The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-01-29 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL DEBT

Mr. HERRIES wisbcd to know if there would be any ob-
jection to his moving for certain returns relative to the
funded and unfunded debt ? and gave notice that he should
move for these returns on the motion for going into com-
mittee of supply.

MAJESTY'S SPEECH.-THE ADDRESS

The speech from the throne having been read,
Lord BICABAZON, in moving the address, congratulated
the house on the birth of the Princess Royal, and how grate-
fully they should thank the Almighty Giver of all Good that
he had deigned to hearken sad to answer the nation's prayers
to protect her Majesty through all the perils she had under-
gone, and to give to the country a direct heir to the throne,
who, he sincerely trusted, would have her mother's virtues,
and would preserve unimpaired the constitution of the coun-
try. (Hear, hear.) Alluding to the achievements in India
and China, he said it was pleasing to reflect that in all these
undertakings her Majesty's efforts had been either crowned
with success, or were upon the eve of being so. With re-
spect to the political state of the country, he had no hesita-
tion in asserting, that upon the success of the measures of
her Majesty's present government the interests of the coun-
try mainly depended. The course they had hitherto pur-
sued had been attended with the most beneficial results. It
was to be sincerely lamented, that, in the course of events,
France had thought it necessary to withdraw her assistance
from the other great powers, which had Confederated solely
for the purpose of maintaining the pesce of Europe and the
safety of the political relations. It was satisfactory to know,
and it was matter of self-congratulation to this country and
to her Majesty's ministers; that the righteous objects they
had in view, and which it was their determination to secure,
had been attained without the assistance of France, and even
in spite of her opposition. To the former minister of that
country another had succeeded, in whose abilities and mode-
ration Europe had reason to repose every confidence. They
might hope that France would yet see her error, and would
enter again into friendly relations with this country, and re-
new her former intercourse with us. The immense resour-
ces, and the many dependencies of that great empire, im-
posed a very serious responsibility on those who had to con-
duct its government ; and it was to him matter of rejoicing
to find in the measures and principles of our colonial policy
that love of justice, and those principles of liberty, on which
a free country should ever act. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. GRANTLEY BERKELEY, in seconding the address,
dwelt at some length on the glorious achievements of our
arms in India and China, from which he anticipated the best
results. The policy of his noble friend had made this coun-
try the arbitrator of foreign nations, in spite of the attacks
of France and the cry at home. The government had done
their duty, and were it the last act of his noble friend, he
might fairly exclaim—
" To-morrow do thy worst, for I
Have lived to-day."

(Laughter.)
Mr. GROTE then rose and censured the policy of govern-
ment in making war on a power which had never been un-
friendly, and which never had done any injury to this
country. He dwelt at much length on the foreign.policy of
the country, in a tone of disapprobation towards the course
adopted by the government.
Mr. JAMES defended the conduct of the government.

Lord. J. RUSSELL entered at great lengtliintotiieeastern
question, and defended the government from the charges
made against it by Mr. Grote. Most of the points touched
upon were the same as had been under discussion in the
House of Lords. In reply to an observation of Mr. Grote,
to the effect that the present ministry were finalists, and op-
posed to all reform, he said that such was not the case, for
they were friendly to reforms, particularly in matters more
immediately connected with trade and commerce, but they
did not conceive the institutions of the country to be grie-
vances because they were looked upon in that light by others,
and they were firmly resolved to maintain: he established
church, the hereditary peerage, and the hereditary monarchy
of this empire.

Mr. MILNES regretted that France had not been treated
with wore deference by the British ministry.

Mr. titIME, after a speech of considerable length, moved
s an amendment to the address—

" To thank her Majesty for having called them together at
a period when the finances of the country, the condition of

our working classes, and our foreign relation 4 in every quar-
ter of the globe alike required the most grave consideration ;
to declare that, regarding war as the greatest calamity that

