The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-10-09 00:00:00

THE VISIT OF THE DUKE OF

CAMBRIDGE.

YESTERDAY afternoon, at half-past four o'clock, his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge arrived at Knowsley-hall,
on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Derby. On alighting
at the hall, the royal visitor was received by the Earl of Derby ;
and this forenoon the town of Liverpool will be honoured by
the visit of the illustrious duke, who will arrive at the
Town-hall at eleven o'clock. His Royal Highness will
be received at the entrance by his Worship the Mayor,
who will conduct his illustrious visitor to the east drawing-
room. The members of the Town Council will be assem-
bled in the galleries at the top of the grand staircase, to
receive and welcome his Royal Highness, and will follow him
into the drawing-room, where an address from the Corpora-
tion to the Duke will be read by the Recorder, and presented
by his Worship the Mayor. After the address has been pre-
sented, his Royal Highness, accompanied by the Mayor, will
visit several of the principal public institutions, following, as
far as is at present known, the annexed route :—From the
Town-hall through Castle-street, Lord-street, Church-street,
Parker-street, Lime-street, and Islington, to the Collegiate

Institution. After making a short stay at the Collegiate, his
Royal Highness is to proceed to the baths in Cornwallis-
street. The return route will be through Moss-street, Daulby-
streetjßrownlow-street, Brownlow-hill, to Mount Pleasant,
Leece-street, Berry-street, Great George-street, and St. James's-
street. Leaving the baths, his Royal Highness will next
proceed to the Derby Museum, and thence through Slater-
street, Bold-street, Hanover-street, and School-lane, to the
Blue Coat Hospital. His next visit in turn will be the
Sailors' Home, vid Hanover-street, Church-street, Lord-
street, and South John-street. From the Sailors' Home,
along Canning-place, to the Albert Dock, and thence, after a
short stay, along the docks northwards to the Observatory.
On leaving the Observatory, it is understood that he will, if
time permit, visit the Sandon Graving Docks, the North
Battery, and the Industrial Schools. His first day's visit, as
has been already stated, terminates with the grand banquet
and ball at the Town-hall. Both of these entertainments will
be on a scale of great magnificence, and will be numerously
attended.

The following noblemen and gentlemen are expected to be
present at the banquet ; —His Royal Highness the Duke
of Cambridge, the Right Hon. the Earl of Derby, the Right
Hon. the Earl of Hardwicke, the Right Hon. the Earl of
Ellesmere, (the newly-appointed lord-lieutenant of the county
of Lancaster), the Lord Bishop of Chester, Sir Harry Smith,
G.C.8., the Right Hon. S. H. Walpole, M.P., and the French,
Turkish, and Sardinian Consuls.

The preparations to give expression to the joy of Liverpool
in commemoration of the victories achieved by the Allies in
the Crimea have made, rapid progress, and notwithstanding
the coldness with which the proposal for a general illumina-
tion was met in some quarters, the loyal spirit has been so
generally evoked as to give full assurance of a very brilliant
display in most of the leading streets and localities of the
town. The principal attractions will be those connected with
the public departments, including the Town Hall, which, as
already stated, will be brilliantly illuminated with devices in
gas lights. The Custom House, Post Office, &c., will like-
wise present conspicuous and beautiful decorations in gas
lights ; while not a few of the chief mercantile firms and
leading tradesmen have completed arrangements for the
tasteful illumination of their premises, in various devices
of gas and variegated lamps.

Considering the facilities for striking and picturesque dis-
plays •by means of variegated lamps, offered by the peculiar
architectural features of Liverpool, it is almost a subject of
regret that some general association for the display of these
means of illuminative decoration has not been entered into.
It would be no easy matter to conceive a more striking and
brilliant effect than might have been easily produced by hav-
ing festoons of lustrous diversities of hue sparkling from side
to side of some of our principal streets; or to witness the
:architectural characteristics ,of some of our leading edifices
'traced in the glowing splendours of many coloured lights.
Suppose for a moment that Castle-street, radiant with
the flood of gas lights which will stream from the
Town-hall at one end, and from the Custom-house at the
other, were divided at numerous intervals by festoons of
variegated lamps, stretching from one side to the other,and fur-
ther diversified in effect by a slight rising and falling motion
of the general curve of the festoon, which could have been
easily produced. Or suppose again that such an edifice as the
Cornwallis-street Baths, with its bold oriental tower, and long
sweep of flanking lines, were traced out in lines of green,
ruby, and orange flames, as might have been readily accom-
plished, would not such combinations have added immensely
to the variety and beauty of the display ? Such suggestions
are mere hints of what might easily have, been brought out,
had a hearty co-operation of the general public with the muni-
cipal authorities been effected.

