The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-09-14 00:00:00

THE QUEEN I VINIT TO LEEN,

The real clothing dletrict of Yorkshire had long de.
sired the prestige of the noverolgn on mole ocealion
which would connect her name With It In s opeoial and
durable bund of sesoeialloih Ailtting oeession wee at
length found for Inviting Her HaJoaly to linger fur a
while sinong her cubJeois In the north, and the timid,.
Mon of the new Tuwilliall supplied a prelim,. The in.
citation given Wee 'riotously aeoepted I and then the
exerilone of the corporation and chiming to 'spreee
their gratilleation and their loyalty knew nu
bounde, and Leeds preeented RS gay an applallllloll on
Monday week es ever did city at any festival before, The
demolitions were principally en the festoon principle, the
festoons being Oullipmeil of artifloial towers and ever.
ursine, with a liberal sprinkling of flags and streamers,
and at Intervals triumphal arches, Of those arshal
Ilistre were EveLthe Aril, after the pattern of the
Marble Arch at Hyde Park Corner, London, at Wood.
house Hear End I like sound, (devoted to the illustra.
tin's of the woollen eloth trade of Leeds), hi Woodhouse
Lane' tile third, a oaatellated struoture of the fashion
of the ancient bare or gales which are still to be found in
our old cathedral towns, In Hoar Lane I the fourth, at
the junction corner, Yirkstall Rood I and the fifth, an
arch emoted by the sorporMion, at a oat of COM, at the
owner of East Parade. Despite 'lithe pains and money
expended on these signs of welooire, the thousands of
people that poured Into the town an Her Majesty'a
arrival drew near, we. still more eignifloant. To say
that the streets were crowded would Kiva our readers
but a faint idea of the throngs which eruslied against the
barrier' round the station. The male kept pouring in,
making the musics timbers bend like twigs. The crush
win really aortal, and notwithstanding the strength and
great solidity of the barriers, it was seen at a glens. that
they could never withstand the pressure in going pluu
along the route. Strengthening shores had therefore to
be run up, though in many parts even these further
aids were neuffloient, and the barriers were unrooted and
broken down. And this crowd easembled in spite of a
dismal shower of rain. The station Itself was very
tastefully and handsomely decorated. Sheds and rows
of Hata, covered with want cloth, and filled with ladle.
and gentlemen, gave that air of animation and pleasure
to the same No necessary on these occasions. Where the
Queen was to alight wae draped with scarlet cloth, and
on this glowing portion of the decoration were assembled
the Earl of Derby, Earl Fitzwilliam, Earl Hardwicke,
the Mayor and Mayoress, Viscount Ooderioli, Sir Harry
Smith, Mr, William Fairbairn, the nephew of the mayor
and chairman of the late atanchener Exhibition, Mr.
Denison, M.P., the chairman of the company, the High
Sheriff, and the Aldermen and Town Council of the
borough. The ooininon councilmen and aldermen wore
robes precisely tinnier to those of the London Corpora-
tion, minus only the massive chains in the cue of the
latter dignitaries. With the Mayor, however, the case
we. different, and he was liabited in such pomp and
regal aplendeur as to recall to memory those visions of
the put of which we read in story—the most magnili-
oent of the Medici" or d'Estes, rather than the chief
citizen of a plain manufacturing town. His dress was
all that silk crimson velvet and ermine combined could
effect towards richness. This grandeur would have
ruined any man of ordinary appearance ; but the Mayor,
with his fine upright carriage, snowy hair, and long flow-
ing white beard, became it admirably. Her Majesty we. to
take Leeds on her way to Balmoral. She left Osborne
on Monday, and, landing at Gosport, entered a special
train on the South-Western Railway. Her Majesty had,
on this occasion, determined not to pass through the
metropolis, and she therefore availed herself of
the facilities offered by the South-Western junc-
tion line, to proceed over the Richmond branch,
and them* by Wandsworth, Putney, Barnes, Chis-
wick, and Kew. Alter • delay of a few momenta
at this letter station, the Royal train passed
over the Thames, and passing Acton, Willesden, and
Kilburn, ran into the King's-croon station, where a con-
siderable number of persons had been accommodated.
Neither Her Majesty nor any of the Royal party left their
carriages at this point. The engine was shunted, and
another having been supplied, the train moved away
froni London amidst the cheers of the assemblage. The
Royal family broke theirjoumey northwards by stopping
at Peterborough for the purpose of taking luncheon.
