The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-01-17 00:00:00

Standard Office, Eight o'Clock, a.m.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-YESTERDAY.

Her Majesty opened the Session of Parliament yesterday
with a Speech from the Throne.
At an early hour the carriages of the nobility and those
who had obtained orders of admission into the body of the
House of Lords and the Painted Chamber began to arrive in
rapid succession. The ladies were all in full court dress.
Parliament-street and the whole line of road leading from
Buckingham Palace, presented the usual animated scene,
and shortly before the Ro-yal procession passed, the streets
were much crowded.

Shortly before two o'clock her Majesty entered her state
carriage, accompanied by the great officers of state and the
household, and proceeded to the House of Lords in the
usual form. The road was lined with the First Regiment of
the Guards.

A discharge of cannon announced her Majesty's arrival,
and a few minutes afterwards the Queen, attended by all the
great officers of state, entered the house, and took her seat
on the throne. The house at this time presented a brilliant
spectacle.

Her Majesty having desired the Peers present to be seated,
ordered the Usher of the Black Rod to summon the Com-
mons. In a few minutes the Members of the Commons,
headed by the Speaker, appeared at the bar, when her Ma-
jesty delivered the following most gracious Speech :
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.
•• My Lords and Gentlemen,

" Since you were last assembled, I have declared my in-
tention of allying myself iu marriage with the Prince Albert
of Saxe Coburg and Gotha. I humbly implore that the Di-
vine blessing may prosper the union, and render it conducive
to the interests of my people, as well as to my own domestic
happiness, and it will be to me a source of the most lively
satisfaction to find the resolution I have taken approved by
my parliament.
" The constant proofs which I have received of your at-
tachment to my person and family, persuade me that you
will enable me to provide for such an establishment as may'
appear suitable to the rank of the Prince and the dignity of
the Crown.

" I continue to receive from foreign powers assurances of
their unabated desire to maintain with me the most friendly
relations.

" I rejoice that the civil war which had so long disturbed
and desolated the northern provinces of Spain, has been
brought to an end by an arrangement satisfactory to the
Spanish government, -(1 to the people of those provinces ;
and I trust that, ere long, ~pace and tranquillity will be re-
established throughout the % ' 7 Spain.
" The affairs of the Levant .eve continued to occupy my
most anxious attention. The concord which has prevailed
amongst the Five Powers has prevented a renewal of hosti-
lities in that quarter, and I hope that the same unanimity
will bring these important and difficult "ers to a final
settlement in such a manner as to uphold the integrity and
independence of the Ottoman Empire, and to give additional
security to the peace of Europe.
" I have not yet been enabled to re-establish my diploma-
tic relations with the Court of Teheran, but communications
which I have lately rec,i-ed from the Persian government
inspire me with the confident expectation that the differences
which occasioned a suspension of those relations will soon be
satisfactorily adjusted.
" Events have happened in China which have occasioned
an interruption of the commercial intercourse of my subjects
with that country. I have given, and shall continue to
give, the most serious attention to a'matter so deeply affect-
ing the interests of my subjects and the dignity of my Crown.

" I have great satisfaction in acquainting you that the
military operations undertaken by the Governor-general of
India have been attended with complete success ; and that
in the expedition to the westward of the Indus, the officers
and troops, both European and native, have displayed the
most, distinguished skill and valour.
" I have directed that further papers relating to the affairs
of Canada should be laid before you, and I confide to your
wisdom this important subject.
" I reccornmend to your early attention the state of the
municipal corporations of Ireland.

" It is desirable that you should prosecute those measures
relating to the EStablished 'Church which have been recom-
mended by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners of England.
" Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

" I have directed the estimates for the services of the year
to be laid before yOu. They have been framed with every
attention to economy, and at the same time with a due re-
gard to the efficiency of those establishments which are ren-
dered necessary by the extent and circumstances of the
empire.

" I have lost no time in carrying into effect the intentions
of parliament by the reduction of the duties on postage, and
I trust that the beneficial effects of this. Measure mill be felt
throughout all classes of the community.
" My Lords and Gentlemen,

" I learn with great sorrow that the commercial em-
barrassments which have taken place in this and in other
countries, are subjecting many of the manufacturing districts
to severe distress.

" I have to acquaint you, with deep concern, that the spi-
rit of insubordination has in some parts of the country broke
out into open violence, which was speedily repressed by the
firmness and energy of the magistrates, and ty the steadiness
and good conduct of my troops.

" I confidently rely upon the power of the law, upon your
loyalty and wisdom, and upon the good sense and right feel-
ing of my people, for the maintenance of order, the protec-
tion of property, and the promotion, as far as they can be
promoted by human means, of the true interests of Europe."

The house again met at five o'clock. ,
'—_The LORD CHANCELLOR read her Majesty's most gracious
Speech. It was afterwards read by one of the clerks at the
table.
The Duke of SOMERSET then moved the address to the
Crown, which was seconded by Lord SEAFORD.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said, that he entirely con-
curred with the observations of the two noble lords who had
addressed the house respecting the marriage of the Sovereign ;
and he was certain that a proper and liberal allowance would
be made by parliament for the Prince. He could not help
saying, however, that the country ought to know something
more of that Prince than his name. (Hear.) He was one
of the privy council when the Queen announced her intention
of allying herself in marriage with that Prince. The prece-
dent of the marriage of George the Third was adhered to in
every respect save one (hear) ; no mention was made of the
Protestant religion. (Hear, hear.) He was satisfied that
the illustrious Prince alluded to was a Protestant (hear) ; but
why was it not stated ? (Hear, hear.) If he is a Protestant,
why was it not so stated ?

Lord MELnouINE then proceeded to reply to the noble
lord.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—YESTERDAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at a quarter before four
o'clock. The attendance of members at the commencement
of business was not very numerous, but the house was
crowded before five o'clock.