Ilthatto tut Vturtdvags itt Vutiamtut.

OPENING OP THE SESSION.

PARLIAMENT was opened on Thursday, by a Royal Commission, com- prising the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Northumberland, the Marquis of Salisbury, the Duke of Montrose, and the Earl of Lonsdale. Few Peers were present when the proceedings commenced in the House of Lords ; but among them were Lord Brougham and Lord Lyndhurst. The Commons, summoned by Sir Augustus Clifford, advanced to the bar, headed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Pakington, and Sir Denis Le Merchant, the Chief Clerk. The Royal writ having been read, the Loan Cruisers-Lon informed the Commons, that they would hereafter know the cause of calling this Parliament together ; but that they must first choose a Speaker for their House, and present him there on Friday for her Majesty's approval. The Commons then withdrew, and the Lords adjourned during pleasure ; only to resume the sitting in order that such Peers as presented themselves might take the oaths. Among those who did so, were the Earl of Eglinton, Lord Denman, Lord Glenelg, Lord Brougham, Lord Campbell, Lord Monteegle, the Earl of Malmesbury, the Earl of Lansdale, and the Bishops of London, Oxford, and Manchester. It is remarked that the Earl of Derby did not appear during the sitting of the House ; which adjourned shortly after five o'clock.

Emtorrox or Smarms.

The Commons mustered in considerable numbers, variously estimated between two and three hundred. Among the earliest came Sir Robert Inglis ; who, this session, did not sit as heretofore on the Opposition side, but took a seat 1pelow the gangway on the Ministerial side. Mr. Chris- topher was the first Minister to enter the House; and he was closely fol- lowed by the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General, Lord John Man- ners, Mr. Forbes Mackenzie, Sir John Trollope, and Mr. Herries. After- wards came Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Walpole, and Sir John Pakington. Mr. Disraeli first shook hands with Mr. Hume, and then chatted with Mr. Thomas Duncombe. Nearly every hand was held out to Mr. Shaw Lefevre; who sat below the gangway on the Ministerial side. Lord John.11iessellahook hands with Mr. Lefevre and Sir Denis Le Merchant, and took up his position near to Mr. Gladstone on the Opposition benches. Baron Rothschild was present to vote for the Speaker. It was observed that Lord Palmerston, Sir James Graham, Sir William Molesworth, Mr. Goul- burn, Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Cobden, and Mr. Bright, were not in the House.

Having attended the Lords, and returned, the Commons proceeded to business, under the virtual presidence of its Clerk, Sir Denis Le Merchant; who pointed out the two Members intrusted with conducting the election of the Speaker.

Mr. ROBERT PALMER rose and said, he would have hesitated to under- take the task of proposing any Member for the high and important office of Speaker on his own responsibility ; but, fortunately, he was relieved on the present occasion from any difficulty of that kind.

"I see among honourable Members again a right honourable friend of mine—the right honourable Member for North Hampshire—who has filled the chair of this House for the last thirteen years, with so much advantage to the country, and with so much honour to himself, that the House is left in no doubt, and is relieved from all difficulty, in selecting the honourable Member best qualified among unto fill that high and honourable situation." (Cheers.) He rejoiced to think that on this occasion it had not been con- sidered necessary to make the election of Speaker a test of party feeling or party strength. (Cheers.) He moved that the Right Honourable Charles Straw Lefevre take the chair of this House." (Loud cheers.)

Lord ROBERT Gansvzston seconded the motion.

He did so at the request of the right honourable gentleman opposite; who thought that as Mr. Lefevre had formerly belonged to the party who now sit on the Opposition side, it would be more agreeable to him, and more ex- pressive of unanimity, if he were seconded from that side. They were proud of him, as having sprung from the ranks of their party ; but, laying aside party feelings, they were still more proud of him as a Member of the House of Commons. Before he sat down, he might be allowed to make one remark. There has been scarcely in the history of the world a more im- portant crisis than that at which the Legislature is now summoned for the transaction of business. " At a time when the liberties of Europe—when the rights of free, full, and open discussion, and I may say, almost the rights of public opinion, hang by a thread—at a moment of this sort, I think the character of this House is deeply involved. I think it becomes us to act with unusual prudence, calmness, and wisdom." The House should take the utmost pains that libertyof thought and discussion should not be abused for any personal, party, or factious purposes, but that they should guard the right committed to them for the benefit of mankind. In this position of things, it was a matter of rejoicing that they had secured the services of a man of such high standing, discriminating judgment, conciliatory demeanour, large experience, and indefatigable attention, as the Member for North Hampshire; who had won equally the respect and esteem of every Member of every class and every party in the House. (Loud cheers.) Sir -ROBERT INGLIS added his congratulations.

