The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-07-23 00:00:00

MORE ROYAL MARRIAGES

A despatch dated Dresden, Monday evening, in-
forms us that the Princess Marguerite, of Saxony,
was affianced to the Archduke Charles Louis,
Governor of Tyrol, and second brother to the
Emperor Francis Joseph.

♦
SPAIN.

We learn from Marseilles, under date of Monday
evening, that whole families had made their escape
from Barcelona, and taken refuge in that city, in
consequence of the state of affairs in the Spanish
provinces. At the time they left Barcelona, on the
19th, they state that the town was in the highest
state of ferment and excitement.

THE FRENCH FUNDS

PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING

At the close of business on the Bourse to-day,
the French funds were quoted as follows :—Four
and a Half per Cents, 94f; Three per Cents, 70f

BELGIUM.

THE FETES AT BRUSSELS

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
BRUSSELS, JULY 21

The population of Brussels, and all Belgium,
will long retain a recollection of this memorable
day, the first of the three devoted to the commemo-
ration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of King
Leopold's accession to the throne—and it will
ever after occupy no mean place in the annals of
this city. Everything has, thus far, passed off
admirably well, and the people have manifested
the greatest enthusiasm.
At eight o'clock in the morning salvoes of
artillery, fired alternately by the National Guard
and the army, announced the solemnity of the
day. At nine o'clock three battalions of infantry
headed by three bands, proceeded to occupy the
Place St. Joseph—an immense square, not yet
entirely covered with buildings at the extremity of
the full part of the town. It was in this square
that the principal portion of the ceremonies was
destined to take place. It was fitted up in grand
style, with immense galleries extending round the
greatest part of it, and most elegantly decorated
with red draperies decked with gold. There was
also a splendid altar for the chanting of a Te Deem.
From ten to twelve deputations of the National
Guard, and army of the provinces, the chief towns
of provinces, and the communes ; also the members
of the Senate and of the Chamber of Representa-
tives, the judges, the authorities, and the diplomatic
corps, severally arrived in procession, and took
their places in the. galleries. All the bishops and
high clergy of the kingdom were also assembled
there. At twelve the King left the Palace of
Laeken, which is a few miles from the city. The
King was preceded by a detachment of the National
Guard on horseback, by his equerries, by a num-
ber of officials on horseback, and by two orderly
officers. His Majesty was accompanied by his two
sons, the Duke de Brabant, and the Count de
Flandres (all three on horseback) and was followed
by a brilliant staff of aides-decamp, orderly officers,
generals, and the superior officers of the army and
national guard. The great dignitaries of the
Court, and of the households of the Prince and
Princess came afterwards, in carriages drawn by
six horses, to their Royal Highnesses the Duchess
de Brabant, and the Princess Charlotte. The
cortege was closed by some court functionaries on
horseback, and by a detachment of cavalry. Alto-
gether it was very imposing. The King entered
the city by the gate of Laeken, amidst the thun-
dering of cannons, and the acclamations of the
people, who were assembled in vast crowds. His
Majesty was received by the Municipality, who
delivered complimentary addresses to him. Semi-
circular stands were erected, and were filled by ele-
gantly attired ladies carrying bouquets. The King,
having returned a suitable reply to the Munici-
pality, proceeded along the route which he took
on his entrance into Brussels, five and-thirty years
ago, to the Place Royale. This route is rather a
long one, and some of the streets are very steep
and narrow; but there was not a house on the
whole line which was not more or less decorated
with foliage, escutcheons, bearing the national arms,
or the national flag. Triumphal arches, some of
them of remarkable elegance, were erected at the
Porte de Laeken, in the Montague de la Cour, at
the entrance of the Rue Royale, in the Rue
Guimard, and at the extremity of the Rue
Royale Exterieure. The Place Royale was
decorated with triumphal arches, and paintings
of the inauguration of the King in 1831 ; the
column of the constitution, in the Place du Con-
gres, was ornamented with flags and garlands; in
front of the two chambers were a statue of the
constitution and an allegorical group, and a parterre
of flowers was constructed round the tree of
liberty, in front of the King's palace On arriving
at the Place Royale the King was received by the
surviving members of the National Congress who
called him to the throne, and they accompanied
him to the entrance of the Place St. Joseph, where
his Majesty found the Presidents of the Chambers
and the Ministers waiting to receive him. The
King then proceeded to a throne prepared for him,
then, after a pause, the national air, La
Brabanconne, was executed by several bands
This performance was followed by a can-
tata, composed for the occasion, executed by
slme hundreds of vocalists and instrumentalists.
The Senate and the Legislative Assembly then pre-
sented addresses of congratulation to the King;
after which, the Minister of the Interior offered his
Majesty medals commemorative of the solemnity.
The Cardinal Archbishop of Malines, and all the
Bishops of Belgium, with a numerous body of the
clergy, then proceeded to the altar and chaunted a
Te Deem, followed by the Domine salvum Jac regent.
After this, the deputations of the army and National
Guard filed off before the King. The King and
his family, attended by the Ministers, the great,
dignitaries of the Court and the State, the mem-
bers of the two Chambers, the judges, &c., &c., then
went on foot to the palace.
To describe adequately the enthusiasm with
which his Majesty was greeted would be no easy
task—it was more hearty, genuine, cordial, long-
sustained, than anything of the kind I have ever
seen on the Continent, and I am no novice in such
matters. The people evidently felt that the occa-
sion was a great national solemnity, and what they
did came from the heart. Every where on the line
of procession the manifestations were the same,
but they were the most hearty of all in the Place
St. Joseph Senators, deputies. ministers, national
guard, army, judges, vied with each other in
shouting " Vive le Roi," again and again ; even the
mitred bishops and surpliced clergy clapped their
hands, and joined in the cry.
The following is the speech of the King in reply
to the addresses of the Chambers :
MONSIEUR LE PRESIDENT DU SENATE, MONSIEUR LE
, PRESIDENT DE LA. CH AMBRE DES REPRESENTATIVES,

I am profoundly touched by the noble sentiments which
you have just expressed to me in language so affectionate
and elevated. I tbiuk I may recall, on this solemn occa-
sion, a passage of the discourse of the 21st July, 1831 :
gg I have only accepted the crown you have offered me with
the view of fulfilling a task as noble as it is useful—that of
being called to consolidate the institutions of a generous
people, and to maintain their independence." The ac •
comPlishment of this great mission met with numerous
difficulties. The independence of the good people,
conquered only as it were the day before, pre-