OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.-Tuesday, February 3.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 642, 9 June 1852, Page 3

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS. -Tuesday, February 3.

Tun fifth sea-ion of the pvesent Imperial Parliament was on Tuesday opened by Her Majesty. A warm sun, and a clear and almost unclouded *-ky, drew together an immense ass-emblage in St. J.imeb's Park, Whitehall, and Parliament-street. Along the Mall the scene waa most animating. Thousands of well dressed persons lined theroute of the royal ccrlegeh and filled eveiy window commanding a view of the gorgeous procesMon. Her Majesty waa received wity respectful enthusiasm, nnd both the Queen and Prince Consort acknowledged the loyalty of the multitude by frequent bulutations.

APPEARANCE OF THE HOUSE. Within tbe House of F.ouls an unusually brilliant assemblage had collected. Few pprsons present remembered so large a gathering of tbe corps diplomatique, who occupied tbe whole of the benches usually reserved for the right rev. prelates. The judges also attended in unusual numbeis. The resignation of Lord Palmerston, and an anxiety to heiir some allusion in the Queen's speech to recent events on the Continent, might butis.factonlj account for (lie presence of all the foreign nmbassadois, ministers, and attaches ; while the bagvs and expounders of iho law wire doubtles-s equally anxious to know to what exient the rumours of extensive changes m our l.iw pioceilure were to be confirmed. But how bhtill we account lor the presence of so unusually numerous an assemblage of pperesses and other la'hfs in the body of the house and gnllerips? 'J'nking almost entne possebsiou of the peers' benches, and tilling tliv body of the house, one might have supposed that a House of Ptejeases had boen added to the nibti-

tutions of the country, and that the half hundred elderly gentlemen in robes of scarlet and ermine who occupied the front bench, sat as assessors to a female Parliament. The Duke of Wellington was one of the peers earliest in attendance. He looked in his usual health, although his increasing deafness renders it impossible for l>im to enter into conversation in the house without attracting more altention than is agreeable to the illustrious Duke. His grace wore a field-marshal's uniform under his robes. The Archbishop of Dublin and the Bishop of Hereford were also among the earlier arrivals, as was the Marquis of Normanby, who wore in the house the Windsor uniform. At a quarter-past one o'clock, the hon. corps of gentlemen-at-arms were marcbpd into the great chamber behind the throne ; and about this time the scene within the bouse was enlivened by the presence of several officers of the Life Guards, whose steel cuirasses and helmets brilliantly reflected the rays of the sun. Ladies, brilliantly attired, continued to enter the bouse, and among the arrivals we also noticed Mr. Abbott Lnwrence, the American Minister, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Biskops of London, Exeter, and Oxford, the Earl of M into, the Earl of Carlisle, the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Marquis of ClanricarJe, and the Duke of Newcastle, Earl Granyille, the new Foreign Secretary, who entered the house rather late, was soon engaged in earnest conversation with a distinguished member of the emps diplomatique. Among the more prominent members of the ministry and opposition, whom the eye sought in vain, we may mention the Marquis of Lansdowne, Earl Grey, Lord Bjougbton, the Earl of Derby, Lord Brougham, and the DuKp of R chmond. The appearance of the Marquis of Normanby among the great officers of state excited some surprise. '1 he noble Marquis, it will be seen, bore the royal crown when Her Majesty entered the house — a duty heretofore performed by the veneiable Marquis of Lansdowne. THE STATE PROCESSION. „The state procession was formed at Buckingham Palace in the following order — ' ' The first carriage, drawn by a set of hays, conveying three Gentlemen Ushers, Captain Groen, Mr. Heneage, »and Mr. Dcs Voeux, and the Exon of the Yeoman Guard, Captain Phibbs. The second carriage, drawn by a set of bays, conveying the Groom in YVaiting to the Queen, Mr. R. Orrasby Gore ; the Groom in Waning to the Prince, Colonel Wylde j and the Pages of Honour in Waiting, Messrs. Gordon and Cameron. The third carriage, drawn by a set of bays, conveying the Equerry in Waiting to the Queen, Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey; the Equerry in Waiting to the Prince, Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Alexander Gordon ; and the Groom of the Robes, Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Hugh