. .
commerce anti manufactures, the house could not but view
with intense apprehension and regret, the interruption of
that peace which we had now for some years happily enjoyed ;
that they viewed with especial uneasiness the state of our re-
lations with France, as they considered a- cordial alliance

with that power essential to the peace of Europe ; that they
regarded with distrust the convention with Russia, Prussia,
and Austria, under the pretext of preserving the integrity of
the Ottoman empire, which had been injured by Russia more
than by any other power ; to state to her Majesty, that while
they fully recognised the power of the Crown to make war,
they considered it their right and their duty to inquire and
examine into the exercise of that power ; to beseech her Ma-
jesty to direct her ministers to lay before that house the
ground upon which they had advised the employment of her
Majesty's forces in Syria, with full information to enable the
house to judge of the wisdom and policy of-that course which
her Majesty informed the house had been attended with sig-
nal success ; to express their surprise at her Majesty's ad-
visers havingrecom mended increased establishments, attended
as they must be, with increased taxation, and their regret
that her Majesty had not directed the attention of the house
as to the increase of an expenditure beyond the revenue ;
and to the distress and discontent which prevailed to an
alarming degree amongst the labouring classes throughout
the kingdom, and the causes of it ; and the best means of re-
lieving her Majesty's faithful and loving subjects."
Sir R. PEEL would decline to agree to any thing like cen-
sure on the government on the ground of its foreign policy,
until all the documents should be laid on the table. He was,
however, of opinion that a proper degree of courtesy had not
been observed towards France, and referred to the explana-
tions of M. Guizot in the French chambers, in which he
stated that he was not aware of the execution of the treaty
by the other allied powers, exclusive of France. He was of
opinion that the intention to sign it should have been confi-
dentially comtnunicated to M. Guizot, who was a warm friend
to England. The right hon. btronet strongly condemned
the omission of the name of France from the speech, and said
it would have been in no degree derogatory to England, and
would be very conciliating towards France, if there had been
in the speech au expression of regret for the disagreement
which had taken place between the two countries, and a hope
for a speedy return of the cordial understanding which
formerly existed between them. .

Lord PALMERSTON said that no fair opportunity would be
lost in endeavouring to conciliate France, but be could not
allow that there had been any discourtesy towards that coun-

try—on the contrary, a great number of concessions had been
made to France, with a view to obtain her co-operation, and
at length a final one was sent, to which a positive refusal was
received, on the ground that to coerce! the Pacha France
could be no party. After that communication it would have
been vain, he contended, to have again solicited the coalition
of France, when it was the decided intention to take coercive
measures. All the documents, however, connected with
these matters would be laid before parliament; when hon.
members would be better enabled to judge of the correctness
of the course pursued by her Majesty's government. He
would only add that if the same zeal had been displayed to
enlighten the people of France, upon the course pursued by
the British government, as had been displayed to mislead and
excite them, there would have been no danger of collision be-
tween the two countries. He regretted that this irritation
had been excited in France, but he hoped ere long to see the
two countries once more resume their former good under-

standing.
The amendment of Mr. HUME not being pressed, the ad-
dress was agreed to, and the house adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-WEDNESDAY

The House of Lords met at one o'clock, and proceeded
to Buckingham Palace, to present to her Majesty the address
in answer to the Speech from the Throne.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-WEDNESDAY

Sir ICINGLTs, on bringing up the report on the address,
took occasion to comment on the absence of allusion in the
Speech from the Throne to the recent repeal agitation in
Ireland. _ _ _ _ _

Lord J. RUSSELL thought the opinions of the Government
were sufficiently well known upon the subject, and had been
sufficiently expressed by the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.
He had also some doubts as to the policy of increasing the
importance of the cry for repeal, by alluding to it in the
Queen's speech.
The report was then agreed to.
Mr. BROTHEATON again brought forward his oft-repeated
proposition, that no new business should be brought forward
after 12 o'clock at night, if objected to by five members.
Lord J. RUSSELL thought the only effect of any such mo-
tion would be to procrastinate the public business, and to
compel them to discuss matters of law in the absence of
lawyers, and matters of trade and commerce in the absence
of merchants.

Mr. O'CONNELL said that the only merchants and lawyers
who derived advantage from the present system were those
resident in London. He would suggest that the house should
meet at ten o'clock in the morning, and sit until six or seven
in the evening, devoting two days in each week to committees.
It was, in his opinion, a glaring absurdity to do business at
night.
Mr. H umE suggested that it would be well, to have an un-
derstanding that no debate should be adjourned more than
once, in which case those gentlemen who intended to speak,
and were in the habit of delaying to do so until the last mo-
ment, would adopt a different practice.
On a division, Mr. Brotherton's motion was lost by a very
large majority.
Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD moved for leave to bring in a bill
for the amendment of the law of copyright; but Mr. War-
burton expressed himself as being taken by surprise, and,
after some conversation, it was agreed that the bill should be
postponed until Friday.
The house then adjourned.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

(From the Morning Flerald of Wednesday.)

