NEWS OF THE WEEK.
• PARLIAMENT was opened on Thursday by commission, Her 1 Majesty being still unable to attend. The Speech is, as usual, very formal and reserved, and bears many marks of composite workmanship. Her Majesty expresses her gratitude for the safe delivery of the Princess of Wales, and then plunges at once into the question of the day. The " state of affairs on the Continent has been the cause of great anxiety," the death of the late King of Denmark having "brought into application the stipulations of the Treaty of May, 1852," which are recapitulated at length. Her Majesty has been "unremitting in her endeavours to bring about a peaceful settlement of the difficulties which on this matter have arisen between Germany and Denmark, and to ward off the dangers which might follow frJm the beginning of warfare in the North of Europe, and Her Majesty will continue her efforts in the interest of peace." Her Majesty " regrets " the destruction of a considerable portion of Kagosima, hopes that the insurrection in New Zealand will be put down, has agreed to give up the Ionian Islands, hopes for more cotton, and hasappointed aRoyal Commission to " revise the various forms of subscription and declaration required to be made by the clergy of the Established Church." No other measures are promised whatever, and the Speech makes no allusion to America, Poland, India, or the Congress.
