The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-28 00:00:00

FRAN CE.

OPENING OF THE CHAMBERS BY THE KING.
The King left the Tuileries on Tuesday, for th,
Chambers, at one o'clock precisely, accompanied by- th,
Duke de Nemours, the Prince de Joinville, the D,:ke
d'Aumale, and the Duke de Montpeasier. He entered
his carriage while it was under the archway leading, to
the quays, instead of, as usual, at the door of the Pa-
villon de Fiore.
A salute of cannon announced the departure of .his
Majesty. The cortege was he.aled by a party of cuiras
siers, with their band, followed by a strong detachment
of the National Guard a cheval. The Royal carriage
was surrounded by a brilliant staff, a marshal of France
riding at each door. All the domestics were in deep
mourning, but the carriages were the same as those
used on ordinary occasions. The attendance of troops
of the line, national and municipal guards, was un-
usually large. In some parts a double rank of troops
of the line was drawn up in the rear of the National
Guards. The usual salutes were given by the drums
and bands when his Majesty passel ; but there were
no cries of " Vive le Itoi !" The precautionary mea-
sures were more than ever severe, the line of demarcation
for the public on the Place de la Concorde being the
last fountain.

The Place du Carrousal and the adjacent Quai were
more than usually crowded to witness the cortege. The
servants of the Royal Household and all persons attached
to the palace were in the deepest mourning, and the mi-
litary, of course, wore the customary crape round the
left arm. The staff which surrounded his Majesty's car-
riage was extremely numerous and brilliant, but an in-
describable sadness appeared to pervade the entire mass,
both of military and spectators. It was impossible to
obtain the slightest view of the King, in consequence of
the number of officers who rode near the doors of the
vehicle ; but respectful manifestations of sympathy and
regret were heard on all sides as the carriage passed along.
The melancholy interest attached to the present open-
ing of the Chambers attracted a considerable number of
persons round the doors of the Palais-Bourbon as early
as nine o'clock. Admission was given to those furnished
with tickets at ten, and very shortly after every seat in
the public galleries was occupied, the front ranges of
seats being as usual reserved for the auditory, who were
for the most part, though not universally, dressed in
deep mourning. We even remarked white bonnets, crim-
son and blue dresses, and shawls of various colours.
The gentlemen showed better taste, and were, without
exception, in black. The ladies were fewer than we
have seen them on other occasions. The usual military
arrangements had been made to guard the approaches to
the Chamber and preserve order in the neighbourhood,
a strong body of troops being stationed along the line of
the procession. The interior arrangements and decora-
tions of the Chamber were nearly the same as those of
last year ; the President's chair and the Parliamentary
tribune having been removed to make way for the Royal
fauteuil, and for four tabourets for the Princes, w hick
were of crimson velvet, and placed on an elevated es-
trade, approached by carpeted steps, on which were
benches of crimson velvet, for the accommodation of the
Council of State, general officers of the staff; members of
the Institute, &c. Behind the Royal seat was disposed
a drapery of crimson velvet, in front of which rose another
of the same material, enriched on the top with a crown,
the whole surmounted with tri-coloured flags. Thisfitise
ceau was hung with weepers of black crape, which, with
similar emblems ofmourning on the gilt ornaments at each
side of the canopj, constituted the only change effected
in the internal arrangement of the Chamber. The walls
on each side of the canopy were hung with green velvet
that extended to the public tribunes, which were orna-
mented with a deep gilt border, and with a profusion of
embossed gold ornaments, in the form of wreaths and
festoons. Up to eleven o'clock the benches of the Depu-
ties were altogether empty, the house presenting a deso-
late appearance, only relieved occasionally by the mo-
mentary presence of some solitary usher, as he went from
one side to another in the execution of his duty.
At twelve the House began to fill, and, amongst the
earliest arrivals we observed, MM. de Lamartine, Lars-
bit, Golbery, Dugabe, Taillander, Ledru -Rollin, Odillon
Barrot, Las Cases, De Salvandy, the Duke de Marmier,
De Cormenin, and G. Lafayette.
At haf•past twelve several Peers had taken their scats
on the benches at right of the estrade, and the members
of the Centre formed a compact and conspicuous mass.
The seats also in front were by this time occupied by
General and Staff Officers, the Members of the Council
and of the Institute.

