The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-05 00:00:00

APPEARANCE OF THE HOUSE.

There was a very large attendance of peers present
when the Lord Chancellor rose to read the
Royal Speech. The galleries round the house
were filled by ladies, and the space before the throne was
also densely filled.
The ministerial bench was fully occupied. Lord Herbert
took his seat next the Duke of Newcastle, and in: a few
minutes after the Duke of Cambridge entered the
house, and commenced an animated conversation with
the noble lord. The Earl of Derby was present, and looked
remarkably,well. The only thing unusual with the noble
earl was that he used a stick in walking.
THE ADDRESS.

Her Majesty's speech on the opening of Parliament hav-
ing been read by the Lord Chancellor, and afterwards by
one of the clerks at the table,
The Earl of SEFTON, who wore a full military
uniform, then rose to move an humble Address to her
Majesty, in answer to her most gracious Speech.
He said he hoped that the house would extend
that indulgence which was always awarded to those
who addressed their lordships house for the first time.
He should not have to trespass upon their lordships' patience
for any considerable time. At another time he would
have expressed a hope that his motion would have met with
unanimous approval, but under the present circumstances
the pleasure of seeing the noble earl opposite sufficiently
restored to health to deal with any question, forbid him to
anticipate such a course. (Hear, and cheers.) It was a
great pleasure to find that her Majesty still con-
tinued to be on the most friendly and satisfactory footing
with other nations. (Hear, hear.) The first paragraph
in the Royal Speech referred to Italy, and he could not but
think that the course that had been adopted by this coun-
try hadbeen the right one, and becominga great andpower-
ful nation. The operations that had taken place in China
had proved that the old spirit of military ardour still
continued unimpaired, and the great results that had
been obtained with so small a loss from either death
or sickness was a source of great gratification. The arms
of England had proved to the Emperor of China that
atrocities like those that had been committed under the
observation of the highest in that distant land could not go
unpunished. (Hear.) The state of the Indian terri-
tories had also been referred to in the Royal Speech. Her
Majesty expressed a hope that the present condition of
that great country would continue to improve. (Hear.)
There were, however, those who thought that such could
not be the case for a considerable period ; but when
they considered the vast extent of the resources of that
immense empire, he thought that the hope expressed by
her Majesty was most likely to be fulfilled. He felt that all
their lordships would agree with her Majesty in the hopes
she expressed relative to the troubled state of America. It
was to be regretted that such a state of things had arisen,
but he would have their lordships to remember that this
country was not entirely dependent on that country for
one of its staple commodities—viz., cotton. The possibility
of growing it elsewhere was at the present moment oecupyin
a great deal of attention, and he thought it would prove
successful. With respect to the supplemental
of the
Treaty
concluded between Her Majesty and the Emperor
of
French, he must say that the opinion that much
the distress that at present existed in Coventry was
in by him. (Hear.) The measure referred to as being
0.7,3„„i
to be attributed to the treaty with France was not shared
to be introduced he felt sure would receive the best CollBi-
derfiti9P,6llo, it passed, 179111 d 9ifoot groNit go9d, a theama

them for their patience, and he begged to move the usual
address to her Majesty.
Lord LISMORE seconded the motion in a speech which
was quite inaudible in the reporters' gallery.
The Earl of DE n BY, who, on rising, was received with
loud cheers, said it was a gratification to him to have to
address tb eir lordships ; and, in the first place, he had to
thank the noble lord the mover of the address for the kind
way in which he had referred to his restoration to
health. The speech from the throne was generally looked
upon as the Ministerial programme, and although it was
not of that character that excited his highest estimation, he
did not intend to disturb the harmony of the proceedings
by moving any amendment to it.
[LETT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(THIS DAY).

The house resumed at a quarter to four o'clock.

The SPEAKER stated the different writs that had been
issued during the recess, and announced that it was not in-
tended by the parties petitioning against the return of Mr.
M'Denough for Sligo to proceed with the petition. The
order for the committee to try the merits of the petition was
accordingly discharged.