ENGLISH NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 178, 3 June 1854, Page 8

ENGLISH NEWS.

OPENING OF PABLIAMENT,

Parliament was formally opened by Her Majesty the Queen, on Tuesday the 31st ot January. The royal procession left the courtyard of Buckingham Palace at a quarter before two o'clock, her Majesty and Prince Albert being in the state carriage. For the first time since the accession of the present Queen, a difference of statement appears in the English morning newspapers respecting Her Majesty's reception among her people. While the Times represents Her Majesty's progress amid the thousands assembled to witness the procession as equal to any in demonstrations of what it calls " British enthusiasm," the Daily Neios and other anti-ministerialist papers, assert that throughout the cheers were intermingled with frequent and loud hisses and hootings. All represent, however, that the latter were intended for the Prince Consort, marking the popular indignation at his reported interference with political affairs. A correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald thus writes:— l " I went yesterday, Tuesday, to see the Queen ] go to open Parliament, and saw her pass down the Park. I have read the account given in the Times of to day, Wednesday, and I think nothing can be more correct. The cheers for the Queen were most loud and hearty, and kept up along the linp. The hisses were very few indeed; and I watched closely for the people from whom they came, but could scarcely distinguish or single out an individual. At the same time, I do think that, if the Prince had been alone, bis reception would have been more marked; for I heard all around much and strong grumbling. The reception of the Turkish { Ambassador was most enthusiastic, with which he seemed highly delighted. I forgot to mention that, although her Majesty was apparently in good health, there was a sad expression upon her features, which evidently proved that, in her effort to look cheerful, she was at the same time endeavouring to subdue or stifle a stronger feeling from within." The speech from the Throne, which her Majesty, it appears, read in her usual clear and impressive manner, is as follows :—; "My Lords and Gentlemen, — " I am always happy to meet you in Parliament ; and on the present occasion it is with peculiar satisfaction that I recur to your assistance and advice. " The hopes that I expressed at the close of the last session that a speedy settlement would be eSected of the differences existing between Eussia and the Ottoman Porte have not been realized, and I regret to say that a state of warfare has ensued. " I have continued to act in cordial co-opera-tion with the Emperor of the French, and my endeavours, in conjunction with my allies to preserve and to restore peace between the contending parties, although hitherto unsuccessful Lave been unremitting. I will not fail to persevere in these endeavours : but, as the continuance of the war may deeply affect the interests of tbis country, and of Europe, I think it ' requisite to make a further augmentation of my naval and military forces, with tbe view of sud-portmg-tny representations'and of more effectually contributing to the restoration of peace. ■ « I have directed that the papers explanatory of. the negotiations which have taken placi upon this subject shall be communicated to you without delay. J « m,een?. cm? °f thl>House of Commons,— The estimates for the year will be laid beently with the exigencies of tbe public service at this juncture, they have been framed with a due regard to economy. "My Lords and Gentlemen,— l,Wh,iTV 76" T Wcl/ bas just terminated the — riesofTife llChr °f affeotin B thl'n^Sanes ot hie, has greatly tended to preserve a spirit of contentment. Pieseive a

