The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-07 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAXEM

HOUSE OF LORDS—Tins EVENING.
The seventh session of the present Parliament com-
menced to-day. The Queen's Speech (which will be found
in another column) having been read, the house adjourned
during pleasure. _ _

The Loin CHANCELLOR resumed his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock, at which hour there was a very full attdnd-
ance of peers.

THE ADDRESS.

The Queen's Speech having been read by the Lord
CHANCELLOR,
The Earl of CHARLEMONT rose to move an address
to her Majesty, in answer to her most gracious Speech, and
commenced his observations by asking their lordships'in-
dulgence while he performed his task. He first alluded to the
paragraph with respectto the warin America, and said that
although a larger number of persons sympathised with the
Southerners, yet he thought the strict neutrality which
had been enteredupon by her Majesty's Government was the
wisest course that could be adopted. The disturbances
which had taken place in Japan, which had caused much
anxiety, was, he rejoiced to se; in a fair way of settlement ;
and he felt that the end of the difficulties would be to fur-
ther and extend the commerce of Great Britain. The uneasy
state of affairs in New Zealand was nearly at an end, and
he hoped that all the difficulties would but tend to
further increase the estimation in which peace was held
by the great majority of the peoples in the world. Revert-
ing to home affairs he said it was highly encouraging that
the revenue gave such evidences of prosperity, and he be-
lieved the gross amount received last year exceeded that of
many years before. The scarcity of cotton, unfortunately,
had led to much distress in the manufacturing districts,
but he was glad to find that an amount of that material
was now in the country which would give employment
to a large mass of the petitioners, and thus in a great
measure lessen the distress which had so generally pre-
vailed. With respect to Ireland he was much gratified to
lnd that there the prospects of improvement were
visible. The amount of flax raised last year was
very great compared with the last four years, and in
other branches of industry the increase had been
similarly satisfactory. In home exports the same
increase was observable, and it was most gratifying that
crime had decreased. In the shipping trade a remarkable
increase was observed, and what was extremely satisfac-
tory was that the majority of that property was owned by
Irish merchants. With the state of Ireland at the
present time with what it was twenty years ago
there was not one who could not feel the highest
pleasure, and if this prosperous state of things continued for
the next 10 years Ireland would not only be commercially
prosperous, but as contented as any other portion of her
Majesty's dominions. Before he resumed his seat, though
he felt he had detained the house too long with respect
to Irish matters, he must say that in all countries there
were people who were unsuccessful in their business and
unfortunate generally, and such people had a tendency to
vent their discontent on the powers that be, but he believed
the majority of the people were loyal to their Sovereign as
Englishmen. But the spirit of party was strong there,
and led to such unfortunate results as tended to create a
wrong impression. Their lordships had heard of the riots
at Belfast, and he would impress upon her Majesty's Go-
vernment the urgent need there was for more immediate
action to prevent a recurrence of these riots, as he believed
they were certain to recur in July next. He had many
more things to say respecting Ireland, but he would refrain,
and concluded his observations by moving an humble ad-
dress to her Majesty on the occasion of opening Parliament.
Lord HOUGHTON rose to second the address, instead
of the Duke of Cleveland, who was prevented from attend-
ing. In commencing his observations he said their lord-
ships would permit him to express his regret that the affairs
of Denmark had not been completely settled and her people
satisfied. Those clamorous nationalities unsettled by the
question which disturbed Europe at the close of last session
still remained unsatisfied, and threatened Europe with still
further disputes and possibly war. There had been agreed
upon between Italy and France a convention which he
hoped would result in prosperity to both nations. He
heartily concurred in the proposal to amalgamate the
provinces of British North America; and he joined
in the regret that the United States were still suffering
from the horrors of civil war. It was consolitary
to know that in every place where England was
in arms, she was in arms on the defencive to protect
her own. With respect to home matters, he remarked
that the business of the present Parliament would
be of a purely practical nature. He regretted that
itlb.ad not widened to the way of the British Con-
stitution, and he trusted that the present session would
not pass away without some practical effort
being made with respect to reform. It was true the dis-
tress in the manufacturing districts had abated, yet it was
a melancholy fact that a great deal of distress still
remained. It was much to be regretted, but he
was hopeful for the future, althoughunhealthy speculations
which the civil wars in America had induced left it uncer-
tain when things would get right again. Having passed a
high eulogium upon the conduct of the Earl of Earl of
Derby for his exertions to alleviate the distress in Lanca-
shire, the noble lord resumed his seat by seconding the
address.

The Earl of DERBY said he felt the Address which
they were about to adopt in answer to her Ma-
jesty's Speech called for but little remarks from
him because the speech itself was perfectly in)cuous. The
days of the present Parliament were numbered, and ho
efforts of the political doctors could prolong its days.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS—This EVENING.

The SPEAKER took the chair at a quarter to four o'clock

NEW MEMBERS.

The SPEAKER having read the usual warrant for the
re-election of members to supply the vacancies that had
occurred during the recess, the following new members
took the oaths and their seats :—Lord Courtenay, for Exe-
ter, vice Mr. Edward, deceased ; Mr. Morris, for Carnarvon,
vice Mr. David Morris, deceased ; the Hon. G. Waldo-
grave Leslie, for Hastings, in the room of Lord Vane,
now Duke of Cleveland ; Lord A. C. Hervey, for
West Suffolk, vice Earl Jermyn, now Marquis of Bristol,
and Mr. Davenport, for Bromley, vice Mr. R. Spooner.
NEW WRITS.

On the motion of Mr. BRAND the following new writs
were ordered to issue :—For the borough of Tralee, vacant
by the elevation of the Right Hon. Thomas O'Hagan to the
bench in Ireland ; for the City of Cork, vacant by the
resignation of Dr. F. Lyons ; for Truro, by the elevation
of Mr. M. Smith to the bench as one of the judges of the
Court of Common Pleas ; for Salford, vacant by the ap-
pointment of the Right Hon. Mr. Massey to tho office of
Finance Minister of India.