The opportunity for carrying out such views has almost, it
is to beleared, passed away; still, by a little energetic action
on the part of a few, means might yet be devised for partially
effecting a portion at least of such a suggestion. A whole
day is still before the inhabitants of Liverpool, and all know
well the amount of labour which may be called into action
and completed by so energetic a community, if they once set
their mind to the work.
In the meantime, without speculating further 'upon what
might have been done, let us apply ourselves to the more
grateful as well as more gratifying task of recording a few of
the leading features of this great municipal rejoicing. The
Town-hall will be brilliantly lighted up with running streams
of gas-jets, the lines following the architectural character-
istics of the building, the form of the portico being successfully
represented, while the angle of the tympanum is to 'be occu-
pied by a star, and the freize being represented •by festoons
and drops of gas-jets. The vast edifice containing the Cus-
tonr-house, Post-office, Excise-office, and the offices of the
Dock Committee, will present a gorgeous display of gas illu-
mination, each of its four extensive sides being ornamented by
a handsome design, conspicuous among which will be visible
the words " Alma," " Balaklava," " Inkerman," " Sebastopol."
South and North Castle-streets are literally streaming with
festoons of gay and many-coloured flags, diversified by
illuminations in gas and variegated lamps. The
Exchange is gorgeous with an array of flags, banners,
and trophies. Water-street and Dale-street are likewise
radiant with flags and gay designs in gas and in va-
riegated lamps. St. George's-hall, on its eastern facade,
will present a noble coup a range of gas illumination
stretching completely along and surmounting the magnificent
colonade, consisting chiefly of the words " Victoria," " Napo-
leon," and stars ; each letter of these words being six feet six
inches in length, and each presenting a lustrous mass of flame.
On each of the two pedestals at the north and south ends of
the flight of steps forming the base of the colonade, will be
placed a trophy consisting of the flags of the Allied armies,
surmounting in each instance a broad shield inscribed with
the names of the Crimean victories. The two pillars, also,
concerning the uses of which so much speculation has been
raised, will, on this occasion, be brought into service. They
are each surmounted by a globe four feet in diameter which,
during the day, will present the aspect of stone, but which at
night will show as globes of fire.
The Sailors' Home will be tastefully decorated and illumi-
nated, by flags, penants and banners and gas-lights. The
Cornwallis-street Baths are beautifully decorated by trophies
consisting of the standards of England, France, Turkey, and
Sardinia, tastefully grouped and interspersed with shields
and other armorial devices. The Public Library, in Duke-
street, will also present a gay appearance, its two fronts
being profusely decorated with flags and other similar devices.
The Pierhead Baths are likewise splendidly decorated by
flags ; and the Public Markets are also to be illuminated.

To attempt any enumeration of the private decorations
within the limited space at our controul would be impossible
and we shall not make such an effort, although it would be
improper wholly to pass them over in silence. Among the
more conspicuous are those in front of the premises oc-
cupied by Messrs. Pilkington and Wilson, Water-street, being
brilliant devices in gas-gets. In Lord-street and Church-
street the decorations are numerous and beautiful, as well as
greatly diversified ; the snore striking of them are displayed at
Milner's patent safe establishment ; at that of Mr. Wignall,
iron bedstead manufacturer ; at the premises of Mr. Mayer,
jeweller and silversmith ; at those of Mr. Hausburg, silver-
smith, &c.; of Messrs. Holden and Parker, upholsterers; Messrs.
Yates and Hess, engravers. There are also beautiful decora-
tions in front of the Athenaeum mid Lyceum sews Rooms.
In Hanover-street, the display of flags and festoons is
profuse and tasteful ; the premises occupied by Mr. Branch,
auctioneer, are lavishly decorated with flags and ensigns,
including a large and handsome Royal Standard, the Union
Jack, the French flag, the Turkish flag, and the Sardinian
flag. In Ranelagh Place, Mr. Ellis, upholsterer, presents a
grand display of flags, comprising those of all the Allies.
Besides those enumerated, there are many devices of flags
and illuminations presented in every quarter of the town by
the leading tradesmen, all of whom vie with each other in
giving expression to their feelings of satisfaction and loyal joy.
There are to be magnificent bonfires at the north and south
sides of the town, which will be lighted at six in the evening
these will be succeeded by splendid displays of firework; in
the same neighbourhoods, commencing at half-past eight.
During the day bands of music will be stationed at Lime-
street, and in other parts of the town. These will play from
ten in the morning till four in the afternoon.
To-morrow (Wednesday), His Royal Highness is to em-
bark at the Landing-stage, on board the steamer Countess
of Ellesmere, at half-past ten o'clock, for an excursion on the
river. Only a small party, comprising His Royal Highness
and suite, with the Mayor, and several of the authorities, will
embark on board the steamer, which will be accompanied by
the new Woodside ferry-boat Liverpool, having on board the
Birkenhead Commissioners and their friends. In the evening,
His Royal Highness will dine with T. B. Horsfall, Esq., M.P.,
and will afterwards attend the grand concert at St. George's-
hall, given in honour of his visit.