The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-31 00:00:00

OPENING

PARLIAMENT.

Parliament was this day opened by her Majesty
in person. The morning was dull and heavy, with
every indication of rain, but the threatening aspect
of the atmosphere was not sufficient to deter the
thousand sight-seers of the Metropolis from turning
out to view the Royal procession. Some hours be-
fore there was any probability of the Queen leaving
Buckingham Palace, the streets and Park were
lined with crowds of people, embracing almost
every class from the highest to the lowest, and it
having been whispered abroad that the appearance
of the Prince Albert in the procession would most
likely lead to some unusual demonstration of feel-
ing, the orderly disposed portion of the multitude
were on the tiptoe of expectation until the pageant
had reached its destination in Westminster.

The police authorities appear to have been
troubled with a similar apprehension, for their
precautions to prevent any unseemly demonstra-
tion on the part of the public were of a more ex-
tended character than we remember to have

observed on any former occasion, while the military
beside being made to form a very conspicuous por
tion of the display, which perhaps was not unusual,
were collected along the route in far greater num-
bers than has hitherto been thought necessary or
advisable. The state carriage was kept com-

pletely hemmed in by the Guards during its pro-
gress to and fro, and it was with difficulty
tliat the spectators could catch a glimpse of her
Majesty and her illustrious Consort. It will be
seen, however, from the sequel, that these extra-
ordinary measures were wholly uncalled for, at
leat so far as putting any restraint upon the people
was concerned, for the populace were peaceable
and orderly throughout, and though here and
there a hiss or a groan might have been heard,
the great mass of those collected upon the scene
looked averse to even this exhibition of feeling, let
alone being favourable to any act of disloyalty or
violence.

HER MAJESTY'S SPEECH.
" MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
" I am always happy to meet you in Parliament;
and on the present occasion it is with peculiar sa-
tisfaction that I recur to your assistance and advice.
" The hopes which I expressed at the close of the
last session that a speedy settlement would be ef-
fected of the differences existing between Russia
and the Ottoman Porte, have not been realised,
and I regret to say that a state •f warfare has
ensued.
" I have continued to act in cordial co-operation
with the Emperor of the French, and my endea-
vours, in conjunction with my Allies, to preserve
and to restore peace between the contending parties
altheugh hitherto unsuccessful, have been unremit-
ting. I will not fail to persevere in these endeavours,
but as the continuance of the war may
deeply affect the interests of this country
and of Europe, I thinkit requisite to make
a further augmentation of my naval and
military forces, with the view of supporting my re-
presentations, and of more effectually contributing
to the restoration of peace. .
" I have directed that the papers explanatory of
the negotiations which have taken place upon this
subject shall be communicated to you without
delay.

GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

" The estimates for the year will be laid before
you, and I trust you will find that, consistently
with the exigencies of the public service at this
juncture, they have been framed with a due regard

;o economy.
" MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

" In the year which has just terminated, the
blessing of an abundant harvest has not been
vouchsafed to us. By this dispensation of Provi-
dence the price of provisions has been enhanced,
and the privations of the poor have been increased;
but their patience has been exemplary ; and the
care of the Legislature evinced by the reduction of
taxes affecting the necessaries of life, has greatly
tended to preserve a spirit of contentment.
" I have the satisfaction of announcing to you
that the commerce of the country is still pros-
perous ; that trade, both of export and import,
has been largely on the increase ; and that the re-
venue of the past year has been more than adequate
to the demands of the public service.
" I recommend to your consideration a Bill
which I have ordered to be framed for opening the
coasting-trade of the United Kingdom to the ships
of all friendly nations ; and I look forward with
satisfaction to the removal of the last legislative
restriction upon the use of foreign shipping for the
benefit of my people.

" Communications have been addressed by my
command to the Universities of Oxford and Cam-
bridge, with reference to the improvements which
it may be desirable to effect in their institutions.
These communications will be laid before you, and
measures will be proposed for your consideration,
with the view of giving effect to such improve-
ments.

