The Express.
London, England, 1851-06-10 00:00:00

WHIT-MONDAY.

THE GREAT EXHIBITION was visited yesterday
by nearly 50,000 persons.
The thousands of holiday-makers who, yesterday
in spite of unpromising weather, left London under the
ample and easy arrangements of the railway and steam-
boat companies, left behind a crowd of sight-seers more
aumcroua, perhaps, than ever found amusement within the
metropolis on any previous Whit-Monday. The subjoined
figures will show the immense numbers who visited yester-
day our free public institutions. The British Museum, the
large library of which was for the first time thrown
open to the holiday-makers, was inspected by 27,631 per-
sons; the National Gallery entertained 17,347 visitors;
Marlborough:House, in which is deposited the Vernon collec-
tion, was seen by upwards of 23,700 persons; and more than
5,000 persons availed themselves of the opportunity to in-
spect the house of Lords.

WHIT6IIICTIDE IN VIE rROVINCES.—An ancient
ceremonial, which for a lung course of years has fallen into
disuctude, was yesterday revived in Lichfield. Many cen-
turies ago, there was held annually, in the city sloes, on
Whit Monday, • " Court of Array, or View of Men at
Arms," which ended in • frolicsome pageant, consisting of
athletic games, feasting, and other festive amusements.
With the increased facilities for approaching the city, con-
sequent on the opening of the Trent Valley and North and
South Staffordshire railways, the authorities determined to
revive this time-honoured festivity. Accordingly, yester-
day, the mayor, assisted by the civic dignitaries, left the
Guildhall in graced state, at 11 o'clock, followed by an im-
posing procession, consisting of knights on horseback, clad in
"complete armour," with their attendant ("quires and pages,
bands of music, morris dancers, town foul, and Maid Marian,
together with several thousands of the populace, who had
Socked in by trains from all parts of the district. The pro-
cession Anany halted at the " Green-hill Bower," where •
handsome collation was served up, presided over by the
mayor, Mr. John Mott. Thereafter the public were
admitted" to the "11111," which presented • scene of
great joYiety and merriment, with which the proceedings of
the day terminated.

ilf EXCURSION TRAINS.

Probably since the introduction of railways,
a greater maul of visitors in the metropolis war never
witnessed than was evidenced this Whitsuntide. Through-
out the whole of yesterday the vicinity of the Euston-
moue termihus of the London and North Western
Railway presented a very bustling appearance, for be-
sides the ordinary trains, which were much crowded,
there were as many as twenty excursionist trains from
the various torrus and largely populated districts on
the main Ind branch lines from Oxford, Northampton,
Rugby, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Manchester, and
Liverpool. The fare for a third clam with a return ticket
from Liverpool was 20e, and the visitors had a choice of
staying in London from four to twenty days. The farts on
the shorter trips were proportionately low. Numbers
arrived early iu the day, but it was towards evening that
the great mass came in from the long journeys.
Omnibuses, cabs, and every vehicle that could be
mado available fur travelling, were brought out
for distribution of the excursionists. On the Great Western
the Exhibition trains were well filled. Early in the day a
heavy one arrived from Bristol and Bath, the passengers
being charged but 6s. fur the double journey. The Great
Northern brought up a fair portion of visitors from the
Yorkshire and more northern districts, London being
reached from York with a return ticket, and an opportunity
of staying in the metropolis some days, for lea. 6d. third
class. By the Eastern Counties line, trains from Colches-
ter, l'eterbontugh, Ely, Norwich, and Yarmouth, brought
several thousands to the metropolis. The inhabitants of
Dover, Itamsgate, end other towns reached by the South
Eastern line, availed themselves of a train up to London to
view the inhibition yesterday amain at a moderate figure.