THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO THE CITY. (From the "Home News.")

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 589, 6 December 1851, Page 3

THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO THE CITY. (From the " Home News.")

On the evening of the 9th July, her Majesty and Prince Albert honoured with their presence the grand entertainment given by the Lord Mayor and corporation of the city of London, in ttie Guildhall, in celebration of the Great Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations. The rarity of Royal visits to the city by night, and the brilliancy of the spectacle, rendered the occasion one of the most lively interest to the countless thousands of foieign and provincial visitors who are now congregated in the metropolis, as well as to the vast masses of our own population. The illuminations were not, perhaps, quite so splendid or so numerous as upon some former occasions, but the Queen's path, from Temple-bar to King-street, was a blaze of light — flags and ensigns were stretched across the street or hung from the casements — every window exhibited its group of ladies — and the streets were densely filled with an assemblage who, permitted to participate in the gaiish delights of a cty illumination, and pleased with this renewed mark of her Majesty's confidence in the loyalty and affection of her people, regarded without Jenvy the long line of equipages that bore the distinguished visitors of the Lord Mayor and corporation to the scene which the Queen had condescended to honour with her presence. During the day crowds of persons had assembled in Fleet-street to witness the preparations for the illumination. The western side of Temple-bar presented a blaze of light. The devices consisted of stars and branches of laurel surmounting an imperial crown, in coloured lamps, with the initials ''V." and ''A." in white lamps. The eastern side of the bar was decorated in a somewhat similar manner, (he outlines of the buddings, the columns, and the central and side arches being marked by variegated lamps. The combination of colours was exceedingly tasteful and pleasing, and some idea of the brilliancy of the display may be formed when we state that upwaids of 20,000 lamp 3 were used in illuminating this building alone. Several hazylooking transparencies, which had seen much service on royal festivals, were here and there exhibited, and some of tlie oil illuminations were so speedily oxhausted, the ire of the populace was excited and expressed by significant vociferations. A transparency displayed by Messrs. Dakin and Co., of Ludgate-street and St. Paul's Churchyard, and was an allegorical painting, on a very large scale, covering a considerable portion of the eastern front of Messrs. Dakin's premises, and representing the union of the four quarters of the globe in the year 1851, surmounted by the motto, " Peace on earth, good will among men," encircling medallion portraits of Her Majesty and Prince Albert, having the inscription. ''The nations, glory to God have united." The extensive f/icade of St. Paul's School afforded an opportunity for the display of an elegant design. In the centre of the building was an imperial crown of great size, between the letters "Y. A.," while either wing presented a Brunswick star, with laurel leaves, in variegated lamps. The chaste and mellow effect of this design formed a pleasing contrast to the brilliant gas illuminations which weie profusely displayed in its vicinity. In one of the houses in Cheapside a transparency was displayed representing a crop of flax with the inscription " Flax, the remedy of Ireland's distress." — Very elegant illuminations in variegated lamps were exhibited at the Saddlers-hall and at Mercers-hall. In front of the premises of Messrs. Reeves and Sons was exhibited a gas illumination with the words, " The Queen and Prince, patrons of the arts." In the front of the Guildhall the Royal on a large scale were brilliantly displayed in gas. The Mansion House was decorated a with large imperial projecting Crown with branches of laurel, surmounting a star of Brunswick, and having on either side the initials of her Majesty and Prince Albert, in gas jets. The illumination at the Bank of England was of a somewhat singular kind , though the effect produced was not unpleasing. Each of the numerous lampposts on the south front of the building, facing Threadneedle-street, was surmounted by a star in gas, and gas pipes being festooned between the top of each lamp-post, a brilliant display was produced along the whole front of the building. The only defect was the want of variety in colour. The Royal Exchange was very tastefully decorated, and was an object of general admiration. The pediment of the facade was bordeied with pure white lamps, encircling the inscription (also in white lamps) — <l The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof." The beautiful columns of the portico were also intertwined with wreaths of lamps, and the capitals were tastefully ornamented in the same manner. Elegant illuminations were displayed at the East India House, and other public buildings in the city. About 9 o'clock the Duchess of Kent and the Duke of Cambridge arrived in Royal carriages ; and at five minutes past 9 o'clock the Royal procession left Buckingham Palace. The Royal procession arrived at Temple-bar about half-past 9 o'clock. At this point the throng was very great. Her Mnjesty was very warmly received, and graciously acknowledged the salutations of thecrowd. The view down Cheapside was even more beautiful than that presented by Fleet-street Flags were suspended across the street, and gas crowns and stars, and initial letters exhibiting more brilliancy of material than taste or novelty of design, and endeavouring *o outshine the light of day. The bells of Bow Church rang a joyous peal, and at about 20 minutes before 10 o'clock, the Royal cortege entered King-street. The Life Assurance Office made a splendid display at the corner of King-street, but with the exception of a atar or two, thinly placed at intervals in the street, this approach to Guildhall which ought to have been a blaze of magnificence with gas at 4s. per thousand feet looked dull and dim. Guildhall was not so prettily illuminated as upon some former occasions, the display being confined to a royal coat of arms in gas. Dpon her Majesty's arrival, the band of the Hon. Artillery Company, which wai stationed in the open space between the church of St. Lawrence and the liish Chamber, struck up •' God save the Queen.' ' Here the Loid Mayor, the Recorder, the Sheriffs, and the city authorities awaited the arrival of her Majesty, by whom she was received on alighting from her cairingc with every mark of respect, and by whom she was accompanied to the ball-room. For some time befoic, the only sensation had been created by " the Duke," at whose piesence all the company chetrdd loudly ; but at last, the flourish of the Life Guards' trumpets, and the blast of the horns which the Messrs. Harper made such fine exponents of loyal feeling, relioved the anxiety of the company, and they were soon gratified by the appearance of the Queen, who was received with the greatest enthusiasm, and seemed in the best possible spirits. She walked gently through the hall, smiling and bowing on every side, as the company made way for her with respectful reverence. Her Majesty mi\j a white satin dress, embroided in

