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Leader (1850-1860), 13th September 1856, Edition 2 of 2, Page 3

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      September, 1856.] The 1eadee, 867

      September , 1856 . ] THE 1 EADEE , 867

      ¦ Rt£* The Coronation. Of The Czar. Ric ...

      ¦ THE CORONATION . OF THE CZAR . ?—— ., . . The errand ceremonial of the coronation has taken place , and Alexander now ranks among the pointed of the world ' s monarchs . YYe borrow from the letter of the Times Special Correspondent a "brilliant picture of the procession to the Kremlin : — . „ _ " On Monday ( the 25 th ult . > the Empress-Mother arrived at the Palace of Petrovsky , a country house about four miles from Moscow , -where the Imperial family generally reside when ceremonies of state do not call them : to the Kremlin during their visits to Moscow . " The Emperor and Empress left St . Petersburg on Friday morning ( th © 22 nd ) , and leached Petrovsky after dusk in the evening of the sanrc day , having travelled about four hundred and forty miles in sixteen hours , ¦ which is regarded as a great feat in this part of the world . His Majesty ' s reception at the station was enthusiastic , and , late as it was , thousands of people awaited his arrival , and cheered him with great energy , " Wednesday ( the 27 th ) and Thursday were spent in pre- paring for the great event , the procession of their Imperial Majesties from the Chateau of' Petrovsky to the Kremlin-, which , " took place on the 20 th under the happiest auspices . . . 41 It would 1 be a 3 difficult to describe this dazzling pageant as it would be to give an accurate account of a grand spectacle at the theatre . In all its component parts ifc was magnificent and effective . The wealth of a vast empire was poured out with a profuseness almost barbaric ,- and displayed with a taste founded on Oriental traditions and modified by European civilization . Instead of a narrow stage , the scene-was laid in the ancient . me- tropolis of the largest empire tile world has ever seen ; instead of tinsel and . mock finery , gold and silver and diamonds flashed in the real sunlight . He who played the part of an-Emperor was indeed am Emperor ; and those wlio appeared as Empresses , marshals , and soldiers were what they seemed to be ; but ; after all , when , amid the blare of trumpets , the clanging of bells , and the roar of the populace , the glorious pageant had ^ passed away in-a-parti-coloured blaze of light , what was left but the recollection of the transitory pleasure of the eye and of the indescribable excitement which the memory in vain endeavoured to recal of all that had at the mo- ment produced such irresistible effects ? " The side pavements were crowded by the populace , and tlie line of roadway was maintained by the Infantry of the Guard , formed three deep the whole length of the street ,-which was covered with . a . fine red sand , carefully xaked from time to time . ¦' " The two lines formed by the Boldiery are as strict and exact as those of the street itself ; and the eye -wanders down a long perspective of Helmets , faces , red collars , green frocks , red cuffs , and white trousers , till they are diminished into mere streaks of colour in the distance . The officers look along their chins and noses ; till they are all in line , and then retire to their places in the ranks ; again the careful sergeants and corporals go lound and give their charges a last finishing touch , brush the dust off their shoes and cross belts , and comb their moustaches . " After a party of Gendarmerie had passed , the splendour of tlie pageantry commenced . " Mounted on high-bred , spirited horses ¦ which are covered with rich trappings of an antique character , the escort of the Ernpero . r comes "by , and calls us at once back to the days of Ivan the Terrible . Their heads are covered with a fine chain armour—so . fine indeed , that some of them -wear it as a veil before their faces . This mail falls over the neck , and covers the back and chest , and beneath it glisten rich doublets of yello silk . Some of the escort carry lances with bright pen nona . All arc armed with antique carbines , pistols , a curved swords . The saddles are crusted with silver , a rich scarfs and sashes decorate their waists- " The whole brc Lid th of the street was now occupied by a glittering , mass of pennons , armour , plumes , stool and bright colours ; the air was . filled witli the sounds of popular delight , the champing of bits and clinking weapons , tlie flourishing of trumpets , and , above all the loud voices of the bells . Close behind the Circas Bian escort and the wild Bashkirs comes a squadron the division of the Black Sen Cossacks of the Guard in large flat blnclc sheepskin cups , -with red skull-pieces long lances , the shafts painted red , and the pennons coloured blue , -white , and rcil j their jackets of scarlet their horses small , handsomo , and full of spirit . " The forest of red lanco shafts through which looked gave a most curious aspect to tho gay cavalcade A squadron of the licgiinent of Cossacks of tho Guard in blue , follows . Except in tho shape of the head-dross which is liko ono of our shalcos in the olden time , tho colour of tlieir uniform , these men resemble Black Sea Cossacks . Suggesting some strnngn like nessos and comparisons , there follows after these hundred Cossaclts a large bo < ly of the ha life noblesse horseback and in uniform , two and two , lieaded by Marshnl of the Nobility for tho district of Moscow Nearly nil of these nobles are in military uniforms , those who aru not wear tho old Russian boyard ' a dress a tunic glistening with precious utoncs , golden studded -with diamonds , and high caps with aigrettes brilliants . " Tho next cirvulcaclo , consist * of tho deputies of various Asiatic jiaqtlmks or xuces which have- submitted to Russia all on horseback , two and two . Hero