Great preparations were made to do honour to the oo-
oasion, and an &Wren was presented. Suites ofh...qohrrieidoonmaninh)it,nteihiisiii:yfe.
were elegantly furnished, the station was tastefully de-
of
corated, and • multitude assembled to greet the illustri-
cum visitors. The Royal train arrived at 2.37, and en-
tered amidst strains of music, the ringing of bells and
'tussahs. Her Majesty remained half an hour, partook
of an elegant collation, and then proceeded on her jour-
ney. to Leeds. A quarter past six was the time Her
Majesty was expected to arrive, and at that hour almost
to the second, the train glided into the station. The
guard of honour of the 22nd saluted, the artillery began
its regular salvos, and amid cheers and waving of hand-
kerchiefs Her Majesty alighted on the platform. The
Earl of Derby and the Mayor were the first to welcome
her to Leeds. The Mayoress gracefully bowed, a profound
welcome, and had the honour of presenting Her Majesty
with a magnifieent bouquet of the most costly flowers.
A few minutes were consumed in conversation, when the
Queen leaning on the arm of the Prince Consort, and
followed by the Princesses Alice and Helena, passed out
of the station, the Mayor going before them, the mem-
bers of the Corporation standing at either side and cheer-
ing. Her Majesty seemed much gratified by the enthu-
siasm of her greeting, though in the station it was, of
course, trifling to the tremendous welcome she experi-
tweed in the streets. Once her carriage was fairly seen
outside the railway station, and there arose such a cheer
as has seldom been heard before. It was the cheer, not
only of the thousand, to whom she was visible, but the
cheers of all along the line of route; it was caught up
and pawed from Street to street, and into places far re-
moved from whore the Queen would pane—one long-sus-
tained outburst of loyal enthuilum. Slowly ?emu the
railway tits Royal carriage descended into the streets—a
little speck gowns the great mum of human beings, who,
shouting and cheering, pushing, and throwing their hate
and handkerohlefs into the air as if they were demented,
thronged up the streets, hell wild with exultation and
delight. Frew the station Her Majesty proceeded at
once to Woocisley House, the residence of the Mayor,
wheni she wee to pass the night, with her suite. This
house is situ•ted in the suburbs, on a gently rising emi-
nence overlooking the town. The exterior is handsome,
though unpretending•looking in all Nave the very man.
sive and riehly-deoorated out-iron gates, which open on
a short carriage-way to the entrance. Inaide,
however, for its size, the house is one of
the most complete and richly-decorated man.
alone in this part of the kingdom ; and Mr. Fairbairn
spared no pains to intik. it worthy of the honour of a
Royal visit. All that art could devise, or money pro-
oure, was aocomplisited, and that in the most excellent
taate. After the Queen's arrival at Woodsley House,
iLeedsto3,al presented an eiehtre.eraordinary spectacle—there was a
very Idabel of merriment. The illuminations were at
hand and everybody wanted teams them. There was
less Ike*, and lees manifest striving after effect than one
sees London on the anniversary of Queen's birthdays.
No one was allowed to approach Woodsley House, or
even up the picturesque hill which leads to it, for it is
impossible to say where the loyalty of Leeds would have
stopped that night, Tuesday was looked forward to as
the greatest day that Leeds had yet seen, and yet, alas I
the morning broke with heavy clouds, thick mist, and
drizzling rain. Thousands upon thousand' came flock-
ing into Leeds from all parts. Every street and alley,
road or no road of the town Named thronged, yet how
It was so none could divine, for all Leeds proper we. so
barricaded by its own loyalty, in the shine of platforms,
seats, and galleries, that if one might venture to judge
from the appearances, none of the actual inhabitants of
Leeds could be abroad. Thousands upon thousands
kept clouting in per rail from York, Bradford, Wake-
field, and Pontefract, though it seemed almost a ques-
tion whether the last cowers would find room enough to
get out of the trains. Except at a few sharp angles in
the narrow streets of the town, the Ohm of the police,
metropolitan and local, was for the time almost a sins-
cure.
a Thls ottrrdeibrluytabstaleteto of
ethuissagiweiciinwlis;to.r.letiruadmi,..byfft.:aitbeinibei,gdtbonwhintadtielanpesireyli
members of the friendly and benefit societies with which
ll
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denomination. It was • grand sight—the greatest of all
that met the Queen's eye, except, perhaps, the wane at
the Townhall, though this, Noon, was quite different in
kind, and suggestive of different assocutions. On the
banks of the reservoir which bounds the western ex-
tremity of the plain of Woodhouse Moor, were collected
of the vantage ground which was here presented.