"The establishments requisite for the conduct
of the Civil Service, and the arrangements bearing
upon its condition, have recently been under re-
view ; and I shall direct a plan to be laid before
you which will have for its object to improve the
system of admission, and thereby to increase the
efficiency of the service.
"The recent measures of legal reform have
proved highly beneficial, and the success which
has attended them may well encourage you to
proceed with further amendments. Bills will be
submitted to you for transferring from the Eccle-
siastical to the Civil Courts the cognisance of
tesmentary and of matrimonial causes, and for
giving increased efficiency to the superior courts of
common law.

" The laws relating to the relief of the poor nave
of late undergone much salutary amendment ;
but there is one branch to which I earnestly direct
your attention. The law of settlement impedes
the freedom of labour ; and if this restraint can
with safety be relaxed, the workman may be ena-
bled to increase the fruits of his industry, and the
interests of capital and of labour will be more firmly
united.

Measures will be submitted to you for the amend-
ment of the laws relating to the representation of
the Commons in Parliament.

" Recent experience has shown that it is neces-
sary to take more effectual precautions against th`e
evils of bribery, and of corrupt practices at elec-
tions. It will also be your duty to consider
whether more complete effect may not be
given to the principles of the Act of the last
reign, whereby reforms were made in the repre-
sentation of the people in Parliament. In
recommending this subject to your considera-
tion, my desire is to remove every cause of just
complaint, to increase general confidence in the
Legislature, and to give additional stability to the
settled institutions of the State.

" I submit to your wisdom the consideration of
these important subjects ; and I pray God to pros-
per your counsels, and to guide your decisions.

SCHOOLS FOR DESTITUTE AND CRIMINAL CHILDREN.—
A memorial has been presented to Viscount Palmerston
by a number of inhabitants of Hull, urging the necessity
for immediate legislation to provide at the public ex-
pense, in all populous districts, industrial and reforma-
tory establishments, where all destitute and neglected
children shall be educated and trained in useful habits,
and where in a separate ward or establishment, and un-
der classification, those convicted of crime may he like-
wise trained until of an age to earn their own subsist-
ence, the parents of all such children in the meantime
being liable for the expenses incurred.
CHATHAM.—The electors of Chatham, supporters of
Sir James Stirling at the last two elections for that
borough, gave a farewell dinner to the gallant admiral
on Friday evening last. Upwards of six hundred sat
down to dinner, in a tent erected for the occasion. Dr.
Ely presided. Sir James Stirling, Mr. Romaine, Mr.
Berkeley, M.P., Captain Caius, Captain Baker, Mr.
Coppock, Mr. Hulkes, and several of the county and
district magistrates sat at the centre table. After din-
ner the usual loyal toasts were given, that of Prince
Albert being ver.eived with marked and unusual ap-
plause by the whole asf;emblage. Sir :fames Stirling,
Mr, Romaine, Mr. Coppock, Capt. Baser, Mr. Berke-
ley, and others, addressed the meeting, and the proceed-
lugs lasted wihout cessation until past ten o'clock.

MONEY MARKET

AND

,031_11EiXIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday
were estimated at about 6,000 bales, of which
800 American and 200 Egyptian were taken on

speculation. The market closed heavily, with
prices of all kinds much the same as on Friday
last. The sales comprised 4,500 American, 700
Egyptian, at 61d. to 9d.; 600 Surat, at 3d. to 40.;
and 20 Sea Island, at ls. sd. to is. 7d. per lb.

Railway Shares were steady.
In a report upon the tallow market, by Messrs.
Smith and Charles, it is stated :
"The advices from St. Petersburg are to the 9th
(21st) inst. Exchange, 38 13-16ths to 15-16ths. No
business whatever doing in tallow for next season, and
quotations quite nominal. Since our last report the
market has been very quiet. On Saturday scarcely any
business was done speculatively, and the tendency was
to decline. To-day the market has been a little firmer,
buyers where there were sellers on Saturday ; still there
is an absence of excitement, operators generally waiting
for more decided news relating to the Russo-Turkish