£>old, trimmed with gold, silver, and wbite satin ribands and richly ornamented with diamonds. His Royal Highness Pimce Albert wore Ins unifoun as CaptamGejieral and Colonol of the Hon. Artillery Company, with the ensigns of the Ordeis of the Garter and the Golden Fleece set in diamonds. The Royal party passed through the piincipal rooms, returned to the Guildhall, and her Majesty took her seat on the thione on the raised dias. The various orchesttal bodies struck up, but dancing;, except mentally, was in most casea quite impossible. The Duke of Cambridge Lady Clementina Villiers, the Marchioness of Douglas, and some other ladies and gentlemen, danced in the space before the Court, nnd in the immediate vicinity the dance weie Earl Grey, Sir F. Baring, the Marchioness of Ailesbury I the Marquis of Douglas, Sir J. Graham, Sir Gibson Craig, the Marquis of Westminister, Lord. M. Hill, Admiral Dumlas, Sir R. M. Uellew, &c. The Duchess of Sutherland was not present, having been prevented from attending by the recent death of the Hon. William S. Lascelles. After some space of time devoted to promenading, and to such dancing under difficulties as that we have described, her Majesty was conducted to the crypt for supper. The peacock fullfeathered, and with all the glories of his shining plumage and resplendent tail — the kure de Sanglier, frt'sh from the Forest of Ardennes, with the ancient couplet so familiar to all our Oxford men, made pleasant companionship with boudm de foie gras aux tmffes and chapons ala Pompadour. Dummies in armour holding 1 lights which flickered from their spear heads lent a romantic character to the scone ; and we could not but rejoice that the committee in tbeir Cluistian kindness had not carried out their original idea of incarcerating policemen in these coats of mail, considering that their duties would have been extremely arduous ns well as protracted. The tables for the Royal supper were laid out in a splendid and really tasteful manner.- There was the finest Amontillado, hock of 1822, sherry (bottled /or Napoleon) 105 years old, which then cost ,£6OO a butt, and must el and paxaiete, sillery and spaiklingchampagne, gave proofs of the taste of the Messrs. Staples. The wine-glasses (made for the occasion) had the Royal crown, the city shield, and the globe (as ' typifying all nations) engraved with intervening groups of corn, fruit, and flowers, emblamatic of the vaiious portions of Europe. They doyleys were of pale green. Genoa velvet, richly embroidered with devices of Peaca and Plenty, the Royal Crown in the centre, encircled with the national flag of England, France, Austria, Turkey, the United States, &c , nnd the arms of the City of London. The dessert plates, of "Rose dv Ban i," had the Royal arms, and those of the Prince Consort and |the Prince of Wales on either side ; the arms of the city, ami of the East India Company, and a surrounding wreath of the rose, thistle, and shamrock. The bills of fare were of delicate pale gold satin, with, an embossed bordering, showing the initials of hor her Majesty and Prince Albert, and the arms of the city of London in relief. The napkins were of the finest Scotch damask, tastefully embroidered and trimmed with rich lace. Supper having been concluded by the Royal party, a tremendous rush was made by most of those present to the various side tables. The Queen attended by the Prince and her suite, retired in the orderjobserved upon her coming. The enthusiasm was, if possible, greater. All the company stood up to do her honour, and left the various alleys in which they had been buried in pursuit of the pleasures of the table, to give a parting cheer to the Sovereign. Shortly before one o'clock the trumpets sounded a royal flourish at the gates of Guildhall, and, through a dense mass of people, cheering incessantly and with the greatest enthusiasm, her Majesty returned home to Buckingham Palace after this interesting visit to the ancient metropolis of herkingdom. We have not heard of any serious accidents, though in consequence of the great pressure of the crowd at various points during the progress of her Majesty, and in the course of the evening, several persons sustained injuries fiom being thrown down and trampled upon.