The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-03-02 00:00:00

STOITII3RIDC4F, OBERVER.

. The Prthews never looked more charming, and,
.iy, there is not • trace of the long and anxious watching
Royal lady has bad to fulfil in the discharge of her
wifely duty. The eldest hope of the nation's future King
seemed much surprised hut pleased at the decorations
and rejoicings. Milli the Duke of Edinbargh looked in
his usnal good health, and so did Prince Arthur. Prinee
Leopold appeared quite as much surprised as his little
nephew, and so did Prince George of Wales. The carriages
that preceded the Royal Family conveyed the suite, hi ad-
vance of whom were the Speaker of the Rouse, whose
quaint carriage and fine " dray " horses excited considerable
amusement. The Lord Chancellor followed, and then came
11.11.11, the Duke of Cambridge, who was vociferously

----•- ---
cheered. - --
The following was the order of the procession according
to the official programme
Carriages of the Speaker of the House of Common! the
Lord Chancellor, his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge
(Attended by an Escort).
• Her Ma)eCty's Carriages, viz.—
FIRST CARRIAGE.—The Gentlemen in Waiting to his
Royal Highness the Prhice Leopold, the Equerry in Waiting
to his Royal Highness the Prince Arthur, the Equerry in
Waiting to his Royal Higluieu the Duke of Edinburgh, the
Silver Slick in Waiting.
• SECOND CARRIAGE.—The Field Officer In Brigade Waiting,
the Equerry in Waiting to his Royal Highness the Itinee of
Wales, the Groom in Waiting to his Royal llighuess the
Prince of Wales, the Equerry ii, Waiting.
THIRD CARRIAGE. —The Groom in Waiting, the Clerk
Marshal, the Master of the Household, the Private Secretary

to the Queen.
FoURTII CARRIAGE—The Woman of the Bedchamber In
Waiting to her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, Mold
of Honour In Waiting, Maid of Honour in Waiting, the
Comptroller awl Treasurer to his Royal Highness the Prince
of Wales.
FIFTH CARRIAGE.—The Keeper of her Majesty's Privy
Purse, the Chamberlain to her Royal Highness the Princess
of Wales, the Bedchamber Woman and Lady Superin-
tendent, the (Second) Lady of the Bedchamber.

SIXTH CARRIAGE.—The Lord in Waiting to his Royal
Highnese the Prince of Wales, the Lord in Waiting, the Lady
of the Bedchamber to her Royal Highness the Princess of
Wales, the Lady of the Bedchamber.
SEVENTH Cannison.—The Gold Stick in Waiting, Use
Lord Chamberlain, the Lord Steward, the Mistress of the
Robes. . . •

EIGHTH CARRIAGE —The Master of the Horse, his Royal
Highness Prince George of Vales, his Royal Highness the
Prince Leopold, his Royal Highness the rrinee Arthur, his
Royal Highness the Duke of Heinburgh.
- _

_
NINTH CARRIAGE,—His Royal Highness the Prince Albert
Victor of Wales, her Royal Highness the Princess Beatrice,
her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, his Royal High-
ness the Prince of Walea.
THE QUEEN..

It was not without anxiety in which no one participated
more largely than Her Majesty that those who took part in
the procession watched its first onward movement and
looked and listened to see and hear whether all was going
smoothly, and whether it would be possible to keep the hard
pressed masses from breaking all bounds, and rushing in•
side the lines of cavalry and infantry stationed only a few
feet apart. But nothing could have been better
than the conduct of the people. From the branches
of trees, from the tops of iron palings, from every
Inch of standing room came the incessant cheering mid
almost as constant cries of " Godlbless the Queen," as " God
bless the Prince of Wales."
. .