" I have the satisfaction of announcing to rou that the commerce of the country is still prosperous; that trade, both of export and import, has been largely on the increase: and that the revenue of the past year has been more than adequate to the demands of the public service. # " I recommend to your consideration a bill which I have ordered to be framed for opening the coasting trade of the United Kingdom to the ships of all friendly nations, and I look forward with satisfaction to the removal of the last legislative restriction upon the use of foreign shipping for the benefit of my people. " Communications have been addressed by my command to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, with reference to the improvements which it may be desirable to effect in their institutions. These communications will be laid before you, and measures will be proposed for your consideration with the view«f giving effect to such improvements. " The establishments requisite for the conducting of the civil service, and the arrangements bearing upon its condition, have recently been under review, and I shall direct a plan to be laid before you which will have for its object to improve the system of admission, and thereby to increase the efficiency of the service. " The recent measures of legal reform have proved highly beneficial, and the success which has attended them may well encourage you to proceed with further amendments. Bills will be submitted to you for transferring from the ecclesiastical to the civil courts the recognizance of testamentary and of matrimonial causes, and for giving increased efficiency to the superior courts of common law. " The laws relating to the relief of the poor have of late undergone much salutary amendment ; but there is one branch to which I earnestly direct your attention. The law of settlement impedes the freedom of labour ; and if this restraint can with safety be relaxed, the workman may be enabled to increase the fruits of his industry, and the interests of capital and of labour will be more firmly united. " Measures will be submitted to you for the amendment of the laws relating to the representation of the Commons in Parliament. "Recent experience has shown that it is necessary to take more effectual precautions against the evils of bribery and of corrupt practices at elections. It will also be your duty to consider whether more complete effect may not be given to the principles of the act of the last reign, whereby reforms were made in the representations of the people in Parliament. In recommending this subject to your consideration my desire is to remove every cause of just complaint, to increase general confidence in the Legislature, and to give additional stability to the settled institutions of the State. " I submit to your wisdom the consideration of these important subjects ; and I pray God to prosper your counsels, and to guide your decisions." We extract the following summary of debates in Parliament from the Sydney Morning Herald. The address in the House of Lords was moved-by the Earl of Carnarvon, who said that, if we must have war it was a consolation to know that we had by every means of forbearance, consistent with national honour, endeavoured to avoid hostilities, and that it behoved us to make war as became a nation conscious of its strength. The Earl of Lucie seconded the address. The Marquis of Clanricarde cordially agreed with the scheme of domestic reform contained in the speech ; but he thought that the foreign policy of the Government had been vacillating and inconsistent. He knew from experience that the only way to deal with Russians was put to them a plain, straightforward question, and insist on a straightforward answer. Hud Government done this, much of the present complication might have been avoided. The Earl of Clarendon urged that the Government had done exactly what the noble lord said they ou^ht to have done. They had ohtained from the Emperor of Russia a straightforward declaration that he had no ulterior views on the inteo-rity of lurkey and that declaration they believed. When their belief was shaken, they exhausted every honourable means to brino- about a pacific solution. The result was that'the Emperor of Kussia had been placed completely in the wrong and that the four great Powers were united in condemnation of his aggression on

