanour of the crowds which witnessed the cortdge,
are not less commendable than the pious ardour of the pil-
grims themselves. In the evening a banquet was held at
Mgr. Haffreingue's, at which all the clergy of the town and
the priests who had accompanied the pilgrims were invited.
Here Mgr. Morris congratulated his host and the whole
assembly on the wonders he had witnessed—on the hand-
some religious fete in which the whole population had
participated.—Boulogne limes.

We hear that a young man, who is about to start
for the New Zealand diggings, is making arrangements for
the transport to that place of about 100 cats. It would
appear, by the last accounts from that quarter, that cats are
worth from £1 to £5 each.—. Eta.