The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-03 00:00:00

PARLIAIVIE NT.

The opening of the session of Parliament to-day
by her most gracious Majesty in person, was evi-
dently regarded by the metropolitan community as
something more than a State formality. The pre-
vailing distress in the manufacturing districts, and
the state of commercial affairs in the city, tended
in a great measure to damp the ardour of the vast
concourse of people of every class who crowded the
line of procession, and this circumstance accounted
for the somewhat quiet manner, when compared
with other "occasions, in which her Majesty and
the Prince Consort were received as they proceeded
from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. The
state of the weather was not at all calculated to
exhilarate the spirits of the holiday makers, and
although the sun shone out at intervals, it was in
all respects a regular December day—dull, damp,
and coil.

As the carriages of the different Ambassadors
drove by the inmafes wore received with more or
less cordiality than usual. The Turkish, French,
and Sardinian Ambassadors were very formally re-
cognised, as was Mr. Dallas, the American Minis-
ter. A similar discrimination was exercised in re-
gard to the leading statesmen of the day. The
Marquis of Lansdowne and Lord Palmerston were
recognised and apple-tried, while some of the other
Ministers met with the same favourable reception.
Her Majesty entered the House of Lords about
2 o'clock.

There was a very large attendance of peers and
peeresses in the house, and of persons entitled by
rank and privilege to be present at the ceremony.
The doors of the magnificent chamber in which
the lords spiritual and temporal hold their councils
were opened at twelve o'clock, and shortly after
that hour those who were priviliged to obtain seats
began to arrive. In the ante-chamber and corridors
through which the Royal procession was b pass
raised seats were provide I, and a very large
number of persons were enabled in this manner to
witness the arrival and departure of her Majesty.
The attendance of the members of the corps
diplomatique was more than usually numerous, and
amongst the first arrivals were the Brazilian
Minister, the Haytian and Portuguese Ministers,
the Turkish Ambassador, the Russian Ambassador,
the French Ambassador, and the Sardinian Am-
bassador. The members of the embassy from Siam
were also present, and the brilliancy of their
costume gave an additional grandeur to this usually
glittering group.
A great number of the Judges attended, amongst
whom were the Lord Chief Justice of England
Lord Campbell, the Lord Chief Justice of the
Common Pleas Sir Alexander Cockburn, the Lord
Chief Baron of the Exchequer Sir Frederick Pol-
lock, &c., Sc.

The Episcopal bench, in front of those occupied
by the Foreign Ministers, was very fully attended.

Amongst the peers connected with the Govern-
ment, in the house when her Majesty entered, were
the following :—His Royal Higlmess the Duke of
Cambridge, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of
Argyll, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Esrl of
Clarendon, Earl Granville, the Earl of Harrowby,
the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Marquis of Towns-
sheud, the Marquis of Anglesey, the Earl of Abing-
don, the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Earl of Essex, the
Earl of Shelburne, the Earl Spencer, Viscount Syd-
ney, Viscount Torrington, Lord Portman, Lord
Carew, Lord Byron, Lord Dufferin, Lord Foley,
Lord Camoys, Lord Stanley (of Alderley), Lord
Lilford, and Lord Ward. Several leading members
of the Opposition were also present.
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Cranworth), attended
by his principal officers bearing tiro mace and purse,
arrivel shortly before two o'cicck, and proceeded
t) the ante-room to await the arrival if the Queen.
The appearance of the house, just previous to the
entry of Her Majesty, was gorgeo.us in the extreme,
as the sun was just then pouring in a flood of
golden light through the magnificent stained win.
do ws of the chamber.

A flourish of trumpets and the firing of a royal
salute announced that bcr Majesty had eivered
the palace, and shortly afterwards the greAt officers
of state iu procession entend the house, and her
Majesty, who leaned upon the arm of the Prince
Consort, was conducted to the throne.
The Crown was carried on a tre'vet cushion
fringed with gold, by the Marquis of Lalsdown ;
the Sword of State by Earl Graiville.

His Royal Highness, the Prince Consort,
occupied the chair on the left of the throne, and
the Earl Granville, holding the State sword, took
his position between the Prince and her Majesty.
The Lord Chancellor stood upon the foAstep of
the throne on the right of the Queen, and the
Duchess of Sutherland, Mistress of the Robes,
occupied her position on the right of the noble and
learned lord, and the noble Marquis who carried
the Crown, the Lord Privy Seal (the Earl of
Harrowby), and the Lady in Waiting, formed the
remaining portion of the group round the throne.

