The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-23 00:00:00

tirti bition

SHARES.
Bristol and Exeter (70 paid) ... .......... ...... 72)6
Chester and Holyhead ( 5 paid) 7
Direct Northern, 2% paid ...........«....«..
(1,4
Eastern Counties (25 paid) .. ..... ..
-- ............. U Great Western (75 paid) . ... .... ................... 133
Ditto Half Shares, 50 paid .. ....................... e3%
Ditto Fifths, 12 Paid .... ...................« 25
London and Birmingham (Stock)
London and Btackwall (161. 13s. 4d.) 0
London and South Western (411. (s. 10d. paid)
London and York, paid
Manchester and Leeds (70 paid) ..... .........
Ditto, Half Shares, 30 paid 45
Birmingham and Derby, ZlOO paid 7754
South Eastern and Dover Ss 4d paid)
Ditto New Shares, 4 .....«.«....«.«.«.« 15%
West London, Old Shares, 20 paid .. ...
Ditto lst C lass Preferred, I 0 paid......... .....
Ybek and North Midland (50 paid)
Ditto Scarboro' Branch, 10_patell
.. ... 34
Boulogne and Amiens, 2 paid ... .... ....
........ 4
Orleans, Tours, and Bourdeaux:l paid ........... 3
Paris and Rouen. 20 paid .................. ....... -. 39
Paris sod Strasbourg, 2 paid 2%

OPENING OF THE BELGIAN
CHAMBERS.
SPEECH OF THE KING.

year to which they apply, and to complete the exa,
urination of several Bills which you have already dis
cussed.

In the preceding session you decided on the conclu-
sions arrived at by the committe for judicial investiga
tion (enquete) appointed four years ago. The law
which you vated will occupy an important place in
our national legislation.
The commercial suggestions which you forwarded
to the Government hare been the object of my most
serious attention ; some of them I have realised. The
measures which I thought necessary to take will be
submitted to you; I doubt not that they will obtain
your approbation.
By the aid of the commercial policy which you
have sanctioned, I have concluded with the German
Zollverein (Association Allemande des douanes), a
treaty of navigation and commerce, which secures our
mutual interests. The examination of this treaty will
be the object of your first deliberations.
By a recent convention, the postal communications
between Belgium and Great Britain have been regu-
lated on a basis at once more extended and more fa-
vourable to commerce. The charge on letters has
been reduced, and special advantages hare been stipu
fated for the transmission of foreign correspondence.--
(Expedition des Correspondances Etrangeres.)
A broad and liberal entrepot system, combined
with new facilities of transit, will be likely to assist
in the development of our international relations.
A Bill having this object in view will be presented
to you. It will also remain for you to considel
other measures likely to increase our distant con-
nexions and exports.
The harvest, which caused some momentary alarm,
has turned out satisfactory; no exceptional measure
appears necessary. The Provincial Councils have con-
tinued their deliberations on the measures to le
adopted for clearing the uncultivated parts of on,
territory; it will be soon possible to determine what
assistance is to be required from the legislative
power. Some improvements have been made in the•
course of the Meuse, the Government introducing
some also with respect to the other rivers of the

country.
The important works undertaken in the Campine
and in the Flanders continue to be actively pursued.
The increase of traffic on the railway, and of the
receipts, has surpassed expectation. This state of
affairs may become even more prosperous by perfect
ing the conditions of circulation, which the incomplete
state of the lines and of the stations renders difficult
and expensive.
The re-organisation of modes of carriage, irre-
spective of the railway, is also an urgent subject for
consideration.
A law relating to the remuneration of the members
of the judicial order has been presented to you. Tl.e
state of our finances removes all necessity for adjourn.
ing the discussion of that law, the propriety of which
you will acknowledge with me.
The government of the prisons has already under-
gone some useful modifications, and I am desirous
that additional measures shall be taken to complete
them.
The benevolent institutions have not failed to re-
ceive a portion of my solicitude. My Government is
resolved to introduce into them all the amelioration:,
which humanity claims.
Your aid will, on this occasion, be requested in an
especial manner towards the reform of the establish-
ments for tie insane.

Some propositions will be laid before you to cor-
rect the vices and to fill up the gaps (lacunes) which
experience has brought to light in certain portions
of legislation. Thus will the revision of the codes
which has been prescribed by the constitution bo gra-
dually effected.