Turkey. Lord Malmesbtjry contended that the Government had, by deprecating the French alliance during his tenure of office, led Russii to imagine that France and England would never act cordially together, and had thus induced the Emperor Nicholas to make his aggression upon Turkey. The noble lord objected to the introduction [of any of the measures of reform mentioned in the speech. Lord Grey reserving his opinion on the Eastern question till the papers were before the House, was not convinced that we should have interfered at all in the dispute between Russia and Turkeyand as, in his belief, Parliamentary reform did' not press for immediate solution) he hoped it would not be allowed to interfere with the vigorous prosecution of the war. Lord Derbf in the most awful crisis which had occurred within his parliamentary experience, contended that the protracted negotiations with Russia had been so conducted as almost necessarily to lead to a lamentable conclusion. If ; however war was inevitable, our great object must be to' carry it as soon as possible to the most honourable and successful termination, and to this object he would not hesitate to sacrifice all party feelings and party prejudices. The present time he considered most inopportune for the consideration of Parliamentary reform, though he admitted that the great evils of bribery and intimidation could not be too soon dealt with ; and lie declared that he would resist every contrivance by which the balance of representation could be further turned to the disparagement of the land. The noble'lord afterwards alluded to the extraordinary circumstances of Lord Palmerstou's retirement from and return to office. The Eaei, op Aberdeen after complaining that the previous speaker s declining to wait a few hours for the promised documents, had founded his attack on the Government on imperfect and erroneous statements, defended himself from the odious imputation of having been the tool and instrument of Russia, declaring that no man in public life had ever taken a more active part against the Russian Government, and pointing to the fact that, whilst the calumny was brought against him, Count Nesselrode was on the other hand accused of being a traitor to his country, and of having been bought by English gold. In answer to the charge of indifference to the French alliance, he stated that he had throughout his life uniformly maintained the necessity of such an alliance, and that he was the author of the entente cordiale. After describing the circumstances connected with Lord Palmerston's resignation, he commented in indignant terms upon the monstrous imputations on Prince Albert, and emphatically denied that the Prince had ever interfered with the conduct of the business of the army. Lord Hardinge confirmed this statement. The Earl of Derby disclaimed any connection on the part of the Conservative party with these calumnies, and ascribed their origin and propagation to Liberal prints—the Daily News and Morning Advertiser. Lord Campbell, viewing the question constitutionally, thought that Prince Albert should be consulted on' public affairs. Lord Harrowby taunted the Opposition with allowing unfounded attacks on the Prince to be repeated in their journals. The address was then agreed to, and their lordships adjourned.' * ' In the House of Commons, Lord Castxeross moved, and Mr. Hankey seconded the address. Mr. Baiixie regretted that the blood and treasure of England had been pledged to the maintenance of the Turkish empire, for our best efforts could only postpone its dissolution, and he deprecated the agitation of parliamentary reform at this crisis. Mr. Blackett condemned the system of diplomatic secresy which the Government had so obstinately maintained. Colonel Sibthorp believed that the political cowardice of the Government had rendered war imminent, and characterised the proposed reform bill as a mere pretence to purify electoral corruption. Sir Robert Peei, ascribed to the spirit of faction the assaults made upon the ministry, and pointed to the inconsistency of those who censured the English and .eulogised the French Government, although the policy of the two had been identical. He hated war foy this, among other reasons, that it would stop internal amelioration, and inaugurate a retrograde policy. Mr. Home disliked war: but in view of its probability, urged the necessity of preventing the extravagance and increasing the efficiency of the naval and military services. Mr.'jLiDDELt, referring to the suggestion for throwing open the coasting trac?e, asserted that

the main cause of the loss of the Tayleur was the inefficiency of the crew, who were collected from the most profligate class, and belonged to almost every nation under the sun. He would give the coasting measure his best consideration, but he hoped that the representations of the parties most interested, such as the chambers of commerce, and the great merchants and shipowners, would be attended to. He believed that at no period since 1815 had parliament met under circumstances of such magnitude, or which might be followed by such momentous consequences, as the circumstances under which they were then assembled. He would not, therefore, find fault with the Government for the moderation with which they had conducted the long negotiation on the Eastern question, but he warned them that the colossal power of Bussia reaped great advantages from the protracted attempts to patch up the dispute. He cited the authority of Sir A. Allison that Russia had at her command 800,090 infantry troops, 250,000 cavalry, and 100,000 artillery, and was sure she could bring into the field half that force, although from 12 to 18 months would be required to bring it to bear upon any part of Europe. He thought that, in the prospect of au expensive war, Parliamentary reform ought to have been postponed. Mr. Disraeli contrasted the statement made by ministers at the close of the last session, when expectations of an immediate and satisfactory conclusion of the differences between Russia and Turkey were held out, with the language in the royal speech, which, if her Majesty was acting iiv concert with France, Austria, and Prussia, the language used was not so firm and explicit as it ought to have been. Looking at the threatening aspect of Foreign affairs, the country ought not to be distracted -with internal reforms ; but, as ministers had unhappily pledged themselves to bring in a measure of Parliamentary reform, they must redeem that pledge. If the bill was laid on the table, he should attempt to bring about a better adjustment of the representation of the different classes. Lord John Eussell reserving a particular justification o£ the Government policy on the Eastern question until the papers were in the hands of members,, vindicated their conduct generally.. Be admitted that he could not indulge a^very confix deut expectation that the offers made to Russia' would be accepted, and said that, however desirous for peace, Government were not disposed to let that power so profit by delay as to take us totally unprepared.. The address was then agreed to.> February 6th. Turret and Russia.—The Marquis of Clanricarde, in accordance with previous notice, brought before;the House the relations of Great Britain with Russia." After stating that he understood hopes, however faint, were still entertained of peace with Russia, he would not willingly, by any premature discussion, lessen the probability. With this view he would waive all enquiries into questions contained in the blue book, nor would he discuss certain critical points bearing on the present condition of the country. He would simply ask whether any ; definite reply had been received from the Emperor of Russia to the proposals made, and if ; the report that the Russian ambassador had left London was correct; and if so, what measures j had been taken to recall our ambassador from St. Petersburg!). The Earl of Clarendon : lam much obliged to my noble friend, the noble Marquis, for the consideration he has shown in postponing any discussion which he thinks might be prejudicial to the slight chances that still remain of peace. My noble friend was perfectly right in supposing that* although we had some reason to believe that the answer of the Emperor of Russia, or rather the terms on which he had stated that he should be prepared to negotiate peace, had been received at Vienna, we had no knowledge of it on Friday last. It was only tins afternoon that I received from Vienna an official statement of the fact. It was only on the second of this month that the conference was called together, and those proposals, or this counter project of the Emperor of Russia was communicated to the representatives of England, France, and Prussia, by Count Buol; but as I say, I only received that official announcement this afternoon, and I have not yet been able to place it in the hands of any of my colleagues, excepting the noble earl at the head of the Government, and I should therefore prefer not to enter iuto any details at this moment.

