THE IMPERIAL ASSEMBLAGE AT DELHI.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 138, 2 March 1877, Page 7

THE IMPERIAL ASSEMBLAGE AT DELHI.

FROCLAMAttON OF THE QUEEN AS EMPRESS. The proclamation of the Queen at Delhi was a most imposing ceremony. The Viceroy arrived at the Delhi terminus at 2 o^lock on the afternoon of the 13th December. The ruling chiefs with a number of high officials received his Excellency at the station, and a procession was then formed. The Viceroy, with his family and suite, were mounted on elephants, and the Lieu-tenant-Governors of the Punjaub, Bengal, and northwest provinces with their staffs followed, The commander-in* chief and his staff, also the staffs of the Governors of Madras and Bombay, the President and members of the "Viceregal Council, the Commander-in-chief of Bombay, the Chief Justice of Bengal, the North-west and other puisne judges, iiative noblemen, secretaries to Government, and others, all followed on elephants. Then came a large number of officers on horseback, two detachments of body-guards followsd, then the chief herald and 12 trumpeters, six regiments of cavalry, and two batteries of artillery. The procession was nearly three miles long. The route chosen was upwards of six miles in length. Royal salutes were fired on the arrival and departure from die station, and also on arrival at the Imperial tent. The procession took oearly four hours en route. Regiments •of cavalry and infantry and batteries of artillery lined the road nearly the whole way. At various points retinues of the native chiefs were drawn up, consisting 1 of troops with numerous elephants and camels, forming very picturesque groups. Many of the elephants had gorgeous trappings, and a splendid effect" was produced. It is estimated that a thousand elephants took part in th« spectacle. Thera was an immense concourse of spectators throughout, but probably the largest was round the Jumna Musjid, where the crowd, was very dense. This was also the case in Chandee Chowk, which was occasionally prettily decorated. The many-coloured costumes of the native crowd on the roofs and •verandahs of the houses, however, 1 entered the decorations almost useless, j ■Jumna Musjid being crowded with spectators on steps, terraces, and towers, a splendid effect was produced. The view thence in every direction was almost bewildering, from the countless •crowds on the roads and on the plain in front. The procession viewed when passing over the bridge near the Imperial tent was splendidly picturesque. !The whole passed off exceedingly well, with no mishap recorded. The Viceroy appeared in excellent health. , The Governor of Madras arrived on 1 December 28, and the Viceroy received "visits from native notabilities, and afterwards returned visits. During the week following--, honours were conferred on all tho ruling- chiefs. They received gorgeous banners bearing their arms embroidered in gold and silver on silk and satin ; also gold medals comrremorative of the Queers assumption of the title of Empress. The following- were made councillors of the Empire : — The Maharajah of Bande, the Rajah of Jheend, the Maharajahs of Jeypore, Cashmere, and Scindia. The two lastmentioned Were made generals of the British army. At a general levee there were 2000 presentations. The Duke of Buckingham arrived in the afternoon of December 29, and was received with honours. There were more native visits and return calls. Later in the afternoon the Viceroy presented members of the Council with gold medals, and the Governors and Lieu tenantGovernors with banners and medals. At night he entertained the LieutenantGovernors of the North-western provinces at dinner, and received the foreign consuls, presenting each with a medal. He also received the native noblemen and gentlemen, not ruling chiefs, invited to the assemblage, presenting •each with a silver medal. He likewise presented the Maharajah of Keoch Behar with a banner and medal. All the inferior chiefs received gold and the superior officers silver medals. The Maharajah of Holkar and the . MahaTajah of Travancore were created councillors of the Empress. The Maharajahs of Cashmere, Holkar, Oodeypore, Scindia and Travancore were empowered to receive salutes of 21 guns on British territory as weli as in their own states. The Governor of Bombay arrived by train on December 30. The GovernorGeneral of Goa arrived shortly afterwards. The Viceroy visited tfie exhibition of native-made jewellery, shawls, embroidered work, wood carving, stonework, metal-work, ivory painting, etc. The -whole collection was quite representative of the various industries of the district. The jewellery was estimated to be worth nearly five millions sterling. The Viceroy*s speech was read by the chief herald in English and Hindoo. The royal standard was then hoisted, 101 salvoes of artillery were fired, the troops fired a feu de joie, the bands played the National Anthem, and the vhole scene was one probably of unparalleled magnificence. At noon the roads leading to the place of the ceremony, as far as the eye could reach, were one vast sea of people. The gorgeous combination of colours on every side produced a splendid spectacle. Surrounding the whole assembly wa> a single line ofielephante, with resplontfejij

