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THE OPENING OF THE SESSION.
The sixth Parliament of Victoria met on Tuesday, the appointed day. In the House of Lords very few Peers were present, when, at two o'clock, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Salisbury, the Earl of Hardwicke the Marquis of Exeter, and Earl De La Warr took their seats as Lords Commissioners appointed by the Queen to open her Par- liament. The Commons were summoned, and headed by Mr. Disraeli and other Ministers, promptly appeared at the bar, and heard the Clerk read the Royal Commission authorizing them to open Parliament. After
this prayers were said. No prelate being in the House, the Reverend William Powlett, Baron Bayning, performed the office. Then the Peers
took the oaths and wrote 'their names en the nail ; ..I.erd Derby placing his name first. The House sat untilfive o'ilabir.Abrehich time some fifty Peers bad, been sworn, among whom were WIG Xtene of Newcastle the Duke of Buckingham, the Marquis of Normanby, and Lord Macaulay. The House of Commons assembled at two o'clock. The Mein ere gathered on both sides of the House in great strength, a presage of the interest excited by the anticipated conflicts of the session. Returned from their visit to the Upper House, the Commons proceeded to busi- ness, the first thing to be accomplished being the election of a Speaker. Colonel Wilcox PATTEN, addressing Sir Denis Le Merchant, b f clerk, and pro tempore chairman, said that had any party proposed to name a candidate for the chair, he should not have undertaken the duty of pro- posing one. Understanding that no such intention existed, and believing there would be unanimity, he proposed that the Member for North Not- tinghamshire, Mr. Evelyn Denison, should take the chair and again pre- side over the House. His general conduct in the chair was his best recom- mendation. It was no light task to succeed a Speaker like Lord Evers- ley. Mr. Denison had overcome all difficulty by constant attention to his duties impartiality, his general bearing to all Members, and his mode of concluding the private business. Colonel Patten has known him for fifty years, and throughout his life Mr. Denison has preserved an unim- peachable character as a private gentleman which must always be the greatest recommendation of one who is the representative of the Com- mons of England.
Sir FB.ANCIS Baluiya seconded the nomination, and supported with his testimony the high character ascribed by Colonel Patten to Mr. Denison. "I am not here to flatter the right honourable gentleman ; I am per- fectly willing to admit that when he was first placed in the chair the no- velty of the position, and that diffidence in his own powers which so often accompanies real merit, hampered the facility and readiness to which we had then been so long accustomed. This, however, soon wore off, and I venture to give my opinion, which was partaken by many other Members, that during the last session of Parliament the chair was filled in a manner that did credit to the right honourable gentleman and to the House itself." (Cheers.) Mr. Denison mode a modest acknowledgement of the compliments paid to him, and being elected nemine contradicente ; he was installed in the chair by Colonel Patten and Sir Francis Baring ; and from the. chair he thanked the House.
Mr. Dranamr, on the part of the Ministry, now congratulated the Speaker, who he believed would ever manifest the purity of an English jndge, and the spirit of an English gentleman. Lord PALmEnsrom as Leader of the Opposition, threw a little more cordiality into the tone in which he offered his congratulations, anti echoed the remarks made by the Minister. The House adjourned to meet on Wednesday at two o'clock, in order that the Speaker might go up to the House of Lords and obtain the sanc- tion of the Queen.
Accordingly, on Wednesday, the Speaker Elect, attended by his pro- poser and seconder, by Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Gladstone and others, appeared at the bar and stating to the Lords Commissioners that the Commons had selected him to be their _Speaker, submitted himself, with all humility to her Majesty's gracious 'probation. The Lord Chancellor told Mr. Deni- son that her Majesty readily approved and confirmed the election, and the ceremony ended with the usual formalities.
Several Peers and Members of the House of Commons were sworn during the day. The House of Lords did not sit on Thursday as it was Ascension Day, The House of Commons has sat daily to swear in Members.
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