Seymour. The fourth carriage, drawn by a set of bays, conveying the Silver Stick in waiting, Colonel Hall ; the Clerk Marshal, Lord Alfred Paget ; the Field Officer in Waiting, Sir Ord Honeyman (Grenadier Guards') ; and the Comptroller of the Household, the Earl of Mulgrave. The fifth carriage, draw n by a set of bays, conveying the Lord in Waiting to the Queen, Lord Waterpark ; th« Lord in Wait ng to the Prince, Lord George Lennox ; and the Treasurer of the Household, Lord Marcus Hill. The sixth carri ge, drawn by a set of black horses, conveying the Lady of the Bedchamber in Waiting, the Marchioness of Douro; the Lord Steward, the Marquis of Westminster; and the Gold Stick in Waiting, the Marquis of Londonderry, G.C.B. The Queen's Marshalmen, two and two. The Queen's Footmen, in state liveries, two and two. A party of the Yeoman Guard. The state coach, drawn by eight cream-coloured horses, conveyed Her Majesty the Queen, His Royal Highness Prince Albert, K.G., the Mistress of the Robes, the Duche-s of Sutherland ; and the Master of the Horse, the Duke of Norfolk, X G. Her Majesty and the Prince were conducted to their carriage by the Lord Chamberlain, the Marquis of Bredalbane ; and the Vice-Chamberlain, Lord Edward Howard. A guard of honour of the Foot Guards, with their band, was on duty in the quadrangle of the palace, and received Her Majesty with the usual honours. The royal procession quitted the palace at ten minutes before two o'clock, escorted by a detachment of Life Guards. Her Majesty and Pnnce Albert, and the royal cmtege returned to Buckingham Palace at five minutes past three o'clock. The Lord Chamberlain, the Vice-Chamberlain, and the Master of the Household received the Queen and the Prince on their return. At about a quarter to two every seat in -every part of the vast and finely proportioned interior of the house was occupied, with the exception of the slender and insufficient space below tbe bar allotted to the members of the House of Commons. The profusion of gilding about the throne and upon the ceiling has lost much of its earlier glitter, but we are not sure that the appearance of the house has been at all injured. The same remark applies to the frescoes. The other accessories to this magnificent spectacle were much the same as on former occasions. The diplomatic box glittered as usual with every variety of uniform, with the stars, crosses, sashes, m<d&!s, and decorations of the most renowned orders of merit of the greatest potentates. The rich scarlet and ermine robes of the peers contrasted beautifully with the colours of the dresses worn by the ladies, and, under a mid-day sun, the ecene would have been too dazzling to be agreeable, but for the '• thousand heraldries" and "dim emblazonings" of the windows, in which ShieMed scutcheons blush'd with blood of queens and kings. The sober chat of politicians, and the murmur of feminine conversation, were alike interrupied by the discharge of cannon and a blast of trumpets which announced the anival of Her Majesty. An exclamation burst fiom every lip, arid conversation was immediately hushed. At ten minutes past two the Queen entered the house, led by the Prince Consort, and preceded by the great officers of state. The assembly instantly rose and lemained standing until Her Majesty bad taken her seat upon the throne. The Queen, who appeared to be in excellent health, having intimated by a courteous ge-ture her wish that the as c einbly should resume their seats, directed the Lord Chamberlain to command the attendance of tbe House of Commons. The Gentleman U-her' of the Black Rod, S r Augustus Clifford, officiating for Lord Willoughby d'Eresby, as Great Chamberlain, the duty of summoning tbe Lower House devolved upon the Deputy Usher, Mr. Pulman, who having left the house upon this mission, a pause of a considerable duration ensued. The House of Commons, headed by the Speaker, having presented itself at tbe bar, tbe Lord Chancellor then, falling upon one knee, presented Her- Majesty with a copy of the royal speech, which the Queen proceeded to read in a clear and distinct tone of voice as follows : — ''My Lords and Gentlemen, — " The period has arrived when, according to usage, ? iJ can again avail myself of your advice and assistance J in the preparation and adoption of measures which the "welfare of the country may require. '' " I continue to maintain the most friendly relations 'with foreign powers. " The complicated affairs of the Duchies of Holstein and Schleswig have continued to engage my attention. -I have every reason to expect that the treaty between Germany and Denmark, which was concluded at Berlin in the year before last, will in a short time be fully and completely