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

THE CROWD CHEERS EVERYBODY.

The crowd are so tightly packed, that it would be no
merely easy to walk upon their heads, but difficult to do
anything else if we were to step down among them. . . .
'rhere's Miss Burdett Coutts, give her a cheer! cries a voice
in the crowd, the owner of which is oblivious of any other
title of honour for that lady than the one by which she lives
In the hearts of her countrymen. The Baroness (mitts
comes with Lord Houghton's party, and his lordship, in
a watchman's Coat with a heavy iape, looks a very efficient
protector, as he stands up in his carriage and peers far
away into Fleet-street. These are the first notable ar-
rivals, and they are rapidly followed by a bevy of coun-
try mayors, by every description of radiant uniform,
and by distinguished people of every degree, some in pri-
vate carriages, some in cabs, and not a few on foot, The
I crowd cheers heartily everybody it knows, and takes advan-
tage of the smallest opportunity for a laugh. A gentleman
at the hatter's opposite leaves the crowded first-floor window
and sits upon the projecting woodwork over the shop front.
Ile forthwith becomes an object of attraction to thousands. '
He dusts his impromptu scat with his pocket-handkerchief,
and is loudly cheered. Ile crosses his legs, whereupon
every one laughs aloud. Ile lights a cigar, [mei all
within sight are thrown into ecstacies at this crowning
stroke of humour. Then a silly young fellow's evil genius
prompts him to sing the Slarseillaise, upon which the public
attention is diverted, and " Bonnet bins ! is after being
; acted on) followed by " God bless the Prince of Wales." A
• voice now asks, " What is that white thing struggling in the
I crowd?"" Bless use, it's a clergyman !" "Bow did he get
, there, and how will he get out again !" But the clergyman,
after being lost to sight for several minutes, as completely
as if he were a diver who had plunged into a murky and
tempestuous sea, comes out sniffing, but tumbled and hot,
in full canonicals, and with what is profanely termed "a
mortar-li coed" wider his arm. " John Brown's daughter "
is considered an appropriate form of congratulation to him,
and is inimediately sung by hundreds of lusty throats.
E very body is good tempered and jolly. There
is scarcely a hat to he seen in the crowd below.
Passing through Temple-bar the stream of carriages be-
comes thicker and more varied. A guardsman in full uni-
form, with his white gauntlets outside the door of his
Hansom, is followed by a diplomatist in blue and gold, who
Is followed In his turn by a brougham, with a gay beadle
carrying a provincial mace on its box seat. Then comes a
mail-cart bound for the post office, the driver of which shows
a touch of saturnine humour in the gravity with which he
bows to right and lett, in acknowledgment of the ironical
plaudits of the crowd.
The judges now come through toe Bar in rotation, Sir
Alexander Cockburn's carriage leading, Lord Chief Justice
Bovill's coming next, and the rest following in regular line.
Sir Alexander Cockburn appears to be absorbed in the book
or paper he is reading but Sir William Bovill looks
out of his carriage window cheerily, and is immediately
recognised. "'Ave yer got the claimant with yer " and
Mat you just like Roger, though!" were the two street
witticisms which greeted Lord Chief Justice Bovill's passage
thiough the Bar. Mr. Disraeli and Lady Beaconsfield are
next loudly cheered. Sir Robert l'ecl ins Hansom ; the Mar-
quis and Marchioness of Westminster ; Sir William and the
Miss Fergusson ; Sir Henry Thompson ; the Dean of York ; the
Duke and Duchess of Manchester; Sir John and Lady Rose:
Mr. Samuel Morley, M.P. ; Mr. Robert Lowe and Mrs.
Lowe, all drive through about this time in open carriages
and in the rotation given but at intervale, and as items in
the procession of vehicles which flows by without a
break. At a quarter past 11 there is a short pause,
and then another omnibus, one of several, full of
the Royal servants passes by. Lord Dufferin e ornes
on foot, 1111ki takes up a position outside the Tem-
ple-gate, aa if determined to see the civic cere-
mony well. The Archbishop of Canterbury, and after
him the Turkish Ambassador and the Misses Mussurus come
next, Then acme time is lost for observation, while the
Inevitable dog is hooted into eemimadnees as it runs down
the central spare; and immediately after this the Marquis
of Martinet.a passes in his brougham, followed by the
Bishop of London lilac open carriage. Mr. Gladstone—who
is as much cheered as his political rival was an hour ago—
and Mrs. Gladstone drive by in an open carriage, and are
the last people who cease through Temple-bar before the
Royal procession.
This is the situation for a full hour. Old gentlemen in
long gowns, which suggest side-saddles, sitting patiently on
horseback at a respectful distance from Ternple-bar foot-
men, soldiers, trumpeters, dignitaries hanging about the
roadway and the pavement the Sheriffs. Mace.bearer, sad
Sword-bearer keeping near the place where the Lord Mayor
parted company with them, and the Lord Mayor him-
self lost to eight. once there is a flutter of ermine and
crimson velvet at the window of the Bar, and it is
son that bit laritehlp la *tinging mankhat tram that

