The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-11-13 00:00:00

OPENING OF BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE
AND THE HOLBORN VIADUCT.

(From an Occasional London Correspondent.)

The great civic pageant to which Londoners have been
looking forward for the last few weeks took place on Satin,
day, with complete success. Eighteen years have past since
her Majesty last visited the city of London in state, and the
news that the Queen had determined to emerge from her
seclublon and In person formally Inaugurate Blackfrlars new
Bridge and the Holborn Viaduct excitod the ever loyal me-
tropolis to preparations on a grand scale, to give the sove-
reign a worthy reception and welcome. in our northern
climate the success of a ceremony such as that of Satur-
day in great me owe depends upon the weather,
tel those who moved about among the artisans as
they proceeded with the deoorations under the dull
hnolen sky and th izzling rain of Friday sfternoon,
could scarcely divest themselves of a foreboding that the
inauguration would be an utter failure. This impression
was by no means lessened by the howling of the gusty wind
throughout the night; and doubtless hundreds of honest
citizens who had succeeded in procuring the nmelt.covoteel
tickets of admission to bridge or viaduct, tossed uneasily in
their beds dreading the c,niting day, anti fearful lest their an-
ticipated pleasures should Le spoiled by the vagaries of an
English November. Bafore day-break, however, the stars
began to shine out In the clear chill morning, ants the sun rose
bright and fair, giving promise of fine weather—a promise
which Was amply fulfilled. With the rice of the barometer the
spirits of Londoners also rose, and the early morning
trains from the suburbs to the city were crowded with
sightseers in gala dress, soared whom carried the huge in-
vitation cards, which the Corporation had seen tit to issue,
either to syniboli, the greatness of the occasion or the
tigantic nature of the works themselves; but the vast ma-
jority were merely loyal subject., who had either paid for
seats on private stands, or intended to plant themselves on
the first vantage ground that offered and so get a glimpse
of the Queen as she parsed.
. . . .

The greatest disadvantage under which any man who
attempts to convey a fair impression of a royal progress
Which extended over some ten miles of street, Is that of
not being site to be in two pl.scei at once. It is lino
to get more than an Idea of the whole route, and that Idea
must be delved from the specimen which one sees for him-
self. Of CE..nreo the details of the picture may be ti:led in
from the reports of others who nein illy saw what they de.
scribe ; but as for myself, I ,ill not follow the royal cortt,gc,
and shall not attempt to give an account of Its passage. I
contented myself with going over the route some tine be-
fore her Majesty's arrival, sea In fixing upon what I fanciid
the best localities to see both the inauguration and the wel-
come of the citizens.

—.-
At the Paddington terminiie of the Great Western Railway
but slight arrangements had been made for the reception of
her Majesty. harriers hail been erected on the platform and
the space which they enclosed was covered with en imaon
carpet. A crowd of well-dressed people bordered the barri-
cades, mei a few dignitaries in gorgeous array moved up and
down in the reserved space, awaiting the coming of royalty.
An escort l the 2nd Life Guards, with nodding plumes and
shining cuirasses waited without, and a guard of honour
of the Paddington Volunteers was also In attendance.
The station officials gated that .The Lord of the Isles,.
one of the largest locomotives, had gene to Windsor,
gaily bedizened with thee, and that the royal train
was expected to arrive shortly after eleven o'clock.
Toe royal carriages were in attemdance without, and it was
evident that If the programme were carried out to the
letter, the sightseers at the Bridge would not have reason
to complain of any lack of prnie [minty on the Queen's
part. Outside the station a vast and eoustaiitly Merest*
Ing crowd had gathered, and all along the thoroughfares
down to the entrance to the park the pavements wise lined
with people. Every wicolow and balcony wisich afforded
• view of the procession woe tilled, but the almost
entire absence of all deeoratioe, and the monotonous
appearance of the long rows of tall houses rendered
this part of the route the least impressive of all. At
the triumphal arch several theusanila of onlookers had
assembled ; the patios through the park were skirted
with a thin fringe of spectators, and wherever an open
Pinta, afforded an opportunity for a large gathering,
it hail been utilized. At Whitehall and in Parliament.
Street, even at this early hour, a dense throng had as.
senibled, and bid fair to vie with the crowds whirl. choke the
same thoroughfares when her Majesty goes to mien Parlia-
ment in person. The scaffolding of the yet unfinished St.
Thomas's hospital was abundantly decorated with figs, and
was, occupied by the workmen employed on the undtrtakilig,
while the boys of Westminster school were massed Inside the
railings at Palace Yard. Westminster Midge was kept clear
of traffic, and police inspectors and the mounted men of the
reserves galloped hither and thither, keeping the way clear.
It is not very often that Me Queen pays a vidt
to the south aide if the metropolis, and the Surrey
people seemed resolved to make the most Cl Cie
cc-anion and to express their loyalty most demonstra-
tively and unmistakeably. Rowe of flags hung suspended
here and there across the somewhat dingy streets through
which the procession mast pass. and every honsekeep, who
owned a lilt el binding, no matter of what nattonality, or of
no nationality at all, had contrived to display it couspieu.

