The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-05-30 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY.

appeared in the morning papers, that the local companies
would be paraded on the Exchange•flags, at half-past eleven
o'clock, and would fire a feu de joie in honour of her
Niejesty's birthday and the restoration of peace, a large
number of people congregated about the Town Hall, at the
hour mentioned, to witness the event. Their patience was
sorely tried, the companies not arriving until an hour after
the appointed time, but as very few present seemed to know
what the character of the demonstration would be, the
delay rather added to their anfcipated enjoyment in giving
" busy rumour," with her thousand tongues, full scope for
the exercise of her powers. At length the band of the
companies was heard approaching up Castle-street, and in
a few minutes afterwards they marched in to the flags,
under the command of Captain Faulkner. They then
formed three sides of a square, and fired a feu de joie,
consisting of three rounds of blank cartri'lge, than which
we apprehend nothing could be more alarming t,) the ladies
and children who occupied the windows of the surrounding
buildings and the Town Hall balcony. To the children in
particular, we have no doubt it realised the horrors of
war, and that they will long remember the withering volley
which they heard on the Exchange flags, the echo of which
penetrated into the palace of the Emperor of all the Russias,
and even reached his august ears while at an early lunch.
The usual chers were given after the fire, and as the band
struck up the National Anthem, the crowd took up the cry,
and again and again repeated the loyal shout. The band
then performed several popular airs, after which the com-
panies were dismissed, hut the crowds still lingered around
the spot to talk of the display which they had witnessed,
and to discuss the probable duration of that peace which

had j ust been celebrated.
PROCESSION OF SCHOOL-CHILDREN

In compliance with the published instructions of the
committee, the children of the various schools within the
borough begin to assemble shortly after twelve o'clock,
about the monument in the London-road and Abercomby-
square—the two appointed places of rendezvous. A con-
siderable time elapsed before the order of procession at either
point could be performed, and this arose not more
from the number of the children themselves, than from the
crowds of spectators who thronged the routes from the

starting points, even to the very gates of Wavertree-park.
At length the procession started, each school carrying some
distinguishing banner (all party fl age were properly pro-
hibited), and reached the park about two o'clock. Here,
however, the crush of spectators, among whom were many
of the ' roughs" of the town, became so great, that the
order of march was soon broken, and it became evident that
the committee had fallen into a serious mistake, in having
at all attempted to congregate such a number of children
at one pint, as they should have known full well tut each
a spectacle, combined with the attraction of several bands,
would have drawn together an equal number, if not more,
of spectators. There were fully 30,000 children present,
and we feel assured that we do not over-estimate the num-
ber of spectators, when we put them down at 30,000 more.
The effect may be conceived. It was Aintree race-course,
or steeple-chase day, without the tents, or Greenwich fair
without the booths. All was heat and turmoil ; a stifling
dust was everywhere; and that which was intended to be
a scene of pleasure to the children, became to them one of
distress, heightened by the fatigue which they had under-
gone, and of anxiety and alarm to the teachers, who were
responsible for their safety. An attempt was made to draw
off the crowd, by causing the bands to move in differen
directions, but the park was too small for such a manoeuvre,
and the design had to be abandoned. Every effort was
made, and we believe successfully, to supply the children
with the promised refreshment ; and, after it had been
partaken of with all the zest which a keen appetite gives to
the most meagre entertainments, the various schools began
to wend their way homewards. Unhappily, several of the
children became, in the course of their difficult progress
around the park, separated from their fellows ; but their
tars were soon dried, and fears allayed, by the snectators,
who, on all such occasions, at once considerately took them
under their charge and protection. The intention of the
committee was, no doubt, good ; but the means which
were taken to accomplish it wero not equal to the end.
It was pleasant to see such a number of children,
cf all creeds, brought together in harmony ; but
the pleasure which the spectacle afforded was lessened
by the turmoil and fatigue which both spectators and actors
in the scene had to undrgo. The bands of the Blue-coat
and Industrial Schoo's headed the processions, and stoutly
bore up against the fatigues of the day's march. The
children began to leave the park about four o'clock, but
the evening was far advanced before it was in any degree
freed from the myriads who thronged it throughout the
day.

ST. GEORGES' HALL AND THE °THEY

PUBLIC. BUILDINGS

All the principal public buildings, including the Custom
House ; the Royal Institution, Colquitt Street ; the Liver-
pool Institute. Mount Street ; the Perch Rock Battery,
New Brighton ; the Corn Exchange, Brunswick Street ;
St. James's Cemetery; Toxteth Park Cemetery; Smith-
down Lane ; Walton Cemetery ; the Blue-coat School,
School Lane; the Industrial Schools, Kirkdale ; the
Wapping Dock warehouses; the Public Library and
Museum, Duke Street, and the Public Baths, Cornwallis
Street, the Waterworks' Stations and Reservoirs at Green
Lane, Windsor, Kensington, and Aulley Street, Everton,
were thrown open for inspection, and were visited by
thousands during the day. In St. George's Hall two free
organ performances were given, the one at twelve at the
other at three o'clock. On each occasion the building was
literally crammed. The usual Thursday performance also
took place in the evening._
__ _ _

