The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-11 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS, THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

At half-past twelve to-day the doors of the House of
Commons were opened for the admission of the newly-

elected members.

The formal meeting of the House was

fixed for two o'clock, and until thatlour the gathering was of

a promiscuous character, including some privileged visitors

who were not members of the House. At a quarter-past

one about twenty members had assembled, and Mr.
Reverdy Johnson appeared to be in possession of the floor

of the House. He entered into animated conversation
with the various members as they arrived, as did also the
lady by whom he was accompanied, who did not shrink
from being the sole representative of her sex
on the occasion. At half-past one members began rapidly

to arrive, and many were the congratulations heartily
offered at the various escapes from political shipwreck,

some of which have been of such an exciting character.

At this hour but few of the more notable members

had arrived, but the tall forms of Mr. Hadfield, Mr.
Hibbert, Mr. Potter, and other siz•foot M.P.'s were con-

spicuous.

Mr. Walpole was the first Conservative member who
took a seat, and the position of bis party was made
manifest when he selected the third form on the left hand
of the Speaker's chair. He was followed by Sir John
Hay, who took the seat at the end of the second form,

precisely opposite where he sat last session. The House
now became very crowded, and quite a scramble ensued for
seats on the right, which were occupied, of course, by
Liberal members, and it was manifest that their
majority was a large one. Notwithstanding the crowd,
the front seat was empty, out of regard to the absent
members of the Government. One waggish member was
lavish in invitations to his companions to place themselves
in this distinguished position, but it was not until the
members returned from the Lords that any members
were bold enough to occupy this seat.
Precisely at two o'clock Mr. Disraeli entered the House.

The members respectfully but silently made way for him
to reach the front seat on the Opposition benches, a
position to which he must feel quite as much
accustomed as to the one which he has lately occupied.
As usual, Mr. Disraeli was followed by the tall and burly
form of Mr. Ward Hunt, the late Chancellor, for whom
space was with difficulty found on the chief Opposition
bench. At three minutes past two a distinct voice was heard
at the end of the House pronouncing the words "Black Rod;"
a lane was instantly formed through the throng, and
Black Rod appeared. He marched up the floor of the
the House and bowed to the clerks at the table. In
the usual brief form he commanded the attend-
ance of the members at the House of Peers, and
his summons was no sooner delivered than he commenced
the backward march, which was performed with three
bows, and two glances over his shoulder, the latter being
rendered necessary by the awkward and difficult character
of the movement which he had to perform, but which
was on the whole most gracefully accomplished.
He was followed by a number of members to the Lords'
Chamber, where the Lord Chancellor, supported by the
Lords Commissioners, the Duke of Argyll, Earl De Grey and
Ripon, Lord Kimberley, Lord Sydney, formed the Royal
Commission. The number of peers present was very
limited, but several ladies and a numerous body of spectators
watched the proceedings with interest. The new
-Lord
_ _

Chancellor read the commission in a voice remarkably
distinct, and thus performed his first public duty with un-
exceptional ability.
As Black Rod left the House he was followed by a large
number of members, but the major part on both sides
did not accompany him. Neither Mr. Disraeli nor
Mr. Hardy joined in the procession, but sat
chatting on the front Opposition bench, in com-
pany with Mr. Corry and Mr. Mowbray. Mr. Denison
entered the People's Chamber within a minute of Black
Rod leaving, and immediately took his seat on the front
bench below the gangway, on the Government side of
the House. The right honourable gentleman was soon
besieged by members of both shades of politics, who shook
him cordially by theband, and congratulated him on being
_ _