(Hear, hear.) I still, however, think it right to inform my noble friend and this house, that the terms are quite unacceptable, and are not of a character lo be sent to Constantinople; upon that there cannot for a moment be the least doubt or hesitation. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the second question, I have to say that, on Saturday evening Baron Brunow called on me at the Foreign office, and placed in my hands a note in which he announced that the answer which he had received from me to the inquiries he was instructed to make by his Government, was not of a nature that permitted him to continue diplomatic relations with this country, and those diplomatic relations must, for a time, be suspended. He took leave of me on Saturday, but said it was then too late to leave London, but I understood he would do so early this morning. (Hear, hear.) It is the earnest wish of her Majesty's government that the fullest information should be given on this and all other points connected with this important question,.which excites naturally so much anxiety throughout the country, (hear, hear), — and I shall not fail in the course of this week, to lay before your lordships the note addressed to me by Baron Brunow, together with the despatch of Count Nesselrode, and my answer to that despatch. (Hear, hear.) Lord Beaumont having complained of the meagreness of the Earl of Clarendon's reply, the noble earl resumed:—My Lords, I am sorry that my noble friend thinks that the answer I gave was a meagre one, but I believe it was distinct to the question asked. My noble friend seems to think that I have been holding out hopes or expectations, as did also my noble friend on a former night, that fresh negotiations were to be entered into, or that I entertain much hope that peace will be preserved. I can assure both my noble friends that I hold out no such expectations at all. These negotiations have, as I informed your Lordships, been brought to a close at Vienna, and I also stated that I had received that official information^ so short a time ago that I was not able to communicate it to the bouse, I therefore thought it better not to enter into any details-on the subject, but to say so much as to satisfy, your Lordships that the terms were wholly- unacceptable, and would not be transmitted to Constantinople, and that therefore there was an end of it. (Hear.) 1 have no reason to think that any fresh negotiations on that subject will be renewed. It is perfectly true that Count Orloff, who was sent to Vienna, and who after being there a few days was about to go away when that part of his mission relating to Austria and Russia was brought to an end, has now prolonged his stay; with what obect lam unable to state. With respect to the other part of this question, as to the instructions to her Majesty's minister at S.Petersburg, I can only tell my noble friend that as Baron Brunow only called upon me at half-past six on Saturday evening, and as it was necessary in this as in all other measures which we have adopted, or shall adopt, to have a previous communication with the French Government (hear, hear)* it has not been possible at this moment to send instructions to her Majesty's minister at St. Petersburg. But I have already had a communication with the French ambassador on the subject, and instructions will be sent over to Sir Hamilton Seymour to-morrow, and to the French minister at the Court of St. Petersburg, directing them to place themselves exactly on the same footing as the Russian ambassador here has done, and the diplomatic functions of the two States will be suspended in the same manner. (Hear, hear.)