executed. " I regret that the war which unfortunately broke out on the eastern frontier of the Cape of Good Hope more than a year ngo, still continues. Papers will.be laid before you containing full information ss to the p> ogress of tbe war, and tbe measures which have been taken for bringing it to a termination. •• While 1 have observed with sincere satisfaction the tranquillity which has prevailed throughout the greater portion of Ireland, it is with much regret that I have to inform you that certain parts of tho counties of Armagh, IWonughan, and Louth, have been marked by tbe commission of outrages of the most serious description. The powers of the existing law have been promptly exerted for the detection of the offenders, and for the repression of a system of crime and violence fatal to the best interests of the country. My attention will continue to be directed to this important object. " Gentlemen of the House of Commons,— " I have ordered estimates of the expenses of the current year to be laid beLre you. "I rely with confidence on your loyalty and zeal to make adequate provision for the public service. " Where any increase has been made in the estimates of the present over the past year, such explanations will be given as will, 1 trust, satisfy you that such increase is consistent wttb a steady adherence to a pacific .policy, and with the dictates of a wise economy. " My Lords and Gentlemen,— " The improvement of the administration of justice in its various departments has continued to receive my anxious attention, and, in furtherance of that object, I have directed bills to be prepared, founded upon the reports made to me by the respective commissions appointed to inquire into the practice and proceedings of the (superior courts of law and equity, as nothing teuds more to the peace, prosperity, and contentment of a

country than the speedy and impartial administration of justice. I earnestly recommend these measures to your deliberate attention. " The act of 1848, for u suspending the operation of a previous act. conferring representative institutions on New Zealand, will expire early in the next year. lam happy to believe that theie.isno necessity for its renewal, and that no obstacle any longer exwts to the enjoyment of representative institutions by New Zealand. The form of these institutions will, however, require your consideration, and the additional information which has been obtained since the passing of the nets in question will, I trust, enable you to nmve at & decision beneficial to that important colony. "It gives me great satisfaction to be able to state to you that the large reductions of t.ixe« which have taken place of late years have not been attended with a proportionate diminution of the national income. The revenue of the pnst year has been fully adequate to the demands of the public service, while the reduction of taxation has tended greatly to the relief and comfort of my subjects. '• I acknowledge, with thankfulness to Almighty God, that tranquillity, good order, and willing obedience to the lawi continue to prevail generally throughout the country. "It appears to me that this is a fitting time for calmly considering whether H may not be advisable to make such amendments in the act of the late reign relating to the representation of the Commons in Parliament as may be deemed calculated to cany into more complete effect the principles upon which the law is founded. ° I have the fullest confidence that in any such consideration you will firmly adhere to the acknowledged principles of the constitution, by which the perogntives of the Crown, the authority of both houses ot parliament and the rights and liberties of the people are equally secured." The reading of the ro>al speech being concluded, her Majesty and Prince Albert rose and left the house with the same formalities which had accompanied their entrance. The House then adjourned during pleasure. Their Lordships met again at five o'clock. After Her Majesty's speech hod been read by the Lord Chancellor from the woolsack, and afterwards by the clerk at the table, The Earl of Albemarle moved the Address, which, as usual, echoed its sentiments. If they took a rapid glance at the events on the Continent for the last four years, and compared them with what had happenpd at home, they would concur with him that they had every reason to be satisfied with their own institutions. Every nation, however, had a right to live under the constitution which it chose to selpcf. Nations were mutually dependent on each other, and that dependence i reused with their propinquity. With regard to the s*. te of the nßtioml defences, bj considered it prudent to take all reasonable