about to be re-elected for the fourth time. Mr. Disraeli
did not cross the floor of the House, but Mr.
Gathorne Hardy left the side of his chief and
offered his congratulations to the member for North
Nottinghamshire. The proceedings in the Lords
did not occupy more than a few minutes, and at ten
minutes past two, hon. gentlemen came rushing back to
their own Chamber. Every seat on the Ministerial side
was occupied, and, ' although the Opposition
could not muster such a force as their opponents,
they made a very creditable display. As soon as the
members had taken their places, Sir George Grey rose
from the second bench on the Ministerial side, and was
received with a storm of cheering. The right hon. gentle.
man, who spoke with unusual clearness and effect, and
who had evidently studied what he intended to say,
moved the re-election of Mr.'"Denison to the high honour
of Speaker of the House of Commons. In a few well-
chosen sentences the member for Morpeth testified to the
satisfaction which the late Speaker had always given
since he was first chosen to preside over their•
councils in 1857, and congratulated the new
members on having a chairman who would give his
utmost attention to their proposals. He concluded by
expressing the gratification he felt in asking the members
of the house to throw aside the weapons of political
warfare, and unite in electing a man to the chair who
would do honour to himself and credit to the House. Sir
George sat down amid general applause, and was in-
stantly followed by Mr. Walpole, who was also received
with cheering. The member for Cambridge University
said he had great pleasure in acceding to the request of both
sides of the House that he should second the motion for the
re-election of Mr. Denison. He ventured to say that the
honesty and impartiality which the right hon. gentleman
had always shewn to the old members entitled him to a
renewal of their confidence ; and, as to the new members,
he believed that Mr. Denison's knowledge of the forms of
their House would be found invaluable.
The motion was carried by acclamation, and the right
hon. gentleman having spoken a few words from the
floor, he was conducted to the chair by his pro-
poser and seconder, amid loud and general cries of
" Hear, hear." The Speaker renewed his acknowledgments
of the great honour conferred upon him for the fourth time,
and stated his opinion that every measure brought before
the House would be dealt with fully and fairly by her
Majesty's loyal Commons. Mr. Moncreiff, the new Lord
Advocate, then congratulated the Speaker on behalf of the
House, and moved that the House should adjourn. The
motion was carried unanimously, and the proceedings were
accordingly adjourned until two o'clock to-morrow, when
the formality of swearing-in the members will commence.
As soon as the sitting was concluded, the Speaker was
surrounded by members, who congratulated him on his re-
election. Mr. Disraeli was among the first to shake the
hand of the Speaker, being speedily followed by Sir Staf-
ford Northcote, Colonel Taylor, Mr. Ayrton, Mr. Mon-
creiff, and a host of others.
The chance of seeing the various members of the new
Parliament drew a large crowd to Westminster. Inside
Westminster Hall the spectators formed a line eight
or ten deep, from the entrance down to the steps
leading to St. Stephen's Chapel, while in New
Palace-yard, outside, the spectators ranged themselves
on either side of the footways, forming an avenue through
which the members passed, amidst remarks more or less
complimentary and encouraging. One of the first to put in
an appearance was Mr. Staveley Hill, Q.C., a newly-
elected M.P., who, however, failed to attract any attention.
Mr. Johnson, the American Minister, drove up in a carriage
and pair, accompanied by some friends, shortly before one
o'clock, and was heartily cheered both inside and outside
the Hall. Lord Mayor Lawrence quietly walked down and
passed in almost unrecognised, as did the majority of the
newly-elected members, the crowd being unfamiliar with
their personal appearance. At five minutes to two the
ex-Premier entered New Palace-yard, leaning on the
arm of a friend. Mr. Disraeli, who was attired
in a long brown overcoat, and looked as stoical
as ever, was received with very warm cheers
mingled with a few groans and hisses. The right
honourable gentleman did not enter Westminster Hall,
but proceeded to the House under the archway in the
further corner of the yard. Once only did he acknowledge
the greeting of the crowd. This was just before
he disappeared under the archway, whither he had been
followed by the more enthusiastic of the spectators, when
he raised' his hat and bowed. The next arrival attracting
attention was Mr. Smith, the new M.P. for Westminster,
who as he stepped out of his cab was received
with cheers and hisses. IVhen the American Minister left
the House be received a perfect ovation, and was fol-
lowed by a large crowd as he walked through Palace-yard
to his carriage.
Mr. Disraeli left Westminster at a quarter to three, his
reappearance in Palace-yard being the signal for enthu-
siastic cheering and waving of hats. Mr. Walpole, one
time Home Secretary, was recognised by the crowd
as he left the precincts of the House, and elicited one or two
faint cheers, but be made his escape from the throng
as speedily as possible. Mr. Sheriff M'Arthur and Mr.
Ayrton came in for a share of applause. Soon after three
o'clock it was bruited about that Mr. Gladstone would
not show to-day, and many of the spectators began to
move away, greatly disappointed at not having seen the
Premier or any of the members of the new Cabinet.

An explosion of gas occurred yesterday in the
neighbourhood of New Palace-yard, and under the " Sema-
phore," which has been erected at the entrance to the Houses
of Parliament in New Palace-yard, with signals pointing to
Westminster-bride, Great George-street, and Qharing-
ONO but no dainage of importance resulted.