Tier above tier they rose in dense muses to the
height of perhaps 30 or forty feet, and it may be
questioned whether such • multitude was ever before
seen packed in so small • space. In the centre of the
willimaucahni:idr,,lPsdh:6nlhtthnto,"l"l:hpini,al:6totwooooordrinorm7dollgellirnohbgryi,:dli:ithra:vis:dii:deni orisbna,:aliwin:ythirinnebemealhidtrualiudrodliiiiirnnalelimnwei°lhgct: beet
or blue banners. The
modulate
Prowcunil ieoni lrvadttehltr ehmhedu
tr; •
ewet:nne:trtor
eerryfec disposed o e
str upon
tt r
ele-
vatedso
and above this was • tall roetrum which stood the
orotom us
s.,i.dea:Tbel l
conductor,ir'ejaidihit
.woonurdee,,,posinhaujamtedis:pisig:nwalvinm.oenr4T,i;i ivecitinnualhotugproetaliiihs,
isooduallileasisedyesrm:
on which were printed in the largest of letters, the
various signals, as " Prepare t. cheer I"" Bine
what grandeur end tree sublimity the two first and
most important signala were obeyed. Her Majesty left

wu a
ra long
juaioome,
her
ilimiooizeisiltesdunolwall
gee
oLelod
:ds
csirpo ,
broke up, and the sun shone fully as she come npon the
moor amid the children, anti the thousand little eager
farsts'whielt glued with such intensity not more on her
tron.
than on the young Princesses with her. As the eortigs
came in sight, the signala "Prepare to char" rose up
on every aide, but they were needless 1 the difficulty
wee to keep the children quiet, for MI the ahildren
etreined their throats, and wino their hats and hand.
kerchiefs with such vehemence is threatened to make
thorn still more ragged than many of them were already,
Then the conductor waved his wend' and slowly swelling
upwards, like 6 vaill arm of !Moen voices, rams
" Clod save the Queen." With the first now., he.
Ilalsely held up her itand,itnd the carriage Milted in the
choir of singers went pealing forth their anthem with
such a truth and oubllmity IN scented to move oven the
centre Atha tumour amid the eltildren, while the met
moat dlatant hearers, When thig was over, the prams.
clout continued its war, end the hymne of the children eoam
tinumt—the long soft note' of every Rohn mounding
far and tweet end making itself heerd above the sheer
ing, even when the prommesion MN wendint tie ivy
through the moot erowded parte of Leeds, Pout 11th
part her Majesty's reeeptlon was nt grand In Its enthui
plasm so snythlng eould be, Bur nearly four miles II
wee one continued OVAIIOII, At the Townihell the
crowds were NO great IMO the barriers seemed guile I.
eclogue* and, it lest, herd, inked, and splintered ii,.
fore the 1111111911 H promenre, but no ttyrllier nifsehlel
°tarred, At abou HI mi t dock the Hoy owl* eilere4
Sits great miner. In whiell the hell is • lusted, and here
Sits aeons agein dello *II attempts to pourtray II In
words, The sheers literally mooed to reed the very
ale, After selnowled,theee salutes ltheea of the
guard of honour, her X ty with the eel Consort
gave their undivided ellen on to the noble Whig they
bed some to ineugurete, The Mayor end liyogle rem
Weed the Rapti party as I ley ahem*, Ml iti mefct
enndusted her Majesty end the ?rifle. II he steps
ee* of
the south f. Itapeetedly lily Neje. slopped S.
commute end admire the wham, till she en red the v...
libule, where the are Heel, Mr, Hrodriek, waa la atWnm
dense and host Hie *moue of being presented, More
also lier Majesty had en opportunity of wing the
Meyers princely gift to the lown—lier statue, by Noble,
Cite mulptor, Ahw moment. Were pawed In amtmlMnn
this, and In her XeJesty's sepreaslon of warni approval
of the building, end the Royal nifty entered the hall.
AN her Majesty entered, the whole MAN of visitor. roes
and mede the walls vibrate analn under the great wet.
dome given In their Qtwett m yet Alton*t ea suddenly we
title began It ended, As the Queen, meshing Ike deli,
stood With tint Printings Alice en her right) him, yd s..
