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I'm stuck on my last clue, yet another short one.
19 down. State opening of parliament precedes novelist (5)
I've got ? U ? A ?
Help or hints appreciated

Could it be a French writer remembered for his swashbuckling historical tales (1802-1870) ?

Yes you are right Aramis !

Thanks Chrisg, but I still don't understand the parsing.

Hi - the first 4 letters is the name of a Russian parliament + S

sorry - Russian legislative body not parliament - + S first letter of State

Thanks Chrisg, thought of Russia but didn't think (correctly) that they had a parliament. Not the best of clues.

Just one left and I am probably going to embarrass myself.
1d) Moving pronto, short archdeacon reaches verdict (3,6)
I have ?O? P?O?E?

Any help much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Def. is a verdict
Anagram of pronto and an abbrev. for how you would address an archdeacon

Thanks jazzgirl, this is what I thought. I can't get what the abbreviation is for archdeacon. :(