The Express.
London, England, 1850-09-20 00:00:00

SAXON SINGS.

Yesterday, the town of Kingston-on-Thames was
the scene of a very novel ceremony, described in the words
of the advertisement so the inauguration of the ooronation
stone of the Anglo-Bmon Kings, the ancestors of our illus-
trious Queen.

In order that the world at lugs—that is to say, the non-
residents in the town of Kingston—may clearly understand
the nature and object of this ceremonial, it may be well to
Wee thst, according to the old chronicles of this locality, a
national council wee held here in the year 838, at which
Igbert, the first King of England, and his son Attielwolf,
were preemie ; and subsequent to that period seven of the
AagloSaxen kings were crowned in the borough. These
monarchs were Edward the Elder, Athelstan, Edmund, Ethel-
red, Eldred, Edwy the Fair, and Edward, and the ceremony
M each coronation is said to have been performed
upon a particular stone: that is to say, a large block of mis-
shapen granite, bevies no pretensions whatever to so dipi-
Aid a position. This atone has, it appears, from the Saxon
period to the present time, been preserved la the town, but
notwithstanding the interest which has now attached to it,
he inhabitants of Kingston do not appear to have treated it
with any marked regret, for until very lately the " throne
gee Seven Kings (as a poet has called it) continued to
Nand in en exposed situation outside one of the pubic build-
ings. Here it was used as a meeting place for boys at play,
arm as a " stepping stone" to assist riders in mounting their
'Yams, its historic character gaining it no special regard.
At length, however, it occurred to some of the inhabitants
K the detect that they should do honour to themselves and
their ancestors by guarding this precious stone in a manner
suited to the dignified offices with which it had been arm-
eialissi, and thai rendering it an object of permanent late-
reitunii impunities to the town of Kingston. With this
Ow a small piece of ground wee set apart for its resting-
plus, in the public way between the town-hall and the
eguart.house. On this spot a foundation of a circular form
bee lately been erected nuder the direction of a Mr. Henry
Yang, and on the atones of which it is composed are in-
scribed the names of the seven kings above enumerated.
This forms the basement of a small pedestal, on which has
hue filed the coronation stone, and there it is intended to
remain, m • memorial of the bygone greatness of the town
Of KiitsriMs. To preserve it from vulgar intrusion, a hand-
lesh lean railing has been built around it ; and the whole
Mara • design which will be an interesting and conspicuous
euesient to the town.
The inauguration of the " monument" was celebrated
j=tiy with masonichorm as as, and the event w consii-
f suck paramount importance that all the shops in
,Klageton ware clued, and the houses were decorated with
flags and evergreens, forming in some pleats triumphal
MIN ea a smell stale. The streets were thronged with
firm various pare of the county ; and large numbers
of Issemseu were it atteadanse, decorated with the full
.

paraphernalia et the Order.
The areaway somnoneed at one o'clock, when the Prin-
cipal Grand Mauer of the Freemasons (Mr. Dottie), accom-
panied by Mr. Gorge Penfeld, Senior Warden of the Pro-
vincial Grand Lodge, with the brethren of the province and
other stooge, meembled at the Town Hall to meet the
Moyer of Kingston, attended by the corporation and bur-
genes of the tows. A procession was then formed to the
11611111 Wat, where ea address was delivered of which the
Coronation Steno was the theme, and the aerosol of in-
anemias was performed by the Provincial Orand Master
with due moseade solemnity. A loud " Rena I" was then
raised by the sameasdhei people, and the principal actors
is the seise eseeessil ingreitentei to the Town Hall, from
whim's Wry repaired* grease of Mr. Charles Nowlin,
wham an theitat drirraesr was prepared beneath a marquee
meted fee the sesselea. The guests numbered upwards of
NM ladies and pesithassa, Mr. Pazupltillon, the mayor, pro-
s*
by Si, Edward Sagden, Mr. Preihfield
s=rreurrey), Mr. Debi' Mr. Oao. Tenfold, Col.
Smythe, of the 16th Loon, Captain' Dunn, Mr. Young
(the anglaise et the movement), Mr. Gould, etc. The in-
toner eillemorque was gaily decorated with Rowers and
margreasymed, the large trees on the grounds being visible
threeent that alit opening at each end, the effect was
ark*, and inepirlting. A military band was is attend-
ease, sollieverry preparation was made to do honour to this
fete thamprire. The tables, like the company, were " well
clamed," sad the various accessories were most tastefully
na=es mso ash that the scene assumed a character
il see the Kingston Coronation-stone to be re-
wiled with ithriessed interest and eatiafaction by all who
were pressed ma the eemeloa.
Several speedos ware delivered at the close of the enter-
tainment, sad essioget thus was one by Mr. Freshfield,
who rioted on the reasons which justified the people of
==iii"Kingstown," al he observed it ought to be
r enegnag this ceremony; and concluded by es-
premist:epe that the stone they had that day inangurstad,
endure as a memorial of the proud position
the town was entitled to hold in the history of this
colustsg. This toast was received with great enthusium, and
was responded to with becoming honours. Various other
tosses having been drank, ineladiog that of Mr. Dobie and
his brother Freemasons, the National Anthem was sung by
the children of the schools,. who wen afterwards presented
with books and modals, is commemoration of the event.
A series of aquatic sports were then commenced at Town's-
end, and the Solving& of the day terminated in a grand dis-
play of fireworks on the Thames.

TROOPS FOR THE WEST INDIES.—The Apollo
troop ship, Command., Rawstorne, after embarking the two
companies of Royal Artillery at Portsmouth to-day, will
proceed to Cork, and embark dataohmnta of the line at that
port to fill up the vacancies in the head quarters of the
regiments at Jamaica and Bubadoes, and other stations in
the West Indies.