Comport end Princes. Helena on her loft, cod the 1:1413a
of Ripon advanolng, read a prayer, speelelly oom
fur the oseasion, The Nationel Anthem followed,
then ...deeming with the Mayor to Si,. foot of Hie deli,
the Town Clerk read an admires., of whieh the following
are the most important peewee. t—
" For the mere purples of monitipal revetment a lees
spacious and costly building might have waged, But In our
architectural plans we have borne in Mild She mMialsillty Mit
at on very distant time civil and editing& Jim osay be dis-
pensed Si, an salamis. ration in this town, the real ot. IMI el
the West Aiding. We were also desirous to partite a ghee
where huge assenibilee might meet In comfort to elletall Melt
constittillimai right of disowning nubile qminicnieylcsOlinin to
Instruction oti Illerary and philosuphisal eultteeta ire to Why
inhalant atinuementa.
" Onnedmil that nothing which eoncerns the bappleass of
your subleMs, from the solemn administration of MAIO Alms
whioh protoot our Ilres and our property down to the harm-
less Pecireelibrui from which a laborious population Marne with
new rigour to Its tolls, oan be unkiterwthig to yoUr fitalwly,
we were Incouragisirt:r ce
prefer our request that the opening or
our hall might be by your presen; and wa am with
pride and plosion' he fulfilment of our hopes."
The address concluded with a fervent hope that a keg
line of descendant/ like her Majesty, may be repaid for
the mild and oonstitutional exercise of regal porter by
the respect sod love of a free and higlimpflitted !tattoo;
and with the trust, that, in future times, "Show who
visit this building will contemplate it with double in-
Wrest when they are told that it was inaugurated by the
good Queen Victoria." As this address was presented
her Majesty sent for Lord Derby, who was in the ball,
to stand on the dais, and, taking from his Lordship
her written reply, her Majesty read aloud, amid breath-
less silence as follows
"I accept with pleasure your loyal address and I thank you
oineeraly for the oordial welcome vrith while. I bare been re..
wined. It is highly gratifying to me to whines the opening
of this noble hall, • work well worthy of ma motive kideitry
and enterprising spirit; and, while it will relent a luting
honour on the town of Leeds, I feel assured that it will als,,
secure to the thriving community whom you represent, the im-
portant social and municipal advantages for whisk it to
designed."
An address was also presented to the Prince Consort,
to which, when he had replied, her Majesty conferred
for a few minutes with the Earl of Derby, and taking
the sword of General Grey, signalled to the Mayor to
kneel, and touching him lightly, first on the right, and
then on the left shoulder, the Mayor of Leeds rose up
amid tremendous cheering Sir Peter Fairbain. The
Earl of Derby then, stepping to the front of the dais,
said, "I am commanded by her Majesty to declare, in
her Majesty's name, that this hall is now opened." The
cheers that followed this announcement were long and
loud, though some disappointment seemed experienced
that her Majesty had not condescended to complete the
formality of opening the hall herself. Chi this announce-
ment, the " Hallelujah" chorus followed, at the conch'.
'ion of which her Majesty, the Prince Consort, the
Princesses and suite, proceeded to examine the various
courts and apartments of the hall. Luncheon over, the
Queen entered her carriage, proceeded through the main
streets of Leeds, and entering the Wellington station,
resumed her journey to the North, whore she safely and
happily arrived. The new Townhall covers an area
of some 17,000 square yards, with a fine open space in
front and sides. The site waa purchased for E9,OM, and
though at first rather low in relation to other parte of the
town the situation being v,.ry central, the difficulty of level
was soon got rid of by throwing up the platform or
mound of earth on which the hall now stands. The
external form of the edifioe is that of a parallelogram,
being 250 feet long by 200 feet in breadth, and its gene-
ral appearance, from the approach to the main front, is
imposing in the extreme. Standing on an elevated
platform, it is surrounded by Corinthian columns, and
pilasters, supporting rich entablature and balustrade,
altogether about 70 feet in height. The large hall
which is the chief feature of the building, rises out of
the centre of the quadrangle to the height of 92 feet
from the ground, and at each of the four corners is an
ornamental turret, 12 feet square by 106 in height, the
four containing the smoke and ventilating flues con-
nected with the various courts and rooms. The south,
or principal facade, is approached by • handsome flight
of 20 stele, 110 feet in length, and has • deeply recessed
portico of 12 ooluinny, 10 of them being in front, and 2
recessed. The cost of the building is flOO,OOO. It is
calculated that 16,000 persons visited Leeds on Monday
night and Tuesday from Bradford alone, almost all by
rail. The oompartmente of the railway carriages made
to carry ten carried twenty-two generall y.