Her Majesty, who looked extremely well, was
attired in a white brceaded silk robe, richly
embroidered with gold. Her Majesty also wore a
robe and train of purple velvet, trimmed with
ermine and embroidered with gold flowers.

Her Majesty having iniitnated thxt the peers and
peeresses might resume their seats, the Speaker and
the members of the House of Cointuohn,suwseerteoshuienar;
the Royal y m°rlcl, j
interval to
ofl
ir of their lordships' .
A
three or four minu'es 'riving
elapsed, the Commons, headed by the Speaker and
chief officers of the house, and accompanied by a
large number of members, made their appearance.

Amongst the persons near the Speaker were--
Viscount Palmerston, the Earl of Mulgrave, Vis-
count Castlerosse, Viscount Monck, Viscount
Duncan, Lord Ernest Bruce, Lord Alfred Paget,
the Right Hon. Sir George Grey, the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, the Right Hon. R. Vernon
Smith, the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, the
Right Ron. Sir C. Wood, the Right Hon. Sir B.
Hall, the Right Hon. H. Fitzroy, the Right Hon.
Robert Lowe, the Right Hon. W. Cowper, the
Right Hon. W. G. Hayter, Sir Richard Bothell,
the Right Hon. M. T. Baines, Hon. Henry Brand,
Hon. 0. P. Bouverie, Hon. O. P. Villiers, Sir
Henry Keating, Mr. Wykenham Martin, Mr.
Ackroyd, Mr. T. C. Baring, General Buckley, Mr.
Chichester Fortescue, Mr. J. D. Fitzgerald
(Solicitor-General for Ireland), Mr. R. W. Grey,
Mr. Massey, Mr. Bernal Osborne, Mr. H. Danby
Seymour, Mr. Henry Herbert, Mr. James Wilson,
Hon. Gerald Ponsonby, Mr. Charles Clifford, Mr.
Barringt(,n, &c., &c.
The Lord Chancellor then advanced to her Ma-
jesty, and on bepded knee presented a copy of the
Royal Speech. Her Majesty, who remained sitting,
then read in a clear, firm, voice, the following
speech :

QUEEN'S SPEECH.

" MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

"Circumstances have recently arisen, connected
with the commercial interests of the country, which
have induced me to call Parliament together before
the usual time.

" The failure of certain Joint-Stock Banks, and
of some mercantile firms produced such an extent
of distrust as led me to authorize my Ministers t o
to recommend to the Directors of the Bank of Eng-
land the adoption of a course of proceeding which
appeared necessary for allaying the prevalent alarm.
As that course has involved a depaiture
from the existing Law, a Bill for indemni-
fying those who advised and those who adopted it
will ba submitted for your consideration.
" I have observed, with great regrel,, that the
dis' ut bed state of commercial transactions in gene ra 1
has occasioned a diminution ofd
employment in the
manufacturing
districts, which I fear cannot fad
to b) attended with much local distress ; 1 trust,

however, that this evil may not be of long duratfou ;
and the abundant harvest with which it has gra-
ciously pleased Divine Prividenee to bless this
land, will, I hope, in some degree mitigate the suf-

ferings which this stato of things :ant unavoidably
produce.

" While I deeply deplore the severe suffering to
which many of my subjects in India have been ex-
posed, and while I grieve for the extensive bereave-
ments and sorrow which it has caused, I have
derived the greatest satisfaction from the distin-
guished successes which have attende d the
heroic exertions of the comparatively small forces
which have been opposed to greatly superior
numbers, without the ail of the powerful reinforce-
ments despatched from this coup try to their assist-
ance. The arrival of those rein forcements will, I
trust, speedily complete the suppression of this
widely-spread revolt.
" Th o gallantry of the troops employed against the
mutineers, their courage in action, their endurance
under privation, fatigue, and the effects of climate ;
the high spirit and self-devotion of the officers ; the
ability, skill, and persevering energy of the com-
manders, have excited my warmest admiration ;
and I have observed with equal gratification that
many civilians placed in extreme difficulty and
danger have displayed the highest qualities, includ-
ing, in some instances, those that would do honour
to veteran soldiers.

