The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-20 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIA3IEN T.
HOUSE OF LORDS, Jan. 19.
THE QUEEN'S PROGRESS.
At a quarter before two yesterday the royal cortege pro-
ceeded from Buckingham Palace in the usual order, and
by the- accustomed route, along thelMall, through Horse
Guards, Whitehall, and Parliament-street, to the Lords'
entrance in Old Palace-yard. The whole line of the
procession was much more crowded, notwithstanding the
gloomy and uninviting aspect of the day, than we ever
remember to have seen it on any similar occasion. The
terraces on the Mall, the magnificent flight of Carlton
steps, and the windows and balconies along the route
were thronged; and in the Park itself there has scarcely
been so great a multitude collected, since the files in
celebration of the great peace of 1815. IL was a matter
of general observation amongst the people themselves,
and we heart it attempted to be accounted for by several
on the ground, that there were so many people out of
work. But the cheerful countenances, the respectable
attire, and the happy and contented bearing of the
general mass, gave a practical and emphatic contradic-
tion to that supposition. Indeed, her Majesty could
have observed nothing, in the appearance of these con-
gregated thousands of her subjects, which must
not add to her conviction that, despite of the somewhat
cheerless character of the time, she continues to reign
over the happiest and most loyal, as well as the freest
and most powerful, people in the world. She was every-
where greeted with loud and hearty cheering, which she
acknowledged with manifest satisfaction, evidently de-
riving from it much consolation towards the painful task
which she was about to undergo, of calling the atten-
tion of her Parliament to the sufferings of a large por-
tion of the empire.
The conduct of the vast multitude in every direction was
remarkable for good order and good humour, and it is
as just as it may be expedient to observe, that the con-
duct of the police- along the route was exceedingly
courteous and forbearing, even when the unintentional
pressure of the crowd might give excuse for some slight
ebullition on the part of the younger amongst those en-
trusted with the preservation of order.
On her Majesty's return from the House of Lords she
was saluted with greetings even more enthusiastic than
those which had gratified her on her progress down.

Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen opened Par-
liament yesterday in person.
The interior of the House of Lords commenced wear-
ily, a brilliant aspect, notwithstanding the heavy atmos-
phere, at an early hour. Before one o'clock most of the
seats in the body of the House, and the galleries usually
devoted to distinguished visitors and to strangers,
and the press, were filled with elegantly. dressed
and beautiful ladies. There was a numerous attendance
of Peeresses, The many-coloured garments and elegant
head-dresses had a beautiful effect.

The corps diplomatique arrived at an early hour. They
occupied seats to the left of the throne.
There was a seat at the right and left of the- throne,
that on the right being the seat of the Prince of Wales,
whose arms it bore.

Amongst the Peers who arrived at an early hour we
noticed the Earl of Charleville, the Bishop of Ely, Earl
of Wicklow, Earl of Glengall, Earl of Hatherton, Lord
Carew, the Bishop of London, the Earl of Zetland, the
Bishop of Exeter, the Marquis of Clanricarde, Eatl
Dalhousie, and nearly all the distinguished Peers.
The whole of the Ministers who are Peers were pre-
tent. _ _ _

The following judges were present:—Mr. Justice Pat-
teson, Mr. Justice Coleridge, Mr. Justice Erie, Mr.
Justice Wightman, Mr. Baron Platt, Mr. Justice Colt-
man, Mr. Justice Williams, the Chief Baron, the Chief
Justice of the Common Pleas, Mr. Baron Alderson, and
Mr. Baron Parke.

At half-past one o'clock the House became so dark
that the throne could scarcely be seen from the reporters'
gallery. The chandeliers were consequently lit—an
unusual occurrence either at the opening or prorogation
of Parliament. We cannot call a similar occurrence to
mind : the general effect was in consequence materially
heightened.
Shortly before two o'clock the Lord Chancellor took
his seat on the Woolsack. The Duke of Cambridge
arrived nearly at the same time. The Duke of Wel-
lington arrived at two o'clock, and was received by the
Duke of Cambridge with " Why, Duke, you look quite
young." The Duke truly appeared in excellent health.
At a quarter past two o'clock the tiring of cannon and
the heralds' trumpets announced the arrival of the royal
cortege at the Houses of Parliament.
After a short sojourn in the Robing-room, the Queen
and Prince Albert, accompanied by the officers of
State and of the Houfehold, entered in the usual form.

