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    were all densely crowded . At every street-crossing and turning-point of the route , carriages , cabs , omnibuses , and vehicles of every description , were converted into teinporacy stands for spectators . The mighty traffic ceaselessly flowing through the main arteries of the metropolis paused in . its course to see the Emperor and Empress pass by . They were seated -with the . Prince in an open barouche , which went at the head of the cortege ; and , as the pace maintained was not muck beyond a walk , they were well seen by all . As they approached Westminster Bridge , a royal salute was fired from the guns which usually announce her Majesty ' s arrival to open or prorogue Parliament . At Charing-cross , where vast numbers of people were collected , there was some display of flags , and the effect at this point was further heightened by the band of the Royal Marines , who played * Partant pour la Syrie' as the cortege passed

    the Admiralty . The scene presented by the clubs in Pall-mall was particularly animated ; and among those who gazed upon his progress from the well-known haunts of former days , his Majesty no doubt distinguished many old familiar faces . In front of St . James ' s Palace , a guard of honour turned out and presented arms . St . James-street had the windows and balconies of all its houses filled with a large assemblage of ladies , whose curiosity and interest were no doubt strongly excited by the Empress , and who waved their handkerchiefs as she passed . When they passed King-street , the Emperor was observed to draw her attention to the house which he had occupied in former days ; and in him at least the sight of this under such altered circumstances must have raised some strange emotions . It was 6 o ' clock , an hour behind time , before they started for Windsor . "

    A large crowd assembled near the Castle at about 4 o ' clock in the afternoon ; and at 7 the Emperor , the Empress , and Prince Albert ,, made their appearance . The distance from the railway station to the Castle is so short , that the sight was come and gone in a few minutes ; but the people cheered loudly , and seemed satisfied . In the evening the town was illuminated . The Emperor and Empress alighted at the Grand Hall , where the Queen , accompanied by the Prince of Wales , the Princess Royal , the Duke of Gambridge , and the Prince of Iieiningen , received them .

    " The Yeomen of the Guard ( says the Court Circular ) lined the Grand Hall and Staircase under the command of Captain Macdonald , the Exon in Waiting . Viscount Sydney , the Captain , and Colonel Fitzmaurice , the Adjutant of the corps , also-attended . The great officers of State and the Household ( in levee dress ) , and the Ladies and Maids of Honour in Waiting , were in attendance with the Queen at the Grand Hall . Viscount Palmerston , First Lord of the Treasury , and the Earl of Clarendon , Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs , were also present . The Queen , taking the arm of the Emperor , and the Empress that of Prince Albert , followed by the / Prince of Wales , the'Princess Royal , the Duke of Cambridge , and the Prince of Leiningen , passed up the grand staircase , through the Music-room , into the Throne-room , where the younger members of the royal . faaxjly _ w . ere . _ assembledj _ jnnd subsequently proceeded to the Reception-room , where the ladies and gentlemen of the Household of the Queen and the Prince were presented to their Imperial Majesties . " A banquet in St . George ' s Hall followed , and concluded the day . THE PREFECT OF THE SEINE A . T THE MANSIONHOUSE . The Prefect of the Seine , and other gentlemen connected with the municipality of Paris , having followed in the train of the Emperor , were entertained by the Lord Mayor on Monday at a dinnerfn the Egyptian Hall of the Mansion House . ^ Amongst the company were the Consuls-general of France , Sardinia , and several other countries , Prince Gholab Mahmoud , Prince Ferozeshah , the Lord Mayor of Dublin , and the chief members of the corporation of London . The "loving cup" having passed round , and the health of the Queen having been drunk ,

    several complimentary speeches were made by the Lord Mayor , the Prefect of the Seine , and others . Tho Prefect , in acknowledging the drinking of his health , said ho would speak in English , as he wished to say to tho company , without tho medium of an interpreter , but " heart to heart , " how much he felt the reception tho party had met with from tho English population . M . Pclouze , in proposing " the Aldermen , Sheriffs and Corporation of ^ London , " complimented the City on tho new and magnificent streets that are now being , or have been , made , and said that tho French are only just beginning to follow tho English example . —The company separated about cloven o ' clock .

    TIIJS A . X > 1 > HE 8 SI 5 S ANI > TUB 11 EVIEW AT WIND 8 OH . About , three o ' clock on Tuesday , tho Corporation of . Windsor proceeded in nine carriages to tho Castle , and presented a congratulatory address , to the Emperor , to which ho returned tho following answer : — " Mr . Mayor , I am very much pleuscd with thu statements contained in your addnj .-w , and I tr , uat that the alliance so happily formed will last for many , man y

    years . I thank you for the hearty reception I have met with in your town ; but I am sure I cannot take it to myself so much , as to the circumstance of my being the guest of your Queen . I was much gratified by what I witnessed last night in your town , and I beg that you will express to the inhabitants of Windsor how highly pleased I was with their kindness and attention . " Two other addresses were ' also presented—namely , one from the Com missioners of Lieutenancy of the City of London , and one from tlie merchants , bankers , and traders of London . After the reception of these , a review of the household troops took place in the Great-park .

