The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-20 00:00:00

THE HALL OF ARTS AND

SCIENCES.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE BY HER
MAJESTY.-(THIS DAY.)

The first stone of the projected Hall of Arta and
Sciences was laid this morning by Her Majesty
under circumstances of considerable pomp and
gaiety, but with little to denote the purposes of
the edifice or the precise void it is designed to fill.
The Queen, however, was seen to great advan-
tage by many thousands of her subjects, and from
the time of her Majesty's first appearing on the
dais to the moment of her heading the procession
through the huge tent to the Horticultural Gardens
her presence evoked an enthusiasm as unbounded
as it was respectful and sincere. Although the
period for the ceremony was not until 11.30 a.m.,
carriages began to arrive soon after 9 a.m., and
the huge place filled rapidly from the latter hour.
The assembly was mixed, but in the main
fashionable. Parisian dresses and bonnets of the
latest fashion, mysterious persiflage as to Derby
glove-beta, speculations as to the possibility of
leaving the gardens in time for Madame
Sainton's concert, and that strange society-jargon
which conveys so much to the initiated—
all these signs and symbols were to be seen and
heard on every side. But no one seemed to know
or care what the grand building was intended for,
and a general disposition to " chaff" the arts and
sciences was very apparent. The "Hall of Omni-
science" went from mouth to mouth ; and predic-
tions were freely hazarded as to the commonplace
uses to which the future edifice would be put. The art
of dress and the science of display were the ones
most prominent at this stage ; and the whole pro-
ceedings resembled, perhaps, a botanical fete or •
Handel festival rather than a solemn festival in-
augurating a new era in the improvement of man.
The energetic " authorities " gave all those
present ample opportunities of becoming ac-
quainted with the personnel of the trusty and well-
beloved councillors to whom the nation and pos-
terity owe so much. The tent itself was a plain
but convenient structure, adorned with some flags,
but showing bare rafters, and, save upon the dais
itself, with few attempts at decoration. Those
present were classified thus :—The ministers and
principal officers of state surrounded her Majesty
and court at the principal entrance ; to their right
were large divisions of the House of Lords and
Commons respectively, the members of which with
theirfriends filled one sideof the building. The diplo-
matic box, containing the various foreign ministers,
faced them, and M. Van de Weyer, Baron Brunnow,
and Musurua Bey were among the earliest arrivals.
Immediately at the foot of the platform or dais sat
such provincial mayors as chose to assert their local
dignity by wearing their robes of office, and the
remainder of the building was filled by the general
public. The first public reception was given to
Lord Derby, who was warmly greeted as, looking
pale and worn from his recent illness, he walked
slowly down the tent. Lord Stanley was recog-
nised next ; but as the other officers of state and
public men generally entered by another door and
took up their position without passing through the
assembled crowd, the time of their arrival passed
unnoticed, and they got down without a cheer.
Mr. Disraeli, with a huge cocked hat, and wear-
ing the same inscrutable look with which it is
his pleasure to treat the House of Commons,
sat motionless and stony as the Sphinx. The
Right Hon. W. Cowper kept with the general
public, as did Mr. Hunt, • the Secretary
to the Treasury, whose portly form loomed
larger in hie tight-fitting diplomatic dress. The
Duke of Cambridge, in tield•marshal's uniform,
was the first member of the royal family to arrive ;
then came their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales
and the Duke of Edinburgh, in their military and
naval uniforms respectively; and finally, after
a few false alarms, the cheers outside waxed louder,
the scarlet figures in the background became more
numerous, and in another moment the Queen,
dressed in the deep mourning with which we
have, alas ! become too familiar, was grace-
fully bowing her acknowledgements to a hearty
burst of unaffected welcome. This was
the moat effective tableau of the day. The
Queen as central figure ; the Princess Louise and
Princess Beatrice in pale green silk to the left ; the
scarlet uniforms of the Duke of Cambridge and the
Prince of Wales contrasting with the deep blue
and gold of the Duke of FAclinburgh, the High-
land dress of Prince Arthur, and the cadet's uni-
form of Prince Leopold, and the diplomatic dress
of Lord Derby, Lord Granville, and Mr.
Gathome Hardy, and the rich fringe of colour
presented by the various officers of state, among
whom the white robes and benignant face of
the Archbishop of Canterbury looked somewhat
out of place. Her Majesty was received by the
Premier and Mr. Gathome Hardy, whose new
position, as Mr. Walpole's successor, gave him
a prominent place in the proceedings.
After the cheering had subsided, the Prince of
Wales proceeded to reads short address, the Queen
listening attentively, and repeatedly bowing
approval. Then, handing the large bouquet pre-
sented to her on her arrival to the Princess Louise,
her Majesty read the reply. It is customary to
d well upon the exceptional distinctness of the Queen's
enunciation ; but to-day neither her Majesty nor
the Prince of Wales were heard a dozen yards from
where they stood. Her Majesty was evidently
labouring under suppressed emotion ; and though
chatting cheerfully with her children, and smil-
ing frequently during the proceedings, there
were times when the effort was apparent.
The polished foundation stone was duly
prepared with mortar by the Messrs. Lucas,
the charter and coins were deposited, and the
trowel and levels handed to her Majesty,
who performed her portion of the task
with workmanlike precision. The Arch-
bishop of Canterbury then offered up a
short prayer ; the National Anthem, and a hymn
composed by the late Prince Consort were sung by
the choir ; and the Queen, followed by her family
and the other distinguished people assembled,
passed through the tent, amid loud and enthu-
siastic cheers. By this time the Queen's equani-
mity had returned ; and it was pleasant to note
not merely that she appeared in excellent health,
but that her spirits were more buoyant than they
have seemed for some time past. Her Majesty gra-
ciously stopped to specially thank Signors Mario and
Costa for their exertions, and distributed gracious
smiles and bows on all sides. The weather con-
tinued fine throughout the ceremony, but a heavy
rain set in soon after her Majesty's departure from
Paddington.
THE SCENE IN HYDE PARK.

The scene in Hyde-park and in the High-road,
Kensington, was very animated. The fact that
her Majesty would peas through brought numer-
ous groups there, and the numerous equestrians
and the number of carriages containing fashionably
attired ladies made the park particularly gay. A
detachment of the Life Guards kept the line from
Hyde-park-corner to Kensington. The first signal
of the approach of royalty was the appearance
of the state carriages (three in number) containing
his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and mite.
As they entered the north-east gate to the tent,
the Prince was hailed with cheers. Shortly after-
wards a rush was made in the direction of the
Queen's gate, and the hearty shouts of those
assembled indicated that her Majesty was near.
The Queen and party, conveyed in seven car-
riages, and escorted by • number of Horse
Guards, entered the northern approach to the
tent. During her Majesty's passage through the
park and from the Queen's gate to the site of
the intended Hall of Arts and Sciences the people
rent the air with cheers, and the Queen frequently
responded by bowing. The cheers did not cease till
it was known her Majesty had entered the tent,
and the band inside commenced playing the
National Anthem. The royal salute waa fired in
the park by a detachment of the Horse Artillery.
Twenty-one guns were fired, the report from which
made the ground tremble.