Both her Majesty anti her 1i). ival Consort appeared in
excellent health and spirits. he wore a magnificent
tiara and stomacher of diamonds. As the foggy nature
of the weather had by this time departed the coup
was magnificent in the extreme.
Having taken her seat on the throne, and commanded
the assembly to ho seated, and the Commons having
been summoned, the Lord Chancellor presented her
Majesty with the Speech.
Her Majesty then, in a clear, silvery voice read the
following Royal Spveeh:—
My LORDS AND GENTLE7,IEN,

It is with the deepest concern that, upon your again as-
sembling, 1 have to call your attention to the dearth of pro-
visions which prevails in Ireland and in parts of Scotland.
In lrelantl, especially, the loss 4,f the usual food of the
people has:been the cause of severe sufferings, of disease, and
of greatly increased mortality among the poorer classo. Out-
rages have become more fro-rent, chiefly directed against
property ; and the transit of provisions has been rendered
unsafe in some parts of the country.
With a view to mitigqte these evils, very large numbers
of men have been employed, and have received wages, in
rursnance of an Act pa-sed in the last session of Parliament.
some deviations from that Act, which have been authorised
by the Lord-Lieutenant of Ltlancl, in order to promote
more useful employment, will, I trust, receive your sanction.
Means have been taken to lessen the pressure of want in dis•
tricts which are most remote from the ordinary sources of
supply. Outrages have been repressed, as far as it was possi-
ble, by the military and police.

It is satisfactory to roe to observe that in many of the
most distressed dist,icts Vie patience and resignation of the
people have been most exemplary.

The deficiency of the harvest in France and Germany, and
other parts of Europe, has added to the difficulty of obtain-
ing adequate supplies of provisions.
It will be your duty to consider what further measures are
required to alleviate the existing distress. 1 recommend to
you to take into your serious consideration, whether by in-
creasing for a limited period, the facilities for importing corn
from foreign countries, and by the admission of sugar more
freely into breweries and distilleries, the supply of food may
be beneficially augmented.
I have likewise to direct your earnest consideration to the
permanent condition of Ireland. You will perceive, in the
absence of political excitement, an_ opportunity for taking a
dispassionate survey of the social evils which afflizt that
part of the United Kingdom. Various measures will be
laid before you, which, if adopted by Parliament, may tend
to raise the great mass of the people in comfort, to promote
agriculture, and to lessen the pressure of that competition for
the occupation of land which has been the fruitful source of
crime and misery.

The marriage of the Infanta Luisa Fernando of Spain to
the Duke of Montpeniier has given rise to a correspondence
between my Government and those of France and Spain.
The extinction of the free state of Cracow has appeared
to me to be so manifest a violation of the Treaty of Vienna,
that I have commanded that a protest against that act
should be delivered to the Courts of Vienna, Petersburgh,
and Berlin, which were parties to it. Copies of these several
papers will be laid before you.
I entertain confident hopes that the hostilities in the River
Plate, which have so long interrupted commerce, may soon
be terminated;: and my efforts, in conjunction with those
of the King of the French, will be earne:stly directed to
that end.

My relations generally with Foreign Powers inspire me
with the fullest confidence in the maintenance of peace.
GENTIgIIEN OF TIIIC HOUSE OF CoMmows,
I hive directed the Estimates to be prepared, with a
view to provide for the efficiency of the public service, with
a due regard for economy.
IkIT-lionDs AND GENTLEMEN,
I have ordered every requisite preparation to be made for
putting into operation the Act of the last session of Parlia-
ment, fur the establishment of local courts for the recovery
of small debts.. It is my hope that the enforcement of civil
rights in all parts of the country to which the Act relates
tuay, by this measure, be materially facilitated.
I recommend to your attention measures which will be
laid..before you for improving the health of towns, an object
the importance of which you will not fail to appreciate.
Deeply sensible of the blessings which, after a season of
calamity, have been so often vouchsafed to this nation by a
superintending Providence, I confide these important mat-
tertto your care, in a full conviction that your discussions
will be guided by an impartial spirit; and in the hope that
the pretieit sufferings of my people may be lightened, and
that their future condition may be improved by your deli-
berative vdedern.
After the delivery of the Speech, the cortege left the
douse almost in the manner in which it had entered.
The whole ceremony did not occupy twenty minutes.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert, on leaving the House
were warmly cheered.

The Lords re-assembledaTilock.
We observed in the House, Lords Stanley, Brougham
Lansdowne, Mon tford,.. Ils,therton (mover of the Address):
Carew, the Earl of. Eglinton, Marquis of Clanricarde
the Berl St. Germa!ns, the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke;
of ingha
Richmond, and Rutland, and several
Buck "
other Peers.

SELECT VESTRIES.
The Marquis of LANDSDOWNE gave notice notice that it
was his intention, on an early day, to bringin a Bill for
the better regulation of Select Vestries.
,
TIIE QUEEN'S SPLI,,CIL
The LORD CHANCELLOR then, irk (. ue form, pro-
ceeded to read her Majesty's Specch.
At the close of the reading of the Speech,
Lord lIATHERTON rose and said—My Lords, it is
now my duty to invite •your Lordships'eonsideration to the
1.:,1% Address which I have the honour cf proposing in reply
to the speech of her Most Gracious Majesty, which you
(.-- ' have just heard read. The condition cf Ireland justly
~- 4 forms a prominent topic in that speech, and I am sure
...*:.7;; the important circumstances connected with it will
I 44• fully entitle me attempting any justification of it.—
f , .
4 s ,
(Hoar, bear.) kyr the first time for a long period
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