Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-02-15
FIRST PARLIAMENT
OF KING EDW ARD VII
Formally Opened by His
Majesty In Person.
OLD CEREMONY REVIVED

The New King Reads His Speech
From the Throne-Procession of the
Royal Party From Buckingham to
Westminster Gorgeous Pageant.
LONDON, Feb. IA THE first parlia-
ment of the reign of King Edward VII
was opened this afternoon by the king
in person. His majesty was accompa-
MED by Queen Alexandra, the Duke of
I York and Cornwall and the Duke of
Connaught and many others of the
royal family.
The last state ceremony of the kind
occurred III 1861, when Queen Victoria
opened parliament, accompanied by the
prince consort, and since the death of
the latter nothing approaching today's
pomp has been witnessed in connection
with the opening of the legislature.
Not since the wedding of the then
Prince of Wales and Princess Alexan-
dra has the gorgeous state coach used
today been seen i'll the streets of the
capital
In this coach today the king and
queen and Princess Victoria rode from
buckingham palace to the palace of
Westminster. The route OF the royal
party, which lay through the Mall, the
Horse Guards parade, Whitehall and
Parliament streets, was guarded by 8, 1000
soldiers. Thousands of Londoners
packed st. James park, bordered the
route Of the procession and filed win
dows and roofs. The cortege was short
but spectacular The royal coach, drawn
by eight famous cream colored Hano-
verlans, with postillions in red and gold
liveries and footmen leading the horses,
which were covered with morocco and
gilt, was preceded and followed by Life
Guards in full uniform, with silver
breastplates and red plumed helmets,
and a small escort of gentlemen-at-
arms, in historic costumes, Immediately
surrounded the vehicle.
Five carriages of state containing uni
formed officials and ladies of the house
hold, each drawn by six horses with
postillions and outriders, led the pro-
cession. Next came the massive state
carriage, in which could plainly be seen
through the plateglass windows the
king, who was in full uniform, salutlng
constantly and the queen bowling on all
sides. The procession speedily traversed
the short route, to an accompaniment of
roars and shouts, and reached the royal
entrance to the palace of Westminster
beneath the Victoria tower at the ap.
pointed time.
There were the great officers of state
and the others who were to take part in
the ceremony assembled III order to re-
ceive their majesties Upon the king
and queen alighting from the state car
riage, the procession was quickly formed
and proceeded to the robing room.
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall
and York, the Duke and Duchess of
Connaught, the Duchess of Fife, the
Duchess of Argyll, Prince and Princess
Christian of Schleswig- Holstein, Prin-
cess Henry of Battenberg, Prince and
Princess Charles of Denmark and their
attendants had previously assembled in
the house of peers, to await their ma
jesties.
Brilliant Scenes.
The diminutive chamber was filed to
its capacity by the highest and nobled
of the kingdom, the greater part of the
floor being occupied by peeresses and
other ladies. Ambassador Joseph
Choate and the other ambassadors oc-
cupied a special enclosure behind the
bench of the bishop The whole scene
was brilliant in the extreme Diamonds
flashed out of the folds of the black
dresses of the ladies, while color was
added to the scene by the robes of the
peers and the state officials.
The rich uniforms of the diplomatic
corps, the robes of the officers of state
and the military and naval uniforms
formed brilliant medley which grad
ually disappeared through the entrance
of the respective houses
The king and the robed procession ad-
vanced to the house of lords AS soon
as his majesty was enthroned, the lord
great chamberlain received the royal
command to summon the members of
the house of commons to hear the speech
from the throne.
The Black Rod General Sir Michael
Biddulph) reached the house of COM
mons at 2:20 p. m, and the members,
headed by the speaker, Mr. William
Court Gully, proceeded to the house of
lords.
Inc kings speech was as follows:
The Kings Speech.
"My Lords and Gentlemen: 1 ad-
dress you for the first time at moment
of national sorrow, when the whole
country is mourning the irreparable loss
we have so recently sustained, and
which has fallen with peculiar severity
on myself. My beloved mother during
her long and glorious reign has set an
example before the world of what a
monarch should be. 1t is my earnest
desire TO walk in her footsteps.
"Amid this public and private grief
it is satisfactory to me to be able to as
sure you that my relations with the
other powers continue friendly.
"The war In South Africa Is not yet
entirely terminated, but the capitals of
the enemy and his principal lines of
communication are in my possession,
and measures have been taken which
will, trust, enable my troops to deal
effectually with the forces by which
they are still opposed.
81 greatly regret the loss of life and
expenditure of treasure due to the fruit
less guerilla warfare maintained by
Boer partisans in the former territories
of the two republics. Their early sub
mission is much to be desired in their
own interests. as until it takes place it