THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 192, 23 August 1859, Page 3

THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

On the 7th of June the session of the new Parliament practically began. Several days hud been previously occupied with the swearing in of the members. The Queen, went in State to fulfil "the constitutional duty of opening the session.. The ceremony has been often described. The house of Lords was full of ladies in brilliant attire; the peers in robes of state form the border of this shining bed of flowers; the judges are grouped in the centre; while in the galleries are /strangers of, both sexes. On the right of the throne is the Corps Diplomatique in ■glittering and. showy costume, Mr. Dallas, the American niioister, in sombre black excepted. The .Queen entered at 20 minutes past 2. Lord Derby carried the Sword of State, Lord Winchester the cap of maintenance, the Duke ■of Richmond w the. crown, the puke of Norfolk carried his baton as Earl.Marshal, and Lord Blalniesbury was the Secretary of Stale in at- ' tendance. The Prince Consort led the-.Queen1 to, her throne. Then the Commons were sum- ; moned, and they arrived with a rush at the bar. As \soon as the noise they made ceased, the Queen received a copy of the speech from tho ■ liprd Chancellor, and .read it to her Parliament. ; •■■;■■ . ;My Lords an» Gentlemen, • i ■ I avail myself with satisfaction, in the present anxious* state of pub"tic affairs,-of the'ad vice of my ! Parliament, whichl have summoned to meet with j the least possible delay. ; ' I have directed that papers shall be laid before i you, from which, you will learn how earnest and : unceasing have been my endeavoi's to preserve the ; peace of Europe. Those endeavors - have unhappily failed; and war -has been declared between France and Sardinia on one sldf}, and Austria on the other. Receiving assurances of friendship from both the j contendirfg parties, I intend to maintain between I them a strict and impartial neutrality ; and I hope, •with God's assistance to preserve to my people the blessing of continued peace. . _ Considering,.-, however j the present state of Europe, I have deemed it necessary-to the security of my dominions and the honor of my Crown to increase my naval forces to an amount exceeding that which ha 9 been sanctioned by Pari liament. L I rely with confidences on your cordial concur-

ranee In this precautionary measure ft? defensive .policy. The Kin; of the Two Sicilies having announced to me the death of the king, his father, and his own accession, I have thought fit, in concert with the Emperor of the French, to renew my diplomatic intercourse with the Court of Naples, which had. been suspended during the late reign. All my other foreign relations continue on a perfectly satisfactory footing. I f Gentlemen of the House op Commons. , The estimates for the year, for 'which provision" has not been made by the late Parliament, will i bo immediately laid before you, together with such i supplementary estimates as present circumstances render indispensably necessary for the public services. My Lords and Gentlemen, . I have directed a bill to be prepared for giving effect so far as the aid of Parliament may be required, to certain suggestions of the commissioners whom Fhad appointed to inquire into the best mode of efficiency manning tha Royal Navy j and . I recommend this important subject to your immediate attention. *. Measures of legal and social improvement, the progress of-which, in the late Parliament, was necessarily interrupted by the dissolution, will again be brought under your consideration. I should with pleasure give my sanction to any well considered measure for the amendment of the laws which regulate the representation of my people in Parliament; and should you be of opinion that the necessity of giving your immediate attention to measures of urgency -relating to the defence and financial condition will not leave you sufficient time for legislating, with due deliberation, during the present session, on a subject at once so difficult and so extensive, I trust that at •the commencement of the next session, your earnest attention will be given to a question, of which an early and satisfactory settlement would be greatly to the public advantage. 1 feel assured that you will enter with zeal and diligence on the discharge of your Parliamentary duties, aud I pray that the result of your deliberations may tend to secure to the country the continuance of peace abroad, and progressive improvement at home. The Queen withdrew in state, the Commons retired to their House, and the sittings were suspended until later in the afternoon.