point of observation ; an soon after this a telegn
boy comes up with a message, and it is known that
Queen has left Buckingham Palace, and is on her road.

HOLBORN VIADUCT AND HOLBORN HILL.
The most striking scene presented cm the line of route
was when the procession, having emerged out of the more
narrow confines of the on Bailey, emerged upon II olborn
Viaduct. On either site of this broad roadway the autho-
rities had erected handsome booths, which were brilliant in
taAeful colours. From the masts that topped them fluttered
numbers of In ight•coloured pennons and banners, forming a
vista of varied hues, while high above all huge standards
unrolled themselves and floated lazily in the wind. Where
the roadway expends into liellioni-circus other official
stands had been erected, and on the site of Messrs Meeking's
new business premises, which are in course of building, a
vast structure had been raised, which afforded accommoda.
Mon to large numbers. This part of the route was kept by
the Idle Gnarls, whose glittering ranks formed a curved line
on the right and left of the circle, within which their band
was stationed. As the procession moved up the Hill, the de-
corations became more and more attractive and remark-
able. Great trouble had bees taken and much skill and
taste were displayed in the decorations along this portion of
the route ; suit whilst the individual ornamentation of each
louse had evidently been left tote regulated by the fancy of
the occupiers the general street decoratious had been made
on a comprehensive plan. The several islands or refuges,
as they are termed, for foot passengers in the middle of the
wide street hail afforded conspicuous and effective points
for the erection of Venetian masts and trophies of flags mid
shields, and the ornamental lamp-posts standing on them
had been bronzed and gilded. As the Royal procession passed
slowly along her Majesty, who was evidently much pleased by
the warmth oilier reception and by the exuberant loyalty dis-
played towards herself and her son, most graciously distri-
buted her smiles and her acknowledgments. There could
be no mistake about the matter : the people were charmed
at seeing their Sovereign, accompanied by the Prince, once
again among them, and Her Majesty received the expres-
sions of their loyalty towards herself, and of their deep
gratitude for the recovery of her son, with a feeling akin to
delight. On arriving at the weetern end of High Holborn,
immediately adjoining New Oxford-street, the procession
entered it perfect bower of flowers. The windows
of the houses on either side were edged with white
and pink roses, garlands were interweaved overhead
across the roadway, and hung in graceful curves
from truck to track of the Venetian masts, which
light blue In colour, bore at half their height shields of
scarlet, white, and gold. In paasing along the route it was
gratifying to see that there was scarcely a house which did
not exhibit an appropriate motto. Mottoes, Indeed were
: the order of the day. At every step were exhibited such
welcome invocataons as "Heaven bless our future King,-
. " From enemies keep your Majesty, and when they stand
, against you may they fall," "May God accept a nation's
thanks, and bless our gracious Queen," "With thee we have
mourned, alld with thee rejoice." At one of the tire-stations
the firemen displayed their loyalty by a trophy formed of
firemen's helmets and implements, and by the following
motto :—"'lice Prince of Wales, God bless him ! Long may
; he reign ! Trusting that he may never have the fever
again." At every step of her Majesty's progress the greeting
was most enthusiastic, and the Queen evidently reciprocated
, the warmth of the welcome.