The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-02-12 00:00:00

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ARRIVAL OF THE QUEEN IN LGl,rliiii —4l-;i1 th
Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by hoPßoyal`i '
Highness Princess Beatrice, and attend' leVGieferal
Sir T. M. Biddnlph, General Benson ,-nd'the
ek
Countese of Erroll, left Osborne on Men ef shortie,
after ten o'clock, en route for Buckingham.Pda; in
order to open Parliament on Tuesday. .
The Queen elid Princess; embarking on. board the
I:loyal steam paddle yacht Alberta, Staff-Commander
Welch, crossed the Solent to the Clarenee ,Victualling
Yard; Gimped, which was made about 11.18 'a.m.
Here the Royal party were received by Sir G. Elliot,
Adrefeal Superintendent Sir Hastings Doyle, Captain
&Alvan, Mr. E. W. Verrinder, and Mr. W. tiacomb,
ereident engineer of the South Western Railway, and
conducted to the special train. Leaving Gosport at
11.20 a.m. her Majesty arrived at the London, Chat-
ham, and Dover Company's Station at Victoria at two
o'clock precisely. The Queen met with a most en-
thusiastic welcome from the crowds of spectators as-
sembled at the station en route. At Victoria consider-
able preparations had been made for the proper recep-
tion of the Queen and Princess. 'Upon the main
line arrival platform crimson cloth was laid, and at
e)achendof this were banks of choice flowers and shrubs,
and near at hand were seats for ladies and privileged
persons. The front of the opposite platform was hidden
by a large group of plants area terns, In the roadway
between the two piatfoecies
riages, the Queen's Leieg were several Royal car-
drawn by four fine bays and
preceded by outridere in scarlet and gold liveries, and
there was isn escort of the let Life Guards under the
comro.d of Lieutenant Sir Simon Lockhart.
Prwrairtent among the spectators at the station
were several distinguished East Indians, whose
parti-coloured turbans -of crimson, white, blue, and
gold, attracted the attention of her Majesty as she
crossed the platform and entered her carriage; and
When seated, she turned round and bowed to her
Eastern subjects, who were evidently greatly
Pleeased. Amid the cheers of the bystanders, some of
evhom had clambered to the top of a train near at hand
the Queen and Princess drove from the terminw,
escorted by the troop of the let Life Guards, to Buck.
Ingham Palace, receiving a most cordial welcome from
the crowds who lined the route.
Her Majesty having spent the night at Buckingham
Palace, proceeded on Tuesday afternoon to open the
Session of Parliament in person.—The Standard, in
their remarks upon the event, says :
"The public interest which invariably attaches to the
Opening of the Imperial Parliament was this year intensified,
as way well be imagined, to an extraordinary degree, by the
announcement that the session would be inaugurated by the
Queen in •person. Five years have now elapsed since her
Majesty presided in person at this great national cere-
rnony, and however potent might be the powers invested
in the Lords commissioned to represent Royalty in the
intervening sessions, in the absence of the Sovereign
herself the occasions were shorn of that splendid pomp
and circumstance which always wait upon the personal
presence of the Monarch The wonder therefore would be
lf the announcement that Queen Victoria was about to open
Parliament in person had hot caused an immense amount of
excitement as well as satisfaction. Every district in London
ts sure to send its spectators to witness the State pageant, and
• not only all London but' the great majority of the provinces
as welL From an early hour, along that comparatively
short route from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Par-
liament, multitudes of men, women, and children of all
classes and conditions in life were to be seen wandering and
Wondering; and notwithstanding the bitter east wind which
was blowing very many were the parties who, long before the
hour appointed for the starting of the Royal procession,
seized on coigns of vantage in Si. James's-park and along the
Mall wherefrom to obtain a passing glimpse of the Queen
and her august company. Many such parties were evidently
from those countryeparts whence the various railways had
been pouring multitudes into the metropolis all the morn
-
hie At ten o'clock the bustle along the route was consider-
. . able, at eleven o'clock the streets were, here and there, incon-
veniently crawded, and by noon it was no easy matter to make
one's way through the rapidly growing congregation of sight-
seers. In the way of flags and banners, which are generally
associated with pageants of this kind, there was but a
VerY Meagre display. In fact, there seemed to be no
room and no mind for anything of the kind; for the people
were more intent upon witnessing than adding to the show.