Great as had been the enthusiasm and vast as had been
the crowds in St. James's Park, it was only when this end of
l'all Mall was reached that an idea could be formed of what
the Thanksgiving Day was really to be—it was really grand.
Every balcony and window from Marlborough /louse
to Waterloo-place was crowded with a brilliant
company, and the display of flags and loyal devices
was immense even for that neighbourhood. The
National Gallery and St. Martin's Church then presented
themselves to the view, and as the Guards' Memorial was
approached the appearance of the men of the Royal Navy
who kept the line there was not the least attractive
feature in the magnificent spectacle. Within the railings of
the National Gallery there seas a goodly company; but
just about this spot, Trafalgaranuare included, there was
!us of ornamentation as compared with the dis-
play 0. sne rest of the route. Charing-cross and the Strand
looked well as the procession passed along the side of St.
Martin's Church and came lout of Duncannou-street. The
splendid tier of bones erected at the Charing-cross Railway
Station formed an appropriate commencement of the long
line of decorations ending at St. Paul's Cathedral. Taken
in detail, the whole effect of the decorations viewed from the
Procession itself, was immeasurably beyond anything ever
done in this way before by the people of this metropolis.

"0 Thou our souls' salvation!
"Our hope for earthly weal!
" We, who in tribulation
"Did for Thy mercy kneel,
"Lift up glad hearts before Thee,
"And eyes no longer dim,
"And for Thy grace adore Thee
"In eucharistic hymn.

peagr.9,

"Forth went the nation weeping
'With precious seed of prayer,
"Rope's awful vigil keeping
"Mid rumours of despair ;
"Then did Thy love deliver !
"And from Thy gracious nand,
"Joy, like the southern river,
"Yerilowed the weary land.

. -
Striking, however, aa were the decorations of the Queen's
route, they were not by any means the sight of the day. The
people, the never exhausted masses which covered all the
pavements, filled all the windows and balconies and stands
from street to house-top and spread thesuselves even
over the roofs, and who, with a joy which Is simply
indescribable, exerted voice and arms and hands to
greet the Prince and congratulate Iler Majesty on
his restoration to health—they were the real spectacle
of the National Thanksgiving, !remarks the Time,,, from
whose report part of this account is condensed.) All along
the Strand the enthusiasm for the Queen was such as to
profoundly affect Iler Majesty. Every instant she heard
blessings implored on her, and hearty aspirations that her
reign may yet be long. There was, however, much good taste
as well as good feeling. By the inscriptions on most of the
decorations, and by their inexhaustible cheering. the people
of London endeavoured to show that their Queen is as
well beloved by them as ever, and that their delight
at seeing her once more among them, performing a
function of Royalty in the Metropolis of her Empire, was
not less than that which they felt at the recovery of Inr
heir. The Charity Children who sang outside one or two of
the churches in the Strand did their little best, and did it
well. The Queen, the Prince, and the Princess thanked them
with smiles. Uncut the prettiest points of view in the progress
to St. Paul's was that which presented itself as the pro-
ce,sion was passing round by the Church if St. tlements
Danes on itg way to Temple Bar. Wonderful things had
been done iii the way of hiding the waste ground VII
which the future Law Courts are to be erected. There
were platform seats from the Church up to the Bar, and
at the other side hem tile Bar Up to the point at
which the houses have been knocked down.

'Bless Thou our adoration !
'Our gladness sanctity !
"Make this rejoicing nation
To Thee by joy more nigh;
"0 be this great Thanksgiving
"Throughout the laud we raiJe,
"Wrought into holier living
"lii all our alter days.

"Mesa, Father, him Thou gayest
Back to the loysl land,
"0 Saviour, him Thou gayest,
"Still cover with Thine Hand :
.0 Spirit, the Defender,
Be his to guard and guide,
"Now in life's midday splendour
"On to the eventide !"