      rt £ * ric , and sia , coa ant An titi Asi ran sh . i : Sib Cal Cov -wo : me dre ia ^ axi we off ) cai an , fri , an of an We th Qe t- \ v Lo < in : an th of t « wi a : he an Cr ta be s 0 in fo o £ pt bi jv tl n , n d ft a : C li - tl 0 £ , a - ^ , * * w - 1 nd * nd ' j ; ' ] of ! , ' - : of ; , , ; one . , , and the - four on the . ami , belts of tlio may t > e seen the costume of every age at oneviewi and all as rich as wealth , old family treasures , hoarded plunder , and . modern taste can make it . Bashkirs and Circas- sians , Tcherkess , Abassians , in coats of mail and sur- coats of fine chain armour , Calmucks , Tartars of Kazan and the Crimea , Mingrelians , Karapapaks , Dagbistanhis , Armenians , the peop le of Gouriel and Georgia , the inua- bitarits of the borders'of the Caspian , Kurds , poople of Astrakhan , Samoiedes , -wild mountaineers from distant ranges to which the speculations of even the ' Hertford- shire Incumbent' have never wandered ,. Chinese from the Siberian frontiers , Mongols ,, and strange beings like Caliban in court-dressi . Some of them had their un- covered haic plaited curiously with gold coins ; others ¦ wore on the head only a small flat plate of precious metal just over the forehead ; others sheepskin head- dresses studded with jewels ; old matchlocks that might have rung , on the : battle-fields of Ivan Veliki , battle- axes , lances , and scimitars and daggers of every form were borne by this gaudy throng , whose mode of riding offered every possible variety of the -way in which a 1 man can sit on a . horse . Some rode without . stirrups , loose and graceful as the Greek warriors who live on the friezes of tho-Parthenon ; others sat in a sort of legless arm-chair , with their knees drawn up after the manner of sartorial equestrians . Every sort of bit , bridle , saddle , and horse-trapping which , has been used sinca horsea were subjugated to man could be seen here . Some of the saddle-cloths and holsters were of surpassing rich- ness and splendour ; In the midst of all these cavaliere , t-wo attracted particular notice .. One was a majestic- looking , old Turk with an enormous beard and a tower ing turban , whose garments were of such a rich material and strange cut . that one was reminded immediately of the figure , of the High . Priest in . Rembrandt ' s picture , or of the old engravings- of the Sultan in old books-of travel . The other was a young deputy from Gouriel with clustering hair flowing " down- incurlsfrom beneath a small patch o £ gold and jewels fixed on the top of the head , whose face and ^ fi gure were strikingly handsome and who was dressed m a magnificent- suit of velvet cramoisi , flashing with precious stones . Hewas-averi table Eastern Antinous , and was woll matched with his beautiful horse ; This cavalcade of the . l peuplades soumisesala Russie' was to strangers the most interest ing part of the procession ; but itpassed too quiokly by for the eye to decompose its ingredients . What stories of the greatness and magnificence of Russia vill those people take back to their remote tribes ! They went by ¦ bright ,, shifting , and indistinct as a dream of the Arabian Nights . " s After a long array of valets of the court , lacqueys ; ; the chamber , gentlemen of the chamber , court runners f negroes of the court , huntsmen , masters of the cere L monies , riding in chariots of crimson velvet and gold > drawn by horses richly caparisoned and led by , gorgeous footmen , the masters themselves being dressed in green 2 and gold , there came by " the seeond ' Charges- de 3 Cour , ' in gilt carriages , four and four , crimson velvet t linings , green and gold footmen , and fine horses ; Next - the Marshal of the Court , in an open phaeton , gilt all f over , with his grand baton of office flashing with gems r Next the Grand ' Charges de la Cow , ' by fours , in g , and crimsoa carriages , all and eacli drawn like the first 3 with running footmen and rich trappings ,- — 3 All clinquant—all in gold like heathen gods ; r Every man that walked showed like a mine . r The mombars of tho Imperial Council , in gilt . carriages lc followed the Grand ' Charges . r " As the last of the trainof carriages passes , a noise like distant thunder rolling- along the street announces 2 . the approach of tho Czar . But Ws presence is grandl a heralded . Immediately after the members of tho Coun cil of the Empire , tho Grand Marshal of tho Court rides a in an open phaeton , gilt like the rest ; but , bright . as 1 < ho and all about him ,. there cornea after him that com is pared with tho lustre of which lie-is as ainotein 3 f sun . In gilt casques of beautiful form and workman 1 ship , surmounted by crest eagles ^ of silver or gold , B milk-white coats and ,- gildod cuirasses and ; baokr-platos of approach the giants of tho first squadron of the Cheva ( j liors Gardes of his Majesty the Emperor ; each on , ' charger fit for a commander in battle . Tllioso are . na picked men of 00 , 000 , 000 of tho human race , and f stature tliey certahily exceed any troops I have ' seen . All their appointments arc splendid ,, but it . ac said that they looked better in tho days of tho le Emperor , -when they wore white buckskins and jack ¦ d ' boots , than they do now in their long , trousers . 3 S' squadron was probably two hundred strong-, and ll ( l cu ' oct of the polished helmets , crests ,, and armourwae 11 C dazzling . Their officers could scarcely be distinguished -e . except by thoir position and . tho extraordinary beauty Jur and training of some of thoir horses , which slowly beat on time , aB it were , witli their hoofs to tho strains of tho : l , e mnrch . Tho lurst Squadron of the Garde it Chevul nr follows , — U ( j All furnished—nil in arms , [ All plumed liko ostmlgcH that wing tho wind ; qts Batocl like eagles having lately bathed , ' of Glittering in golden coats , like images , so bright , so fnio , -that one is puzzled to decide which , tlie they or tho chevaliers , are tho bravest . Hut , as we arc ted debating the point , tho tremendous cheering of tlid lay people , and tho measured hurrahs of tho soldiers , the

