The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-01 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAM ENT.

OPE-T.-TING OF THE SESSION.

HOUSE OF .LORDS-(YESTERDAY).

rho fourth session of the present Parliament Was
opened to-lay by her Majesty in person. The ceremo-
nial by which the great legislative body of the nation is
called teto active exi,tenco is one which at all times and
under all circumstances constitutes a significant and int-
posiag pig ;ant. To-day, however, the interest., which
upon similar occasions usually animates the public mind,
was in consequence of the great question of peace or
war, at this moment in the balance, considerably in-
creased. The people of England anxiously awaited,
from the lips of their Sovereign, the assurance that the
mighty contest which but a brief period since had
aroused them from the tranquil repose of 40 years, was
about in all probability to terminate in a peace flatter-
ing to the nation's feelings, and honourable to her arms.
When 1 ist her Majesty met her Parliament in that mag-
nificent chamber, which is consecrated to the labours of
the moo., illustrious deliberative assembly in the world,
the-s• al of the country was saddened by the dark his-
tory of a gallant army suffering in consequence of offi-
cial mi,menegernent, unparalleled privations, and by tte
sliadowy horrors of a protracted war which the future
unfolded. To-day another and a brighter prospect was
presented to Vie view. Great successes had within the
last year been achieved, and they whose valour had
achieved them were passing- in comparative comfort the
period of inevitable cessation from strife. Peace, too,
no longer glimmered in the far distance, but seemed
close at hand as the rich reward of a just war, rendered
illustrious by noble deeds. It can, then, be no matter for
surprise that the Royal Speech, which, it was expected,
would confirm the tidings of peace which but a few days
before had gladdened the country, should he looked forward
to with more than ordinary interest, and that that interest
should find expression in the immense crowd which as-
sembled along the entire route from Buckingham Palace
to the Houses of Parliament to greet her Majesty as she
proceeded upon her way. Every available spot, at all
events from which a glimpse of the Royal cortege could
be oletained, rim occupied long before the hour at which
it had been fixed that the Royal party should start for
Westminster. A. day dry, but somewhat cold and som-
bre, while it enabled the assembled crowd to witness the
procession without inconvenience, contributed but little
to its splendour. The Queen was loudly cheered as the
procession moved along.
Whi!e such was the scene without the House of Lords,
that within its walls was one of imposing brilliancy. As
early as half-past twelve o'clock a large number of the
female members of the aristocracy had arrived, and oc-
cupied the back benches upon both the ministerial and
opposition sides of the house. At one o'clock their
numbers bad so far increased as to leave no seats avail-
able, save a single bench in the front row on each eide,
and the small spaCe ordinarily appropriated to the
bishops, the judges, and the diplomatic corps. The
galleries also were oceupie I by members of the fair sex,
and if their presence tended to the inconvenience of
more than one peer, by temporarily excluding him fr sm
a seat, it must be admitted that it lent a grace to the
scere, which in their absence it would be impossible to
attaic.
Shortly before half-past one o'clock, the Haytian
Minister arriveil, arid immediately afterwards the Por-
tuguese, the Brazilian, the Belgian, and Sardinian Min-
isters entered the house, and took their positions on the
seats immediately behind the episcopal benches. It was
not until a quarter before two that the French, Aug-
trian, and Turkish Ambassadors joined their diplomatic
brethren. Mr. Buchanan, the American Minister, also
formed one of the diplomatic circle, and being dressed
in plain clothes presented a somewhat striking contrast
to his colleagues, whose breasts glittered with stars and
decorations.

Baron Alderson and Justices Coleridge and Crompton
were the first judges who arrived. Subsequently we
noticed the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, the
Chief Baron, Justices Erle, Winos, and Wightnaan, to-
gether with Barons ,Bramwell and Martin, among the
occupants of the judicial bench.
On the episcopal bench were the Archbishop of Can-
terbury, the Bishop of Oxford, the Bishop of St. David's,
and the Bishop of Exeter;
The Duke of Cambridge, accompanied by his aide-de-
camp, Colonel M'Donald, arrived shortly before two
o'clock, and at that hour there were present in the house,
besides those we have alreadymentioned, the Lord Chan-
cellor, Lord Panwure, the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke
of Argyll, the Earl of Harrowhy, Lord Stanley of
Alderley, Lord Wodehouse, the• Duke of Newcastle,
Lord Lansdowne, Lord Campbell, Lord Clanricarde,
Lord Elgin, and Lord Overstone.
On the opposition aide was Lord St. Leonardo, the
Marquis of Bath, the Earl of Donoughmore, the Earl of
Cardigan, and Lord Ward.
The Earl of Derby and the other leading members of
the opposition were not in the house. At no period of
the ceremonial were there more than 50 peers in at-
tendance.

