The King of Belgium opened his first Parliament on the
same day on which his illustrious brother of England was crowned. The King of Belgium opened his first Parliament on the same day on which his illustrious brother of England was crowned. LEOPOLD'S reception by the people and the States was enthusi- astic. No sooner did he appear at the door of the palace, than the shouts of the multitude assembled to witness his progress wel- comed him, and their cries of " Long live the King ! " were re- peated by the whole of the deputies when he entered the Cham- ber. The speech delivered on this occasion announces that nego- tiations were commenced for the purpose of definitively arranging
the disputes between Belgium and Holland. It adverts to the proposed demolition of the fortresses. It attributes, we believe
truly, the conduct of the Belgic army to its want of discipline and imperfect organization ; and alludes with becoming gratitude to the prompt and effective aid given by France on the occasiult of the late invasion. The speech was extremely well received. The rumour of a union between LEOPOLD and one of the daughters of Louis PHILIP has been revived. The Belgians are busily employed in organizing a force to guard the frontiers : it is to consist of forty thousand men ; the greater part of whom will be stationed at Diest, Tongres, and Tournhout. In the mean time, the advances on the part of the Dutch to- wards a satisfactory settlement, seem to be made with even more than the proverbial slowness of the nation. The dykes, which had been cut in the neighbourhood of Antwerp, on grounds which no rational man could listen to and no feeling man approve, remain unrepaired, to the ruin of hundreds whose lands and houses are immersed in the waters thus let in upon them ; and every thing indicates a determination if not to renew the attack, at least to re- fuse as long as possible all redress of the miseries it has occa- sioned. The Belgians are now the more tractable of the two dis- putants. General DANE has published a vindication, which his brethren are disposed to accept as satisfactory, and with which, in conse- quence, it does not become us to quarrel. He attributes his re- treat to the misconduct of an officer whom he left at Hasselt, with orders to remain there for some time, but who ran away the moment that the General began his march. The French forces, concerning which so much has been said, are rapidly withdrawing within their own territory. In a week or two there will not be a single soldier of France left in Belgium.
The Standard of last night, it ought to be noticed, states that the French Army has been ordered out of Belgium solely to facilitate the passing of our Reform Bill through the House of Lords! Is it a fact—the Standard can inform us—that Lord LONDONDERRY has been promised a Field-;Marshal's baton by Don Miouee, and a principality in Lithuania ?
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