The Express.
London, England, 1855-04-17 00:00:00

THE JOURNEY TO TOWN.

At the railway platform quite an ovation awaited,
the visitors. Every corner, possible and impossible,
was crowded with fashionable company, and as the
Emperor and Empress passed along to the state car-
riage, they had frequently to stop and acknowledge
the repeated cheering. Captain Barlow and Mr.
Way were in attendance ; and, very unobtrusive bet
exotedingly efficient Mr. Superintendent Baker, of
the Metropolitan Po3ce, might also be observed
filling his peculiar and highly important office of at-
tending and regulating the royal progress. The
whole party were soon seated in the magnificent
saloon carriage, and the other carriages of the train
were filled with marvellous rapidity. Just as the
train was about to start, the Emperor beckoned the
mayor to the door of the carriage, and held him for a
few mimeses in friendly conversation, at the
tame time repeating his adieus to the mu-
nicipal body. At half past two the signal
for starting was given, and the train pre-
meded at high express speed for town. As it
flew past evert station crowds
.of people might be
seetl Elndkrichletv, qua as • .24bridlin when
we stopped for a law moments, and the uinetrioes
party alighted, there was an imposing demonstration.
The whole platform was crowded, but the Emperor
walked through, without seeming in the slightest de-
gree incommoded, but graciously acknowledged the
cheers, even of the workmen, who covered the adjoin-
ing walls. Reigate, Norwood, and all the minor sta-
tions, exhibited similar scenes of enthusiasm, but the
appearance of the Bricklayers' Arms station was of
an imposing character. Every accessible spot was
densely crowded, the cheering was deafening, and
the appearance of the Life Guards, and the royal car-
riages and liveries, gave unequalled brilliancy and
efitct to this first stage in his Imperial Majesty's
visit to the great metropolis. Here also the platform
was densely filled with distinguished company.
The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, acoom
puled by Mr. Sheriff Crossley, and attended
by Mr. Catty, one of his lordship's secretaries, was
in attendance to receive the Emperor, and the greet-
ing between his Imperial Majesty and our civic
monarch was of the most friendly sod cordial chaise-
ter. His Imperial Majesty shook hands in a friendly
and familiar manner with his lordship, expressed his
delight at making his acquaintance and his hope
that that acquaintance might be of long duration.
His lordship then proceeded to search out his own
special guest, the Prefect of the Seine, and all the
notabilities, imperial, royal, and civic, were soon els
route for town. The carriage containing the Em-
peror, Empress, and Prince Albert, started off
at once without escort, except that of at
least half a million of people, who densely
filled the streets on both sides, and cheered all the way
into town. The remainder of the carriages fol-
lowed, and were accompanied by the escort, and the
vast crowd had a friendly cheer for every successive
detachment. Here the narrative of the Emperor's
arrival may be said to terminate, as the pro-
, ctedings en route to Windsor and at its royal Castle
I properly belong to another chapter. It only remains
• to be said that everything was excellently managed.
• The landing took place without the slightest hitch,
• the hotel arrangements were moat satisfactory, and
' the journey to town was performed with a punctuality
which reflected the highest credit on Captain Barlow
• and the various officers of the South Eastern
I Railway.

THE PROGRESS THROUGH LONDON.
The Imperial and Royal travellers on leaving the
terminus prof mated, with the royal salts, in sin of her
Majesty's carriages and four, with oat-rides in scarlet live-
ries, escorted by • detachment of Life Guards, en routs to
the Great Western Railway.
From aa early hoar in the afternoon thouesnds of per-
sons of both sems took up their positions on the footpaths,
sad at the various windows in the New Kent-road, and
also in that part of the Old Keut-road approaching the
Bricklayers' Arms Station, to await the arrival of their Ln-
perMl Majesties.
Upon the cortege reaching the cum of the road at the
Elephant sad Castle, one tremendous cheer greeted their
Majesties. which they graciously acknowledged by bowing
to the amembled crowd. A great mustier of flap sad
streamers were suspended acmes theWeatainster road ; and,
the front of Cooke's (Astlap's) Amphitheatre was decorated
with flogs, sad many prints booms exhibited streamers and
batmen.

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