At half-past eleven o'clock the Lord Mayor, silo was ac-
companied by the City Marshal, the Common Crier bearing
the Mace, the Sword-bearer, the Sheriffs' and a deputation
from the Aldermen and Common Council of the City arrived
on horseback at the eastern side of Temple Bar, and there
took up their respective stations, awaiting the arrival of the
Royal procession. A Guard of Honour of the llonourahle
Artillery Company, with their band, under the command
of Capt. Deities !Ensign Watson carrying the Queen's
colours!, was in waiting within the Bar, whilst on
the western side of the gate, in the Strand, a
Guard of Honour of the 23rd Welsh Fusiliers, with their baud
and white goat, wearing the silver frontlet presented by the
Queen, was assembled. The Lord Mayor, who was attired in
a velvet purple robe as ith ermine tippet, tick up his position
close to Temple Bar, the Sheriffs, in their robes and chains
of office, ant the Mace-bearer and Sword-bearer bemg next
in offer. Next ratite the Aldermen in their robes of office,
each wearing a white silk favour on his shoulder, ranged
In two rows on either side of the thoroughfare,
and the Common Councilmen in their robes of
mazarine, also placed in tivo rows. In the centre of
the roadway, their horses heads turned eastward, were a
Queen's trumpeter and an orderly. A long interval of watt-
ling took place, which was broken only by the noise of the
crowd, the playing of the baud, or the singing of the charity
children who had found seats In the stands erected at St.
Dunstan's and St. !hide's. Half-past twelve o'clock came
and went, and still there came no sign of the approach of the
Royal cavalcade, huts few minuteslater the sound of distant
cheering reached the ears of those who were waiting within
the City boundary, and became gradually louder and louder
as the procession drew nearer. The mounted escort passed
through without any ceremony of asking for admission,
but some little check occurrent which stopped further pro-
gress for a few moments, and the Royal carriages had
to wait in front of the vast crostal assembled out-
side Temple-bar. Loud and long were the plaudits
that burst forth from the excited assemblage, and they
were taken up by those inside and repeated again and
again. The procession moved on arid the carriage of the
Speaker passed through. The Duke of Cambridge was
warmly cheered, and the applause was taken up with in-
creased earnestness and warmth as the carriage containing
the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, and
Prince George of Wales advanced. The rune carriage
to which all eyes were directed passed through the
open gates of the City mid mune to a stand, the
band of the Guard of Honour playing the National Anthem.
The Lord Mayor advanced bareheaded, and presented to her
Majesty the Sword of the City, which, having touched, her
Majesty returned to his lordship's custody. The civic pro-
cession in waiting went on in front, and the Lord Mayor,
who did his part most admirably, mounted his horse and rode
bareheaded before her Majesty's carriage, bearing the sword of
Die City before him. The band played "God Bless the Prince
of Wales" a burst of almost deafening cheers broke forth,
and were caught up by the whole line of people along Fleet-
street. The enthusiastic manifestation of loyalty and
affection which was displayed upon all sides evidently had a
deep effect upon her Majesty ; for she leaned towards the
Prince of Wales, and, grasping his hand in her
own, looked around with a smile. The simple,
affectionate manner in winch this WIIS done draw forth
another loud burst of cheering, amid which the carriage
moved on. Along Fleet-street the same enthusiastic de-
monstrations were repeated, and a myriad of waving hand-
kerchiefs fluttered from the windows. No less demonstrative
were the spectators in Luagate-circus and upon Ludgate.
hilt ; and amid an universal manifestation of loyalty and
affection, her Majesty reached the gates of St. Paul's Cathe-
dral, her arrival at which was signalled by the tiring of the
park guns.
•-

The scene on the west, north, and south sides of St. Paul's
Churchyard was very grand, BM Her Majesty's carriage
passed in at the great gates. The ladies and gentlemen
who tilled all the windows rose en woe, and a coloured
scarf or a white handkerchief was waved from every
hand. Her Majesty looked up to the front of the
Cathedral as her carriage was making the half circuit
from the gate to the porch, and seemed to read with
much pleasure the inscription, "I was glad when they said
unto me we will go into the House of the Lord."
On arriving at St. Paul's, they at once proceeded to take,the
several places reserved for them in the Cathedral.
The Lord Chancellor and the Speaker likewise, on arriving
at the great west entrance, proceeded to the seats reserved
for them.
The Queen was received at the Cathedral by the Bishop of
Lonibm and the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's, and by cer-
tain Officers of her Majesty's Household who were in waiting
1 at St. Paul's.
The Bishop and the Dean and Chapter preceded her Ma.
i jolty from the west entrance up the nave to the Royal pew
In the central area of the Cathestral.
The following was the order of proceeding :
Herald. Herald.
The Comptroller in the Lord Chamberlain's Department.
The Field Officer in Brigade The Silver Stick in
Waiting. Waiting.
The Gentleman in attendance The Equerry to
on his Royal Highness His Royal Highness the
the Prince Leopold. Duke of Cambridge.
The Equerry to The Equerry to
his Royal Highness the his Royal Highness the
Prince Arthur. Duke of Edinburgh.
The Equerry to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.
The Emerry in Waiting. The Equerry in Waiting•
Clerk Marshal,
The Master of the Household.

