The Express.
London, England, 1849-09-29 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S DEPARTURE FROM

SCOTLAND.

[From a second edition of the lidinburgh Courant of Thursday.]

Her Majesty, Prince Albert, and the members of
the r =yet family, left their Highland residence at Belmoral
at an early hour this morning, where they have been in the
enjoyment, for a period of about six weeks, of the privacy
and seclusion so much in harmony with the exalted feelings
and virtues which adorn the character of our beloved sove-
reign. The retirement of the court amidst the solitude and
grandeur of our Highland scenery has been preserved with
the utmost sanctity, aad the confidence reposed by the Queen
in the loyalty and affection of her subjects has met with a
response highly creditable to the national character. The
precise day of her Majesty's departure for Osborne house,
Isle of Wight, was at first fixed for Wednesday (yesterday),
but the prevalence of cholera, both in Perth and Stirling
—where it was at one time in contemplation that the royal
party should remain during the night—led to an entire
alteration in the arrangements, and it was ultimately deter-
mined that her Ms city should proceed at once fens Bal-
moral to Howick Hall, the seat of Berl Grey, a distance of
about 230 miles.

The royal party left Balmoral about eight o'clock this
morning, and proceeded by the Spinal of Glenshee, the
Bridge of Celly and Blairgowrie, to the station of the
Scottish Midland Junction Railway at Cupar-Angus, where
a special train was in readiness for their use. The journey
was uceomplished by posting, and her Majesty reached
Ceps'-Angus at fifteen minutes past three o'clock. About
ten minutes were spent in affixing the carriages and luggage
trucks (seven in number), and the royal party then pro-
ceeded on their war, passing through Perth and Stirling,
and reaching the Greenhill station (the point of junc.ion be.
twee° the Scottish Central and Edinburgh and Glasgow
lines) about fifteen minutes past five o'clock.
ARRIVAL OF HER MAJESTY IN EDINBURGH.
The arrangements at the station were of the most complete
description, and reflect the utmost credit on the directors. A
spacious gallsry, 160 feet in length, by 9 feet in depth, ca
pable of containing 600 people, was erected along the north
boundary wall of the elegant station, and was filled by a
fashionable and brilliant assemblage of ladies and gentlemen.
'The platform in front was laid with crimson cloth, 40 feet in
length and 12 feet in breadth; aed upon the roofs of the
various offices was a fine display of greenhouse plants.
A detachment of the 21st Royal North British Fusiliers
formed the guard of honour, and were ranged along the plat-
form. The excellent band of the regiment was also present,
and performed a variety of music.
The 21st Fusiliers left the Castle about two o'clock,
with the local corps of pensioners (who had been
called up for the occasion), and marched to the railway ter-
minus by the Lawnmsrket, Bank.street, and Earthen
Mound. A detachment of the Fusiliers was stationed in
East Prince's-stree-gardens, in front of the palisades erected
there, and the pensfreers lined both sides of the railway in
West Prince's-street-gardens. A company of artillery
arrived at the castle from ledth Fort at two o'clock to fire
the royal salute.
The Queen's Bays were stationed at bath ends of the
North-bridge to prevent a pressure of people upon the para-
pet walls ; and a similar precaution was adopted at Waver-
ley-hridge. Some of the Fusiliers were also placed at
Amphion-piece (overhanging the gas works), for the tame
purpose, and at other points on the line of the North British
Railway.
The East Prince's street Gardens wire thronged from an
early hour by dense crowds, to witness the royal train as it
swept into the station. The elevated terrace at the hue of
the Scott Monument, unique in grandeur and taste, afforded
a commanding position of the ground below, now being laid
out in harmony with the natural beauty of that romantic
valley, separating the old from the new town. The body of
the gardens was also thronged by an immense mass of
spectators. The prospect was of a striking and picturesque
character, the immense mass swayieg to and fro in the ex-
citement of the scene, and rending the air with their *cede-
matiens ; while beyond was the disk and irregular bark-
ground of the Old Town, grim with the smoke of centuries,
and teeming with the associations of a rich historic pest.
The West Prince's-street Gardens were thronged by a
numerous assemblage of ladies and gentlemen. From the
windows of various houses in Prince's-street and ether streets,
flags were displayed in honour of the occasion ; and the va-
rious locomotive engines belonging to tee North British
Railway were finely decorated with evergreens and flowers.
The Lord Provost, magistrates, and council, began to
assemble in the Council Chambers about three o'clock, p.m.
At half-put three o'clock, hating put on their robes and
insignia of office. they proceeded to the railway station in
nine carriages—the Lord Provost's carriage, which WI
modest but handsome, having two footmen with halberts be-
hind. On arriving at the railway station they immediately
proceeded to occupy their places in the centre of the gallery,
in front of which the high constables were ranged.
Among these present on the platform were the Earl of
Morton, Hon. Bouverie Pimrose, Professor Wilson, Major-
General Sir James Riddell, commanding the Forces and
Staff, M. Mocroix, commanding the Prevoyaat French
frigate, &c. John Learmouth, Eq, of Dean, chairman of
the North British Company, was 6/10 present, with a large
body of the directors.
The large assemblage awaited the arrival of her Majesty
without any display of impatience, and at length, about
twenty minutes past five o clock, intelligence was received
by telegraph that the royal train had passed Linlithgow.
This information diffused the liveliest satisfaction, as all ap-
prehensions on the subject of her Majesty's arrival were
thus put at an end.
The telegraph at the Haymarket station of the Win-
burah and Glasgow Railway communicated the approach of
her Majesty about seven minutes to six o'clock; and the
thundering of the guns from the Cutlet in a minute after-
wards confirmed the gratifyieg intelligence.
Precisely at five minutes to 6 o'clock the royal train
entered the station at Waverley Bridge, amidst the enthu-
siastic cheering of the spectators, and was stopped exactly
in front of the Led Provost and magistrates. Colonel
Anton, Equerry to his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
immediately afterwards alighted from a carriage in the
royal ' , and introduced the Lord Provost to her
Majesty and her Illustrious consort, when the Queen said
to his lordship—" I am very glad to MY you in the
city of Edinburgh ;" to which the Lord Provost replied,
that, in the name of the inhabitants, he had to offer
her Maj sty their most hearty welcome to her city of
Edinburgh. He was lorry that her Majesty's stay would be
so short ; but again, in the name of the eitisens of Edin-
burgh, he heartily wished her Majesty • most prosperous
joerney. His Royal Highness Prince Albert also said,
" We are sorry that oar stay is so short in your beautiful
city."
The Etrl of Morton had next the honour of presentation
to her Majesty sad the Print*, and was followed by Genteel
Riddell. Her Majesty having asked to see Sir Junes
Forrest, the hon. baronet stepped forward, and was presented
to the Queen. Mr. Lunnouth had also the same honour, and
presented • basket of fruit to her Majesty, which she was
most graciously pinned to accept.
The royal carriage was lighted up, and, besides her Ma-
jesty and Prince Albert, it contained the Princess Royal, the
Prince of Wales, and Prince Alfred, all of whom were un-
covered. The Queen wore a shawl of the Royal Stuart
pattern, and seemed to be much gratified with her recep-
tion.
The change of engines having bi en effected, which oats-
sion:d • delay of only • few minutes, the directors of tie
North British Reilway entered the saloon cartilage in front
of the train, which immediately proceeded on its journey,
amidst the most enthusiastic applause. Many of the specta-
tors followed it for some distance along the line, and cheered