"Mb(' *pettator, jfebruarp 210. 1850
THE opening of Queen Victoria's third Parliament, on Thurs- day, if slackly attended in the day-time, because Royalty was absent,* was signalised by good musters in the evening. The leading men in both Houses were early in attendance ; and in the Lords those incidents which mark the existence of unusual interest in the proceedings were not wanting. The Duke of Cambridge, for example, was present ; a fair complement of Peeresses witnessed the proceedings from their lofty perch ; and the spaces around the Throne and below the bar were all in requisition. The Duke of Wellington occupied his usual seat— a chair at the upper end of the Clerks' table. Three chairs are placed there, and the occupants of two of them are the Duke of Wellington and the Marquis of Londonderry: these noble persons suffering from deafness: sometimes a third Peer is seen on the third chair, availing himself of the aid of an acoustic instrument, but the Duke and the Marquis apply an open hand to the back of the ear. The Duke of Wellington is the beau ideal of a listener: no matter who speaks, thither does he turn the ear, as if greedy of every word that is spoken ; sometimes he will shift his seat, and follow speaker after speaker, sitting as close to each as he can.
[5We are informed that Her Majesty will not open the next session of Parliament in person. We have reason to believe that Her Majesty's absence on that occasion will be owing to the near approach of an event which will probably add another member to the Royal Family.—Quoted from The Times in the Spectator of January 26th.]
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