PROCESSION TO THE HOUSEOFLORDS

From it being generally known that her Majesty would
open the session in person, the area in front of Buckingham
Palace, along the Malt in St. James's Park, and the whole
line of the royal route, was crowded long before the time ap-
pointed for the Queen's departure for the House of Lords.
Shortly after twelve o'clock, the carriages of the nobility
and gentry, having orders from the Lord High Chamberlain,
began setting down company at the House of Lords.
The Lord Chancellor was among the early arrivals, and it
was after one before the foreign ambassadors and ministers
arrived, among whom we noticed the following members of
the corps diplomatique :—His Excellency Prince Esterhazy,
his Excellency Chekib Effendi, Turkish Ambassador, his
Excellency Baron Bulow, his Excellency Baron Brunow, his
Excellency the Swedish Minister and Countess Bjornstjerna,
his Excellency Count Kielmansegge, his Excellency Baron
Biome, his Excellency Count Potion, his Excellency Count
Potion, his Excellency the Dutch Minister, his Excellency
the Neapolitan Minister,. Baron Borquency, the French
charge d'affaires, &c.
The peeresses and ladies of rank present included the
Duchess of Cleveland, Viscountess Palmerston and Lady
Fanny Cowper, Countess of Verulam, Countess of Jersey,
Countess Cadogan, Lady Stuart de Rothsay and Hon. Miss
L. Stuart, Lady Denman, Countess of Clarendon, &c. The
Ashantee Princes, in their characteristic costumes, were
among the distinguished foreigners, and attracted much
notice. _ _

A detachment of the royal horse guards (blue), commanded
by the Hon. Cecil Forester, came early and formed the
" house party," who do duty within the House of Lords. A
troop of the royal horse guards kept the line of procession
from Buckingham Palace to the houses of Parliament, and a
battalion of the foot guards was drawn up in front of the en-
trance with their tine band. .

The Marquis of Normanby, in passing George-street, was
slightly hissed, but the Home Secretary was apparently not
generally recognised, and, consequently, escaped the discor-
dant sounds that might otherwise have reached him. Vis-
count Melbourne came, to all appearance, in a job chariot.
It was a wretched " turn out," without even the noble pre-
mier's coronet on it, and his " gentleman" was equipped in
his morning out-of-livery suit.

The royal procession was formed at Buckingham Palace at
half-past one o'clock, and her Majesty and Prince Albert,
conducted by the Earl of Uxbridge, Lord Chamberlain, and
preceded by the Lord Steward and the Master of the Horse,
left the state rooms, and descended the grand staircase to
the state carriage, her Majesty's train being borne by the
pages of honour in waiting.
The state procession left the palace in the following order :
A carriage, drawn by six bays, conveying Mr. Blackwood,
Mr. Hobhouse, and Col. Dingle, gentlemen ushers, and Mr.
Samuel Hancock, exon in waiting. A carriage, drawn by
six bays, conveying Lord Alfred Paget, equerry in waiting ;
Captain Seymour, groom of the robes ; Masters Wemyss,
Byng, and Wilson, pages of honour in waiting ; and the
silver stick in waiting. A carriage, drawn by six bays, con-
veying Lord Kinuaird• master of the buck hounds ; the
Right Hon. George Stevens Byng, comptroller of the house-
hold ; Mr. Rich, groom in waiting ; and Col. Bouverie,
equerry to Prince Albert. A carriage, drawn by six bays,
conveying the Earl of Ilchester, captain of the yeoman
guard; Lord Hill, G.C.8., gold stick is waiting; Earl of
Surrey, treasurer of the household; and the Earl of Morley,
gentleman of the bedchamber to Prince Albert. A carriage,
drawn by six black horses, conveying the Marchioness of
Normanby, lady of the bedchamber ; the Earl of Errol,
K.G., lord steward of the household ; Lord Robert Gros-
venor, groom of the stole to Prince Albert ; and the Earl of
Listowel, lord in waiting. The Queen's marshalmen, two
and two; the Queen's footmen, in state liveries, two and
two ; a party of the yeoman of the guard, in their coronation
costume. The state coach, in which were the Queen and
Prince-Albert (his royal highness wearing a field marshal's
uniform, with a collar and star of the most noble order of
the garter); Lady Portman, lady in waiting ; and the Earl of
Albemarle, G.C.H., master of the horse.

