burst of *7tf/-pathetic abuse of the whole lot.' On leav- 

 ing Smyrna they sailed to the Piraeus (touching at Syra), 

 and were in Athens in time to hear King George open 

 his first Parliament (June 9). c We went with M. Tri- 

 coupis, M.P. for Mesolonghi, to see the King open 

 Parliament. Nothing very imposing at the ceremony. 

 Parliament House a long, low, ill-arranged room, but 

 tastefully decorated with wreaths of flowers and palm- 

 branches for the occasion. At 10.30 a.m. the new 

 members to the number of 98 (170 is the number of 

 members in the Assembly) assembled, together with the 

 Archbishop and others of the clergy. The room was 

 crowded with the oi iroXXot in the galleries, and 

 members' friends (a large number of ladies) in the body 

 of the room. Ot iroAAol very noisy and excitable. 

 First, a provisional President was elected. After a 

 religious service (part of which consisted of a sort of 

 inebriate-sounding dirgy jig, by way of a chant) the 

 Archbishop in purple silk robes came to the President's 

 chair and administered the oath of fealty to the Presi- 

 dent, all the members taking part in it and signifying 

 their assent by holding up one hand. The President 

 then went with the other officers to usher in the King. 

 I had a good view of His Majesty, who walked in a quiet 

 gentlemanlike way, and in perfect silence, until as he was 

 ascending to the Royal Chair several cheers were given, 

 principally from the body of the room. The King sat 

 down, and, receiving a paper from an officer, at once 