    " The attendance of spectators ( say the morning journals ) was enormous , and their eagerness to catch a glimpse of the Emperor and Empress completely frustrated the attempts of the detachment of the 94 th Regiment to keep the ground . The Emperor and Prince Albert , in field marshal ' s uniform , attended by a brilliant staff , and accompanied by her Majesty the Queen and the Empress of the French , with the royal children , visitors , and suite , in six open carriages , arrived at four o ' clock . The line was formed by the following regiments : —Second Life Guards , Royal Horse Guards , the Carbiniers , and two troops of Horse Artillery . On the

    arrival of the royal cortege on the ground , they were received with a salute , the bands playing the ' National Anthem' and ' Partant pour la Syrie . ' At the close of the review , the Emperor rode out to the front , and addressed Lord Cardigan , who commanded the whole of the troops , and expressed himself highly satisfied with the inspection . The charges were made with very great precision and compactness , and the firiDg of the artillery was very rapid indeed . The whole of the evolutions were performed in a very admirable manner . The review lasted for nearly two hours , and the royal and imperial party returned by the Long Walk about half-past six o ' clock . The walk was densely thronged on both sides , and the cheers were vociferous and protracted . " In the evening , the Queen gave a banquet , and afterwards a ball .

    THE KNIGHTING OF THE EMPEROR . This chivalric ceremony is thus described in the Court Circular : — " The Queen held a Chapter of the Order of the Garter at three o ' clock on -Wednesday afternoon in the Castle , for the purpose of investing his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of the Trench with the ^ ensigns of this most noble Order . Her Majesty the Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert were conducted by the great officers of State to the Throne-room , follo- \ ved by the Duke of Cambridge and the Prince of Leiningen . The Queen and their Royal and Serene Highnesses wore the purple velvet mantle , the crimson velvet hood , and the splendid collar of the Order . The Knights appeared in the mantle and collar of the Garter , and the officers wore their respective robes with their chains and badges . The Queen and the Knights of the Garter received his Imperial Majesty standing , and the Emperor , passing to the head of the table , took a seat in the chair of state on the right hand of her Majesty . The Queen announced to the Emperor of thu French - that Jiis . Imperial Majesty . _ hml .. been elected a Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter . " Garter King of Arms , kneeling , presented the Garter to the Sovnrei .-rn . mid her Maiestv . assisted bv his Roval

    Iliffliness Prince Albert , buckled it on tho left leg of the Emperor , the Chancellor pronouncing the admonition . Garter King of Arms presented the Riband with tht George , and the Queen put the same over the left shoulder of the Emperor , the Chancellor pronouncing the admonition . The Queen then gave tho accolade to the Emperor , and his Imperial Majesty received the congratulations of his Royal Highness Prince Albert , his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge , his Serene Highness' the Prince of Leiningen , and each of the Knights Companions present . " The Queen gave a state dinner in the evening , at which all the gentlemen appeared in uniform or court dresses , the members of orders of knighthood wearing their respective ensigns . "

    TUB VISIT TO CUILDII . VI . I . AND THE OPERA . Thursday , from morning till night , was a perfect gala day in London . What witli vast crowds of people , " all in their best , " bright and many-coloured flags , military processions , and constant strains of music , this dingy metropolis of ours became quite jubilant and holiday-like . The Emperor and Empress were to make two public appearances , and the sight-loving Cockneys camo out in force . We abridge from the Times the record of the day ' s proceedings :

    Arriving at the private terminus of tho Nino Elnifl station at twelve o ' clock , tho Imperial guests—who were accompanied thus far by tho Queen and Prince Albert—were conveyed to Buckingham Palace across Vuuxhall-bridgo , Millbank , Parliament-street , Whitehall , and the Mall . Thence they were conveyed by the Mull , Charing-crotM , the Strand , Fleet-street , Choapsit )*) , Prinocs-. streot , and Gro . sham-Mtroet , to thu Guildhall , where they arrived at a quarter pant two o ' clock . Leaving the Guildhall at four , and following thu huiho routo back us fur an Duucunnon-strcet , Strand , thuy there diverged

    to the right , passing in front of the National . Gallery along Pall-naall East , up Regent-street and by Piccadilly and . Hyde Park to the French Embassy . Thence , at six o ' clock , they returned to the Palace down Constitution-hill . Along the whole , of this extended drive , the people were assembled in extraordinary numbers . The pavement , the win d ows , and in some instances even the housetops , were crowded with occupants . At Charing-cross alone , there could not have been less than from 20 , 000 to 30 , 000 spectators . At every commanding point , „ cabs , omnibuses , and waggons were drawn up and filled with eager lookers-on . The procession advanced in the gorge of a continuous valley of human life , the bare sight of -which , as it swayed under its own impulses ,