At a quarter to one the corps diplomatique took their
seats, and made a very brilliant appearance. They wore
black gloves with their uniform, and crape on the left
arm. At one o'clock all the Deputies at present in Paris
had arrived, and in no part of the Chamber could a void
be seen. The Peers, we remarked, had seldom assem-
bled in such great numbers.
At ten minutes past one, Marshal Soult, MM. Guizot,
Admiral Duperre, Test, and Cunin-Gridaine took their
seats on the right below the Throne, and MM. Martin
(du Nord), Villemain, and Lacave-Laplagne, on the left,
in official costume. In fifteen minutes after the two de-
putations entered, deep silence took place, and " the
King" was loudly announced by an usher of the Cham-
ber, and immediately after his Majesty entered, preceded
by the usual cortege, and was enthusiastically cheered by
those present. The King stopped on the stairs, and
bowed repeatedly, evidently much affected by the warmth
of his reception. Fresh shouts of " Vive le Roi" attended
his appearance on the estrade, which he again responded
to by fresh salutes. His Majesty and the Princes then
took their seats, and when silence was restored, he pro-
ceeded to read the speech, which we published in The
Sun of yesterday.
The circumstances attending the reading of the above
speech were perhaps unparalleled in the history of Par-
liamentary sittings. The King's emotion was so great
that he found it impossible to give utterance to the
words. He made the attempt a second time, and again
he was unsuccessful. The auditory burst forth into one
long cry of " Vive to Roi !" which seemed to give
courage. He at last found utterance, but his voice was
thick, husky, and broken with agitation. At the word
" consolation " the King could no longer withstand the
torrent of his grief ; -he laid down the document, and
burst into tears. The whole auditory was deeply
afflicted, and we do not exaggerate in saying none pre-
sent could resist the contagion. Loud, long-continued,
and reiterated shouts again greeted him. Again he re-
sumed, and his voice became stronger until he spoke
the words mon fits, when it again faltered. At ma ten-
dresse tears again prevented his proceeding, and the
shouts of the auditory were again necessary to give
him confidence to conclude. At the end, his Majesty
rose, crossed his arms on his breast, and in an effusion of
gratitude for his reception, after boiving to the Cham-
ber, sunk back on his seat, and sobbed convulsively,
hiding his features in his handkerchief. It was alto-
gether one of the most affecting scenes we have ever
witnessed, and it was long before the persons present
could recover from their emotion. The Duke de Ne-
mours and the Duke d'Aumale sat on the right of the
King, and the Prince de Joinville and the Duke de
Montpensier on the left. They all appeared exceedingly
cast down, and the Duke de Nemours was much changed
in appearance, being much thinner and paler than usual.
The King, we have sincere pleasure in stating, looked
in good health, and, considering what he has suffered,
appeared little changed. After the speech, and having
bowed to the Chamber, the King advanced to the front
of the estrade, and repeatedly acknowledged his affix-
tionate reception. The cries of " Vive le Roi" were again
loud and long-continued at his departure. The whole
sitting lasted exactly twenty-five minutes.
The Minister of the Interior, M. Duchatel, adminis-
tered the oath of office to some of the Members of the
Lower Chamber, elected or re-elected since the last
session. M. Martin (du Nord), Minister of Justice,
having then, in the usual form, announced that the
session of 1842-3 was duly opened, the King and the
Princes retired.

A few minutes before two the King left the Chamber,
and returned by the same route and with the same cor-
tege to the Tuileries, where he arrived exactly as the
clock struck two.

A well-known German writer publishes in the German
Courier an account of an interview which he had with
the Duke of Orleans :

The Duke spoke German perfectly, and seemed well
acquainted with our literature. He reckoned Heine's
songs among the classics. Speaking of German Journals,
he denied to Teutonisut any practical idea. I replied,
continues the writer, that the necessity of a complete
union amongst Germans was too generally feat not to be
dominant. The Duke replied—
" I do not deny a brilliant future to the Germans.
Though a .Frenchman, and a patriotic one, I am far from
joining in their coffee-house opinions, which would found
the grandeur and preponderance of France on capricious
conquests. We have made great sacrifices to peace. I
do not regret them ; but I should like to see Germany
independent, and not have it eternally supposed that
Germany is identical with Russia. I do not want Ger-
many to be France, or to agree with us always. I am
satisfied with the influence which a nation of 34,000,000
would have on the destinies of Europe. What is want-
ing for Germany is to be German. You see, I do not
want to lessen her power. In order to please Russia,
the Germans would not consent to recognise Queen
Isabella. In abolishing the Salic law, my family made
a sacrifice to the peace of Europe. The German Powers
ought .to have done as much."
Speaking of the dangers likely to occur after the
King's death, the Prince said, " We are five brothers,
and it is probable that at least one of us will survive the
King. The succession will pass tranquilly, and not be
disputed by more than an offaire de gens d armeric."

A letter from Alexandria, of the 2 h ult., states
that on the prec?ding day a French vessel, dispatched for the
purpose from Marseilles, had brought the intelligence of the
failure of Messrs. Briggs, Thurburn, and Co., of London.
One of the partners of the house in Alexandria connected with
that firm waited on the Minister, BoghoA Bey, with the news,
and was accompanied by him to the palace to communicate it to
the Pacha, who expressed much sympathy at the misfortune.
and handsomely offered to Messrs. Briggs and Co., of Alex-
andria, whatever aid they might desire; but it appears that
none was required.