Year: 1859

Tne third session OF the fifth Parliament of Queen Vic
toras reign opened the Sd inst with all those
cessores of state and regal grandeur which still make this
oft recurring the impressive and splen-
did Of all the great ceremonals Of the nation.


HOUSE OF LORDS


The doors of the House Lords were opened at twelve
O'Clock, and considering that the are in question:
II is rather surprising 10 the numbers that there
in time In very few minutes after that hour both sides
Of the galleries nearly filed and the dresses look like


rich band Of varegated colors which relieves the effect
of the dim impressive grandeur of the chamber above
All are of course in full evening Dress though the abors
of the toilet at present concealed under shaws
cloaks for the day is tar from warm, and of the
stored windows above the seats have been left open,
making gaps in the succession Of one line Of kings.


The peeresses arrive fast In little groups of twos and
hrees, and after much bowling and taK with friends
length ushered to their places by the messengers
occupy themselves in gazing at that rich, angular but
strictly Gothic throne, uncovered and disclosing to
II s not much to look at but Still it is something, and
would be baed object of interest to the poor ladies
who by dnt OF friends and interest," have obtained tickets
for the Roy al Gallery outside in the hope Of seeing the
peercsses 60 through the House. But the peeresses
come by another avenue and the ladies who waiting


much of the chief personages of the Ceremonial as il thew
had stood with the crowd outside


is the Sergeanta at Arms, the Hon. p. Talbot who
the stest of uniforms, remains in t'possess0n Of the


floor attracting amount Of observation which he ap
pears 10 nd embarrassing till joined by the venerable
Field Marshal Lord Combcrmere the uniform of Colonel
Of the Life Guards The body of the House is gradually


filing up and most of the front benches occupied


At one O'Clock there is great and sudden influx of
noble ladies' all superby dressed in the fullest amplitude
of the present fashion, and who remain in the body
the mousse looking with something like dismay the very
aperture between the benches for the peers,
through which they required TO pass In vain the
The ladies all smies but mmoveable Sonehenge,
opposing passive resistance-the most eectua Of all
distractions to officials who have be polite and do their
duty at the same time At last they settle down with
great rustic, unknown Baron with two bars of
ermne IN his robes Of state saunters In followed by the
Earl Of Albemare. Through the glazed doors Of the
Princes chamber seen bright groups Of peers mixed
with the rich uniforms Of ambassadors and the great off,
OF State.


An audible whisper through the house as the
Duke de Malakon wearing the badge and order of the
Bath enters with his beautiful bride The Austrian and
IIanoveTian Ministers, with the Bishop of London,
the next notabilities, and these followed by
batch of nameless peers, who sit and talk with the
peeresses and relieve with their scarlet robes the light
coOrs OF the ladies' dresses, which little dis
ance, make both sides OF the House resemble rich
parterres. The Lord Chancellor with Judges Wghtman,
Erie, Hill, Crompton, Pollock, Crowder and Bramwell
enters almost simultaneously The Sandman Minister
follows making stiff and rather distant bow to the Duke
de Malakon Lord Derby enters in walking dress to
duct the Countess and Lady Emma Stanley to their seats
and in the wake of the noble premier follow the Arch
bishop Of Canterbury the Bishops Of Salisbury, London
Exeter, Winchester, Carlisle Bath and Wells The Bishop
Of Oxford comes last wearing the riband of the Garter
Chaplain of the Order, and with him come Lords Chief
Justices Campbell and Cockburn and Judges Williams and
willes


The American Minister, wearing the distinction of a
plain black coat, enters the seats for the
dipomatc corps, where his simple dress at once
conspicuous amid the rich uniforms and gtterlng
Netherlands Ministers follow ,cth the Minister from HIyi
whcn, though chat as politely termed yencu Of color
hands NTH An unkno,on Miiser from. some of the sH
Sto Of South america enters, diplomatic costume
erceedin9y like the dress of e beau of Queen Annes
reign as 10 attract universal attention and er Of surprise


Sir Augustus Clifford, the usher of the Black Rod ap
pears with his wand Of Office, which ID white for this
represents the Lord Chamberlain OF England
He accompanied by the Gold Stick in Waiting whose
baton, the same lucus lucendo principle, black


little before two, and the Duke Of Cambridge, with
the Dukes of Hamilton and Newcastle, the Marquses Of
Winchester, Salisbury and Bath and the Earl Of Derby
all in their robes Of state enter and remain talking
the throne, while the LORD Chancellor and the judges in
ga terrible row"-thirteen in number-are engaged in
conversation on the bench before the woolsack


Attwe O'Clock messenger enters rather in hurry,
and requests 'my lords and ladies to uncovsr at which
there general uprising Of all the ladies present, and
amid a great rustic and audible laughing nantes
stawis are laid asde-no one knows where, though eff
fectuaiy out Of sight. There long pause of ANXIOUS
expectation, during which the Earl Of Balacava reputa
tion and who has for bis motto cen ace asv ION grace
depend), walks slowly up the House. Immediately after
him come the late Speaker Of the House of Commons the
MARQUIS OF Westminster the Earl Of Mamesbury and
Viscount EbuIy the latter in the very
state. Again there long pause during which so many
peers come IN that additional benches for
though hardly peer, comparatively speaking Of the H.
beral party present. The ladies filing up their time
by putting on their shawls, with much care as such
urtve toilet admits Of when the doors are thrown open
and the herads enter two by two bowng stly in their
rich and awkward tabards, as they pass before the
empty tnrone rDe great officers Of the house
hold, in their splendid uniforms, succeed followed
by the Earl of Derby with the Sword Of State the Marquis
of Winchester bearing the Cap OF Maintenance, Duke
of Hamilton carrying the crown before the Queen, at
whose appearance all rise and stand.


Her Majesty was superby atred, in a robe Of white
gold tissue covered with mantle and train of Grim
velvet and crmine, the heavy folds of which were
borne up by her ladies' waiting On her head was the
high Of brants used on these state occasions aud
her Majesty also stomacher and necklace of bril-


ants match Prince Albert wore the uniform Of Field
Marshal and took his seat on the lott Of the throne where
he almost hidden by the Earl Of Derby. The
the Prince Of Wales the right, remained vacant The
Duke OF Norfolk Earl Marshal with the Lord Chancellor
carrying the Great Seal stood the right of csy
Immediately after ascending be throne and adnstng
oostoo her Majesty commanded the House 20 be seated
while the Deputy Usher Of the Black Rod was dc
spatched to summon the attendance Of the Commons.
During the interval that elapsed her Majesty con-
versed with the Prince Consort, the Earl of Derby and
the Marquis Of Worcester Till the silence broken by


confused rush Of feet and headed by the Speaker and
Mr. Dsracli the "fathfu Commons, with noisy and
muuous eagerness assembled at the bar Of the House,


Her Majesty then rose and receiving the speech from