OUR LONDON LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 3715, 19 January 1875, Page 3

OUR LONDON LETTER.

The great event of the month, so far as Homo news is concerned, is the visit of the Princ6 and Princess of Wales to Birmingham. This has been regarded with an interest altogether beyond that which ordinarily attaches to royal visits. Birmingham is intensely radical-more so, probably, than any other town in the Kingdom ; and the ‘Times’ hardly overstates it in saying that a Birmingham Conservative would be regarded as an advanced Liberal anywhere else. Bub, more than this, the present mayor, Mr Joseph^Chamberlain, is not merely an extreme radical, but an avowed republican. Great, therefore, was the interest manifested as to how he would play the host to royalty. It is hardly necessary to suppose that anyone could be so ill-natured as to wish for a failure, cither on the part of the town or of its chief magistrate; but if anyone had desired such a result, they would have been doomed to complete disappointment. Birmingham acquitted herself in grand style. The decorations extended for miles, and were indeed of a very high class. The holiday was universal, and everyone turned out in the best spirits and best clothes. The streets were kept clear by about GOO of the Warwickshire Volunteers, assisted by the Oddfellows and Foresters, who donned tbciv scarves for the occasion. I do not purpose giving the wording of the “loyal addresses,” or the “suitable replies,” and your readers will be able, no doubt, to form a very good idea of the appearance presented by a handsome town in its gala suit, with triumphal arches, clustering evergreens, and waving banners. The procession which escorted their Boyal Highnesses was very simple, a troop of lancers merely forming the guard of honor. After passin" through tliejprineipal streets, the Prince and Princess were conducted to the Town Hall, where the dignitaries of the town and neighborhood were assembled. An orchestra of six hundred voices entertained the company with musical selections of a high character until the arrival of the royal party, and on the entrance of the guests burst into the National Anthem. Then followed the addresses, kc. , after which the National Anthem was again sung, and the party adjourned to lunch. Now came the point of vital interest. It devolved upon Mr Chamberlain, of course, to propose the health of her Majesty, and everyone was intent on observing how he would discharge the duty. At the best of times it is not easy to draw the line between deference and subserviency, and whilst Mr Chamberlain’s political opinions rendered the task a most delicate one, any omission or failure would have been the more pointed. However, it is on all hands agreed that nothing could have been in better taste than Mr Chamberlain’s remarks, which expressed the most deferential courtesy, without any sacrifice of independence or verging upon fulsome compliment. Of Her Majesty he said, that at no time had her personal popularity been more universal. The Throne we recognised and respected as the symbol of constituted authority and settled government. The Queen had established claims to the adoration of her people by the loyal fulfilment of the duties of her station ; whilst the constant solicitude she had manifested in the happiness of her subjects had caused her name to be honored among all ranks and classes of society. Afterwards, in proposing the health of the Prince and Princess, he assured their Boyal Highnesses of the earnest

desire of the authorities aud inhabitants to show their appreciation of the occasion, and give their Royal visitors a hearty welcome. Being unaccustomed to the presence of such distinguised guests, he said, it was possible they might have failed somewhat in the manner of their greeting, or of the ceremonial that had accompanied it; but he hoped their Royal Highnesses would recognise the wish to please, and the general satisfaction which their visit had called forth. Alluding to the popularity enjoyed by the members of our Royal family, he attributed it as much to their frank appreciation of the wishes of the nation, as to their high position and exalted rank. In conclusion, he pointed out that Birmingham had long been distinguished -not without cause—for the independence of its citizens and the freedom and outspokenness with which all opinions were discussed ; and that fact, he said, gave a special value to the welcome that had been offered, and stamped the sincerity of the wishes everywhere expressed for the continued health and happiness of their Royal Highnesses. Altogether, Mr Chamberlain acquitted himself so admirably that some of the newspapers arc suggesting that the best thing that other towns can do would be to elect Republican Mayors. After the luncheon the Prince and Princess visited some of the principal manufactories, aud at night the whole town was in a blaze of illuminations. So intense was the interest felt in the Royal visit that the most desperate exertions wore made to obtain tickets of admission to the Town Hall, and no small amount of jealousy resulted from the mode of their distribution. The whole arrangements were, of course, under the control of the Town Council, and it appears that every Councillor was allotted six tickets, whilst only one was allowed to each of the Poor Law Guardians. Hence arose all sorts of discussions as to the relative social status or respectability of the two classes. Were there six intervening degrees between the social position of a Guardian aud a Town Councillor? and, if admission to the sacred precincts was to act as a sort of certificate of respectability, would it not be well, on future occasions, for each holder to state whether he had been admitted to a single or a six-ticket degree? Vast was the indignation of the Guardians, but the Town Councillors were inexorable. The concession of equal rights or privileges was firmly refused, but, as a sort of salve, it was resolved ultimately to adopt the principle of lateral extension, and accordingly one ticket w.as sent to each of the overseers. This was received with such transports of delight that one of the favored gentlemen, signing himself “A Grateful Overseer,” wrote to the papers, acknowledging receipt of ticket Xo. 574, which would admit to a seat whence it was impossible to see anything whatever, and intimating that any lady or gentleman anxious to possess it might do so by calling at the address which the advertiser subjoined. Who will dare to question the loyalty of Birmingham after that ?

There is something apparently deserving of explanation in the retention accorded to the Empress of Russia, who is at present in this country for the purpose of being with her daughter, the Duchess »f Edinburgh', during ; her confinement. The mere announcement of such a visitor would seem to imply that the Queen would be at Buchiugham Palace to receive her. Such, however, is not the case, for Her Majesty continues at Balmoral. Many of the newspapers are very sore ou the subject, and ask for what purpose wo place at the disposal of our Sovereign such large sums, if it be not to maintain the dignity of the nation and reciprocate the splendid hospitalities which arc so freely accorded to our own royal family by the crowned lipids of Europe. It is certainly difficult to reconcile the absence of Her Majesty with what we should feel due to the Empress of Russia, and the place occupied by the Queen is one which no one else can supply. It is possible, however, that there is more in the matter than appears on the surface, and that the Queen may have proper and sufficient reasons for the course she has adopted. Royal personages, no less than those of humbler life, have their misunderstandings, and it is whispered there lias been some ditfereuee as to the rank to ho taken in this country by Her Imperial and Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh. Mr Disraeli delivered one of his characteristic speeches at the Lord Mayor’s banquet. Alluding to the extraordinary events of the last six years, the creation and subversion of empires, fto., he called attention to the uninterrupted tranquillity wejhad enjoyed in England, and proceeded to inquire as to the causes to which it was to he attributed. According to Mr Disraeli, this happy state of tilings has been brought about by the people having obtained that which they anxiously desired, and because the Legislature gave wliat was politic and just, and gave with no grudging hand ” Alluding to the present floveiumcut being a Conservative one, he proceeded to show that the working classes Were as deeply interested in its maintenance as capitalists or land-owners, for said he, “ What is land without liberty, and what is capital without justice ? The working classes of this country have inherited a great body of personal rights and privileges which I the nobility of other nations do not yet possess. ' They are not afraid of arbitrary arrests or domiciliary visits, 1 ' (This, of course, was in

allusion to the Union affair.) “They know very well that their industry is unfettered, and that by the laws of this country they may combine to protect the interests of labor”; and after continuing in this strain, Mr Disraeli inquired, “Is it wonderful that a nation which possesses such rights and privileges as these should wish to preserve them ? If that be the case, is it wonderful that the working classes are Conservatives?” {To be continued.)