The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-07-23 00:00:00

SOMetEtI/Sbire•
•
YEOVIL.
GRAND FETE AND GALA OF THE ANCIENT
ORDER OF FORESTERS.

The Court "Yeovil's Pride," a bruich of the I
above order, gave the second of thoirinspiriting fetes
on Tuesday last. The good old town presented an
an appearance of gaiety, to which it would puzzle
the oldest inhabitant (whoever that mystical and
inscrutable personage may be) to find • parallel.
The various railways in connection with the town
ran excursions on the occasion, and poured in shoals
of sight-seers, by whom the streets were rendered
almost impassible lung before the procession started.
The streets exhibited an average display of colours,
the shops were shut at 12 o clock, and the bells
poured forth a merry peal as the procession wended
on its way. The bands of the Royal Marines and
the 6th and 16th Somerset Rifles discoursed sweet
music during the day. The Foresters met at their
lodge-room, the Mermaid Hotel, and thence proceeded
at one o'clock in the following order:—

Police to clear the way.
Mounted Foresters, in full costume of the order.
Band of the 11th Somerset Volunteer Rifle Corps,
(Weston-Super-Mare.)
Banner of the Order.
Foresters.
Brother
CUIIIIIO Brother
with Hatchet. THS X' with Hatchet.
Foresters.
Carriage, containing the Honorary Chaplains.
Honorary Members, two abreast, mounted.
Dispensation of Court "Yeovil's Pride."
Foresters.
Band of the Royal Marines.
Widows' and Orphans' Banner.
Carriages, containing Maypole Dancers.
Banners. Fenster*. Banner'.
Shepherd and Shepherdess.
Band of the 16th Somerset Volunteer Rifle Corps,
(Yeovil.)
Mounted Foresters.
Banner.
" Robin Hood's bast Shot."
Juvenile Bend.
Foresters.

through Middle-street, Iteckleford Kingston, liend•
ford, &c., to Barwick Park, kindly -lent for the
occasion by Capt. Blessiter. The procession attracted
universal admiration, the most prominent feature
being a labieuita vivant of Robin Hood shooting
the arrow, on the resting place of which was to be
his grave. Baker in his chronology him it "The
king set forth a proclamation to have him appre-
hended; be fell sick at a certain nunnery in York-
shire, called Bereless, and desired to be let blood,
was betrayed, and made to bleed to death." Obit
Dec. 24, 1247. The tableaus referred to formed the
principal object in the procession. They then wended
their way to the perk, where, after proceeding to the
house, the brethren dispensed and amused them-
selves for a short time in viewing the private
grounds, and the weaker sex refreshed themselves
with tea, supplied by Mr. Leach, who occupied a
booth,or inspecting the arrangement of Host Currie's
commissariat.

TRI DINNIR
took place at 3 o'clock in a spacious marquee erected
in the grounds, and was capitally 'tweed up by Br.
Cord°, of the Mermaid, who spared no expense on
the occasion to enhance the pleasure felt by all who
participated in the demonstratiln. We never at
any open air fete of the description saw the
arrangement better carried out, there being
an efficient staff of attendants, and a impious reserve
of table equipage. All 4,f:wed thoroughly to enjoy
themselves, and there were to be seen, as the old
poet atm
"The archer men in green with belt and bow,
Feasting on pheasant, riverfowl aud swan;"

- - •
together with perhaps a slice of salmon, which was .
too good to be lost sight of either on the table, or
in nor report.
Anongst those present we noticed, W. Bide,
Esq., mayor of Yeovil (in the chair), Revs. IL .1. T.
Thomas, C. Hallett, E. Eliot, W. We!Hord,
Sherborne ; G. Devenish, Esq., Furdington ; R.
Devenish, Fag., Channinster ; l'r. Aldridge, Dr.
Garland, Dcwne. Ewj., Ryall, Esq., &c.
The CHAIRAIAN, in giving the first toast, "The
Queen, Prince Consort, Prince of Wales and the
Royal Family," observed that all Englishmen were
loyal, notwithstanding what might have been the
case with the "bold foresters" in the olden times,
all of this day were true men. Were he to
enumerate all the virtues belonging to our present
ruler and her Royal consort, be would be only
repeating a "thrice told talc. Their virtues were
appreciated by all dwellers in our favoured land.
(Chows.)
The CHAIRMAN said that the next toast was "The
Bishop of the diocese and clergy of all denomin-
ations." He regretted that probably the episcopal
residence was too distant to admit of the Bishop
of the diocese visiting them that day. He was
sorry to see no dissenting clergy present, but there
were three pastors of the Established Church present,
who were always willing to do the utmost in their
power to promote any scheme having for its object
any thing tending to promote the welfare of the
town and the good of its inhabitants. He would
couple with the toast proposed, the healths of the
rector of Barwick, the vicar of Yeovil, and the
incumbent of Trinity Church.
The Rev. R. J. THOMAN was extremelygratified at
being present on this occasion, both as a brother
Forester and as vicar of Yeovil. He considered it
was his bounden duty, and therefore would
endeavour at all times to assist in any .cone of
innocent festivity.
The Rev. Mr. Mar.Lerr returned thanks in a
short, concise speech, stating that lie fully concurred
in the sentiments expressed by his friend who had
just spoken.
The Res. J. ELLIOTT endorsed the sentiments of