The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-02-03
A ROYAL PAGEANT.
Queen Victoria in Person Opens
the British Parliament.
Sitting on the Throne While her
Speech is Read.

Sitting on the Throne While hel
Speech is Read.
The British parliament is again in session
having been opened by Queen Victoria in
person. Promptly at 80 P. NJ, says Lon
don dispatch, the royal party left Bucking-
ham palace for the house of lords. The route
of the royal pageant had been covered with
gravel. This prevented the horses from
falling and enabled more rapid progress to
be made. Her majesty rode in an open car,
riage drawn by eight horses The Household
cavalry acted as the escort to the queen
Large crowds lined the street through which
the royal procession passed, and her majesty
was greeted with hearty cheers all along the
route. The scene in the house of lords was
very brilliant. Peers and peeresses, judges,
ministers and bishops were present in
large numbers in full court dress. Gaslight
was used in the chamber, owing to the abb
sence of the SUM- This enhanced the beauty
of the scene, as it showed more fully thu
brilliancy of the jewels and splendor Of the
dresses worn by those present The queen
looked as if she were suffering from cold.
A cluster of princes was about the throne
in the house of lords: princessss were in front
of the wool-sack, and all were standing in 81
lence to receive the queen. The procession
entered with Lord Salisbury bearing the
sword of state, the Marquis of Win
chester the cup, and the Duke of Port
land the regalia on a cushion. The Prince
of Wales went to meet the queen, and bent
to kiss her hand. She assembled the three steps
of the throne assisted by Princess Beatrice
and the Prince of Wales, then seated herself,
and her erlnine robe and crimson train were
s5smss<a s5saagsd 0Y YSncts tns Bsasee sae took lord
Albert Victor, the eldest son of the Prince Of
Wales, took one at the left The lord chan.
cellor stood next to Princess Beatrice, and
then came tn, Prince of Wales. Lord
Salisbury having laid the sword down, the
queen bowed three times-in front, to
the right and to the left. The house of COM
mons was then formally summoned, and
came rushing into the bar headed by the mace
and the speaker in his gold-braided robe of
state. The members with him were drawn
by lot owing to the limited space. The lord
chancellor salaaming to the queen, then held
the speech toward her: She touched it as
it with abominably dry elocution.
When he had finished it he salaamed again.
The queen then rose, assisted by Prince AL
bert Victor, from the throne, and the pro-
cession reformed and retired. From the be-
ginning everybody save the lord chancellor
was absolutely mute. The ceremony lasted
Just quarter of an hour. The queen said in
her speech:
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN: My rela'
tions with other powers continue to be OF
friendly character. The difference which e1-
listed when last addressed you between my
government and Russia on the subject of
the boundaries of Afghanistan has been salts
factorily adjusted. In pursuance Of conyen-
tion which will be laid before you, English
and Russian commissioners with the full
concurrence of my ally, the Ameer Of Afghan
istan, have been engaged in demarcating the
frontier Of that country. trust that their
work, already far advanced, may tend to
secure the continuance of peace in Central
Asia.
The rising in Eastern Roumelia has given
expression to desire Of the inhabitants for
change in the political arrangements under
which they were placed by the treaty of
Berlin. Ny object in the negotiations which
have followed has been to bring them, accord
ing to their wish, under the prince Of Bulga.
ria's rule, while maintaining unimpaired the
essential rights of the sultan.
Under a convention concluded with the
porte, commissioners have been appointed on
behalf of England and Turkey to confer with
the khedive and report upon the measures
that are required for securing the defense OF
Egypt and the stability and efficiency Of the
government in that country.
RI I n
November to declare war against King Thee
baw, of Burmah. Acts of hostility on his
part against my subjects and the interests Of
nv empire has since his accession been dellb-
crate and continuous. These had necessitated
the withdrawal of my representative at his
court My demands for redress were
systematically evaded and disregarded. An
attempt to confiscate the property OF my sub
jects trading under agreement, and refusal
to settle the dispute by arbitration convinced
me that protection Of British life and prop
erty and the cessation of dangerous an
archy in Upper Burmah could only be ef-
fected by force of arms The gallantry ofmy
European and Indian forces under General
Prendergast rapidly brought the country
under nv power, and have decided that the
most certain method of insuring peace and
order is to be found in the permanent incor-
poration Of the kingdom of Ava with my
empire.
An agreement has been made with Spain,
securing to this country all commercial rights
grantt to Germany in the Caroline Islands
Your con ;ent will be asked to legislative
measures rendered necessary in the conven
on The subject OF international copyright, to
which have agreed.
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN: I regret to
say that no material improvement can be
noted in the condition of trade or agTicul-
ture. ] feel the deepest sympathy for the
great number Of persons in many avocations
of life who are suffering under a pressure
have seen with deep sorrow the renewal
since last addressed you Of the attempt to
excite the people Of Ireland to hostility
against the legislative union between that
country and Great Britain am resolutely
opposed to any disturbance of that funda-
mental law. and in resisting it l am con-
vinced that I shall be heartily supported by
my parliament and my people,
The social no less than the material con-
dition of that country engages my anxious
attention. Although there has been during
the last year no marked increase OF serious
crime, there is in many places a concerted
resistance to the enforcement of legal obliga-
tions, and regret that the practice OF organ
led intimidation continues to exist. have
caused every e1ertion to be used for the de.
lection and punishment Of these crimes. and
no effort will be spared on the part of my
government to protect my Irish subjects in
the exercise of their legal rights and in the
enjoyment Of individual liberty.
If, as my information leads me to appre-
hend, the existing provisions of the law
should prove to be inadequate to cope with
these growing evils, shall look with conf
dence to your willingness to invest my gov
ernment with all the necessary powers.
Bills will be submitted for transferring to