The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-02 00:00:00

SPEECH OF THE KING.

At the meeting of the Cortes of the kingdom on
the 23d ult., under the presidency of Viscount de
Castro, supplementary president of the Hereditary
Chamber, the King, Don Louis 1., bearing in his
hand the royal sceptre, took his seat on the throne.
His Majesty, while his right hand rested upon the
holy gospels covered with a cross, renewed the oath
in these terms:—

" I swear to maintain the catholic, apostolic, Roman
religion, and the integrity of the kingdom ; to observe and
cause to be observed, the political constitution of the Por-
tuguese nation and the other laws of the kingdom ; and to
promote, as far as I may be able, the general welfare of tho
nation."

His Majesty afterwards addressed to the Assem-
bly the following speech :
"Worthy peers of the kingdom and deputies of the Por-
tuguese nation—Called unexpectedly to rule the destinies of
the Portuguese people, I appreciate from the depth of my
heart the solemn event which has placed me in the midst of
the national representatives.

" I shall consecrate all my solicitude to the Portuguese
people, whom I have learned to love from my tenderest in-
fancy, in order to assist as much as shall lie in my power in
securing the great prosperity which it deserves.

_ . . . .
" I shall follow eagerly the noble example which has been
left me by my dear brother, whose loss we so profoundly
regret. The grief which is inspired in all of us by the fatal
event we now deplore is at once the most honourable testi-
mony consecrated to the memory of King Don Pedro V.,
and the strongest stimulus to us to endeavour, as he did, to
fulfil our duty.

"On this occasion I must express to the King, my
august father, my gratitude for the devotedness with which
under the most grievous circumstances he accepted the
regency of this kingdom, during my brief absence. It is a
new proof to the nation and myself of his zeal and good
will.

" The people over whom I have the honour to rule are
an enlightened people, and worthy, on account of their love
for constitutional institutions, to occupy a distinguished
rank among the most cultivated nations.

" The oath which I have just taken is the sinter© ex-
pression of the sentiments of my heart. Fidelity to the in-
stitutions which we have the privilege to possess ensures
to us tranquillity for the present, and promises us happi-
ness for the future. May Almighty God make the reign
which is commencing merit the blessing of Heaven and the
national sympathies.

" I depend much upon the enlightened co-operation of
the representatives of the nation in promoting the public
interests, and in facilitating the execution of the mission
which has been confided to me. The gratitude of the Por-
tuguese people, a worthy object of the highest ambition,
will be the just reward of such a noble solicitude."

The President of the Cortes replied to this ad-
dress with protestations of devotedness, and charac-
terised Don Pedro V. as a thoroughly constitutional
King and a good citizen. At the conclusion of
this discourse, the greater part of which was a
paraphrase of the royal speech, the President three
times, and with loud voice, proclaimed the very
high, very (powerful, and very faithful King of
Portugal, Don Louis I. His Majesty quitted the
Chamber amid the most enthusiastic acolamations.

THE CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS.
SOUTHAMPTON, JAN. 2.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Ceylon, with the heavy portion of the above mails,
has arrived.

She brings 44 passengers, two packages of specie
(value £2,356), and 2,500 packages of cargo, includ-
ing raw silk valued at upwards of £150,000.
She spoke the Tagus on the 30th ult., bound for
Lisbon.

Tier Majesty's ship Aboukir was to sail from
Gibraltar, for Bermuda, on the 28th ult.
The Ceylon encountered heavy north-east gales
and head seas on her passage from Gibraltar.
The Indus left Gibraltar for Alexandria on the
26th December.

Exchange on London at Gibraltar was quoted
491 for 90 days' bills ; Paris, 5.26; Madrid, eight
days' sight, par.
Freights unaltered.

PORTRAIT OF DICKENS.

DRAWN ON STONE BY R. 3. LANE, A.R.A.

FROM A PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN AND CHARLES WATKINS•
An exquisite likeness of Mr. Charles Dickens has
within the last few days made its right welcome
appearance. It is the result of the combined skill
of the above eminent artist and photographers. A
more literal transcript of the "human face divine"
we do not remember ever to have witnessed. The
firm and unerring, yet most delicate and refined touch
of Richard Lane's pencil has never within our recol-
lection been more happily applied than in this in-
stance. And the fact that it is so, yields evidence
enough of the felicitous application by Messrs.
John and Charles Watkins of their mar-
vellous art to the perpetuation of Mr. Dickens's
features, through the medium of the Magic Glass
sensitized by its scarcely perceptible film of col-
lodion. The cngraving but just now issued
to the public (seasonably enough at this time of
New Year's Gifts and Christmas Offerings) is put
forth by the distinguished artists of whose united
labours—evidently with each a labour of love—it is
the happy fruit, as an exact pendant or companion
to the admirable portrait of Thackeray engraved by
Holl, from a drawing by Samuel Lawrence. Alto-
gether a more delightful memorial of Charles
Dickens could not hang upon our walls than this
counterfeit presentment of his living lineaments—
henceforth, we doubt not, to be treasured in many
an English home among its loved and honoured
La a noble, manly head
—with Genius
Heart is
rtlooking out upon us
fromei Laren
its a And Pa
kind, eand s.
te
bright eyes.

The Earl and Countess of Albemarle have arrived
in town from Quiddenham Hall, Norfolk. His lordship has
taken a residence at Rutland-gate for a few months,
Cal. the Hon. W. P. and Lady Emma Talbot
have arrived at the Earl of Derby's residence, in St.
James's-square, frem Knowsley, Lancashire.

7