    awakened mingled emotions of astonishment and awe . At different parts of the route , the character of the crowd varied considerably . Now it was mainly composed of the humbler classes , now comfortable mediocrity preponderated , and a little beyond might be observed many persons belonging to the higher ranks of society ; but wherever one went the overpowering effect of numbers was still pre-eminent . As for the cheering , it ran along on either side of the Emperor ' s carriage—an accompaning wave of sound which rose high over that of his trampling escort . The people were kept in excellent order along the whole line of the procession by the Metropolitan and City police , who lined the roadway on either side , and by their excellent arrangements

    prevented anything like confusion . In this arduous and responsible task the civil force was materially assisted by the 6 th Carabiniers and the Blues—distributed by pairs at intervals , and , where necessary , backing their horses to restrain the forward pi-essure of the crowd . The few Foot Guards left were used as guards of honour at the railway-station , at the Palace , and the Guildhall . In the Mall " they also formed a double line within the police ; but their appearance there , from their small number , from the irregularity in their dress , consequent on the change of uniform , from the diminished size of the men , and from their raw , awkward manner in performing the simplest movements , excited many painful and bitter remembrances .

    The Imperial cortege consisted of eight carriages from the railway-station to Buckingham Palace , and of six thence to Guildhall . It was attended by a small escort of the Life Guards in the first half of its progress , and by a large escort during the last half- Neither the Queen nor Prince Albert accompanied their illustrious guests into the City , and the visit was not made in what is usually called "State . " Close carriages were used , with only a pair of horses in each , and it was impossible to get sogood a view of the Imperial pair as in the open barouch on their way from the Bricklayers' Arms Static n on Monday . The difficulty in this respect was increased by the rate at which the cortege went .

    At the Horse Guards a guard of honour was drawn UC , and saluted . At Buckingham Palace , the party remained for more than an hour , starting again at hallpast one . The band of the Royal Marines , at the Admiralty , played " Partant pour la Syrie" from the summit of the entrance archway . The Nelson column was densely packed with spectators ; and the Strand appeared to great advantage with its flag * , and the amazing numbers of people on the parapets and at the windows . Temple-bar - and - the " darkJdefile , of ™ Fleetr street" were now entered , the barrier unguarded by the civic king against the invasion of his Imperial guests , although ,

    had the Queen come , the ceremony ot presenting tins city keys woidd , no doubt , have been still observed . Along Cheapside , and not only ¦ within the sound , but in sight , of Bow bell ? , which now rang out to fortunes more romantic and marvellous than those even of "Whittington , the Imperial visitors proceeded to the Mansionhouse and the Dank . There a vast concourse of people had assembled to receive them . Turning to the left along Princes-street , Lotbbury , and Gresham-street the ctrrtige soon arrived at tho long covered entrance to thu Guildhall , whore , saluted by a guard of honour , and received with the music of " Partant pour la Syrie , " the Imperial guests alighted shortly after two o ' clock .

    Preparations on a most extensive scale had been made in Guildhall . At tho eastern end of the Hall , a dais , slightly raised above the level of tho floor , hail been erected , n » d upon it w « ro placed two cliaire ol State , covered with velvet of Imperial purple , anil ritrhly ornamented with gilding . On the back of one of those chains , intended for tho Kmperor , the initial " N ' was embroidered iit gold within a wreath worked in tlio same material ; and on the other , destined for tho hmprefls , the initial "K " was tfimilarly emblazoned , llio State chaim were surmounted by a canopy of rich purple velvet , fringed with gold , mid lined with creamtho

    coloured satin , each corner of canopy dinplaynig an Imperial en « lo richly gilt . On either h « 1 « of tho daw « considerable njmc « next tho wall was railed off for the accommodation of member * of tho Common Council . At tho western .-ml , o nloping gallery had been erected , which occupied one-half th « h « ll r and at thu custom end the mmvi ) which -wa » not required for ' tho dai . i and tho Common Councillors' scut * wan Mlod with rows of rawed bunt-lion on each flidc , leaving a wide pns-Hiigo in tlit ! cenfro loading to th <> thrones or choirs of , Sluto . At flu ? end uf tlu'M ! central . mouIh , mixt Ilia ( lain , compartments woru reserved , on tho south » Ule , for Cabinet Minister * and othor dJnUnffiii » l « ed guo » t « , and

    Untitled Article

    ¦ Axxtb 21 , 1855 . 1 THE LEADER . 367

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), April 21, 1855, page 367, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2087/page/7/