The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-24 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.

The doors were opened precisely at 12 o'clock,
and from that hour until about half-past one the
arrivals of company were continuous and rapid,
ladies forming, As is invariably the case on these
occasions, an overwhelming majority of the visitors.
They occupied the whole body of the house, with
the exception of the limited number of seats in the
centre, reserved for the peers and judges, as well as
all
attirehe galleries,ca and their rich, elegant, and taste-
ful hues gave variety and brilliancy
to aspt of ,
many
which is admitted to be one of the
t eee
finest and most imposing to be witnessed in the
country. _

On no occasion that we remember has there been
so large an attendance of Peers and Peeresses, and
so much interest apparently felt in the proceed-
ings.
The corps diplomatic arrived in rapid succes-
sion—the French, Sardinian, Turkish, Austrian,
Hanoverian, Swedish, American, Netherlands,
Spanish, Portuguese, Haytian, and a host of other
Ministers and Ambassadors.

At two o'clock an officer of the house requests
the ladies to be uncovered, for the Queen is ap-
proaching, and then there is a rustling of silks
and opera cloaks, rich shawls are laid aside, and
jewels, hitherto concealed, glisten on the necks
and bosoms of their wearers. A gentle buzz of
conversation rises from the expectant group, Lords
are seated, and all eyes are directed to the doors on
each side of the throne, through which her Majesty
is shortly to enter. The great officers of State leave
the house, and assemble at the foot of the staircase.
A few moments elapse, the State carriage is at the
grand entrance, and her Majesty on alighting is
received by the great officers in attendance. Here
a procession is formed, which passes along the
Royal Gallery into the Prince's Chamber in the
following order :

Pursuivants.
Heralds.
Equerry to H. It. H. Groom to H. It. H.
the Prince Albert. the Prince Albert.
Gentlemen Ushers to her Majesty.
Equerry to her Majesty. Groom to her Majesty,
Clark Marshal.

The Comptroller of The Treasurer of
Her Majesty's Household. Her Majesty's Household.
Norroy King of Arms. Clarenceux. King of Arms.
The Lord Privy Seal.
The Lord President of the Council.
The Lord High Chancellor.
The Gentleman Usher of Garter Principal King of
the Black Rod. Arms.
The Earl Marshal. The Lord Great Chamberlain.
Tho Sword of State.

THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY,
accompankd by his Royal Highness the Prince Albert,
and attended by the Mistress of the Robes,
and the Lady in Waiting.
The Lord Steward. Groom of the Stole to
H. R. H. the Prince Albert.
The Lord in Waiting to her Majesty.
Pages of Honour.
The Master of the Horse. •

Lord in Waiting, to MILK the Prince Albert.
Captain of the Yeomen of Captain of the Corps of
the Guard. Gentlemen at Arms.

The Gold Stiok.

Field Officers ofthe Guard on duty.
An Officer of the respective Corps
of the Gentlemen at Arms and the Yeomen of the Guard,
closing the Procession within the Prince's Chamber.
After a short pause a flourish of trumpets is heard.
The whole company rise en ?muse, and the heralds
in their quaint dress and antique tabards enter ;
great officers of the household follow, then Garter
King of Arms, and range themselves on the left of
the Throne. Her Majesty, with her royal train
borne, and taking the arm of the Prince Consort,
enters, and is conducted to the chair of state upon
the throne. Her Majesty, on taking her seat, re-