The only display of bunting we observed was one which
unarmed Parliament•street at the end nearest the Parliament
Houses. From the belfry tower of St. Margaret's Church
floated the Royal Standard, as it were in mute and graceful
recognition of the Queen's kind consideration that the bells
Of Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret's should not be
as is usual on the occasion of her Majesty's passage to
opening of Parliament, so as not to disturb, in her
Present suffering condition, the Lady Augusta Stanley,
Who was on Monday visited by her Majesty. But if
flaunting flags were absent, there was preparation
ioaade for a much more agreeable display—for thousands of
spectators whose presence in itself was ?rs greeting to their
, .Queen. From early morning—indeed partly through the
night—workinen were engaged in completing such prepare-
Ilona. Permanent balconies, made doubly safe for the occa-
sion by stoat timber supports, were draped in cloths of scarlet
and other bright colours, the fronts of many bearing In
letters of gold loyal mottoes of welcome, and wherever space
petenittee there were erected temporary balconies for the
accominodatien of the fortunate friends of the owner of the
Pretutses." . . 'a
131.” The avenue was kept from the Palace to the Horse
uarda by a thin hedge of constables; at the Horse Guards a
!second hand was held in readiness, and Life Guardsmen at
Intervals lined the approaches to Westminster. A company
of Coldstream, with colours and band, formed the guard of
honour at Palace-yard, and was under the command of Cap-
tain the Hon. E. A. Brahazon Acheson. On the skirts of the
TP9O space here preserved was ranged a troop of . the 2nd
Lire Guards. The Princess of Wales drove over from
'Marlborough House to join her Majesty about half-past
one, and was greeted in her passage by a hearty
cheer, which almost drowned the noise of the jangling
accoutrement of her cavalry escort. Her Royal Highness
was attired in a white dress, and wore a fur cloak. Her
children were in the balconies of the palace, and surveyed
the animated scene beneath with an evident happy, childish
• enjoyment At a quarter to two the strains of the National
Anthem announced that her Majesty was at hand, and im•
. Inediately afterwards the procession made its appearance
. ' through the gates, escorted by a detachment of the let Lire
Guards, commanded by Lieut. Camel Richard Bateson.
a As it passed along the procession was heralded by vigilant
e. • police officials on horseback, who did outriders and
.. videttes' duty for this occasion, and did it remarkably well.
Colonels Labalmondiere and Henderson, who had charge of
the civil forces, were here, there, and everywhere. As a
.., Pageant, the sight of the day which had.attracted all those
myriads from their homes was far beneath most of these
c
that are to be seen abroad, both in length and variety; but
such of it as there was was unexceptionable in quality.
There were six State carriages, each drawn by six bay!, and
• the cattle, the harnessing, and the equipment of these
. could hardly be surpassed anywhere. The foremost pair
. of each team was guided by a postilion in scarlet, and
• at each horse's head was a running footman. The coach-
man, in three-cornered hats and ringletted white wigs,
were a sight to feast upon. They might have all been Grand
Pensionaries of Holland or Grand Llamas of Thibet, so im-
Posing did they appear in their brilliant liveries, rigid with
-, brocade. Such personages could with difficulty have been
Imagined descending from the stately boxes adorned with
statelier hammercloths, and burying their rubicund noses
in a tankard of vulgar ale The servitors behind were in
every respect the equals of those in front, and almost
Painful in their magnificence. The last of the six car-
riages—that which immediately preceded the Queen—was .
drawn by a team of big coal-black steeds with Roman
noses, mighty chests, high-stepping action, and bushy tails
"-such a team as could not be outrivalled even by the
Austrian Imperial stud at Kladrub. Six powdered footmen
In black velvet jockey caps, vermillion coats sparkling all
g over with gold lace, black silk bows (the remnants of the
. . bags in which the queue was worn) between their shoulders
' behind, and fresh-coloured silk stockings on their champion
calves strutted in the portion of the parade in front of her
Majesty's equipage, and behind these popinjay lackeys
, with their ornamental rapiers marched some ten of the
Yeomen of the Guard, with halberds held upright.