precautions against the possibility of which, however, he bad |no fear of. Having alluded to the necessity of law reform and to the grant of a constitution to New Zealand, the noble earl proceeded, by a reference to statistics, to show the flourishing state of the country and the success of recent financial measuies. He concluded by refeiring to the contemplated improvement in the Representative system of the House of Commons. Loid Leigh seconded the address, and briefly adverted to the different subjects touched upon in it. His loidship'a allusion to the returning prosperity of the agricultural interests excited some expressions of disapprobation on the opposition benches. The Earl of Derby said that the subjects treated of in the royal speech were exceedingly multifarious, and he drew an amusing picture of the inconsequential manner in which they were strung together. He lamented the absence of all allusion to the condition of the agricultural interest. He then referred to the subject of papal aggression, which her Majesty's government had legislated for superficially and not substantially. He maintained that the act of last session had been openly and ostentatiously set at defiance and he invited the government to say whether they were satisfied wiJi it. On the subject of friendly relations with foreign powers he expressed a cdnviction thai there must have been some serious cause which had induced her Majesty to dispense with the services of one of the most able Fervams of the crown. He was not bound by any official reserve from speaking openly on the subject of ti.eir relations with France. It was not for us to canvass the morality or the acts of the French government, since it bad been backed by the will of the people, He firmly believed that tlie prince president was fully disposed to maintain friendly relations with this country, but if anything was likely to destroy that disposition it was the ur justifiable tonp assumed towards him by a large portion of the public press. The noble earl having, amidst loud applause, stated bis rievrs on this subject, proceeded to point out the dangers and uncertainties of the state of public affairs in France, and the necessity of adopting such measures of defence as might make invasion impossible. He promised his co-operation, and that of those who acted with him, for such a purpose. He then, in a warning tone, and from the example of France, vindicated the necessity of maintaining the territorial aristocracy of England — the best guarantee of constitutional government, and the surest conservators of a well-founded liberty. The noble earl proceeded to deal with the question of the disastrous war at the Cape, which had been attended by many blunders. Turning to the subject of Ireland, he expressed hia surprise that the government should have taken credit for the tranquillity of the south and west, which sprang from an emigration so vast as to be called the exodus of the Irish people. In the north their administration of justice for the purpose of suppressing outrage bad experienced a double failure. From Ireland the noble ear) turned to the subject of the new constitution for New* Zealand ; and having disposed of that topic, he reminded their lordships that the financial prosperity of the country was founded on the unpopular incometax, and that the past year was one of serious commercial losses and low commercial profits. In conclusion he expressed his conviction that there were not 600 reasonable men who considered a new Reform Bill necessary. The essential utility of the House of Commons was, that it appropriately represented all classes— the large communities did not overpower the small— and he trusted that it was not intended to destroy the permanent influence of the land by increasing the already large democratic powers possessed by the great towns. If such was the principle of the new bill, he regarded it as a step in a dangerous direction, and would give it such opposition as lay in his power to offer. Earl Grey was rejoiced that there was so much in the speech of the noble Lord with which he could concur. With reference to the state of agriculture, he agreed with Lord Leigh that there was every reason to regard it hopefully, and those who thought that the present policy should be reversed ought, once for all, to bring their views forward for discussion ; but first they ought to settle with their 6upporteis whether it wns a duly for Piotection or Revenue that they wanted. As to Papal Aggression, he had never lookeJ to Acts of Pailiament, but to the feelings and convictions of the mass of the people, as our safest defence ; but the Act which had passed last year was not a dead letter. He cordially