The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-05-18
How the Queen Opened the
English Pariia snent.

The London papers give accounts of the man
ner III which Parliament Was opened by the
Queen on the 9Th of February
The doors of the House of Lords were not
opened till twelve O'Clock. but long before that
time a considerable number of ladies had collect
ed, and the dim magniicence of the long corridors
and chambers was enlivened by the presence of
exquisite toilets in all the richest amplitudes OF
the latest fashion. In q few minutes after the
hour had struck, Il considerable space of the gov
eminent benches was occupied, and from that
time till one O'Clock the arrivals were inceSSant.
The Opposition benches filed more slowly, for on
these occasions this part Of the chamber is re-
served for Peeresses only, and the majority of
these did not arrive till shortly before the great
ceremony of the day began. The part allotted 10
the diplomatic body was filled, and the crowd of
splendid uniforms covered with orders and deco
rations, which is always To he seen there on these
occasions, made IL one of the most brilliant parts
of the whole chamber. The ambassadors of FUR
key, France, Austria. Prussia and Russia occupied
the front seats, and behind these were the minis
tiers of Belgium, Italy. Spain, Portugal, and Ba-
varia, while the background was filled up with
ministers from minor States and u crowd of secre-
taries and attaches.
At 2:10 the doors on the right of the throne.
by which the Queen enters, were thrown open,
and the whole of the illustrious assemblage in the
chamber rose with Il great hustle, which was in
stantly succeeded by an intense silence, as every
eye was fixed upon the door. Formerly, when
the Queen used to open Parliament with the
Prince Consort her arrival was always proclaimed
beforehand by brilliant fiouriShes of rumpets.
Yesterday, however, Us last year, the splendid
procession entered amid a solemn silence that was
almost funereal. First came the heralds, bowling
stiffiy in their tabards as they passed the throng,
then the chief officers of the household, followed
by Lord Derby, carrying the sword of state. and
accompanied by Lord Malmesbury. After these
noblemen came Her Majesty, accompanied by the
Princesses Helena and Louise, and Prince Arthur,
and followed by the Duchess of Wellington, who
stood behind the throne. The Queen, as she sat
on the throne, had the PrinceSses, with Lord
Derby and Lord Malmeshury, on her left. On
her right Were the Lord Chancellor with the
speech, the Duke of Buckingham, the Marquis of
Winchester, with the cap of maintenance, and the
Duke of Richmond, bearing the Imperial crown,
while officers of the household, the chamberlain's
department, and the House of Lords closed in the
When the Queen had taken her place on the
throne, the Lord Chancellor, by her command,
requested their lordships to be seated. and the dc
putty usher of the Black Rod was dispatched to
summon the Z. faithful Commons During the
interval which always clapses before the knights
and burgesses present themselves IN almost tu-
array below the bar, the most intense
prevailed in the House of Peers, and every
look was directed to the august occupant of the
throne and those who stood around it. They
have been statues, SO motionless were all.
The Queen never stirred or looked to right or left.
Her dress was a plain black silk, with the ribbon
and star of the Garter. On her head was i Mary
Stuart cap, surmounted by a demi-crown of bril-
liants, from the back of which depended a long
veil and she wore the koh-i-noor in a
The Princess Helena wore a train of
satin, and the Princess Louise Wore a shor-
ter and more childlike dress of the same material.
Both stood beside Her Majesty on the left of the
and were as motionless as the Queen her
Prince Arthur wore the plain uniform of a
cadet of the Royal Military Academy.
The IS faithful Commons came to the bar in
4 more orderly way than last year, though still
not without an amount of noise and an amount of
crushing among the first rows which provoked
IN almost general smile in the Chamber of Peers.
hen a complete silence was restored, the Lord
Chancellor, bowling to the Queen, opened the
speech, and in an admirably clear voice, read the
'oyal speech. The reading Of this unusually long
address was listened to with the most profound
silence, which d~eepened almost into intensity
when the paragraph relating to reform was read.
At the end of the speech there was a minutes
PAUSE, when the Queen bowed graciously from
he throne, and at once ali arose at the signal.
Ter Majesty then descended the steps, and turn
to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edin-
)urgh, who were advancing to meet her, she came
and kissed them both. Anything more
nipple, and affcctionate than this greeting be-
ween the mother and her children cannot well be
The Queen then presented her hand
o the Duke of Cambridge and to Prince Teck,
of whom kissed it respectfully, and then
gain turning to the House she bowed, and left
the same state ceremonial as she had en-
cred, followed by her sons. In a few minutes
he whole of the brilliant assemblage had broken
lp, and thus commenced the second session of the
seventh Parliament of Queen Victoria.
I