question."
The reported arrival at Rio of the Australian
vessel, Madagascar, still requires confirmation, as
her Majesty's ship of that name is supposed to
have been meant. The captain of the Jessica who
sent up the news, per telegraph, is hourly expected
in town, .end great anxiety prevails to learn fur-
ther particulars.
The Shareholders in the Waterford and Kilkenny
Railway have taken at Dublin those decided steps
which ought to stimulate the large number of hold-
ers in London to co-operate in bringing about a
vigorous administration of their affairs. The railway
from imperfect arrangements and mismanagement
has been brought into such a state of lassitude that
coaches and cars are preferred, and the extraordinary
spectacle is presented of a traffic receiving scarcely
any development, notwithstanding the new facilities
which a railway should present. Various excuses
were made at a former meeting on behalf of the
board, but the best policy appears to be that
adopted in the case of the Newmarket line, once so
depressed, and now so flourishing, viz., the election
of new directors who have time and talent to
devote to the service of the proprietors. An out-
line of the proceedings at Dublin appears in our
advertising columns.
The current prices for the Jamaica Mines not
officially quoted, are as follows : Jamaica, par to
premium; Metcalfe, to premium; Sue River,
discount to par ; Port Royal, / to A premium.
Public Securities are exceedingly quiet this morn-
ing, panding the receipt of the Queen's Speech.
Consols have been flat at 90i1, and since, at 901 g
The New 34- per Cents. are 914 to 92, and the
Three per Cents. 90 to 91. Exchequer Bills, 9.
to 12s. premium.
Foreign Stocks are quoted about as follows :
Spanish 3 per Cents., 381 to 401 ; Portuguese 4
per Cents., 37 to 39 ; Mexican, 231 to 24 ; Russian
105 to 107, and Dutch 21 per Cents 60 to 61.
These rates are mostly nominal.
The Railway Share prices, in the absence of
other business than the settlement of the account,
may be quoted us under :
Caledonian, 251 ; Eastern Counties, 121 13 ;
Great Northern, 20- 4 ; Great Western, 80!, ;
Lancashire and Yorkshire, 61/ • ; London and
Blackwall, ; London Brighton, and South
Coast, 472 8 ex div. ; London and North-Western,
1001 ; London and South-Western, 381 9 ; Mid-
land, 601 ; North British, 7 ; North Stafford,
6 5/ ; Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton,
171 18 ; South-Eastern, 174 ; York and North
Midland, 221 2 ; Northern of France, 284 91 ;
Paris and Lyons, 121 ; Ditto and Strasburgh, 281.
The amount of railway " calls" for February is as
follows :

Date due. Call. Shares
*Antwerp and Rotterdam l6 £1 0 50,000
Belfast and County Down 4 110 6,750
*Grand Trunk of Canada Shares 6 210 unkn.
*Do., both classes of bonds 6lO 0 unkn.
*Great Central of France lO 2 0 360,000
Killarney Junction
Lancaster and Carlisle, 161. 13s. 4d 1 1 0 24,000
*Paris, Caen, and Strasbourg 2O 6 0 360,000
*Sambre and Meuse, 54 per cent. pref. 1 2 0 13,850
South Wales, 201., 4 per cent ll 4 0
Do., 201., 44 per cent ll 4 0 105,304
Taff Vale, 101 1 1 0 21,600
*Western of Switzerland l5 1 0 65,000

L 1,021,504

Total called in 1854...

£2,604,194

* The proportion called by foreign companies is
848,8501., but the holdings of English proprietors are
not known.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING•-(THIS DAY.

LONDON, Jan. 31.—Wind this day at Noon, S.W. ; light
airs and very mild weather.
OFF DOVER, Jan. 30.—Carlisle, from Calcutta.
PLYMOUTH, Jan. 30.—Wind, S.W. Arrived—Pro-
pontis (s), from Calcutta, Cape, &c. ; Velore, Callao, for
Leith, with sails split.
OFF PORTSMOUTH, Jan. 30.—Mary Montague, from
Batavia, and sailed for Rotterdam. _ ,

