OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 67, 20 March 1871, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

London, Feb. 9. — [ World cable] — The Queen preceded by the Horse Guards, in passing through Whitehall, to open Parliament to-day, was greeted with mingled cheers and hisses, the latter predominating. The cheers were chiefly given by the Germans. Extraordinary police precautions prevented disorder. The Queen opened the session of the Houses of Parliament in person. The Lprds and Commons mustered in full force, and there was a large attendance of spectators. The usual military and civil display was made. The weather was fine, and great

fiow els witnessed the procession and tbe display outside ; within the House ladies crowded the j^.-d lories, jmd ma.-iy were on t'ne floor. Tbe Duke ef Argvlc, who apppared early in tbe session, was the object of undisguised curiosity ; he was followed by the Lord Chancellor and members of the Foreign Legations. An Oriental Princess next appeared ; she was magnificently arrayed in jewels and fine robes, and attracted universal attention. The Queen arrived at two o'clock, with her children; she wore black velvet. On the entrance of the royal family tbe House rose; as soon as the Queen had taken her seat on the throne, the Com- , mons were summoned to the bar of the' House, and came in with tbeir usual unseemly scramble. The Lord Cbancellor read her Majesty's speech. At the conclusion of the reading tbe Queen departed, aud the sitting was suspended. On tho return of the members to the House of Commons, Gladstone rose and gave notice of a bill altering^ the religious tc~ is. A CardweJ] gave notice of a bill providiog for the reorganisation of the army. Tho HouseSof Lords met again at 5 o'clock. \ The Marquis ofJSestmioster moved the address to the Queen. Tlio Earl Rosebenjß>seconded tbe motion. The Duke of Richmond hoped their lordships would be unanimous in voting the address. House of Lords ndjourne'd. In the House of Commons the address was moved by Major Hamilton, the member from South Lanarkshire, and seconded by the member from Bristol. Disraeli made some remarks on the address, in the course of which be criticised the policy of the Government. He advocated armed neutrality, and final pacification, which would exclude all the germs of hostility. He lamented the inertia of the Government last July, when it was able to influence the belligerents ; the va-' lue of its efforts to procure the withdrawal of Prince Leopold from the candidacy for tbe Spanish throne could not be admitted, but it was tiien possible for tbe Government to withhold France from war by hinting at armed neutrality, and employing its acknowledged influence to Prussia to induce her to forbear. Mr. Disraeli was equally severe in his pomments, in the course which England was made to take in the Black wea question. Referring to American topics, he denounced the hostile attitude of Senator Sumner and others towards England, unlike tbe attitude assumed towards the other powers, and recommended that it should be encountered with forbearance and contempt ; yet a passion might be aroused which could not easily be allayed, therefore be hoped for the resumption of negotiations for the settlement of all questions between England and America. He, meantime, in view of the relations of Eii o l.^;d with foreign countries, opposed the proposed increase of tbe military forces of the kingdom. Gladstone made an able speech in support of tbe address, aud replied to the criticisms of Disraeli. He denied that there was any need of armed neutrality last year ; to advise Prussia against the Hoheuzollern caudidacy was going to the extreme limit of the international right to interfere ; the neutralisation of tbe Black Sea had lost its importance to England since the Crimean war, and its maintenance had beeu abandoued by France. He believed that England's true policy was non-intervention abroad, the study of domestic questions, and the observation of neutral rights and obligations. He begged the House would not fetter tbe Governrmfct iu liberty of action, or doubt for a rnfraent its aim to secure peace with honor and safety to the country. The address was agreed to and they House adjourned.