The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-04 00:00:00

INCIDENTS OF THE D.Y.

The procession moved always at a quick pace—
not less than three or three and a half miles an hour.
The official reports of the police state that not a single
person was observed the worse for drink.
Upwards of 4,000 foot and IGO mounted police were
placed upon and near the line of route and in different
parts of the town, but they were kept as much out of

sight as possible.
Frenchmen kept up an animated discussion in their
native language and an unmistakable marching chorus
burst every now and then from a band of some 30 or 40
carrying flags with the legend "Lurch Bildung :ur
Frciheit."
After passing the Wellington-arch, a few stands h:.d
been erected for the convenience of those willing to pay
for the privilege, but the only occupant of the first half.
dozen was the proprietor, disappoiatedly smoking a short
pipe.
With regard to numbers the Times puts them at not
MOM than 25,000. The Daily News quotes calculations
which place the numbers as between 40,000 and 50,000,
while others range as high as from 60,000 to 70,000. Pro-
bably the former of these estimates will he the nearer the
mark. The numbers given by the Herald are 30,000.
Just before 12 a private brougham, driven by a mud-
splashed coachman, passed through Pall-mall and the
whole length of the crowd. It contained the Duke of
Edinburgh and two other gentlemen. His royal highness
kept himself well back in his corner, and passed through
unhonoured and unsung.

Amongst those who had been attracted to the park
were noticed two members of the present tory administra:

tion, namely, Lord Henry Lennox, of the Admiralty, and
Mr. Earle, of the Poor-law Board. The latter gentleman,
it will be remembered, was formerly private secretary to
Mr. Disraeli. _

The shops in Pall-mall, Regent-street, and Piccadilly,
as a rule, were closed—in the first two thoroughfares
entirely, except such as were protected by railings. The
windows, and when feasible, roofs were all occupied. The
streets themselves were kept in admirable order by men
interested in the event—men who were either members of
the Reform League or of the trades' societies.
Of the tailors and shoemakers who walked it was ob-
served that their appearance afforded a notable contradic-
tion to the old saying that tailors are always ill dressed
and shoemakers ill shod. The tailors were certainly the
best dressed men in the procession, and the boots of the
shoemakers appeared to be sound enough and strong
enough to resist the wet and mud even of such an after-
noon as yesterday.
The horses of the farriers were evidently innocent of
blood and breed, and the action of a few made one think
involuntary of fresh-ploughed fields and country lanes.
Nevertheless, the worthy farriers, with their blue scarves
and healthy hardy faces, seemed immensely pleased with
their horses and, accoutrements, and what they lacked in
ornament they made up in utility.
General Slr John Burgoyne, inspector-general of en-
gineers and director of works, and some other high officials
of the War Department, witnessed the procession from the
balcony of the War-office. Among other well-known
politicians at the various windows in Pall-mall were Colonel
Lindsay, M.P., Sir G. Bowyer, the Eight Hon. W.
Cowper, &c.
In the drill-room of the South Middlesex Rifles, which Is
upon the ground, refreshments were supplied to the
members of the Demonstration Committee ; and in this
apartment it was strange to note that out of some scores
of military pictures a solitary Life Guardsman was the
only representative of England. Grenadien of the " Old
Guard," Polish Lancers, and Austrian " Red" Human
made up the ornaments of the walls.
The clubs were full—the Athenaeum, with exceptional
gallantry, having ladies on its balcony. The Oxford and
Cambridge was the first in the day to make a show of sym-
pathising or unsympathising lookers-on. The Army and
Navy came next, then the Travellers, and the two great
political clubs were last of all in filling their balconies and
windows. The rule was for the men to march on