The Express.
London, England, 1857-05-06 00:00:00

authorities fell into the procession. The whole length
of road from All Saints Church to the Art Treasures
Palace was exceedingly crowded, and there must
have been present many hundreds of thousands of
persons, including great numbers of females and
children, as well as men. The ends of all the streets
abutting upon the line of road and commanding a
view of-the proeassion were blocked up with vehi-
eks crowded with people, windows and balconies
were in many places filled well-dressed ladies and
by children, and at various places platforms of great
extent had been erected, and were crowded with
people. The great area in front of the Art Trea-
sures Palace must have had in it more than 40,000
people when the royal cortege reached this point, at
two o'clock, end they welcomed his royal highness
with hearty cheers.
The events of the day, at least in as far as the
city itself is concerned, may be said to have begun in
Infirmary-square' where the huge piles of silent
warehouses are making a praiseworthy attempt to
look rleasant by "Hanging a banner on the outer
wall ; but, like L'orran's simile of " A silver plate
on • coffin," it only marks more prominently the
ordinary sombre character of the elder generation of
these buildings. With every floor open, cranes
creaking, and huge bales swinging in the sir, it
would bs impossible to look on a more suggestive
nemegionasemomirosot &Bride energy and skilled
industry than one of these huge piles, but on a holi-
day, when the order is that all MOJA must be gay,
it can hardly be said that they rise with the occasion,
or at all contribute to the resat character of the
scene. But when we get into Oxford-road, which
in ita normal state Is something like what our
Waterloo-road would be if the bridge toll were two-
pence, a faint idea begins to force itself on the mind
that something beyond an ordinary festivity is
being enacted. Each corner showed its fringe of
people, the pathways exhibited that appearance of
motion which is sommunicated by an ambulant
crowd, and the huge omnibuses rushed by in scores,
for once crowded to the roofs, and the conductors
shining resplendent in new scarlet uniforms, provided
expressly for the occasion. Bat the most gratifying
feature in the scene wu the total absence of that
organised force which in all other European countries
is considered absolutely necessary to keep " the black
people "in order. A stalwart constable, trimly clad
in Lincoln green, might be seen here and there
extemporising a pose plastique for the benefit of the
girls, but beyond that he had nothinf_Attr: do. In
Manchester, as everywhere else in ' land, the
system is " Every man his own policeman, and well
and deftly it must be said do they perform the duty.
As we got lower down the road, and nearer the green
Islds, the walking
.crowd became more dense, and
the stream of carriages became more continuous.
Bat the shops were all open, so keen is the spirit of
bade in this industrious capital, and in many I saw
bilging and selling gain cosiest m usual. The fee-
Toorie however mode it a holiday and
merrily, heedless of the tolling of a
Meng bell in one of the suburban churches,
scud broke in with a solemn incony on the
sesual hilarity. Platforms were hitcourse of
see dies, and hospitable individuals, decorated with
Wamendous rosettes, were inviting the people to
mine, but during my promenade very few people
iswelied themselves of the proffered accommodation.
The keg lines of carriages deserve a word or two of
epeeist notice. In every continental society
the first that strikes the stranger is the com-
parative isilier et the private carriages as they
menter samilm sad the recollections
the lagibienle Newt to RLotouraereten-rowenifts
Liis= oleo
ne ainaghs let
of .
falba et the kind need he
wad; the hence au are en eleges fine and as
as in imams ; and as foe them fair occw
guts, it will be hued that, whether in face or toi-
lette, they may compare with any of the best fa-
voured communities. I arrived at the principal
entrance shortly before 12 o'clock, and bend it be-
tem.!! a brilliant crowd, but on entire* the
was quite surprised to find it already nearly
11111 boa* and fashion. As usual on occa-
sioned di ibi the heat rows were given up to
the belies teal auneet themeinmeliname, in all but
the (iomense. might esedip Mendhamesem the
living monad
the Isipsani Reelhre en
the walla Ms swig amagpmenies Merida el—
bet, an i/111111.111* gallery efashehkg dam tam
Kirtland and Jealineb peed errs} portly for nu-
Asians and partly foe speasters and at its amiss-
theesmacious dam with two tights of steps, and
with crimson cloth. The only deooratiOns
were the chair el state, a small Turkey carpet, and
two lofty Inedenike with devices mashie to the
occasion. The samegemests appeared to be slew
'ether adati rablei. lade toys in uniforms beim
what about with veva glares, and the losel Oise
wan, with me easepdm, be* 'Saint and
us shift, Isaa use mot lei, Is ha
s Mie sea see MI memeheid iyn2 ;
seem
but iha r the ,I, n a Loothate, awe to
attribute it is seer degree set
mane dopy Mr.Pearoe, whose
eall test Ifem a severely tasted saw.
rad
bin sod Paris sergens-de-ville. ♦A
of hawse ihe Nth Regiment and a amp
eteedlkey naked at alit& before one o'clock, ash ,
lamed troolomes in the front of the build= i
port weed to excite a good deal of
mewl the ceased outaido, using that the el
Wow osommi Ad to We momatE
bommeoil grab Mos Weida pt a apse
oolloloot he Ito so* mid& About this time the
Lod May or lamer, sal the High &miff+,
Illooro. IliuM
or
out loato, arrived, accompanied by
Mr. Aldermen Ilabosom, late Lord Mayor, and Mr.
Alderman Caramel, whose specimens of ceramic
art contribute se melt to the attractiveness of the
exhibition. Mar* attar, the Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland, acoompuisd by his mite was received at
the principal • iTUDOO by Mr. Deane, and proceeded
to manias the gallery of ancient masters, which,
en thin usenien, were carefully " tiled " from the
general puha& I noticed, also, the Duke of New-
Male, Mr. Valles, the American minister, Sir J.
Hall, and essay others of our London notabilities.
Whilst waiting for the arrival of the Prince, I took
an opportunity of visiting the magnificent reception
room prepared for the Prince, for the arrangements of
which we are indebted to an eminent London house,
Messrs. Jackson and Graham, of Oxford-street. The
room is of graceful proportions, with a soft subdued
light, and entirely furnished in all the luxury of the
Louis guinea period. On • regal carpet of Au-
busson are arranged marquetene tables, chairs in
gold and satin, rare cabinets and candelabra, and as
many exotics as could be obtained on short notice,
without the aid of the Botanical Society, who, it
appear., have sternly refused to reirre the Exhibition
the !lightest assistance. Should the committee de-
termine on making this elegant chamber a part of
their bill of fare, I have no doubt but that, as in
the cue of the imperial suite at Sydenham, it will
very much promote the sale of season-tickets. On
this point, however, I believe they have nothing to
complain of, as up to last night upwards of 10,000
had been sold.
THE CEREMONIAL.
Precisely at two o'clock the noise of artillery an-
nounced the arrival of the Prince and the brilliant
cortege which had accompanied him from Abney
Hall. On his royal highness's arrival we were
very near losing all that part of the proceedings
which dep.ended upon gunpowder, as the owner of
the field in which the artillery bad been placed
sternly refused at the last minute his permission, and
the gallant officer in command was obliged to off
in search of another locality. It is to be hoped that
this first specimen of the democratic tendency of
Manchester may not produce any unfavourable
impression on his royal highness. However,
every difficulty that may have arisen from
this little interruption was soon got over, the
pm were fired, and the Prince entered the
building, in the first instance going to the reception-
' mem„mhano.lian aimicipality of Manchester, the