The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-03-06 00:00:00

ANNIVERSARY OF THE CZAR'S
ACCESSION.

At St. Petersburg, on Tuesday, the festivities in
celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Czar's acces-
sion to the throne commenced at ten o'clock with a
serenade in front of the Winter Palace. The weather
was mild, with intervals of sunshine, and soon after
ten both the open spaces before the palace were com-
pletely covered with an immense throng. In the smaller
quadrangle was drawn up a large body of troops,
made up of detachments of 100 men each from all the
regiments ot the Guard. At about a quarter past ten the
Emperor Alexander appeared on the balcony, and was
received with every manifestation of loyal enthusiasm
by the troops and people alike, the cheering being
unceasing during the whole time—some twenty
minutes—that His Majesty remained on the balcony.
The Emperor repeatedly acknowledged the loyal
shouts which proceeded from the crowd, and in the
meantiaae the nailitazy bands struck up the National
Anthem, "God preserve the Czar !" the strains of
which gave the signal for the batteries on the
north bank of the Neva to commence the Royal
salute of 101 guns, and at the same moment began
the pealing of the bells in all the churches in
the city, At half-past eleven the festal thanksgiving
service was celebrated in the chapel attached to the
Winter Palace, and at noon was held the Grand Court
reception, at which the Duchess of Edinburgh in a
measure performed the honours which would have de-
volved on the Empress had her Majesty been able to
be present. The first personages to be received were
the members of the Council of the Empire and all
the Ministers, and after them came the Ambassadors
and foreign representatives in succession, not one
of them being absent. The saloons of the Palace
were filled to overflowing, and the reception lasted
for several hours. At half-past two the members of
the Senate were introduced, and they were followed
by numerous public bodies and deputations from
Royal Foundations, including the girl scholars belong-
ing to some of the schools under the Imperial
patronage.
The city itself was profusely decorated with flags,
even in its remotest parts, and the day was observed
as a general holiday. Loyal and congratulatory ad-
dresses to the Emperor, accompanied with presents
and offerings of every description, were received from
all parts of the country and from all classes of the
population and in special commemoration of the day
a large number of institutions of various kinds have
been founded.

The crowd which proceeded to the Palace to present
congratulations to the Emperor was enormous. :The
Emperor in walking with his suite through the various
rooms of the Palace was greeted with enthusiastic
eheers, An address•was read to him by the Grand
Duke Constantine on behalf of the Council of the
mpire. His Majesty made a brief reply, and then
embraced the Grand Duke and shook hands with
Count Strogonoff and the Imperial Chancellor. After
the luncheon the addresses ot the Great Bodies of the
State and the replies of His Majesty were read.
At the reception of the Diplomatic Body which fol-
lowed, the Emperor entered into friendly conversation
for a few moments with all the foreign representatives
asking them to convey to the Courts and countried
they represented his Majesty's thanks for their dis-
plays of sympathy.
At two p.m. the Emperor drove out in an open oar.
ri.ge, and was loudly cheered by the bystanders. The
streets presented a very animated appearance.