The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-31 00:00:00

OPENIN G

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(This Day.)

Owing to the stirring events of the past year
connected with the war in which we are at present
engaged, and the probability of peace being con-
cluded sooner than was anticipated, the opening
of the present session of Parliament has been
eagerly looked forward. to ; and an intense inte-
rest manifested by all classes of her Majesty's sub-
jects as to the future course to be adopted by
the Ministry in bringing to a termination the
present war, in the course of which, notwith-
standing the difficulties our troops have had to
contend with, they have shown that indomitable
courage and bravery in the field which have ever
attended the British arms, and by which they
have been so many times victorious in the present
war over numbers far exceading their own.
The weather was very cold, and the sky much
overcast, occasional flakes cf snow falling during
the earlier part of the morning, yet a large con-
course of persons had assembled along the line
of route from Buckingham Palace to the House
of Lords, to obtain a sight of her Majesty as she
proceeded to open the present eventful session,
and who greeted her with enthusiastic cheers of
loyalty and affection; but we regret to add that
his Royal Highness Prince Albert did not receive
so cordial a reception as ho has received on former
occasions.

The attendance of Peeresses and ladies in the
magnificent chamber of the Legislature was greater
than on any former occasion within our recollec-
tion—every available seat, whether in the body
of the house or in the galleries, being occupied.
The members of the corps d4)lomatique occupied
seats at the back of the Ecclesiastical bench. The
attendance of the'respective Foreign Courts was
very large.

The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the wool-
sack at half-past one o'clock. Her Majesty entered
the House of Lords shortly after two o'clock, amidst
a flourish of trumpets and a salvo of artillery. The
house presented at this time a most brilliant and
animated appearance, owing to the beauty of the
ladies and the brilliancy of their attire, the colours
and rays of which were of every huo that the eye
can conceive of, and being most tastefully, almost
artistically, interspersed, had a most pleasing
effect.

Her Majesty having graciously requested the
assembly to be seated, commanded the Usher of
the Black Rod to summon the members of the
House of Commons.

The Speaker, attired in Lis robes, shortly after
appeared at the bar of the house, attended by a
great number of members.

HER MAJESTY'S
SPEECH.

The Lord Chancellor then handed the Speech
to the Queen, which was as follows :
My LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

Since the close of the last Session of Parliament,
the arms of the Allies have achieved a signal and
important success. Sebastopol, the great strong-
hold of Russia in the Black Sea, has yielded to
the persevering constancy and to the daring
bravery of the Allied forces? The naval and mili-
tary preparations for the ensuing year have neces-
sarily occupied my serious attention ; but while
determined to omit no effort which could give vigour
to the operations of the war, I have deemed it
my duty not to decline any overtures which
might reasonably afford a prospect of a safe and
honourable peace. Accordingly, when the
Emperor of Austria lately offered to myself and
to my august Ally the Emperor of the French,
to employ his good offices with the Emperor of
Russia, with a view to endeavour to bring about
an amicable adjustment of the matters at issue
between the contending Powers, I consented, in
concert with my Allies, to accept the offor thus
made, and I have the satisfaction to inform you
that certain conditions have been agreed upon
which I hope may prove the foundation of a gene-
ral treaty of peace.

Negotiations for such a tray will shortly be
opened at Paris.

In conducting those neptiations I' shall be
careful not to lose sight of the objects for which
the War was undertaken ; and I shall deem it
right in no degree to relax my naval and mili-
tary preparations until a satfactory Treaty of
Peace shall have been concluded.
Although the War on which I am en-
gaged was brought on b 7 events in the
South of Europe, my attention has not
been withdrawn from the state of things
in the North, and, in conjuncion with the Em-
peror of the French, I have concluded, with the
King of Sweden and Norway, a Treaty contain-
ing defensive engagements applicable to his Do-
minions, and tending to the p:eservation of the
balance of power in that part of Europe.
I have also concluded a Trcaiy of Friendship,
Commerce, and Navigation with the Republic of
Chili. I have given directions that these Treaties
shall be laid before you.

GENTLEMEN OF TIIE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

The Estimates for the ensuing year will be laid
before you. You will find them framed iu such
a manner as to provide for the exigencies of War,
if Peace should unfortunately not be concluded.
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
It is gratifying
to me to observe that, not-
withstanding the pressure of the War, and the
burthens and sacrifices which it has unavoidably
imposed upon
my people, the resoirces of my Em-
pire remain unimpaired. I rely with confidence on
the manly spirit and enlightened patriotism of my
loyal subjects for a continuance of that support
which they have so nobly afforded me, and they
may be assured that I shalt not call upon them
for exertions beyond what may be required by a
due regard for the great interests, the honour,
and the dignity of the Empire.
There are many subjects connected with inter-
nal improvement which I recommend to your
attentive consideration.
The differencewhich exists in several important
particulars between the Commercial Laws of
Scotland and those of the other parts of the
United Kingdom, has occasioned inconvenience to
a large portion of my subjects engaged in trade.
RHPRUSENTATION OF NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE. Sir Measures will be proposed to you for remedying
Montag-a Cholmeley is named as the probable successor
this evil.
of Mr. Christopher Hamilton, in the representation of
North Lincolnshire. Measures will also be proposed to you for im-
THZ REPRESENTATION OF NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.--We proving the laws relating to partnership by sim-
are enabled, to state that the lion. F. W. Campbell,
those laws, and thus rendering more easy
son
the employment of capital in commerce.
ors the Lord Chief Justice, and late Member for plifying
Cambridge, yesterday left London, for the purpose of
starting as a candidate for the vacancy caused in the re-
prese ntatinn of Newcastle-on-Tyne by the retirement of The system under which Merchart Shipping is
Mr. 161ackett. Diable to pay local dues and passing tolls has been
itrourazno BALL.—The annual ball of the Club of
'the subject of much complaint. Measures will
True . Highlanders was held last night at the Freemasons
Tavek rn, and was well attended. There was a fair at- be proposed to you for affording relief in regard
tenda nee of gentlemen dressed in the garb of Old Gael,,
and dancing, to thsanimated strains of the bagpipe, 'ciao
kept appto a late hoar.to those matters.
Other important raeakiurN for irtproTivg the

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