The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-05 00:00:00

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

THIS DAY.

The once proverbial fine weather of the Queen on
State occasions has this afternoon again failed her
Majesty completely. A drizzling rain and cold
raw atmosphere have been to-day the equable ac-
companiments of the annually-recurring ceremonial
of the opening of Parliament by the reigning
Sovereign. In spite of this, however, the attend-
ance of the general public in the streets along either
side of the whole line traversed by the procession,
from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of the
Legislature, was very considerable. And their
patience loyally withstood the " pelting of the piti-
less"—hardly can we call it storm—but at any rate
of the dull depressing Scotch mist that came down
anything but handsomely under a gloomy, sunless
sky.

In Whitehall and Parliament-street the specta-
tors were not confined to the streets—large galleri(.is
in many places erected in front of the various bal-
conies wore filled principally by ladies.
A few minutes before one a squadron of the Life
Guards took possession of the line of route, and from
that hour until a short time previous to the royal car-
riages leaving Buckingham Palace, the chariots of
the nobility, their occupants being elegantly
dressed, continued to pass on their way to the House
of Peers.

ller Majesty throughout the entire length of the
journey was enthusiastically received with waving
of hats and handkerchiefs and great cheering.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Within the house of Lords, on our entering it at
a quarter before one o'clock, the peeresses were
already ranged in brilliant array, not only along the
four principal benches on both sides of the body of
the house but in either gallery—the beauty of their
features dimmed by the prevailing darkness, but the
radiant and variegated colouring of their dresses
still conspicuously lighting up the grand Gothic
interior.

The scene within the " House " is one of peculiar
grandeur whenever her Maj,sty deigns to open
Parliament in person, and although the ceremony
is the same on all occasions of her Majesty's pre-
sence, yet the crowd of peers, peeresses, and their
sons and daughters that always assemble to meet
their sovereign seems yearly to increase. The
doors of the House had been opened at twelve
o'clock, and considering that the fair sex were in
question it was rather surprising to see the num-
bers that Lad already arrived. The peeresses had
come in rapidly in little groups of twos and threes,
and, after much bowing and talk with friends, had
been ushered to their places by the messengers, and
were now occupying themselves in gazing at the
rich, and angular but strictly Gothic throne.
The body of the House kept gradually filling
up, and most of the front benches were filled
before one o'clock.

Among the peers earliest in their attendance we
observed the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Arch-
bishop of York, the Archbishop of Dublin, the
Bishop of London, the Bishop of Oxford, and other
prelates—the bishops bench, indeed, being about the
first filled.