" It is satisfactory to know that the general mass
of the population of India have taken no part in the
rebellion, while the most considerable of the native
Princes have acted in the most friendly manner,
and have rendered important services.
" I have given directions that papers relating to
these matters shall be laid before you.
" The affairs of my East Indian dominions will
require your serious consideration, and I recom-
mend them to your earnest attention.
" The nations of Europe are in the enjoyment of
the blessings of peace, which nothing seems likely
to disturb.

The stipulations of the Treaty Which I concluded
with the Shah of Persia have been faithfully carried
into execution ; and the Persian forces have eva-
cuated the territory of Herat.

" GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,
"I have given directions that the Esthnate3
for the net year shall be prepared for the pur-
pose of b.,ing laid before you. They will be framed
with a careful regard to the exigencie3 of the public
service.

" MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

" Your attention will be called to the laws which
regulate the representation of the people in Parlia-
ment, with a view to consider what amendments
may ba safely and bane ficially made therein.
"Measures will be submitted for your considera-
tion for simplifying and amending the laws
relating to real property, and also for consolidating
and amending several important branches of the
criminal law.

" I confidently commit to your wisdom the
great interests of my e:npire; and I fervently pray
that the blessing of Almighty God may attend
your counsels, and may guide your deliberations
to those ends which are clearest to my heart—the
happiness and prosperity of my loyal and faithful
people.
At the couclwiion of the speech, which was lis-
tened to with profound attention, her Majesty re-
turned the copy of the Royal Spee:th to the Lord
Chancellor ; and, the procession having re-formed,
her Majesty and the Prince Consort quitted the
house, and the ceremony terminated.
Their Lordships then adjourned until 5 o'clock.

The Speaker, on his return to the House of Com-
mons, read her Majesty's speech, and adjourned
until the usual hour of commencing public busi-

ness.

PARLIAMENTARY ENTEI?TAINMENTS.

Earl Granvil!e, the Lord President of the Council, as
the lea ler of the Miuisterial party in the House of
Lords, gave a full-dress Parliamentary dinner last even-
ing at his lordship's house in Bruton-street, as customary
on the eve of the opening of Parliament. 'Afire were
present his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambrid2e, the
Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Argyll, the Marquis of
Lansdowne, the Marquis of Cianricarde. the Marquis
Townsheud, the Marquis of Anglesey, the Earl of
Clarendon, the Earl of flarrowby, the Had of Abingdon,
the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Earl of Essex, the Earl of
Shelburne, Earl Spencer, Viscount Sydney, Vi,c,unt
Torrington, Lord Portinan (the mover), Lord Caravi
(the seconders, Lord Byron, Lord Dufferin, Lord Foley,
Lord Camoys, Lord Stwiley, of Aiderley, Lord Lilford,
and Lord Ward. After dinner it:Arl Granville read the
speech to be delivered by her Majesty at the opening of
Parliament to-Jay.
Viscourit Palmerston, as Firit Lord of the Treasury,
had a full-dress !Parliamentary dinner last evening at
Cambridge-house, The circle included the Right Hon.
the Speaker, Mr. W. Martin and Mr. Ackroyd (tile
mover and seconder of the Address), the Right Hon. Sr
G. Grey, the Right Hon. Sir C. Wood, the Right Hon.
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon. II
Labouchere, the Right Hon. V. Smith, the Right Hon.
Sir B. Hall, the Right Hon. M. T. Baines, the Right
Hon. W. F. Cowper,the Rerht Hon. W. G. Hay ter, the
Earl of Musgrave, Viscount Castlerosse, Lord E Bruce,
Lord A. Paget, the Att irney-Gsneral, the Solicitor-
General, the Attorney-General for Ireland, the Right
Hon. C. P. Villiers, Viscount Monck, Viscount Duncan,
Mr. T. G. Baring, the Hon. E. P. Bouvetis, this Hon.
H. Brand, Gen. Bu&elev, Mr. C. Cl if ,rd, Mr. C For-
the Right Hon. H Ftzroy, Mr. R. W. Grey, the,
Right R. Lowe, Mr. Massey, Mr. B. o,borne, Mr.
H. D. Seymour, the Right Hon. H. Herbert, Mr. J.
Wilson, the lion. G. Ponsonby, andtMr. C. Barriogten

