The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-17 00:00:00

On concluding the discourse the Grand Master of
the Ceremonies, by order of the Emperor, called on
the Minister of state to inform the deputies and
senators named since the last session to come for-
ward and take the oaths. Their names were
called ; they advanced to the throne ; the formula
was read by the Minister, and each, holding forth
his right hand, said " I swear t—l swear obedience
to the Constitution, and fidelity to the Emperor !"
The Minister of State then declared the session
opened for 1857, and invited the senators and
members of the Legislative Corps to assemble to•
morrow in their respective places, in order to com-
mence their labours. Immediately after, the
Emperor first, and then the Empress, retired with
their respective cortege in the same order as they
had entered. The sitting then closed, the assem-
blage separated, and a second salute of 101 guns
announced to the people of Paris that the cere-
mony of opening the Chambers was over. The
weather was beautiful, and the usual crowds were
attracted to the spot to view the proceedings.

. .
EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA.—IavERPoort Monday':
—The screw steam-ship Great Britain, Captain Grey
sailed from the Mersey at half•past two p.m. for Mel-
bourne, on her third voyage, with above 500 passengers
and a very large cargo of merchandise on freight.
OVERLAND AUSTRALIAN MAIL._Tbe first overland
Australian mail will be due in London via Marseilles on
the 16th of next month, and ric6 Southampton on the
20th. It will bring news from Sydney up to Jan. 28,
and from Melbourne to the 25th of the same month. It
will also bring answers from Australia to correspondence
that was mailed in England up to 13th Oct. last.
THE FASTEST STEAMING ON RECORD.—The Royal
mail steamship Persia, Judkins commander, of the Cu-
nard line, on her last voyage from New York to Liver-
pool made the greatest distance in the space of four suc-
cessive days that has yet been recorded, having during
that period steamed 1,722 miles, averaging 14 knots per
holm.

M. St. Leon, formerly ballet master of the Grand
Opera at Paris, had the honour of performing on the
violin at the court of Coburg Gotha a few days since.
The reign's; Grand Duke came and shook the artist by
the band, and after expressing admiration at his perform.
ance conferred on him the Order of Merit.

THE EARL or HAREWOOD.—We have great pleasure
in stating that this esteemed nobleman has so far re•
covered from his late seriouE accident that no farther
bulletins will be issued. The following is the last an-
nouncement we bavereoeived :—"The Earl of Hareweod
is improving. No further bulletins will be issued, un-
less there should be some material change in his lord-
ship's oondition.—Harewood House, Saturday morning,
Feb. 14."

THE HITHE POACHING AFFRAY.--The two poachers,
Blow and Arnold, who were concerned in the poaching
affray which took place a short time since at Cadlands,
the seat of Mr. Drummond, the banker, have been folly
committed for trial. It will be recollected that Blow shot
a gamekeeper named Dean, and was afterwards attacked
by the keeper's dog. They have both been committed
on the charge of shooting Dean. The latter is still in a
dangerous state, and the magistrates were obliged to go
to his bedside to take his deposition. Blow has rem.,
vered sufficiently to be removed from his bed to gaol.
His head and one of his arms bear evidence of terrible
lacerations from the fangs of the bloodhound that act
upon hi*

FOOL HARD? PEAT.—An extraordinary feat of horse-
manship was performed in our city on Wednesday night
by Mr. Courtney, of Ballyedmond, county of Cork. In
pursuance of a wager, laid for a considerable sum with A
brother member of the Kilkenny Hunt Club—Captain
Bernard, it is said—while at supper in the clubhouse,
be sent for his well-known grey horse White Lion, and,
having mounted the animal in the clubhouse ball, pro-
ceeded deliberately to rids up stairs—two flights—into
the club-room, round the supper•table, and, having
leaped a firescreen, set up for the purpose in his route,
be rode down stairs again in perfect safety, and without
White Lion once stumbling or evincing fora, moment
the slightest indication of a sense that he was called on
to perform any uncommon feat. The wager was cleverly
won, to the admiration of all the beholders. The diffi-
culty and danger of riding downfitairs in particular wero
largely enhanced by the circumstance of
each step being
bound with thick plates of brass, ou which had the iron-
shod foot of the animal once come, it would have been
impossible that he could have kept his legs under him.
—.EakenttY Moderator.