The royal cortige was escorted from th&palae-P by a party
of the royal regiment of horse guards.
On the Queen passing under the marble arch, the specta-
tors faintly cheered her Majesty, and along the Mall the
cheering was far from being general, There was a slight de-
lay opposite the Duke of York's column, caused, we believe,
by a part of the harness of one of the horses coming un-
buckled. The royal procession on passing through the Horse
Guards, was more favourably greeted than at any other part
of the rdute, but the plaudits there did not go beyond com-
mon enthusiasm. Along Parliament-street, until the arrival
of her Majesty in Palace-yard, the applause of the assemblage
was but partial.
The procession arrived in Palace-yard a few minutes before
two o'clock, and on the state carriage drawing beneath the
porch of the House of Lords, the band struck up God save
the Queen, and a royal salute was fired on her Majesty's
alighting.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, accompanied
by Prince George. arrived shortly before the Queen, and were
received by the military with the usual honours. His Royal
Highness the Duke of Sussex was not present.

THE GALLERY OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
It was about two o'clock, when the opening salute of the
very indifferent species of ordnance made use of on these
solemn occasions, announced that her :Majesty had arrived
at the entrance of the House of Lords. The gallery and
painted chamber of the latter were occupied, at each side of
the passage for the royal cortege, with as many ranges of
spectators as could be therein accommodated, almost all of
whom had taken care, under the permit of the Lord Cham-
berlain's ticket, to secure their places even at as early an
hour as twelve. It is a great gratification to the fortunate
few, whom it may concern, to be allowed this near inspection
of so interesting a spectacle, and it is only to be regretted
that the favour should be in no slight degree neutralised by
the unreasonable practice of enclosing the procession between
two living walls of dismounted horse-guards, whose bearskin
caps are familiar with the ceiling and sadly unaccommodating
to those who would glance either over or between them.
This is a most uncharitable pageant. During the two hours
that elapsed from the time when the spectators had attained
their seats and the arrival of " the blues," the former had
abundant matter to excite their attention, in noting the con-
stant and most graceful train of the peeresses proceeding to
their places within the house; the peers in their robes,
hastening, as they arrived, irregularly in the same direction,
and the many groups of ambassadors and attaches with their
suites in full feather, and the novelty of foreign costume also,
led forward, ever and anon, by the pursuivants of the herald-
at-arms.

Amongst these, an Asiatic Prince, with a dark, aqueline
visage, that would do honour to the desert lineage of Ish-

mael, and costume of pui'ple velvet, richly and elegantly em-
broidered in gold, was singularly conspicuous, and seemed
himself vividly affected by the influence of the scene around
him. On one of the seats in the gallery, or passage, were
the two Ashantte Princes, whose dress, in the highest style
of our west-end fancy; indicated ycung gentlemen of very
sufficient civilisation, but whose physiognomieS presented,
both in regard to tint. and turn of feature, as striking a con-

trast as could well be conceived to the characteristics of that
most fair and royal face upon which they too came to indulge
a curious gaze.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and Prince
George, the latter in his full uniform of the 13th, came im-
mediately before her Majesty.
When, at length, the signal of the royal approach was
given, the Premier, the Lord Chancellor, and other noble
lords of the Cabinet, proceeded with the heralds-at-arms to
meet her Majesty, whose arrival at the house was speedily
made known by the discharge of the ordnance alluded to ;
the rattle of the guards' carabines as they came to the ab-
rupt "present," and the shrill sonorous salute of four trum-
pets within the walls. The whole escort of gentlemen pen-
sioners, heralds, and officers of the household and cabinet
slowly advanced, in all their richest official costume, and in
the midst of them appeared her Majesty and his Royal High-
ness Prince Albert. The procession turned into the spacious
chamber to the left of the gallery at its entrance, and her
Majesty having there assumed the crimson robe of state,
which was supported by her ladies of honour and pages, again
came forth and proceeded to the house, the crown being car-
ried on a velvet cushion by the Earl of Erroll, and Viscount
Melbourne bearing the sword of state.
Her Majesty, happily appeared in excellent health, per-
haps with a line more of fulness in her figure that when she
last trod in this scene of ceremony. Her Majesty's dress
presented a very gosamer of delicate lace over white satin,
and she wore her tiara and other ornaments of the finest
brilliants. His royal highness also looked exceedingly well,
had on his field-marshal's uniform, and wore the collars and
stars of the Garter and the Bath. His royal highness held
her Majesty's left hand, and thus they entered the house.