Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-02-14
THE CEREMONY OF OPENING THE FRENCH
CHAMBERS.
Pomp and Fe,tiyity---Th Empress and Prince

POmp and Festiyity--The Empress and Prince.
The Paris correspond ent Of the National IeteLi-
gencer, writing January %, says:
The French Chambers were opened yesterday
amidst all that imposing ceremonial with which the
Emperor loves to surround the action OF his govern
ment, and please the eyes Of his sight-loving sub
iects. The extreme beauty aud mldness OF the
weather, which looks as though winter had already
left US for good. added greatly to the external bril-
lance Of the scene which was passing from ten
o'rlork till noon on the Place de CarOuSel and IN the
splendid new square Of Napoleon Ill. There amidst
the bright beams Of a spring-lke sunshine, helmet
and breastplate and glittering bayOnets were flashing
in all the dazzling splendOrOf military pOmp, amidst
which were moving in rapid and inceSsant whlrl
lines of brilliant aquipages, filled with gOld-laced
senators and fun, lOnaries, OF, Tar more attracting,
with ladies attre- in all the bewitching elegance OF
the Partisan toilette. The day was 80 fine and the
an SO balmy, that a great number Of the carriages
were open, and afforded the fair occupants the dou-
bic opportunity and qualification Of exhibiting their
tasteful costumes 20 the spectators outside, b@ore
displaying them to the more refined assemblage
within. The privilege enjoyed by most Of the high
officers Of state in the French Empire OF having
their carriages accompanied Ply a military escort on
such occasions added greatly 10 the showlness oil the
scene. As troop after troop OF brilliant light cavalry
galloped past. mounted on their spirited gray Arab
horses. The great gates Of the marble arch, staud-
ing between the TUjlerieS and the Louvre, and
through which the imperialtamily alone ever passes
were thrown open and the road along which the
procession was 10 pass strewn with fresh gravel.
Troops Of the line occupied one side OF the route
and the national guards the other, while large bod
les of both were massed with imposing elect at
stated intervals along the Intermediate space. The
beauty and brilliancy Of the coup q GuiL could
scarcely be exceeded, and all spoke Of that " great
military French Empire which after all IS the beau
ideal Of the people and sovereign Of this country.
must not further stop TO describe the imperial
PROCESSION which shortly issued from the IullcrleS
amidst the distant roar Of the guns Of the lnvalldes
aud \ grand salute along the entire line. The En-
press. elegantly but simply attired IN a mauye-col-
ored silk dress aud white lace bonnet, looked eX.
tremely well, though evidently getting stouter and
more matrOniy every year.
In the same carriage with the Emperor rode the
Prince Imperial. instead Of, as hitherto, with b
mother-a change Of arrangements which was gen.
erllv remarked, as indicative Of the advancing
wears and position Of the heir apparen. Also, II
was observed, that when the imperial party entered
the grand Sale deS EtGtS, where the ceremony OF
the opening takes place and the speech IS delivered
and walked in procession up the centre Of the SPLEEN
did assembly, the young Prince, instead of taking
his mothers hand as last year, walked alone, and
wore. for the first time also, the broad ribbon OF the
highest rank Of the Legion Of Honor across his boy
J ish suit of black velvet. Again, when the Emperor
took his seat on the throne, the Prince, his son, sai
| on his right hand, while Prince Napoleon occupied
the chair on the left. One cannot Eelp watching
with q half curious, half painful interest the ad'
vance Of this young child upon tie high but long
and hazardous path which NAV lead HIM TO what
fortunes none can tell.
But now the words of the speech are ringing
through the vast hall in those firm tones and well.
accentuated passages which made the style and
delivery alike Of the Emperor 80 remarkable. Every
ear Is strained TO catch the precise bearing of phrases
carrying so much weigh, and whose purpOrt was
known to the writer alone, until communicated, on
Sunday morning, TO the last council of ministers
assembled before the opening.