The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-27 00:00:00

FRAN CE.

OPENING OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
PARIS, TUESDAY.
This day, at one o'clock, the Emperor opened in
person, at the palace of the Tuileries, in the Salle
des Marechaux, the legislative session of 1855.
The throne was placed at the end of the room, on
a raised platform, in front of the window looking
into the garden. On the right of the throne was
andplaced a
thech alierf oft a statesimfaorroPrince Jerome
ee Napoleon
absent in the East. On the rightp Nap
and left of their
Imperial HighnessesstsnaoioadsteeadtsbfyorththeeEmpiinvecersor ;
whilsthe lof
designated
placed seats for the groat
the Imperialfamily,r
on
officers of the Crown, the cardinals, marshals, and
admirals ; the ministers, and Grand Crosses of the
Legion of Honour ; the presidents, vice-presidents,
presidents of sections, and members of the Council
of State.
The recess of the window was reserved for the
officers of the households of their Majesties and of
Prince Jerome Napoleon. On the right were places
reserved for the diplomatic body ; in front of the
throne were the seats of the president, vice-presi-
dents, and members of the Senate ; and on the
left, those of the president, vice-presidents, and
members of the Legislative Corps. Behind the Senate
were the places reserved for the deputations of the
Court of Cessation, the Court of Accounts, the Im-
perial Court, the Catholic clergy, the Prefect of the
Seine, the Prefect of Police, a deputation of the
tribunal of Premiere Instance, the Presidents of
Central Council and of the Non-Catholic Consis-
tories ; the general commanding the National
Guard, and the head of his st aff ; general officers,
and colonels of the Imperial Guard, and of the
army of Paris. Between the places reserved for the
Senate and the Legislative Corps a wide opening
led to the throne.
The gallery above was reserved
taohfuofedrt
htEt
diplomaticpEl Empress,
med sipse,rs etishns the
the princesses, the grand master, grand mistress,
he
e
_
lavani
dtdei
edsl, aotdfhi etesh
we oi fvpetrshi
no:fel
sitoshues er
members
eoml
b Mathildeoe
rf s
corps, of the ministers, marshals, and admirals,
of the widows of marshals and admirals, the
wives of the great officers of the Crown, of the
members of the bureaux, of the Senate, Legislative
Corps, and Council of State, and of the first presi-
dents and procureurs-general of the' Court of Cas-
sation, Court of Accounts, and Imperial Court, and
of the Prefect of the Seine.
The ladies who had received invitations had all
taken their places before a quarter to twelve. At
half-past twelve the diplomatic corps, the great
bodies of the State, and the various deputations
were in the places reserved to them. Every person
was in full dress or uniform, and the coup d'oci/
was magnificent.
At 5 minutes to one o'o'clock an usher advanced
and announced the Empress. Her Majesty, accom-
panied by the Princess Mathilde and the officers
and ladies of her household, entered and took her
place in front of the throne. As soon as the Em-
pressmEdpthrumaeat
fstypet
:ectwrtrthoha seooreff,
cor-
tege entered in the following order :—The ushers, a
onneradiuotfy,ththeerachlaacme,betrhleaino
master of the ceremonies, the equerry on duty, the
ceremony
adjutant-general
thedehnjadeuCeremoniesetpidma nl
matcgeehs
deaaildav te oyotmfhameflntoee
nlrwe
teehndet. gunst
ImperialTi nifeo announcedrGrand
mrnh de
com-
mander of the Imperial Guard, the grand master of
the ceremonies, the grand huntsman, the grand
chamberlain,peorrp
the grand marshal of the palace, the
E
aoithe
Jerome Napoleon, the chief
almoner,tpha
etehr eaide-de-camp
commander
ond ut
duty
n ofo rtduty,Prince
Centtheru
ce governor
jerom Gerdes,e
Nt ierrphoeleon.
throne,
Emperorana
giEttli
ril
I:l3sees etpateenrdd Majesty,of the
himselfpersons infr front
being
having
tl whole placedse
acclamations;
betgeenyl
,feihaab:rG:eee rpawnatsellietalio:
ladtet
letehgeM;c:iaraw.
dniatedi
was
rsTsw fre-
quentlyhaooo The
Emperor
at its
ieasti Ceremonies,anasidd termination
read
interruptedafterad, uncovered,bGytehnlleolt ull,
es
sdc
nip
" Vive rEmpereur l"
Immediately after the Minister of State rose
and said,
" Such senators and deputies as have
been nominated since last session are permitted by
the Emperor to take the usual oath. As each name
is called out, the person called will reply, " I
swear." The form of the oath is, " I swear obe-
dience to the Constitution, rust fidelity to the