The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-16 00:00:00

The French Chambers were opened at 1 o'clock
yesterday by the Emperor in person, the ceremony
taking place, as on previous occasions, in the Salle
des Etats in the Louvre. The long gallery of the
Tuileries still remaining unfinished, no covered
communication between the two buildings was pos-
sible, and in
.consequence their Majesties were con-
veyed in, state carriages from the Tuileries through
the triumphal arch to the Pavilion Denon. As the
short passage between the two palaces is always
accomplished with a certain pomp, mounted troops
escorting the carriages, a considerable crowd had
assembled in the Place du Carousel, notwithstand-
ing an exceedingly sharp frost, to see their Majes-
ties pass. A party of National Guards on one side,
and troops of the line on the other, were posted
along the way which the imperial cortege had to take.
All the neighbourhood of the palace in the direction
of the Rue de Rivoli was throughout the day occu-
pied by a crowd of spectators anxious to behold the
splendid equipages which conveyed the ambassadors,
ministers, senators, and high officials, whose duty
called them to attend the Imperial sitting. From
eleven to a little after twelve a constant succession
of carriages rolled past, after whiCh a lull ensued
until a little before two, when, on the termination
of the ceremony, the various personages returned to
their several residences.
The Salle des Etats presented very nearly the
same arrangement as in preceding years. The pre-
vailing style of ornamentation is crimson velvet
trimmed with gold lace. Many-folded hangings of
that rich material were to be seen in the windows
and doorways, and all the front of the long galleries
at each side of the hall were similarly adorned.
The seats and benches, arranged for the great
dignitaries and official bodies, were likewise covered
with crimson and gold. At the farthest end of the
Salle was erected a raised estrade, on which was
arranged the Emperor's throne, with chairs of
State for the Princes of the Imperial family, whilst
close behind were placed other seats for the

great officials of the Crown. Right through
the centre of the vast hall a wide passage, covered
with rich carpeting, was left vacant for their Majes-
ties, all the space on the sides being occupied by
cross seats prepared for the various bodies which
had a right to attend.
The first arrivals took place a little before 11, and
from that hour until a quarter past 12 richly-attired
personages followed each other in uninterrupted
succession. Elegantly dressed ladies also made
their appearance from time to time, and took their
seats generally in the galleries above. In all the
wide space below, nothing was to be seen but uni-
forms or official costumes. At first, the great per-
sonages conversed together, standing in groups,
but as the day wore on, they by degrees proceeded

to occupy their places, leaving all the centre

unoccupied. As is always the case on those occa-
sions of high ceremony the scene had then become
brilliant and striking in the extreme. All the placeS
were in fact filled, except those reserved for the
great personages who were to accompany the Em-
peror, and the general occupation of the hall was
clearly perceptible. Nearest to the throne, at the
sides, were to be seen the Ministers; Marshals, Ad-
mirals, Cardinals, and great officers of State, all in
full costume and with all their orders and marks of
rank. Close to the steps ascending the estrade were
the members of the Privy Council, a numerous de-
putation of Grand Crosses of the Legion of Honour,
the Vice-Presidents of the Council of State, and
the Presidents of Sections, with many members
of that high body. Further back, but still in
front of the throne, the seats on the right were
occupied by the Senate, and on the left by the
Legislative Body. Behind them, along the sides,
were deputations from the Court of Cassation, the
Court of Accounts, and Imperial Court, all in their
quaint dresses, handed down from ancient days;
the clergy of different denominations ; the Prefects
of the Seine, and of Police ; the Commander of the
National Guard, and various high officers of that

body ; Generals belonging to the first military divi-
sion ; Superior officers of the Army and Navy ;
Members of the Institute ; deputations from the

Municipal Council and Council of Prefecture ; the
Mayors of Paris and other official personages. The
galleries were by this time fully occupied, and all
the front seats by ladies. The portion on the
right nearest to the estrade was reserved
for the members of the Diplomatic Body, and
the opposite portion for the wives Rind
female relatives of the Ministers, Marsha', and
other high functionaries. The strangers whd,id
obtained tickets of admission were in general placed
in the galleries. Owing to the severity of the
weather, the ladies' toilettes were of somewhat
darker hues than usual, and muffs, furs, and warm
pelisses were almost universally seen.
A little before one cheers were heard outside, and

the drums at the same beat a salute. After a short
pause, a Master of the Ceremonies advanced into
the hall and announced " the Empress," and at once
the whole assemblage rose. Her Majesty and the
Prince Imperial then walked up the room, preceded
and followed by the officers and ladies of her house-
hold, and were greeted with loud cries of " Vive
l'lmperatrice !" " Vive le Prince Imperial !" Her
Majesty took her seat with the young Prince in a
tribune on the right, close to the estrade, having
close by the Princess Clotilde, the Princess Mathilde,
the Princess Augusta Bonaparte, and the Princesses
Lucien, Joachim, and Anna Murat. The young
Prince was dressed in his uniform, as corporal of
the Grenadiers of the Guard.
Immediately after the cannon of the Invalides
fired a salvo of 21 guns to announce the Emperor's
coming, and shortly after the Imperial cortege
entered the hall in the customary order. First
came a Master of the Ceremonies, the Equerry on
duty, and the Prefect of the Palace ; next the Grand
Master of the Ceremonies, the Grand Chamberlain,