The Private Secretary.— The Keeper of the Privy Purse.
The Comptroller and Treasurer to hi, R,yal Ilighues.4 the
Prince of Wales.
The Groom of the Bedchamber to his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The Greom in Waiting.
The Lord of the Bedchamber to his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The Lord in Waiting.
The Master of the Buckhounds.
- sure.
who'd
Herald.

The Comiiii;ll;i-aille-

The Treasurer of the
Household.

lLe,alo,

_
In the front of the Royal pew. Upon taking her plan
Majesty bowed her head in prayer for a few moments. Vhe
order in which the Royal Family stood in the front of the
pew when the service began was—from the right of the
Queen—the Prince of Wales, the little PI ince Albert Victor,
the Dukeof Edinburgh, Prince Arthur: and, from the Queen's
left, the Princess of Wales, with her younger son ftp her
side, Princess Beatrice, Prince Leopold, the Duke of
Cambridge.
It was scarcely past one o'clock when the service began
with the Te D,u,n composed expressly for the °evasion by
Mr. Goon; then billowed a few responses, the Lord's l'rayer,
and other responses from the Prayer, telok, beautifully in-
toned by the Rev. J. 11. Coward, whose clear and single
voice sounded forth with thrilling
elect through the
building in which 1;1,000 people listened in pet-
feet silence ! But the scene upon which the eye
rested wan more thrilling than ally sound of voice
or of organ, 1111,1 was, indeed, a scene which all who
saw It felt to be inherent with inexpressive grandeur and
sublimity. The responses were followed by the collect
beginning "Oiled, the Protector of all that trust iu Thee ;''
this, by " A prayer for the Queen's Majesty," and " A prayer
for the Royal Family." Then was said the General Thanks-
giving, with these inserted words :
" [Particularly to Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, who
desires now to offer up his praises alai thanksgivings for
'Eby late mercies vouchsafed to hint)."
With the last word the reader's voice stopped, and the per-
fect pause of a few momenta, almost awful to its Mt.:unity,
was the point at which the sublimity of the service culmi-
nated, and reached its highest and inteuseat exPressim.
The special Thanksgiving Prayer written by the Archbishop
of Canterbury WaB then read, and it was seen by all that
during the reading Her Majesty and the Pi ince and Princess
of Wales bowed their heads lowly and reverently. Indeed,
all through the service those who were at all near the Royal
pew knew that it was Dot iimigioation which perceived in
the demeanour and attitude if the Queen, the Prince, and
the Princess a most solenm mouth, and thoughts which must
not be touched with the pen :
" 0 Father of mercies and God of all comfort, we thank
Thee that Thou host heard the prayers of Ms nation in the
day of our trial. We praise and magnify Thy Oa-ions name
for that Thou bast raised Thy servant Albert Edward
Prince of Wales from the bed of sickness. Thou eastest
down and Thou liftest up, and health and strength are Thy
gifts. We pray Thee to perfect the recovery of 'Eby ser-
vant, and to crown him day by day with more abundant
blessings both for body and soul; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen."
At twenty-two minutes past one the Archbishop of Canter-
bury pronounced a benediction from the pulpit, and the
organ sounded the first bars of the anthem, the words of
which were Psalm 118, verses 14-21 and 28. The tussle is by
Mr. Goss. At the close, after a few bars of slower time, and
then a short prelude for the organ, the choir broke into the
metrical tune known as "Cloths," a " chmal hynm com-
posed ly the Prince Consort, and introduced by Mr. Goss
with the Queen's special permission.
The anthem was over at half-past one, and immediately
the Archbishop began the delivery of the "Address," front
Romarn an. s.—" Every one meonbers one of another."
Clear and 'measured as was the Archbishop's voice, scarcely
a tenth of the people could have heard it. As from thus to
time during the service the assemblage stood up—the
movement travelling over the level of the dome area
and rising as in waves round the great piers—one gained
some idea of the vast numbers. But it was when they sat
down that they most hnpressed one; for then, indeed,
they had all the multitudinous aspect of a subsiding sea.
While the prayers were being read there came through the
upper windows the peals of ringing bells, audible witnesses
that not only we, the 13,000 in the Cathedral, were joiniog
in this Thanksgiving Service, but that the congregation was,
in deed and in truth, all London—all the land. The address
ended at 13 minutes to 2; again the Queen and her people
rose, the organ sounded, and the following Thanksgiving
Hymn, written by Mr. Stone, a Loudon clergyman, and was
sung to " Aurelia," a good and familiar tune by Dr. W catty :

