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

HOUSE OF LORDS.

The ceremony which takes place in the House
of Lords when her Majesty opens Parliament in
person has been so often described that to give
again a detailed account of it will almost be con-
sidered needless repetition. Yet the occurrences
during the recess, and the fact that it constitutes
the initiative to those deliberations which may re-
sult in important legislative measures, always lend
to the event an interest which requires same de-
tailed reference. On the present occasion, how-
ever, Parliament assembled under circumstances
of more than usual gravity—the country being
almost on the eve of war with one of the greatest
and most powerful of European monarchs, and the
Government being pledged to a measure which is
to effect an extensive reform in our representative
system. A few descriptive words, therefore, upon
what transpired in this magnificent chamber to-
day, notwithstanding the want of novelty, may
not be altogether out of place.
The doors were opened for the admission of com-
pany at 12 o'clock, and the arrivals were continuous
until .very shortly before the entrance of the
Queen. As usual, the majority present consisted
of ladies—peeresses and their daughters, and other
female members of the aristocracy and haut ton—
whose many-coloured and gay dresses, sparkling
with jewels, thrown out in bold relief by the rich
and sombre robes of the peers, added greatly
to the brilliancy of the scene. Towards one o'clock,
some 20 peers had arrived, the most prominent
being the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop
of London, Lord Redesdale, and the Earl
of Delaware. There was also a sprinkling
of ambassadors among a group of peers near the
throne. The muster of judges was rather large.
The Marquis of Lansdowne and the Duke of
Argyll were the Ministers first in attendance.
At a quarter to two the whole of the benches
set aside for the peers' were filled, so were also
those appropriated to the corps diplomatique. The
Ambassadors of France, Austria, Turkey, and
Prussia, were objects of particular attention. We
did not observe the Russian Ambassador (Baron
Brunow), but there was a report that he was
present. The Duke of Cambridge, the Earl of
Aberdeen, and the Duke of Newcastle, were the
next important personages in the order of arrival.
It was just a quarter after two when her Majesty
entered the house, leaning on the arm of Prince
Albert, and preceded and followed by the different
officers of state. The Earl of Aberdeen held the
Sword of State, the Crown was borne by the
Marquis of Lansdowne, and the Cap of Mainten-
ance was carried by the Earl of Zetland.
Her Majesty read the Royal Speech, with much
clearness and emphasis ; and although the noise
occasioned by the entrance of the Commons below
the bar continued some time, -not a word was lost
even by persons at the greatest distance from the
Throne.

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'l regret to say that a state of warfare has
ensued.

" I have continued to act in cordial co•oper ation
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,
although 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 LEurope, I think it 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
to 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 iiith

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 Oxfdrd. 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
testamentary 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 have
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-
bltd 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 the
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."
The delivery of the Speech did not occupy many
minutes, and on its conclusion her Majesty retired
in the same order in which she had entered. She
was attired in a splendid dress of silver tissue,
over which was a robe of crimson velvet,
ornamented with gold lace and ermine, and she
wore a brilliant tiara of pearls and diamonds. The
company then separated.
Their lordships adjourned to 5 o'clock, the usual
hour for the assembling of the house for business.