The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-10 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS-THURSDAY.

The scene presented in the Peers' Chamber on the occa-
sion of her Majesty opening Parliament in person is cer-
tainly one of the grandest displays that can
be seen in this country. The general arrangement of
the sumptuously gilded Chamber of the highest branch
of the Legislature, on ordinary occasions is now
well known to most persons, both in town and country;
all are familiar with the position of the throne, the rows
of crimson-covered benches on either side the woolsack,
and other prominent objects, but the sight presented when
that throne is occupied by the Queen, is one of which all des-
cription has hitherto failed to convey anyhing like a perfect
idea. It is not, therefore, possible on the present occasion
for us to give more than a very general description of the
animated scene that took place to-day when her Majesty
again met her Parliament on the opening of the session of
1871. The doors of the Palace at Westminster were
opened at twelve o'clock, and immediately afterwards
those peereses and their daughters having the
right to be present in the body of the House,
began to arrive in quick succession. As each noble lady
entered the House she was formally conducted to her
assigned place by the Usher of the Black Rod, and by one
o'clock the whole of the benches on either side of the House
were fully occupied by a company, the splendour of whose
costumes, added to the brilliancy of their jewels, presented
a coup &mil of extraordinary grandeur. By this time the
Strangers' Gallery was also crowded with ladies in full
court costume, as were also the galleries on either side of
the House.

The ladies on these occasions are allowed to occupy the
House in full force, four out of the five benches on each
side of the Chamber being appropriated to their use,
and it was to their gay dresses and spark-
ling jewels, to say nothing of their personal
appearance, that we were chiefly indebted for the bril-
liancy of the scene. Next to the ladies the members
of the Corps Diplomatique were the striking feature on the
occasion, and so large was their attendance that the
space appropriated to them on the right
of the Throne was inconveniently crowded,
The two front rows of benches, and the body of the House
were occupied by Peers, of whom about 70 were in attend-
ance, and the space immediately in front of the
woolsack was crowded by 14 judges and 10
bishops, who sat all in an untidy heap, with
their sides instead of their faces to the throne. Everybody
seemed to be in their places by half-past one, but there
was little conversation, as everyone wished to see and be
seen rather than heard. _

The first rise and rustle was occasioned by the entrance
of the Duke of Cambridge, the Princess Mary, and the
Princess Helena, at five minutes to two o'clock. The
Princesses took their seats on the woolsack, and bowed to
some of their friends on the side benches. Three minutes
-later the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived. The
Princess shook hands cordially with her relatives on
the woolsack, and placing herself between them
remained in animated conversation. The Prince of
Wales, after shaking hands with the Duke of
Cambridge, the Archbishop of York, and a tall
diplomatist in a blue sash, took his seat on the chair placed
at the right of the throne, but at some distance from it.
An almost unbroken silence then pervaded the chambers
and for ten minutes all was expectancy, during which the
word painters present had ample opportunity of extending
their notes. At ten minutes past two the
heralds marched into the chamber, bowed three
times and took up their station at the
foot of the throne. Then followed the usuaal procession, in
the midst of which the Queen entered, walking alone,
and with slight bows to the assembled company she took
her seat upon the chair of state. The Princess
Louise and Princess Beatrice entered with the pro-
cession and took their stations on the right side of the
throne. The Princess Louise adjusted her Majesty's
robes and moved the footstool to her feet. A
dead silence then pervaded the assembly. The scene
had then reached its culmination, and the assembly
around the throne might have been photographed
to advantage. All were standing except the Queen
and the Prince of Wales. Tho Marquis of Winchester
bearing the Crown, and Earl Granville, were conspi-
cuous among the group. The Princesses stood with the
most exemplary firmness, not moving A muscle.
For ten minutes we waited the arrival of the
Commons. Presently a rush and a scramble
cause all heads to be turned to the bar. In the race from
the other house Mr. Gladstone managed to keep well up
with the Speaker, and by the efforts of Lord Charles
Russell he was brought to the front, and stood with the
Speaker, the Sergeant at Arms and Black Rod at the
frpoenatkr'oefthe bar ; behind them the members who were
soundest in wind and limb, and therefore most suc-
cessful in a scramble, stood next. When silence
had been partially restored, the Lord Chancellor said
" I am commanded by the Queen to read the speech for
her Majesty, and therefore in her Majesty's name, and in
her Majesty's words, I now read it." This he did in a
voice unusually sonerous and clear. The paragraph re-
specting the sanctity of treaties made a manifest impres-
sion on the House, as did also the definite announcement
of the measure for the establishment of secret voting.
Immediately on the conclusion of the Speech her
Majesty arose, descended from the Throne, and addressing
the Princess of Wales gave her an affectionate embrace.
The Princesses Mary and Helena were allowed to kiss
her hand, as was also the tall diplomatist in blue pre-
viously mentioned ; he also, without any interference on
the part of the Duke of Argyll, kissed the hand of
the Princess Louise. The whole assembly suddenly dis-
solved, and nothing remained but the magnificent chamber
in which the ceremony had taken place.