The army, that essential element of our national
existence, commands all our solicitude. I am
delighted to be able to acknowledge that it shows
itself deserving of it by its devotedness, its discipline,
and the excellent spirit which animates it.

It remains for you to decide upon the Bill which
has been already laid before you, the details of which
are so important for its organization (that of the
army).

Some change in the laws relating to the militia
have become necessary ; they will be proposed to you
simultaneomly with a new law on the organisation
of the Civic Guard.

Thanks to the consolidation of our credit, the
powers accorded by you to my Government have
allowed it to effect successfully, and without any
shock (secousse) two grand financial operations; their
results have been the reduction of the rent, and of
the capital of the public debt.
You will join with me in congratulations that the
expenditure has been made to balance with the re-
ceipts; the beneficial results for the treasury of the
last loan, and of the conversion of the rent, the in-
crease in the receipts of the railway, and of several
branches of public revenue, have contributed to
facilitate this happy equilibrium.
Some efforts, nevertheless, are :necessary to cover
the 'new expenses which the public interest may re-
quire, and by a permanent excess of revenue to arrive
successively at the extinction of the floating debt, and
the creation of a reserve fund.

You will assist me to attain this object, which a
prudent foresight renders obligatory on us to pursue.

THE FUNDS-(C.
BRITISI
Bank Stock ex div. 204
3 per Cent. Red 99%
3 per Cent. Cons.
....... 100%
3t per Cent. Red
New 3% per Cent..........., lO2
New 5 per Cent.......
Long Annuities to expire
Jan. 1860 l2 1-16
Oct. 1359 ll 15-16
Jan. 1360
FOREIGN FUNDS.
Austrian, 5 per Cent Portuguese, 5 per Cent ______
Belgian, 5 per Cent, «,.... Ditto, New Ditto ........
Brazilian Bonds .. 85 Prussian, 5 per Cent
Buenos Ayres, f 3 per Cent... Russian, 5 per
Chllian, 6 per Cent Ditto, Metallic
Colombian, 6 per Cent 14% Spanish, 5 per Cent............
Ditto, 1824 Ditto, 9 per Cent
Cuba Bonds, 6 per Cent...-. 'Ditto, Deferred ~.,,«,„,«,„ —
Danish, 3 per Cent — French, 5 per Cent.......:—t. -c.
Greek, 1825, 5 per Cent...- Exchange
Mexican, S per Cent .....- — 'French, 3 per Cent. —c
Ditto, 6 per Cent., 'Dutch, 2% per Cent...-. 62%
l'eruvian. 1R25, 6 per Cent.,. s Ditto. 5 per Cent

LOSING PRICES
i FUNDS.
s Indian 5t0e.k..........,
1 Ditto Bonds ............
i Ditto Old Annuities
Ditto New Annuities ...
Ex. Bills, 1,0001. 134 d ... 71 11113
Ditto 5001_ .. .............. 71 pa
Ditto Small...—. ..... 71 pm,
Bank Stock for Acct....
Consols for Act. ..... ... 100 X
India Stock for Acct...

Yesterday bis Majesty the King of the Belgians
opened the parliamentary session for 1844-45. The
Rue Royale and the Rue Ducale were lined with
detachments of the civic guards, infantry and ca •
valry, and with a few troops of the line. The
Queen, accompanied by the two young Princes
(the Duke of Brabant and the Count of Flanders),
arrived at the Palais de la Nation (the Parliament-
house) about one o'clock, and was shortly after-
wards followed by the King on horseback,
who was dressed in the uniform of an Officer-
General of the Civic Guard, and accompanied by
Lieutenant-General D'Hane, by the General-in-
Chief of the Civic Guard, by the military Governor
of Brussels, and by a numerous staff. The escort
was composed of half a squadron of the Regiment des
Guides, and a squadron of the Civic Guard on horse-
back. The space near the Parliament-house was
occupied by a company of artillery of the Civic
Guard. Their Majesties were respectively received
with marked respect throughout their passage to the
Palais de la Nation. A discharge of artillery an-
nounced their departure from the royal residence.
The following is a translation of the speech delivered
by his Majesty:—

GENTLEMEN;—I have anticipated the ordinary epoch
of your session. I was desirous of enabling you to
vote the budgets before the commencement of the
_ _

You meet under auspicious circumstances. I con-
gratulate myself on the sentiments of cordiality and
reciprocal confidence which prevail in our relations
with the various Powers.