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

Zlitrb _A. Wit k

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-(THIS EVENING.)

When the Lord Chancellor took his seat on the wool-
sack at five o'clock, there were about 40 peers present ;
but the numbers soon augmented, although the attend-
ance was by no means unusually large. The only occu-
pants of the Ministerial bench at first were the Earl of
Aberdeen and the Duke of Newcastle. The Marquis of
Lansdowne, the Earl of Clarendon, and the other mem-
bers of the Cabinet in the house, shortly afterwards
entered.
The principal peers on the Opposition side were the
Earl of Derby, the Earl of Malmesbury, and the Earl of
Eglinton.
The galleries were crowded with visitors.
The Duchess of Sutherland, the Mistress of theßobes,
and one of her daughters, sat in the side gallary left of
the throne.

THE ADDRESS.
The LORD CHANCELLOR having read the royal
speech, and it having again been read by the Clerk at

,he table,

The Earl of CARNARVON, in moving the address
in answer to her Majesty's most gracious speech, alluded
to the difficulties which beset our foreign relations, and
said that, though they might give rise to much appre-
hension, it was a gratifying circumstance that the past
year presented a prospect of national prosperity and
social improvement. After nearly forty years of peace
and prosperity, they were now threatened with war,
but we might console ourselves with the reflection that

came to us an unbidden and unwelcome guest, and

that every effort had been made to avert its approach,
until forbearance was no longer a virtue ; and if our for-
bearance was unprecedented, it should be recollected that
unprecedented were the resources with which we were
able to meet such a calamity. Our only reluctance to enter
into a sanguinary and bloody contest with a great coun-
try was a thorough conviction of our own strength ;
and though we might not have a Duke of Welling.
ton or a Beresford among us, the example which they
had set had not been lost, and he believed, if we
entered into hostilities, we should find able generals
who would lead our armies to victory. But if we had

•• _
to deplore the impending evil of war, there was one ad-
vantage we had gained since affairs had assumed a serious
appearance, viz., that the Governments of England
and France were never more cordially united than they
were at the present moment. After briefly referring to
the different topics mentioned in the Royal Speech—
the noble earl concluded by moving the address.
The Earl of DIXIE, in seconding the motion trusted
that, in the event of war, Parliament would be unani-
mous in granting that assistance to her Majesty, which
was necessary to maintain the reputation of the country.
After a brief pause,
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE rose and said he
was glad to find that in the existing state of affairs in
Europe there was no intention to move an amendment
to the Address. (Hear, hear.) He concurred in the
necessity of bringing forward a measure of ecclesiastical
reform, but he doubted whether it was advisable at such
a time to enter into the consideration of any proposal
for amending our representative system.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]