ously from shop door, or balcony, or housetop. The streets
had been strewn with gravel, and were less uninviting than
usual. Extemporised stands had been erected here and
there, and places were let upon these crazy structures at a
tithe of the price paid for seats on the more pretentious
erections on the other side of the water. The crowds
which had assembled in Stamford-street and Blackfriars-
road were perhaps less aristocratic than those which tilled
Bd.:re-street and Farringdon-street, but they were retire
in a holiday-making mood. Naturally working-men and
tradesmen of the bumbler clan predominated, and many a
gibe and jeer were bestowed upon the tattered and obliterated
fragments of the obnoxious sham Fenian placard which in
one or two places defaced the walls. As far as I could
hear in a hasty passage through the crowd, the threatened
display by unemployed artisans also found little favour
in the eyes of the common people; and one tali,
ruffianly fellow, who was haranguing in a gin-thickened
voice against the '' aristocrats" who had got all the seats on
the bridge and viaduct, was rudely silenced and jostled to
the outside ranks more forcibly than cereniontously. A
very fair amount of attention seemed to be paid to eating
and drinking, but with the exception of this tip-y ruffian I
saw no instance of drankeeness throughout the entire day.
Strolling negro miestrele plied their vagrant trade almost
unheeded, and the Itinerant vendors of marvellous penny
worths were fain to seek another market for their unappre-
ciated wares. Mendicants found more favour, and one old
blind lean reaped such a harvest of coppers that on his
calendar at least the Quemie visit to the City will be marked
with a white atone of the largest aloe!
In turning from Stamford-street into Blackfdars-road,
the real magnificence of the coming pageant first impressed
itself on the tallith From the junction of the two thorough-
fares to the entrance of the new bridge the pathway is were
black with people, who were kept back by the c:oee ranks of
the Life Guards, and the still closer rows of blue-coated
police. I lags fluttered gaily lathe November sunshine, and
es the great mass of humanity throbbed and heaved to and
fro in anxious expectancy under the banners, it was evident
th 4 a right royal reception awaited our Savereign L My the
Qiulln, at the entrance to her good city of London.
a ear the gates, which shut out the public from the new '
bridge, a pavilion hal been erected to accommodate some ,
five orals hundred spectators, and here it was that the open-
ing eeremony took place. Along the entire western side of
the Footway a covered-in stand, draped with crimson cloth,
afforded accommodation to the bearers of the large adiniselon
Made before mentioned. Green shrubs in pots added freeh-
now to the scene, and the banners of all mithies fluttered
joyously in the breeze. Bridge-street was also. st unreceg-
nisable ; every available inch of space was occupied by stands
filled with gaily-dressed ladies and somewhat impatient
gentlemen ; policemen and Life Guards kept the road clear,
and stopped the thoroughfare at every side street. Fading-
don-dreet continued the decoratious and stands, and vied
with its neighbours in banners and mottoes and strange de-
vices, of course among these latter the City (Wallin was pro-
minently conspicuous. On the viaduct iteelf were another
pavilion, another slats, and more gully-dressed spectators,
and an alamdance of flags and statues. The Way wale
kept as before by more horse and foot guards and police.
In the open space at St. Bartholomew's hr-spiral the Guards
mustered In large numbers, while the equare at the Illuecoat
School wile filled with volunteers. Mel still ea the appointed
hour drew nigh the crowds increased. Beadles in all
the dignity of cocked hats and wands of office slowly
preceded the children of the City schools ten the stands
which had been thoughtf ally set apart for them ; the
bearers of tickets rushed in droves to take their places,
the teem favoured multitude jostled and squeezed round the
statue-guarded entrance, and horsemen galloped backwards
and forwards in the open space until the bells from every
steeple began to ring out a merry peal. It was now
time forms to seek nip post at the pavilion entrance to the
bridge. • little after eleven o'clock the monotoey of
waiting was broken by the arrival of a string of private ear-
ringea from which alighted Aldermen in red robes arid cocked
hats, Common-Conneilmen in bite furred verve, the
Common Sergeant in legal garb, and other ufficials tn
curiously devised attire, and took their places on the dais.
Then came the Lord Mayor in a Court suit of black vavet,
half hid by a robe of red velvet, and accompanied by the
civic Sword-bearer and Mace-bearer. The Lady Mayoress
was also present. Shortly after all had taken their place.,
the distant sound of cannon was heard, the increasingly die-
tent straite of the National Anthem broke on the ear, mingled
with the clear notes of the trumpet, which were all
speedily drewned by the hoarse, roar of the multitude as
It cheered and cheered again tn hearty welcome. The rey al
standard was run up to the top of the flagstaff, the gates
were thrown open, the guards of honour presented arms, and
in a moment more the reerVge entered the pavilion. First
was a mounted trumpeter ins coat of gold, then the royal
Outriders, then four open carriages, arid last of all a carriage
drawn by six bay., In which sat the Queen, Princesses Lonise
and Beatrice, 11114 Prince Leopold. An mod of Life Guards
brought up the rear.
The ceremony Was of a very unimposing nature. The
Lord Mayor went through the usual formula of presenting
the Civic Sword to the Queen, in token of his subjection to
her authority, and her Majesty having touched the kilt re-
turned it. Ills lorilehip then presented an address degreased
Oct vellum, anti afterwards introduced to the Queen the
Chairman of the Bridge Committee and Mr. Celina from
whose &Agile the bridge has been built. It was then under-
Blood that the new structure was declared open, but how or
when I cannot say. I only heard renewed cheering, upon
which all the city °Metals ran away to their carriages,
leaving the architect alone, and apparently very uncomfort-
able on the dais. A few minutes were spent before the pro-
cession was re-formed ; but at last it WAS arranged hi proper
order, anal, largely increase], moved slowly across the
bridge andel "hurrahs upon hurrahs" from the crowd which
lined its western sida As it emerged at the other end into
the dame mass which lined Bridge-street the cheering
swelled in volume and was borne clearly across the water to
our ears, dying away in the distantness the eortjge approached
the viaduct