The Judges followed not long afterwards.
The Diplomatic Corps was fully represented.
Among the first in their attendance being the
French Ambassador, the Prince de la Tour
d'Auvergne. Among the latest M. Musurus, the
Turkish Ambassador. Noticeable also amongst the
earliest in their arrival were Lord Houghton, Earl
Granville, the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Duke of
Sutherland, the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot, the
Duke of Marlborough, the Earl of Derby, the Earl
of Cardigan, and the Marquis of Westminster.
Punctually at half-past one the Lord Chancellor,
Lord Chelmsford, carrying in his hand the Royal
Speech, preceded by the bearers of the Mace and
Great Seal entered, and took his seat on the woolsack.
Later on entered at a quarter to two his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, who passed in
through at the entrance at the left hand of the
Throne, followed by his Royal Highialess the Duke
of Edinburgh, and his Royal Highness the Duke
of Cambridge, the General Commanding-in-Chief.
They took almost immediately upon their entrance
their accustomed places, namely, at the upper end
of the front bench of the Opposition.
Towards two o'clock, the house being crowded
in all parts, and very gorgeous in the general effect.
Notwithstanding the still prevailing gloom, there
were evidences of preparation for the entrance of
the Sovereign in the scattering from the steps of
the throne of the principal personages hitherto
grouped about them in conversation, and who now
passed into the lobbies to be in readiness there to
form into the line of procession ; among these were
the Lord Chancellor, the Prime Minister, the Gold
Stick-in-Waiting, and others.
The arrival of her Majesty was now looked for with
much interest ; and no sooner was the distan t flourish
of trumpets heard than a messenger entered the
house rather in a hurry, and requested my lords
and ladies to uncover, at which there was a general
uprising of all the ladies present, and amid a great
rustle, and audible laughing, mantles and shawls
were laid aside—no one knows where, though effec-
tually out of sight. Again there was a pause,
during which many peers came in. The ladies here
began again putting on their shawls, with as
much care as such a furtive toilet admits of, when
the doors were thrown open and the heralds entered
two by two, bowing stiffly in their rich and awk-
ward tabards, as they passed before the throne.
rho great officers of the household, in their
splendid uniforms, succeeded, followed by the Earl
of Derby with the Sword of State before the
Queen, at whose appearance all rise and stand.
Dressed simply but richly in black moire
antique, wearing diamonds upon the bosom, and
tiara-like upon her Marie-Stuart cap, from which
depended a flowing white lace veil that fell in ample
folds upon her shoulders, her Majesty took her seat
upon the throne. The assembly having been
authorised, in the name of her Majesty, by
the Lord Chancellor to be seated, there was
a pause until the Commons of England, headed
by the Speaker, and ushered by the Black Rod,
hustled each other to the bar. Among the few who
were crowded together at the bar we observed,
standing immediately in the neighbourhood of the
Speaker, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and the Black Rod
—Mr. Disraeli, Sir Stafford Northcote, Lord John
Manners, &c.—not a sign of Mr. Gladstone. The
Lord Chancellor then, standing at the right hand
of the throne, read aloud the Queen's Speech,
which will be found in another column. The pro-
ceedings then terminated by the rapid filing out of
the royal procession ; but (unlike last year) her
Majesty looked up once or twice while seated upon
the throne. Before the Queen's departure from the
House her Majesty kissed their Royal Highnesses
the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh,
his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge kissing
her Majesty's hand, as did the Duke of Edinburgh.
Their lordships then adjourned during pleasure.;

The House resumed shortly after five o'clock, and
there was a large attendance of Peers. Several
peeresses were also present, and the Strangers'
Gallery was filled.
NEW PEERS.
Viscount Monck, who has been recently created
a British Peer, and Lord Aboyne, who has been
called to the Upper House by the title of Baron
Branceforth, respectively took the oaths and their
seats.
THE QUEEN'S SPEECTI.
A bill having been read a first time formally,
The LORD CITANCELLOP. read the Queen's Speech,
which will be found in another part of our columns.
Earl BEAUCHAMP rose to move an humble address
in reply to her Majesty's gracious Speech. Ile said
that the Speech contained much that was calculated
to give satisfaction to that house and the country.
The reference to the friendly terms with foreign
countries was necessarily a most agreeable circum-
stance, and, as regarded the United States, he
believed that the portion of the ItoyM atitirek6 re-

lating to that great republic would be in conformity
with the general feeling of the country. With re-
spect to the Island of Crete, there was a deep sym-
pathy on the part of the people of this country in
reference to the gallant and heroic struggles of the
people of that island. He was glad that
Parliament was not sitting at the time the
insurrection in that island broke out, as
words of sympathy might have been. uttered
which probably might have given rise to sonic dis-
agreeable feelings on the part of the Porte. Ile
trusted that the feeling expressed by this country
and other European powers would induce the Sul-
tan to act with wisdom and humanity towards the
people of that island. (Hear, hear.) The great
events on the continent, however they might be re-
garded, would, he trusted, have the effect of
effecting an union between the States that
were affected and lead to peace. (Hear.) He hoped
that the advice contained in her Majesty's Speech as
regarded the dispassionate consideration of the sub-
ject of Reform would be acted on by Parliament.
As regarded the subject of Trades' Unions he
adverted to the importance of that matter,
and to the statements in her Majesty's Speech
in reference to the same. He laid down
as an axiom that there could be no
freedom in trade without freedom in labour,
and attributed to the operation of the trades unions
the diversion of a large amount of manufactures from
England to other countries. Having noticed in
detail the other points in the Royal Speech, he re-
ferred to the enthusiastic reception of her Majesty
by the public that day, and the sympathy
felt on the part of the people at large in the sorrow
of her Majesty. The address of the noble lord was
brief, but very appropriate, and he resumed his seat
amid loud applause.
The Earl of DELAMERE seconded the motion in
a terse but effective speech.
[LEFT SITTIWG.]