Tien all knelt, and the Primate, standing in his pulpit
and raising Ills hand, gave his solemn benediction to an
miserably sack as may never meet together again. The ser-
vice was over at eight minutes to two, having lasted an hour
all bat that time. The organ played the well-known chortle,
her Majesty came forward and bowed low twice, the Prince
bowed also. :ma no coded this great and joyful solemnity,
which will he remembered is English history, and will some
day nod all English writer whose pen is able to iise to its
height.
The Procession was re formal, the organ cautioning to
play variations of the National Anthem during the Queen's
progress down the nave. By 20 minutes past 2 the carriages
had driven out of the Cathedral Court, but it was not till
itearly 4 o'clock that the loot person of many crowds which
go to make up 12,000 people when they are gathered together
in a building had left the CathedraL
Desperate and well nigh ceaseless efforts had been made
to adapt the cathedral, which many regard as sir Christo-
pher Wren's masterpiece, to the great dmmunis made upon it,
and to the solemnity and grandeur of the occasion, and at last,
barely in time, all was ready for the royal visit. Over the
principal entrance the following scriptural motto was
placed—a motto highly appropriate to the occasion:—
"[ ton slab Mint tbcn saiti onto Inc, tot Will go
into tbt 151:mu of tilt tot."

Immediately on the close of the service preparations were
made for the departure ~f the Royal party, and on the Viaduct.
along Holborn, far away to the Park of Hyde, the crowd be-
came more and more densely packed, all eager to catch a
sight of the sovereign and the Heir to the Throne. Hove
enthusiastically they were cheered we have already stated.
and the satisfaction that the Queen and the Royal family
felt was evident from their pleased expression of countenance
and the gracious and unrestrained way in which they re-
urned the salutations of the crowd.
- • • -

All along the route, both going and returning, the recep.
thin of the Royal family was most enthusiastic. Never was
the Queen more rapturously cheered ; never was the Prince
of Wales more heartily welcomed and more vociferously
applauded. Hats and caps were waved WI I a positive
furore; from the balconies and the windows handkerchiefs
and little hood-flags, the husky voices of men, the silvery
plaudits of women, and the shrill cheers of children told
the Queen and her eldest son how much they were beloved,
and how heartily glad were her subjects once again to see
her and her sou, the latter in happily restored health.
The procession once passed. the throngs of people imme-
diately began to disperse, and by.streets soon began to be
ingonveniently thronged. Shops which had been closed
all day, always provided that these shops supplied refresh-
ment, were speedily opened and as speedily filled by
half-famished clahnants for anything eatable or drink-
able that could be had ; and them as the bright
beams of the sun died away, and the evening shades
began to prevail, the grand thoroughfares were once
again densely thronged by people surging along in
search of illuminations. A list of illuminations is wearisome
reading, and we shall not inflict it upon our readers.
Suffice it to say that if there was less of it than
on some former occasions It was more tasty and elegant
in style, while Chinese lanterns formed an almost
unprecedented and decidedly beautiful addition to this
manifestation of public rejoicing. On the whole, the
Thanksgiving Day will long i.e remembered as a day
of rejoicing and gratitude for the recovery of the
heir to England's throne, and many who witnessed the
leading features of the day's proceedings nmst have
mentally, if not orally, have said what we will say in con-
elusion, "Ood bless the Prince of Wales."