Here the programme was almost exactly the same, but had
it been ever so widely different it would have been impossi-
ble to reach the II olhorn Valley through the crowds in time
to see it carried out. Still there was an opportunity of seeing
how the Queen was welcomed on the homeward route. But
She scene was just the same neon the Surrey side. Holborn
was filled with a dense mass of people, who cheered and
cheered to the echo, as her Majesty passed along, graciously
acknowledging the ovstion bestowed on her by her subjects.
Then the word was given to proceed at a fester pore, the
postillions whipped their horses, the footmen ran, the
soldiers broke into a canter, and amid the jingling of IMO-
bards, anti the flash of helmets and cuirasses, the procession
passed quickly out of sight.
Her Majesty wore deep mourning only relieved by a small
miniver collar round her cloak the Princesses were in
lighter attire, and Prince Leopold was is Highland attire.
tier Majesty looked extremely well, and could scarcely fdl
to lie deeply gratified with the reception which bad boss
given to her by the citizens of Lo:!don.
. .

- Some slight 'filaconti-ant was:n-a-uilesied by the unprivileved
crowds outside the barriers that the opening of the new City
improvemetts was only formal and that free aeons was not'at
once accorded; and several slightaccidents occurred to mein-
hers of the police force in their endeavours to restrain the
crowd from breaking through, but fortunately no livei were
lost. It is to be regretted that no opportunity was afforded
to the great mass of Londoners id seeing the decorations ou
the bridge and the viaduct, and the Corporation would have
gained favour with the people, had they permitted the
decorations to stand for a day or two, under the guar-
dissiship of the police. Still, as a people, we have yet to
learn the art of decoration, and the show on the late occasion
dial not surpass our English standard, and could not he com-
pared to the more magnificent adornments of continental
cities. The real accessories which added a charm to the
scene were the happy faces and ringing cheers of a free and
contented people, as they welcomed their Sovereign at the
inauguration of two great triumphs of the Arts of Peace. The
ceremonial I,f the day was supplemented by a banquet at the
Manstomflouse in the evening.