Hate and grizzled veteran* they looked, bluff of counten-
ance and burly of make; and though their costumes,
their be-ribbc ned beavers and be-clucked shoes, their crimped
• rims and their embroidered tholes might have graced a
• martial picture on the stage, the henours on their breasts
Proved that they were no actors, but had experienced the
' grim reality of war. All displayed medals and clasps,
and one stout grey-beard carried his halberd in his left
hand, for the right had been left at Balaklava. The mar-
. ahalmen, in old-fashioned shako and swallow-tailed red
coat, were also visible with their truncheons, and then
Passed in view the eight well-known, well-fed, and
eeldom-used drab horses which are employed by the
Sovereign whenever pomp and pride and circum-
stance like this require them. Fine without being fiery, fat
- as butter, and sleek as wisp and brush could make them,
these eight Hanoverian steeds moved along with their at-
tendant grooms, and provoked the commendations of gentle
and simple. Behind the sumptuous Royal vehicle, which
was one gorgeous mass of glowing colour, fresh gilding, and
glistening varnish, stepped two quiet, academical-looking
gentleman in black robes and crimson capes, and beside them
and all round advanced a picked body guard of police-
constables of the A Division, under the control of Chief
inspector Piiikey. The Royal retinue—the gentleman-
ushers, the exous and grooms, the pages, comptrollers,
~
and equerries—passed by undistinguished even Silver Stick
• and Gold Stick were unsaluted • treasurers and field officers,
the Mistress of the Robes and the Master of the Horse
evoked no plaudits: but when her Majesty appeared, with
the Princess of Wales and Princess Beatrice, there was a
Welcome of unmistakeable cordiality, and this was repeated
at various points on the route, notably opposite Marlborough
House, and at St. Margaret's Church, near which a number
oZ the Westminster boys,—in mortarboards' and gowns,
were congregated. The rousing cheer of the lads was pleasant
to,,hear. The Queen wore a black velvet dress and a white
veil, surmounted by a small diamond crown. Princess
Beatrice was attired in a cream-coloured satin dress, trimmed
with green. It was ten minutes to two as the boom of the
_ first gun of the Royal salute from the battery in the Park
. announced to the metropolis that the Sovereign had entered
the vestibule of the House of Lords, and was about to open
.1 . the third session of her ninth Parliament." .• • • . -
• ' "The scene in the House of Lords was not indebted for
any portion of its splendour to the glory of sunlight falling
through the richly-stained windows of the chamber (remarks
the Daily News). It was, in truth, as murky a day as might,
be, and before the company began to assemble the House'
of Lords looked all the drearier by reaeon of the!
. alterations made in it to meet the necessities of the great oc-
casion. The rows of cushioned seats had all been deprived
of their backs, and so placed on an equality with the wool-
Sack, whilst narrow benches, covered with dull crimson
Cloth of a shade distinctly different from that of the
Permanent seats, were set about in different portions of the
chamber."

•
• The doors of the House were thrown open at twelve
o'clock, soon after which the peere:ses and other ladles of
distinction began to arrive Amongst the earlier appearances
of peers were Lord Cardwell, Lord Aberdare, Lord Selberue,
Lord Colchester, the Bishop of Lichfteld, Lord Hatherler,-thl
Bishops of London and Peterborough, &c. '
Seated on benches in the centre of the House were seVilral
of her Majesty's judges.
The Spanish, French, Russian, Persian. and American
Ambassadors were some of the earlier arrivals. Count
Munster, the Gerrran Ambassador, entered at about half.
Past one o'clock. The learned judges attended in full force
—there being scarcely one absent. The Archbishops of Can-
terbury and York were amengst the ecclesiastical dignitaries,
A large-number of foreign attaches were accomModated with
seats at the end of the gallery on the left side of the throne.
The Marquis of Salisbury,Earl Granvill; the Earl of Shaftes-
bury, with many other peers, arrived shortly before two
O'clock. The Tuskish Ambassador also put in awappearance
about this time.

Her Royal and Imperial Highness the Duchess of Edin..
burgh and the Princess Mary (Duchess of leek) immediately
Preceded the Royal procession, and were conducted by the
Duke of Cambridge to seats fronting the throne. The
former princess was attired in a blue velvet robe, and the
latter in black velvet.
On arriving at the Palace of Westminster her Majesty was
received by the Great Officers of State and others, GN hen the
tOyal proceshion was formed, and moved to the [louse of
eel's, the Cap of Maintenance being borne immediately
before her Majesty on the right hand of the Sword of State.
The Queen, being seated on her Throne, the Lori baring
the Cap of Maintenance stood on the steps of the Throne on
the right, and the Peer bearing the Swortl of State on the
left of her Majesty.
The Lord Chancellor stood behind the Prince of Wales's
Chair, the Lord President on the right, and the Lord Privy
Seal on the left of her Majesty. The Earl Marshall was on
her Majesty's right, and the Great Lord Chamberlain stood
on the steps of the Throne on the left of her Majesty, to re-
ceive the Royal commands.
The Lord Steward and other officers of her Majesty's
Household arranged themselves on each side of the steps of
the Throne, ill the rear of the Great Officers of State.
The Princess of Wales took her seat immediately in front
01 the Queen, and between the Duchess of Edinburgh and
tal,„ e Duchess of Teck. On the right of her Majesty stood the
rrilicesa Beatrice and the Princeas Louise, who also mom.