      dofi o £ . war done whi and in i siin ] pasl of w gree sers met full all real thei wit —r tha the 1 per gen "E but thr hei ria go ! coi - Im to tin lac 11 , in Di un j bo ta 1 - Tl spr ' . jinj - < of Mj an Er wi ^ nc , ch - D , pc j © & a la A H of - ta . W ilt y * , cs L . ™ ftl , ti & ^ y g - i , i is - t the t - t in j , u - ] . a t tho . in „ over . is , late , - < The tho , I doffed hats-and the revBren « es of the crowd , the waving o £ handkerchiefs , and the clash of presenting arms , warn us that the ' Czar of All the Eussias , of the'Kingdom . of Poland , and of the Grand Dnchy of : Finland , -which , are inseparable from them , ' ia at hand ^ and 1 Alexander Nicolaievitch is before us . His Miajesty is dressed in the unifbrai of a general . officer , and- seems- quite simply attired , after all tho splendour , which hasjgone past . He wears a burnished casque , -with a long-plume of white , orange , and dark cock ' s feathers , a close-fitting green tunic , wititt aiguillettes and orders , and red : trousers , and he guiles his charger— a perfect model of symmetry —with ease and gracefulness * His features are full of emotion as ho returns with a military salute on all sides the mad congratulations of his people , who really act as tiough the Deity were incarnate before them . It is said that several time * his eyes-ran . ' over with tears .. To all he gives the same acknowledgment —raising his extended hand to the side of his casque , so that / the forefinger rises vertically by the rim in ficont'of the ear . " . - . ; . . The Grand B likes , some , ofilcials attached to tlie Imperial and Ducal households , and several' of the great generals , having passed , tho Empress-Mother- followed . " Her Majesty was right royally or imperially attired , but how L cannot say . A cloud of h ' ght drapery , through which diamonds stone nkestaTS , floated aTound . her , and on hei head was a . tiara , of brilliants . The carriag . e : in which she sat wa » -a triumph of splendour—all gold and crimson velvet ; and on tha roof ) ^ Mcli was composed of similar materials , was the likeness of an Irhperial crowen ; Theeighthorses ; which wereattaohed to the carriage by trappings and-cords of gold , were the the . most beauiifnl . in the Imperial s-tableS } and each ' was p lad . with a golden . bridle-by a palefronier in grand livery , f The Empress-Consort , Marie Alexandrovna , is seated in the next , carriage , and by her side the little : Grand ' Duke Vladimir . Alexandrowitchj who is in full military i uniform ; Hei Majesty seemed much affected as she ] bowedito the right , and . left and acknowledged' tho salut tations of the people with vivacity and empressement . - The boy seemed to take it all as a matter of course , ' and 3 . probably the : arch-ducal mind was occupied by distracting thoughts of dinner . The equipment and attendance .. < of the vehicle were the same as those of the Empressr : MJother .. ¦¦ " ¦ . -.. - ¦¦ ' . . ' . ' ' . ¦ : . ¦;¦ ¦ ¦ ' ; : ' . ¦¦ . ' - ' . 