- -
20,000 above that of the ordinary levy in
time of peace. But-, according to the system
which I have adopted, and to which I at-
tach great importance, about two-thirds of these
conscripts will only remain two years with their
regiments,, and willafterwards form a reserve, which
will furnish to the country, on the first appearance
of danger, an army of more than 600,000 trained
men.

"The reduction in the number of the troops
will permit the pay of the inferior grades being in-
creased—a measure which the deal ness of food ren-
ders indispensable. For the same reason, the Bud-
get allots a sum of five millions to commence the
increase of the lowest salaries of a part of the per-
sons in small government civil situations, who, in
the midst of the severest privations, have given a
good example of probity and of devotedness.
"Neither has it been forgotten to make a grant
for establishing Transatlantic packets, the creation
of which has been so long called for.
" Notwithstanding this increase of expenses, I
shall propose to you to suppress from the Ist Jan.,
1858, the increased tax, imposed for the war, on
the registration dues. This suppression entails a
sacrifice of 23 millions ; but as a set-off, and in
conformity with a wish several times expressed by
the Legislative Body, I have caused a new tax on
transferable securities to be taken into considera-
tion.
" A philanthropic idea had induced the govern-
ment to transfer the convict-establishment to
Guayana. Unfortunately, the yellow fever, which
had not visited those countries for the last 50yearp,
has checked the progress of colonisation. A bill
for removing these establishments to Algeria or
elsewhere is under examination.
" Algeria, which in skilful hands beholds her
agriculture and her commerce extending every day,
merits particularly to fix our attention. The decree
of decentralisation recently published will facilitate
the efforts of the administration, and I shall not
neglect anything to lay before you, according as
circumstances require, such measures as may seem
best calculated to promote the development of the
colony.

" I request your attention to a bill tending to
fertilise the lands of Gascony. The progress of
agriculture s'iould be one of the objet's of our con-
stant solicitude, for on it 3 amelioration or decline
depends the prosperity or decadence of empires.
" Another measure, originating with the marshal
who fills the post of Minister of War, will also be
presented to you, namely, a complete military penal
code, which collects into one single body, and places
in harmony with our institutions, the various scat-
tered laws, often clashing with each other, which
have been passed since 1790. You will be pleased,
I have no doubt, to affix your name to a work of
such importance.

" Messieurs les Deputes--As this session is the
last of your legislature, allow me to thank you for
the co-operation, so devoted and so active, which
you have afforded me since 1852. You proclaimed
the empire—you took part in all the measures which
re-established order and prosperity in the country—
you supported me energetically during the war—you
shared in my grief during the cholera and the
scarcity—you partook of my joy when Providence
gave me a glorious peace and a beloved son—and
your loyal co-operation has enabled me to establish
in France a regime based on the will and the inte-
rests of the people. To thus accustom the country
to new institutions was a difficult task to fulfil, and
one requiting a real patriotism. To replace the •
licence of the tribune, and those exciting discus-
sions which often led to the downfall or nomina-
tion of ministries, by a free but calm and serious
discussion, was a signal service rendered to the
country and to liberty itself, for liberty has no more
formidable enemies than the wild movements of
passion and unbridled violence of language.
" Strong in the co-operation of the great bodies
of the State and in the devotedness of the army---.
strong also in the support of the people, who know
that all my time is devoted to their interests, I
foresee for our country a future full of hope.
" France, without interfering with the rights of
any one, Las resumed in the world the rank which
belonged to her, and can give herself up with
security to everything great which can be produced
by the genius of peace. May God continue to pro-
tect her ! And soon it may be said of our epoch
what a statesman—an illustrious and national his-
torian —,wrote of the Consulate Satisfaction
was everywhere felt, and whoever had not evil party
passions in his heart was happy in. beholding the
public welfare.' "