The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-31 00:00:00

THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONY AT NOTRE

DAME.

As early as 9 o'clock this morning, crowds, con-
sisting mostly of workmen and women, began to col-
lect about the Tuileries, the Elyske, and the Place chi
Qurousel. The ouvriers here and there might be
laird indulging in lively and humorous commenta-
' she upon the great event of the day; while the other
es; more curious in their way, cast wistful looks at
be palace, and audibly expressed their wonder who
might be the persons that now and then presented
Ibmiselves at the doors or windows. Children in
As, or pickaback, waiting with marked impatience
br the coming cortege; wild-looking pease, roost-
ing on neighbouring fences or trees, sported long
herds and smoked short pipes while the infantry
and guards deployed in the spacious avenues, or hur-
riedly marched past to take up their appointed
positions.
The exterior appearance of Notre Dame to-day
was truly magnificent and imposing. The splendid
pavilion which had been erected at such immense
cost, occupied the whole fteade of the noble strut).
ture, and was emblamedd with the aerial bearings
of the Emperor. The Illiterial dig wm ess.
structed was ancient trgestry, the meet
illustrious nes of the .13th and 14th mantles, es.
riched by prism hansimpi, erabesidseed
Above the gessipsdise WI APS&
in relief, repress ding aelskdiese—saa at
Charlemagne, the cam L IleteesssAs
two towers whicili mime See havolm, as •
colossal Mator at ear Saviour. Oelemsess limed
from all the tomes. tad at their his angles sem
colossal swim alillpread wings.
The isasisrosspillamtlyilsocested, and resplend-
ent withßiliserweis myr.iad candles, presented as
sect et sesseg description.
Altar, width had bum removed to the
front of the choir, was covered by a gorgeous canopy
united to the lateral columns by an elegant Gothic
gallery. A platform, overhang by a canopy deco-
rated with eagles, and surmounted by an imperial
crown, stood before the altar, and was occupied by
the throne and the two prie Dieu.. The seat of the
Archbishop of Paris, also splendidly canopied, was
at the right of the altar.
The choir was illuminated by about 15,000
candles, shedding a whole flood of light over the
building, and heightening the effect of the scene be-
yond description.
On each side of the edifice were suspended banners
bearing the names of the BO departments. The
*alumni were encircled with red velvet, embroidered
with gold.
As the hour approached for the Empress and her
suite to leave the Elysee, throngs of people were
emu streaming down the Boulevards, the Rae Rivoli,
and all the other principal thoroughfares, until the
whole neighbourhood of Palace, and the various
streets through which the imperial procession was
to pass, from theTuileries to the cathedral, presented
one dense mass of human life, the only vacancy be-
ing the middle of the streets reserved for the proces-
sion, on each side of which was a double line of
troops of the army and the national guard, extending
throughout the entire distance.
The two state camages which had been despatched
to the Elyske for the Empress, arrived at that palace
about half-past eleven; and after • very brief delay
were on their return to the Tuileries with their im-
perial charge in nearly the same order of attendance
as was observed on the occasion of the civil ceremony
last evening. This morning, however, Senator the
Count de la Pagerie, Grand Master of tho Empress's
Household, accompanied her Majesty in the same
carriage, and the escort duty was performed by heavy
cavalTh weather was exceedingly favourable. On the
first appearance of the Empress the liveliest curiosity
was exhibited by the crowds who pressed forward as
far as the vigilant guard would allow them, to obtain
a sight of their Emperor's choice, respecting whose
beauty the whole thousand tongues of rumour have of
late been incessantly occupied. Cries of" Vive l'lm-
peratice !" were vociferated, to which the Empress,
apparently somewhat agitated, replied by two or
three very graceful bows, as the imperial carriages
moved onward.
The procession passed ate moderate pace directly