The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-04 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY)•
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

NEW PEERS.
Lord Churston (late Sir J. Y. Buller), and Lord Kings•
down (late Mr. Pemberton Leigh), took the oaths and their
seats as peers of the United Kingdom.
•
SELECT VESTRIES.
The Earl of DERBY laid on the table a bill for the bet-
ter regulation of select vestries.
The bill was read a first time.
THE ADDRESS.

The LORD CHANCELLOR read her Majesty's most gra-
cious speech from the Throne on opening the session of
Parliament, which was as follows :
" Mr (LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

44 In recurring, at the usual season, to the advice
of my Parliament, I am happy to think that, in the
internal state of the country, there is nothing to
excite disquietude, and much to call for satisfaction
and thankfulness. Pauperism and crime have con-
siderably diminished during the past year ; and a
spirit of general contentment prevails.
" The blessing of the Almighty on the valour
of my troops in India, and on the skill of their
Commanders, has enabled me to inflict signal
chastisement upon those who are still in
arms against my authority, whenever they have
ventured to encounter my forces ; and I trust that,
at no distant period, I may be able to announce to
you the complete pacification of that great
empire, and to devote my attention to the im-
provement of its condition, and to the obliteration
of all traces of the present unhappy conflict.
" On assuming, by your advice, the direct govern-
ment of that portion of my dominions, I deemed it
proper to make known by Proclamation the prin-
ciples by which it was my intention to be guided,
and the clemency which I was disposed to show
towards those who might have been seduced into
revolt, but who might be willing to return to their
allegiance. I have directed that a copy of that
Proclamation should be laid before you.
I receive from all Foreign Powers assurances
of their friendly feelings. To cultivate and con-
firm those feelings, to maintain inviolate the faith
of Public Treaties, and to contribute, as far as my
influence can extend, to the preservation of the
general peace, are the objects of my unceasing
solicitude.
" I have concluded, with the Sovereigns who
were parties to the Treaty of Paris of 1856, a Con-
vention relative to the organisation of the Princi-
palities of Moldavia and Wallachia. Those Rou-
man Provinces are now proceeding to establish,
under its provisions, their new form of Government.
" A Treaty of -Commerce which I have concluded
with the Emperor of Russia, and which will be
laid before you, is a satisfactory indication of the
complete reestablishment of those amicable rela-
tion swhich,until their late unfortunate interruption,
had long subsisted between us, to the mutual
advantage of our respective dominions.
,‘ The measures which, in concert with my ally
the Emperor of the French, I thought it necessary
to take upon the coast of China, have resulted in a
Treaty, by which further effusion of blood has been
prevented, and which holds out the prospect of
greatly-increased intercourse with that extensive
and densely-peopled Empire.
" Another Treaty, into which I have entered with
the Emperor of Japan, opens a fresh field for com-
mercial enterprise in a populous and highly
civilized country, which has hitherto been jealously
guarded against the intrusion. of foreigners. As
soon as the ratifications of these Treaties shall
have been exchanged, they will be laid before you.
" I have great satisfaction in announcing to
you that the Emperor of the French has
abolished a system of negro emigration from
the East Coast of Africa, against which, as
unavoidably tending, however guarded, to the
encouragement of the slave trade, my Government
has never ceased to address to his Imperial Majesty
its most earnest, but friendly representations.
"This wise act on the part of his Imperial Majesty
induces me to hope that negotiations, now in
progress at Paris, may tend to the total abandon-
ment of the system, and to the substitution of a
duly regulated supply of substantially free labour.
"The state of the Republic of Mexico, distracted by
civil war, has induced me to carry forbearance to its
utmost limits, in regard to wrongs and indignities
to which British residents have been subjected, at
the hands of the two contendinc, parties. They
have at length been carried to such an extent that
I have been compelled to give instructions to the
commander of my naval forces in those seas to
demand, and if necessary to enfcrce, due repara-
tion.

"GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

" I have directed that the estimates for the en-
suing year shall be submitted to you. They hive
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;I

" 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 themselves
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."

The Earl of WINCHILSEA rose to move that a
humble address be presented to her Majesty in
answer to the Royal speech. The noble earl
said before he commenced his observations he must
bespeak that kind indulgence which was usually accorded
to those in his position. Than the present Speech from the
Throne he thought he never knew one that led them to en-
tertain greater hopes for the future. (Hear, hear.)lt was a source of the greatest and highest
gratification that the country was in such a state of quietude
as to call for great thankfulness. The aspect of affairs in
India was another subject that called for remark, and he
must say a more magnificent proclamation than that put
into their hands it was impossible to imagine. (Hear, hear.)
It might be clothed in more oriental language, but it could
not have been heightened in effect. (Hear, hear.) He then
referred to the paragraph relative to the course adopted by
his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of the French relative to
the abolition of the free immigration scheme from the
coast of Africa, which, he thought, was a wise deterra* -
tion, and one that called for their highest approbation. The
aspect of affairs in Mexico, he was glad to see, had been
noticed by her Majesty, and although that country was
disturbed by civil war it was well that orders had
been been given to the commanders of the navy in those
seas to demand reparation for the injury that had been done
to British property and British interests. (Hear, hear.)
could
view navy was the boast of England, and no person
view without interest anything that was calculated to im-
prove its efficiency. Rethought the universal introduction of
steam power was a wise step, and he felt confident that
Parliament would cheerfully forward the necessary mea-
sures for effecting so great a benefit. There was another
paragraph which he should have noticed before, but he
trusted their lordships would pardon him if he went back
to. refer to it, ho meant the measures that had been adopted
1,11, concert with the Emperor of the French, on the coast of
`-'hadnia. It gave him great satisfaction to learn that a stop
a put to the effusion of blood in that country - and
that the steps taken by
consummation affairsnsuohf.ectt
Lord Elgin to bring about such' a
was worthy of their adm!ration.
There
hadhat was looked to with much interest,
cad one on 3
-which henot touched upon, and that was
the amendment of thel
the people in Parliament.ns regarding
rding the representation of
house merely
hear.) They had heard
that their lordships'
and he had also been told that this represented the land,
sooner
was but an anti-
quated institution, and that the
the better. But, before that was done, it
was
swept away
;:etltie should like to
know how it was to be swept away—
bhcear)---and he
should then like to know how land was tor' represeuted.
(Hear.) The arrangements by which the franchi
exercised were hitherto in an anomalous condition, and annad(dutt.einv
was certainly room for considerable amendment.
hear.) He had resided for some years in Westminsterear,
be-
fore being called to their lordship's house, and yet h
never had a vote in the election of its members. What the
reason was he could not tell, but the fact was so. 'Probably
it was because he was unfit to have one. (A laugh.) He
could conceive many ways for improving the Reform Bill
of 1832 without reversing or destroying it. He did not wish
to see such sweeping measure as, under the name of Re.