BARMOUTH, Jan. 30.—Arrived—Zephyr (s), Aberyst-
with, for Liverpool, making much water.
MARYPORT, Jan. 30.—Arrived—Nelson, from St. John's,
New Brunswick.
B,BNTISLAND, Jan. 30.—The Lee (schooner), of Dun-
dee, drove foul of the Express, and both received some
damage to their masts, &c. The Vauma, Shields to Con-
stantinople, drove on shore during a gale yesterday ; if the
weather moderates she may be got off.
NEWPORT.—Arrived—Eleonore Bristol for Havana
Sailed—Siam, New York. The Parthian (Danish barque),
which fell over in the canal, is much strained and damaged,
and will not float.
YARMOUTH, Jan. 30.—The Star, (schooner), of Whitby,
was in collision to-day with the Effort (brig), of Sunder-
land, and had her bows stove, &c. The Louth, of Louth,
from Sunderland to London, been brought in with loss
of sails, &c. ; the Elizabeth Taylei son, from Shields to
London, is on shore on the Barber Sand, but is expected
off on the flood.
SHIELDS, Jan. 30.—Sailed—Eustace, for Rio Janeiro.
HULL, Jan. 30.—Sailed—Venerable, for Bermuda.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.
Beacon on the Island of Sortie.—The Norwegian Govern-
ment has given notice that a beacon has been erected on
the N.E. point of the Island of Sortie, called Reodseigfeild,
at the entrance of the passage ; position, long. 23 21 E. of
Greenwich, lat. 70 52 N. The base of the beacon is 977
feet, English, above water level, and is visible 16 miles.

THE MADAGASCAR.
A report has been circulated that the Madagascar for
whose safety so much interest is felt, has been heard of by
the Jessica, from Callao, arrived at Queenstown. The re-
port came from Margate, and is as follows :
" Green's missing ship the Madagascar, is at Rio de
Janeiro, leaky. Capt. Harrington's time of leaving Callao
is not known. The time when the Madagascar put into
Rio is not known. Captain Harrington to boatmen, that
when the Madagascar put into Rio, she was in a very
leaky state, near upon foundering, and he judged that the
whole cargo must come out. The passengers would leave
the ship and come on the next Rio mail."
In reply to this communication it has to be observed
that no reliance can be placed in the statement. The Jes-
sica, from Callao, arrived at Queenstown on the 10th Jan.,
and did not bring so late dates from Rio as the last ad*es
by the steamer, which were to the 16th December. It may
be inquired why did not Captain Harrington report thisin-
telligence earlier, by communicatinglso important a fact, if
true, to the owners of the Madagascar and to the public
through the press. Captain Harrington arrived in London
from Margate yesterday, and made no communication on
the subject to her owners, nor that of the Madagascar.
At present the relatives of the passengers and crew of the
missing vessel must give no credence to the above report of
her safety, notwithstanding its plausibility. The only
chance that appears of the report being true, is that Capt.
Harrington received it from some vessel from Rio, which
may have arrived in the Channel.

DEPARTURES FOR THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.—The
departures from the port of London for Australian
colonies during the past week show an
have comprised altogether eight vessels—twoas.
Syd-
ney,etoThetons ;
with an aggregate burden of 2,073 two to
Port
Philip, with an aggregate burden of 1,550 tons ;
one to Swan River, of 582 tons ;o to Hobart Town,
n
of 461 t • •ons , one to New Zealand, of 409 tons ; and
one to Launceston, of 387 tons. Their total capacity
was consequently 5,462 tons. The rates of freight show
a further tenthwy to decline.
BUSINESS OF THE PORT OF LONDON.—In the general
business of the port of London during the past week
there has been diminished activity. The number of
vessels reported inward was 107, being 40 less than the
previous week. Of sugar there was reported 1,098
hhds., 315 casks, 1,752 cases, and 45,251 bags ; of tea,
24,315 packages; of coffee, 3,046 bags and 196 casks ;
of grain, 10,786 quarters, including 8,344 quarters of
wheat ; and of flour, 3,089 bags and 9,163 barrels. Th,
number of ships cleared outward was 83, being 4 le -s
than in the previous week, and of those, 19 were in
in ballast, and 8 as above stated, for the Australian
colonies.
THE WRECK OF THE TAYLEUR.— The jury re-assembled
on Monday, when the Coroner having summed up the
evidence, the verdict of the jury was given, to the effect
that the wreck occurred in consequence of the highly
culpable neglect of the owners in permitting the Tay-
leur to sail without having her compasses properly
adjusted, or without a trial to n,qcertqin if the ship waq
under proper control of her helm. Moreover, that
Captain Noble did Y.-y)t take suilici pi-,e.;ntiou to en-
sure the safety of the vessel by sounding, after detecting
the error in the compasses. Captain Noble, however,
was not criminally impugned by the verdict.