trappings, adding much to the magnificence of the scene* The whole amphitheatre, daises, and semicircle being open at the sides, enabled all those assembled to view the glorious scene. The semicircle presented a fine spectacle. All the governors, lieutenantgovernors, and ruling chiefs belonging 1 thereto, wore the dress and the insignia of the Star of India, with the new Imperial banners displayed in front of the semicircle. The following is the substance of the, Viceroy's address at the assemblage. His Excellency's address first referred to the Queen's proclamation of Ist November, 1858, conveying to the princes and people of Indm her assurances of goodwill, fie then spoke of the progressive prosperity and the security of the past eighteen years. The Viceroy then explained the reasons for the Queen's assumption of the title of Empress of India, which was to be the symbol of the union of the empire with the interests of the princes and people of India, and its claim on their loyal allegiance. The strong hand of imperial power was the guarantee that all the subjects of Her Majesty might peacefully enjoy their own. Addressing the British administrators and faithful officers of the Crown, His Excellency conveyed emphatically the gratitude of the Queen for their unsurpassed energy, public virtue, and self-devotion in the service of the British Crown. .He also said that the Queen recognised cordially the loyalty of the non-official Europeans and the benefits her empire derived from their industry, enterprise, and energy. With the view to increase her opportunities of distinguishing public services and private worth, the Queen not only sanctioned the order of the Star of India and the order of British India, but had instituted for this purpose a new order called the Order of the Indian Empire. The Viceroy, addressing British and native officers, soldiers of the army of India, and volunteers, expressed the Queen's satisfaction at their past services, and her reliance upon them for maintaining peace and securing 1 prosperity in the future. Addressing the princes and chiefs, the Viceroy cordially welcomed them to Delhi, and said that, finding in their loyalty a pledge of strength, the Queen reckoned on their readiness, if imperial interests were menaced, to assist in defending them. Addressing the natives generally, he said that the present condition and permanent interests of the empire demanded supreme supervision and direction and administration by English officer*, but that the natives of India had their claim to share largely in the task was fully recognised. He recommended all to fit themselves far this duty by accepting the only education which enabled them to comprehend and practice the principle st«adily maintained by the Government in the gradual enlightened participation of natives in the exercise of mild and just authority on which the Queen relied for the development of the Indian Empire. The Queen' 3 interests and duties also extended to the rulers on the frontier territories, which owed their indeppndence to the sheltering ! shadow of her power. If their power were threatened, the impress would know how to defend it. No enemy could now attack the Indian Empire without assailing the whole civilisation of the East, and the unlimited resources of the Queen's dominions. The courageous fidelity of her allies and feudatories, and the loyal affection of her subjects, provided ample power to repel ana punish every assailant. The viceroy then gave the representatives of the foreign powers a cordial welcome to the assemblage* Then addressing the princes and people of India, Lord Lytton communicated the Queen's gracious telegraphic message. The Council of the Empress includes the Governors of Madras and Bombay, the Lieutenant-Got ernor of the Northwest, the Punjaub, and Bengal, and the commander*in-chiefand members of the Viceroy's council are all ex officio members. In commemoration of the event 15,988 good conduct prisoners are to be released. All civil prisoners owing less than 100 rupees will also receive their discharge, the Government paying: their debts. The coinage will beat the inscription, " Victoria Empress." A large number of native officers will receive honorary distinctions and an increase of pay by special grant-* A display of fireworks took place on January 4, at halfpast six p.m., opposite the fort, lasting two hours. The display Was very grand, comprising illuminated pictures of the Queen and Prince of Wales, besides an oriental scenei On the following morning the review of troops commenced at 11 o'clock on the ground adjoining' the amphitheatre erected for the proclamation ceremony. On the arriving a salute of 31 guns was firsd for the first time, and the troops then presented arms. The troops and retinues of the several chiefs, accompanied by their bands and the state elephants, first marched past. Conspicuous among 1 them were the Gnek war's gold and silver guns, the Nizam's body-guard, and Maharajah of Cashmere's troops* This portion of the programme lasted two hours, forming the .principal feature in the affair. The Government elephants, headed by the viceregal animal, passed in procession. Then followed the march past of the British troops* '.led off by the artillery, next came the cavalry, and last

the infantry. After the march the artillery and cavalry executed some manoeuvres, and the troops marched home. About 20,000 troops took part in the review. At sunset 101 guns were fired from the ridge to announce the close oi the Imperial Assemblage. On the same night the Viceroy gave a farewell banquet to 72 chiefs. He occupied the gold and silver throne in the Dunbar pavilion. The throne rested on the dais, and was covered with scarlet velvet carpet, magnificently embroidered with gold. Above the throne was an oil painting, being a life-size portrait of the Queen as she now is, and an excellent likeness. The Viceroy wore a morning costume supplemented with the badge of the Star of India. The chiefs attended in full dress, making an extraordinary display of jewels, gold, satins, and "embroideries. The Viceroy, according to the rank of each, met them at the entrance tent, in the middle thereof, or greeted them from the throne. Each was accompanied by a European political officer and a few friends. His Excellency beggfcd each to accept as a souvenir of the Assemblage as his personal present a hundred guinea sabre containing His Excellency's portrait on the hilt; also His Excellency's cabinet J photographs, tinted and richly framed, and in most instances a costly banded copy of his lordship's fables in song, or some of his father's works, with His Excellency's signature inscribed. He said he hoped the sabre would never be i drawn in war except against our common enemies. The chiefs seemed e*reatly pleased with their reception at the Assemblage. Medals were also conferred on the political officers and some members of the retinues. His Excellency appeared greatly fatigued with the labours of the week, and the day's proceeding cost him one quarter's official income. He has otherwise been very ! lavish of his own resources, in order to assure the success of the Assemblage.