; but the absence of
many of their leaders from the representation of important towns which
they had hitherto represented, was significant of the waning popularity
of extreme opinions. The loss, however, which ministers sustained in
the English representation, was somewhat compensated by the returns
of Scotland and Ireland. But while their numbers were not on the whole
diminished, there was an evident falling off in quality. Their friends
were not the representatives of such an extensive part of the population
as they had been in the last parliament.

CITY BANQUET TO THE QUEEN.

During this autumn the great corporation of the city of London
distinguished itself by a striking demonstration of its loyalty to the
crown, in a magnificent entertainment which was given to the queen
in Guildhall, on the 9th of November. On this occasion the utmost
enthusiasm prevailed, and her majesty's reception, both in her progress
to the city and at the banquet, must have been highly gratifying to her
feelings. Along the entire route, in going to and returning from the
city, she was greeted with enthusiastic cheers, and in the evening a
brilliant illumination appeared along the whole line of her passage.
Nothing was wanting, indeed, to give the utmost possible splendour to
the pageant. The event showed that the "liberal" common-council of
the city of London still fostered a substantial respect for loyalty--a
circumstance of great political interest.

OPENING OF THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

On the 20th of November the queen went in state to the house of lords to
open the new parliament. Having read and signed the usual declaration,
her majesty read the speech in a clear and audible voice. The speech
expressed satisfaction at the friendly assurances of all foreign powers;
regretted that civil war still afflicted the kingdom of Spain; stated
that directions had been given for a treaty of commerce, recently
concluded with the united republic of Peru and Bolivia, to be laid
before parliament; recommended to their serious consideration the state
of the province of Lower Canada; and stated that the demise of the crown
rendered it necessary that a new provision should be made for the
civil list. On this latter subject the queen remarked, that she placed
unreservedly at the disposal of the house of commons, those hereditary
revenues which were transferred to the public by her immediate
predecessor, and that she had commanded such papers as