DEATH OP MRS. GURNEY.—Mrs. Gurneys relict of the
late Ft, H. Gurney, Esq , died at Burlingham, Nurbik,
yesterday, after a few hours'illnesg, aged 64.
DEATH OF MR. NORMAN MACDONALD.—It is with
deep regret that we announce the de4tai of Mr. Norman-
Macdonald, the Controller of the Lord Chamberlain's
Department, who died on Tuesday night under a eery
sudden visitation. The deceased gentleman on Tuesday
afternoon, after calling on the Marquis of Breadalbane,
Park-line, went to Lady El a ',bah Hope Vere, and
during his visit he Neal sea d. with an apoplectic fit while
conversing with the Marchioness of Ely and the family
circle present. Dr. &one was inst ietly c died in, and
Mr. Martin of Grosvonor-trees was sent for, the latter
gentleman having for some years attended the deceased.
Mr. Macdonald was removed about 8 o'clock t 6 his resi-
dence at the Lord Chamberlain's office in St. James's
Palace, and notwithstanding the utmost attention, ho
died at a few minutes before 10 o'clock. Tho dee,as"
was the only son of the late General Sit John Macdonald,
K C. 8., for many years Adjutant-General at the Uoiss
Guards. He succeeded about 5 years ago Sit William
Martins, as' Controller of the Lord Chamberlain's De.
pertinent.
Mr. Hodges, of the Western Circuit, has been ap-
pointed Chief Justice of the Cape Colony. The selection
of Mr. Hodges for this appointment has been in no deo°lee
influenced by party considerations, as Mr. Hodges has
never taken any share in political discussion, Mr,
Hodges is the wither of a valuable work on railway.
lands.

Mr. George Cavendish Bentinck met with an accident
while hunting with the EArl of Lonsdalo's hounds oa
Tuesday last, and had the misfortune to dislocate his
collar bone.

GAS LIGHTING.—A. very elaborate and useful treathe
from the pen of Mr. Henry Gamer, a distinguished
American engineer, has just appeared. The peculiar
interest attached to the essay is, that it brings under notice
Longbottom's celebrated patent for the production of
brh,i)nt and economical gas from resinous oil. Mr.
Longbottom's patent is now generally adopted both in
America and Europe, and its power is equal either to
the largest or smallest compass for a theatre or a mine,
a palace or a cottaee. Mr. Longbot!o u carried off tt e
prize at the New York Ex'libition, and has establisle I
a large factory at Leeds for the elucidation of his bril-
liant discoveries. Some of the most eminent chemists
of the day have visited the latter establishment, and
witnessed his simple but masterly power in the manage-
ment of light. In our sanitary improvements, at the
present day, gas forms a moat important ingredient.
, FUNERAL OF THE LATE SIR CLEMENT WOLSELEY, BART
—The remains cf this much-respected baronet arrived in
this town by the mail train on Tuasday morning, and
were accompanied by his oldest son, ald heir to the
title and estates, Sir John Richard Wolseley, Bart. ;
his only brother, Clement Wolseley, Esq. ; Rev. Dr.
Minden, J. B. St. George, Esq., and B, Van Romrigb,
Eiqe brothers-in-law to the deceased. The body was
removed from the station-house in a hearse, drawn by
four horses, Rad proceeded towards the Club-house,
where it was joined by several carriages, belonging to
the gentry of the county. The cortege proceeded towards
Sand brook-park, by Ratlaglass, where a large number of
the Wolseley tenantry and people of the district met
it, and thence proceeded t ) 'fellow, the inhabitants
of which paid every respect to the memory of the
deceased. The funeral service having concluded,
the body of the late worthy baronet was consigned to
the tomb of his ancestors. The family of Wolseley is a
branch of the very ancient House of Wolseley, of Staf-
forde:,ire, whose ancestors have held the lordship of
Wolseley in unbroken succession fromEdric de Wolseley,
in the reign of William the Conqueror, to the earesent
day. Diming the Civil War, in the reign of Charles I ,
Cul. Wolseley served with distinction under Cromwell,
and commanded the cavalry (Cron] well's Ironsides) at
the battle of Worcester. He surveil in Ireland with Sir
Rardress Waller, was present at the assault on Carlow
Castle, and accompanied the Protector during his
campaign is the South: Captain Richard Wolseloy,
third son of Sir Charles Woleeley, Staff irdshire, accom-
panied King William, and was present at the Battle of
the Bayne. He was the founder of the Irish branch of
the NVolseley family, of Mount Arran, or Wolseley,
county Carlow. The B.,ronetey was created in 1744,
And the present baronet, Sir John Richard, is the sixth
in succession.—Carlow Sentinel.