Describing the labours of the Speakers of last century, Sir Robert said that they had not to perform a tenth part of the labours of theSpeakers of our day. " A hundred years ago, but three debates are record4 and but fifteen divisions ; in the last year we bad 242 divisions; and the Speaker, whom I trust again to have the honour of addressing in that capacity, has sat-not less than 13,000 hours in the discharge of his duty." (Much laughter.) Compared with the labour of former Speakers, who had filled the chair during whole reigns, Mr. Lefevre had compressed into the period of his services more labour, attention, and successful energy, than any one of his predecessors.

Cries of " Question !" arose, and it became necessary to put the ques- tion ; although such is not the usage when there is no opposition. The question accordingly was put, and responded to by an unanimous "Ay" Mr. SHAW LEFEVRE expressed.his high sense of the favourable opinions just uttered ; his determination to fulfil the task intrusted to him ; and, with all his sense of the weighty responsibility involved, he bowed to the decision of the House.

Mr. ROBERT PALMER and Lord ROBBET.OXOSTENOR then took Mr. Le- fevre by the hand, and led him to the chair, amid general cheers. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, as Ministerial leader of the House' congratulated Mr. Lefevre on his elevation to the highest honours which English gentlemen can confer upon one.of their number. Alluding to his own official position, Mr. Disraeli said—" There is another reason why your reelection is a subject of congratulation to the House and the country. I cannot but remember, -that not only is this a new Parlia- ment, but that the individual who has from his position the practical control over its business has, we all must admit, hardly that experience which is necessary for the post he occupies. And although I feel confident, that when- ever the order and honour of this House are concerned, so long as I sit here I shall never appeal in vain to any gentleman, on whichever side he may sit, I cannot but feel, under these circumstances, that the selection we have made this day is one upon which the House is much to be congratulated."

Lord Jouw Roseau, concurred in the unanimous estimate of the cha- racter of the Speaker.

Replying to the allusion of the Ministerial leader, Lord John:gave the as- surance oa his own part, and he felt persuaded on the part of the Members around him, that any assistance which the House can render to the right honourable gentleman would be fully and freely given. (Cheers.)

The only other speaker was Mr. limns ; who suggested that Mem- bers should be allowed to attend the Speaker's levees in their ordinary dress if they chose. Mr. Hume remarked, that if he went up with an address to the Throne, he wore his ordinary dress ; but he was not al- lowed in that dress to pay his respects to the Speaker at his levees. He hoped the practice would he altered. On the motion of Mr. Forums Mamma, the House adjourned until three o'clock on Friday.

Accordingly, both Houses met at two o'clock.. The sitting in the Com- mons was characterized by the early arrival of Mr. Macaulay ; who, warmly greeted on all sides, took his seat on the front bench of the Oppo- sition. Obedient to the summons of Sir Augustus Clifford, Mr. Speaker, accompanied by Mr. Robert Palmer, Lord Robert Grosvenor and a strong escort of Members, went up to the Louse of Lords to report his election. The Lords Commissioners, sitting at the foot of the Throne, received the Speaker and his following.

The SPEAXER, according to usage, reported that he had been chosen by the Commons ; and asked her 'Majesty's approbation of their choice. This being granted, he claimed all the ancient and undoubted privileges of the Commons. To this also the Loan Cusstenuon signified her Majesty's assent.

Returning to the Lower House, the SPEAXER related what had passed in the House of Lords ; invited the Members to aid and assist him by their counsel and support in maintaining the authority of the chair ; and assured them that he would impartially exercise that authority to the best of his ability. The rest of the afternoon, up to four o'clock, was occupied by both Houses in the swearing in of Members. The Commons meet again to- day, at twelve o'clock.