Precisely at a quarter-past two o'clock the appear-
ance of the heralds and men at arms, accompanied by a
long train of officers connected with the Royal house-
hold, announced that the Queen was at hand ; and pre-
sently her Majesty, leaning on Prince Albert, and at-
tended by the Duchess of Sutherland, as Mistress of the
Robes, by the Duchess of Wellington, as one of the
Ladies in Waiting, and by E. everal of the Ministers and
great officers, entered and took her seat upon the
Throne.

The whole of the brilliant assembly stood up to receive
her, and few sights of rarer or more imposing splendour
than that vrliich then met the eye were ever witnessed
in &single chamber. "Tim bright colour/1 of the ladies'
dresses, reflecting all the varied hues of the rainbow ;
the scarlet robes of the peers ; the gorgeous fittings of
the house itself ; the attire of the members of the diplo-
matic body, resplendent with stars and orders—all con-
stituted a picture of that mingled brilliancy and beauty
on which the fancy loves to linger. Female grace and
female loveliness, too, were not wanting to lend their
influence to the scene, and to give completeness to its
attraction.

Prince Albert took up his position on the left hand of
the Queen, as did also Earl Granville, bearing the sword
of state. On her Majesty's right hand were the Duchess
of Sutherland and the Duchess of Wellington ; the Lord
Chancellor, with the great seal ; the Marquis of Lans-
downe, bearing the crown ; and the Marquis of Win-
chester, the cap of maintenance.
The Queen having signified her desire that the as-
sembled lords and ladies should resume their seats, or-
dered the Commons to be summoned to the bar of the
Upper House; and, after the lapse of a few seconds, the
Speaker, accompanied by Lord Palmerston, Mr. Hay-
ter, Mr. Horstnan, S. B. Hall, Mr. Napier, Mr. White-
side, Mr. Bentinek, and several other members of the
Lower House, were ushered, in somewhat tumultuous
order, into their Sovereign's presence.
The Lord Chancellor then, on bended knee, handed
the paper containing the Royal.speech.
Her MAJESTY, in a clear and distinct voiee, pro-
ceeded to read the speech, 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 stronghold of Russia in
the Black Sea, has yielded to the persevering constancy
and to the daring bravery of the allied forces. The na-
val and military preparations for the ensuing year have
necessarily 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. Ac-
cordingly, when the Emperor of Austria lately offered to
myself and 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 con-
tending Powers. I consented, in concert with my Allies,
to accept the offer thus made, and I have the satisfac-
tion to inform you that certain conditions have been
p.m which I hope may prove the foundation of
" Negotiations for such a treaty will shortly be opened
at Paris.
aaggreenederaul treaty of Pace.
"In conducting those negotiations 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
relaa my naval and military preparations until a satis-
factory treaty of peace ehall have been concluded.
r " Although the war in whi ili lam engaged was
brought on by events in the South of Europe, my atten-
tion has net been withdrawn from the state of thingi in
l'ilhe Noith, and, in conjunction with the Emperor of the
French, I have concluded with the King of Sweden and
Norway a treaty containing defensive engagements ap-
plicable to his dominions, and tending to the preserva-
tion of the balance of power in that part of Europe.
" I have also concluded a treaty of friendship, com-
merce, and navigation with the Republic of Chili. I
1
have given directions that these treaties shall be laid
before you.
"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"The estimates for the ensuing year will be laid be-
fore you. You will find them framed in such a manner
as to provide for the exigencies of war, if peace should
unfortunately not be concluded.
" My Lords and Gentle:nen,
"It is gratifying to me to observe that, notwithstand-
ing the pressure of the war, and the burthens and sacri-
fices which it has unavoidably imposed upon my people,
the resources of my empire 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 shall not call upon them for ex.
ertions beyand 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 internal
improvement which I recommend to your attentive
consideration.
" The difference which 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. Measures will be proposed to
you for remedying this evil.
" Measures will also be proposed to you for improving
the laws relating to partnership, by simplifying those
laws, and thus rendering more ea,y the employment of
capital in commerce.
"The system under which merchant shipping is liable
to pay local dues and passing tolls has been the subject
of much complaint. Measures will be proposed to you
for affording relief in regard to those matters.
" Other important measures for improving the law in
Great Britain and Ireland will be proposed to you, which
will, I doubt not, receive your attentt; e consideration.
"Upon these and all other matters upon which you
may deliberate, I fervently pray that the blessing cf
Divine Providence may favour your councils, and guide