The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-02 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE FRENCH
CHAMBERS.

The Legislative Session was opened this day at
one o'clock by the Emperor Napoleon 111. in per-
son, the ceremony taking place in the noble hall in
the New Louvre, the Salles des Etats.

Nothing could be more complete than the arrange-
ments which had been made for the arrival of the
different persons to be present.
The weather being beautifully fine and bright, a
crowd began to collect as early as eleven, to watch
the arrival of the handsome equipages which con-
veyed the persons entitled to attend. The carriages
soon after began to arrive, and continued uninter-
ruptedly until noon, after which no admission could
be abtained.

By far the greatest number of persons arrived by
the Pavillon Denon, the entrance to which was
adorned with shrubs and flowers. The vestibule
inside was tastefully ornamented with tricoloured
flags, trophies of arms, and evergreens, as was the
wide staircase conducting to the large square
waiting-room, which leads into the Salle des Etats.
The vast hall in which the Emperor was to
meet the Chambers presented a more finished
appearance than on the last occasion, several of
the ornaments, which were then only tem-
porary, having been beautifully executed ac-
cording to the original design. The whole was
fitted up with draperies of crimson velvet
trimmed with gold, the principal seats being
covered with the same rich material. At the further
end was placed on a raised estrade a throne for the
Emperor, as well as a chair of State, on each side,
for Prince Jerome and Prince Napoleon. Behind
were arranged seats for the other Princes of the
Imperial family, as well as for several of the great
officers of State. The galleries which run along
the sides above were filled with elegantly dressed
ladies.

Before twelve every place was occupied, with
the exception of those reserved for the
high personages composing the Imperial cor-
tege ; and at a little before one the private
conversations ceased, as their Majesties were then
known to be approaching from the private apart-
ments of the Palace by the long Picture Gallery.
An officer of the ceremonies having announced,
" The Empress !" the whole assembly rose, and her
Majesty entered amidst loud cries of" Vive l'lmpe-
ratrice !" " Vive le Prince Imperial !" Her Ma-
jesty proceeded to the right of the platform, pre-
ceded by some of the officers of the household and
accompanied by the Princess Clotilda, the Princess
Mathilde, and the Princesses Lucien and
Joachim Murat. The great officers of the
Empress's household, the Grand Mistress, the
ladies of honour, and the ladies of the Palace
followed. The whole party were dressed in
morning attire, and in half-mourning. The Em-
press and the other ladies proceeded to a tribune on
the right, on a level with the platform, the cor-
responding one on the opposite side being occupied
by the members of the diplomatic corps and the
ladies of their families.
Her Majesty had just taken her seat when the
thunder of the cannon at the Invalides announced

the approach of the Emperor, and immediately
after his Majesty's cortege entered in the fol-
lowing order :—A Master of the Ceremonies,
the Equerry on duty, the Prefect of the Palace,
the Chamberlain on duty, the Adjutant-General
of the Palace, the Grand Master of the Ceremonies,
the Grand Chamberlain, and the Grand Mar-
shal of the Palace. Then came the Emperor,
dressed in a general's uniform, followed by
Prince Jerome, Prince Napoleon, the Princes
of the Imperial family having rank at Court,
the Grand Almoner, the Aide-de-Camp on duty,
the Commander of the Cent-Gardes, and the
Officers of the Households of the Imperial Princes.
His Majesty was greeted with repeated cries of
" Vive l'Empereur !" " Vive l'lmperatrice !" " Vive
le Prince Imperial!" His Majesty took his seat on
the throne, the Princes of the Imperial family near
him, and behind the persons forming their Majes-
ties' cortege. The Grand Master of the Ceremonies
then in a loud voice requested all to be seated, and
the moment after all had resumed their places
amidst the most profound silence. The Emperor
then rose, and in an exceedingly distinct voice,
delivered the following speech :
[TRANSLATION.]
" Messieurs les Senateurs,
" Messieurs les Deputes,
"' On the opening of last session, relying upon
the patriotism of France, I endeavoured to fortify
your minds in advance against the exaggerated
apprehensions of a probable war. To-day I have
at heart to reassure you against the anxiety caused
by peace itself. That peace I desire sincerely, and
shall neglect nothing to maintain it.
"' I have only to congratulate myself on my

friendly relations with all the Powers of Europe.
The only points of the globe where our arms are
still engaged are in the extreme East ; but the
courage of our sailors and of our soldiers, aided by
the hearty assistance of Spain, will doubtless soon
lead to a treaty of peace with Cochin-China. As
regards China, a serious expedition, combined with
the forces of Great Britain, will inflict on her the
chastisement of her perfidy.
"In Europe difficulties approach, as I trust,
their termination, and Italy is on the eve of con-
stituting herself free. Without referring to the
long regotiations which have been dragging along
for so many months,l shall confine myself to a few
principal points.
The dominant idea of the Treaty of Villa-
franca was to obtain the almost complete indepen-
dence of Venetia at the price of the restoration of
the Archdukes. That transaction having failed,
despite my most earnest endeavours, I have ex-
pressed my regret thereat at Vienna as well as at
Turin, for the situation by being prolonged threa-
tened to lead to no issue. While it was the object
of frank explanations between my Government and
that of Austria, it suggested to England, to Prussia,
to Russia, measures the whole of which clearly
prove on the part of the Great Powers their desire
to obtain a reconciliation of all the interests.

" To second these dispositions it was necessary
for France to present that combination the adoption
of which would have the greatest chance of being
accepted by Europe. Guaranteeing Italy by my
army against foreign intervention, I had the right
to assign thz, limits of that guarantee. Therefore I
did not hesitate to declare to the King of Sardinia
that, while leaving him full liberty of action, I
could not follow him in a policy which had the
fault of appearing in the eyes of Europe a desire
to absorb all the States of Italy, and which threat-
ened new conflagrations. I counselled him to reply
favourably to the wishes of the provinces which
should offer themselves to him, but to maintain the
independence of Tuscany, and to respect in princi-
ple the rights of the Holy See. If this arrange-
ment does not satisfy everybody, it has the advan-
tage of reserving principles, of calming apprehen-
sions, and makes Piedmont a kingdom of more than
9,000,000 souls.
" Looking to this transformation of Northern
Italy, which gives to a powerful State all the passes
of the Alps, it was my duty, for the security of our
frontiers, to claim the French slopes of the moun-
tains. This reassertion of a claim to a territory of
small extent has nothing in it of a nature to alarm
Europe and give a denial to the policy of disinte-
restedness which I have procla med more than once,
for France does not wish to proceed to this aggran-
disement, however small it may be, either by niili•
tary occupation or by provoked insurrection, or by
underhand manceuvres, but by frankly explaining
the question to the Great Powers. They will doubt-
less understand in their equity, as France would
certainly understand it for each of them under
similar circumstances, that the important territo-
rial rearrangement which is about to take place
gives us a right to a guarantee indicated by nature
herself.

I cannot pass over in silence the emotion of a
portion of the Catholic world; it has given way
suddenly to such inconsiderate impressions, it has
given itself up to such passionate alarms. The past,
which ought to be a guarantee for the future, has
been so much overlooked, the seryi,.es rendered so
much forgotten, that deeded a very deep cowrie-