concurred with the noble Earl in the tribute he had paid to the character and talents of, the noble Lord late Secretary for Foreign Affairs ; and he regretted deeply that circumstances had deprived her Majesty's Government of the benefit of his counsels. He entiiely joined in repudiating the tone of the public Press with reference to France. He confided in the amicsible assurances received from foreign powers, but thought that something should be done to place the country in a state of greater security. As to the emigration from Ireland, it was a voluntary effort, which bad only fulfilled his anticipations, and was carried on without expense to the country, and in a manner most honorable to the Irish character. He believed that Ireland would improve greatly under the process, but the security of life and pioperty there must be first established. — The noole Earl defended, or rather apologised for, his colonial policy in New Zealand : he vindicated also the financial relaxation of recent years ; and with reference to the contemplated measure on the repu'senration, he assured the House that the existing balance of political power among classes wou d 1101 be disturbed. Lord Brougham snid that he entirely agreed with what had fallen from the Earl of Derby and Eail Grey as to the tone of the Press in this country, in discussing the internal affairs of France, and the character and conduct of the Prince President. — The noble Lord denounced in strong terms the outrages against human life now taking place in the North of Ireland, which he said must be put down at all hazards. The Earl of Ilarrowhy stated his impression that the public Press bad faithfully expressed the opinion of the country with refeience to French alTans , and us an individual Pot-r he could not omit that opportunity of saying that the newspapers had a peilect right to "dia-cus-j openly and fearlessly the political and social condition of their nearest neighbours, as they did the stato of Austiia, Russia, or any ether continental powor. 'I lie Earl of Alalmosbury closed the debate by adopting the s«ime v'ews on that subject as had been expressed by the Enrl oF Derby. The Address was Uieji agreed to, and the House adjoin ned.

The successor of Sir ll.ivry Smith in the hn porhmt command of the Capo has Hvn named, and is just upon the eve of tU % ]),irturo for tho beat of Avar. It is Major-General the ITon. George Cathcait, who ha<* been removed fiom tlie DoputyLieu tenancy of tJio Tower of Lendon, and is appointed to replace Sir Harry Smith in Calfraria. The selection, we trust, may prove a fortunate one, although there is little in Geneial Cathcart's antecedents which would scorn to maik him out as the most competent person to fill such a post. We find by t\\Q Army List that he entered the service in May, 1810, and he is, we believe, something less than sixty years of age. Thiio far all is well, General Catheart may fairly be assumed to be in possession of i'ull mental vigour and bodily power. lint when wo come to turn to the brief abstract of his services which the A rmy List supplies, the account nppe ir* some™ hat bald and unsatisfactory, uith lcference to bib jn-esent appointment. One mi^ht naturally have expected that an officer of considerable experience in tho peculiar species of warfare practi-^d at the Cape Avould have been appointed to the command. The little service that General Cathcait ever witnessed— about fort}' .years a<;0"--wa-> entirely involved in military 'operations, on the largest scale. Nor does lie appeal throughout his brief campaigns to have acted in any other capacity than sis a stan"-officcr. In the years 1 013-14 Lieutenant Cat heart, then a veiy young man, acted as Aide«lc Camp to his father, Loid Cathcait, who was present with the allied armies as a kind of tfng-lish Commissary. lie was present at Lutzen, Bautzen, Dresden, Eeipsie, in 1813; and throughout tho advance into France, in the early part of 181 1. In lfllo Lieutenant Catheart acted as iUde-dt-Camp to the Duke of Wellington, and witnessed the Kittles of Qnah-e Bias, and Watnloo. All the milHary operations named, were of c«>ui\,e, on the most gigantic scale, but what instruction could they afford in the art of bush-fighting at the Cape I We can readily conceive that some of our Indian officers might have found themselves comparatively at home in the sh,ivp skirmishes of Southern Africa. The case seems very different with a young staff-officer of tlu great German campaign of IB] 3. We cannot but notice the appointment as a stiange one, considering the magnitude of the interests involved, and the comparative disgrace to the British arms which so far has been the lcsult of the operations, — Times* Jan 12.