The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-20 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 20, 1867.

glass. This reflected the uniforms, the ladies' gay
dresses, the flowers, shrubs, and conservatories, in
a highly effective manner. It is impossible to
mention the names of all the distinguished visi-
tors, but we observed the Bishop of Lon-
don, Mrs. Tait, Mrs. Gladstone and two Misses
Gladstone, Earl Harrowby, the Earl and
Countess Granville, Mr. Beresford Hope, Lord
Lyttelton, Mr. Otway, M.P., Mr. W. E.
Forster, M.P., Sir Roderick Murchison, Dean
and Lady Augustus Stanley, the Lord Mayor, and
the late Lord Mayor. The Prince of Wales had
promised to come, but after the reception pro-
per had been delayed for an hour, it was un-
derstood he had sent to say that he was
prevented at the last moment. Although this did
not mar the pleasure of the afternoon it created
considerable disappointment, and nowhere more
than along the route, where many had waited for
bourn to see the novelty of royalty in Cam-
den or Kentish Town. Other members of
the royal family, however, came, to be wel-
comed warmly wherever they were recognised,
whether in the streets or on the grounds.
The Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Teck,
and the Princess Mary Adelaide, the Grand Duke
and Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitr, and with
them the Duke of Aosta and his new bride arrived
early in private carriages. M. Van de Weyer and
the Marquis d'Azeglio were likewise present.
When it was apparent that the Prince of Wales
was not coming, the Belgians who had been kept in
line below were ordered to march, and they pro-
oeeded along one of the walks four abreast. They
came with all the glory of band and drum, and at
quick step. The royal and distinguished visitors
stationed themselves in the balcony to see the
march past, and Miss Coutts and one or two per-
sonal friends stood on the cottage steps to welcome
her guests. Amongst the groups upon the lawn
near were two of the Sultan's suite. The Chasseurs
were first, the Garde Civique next, and the
artillery next. The march was performed wider
full sunshine, and the corps looked imposing and
handsome. When the colonel of the Garde Civique
passed the steps he deviated from the line and pre-
sented Mies Coutts with a huge bouquet brought
from Ghent especially for her. The men doubled
round a second walk that slanted across the lawn,
and then marched to the dinner tents, where the
burgomasters and officers without troops were
already seated. A slight delay occurred in conse-
guenee of the desire of the Belgians not to com-
mence dinner until Miss Coutts had arrived at a
small tent where the programme stated she would
receive an address ; but as the non-appearance of
the Prince of Wales seemed to have disarranged a
few secondary details, the repast was commenced
at her request without the carrying out of this
part of the proceedings. Of meat, drink, fruit,
and champagne there was enough and to spare on
the tables, to say nothing of the reserve which Mr.
Gunter had in an adjoining tent. During the
meal Miss Coutts walked through the tents, and
was loudly cheered by the Belgians. It might be
added that the small tent referred to was the one
from which the Queen fired the first shot at
Wimbledon.

After dinner the royal visitors, with Lord Gran-
ville, Miss Coutts, and many members of the
English reception committee, repaired to the
centre tent. Earl Granville here fluently ad-
dressed the Belgians in French, welcoming
them in the name of Miss Coutta to Holly-
lodge. The noble earl spoke in the highest terms
of the hostess, who, he said, deserved the Order of
Leopold and the Victoria Cross. During his sub-
sequent remarks he said England and Belgium had
historic ties, and the two countries, although they
differed, resembled each other ; they competed
sometimes as conquerors, sometimes as vanquished ;
in all that concerned commerce they were rivals
in all the markets of the world ; they both loved
industry, order, and peace ; they possessed in com-
mon a love of liberty and independence. These
remarks were received with vociferous cheering,
the Belgians having been throughout unable to
express their delight at the graceful terms and
cordial language which the noble speaker used.
Loud cheers for Miss Coutts, for England, and for
Lord Granville, followed. The Belgian com-
mandant, Colonel Gregoire, thanked Miss Coutts
for her "splendid reception," which he said was
another added to • list of magnificent entertain-
ments which they would never forget. The health
of Miss Coutts was here drank. In a few words
Prince Teck proposed " The Health of the King
and Queen of the Belgians"—the toast being of
course applauded to the echo. M. Mertens, one of
the popular interpreters among the riflemen, made
an earnest appeal for aid towards the funds of the
Society for the Relief of Belgians in Distress in this
country, and the appeal was so well timed that, at
the suggestion of Major Andrimont the Belgians
agreed each to give five out of the fifty francs he
had deposited as a guarantee before leaving for this
country. After half an hour's lounge the corps
were marched off the ground, some to attend the
concert at Islington, others to disperse at their
pleasure. Some of the visitors wandered about the
grounds, enjoying the charming nooks and shady
walks, fragrant with rose, honeysuckle, lemon,
pink, and other old-fashioned but always welcome
garden favourites.
Whoever had the mapping out of the flte
arrangements deserves sincere thanks, and we
believe Mr. W. H. Wills is the gentleman to whom
those thanks are due. Everything passed off hap-
pily, and the march of the volunteers back to Cam-
den-town was a progress of jollity, the corps sing-
ing alternately • verse of our National Anthem and
a stanza of the Brabanconne. There was as much
cheering and excitement along the road as before.
During the proceedings at Holly-lodge there was
a musical entertainment, in which, under the
direction of Mr. Wrighton, Mr. Fielding, Mr.
Young, Mr. Wilbye Cooper, Mr. Montem Smith,
Mr. F. Walker, and Mr. Chaplin Henry, with the
choir of the Highgate Grammar-school, took part.
The band of the Coldstream Guards, under Mr.
F. Godfrey, and • police band played in the
grounds. The following committee assisted Miss
Coetta :—Lord Sandon, Sir Massey Lopes, Bart.,
M.P., Mr. John Abel Smith, M.P., Mr. Jervoise
Smith, M.P., Honourable General Upton, Mr.
Henry Wellesley, Mr. R. C. Antrobus, Mr. U.
Kay Shuttleworth, Mr. W. H. Wills, Mr. J.
Hassard, Rev. Dr. Dyne, Rev. C. B. Dalton, Mr.
Elliot Grasett, Colonel Wilkinson, Mr. Otway,
M. P., Mr. H. Wagner, Captain Thomson, Rev. F.
R. Stooks, Mr. Lopes, &c. (in all twenty gentle-
men), and about fifty-six young gentlemen
from the Cholmeley or Highgate School. By
these the general company were arranged, and the
route within the grounds kept. The twenty gen-
tlemen wore blue and white ribbons and
the Belgian colours ; and the young gen-
tlemen from the Highgate School wore the
Belgian colours, and a dark blue ribbon each.