The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-03 00:00:00

" GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

" I have directed that the estimates for the en-
suing year shall be submitted to you. They have
been framed with a due regard to economy, and to
the efficiency of the public service.
" The universal introduction of steam-power into
naval warfare will render necessary a temporary
increase of expenditure in providing for the recon-
struction of the British Navy ; but I am persuaded
that you will cheerfully vote whatever sums you
may find to be requisite for an object of such vital
importance as the maintenance of the maritime
power of the country.
" MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

" Your labours have, in recent Sessions, been
usefully directed to various measures of legal and
social improvement. In the belief that further
measures of a similar character may be wisely and
beneficially introduced, I have desired that Bills
may be submitted to you without delay, for assimi-
lating and amending the laws relating to
Bankruptcy and Insolvency ; for bringing toge-
ther into one set of Statutes, in a classified
form and with such modifications as experience
will suggest to you, the laws relating to crimes and
offences in England and Ireland; for enabling the
owners of land in England to obtain for them Selves
an indefeasible title to their estates and interests,
and for registering such titles with simplicity and
security.
" Your attention will be called to the state of the
laws which regulate the representation of the people
in Parliament, and I cannot doubt but that you will
give to this great subject a degree of calm and
impartial consideration, proportioned to the mag-
nitude of the interests involved in the result of
your discussions.
These, and other propositions for the amend-
ment of the laws, which will be brought under your
notice as the progress of public business may per-
mit, I commend to the exercise of your deliberate
judgment ; and I earnestly pray that your counsels
may be so guided as to ensure the stability of the
Throne, the maintenance and improvement of our
institutions, and the general welfare and happiness
of my people.
Their Lordships then adjourned until five o'clock.
The Speaker then returned to the House of
Commons, and read her Majesty's most gracious
speech, after which the house adjourned until the
usual hour of commencing business.

PARLIAIIIENTARY ENTERTAINMENTS

The Earl of Derby gave a full-dress Parliamentary ban-
quet last evening, at his lordship's official residence, in
Downing-street. The guests of the. noble Premier in-
cluded the following colleagues and supporters of his
Government in the House of Lords :—The Lord Chancel-
lor, the Duke of Richmond, the Duke of Beaufort, the
Duke of Rutland, the Duke of Hamilton, the Duke of
Manchester, the Duke of Montrose, the Marquis of Salis-
bury, the Marquis of Exeter, the Marquis of Bath, the
Marquis of Downshire, the Earl of Winchelsea (the mover
of the Address), the Earl of Sandwich, the Earl of Malmes-
bury, the Earl of Lucan, the Earl of Ellenborough, the
Earl of Donoughmore, the Earl of Cardigan, the Earl of
Powis, the Earl of Egmont, the Earl Vane, the
Earl of Desert, Viscount Hill, Viscount Combermere,
Viscount Hardinge, Viscount Dungannon, Lord de Ros,
Lord Colchester, Lord Delamere (the seconder to the
Address), Lord St. Leonards, Lord Ravensworth, Lord
Sondes, Lord Colville, Lord Feversham, Lord Walsing-
ham, and Lord Dynevor. After dinner had concluded, the
Earl of Derby read the Royal Speech to be delivered by her
Majesty at the opening of Parliament.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, as leader of the House
of Commons, gave a full-dress Parliamentary dinner last
evening, at his private residence, Grosvenor-gate, to the
members of the Administration in the House of Commons.
The Hon. C. Trefusis, M.P. for North Devon, mover of the
Address, and the seconder, Mr. Beecroft M.P. for Leeds,
were amongst the guests of the right hon. gentleman.
The following were also present :—Mr. Secretary Walpole,
Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, General Peel, Lord Stanley,
Sir John Pakington, Mr. Henley, Lord John Manners,
Lord Claud Hamilton, Treasurer, and the Right Hon. Cecil
Weld Forester, Comptroller of her Majesty's Household;
Lord Naas, the Right Hons. T. Sotheron-Eatcourt, C. B.
Adderley, J. R. Mowbray, and T. Lowry-Corry ; Sir Staf-
ford Northcote, Sir Wm. H. Jolliffe, Lord Lovaine, the
Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General, the Attorney-
General for Ireland, Lord Henry Gordon Lennox, Mr.
Whitmore, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald, Mr.
Baillie, and Mr. ; Mr. Ralph Earle and Mr. Ryan,
private secretaries to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The
Right Hon. the Speaker was prevented being present by a
recent domestic affliction.

The Earl Granville, the leader of the Opposition in the
Upper House, entertained a large circle of his political
friends belonging to that branch of the Legislature at his
residence in Bruton-street, Berkeley-square, last evening.
The following were the guests of the noble earl :—The
Marquis of Ailesbury, the Marquis of Clanricarde, the
Earl of Clarendon, the Earl of St. Germans, the Earl
Somers, the Earl of Ellesmere, the Earl Grey, the Earl of
Ducie, and the Earl of Chichester ; Viscount Sydney,' Vis-
count Torrington, Viscount Eversley, Viscount Enfield,
Lord Cranworth, Lord Wodehouse, Lord Portman, Lord
Camoys, Lord Stanley of Alderley, Lord Monteagle, Lord
de Tabky, and Lord Ebnry.
Viscount Palmerston had a dinner party last evening at
Cambridge House, Piccadilly, to which the leading poli-
tical friends of the noble ex-Premier in the House of Com-
mons were invited. The following were amongst those
present :—Viscount Duncan, Viscount Castlerosse, Lord
Ernest Bruce, Lord Alfred Paget, Lord Ashley, Lord Jas.
Stuart, the Right Hon. Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon.
Sir George C. Lewis, the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere,
the Right Hon. Henry Fitzroy, the Right Hon. M. T.
Baines, the Right Hon. Sir George Grey, the Right Hon.
Wm. Monsell, the Right Hon. Wm. F. Cowper, the Right
Hon. Henry Herbert, the Right. Hon. Sir Wm. G. Hayter,
the Right Hon. E. P. Bouverie, the Right Hon. Sir Ben-
jamin Hall, the Right Hon. J. D. Fitzgerald, the Right
Hon. Robert Lowe, the Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, the
Right Hon, J. Moncrieff, the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers,
General Sir Wm. Codrington, General Sir Wm. F. Wil-
liams, Sir J. Ramsden, Sir R. Bothell, Hon. Henry Brand,
Hon. A. Kinnaird, Sir Richard Keating, Mr. T. G. Baring,
Mr. Bernal Osborne, Mr. W. Beaumont, Mr. Jas. Wilson,
Mr. Danby Seymour, Mr. It. W. Grey, Mr. R. Monckton
Milnes, Mr. Chichester Fortescue, Mr. J. Bonham Carter,
Mr. C. C. Clifford, &c.

~„
POETRY BY ISA CRAIG.--The Court Journal of
Saturday, Veb. 5, will contain some verses on 'the birth of
the first-born of the Princess -"rederick William, written
expressly for this paper by Isa Craig, the successful com-
petitor for the Burns Prize Poem. Price 5d., or sent post
flee for six stamps, by W. Thomas, publisher, 26, Bridges-
street, Strand, and all newsagents,