The Sun.
London, England, 1840-01-17 00:00:00

LONDON :
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1840.

Parliament was yesterday opened by her MAJESTY.
She looked extremely well, though rather pale, and seemed
in excellent spirits. She was loudly cheered both in going
to, and returning from, the House of Lords.
The Speech is short, and like most Royal Speeches on
opening Parliament, is drawn up to tell as little as possible,
and so give the least handle to discussion.
The Duke of SOMERSET moved in the House of Lords,
and Lord SEAFORD seconded the Address, which was as
usual an echo of the Speech.
The Duke of WELLINGTON joined the Noble Mover and
Seconder in heartily congratulating her MAJESTY on her
marriage. His Grace, however, falling in, we regret, to
say with the howl of the Times, proposed as an amend-
ment to the Address, the insertion of the word " Pro.
:estant.” before the name of Prince ALBERT, so as to ex-
press the pleasure of the House that her MAJESTY was
going to ally herself to a Protestant Prince.
Viscount MELBOURNE opposed the amendment, and jus-
tified the omission of the epithet by the precedeet followed
by GEORGE 111. He declared that the Act of Settlement
rrquired that the Consort of the QUEEN should be a Pro-
testant, and it would not make the case either clearer or
stronger by so describing him.
The Earl of WINCHILSEA exaggerated the objections
of his Grace. supported the amendment, and announced
his intention at a future day to bring under the considers
tion of the House the conduct of Ministers.
Earl FITZWILLIAM turned some of the other Noble Earls'
observations into ridicule, and adverted to the commercial
distress of the country, which he declared was greater
than at any period within his recollection ; and he hoped
that an investigation would take place into its cause.

Lord BROUGHAM made a long speech, in which he ridi-
culed the importance attached to the word " Protestant;"
expressed his general concurrence in the Address, re-
serving his opinion as to the political part of thi India
question till the consequences of it were fully developed,
and expatiated with great earnestness on the peculiar and
alarming public discontent which the Noble Lord as-
cribed chiefly to the people being excluded front the
franchise.
Earl STANHOPE agreed with the Noble Lord as to the
situation of the country, but differed from him as to its
causes, which the Noble Earl said were the Reform Act,
the Poor-law, and Peel's Bill.
The Duke of RICHMOND expressed his confidence in the
Magistrates preserving the peace of the country, recom-
mended their Lordships to mix with the people, and pro-
tested warmly against the Corn-laws being meddled with.
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE bore a very flattering testi-
mony to the virtues of Prince ALBERT, and said he was
qualified not only to make her MAJESTY happy, he be-
il,icervediviAb
JuEtsTtoy,bsepeoopieuelapriotpyular in this country, and add to
Finally, the amendment was, we believe, agreed to by
Lord MELBOURNE, as unimportant, and their Lordship's
adjourned at Half-past Eight o'clock.
In the COMMONS, Mr, GREG and Lord C. HAMILTON
took their seats. Several new writs 'were moved, on
which Mr. D'IsRAELI took the opportunity, amidst much
merriment, to inquire what were to be the political prin-
ciples oldie re-constructed Cabinet.
Notices were given on the part of Ministers for Bills to
give effect to the recommendations of the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners to regulate steam navigation and inland
bonding ; and to reform the Irish Municipal Corporations.
Sir J. Y. BULLER is on the :18th to move a vote of want
of confidence in the Ministers.
In answer to Sir E. ENATCHBULL, Mr. F. MAULE said
it is the intention of Ministers to bring in a Bill to
amend the Rural Police Act ; and in ;answer to Mr. F.
KELLY, Lord J. RUSSELL said that the present regulation
as to closing the Post Office at an early hour is entirely
of a temporary nature.
The case of Privilege, involved in the prosecution of
Mr. HANSARD by Mr. STOCKDALE, Was brought under the
notice of the House before the Address was moved in an.
swer to the Speech from the Throne. A petition was pre-
sented, and papers were laid on the table. Lord JOHN
RUSSELL then moved, after giving an outline of the pre-
sent situation of the case, that Mr. BT,OCKDALE, his attor-
ney, the two Sheriffs, and Under-Sherif, be summoned to
the bar this day.
Sir EDWARD SUDDEN entered into the legal and techni-
nal merits of the whole question, and declared his intention
to oppose the motion.
Sir ROBERT Lice's took the same side. A debate of
considerable length ensued, Sir RODEAT PEEL agreeing
with Lord JOHN RUSSELL, which ended by the motion for
summoning Mr. SToexDALE and the other persons to the
bar being carried by 286 to 167.
Mr. CAVENDISH then moved an Address in answer to