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Opening of the First Cape Parliament, in the State-Room, Cape Town, 1854. Creator: Unknown
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Opening of the First Cape Parliament, in the State-Room, Cape Town, 1854. Creator: Unknown
Opening of the First Cape Parliament, in the State-Room, Cape Town, 1854. Ceremony in at Government House - Charles Henry Darling, Lieutenant-Governor of the Cape Colony (in what is now South Africa), makes his maiden speech to the colonial parliament.....the Legislative Council, headed by their President, Sir John Wylde, in his robes, arrived and took their seats, when the Castle guns announced the approach of the Lieutenant-Governor. [His speech] certainly bore a much stronger resemblance to an American President's Message than it did to a Queen's Speech...the Lieutenant Governor adverted to the war with Russia [Crimean War], rendered necessary by "a desire to save Europe from the preponderance of a Power which has violated the faith of treaties, and defies the opinion of the civilised world"'. From "Illustrated London News", 1854
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Media ID 36231077
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Cape Colony Ceremonial Ceremony Chief Justice Government House Governor Lieutenant Governor Old Boy Network Old Boys Club Old Boys Network Opening Ceremony Parliament President South Africa Speech Throne British Empire Metaphor
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph, taken from the pages of the Illustrated London News in 1854, depicts the historic opening of the First Cape Parliament in the State-Room of Government House in Cape Town, South Africa. The scene is filled with an air of importance and tradition, as the Legislative Council, presided over by Sir John Wylde, takes their seats in anticipation of the arrival of the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Charles Henry Darling. The Council members, dressed in formal attire, sit attentively, their faces a mix of concentration and curiosity. The moment of excitement builds as the Castle guns announce the approach of the Lieutenant-Governor. Darling, a distinguished figure, makes his way into the room, ready to deliver his maiden speech to the colonial parliament. The speech he delivers bears a striking resemblance to an American President's Message, rather than a Queen's Speech. Darling addresses the Council and the pressing matter of the Crimean War, which was necessitated by a desire to save Europe from the preponderance of a Power that had violated treaties and defied the opinion of the civilized world. This photograph is a testament to the old boys network and political traditions of the time, as men of power and influence gathered to shape the future of the Cape Colony and the British Empire. The print, which is now part of The Print Collector's collection, captures a moment in history that continues to resonate with the legacy of colonialism and the political landscape of South Africa.
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