FRANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 89, 18 September 1852, Page 4

FRANCE.

INSTALLATION OF THE GREAT BODIES OF THE STATE. We have received a few intermediate Journals, from which we extract the following accouut of the opening of the French Senate and Legislative hody by the President, who has met for the first time, the newly constituted bodies of the State, collected together under one roof. This grand ceremony took place at the Palace of the Tuileries, in the Salle dcs Mareohaux, which was fitted up expressly to meet the exigencies o£ the occasion. The Salle dcs Marechaux, which occupies the whole central portion of the palace, known as the Pavilion de l'Horloge, is of admirable proportion, and its vast height permits a second story to run round the room about half-way up, in the shape of a wide gallery capable of containing seats for several hundred persons. This part of the salle was on this occasion, set apart almost exclusively for ladies, whilst the part below was appropriated to those whom the President of the, Republic intended to address. The side of the room opposite the windows looking into the Place ,dv Carousel was fitted up with an estrade, on which was placed a chair of state for the Prince President. At his right was another chair of state, though not altogether so elevated in its position, for the ex-King Jerome, the President of the Senate. At each side of the chair of state, and extending to the side walls, were placed seats for the members of the Council of State, the military household of the Prince, and the numerous staff which was to accompany him. All the centre of the room was occupied with seats covered with crimson I velvet; those on the right of the President's chair being set apart for the corps diplomatique, the' Senate, and the very limited number of persons invited; and those on the left for the legislative body. The whole of the hangings and ornaments of the mile were of crimson velvet, richly embroidered with gold, the curtains, the portieres, a.id the draperies between the portraits of the marshals of France, from which the room takes its name, being all of the same material. High over the President's chair rose a magnificent canopy of crimson velvety surmounted by a large eagle, richly gilt. The galleries round the room were also j hung with velvet of the sa;ne colour, serving to throw in strong relief the gay toilettes o°f the ladies seated . there. To add to the effect, gigantic chandeliers of crystal and gilt bronze hung from the roof, and reflected back in variegated tints the rays of light from the windows above them. The large waiting-room on the,left of the Salle dcs Marechaux was reserved for the assembling place of the legislative body, whilst that on the right received the members of the Senate ; a third room was held I apart for the Council of State. The diploma- . tic body, and such persons as had received tickets of invitation to witness the ceremony, proceeded at once to their places. The members of the various bodies of the State be«-an to arrive about half-past eleven. Before twelve o clock the seats reserved for strangers were all filled, and by that hour nearly all the persons composing tlie great bodies of the State had arrived. Amongst the earliest arrivals was jtf Gramer de Cassagnac, wearing the uniform of the legislative body. The next dozen members that arrived were in coloured clothes so that it then became apparent that the members of the legislative body provided with uniform would be in a great minority. And this turned out to be the case, as not more, perhaps, than sixty or seventy, out of the whole 261 composing the legislative body, wore the dress mentioned in the regulations. And yet curiously enough, it was the grand subject of conversation; and certainly the word " costume' struck the ear more' frequently, whilst the members were conversing together, than any other. But the case was very different with respect to tue appearance of the members of the Council of State, all of whom were in their grand dress ot ceremony, and presented a most brilliant appearance. Of the Senate, also scarcely any member could be seen who was not brilliant with embroidery. The diplomaticcorps was exceedingly numerous, presenting a perfect blaze of or.lers, stars, ribbons, and embroidery. The .simple dress of the Pone's Nuncio presented a striking contrast to the brilliant appearance of the Ambassadors A lew minutes before one the Council of Sfite entered and produced quite a sensation by tueir brilliant appearance. The moment after

the sound of cannon was heard, intimating that the President of the Republic was arriving; the drums instantly beat to arms, the troops saluting as the Prince alighted from his carriage. A few minutes only elapsed before the ministers in their costume of ceremony, the President's aides-de-camp, and a most numerous staff entered. Amongst those gentlemen were Generals Magnan and de St. Arnaud ; and M. de Casabianca, M. de Maupas, M. de Persigny, M. Turgot. Then followed Prince Louis Napoleon, accompanied by Marshal Jerome Bonaparte, President of the Senate. The Prince was received with loud cries of" Vive Napoleon !" from every part of the room. He saluted on both sides the brilliant assemblage before him, and then said—" Gentlemen, be pleased to be seated." Everyone having taken his place,and the most profound silence having succeeded, Prince Louis Napoleon remained standing, and read in a loud and most distinct tone along harangue which was frequently and most heartily applauded during its delivery. The parts in which he compares society, as acted on by the anarchists, to an inverted pyramid, the declaration that he desired peace, and, above all, the denial that he aimed at making himself Emperor, were vehemently applauded. Even after he had sat down the cheers and cries of " Vive Napoleon !" were continued for some time. M. de Casabianca next rose, and stated that he was about to administer to the members of the Senate, and of the legislative body, the oath of allegiance to the President and to the Constitution. Having read aloud the words of the oath, the honourable Minister of State proceeded to call over the names of the Senate, each member responding to the call by rising in his place, stretching forth his right hand and saying, "Je le jure." It was remarked that the Cardinal-Archbishops (five of whom were present —of Lyons, Bourges, Bordeaux, Cambrai, and Rheims) merely repeated the words without stretching out the hand. Very little of note occurred during this solemn act of taking the oath, except tiiat Count Portallis interrupted the Minister to remark that his name had been inadvertently passed over, and then swore allegiance; and on the Minister calling out the name of " General Pellitet," an officer rose and said " My name is not' Pellitet, but Pellitier ; je le jure !" This latter incident caused some merriment, as what the gallant general's oath referred to was not exactly clear. It was observed that General Cavaignac, M. Carnot, of Paris, and Dr. Henon. the democratic depu;;y of Lyons, were not present. The oath having been administered to the whole of the persons present belonging to the Senate and legislative body, M. de Casabianca said, "I have"now to declare the session of 1852 to be regularly opened;" and the ceremony terminated. The President then withdrew amidst loud cheers, and returned to the Elysee as he had come. His reception outside was also favourable. The whole proceedings did not occupy an h;nir. The following is the collective letter addressed by General Cavaignac, M. Carnot, and M. Henon, to the President of the legislative Corps:—

M. le President,—The electors of Paris and Lyons sought us in our retreat, or in our exile. We thank them for having thought that our names would serve as a protest against the destruction of public liberties and the rigours of despotism. But we do not admit that they meant to send us to sit in a legislative body whose powers do not extend to the point of repairing the violation-.of rights. We repudiate the im^ moral doctrine of silence, or of mental reservation ; and we refuse to take the oath required on admission to the Legislative Corps. We pray you, M. le President to be so good as to communicate to the Assembly this declaration. —(Signed)—Cavaignao, Ca'rnot, Hknon.

In the Court of Exchequer, on the 16th of April, judgment was pronounced by the four Judges of that Court, in the important case of Miller v. Salomons, which was brought to try the right of a Jew to sit in Parliament, without using the customary form of the oath. With one exception (Martin) the Court decided in favour of the plaintiff. It is intended to bring the question before the highest tribunal. Mr! Baron Aldersou, in passing judgment remarked : —■' I regret that the consequences are so serious, involving disabilities of the most (earful kind, in addition to the penalty sought to he in this action recovered, and in fact making .Mr. Salomons for the future almost an outlaw."