Opening of the French Legislature.
--The ceremony of opening the
Legislative session by the Emperor Napoleon, took place in the
Sale des Etats du Louvre..
The Emperor's throne was placed, as usual, on a raised estrade, at the farther end, with chairs of state arranged on each side for the members of the
Imperial family.
In the neighborhood of the throne were stationed the
Great Officers of State, the Cardinals, Marshals,
Admirals, members of the Privy Council, and other dignitaries.
The galleries were filled with the diplomatic corps and the wives and families of the different ministers.
A little before one o'clock, a Master of Ceremonies having announced "the
Empress," the whole assembly rose, and her Majesty entered, preceded and followed by the Great Officers and Ladies of her household, amidst loud cries of "Vive I'Imperatricell " "Vive le Prince Imperial" Her Majesty proceeded to a tribune at the right of the platform, accompanied by the Princess Clotilde, the Princess Mathilde, and the
Princes Lucien and
Joachim Murat.
Her Majesty had just taken her seat when the cannon of the Invalids announced the approach of the
Emperor, and immediately after the
Imperial cortege entered.
After a Master of Ceremonies, the Equerry on duty, the Prefects of the Palace, came the
Grand Master of the Ceremonies, the
Grand Chamberlain, and the
Grand Marshal of the Palace.
Then advanced the
Emperor, in a
General's uniform, followed by Prince Napoleon, similarly attired, the Princes of the
Imperial family having rank at
Court, the
Grand Almoner, the
Commander of the Cent-Gardes, and the officers of the household of their Majesties,--Loud cries of " Vive I'Empercur," "Vive I'Imperatrice," "Vive le Prince Imperial! " arose the moment his Majesty appeared, and continued until he had taken his seat on the Throne.
The Grand
Master of the Ceremonies then, in a loud voice, desired all to be seated; after which his Majesty rose, and delivered, in a very distinct voice, the opening speech.
