Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-10-20
PROPAGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

present king in person; and the occasion OF II
affords one of the most brilliant spectacles OF
the pageant loving aristocracy OF this country:
The propagation takes place in the House Oh
Peers-a large high quadrangular room. Al
one end of it stands a gilt char, caheo tne
throne, In sort of recess, formed by two gilt
pillars. hung about with red cloth, with cano,
nv surmounted by gilt crown, IN front OF all
which Is a round fronted platform, connected
with the floor by three or four steps Inc chiei
doors of entrance are on each SIDE OF the throne,
and are hung round with red cloth -FOUR
rows of benches covered with red cloth, run
,Jono ON each side of the room, for two-thirds
ne LENGTH; between these benches, and near the
throne are the red cloth covered woolsacks,
the principal one, for the Lord Chancellor, aoout
ten feet long by three or four broad, runs cross
Says; and the other two, apparently OF the same
size, run lengthways with the room; then comes
the clerks table At the opposite end from the
throne about one third of the room is cut on
nv a partition two or three feet high, called the
IN of the house; beyond which the members
# the House of Commons appear, on this great
occasion, after entering through red cloth hung
doors. Over this end Of the room IS gallery
of five rows Of seats The floor is covered with
red cloth and the walls with some old dingy
tapestry. said to have been worked by the maids
of honor to Queen Elizabeth, in commemo-
ration of that farce, the Spanish Armada Six
plain brass chandeliers, in two rows, hang from
the ceiling,
At u o'clock, to-day, the house was open,
and the wives, daughters and female relatives OF
the PEERS began to enter; who, In the course OF
an hour and half filled all the seats on each
side of the house. They came in, generally,
unattended and followed an awkward old fel-
low in black, who showed them seats according
TO their ranks-at least it appeared so, for seVe-
raj times noticed that he removed ladies from
front to back seats.
During this first hour and half very lew
gentlemen were in the House. There were
couple of red robed bishops, and few black
robed Judges, with few servants OF the House.
Then came dropping in, the diplomatic gentry,
i'm their peculiar uniforms; they had seats be-
yond the ladies' near the throne. think have
never seen q sitter and more awkward looking
set of men.
After this. Brougham, the Lord Chancellor,
s,.tered i'm his horrible wig, and a black robe
! shed off with gold lace, followed by the mace
carer and mace. He gave judgment in some
,ld case, because he said II was not proper 10
mt il off owing to particular circumstance; In
which case he had occasion to explain the legal
distinction between man in esse and peer IN
esse with various others the like sort Of matter.
Theladies sat very patiently under all his legal
Recommendation When this was finished, sundry
officers entered, and about twelve or hiteen
men covered with red robes, who wore swords.
By this time the House was filled in all parts,
except mat reSeTNeu lOi NiShioSiS VI "0
House of Commons
The appearance of near two hundred ladies.
dressed i'm every VARIETY of colors the majority
of whom had large ostrich feathers In their
heads, was indeed an agreeable sight; but 1t was
especially so to me, plain republican, VINO mad
an opportunity, during couple OF hours, oil lei
surely scanning the exhibition before me, while
| reflected upon the nothingness of red cloth and
long pedigrees. There are various physiology
cal as we'll as moral and other causes, why ie-
males, of the hereditary titled orders, cannot be
so beautiful as those in the classes next to them
Therefore, will touch gently the lack OF that
auality in this assemblage There were very
few absolutely small, and as few fat; few had
a remarkably delicate and refined appearance,
a moiety was certainly not at all remarkable,
and many were downright coarse and vulgar
in their air. Theybehaved themselves ho~ev-
err, with the greatest possible decorum and quie-
tude; little or no talking look place between
them for full two hours.
After two O'Clock prayers were said, or rather
read. The ladies, and all the other great peo-
ple we're exceedingly devout; and the prayer
itself was the perfection of prayer for legislat-
ingdivines and peers Ittalked of putting away
temptations, selfishness, &c. and Of receiving
wisdom and advice.
Atlast the cannon began to fire, and when
twenty odd big reports had gone forth upon the
mir the principal door flew open, and his ma
ie,fy entered First came different noble SER
wants, who marched past the throne, and, DOW
ing to the senseless piece Of gilded wood, took
their stand on the far side from the entrance;
then came the old king, in white trousers and
a red robe, the long tail of which six stout men
carried; he threw himselfin the chair-or throne
seemingly glad enough TO be seated, the whole
assembly having risen as he entered; then came
lords aud great officers amongst whom re-en,
tered the Lord Chancellor, who took his stand
on the right of the king, while Lord Melbourne
stood onthe left. After few moments repose,
his majesty said, with toleraby loud voice
"My Lords and Gentlemen, be seated so the
rladies and gentlemen Of all degrees resumed
their seats, except those who had just entered
with him. Here another pause took place,
(waitng for the House of Commons to appear)
which was partly occupied by some whispering,
first between Melbourne and the king, and then
between Brougham and the king.
Presently the Members Of the House of Com
mons marched in, with their wigged and gown
ed speaker at their head; he leaned over the bar
of the house, and told his majesty what the
Commons had been doing through the session,
and gave a roll to clerk OF the House ofPeers,
who took il to the Clerks table, where another
clerk gave il to third one, who forthwith began
the reading of the titles Of various bills. After