3 " The first squadron of the Cuirassiers of the Guard , » and the first squadron of the Gardes ^ Guirassiers ' . of the " - Empress , clad in sufcoats of mail , part bearing lances i with rich pennons , part armed with sabres only , make the ground shake beneath the tramp of their ponderous f horses , and ; by the'splendour of their equipments almost i challenge comparison witli the Chevalier Guard : The - Dames and \ Dtaid 8 of Honour , the Maids of Homour it [ portrait , the Dfaitresses de la Cour of their ImperialMas jesties and . Highnesses follow four ^ and- ^ four in rnffriy- ^ gilt n carriages , all in court : daesses , radiant with diamonds , a As- , the last carriage passes , tho first squadron- of tho : t Hussars of the Guard claims-our attention ; The uniform : t of these troops- is very handsome , ^—^ Hbssianboots-with il . tassels , light blue panto 3 oonB ,- scarlet' laced' jacket , a 3 . white pelisse trimmed . with blnck fur , lined inside * with [ t yellow satin , and a black : bearekin shako with , scarlet t calpack . Tho first squatlron of the Kegiment of tho ' Lancers of the Guard ; in blue and' redj splendidly mounted , comes next : in . order ; and the roar oP'theprocession is closed by the municipal authorities , tho-civil authorities ,, and the magistrates of the bourgeoisie , with B » trade-flags arid civic emblems , and by tho bantls , kettledrams ,, and standards of tho various cavnlry regiments Je which have . ' taken part in the prooession . After ' all the ^ peopled—a , crowd of long-coated ,. bearded people ; strug-^ y gling , and rnnning , andi sweltering together at the a" horses ' , heels . " Various religious- oeremonies- at the 69 Kremlin concluded the dsiy . is A telegraphic despatch , dated last Sunday , states-tliat a- the Empcroi' was crowned that day at twelve o ' clock , he u * n 10 ceremony took place in tho TJspenskiiSsobor , and n" the act of coronation was performed by Archbishop Fhiin laretes , the Metropolitan of Moscow . Among the special oSj Ambassadors who were present -were Earl Granvillc , a- Prince Esterhazy , Mi Castalborgone , and tho represcnta-1 a tivc of tho Sniltan . The proceedings had " all . that august no appenranco which immense preparation , had designed . * A ' n enormous crowd assembled at tho Kremlin Palace rer and in tho stfeets , and very great enthusiasm was ovcryis -vrlierc manifested . Tlie ringing of bells , the tiring of it 0 cannon , tlie parade of troops , tlio ceremonials of the ^ ~ Church , the procession to tho Palace , and tlie decoraac tions of the city , rendered the wholes affair most iusjiirit-Lho } ng ; Tho coronation was favoured by beautiful weather . rQB Count Orlo -fT was created a Prince , Prince AVoronzoff a 0 ° ) Field-Marshal , and Generals do Ucrg and Soumarokhoff - « ty Hounts . "

      , Mr. Dallas On Tiie Tltansatlarntic Ele...

      , MR . DALLAS ON TIIE TltANSATLArNTIC ELECTKEC TELEGHAPIT . Tun annual Cutlers' Feast was licld at Slieflicld . in the courso of last week . Tho Duke of Newcastle , Mr . Dallas ( tlio American Minister ) , niid . Mr . Roebuck wore nniong the guests . In tho course of'his addrcan , tlio Duke of Newcastle nlluck'd to hia exertions when Secrctary-at-Wair , and implied that " his lioiioiiruble , and valued , ami moat distinguished , and ho hoped lie Hhould bo forgiven if ho added somowhat aggresbiv * : friend ,. Mr . IRoobuck , " had not douo him justice in the llouao of

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 13, 1856, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_13091856/page/3/