DINNER TO CRIMEAN SOLDIERS.
Perhaps the most appropriate, and, certainly, one of the
most interesting events of the day, was the dinner which
was given by his Worship the Mayor to all soldiers.resi-
dent within the borough who had served in the Crimea.
Tickets for this entertainment were procured by any soldier
thus qualified who applied to Major Greig. The dinner
took place at the Rose-hill station at half past one o'clock.
Fifty so'diers sat to table, principally of the infantry, and
almost every one bearing some mark of the active service in
which he had borne a part. An excellent substantial dinner,
with pudding and a pint of ele,was provided for each guest;
and, in ad,lition, every individual received a shilling .to
supply himself with tobacco and beer for the remainder, of
the day. In addition to the soldiers, a sailor, belonging to
the Rodney, who lost a leg during one of the bombardments
of Sebastopol, and a female (wife of a soldier), who had seen
the three great Crimean battles, were amongst the guests.
Major Greig was present during the whole of the dinner,
and did all in his power to minister to the comforts of
those at table. His 'Worship the Mayor arrived
shortly after the feast had comm,nced, accompanied by
Alderman J. H. Turner, Mr. Brancker and other gentlemen.
A band played several airs during the time. At the con-
clusion of the dinner, three hearty cheers were given for
the Mayor. His worship returned thanks in a few words,
in which he expressed his gratifaction at having an onpor-
tunity of entertaining and meeting his guests. Enthusias-
tic cheers were also given for her Majesty the Queen.
Before the company broke up the band played a lively
hornpipe, and a soldier named Lascelles executed that dance
with a skill and agility which procured him hearty ap-
plause

EXCURSION TRIPS.
A number of cheap excursions by train and steamer took
place during the day, and were availed of by great numbers.
The Sunday School Union enjoyed a pleasant and judiciously
chossn trip to Llangollen. Trains conveyed excursionists
to London, Bangor, Stafford, Chester, and many other
places.
------

FACTS FOR SOME OF OUR COTEM-
PORARIES.

Although we have not on this occasion gone into the
very minute details usually scrupulously recorded by some
of our cotemporaries ; we have not been without a sym-
pathetic anxiety to facilitate their labours; we therefore
offer for their advantage the following interesting facts.
which may possibly have escaped even their vigilance,
but which casually came under our own notice. Being
unable to make them available ourselves, we generally
present them for the second edition of our cotempor-

aries.
Th 9. First : We observed that the postmen of this
borough appeared in new coats yesterday. We remarked
particular, seated on the top of an omnibus, with
hisne in
head surrounded by green boughs, like the popularly_
received pictures of Dante, and literally radiant in red—
: a grand sight I
Secondly : We counted as many as thirty-seven police-
! men assembled in one street at an early hour in the

morning.
Thirdly: It possibly escaped the notice of the public
that the wands borne by the school children in the pro-
cession were of varied length, some being considerably
shorter than others, and that the dimensions of the
banners exhibited a like disproportion.
Fourthly : Among the individual displays of patriotic
ornaments described in our cotemporaries, we are given
to understand that those of Mr. Brown, Mr. Jones, and

Mr. Robinson, will be omitted. Should this be the case I
ail these gentlemen intend addressing indignant remon-
Stranees to the editors.

HER MAJESTY'S BIRTHDAY

PEACE REJOICINGS IN THE METROPOLIS

Yesterday, devoted as it was, to the double celebration
of the anniversary of the natal day of our beloved
monarch, and to a recogntion of the blessings which are
looked to follow the restaraCon of peace, commanded a
sovereignty for the time being, over the denii ►n of the
metropolis. Apart from the supremacy of edicts from
'Whitehall, dedicating the day to festivity, and with a
spontaneous manifestation of feeling', which the mixed
population of the " little city'' and its suburban adjunct:
can alone supply, yesterday, the 29th of May, 1856,
was devoted to a joyous resignation of past
trials and present triumphs. The cessation of parliamen-
tary labours, the announcements from the public depart-
ments that this day was to be, in the true sense of the,
word, a " holiday," the preparations for pyrotechnic
displays which, under a vote of the legislature was pro-
mulgated as the final consummation of the orgies, all
concentrated t 6 the conviction, in the mind of " John
Bull." as personified by the London population, that this
29th of May, above all others, was to be a holiday.
Hence it was that in accordance with public proclama-
tion, announced at Whitehall, and echoed at the Mansion
House, business was entirely suspended both east and
west of Temple Bar, the Exchange was secured with
closed gates, Cape' Court, it is true, found a few of its
habitues, the Temple found the " Chamberers " were
loiterers, Lincoln's Inn was even in equity deserted, the
Strand though thronged with passengers was empty of
purchasers, and one and all seemed directed to the one
spot in which the ovation of the day was to commence.

The first great focus of attraction was St. James's-park,
where, at ten o'clock, an inspection of Household troops
took place upon the parade In front of the Horse Guards.
Her Mbjesty, Prince Albert, Prince Frederick William of
Prussia, the Duke of Cambridge, and Lord Hardinge,
were present, attended by a strong staff of general officers.
The troops formed in line, presenting arms, while the
bands played " God save the Queen ; " after which the
usual evolutions were gone through, and her Majesty
having expressed her satisfaction at the fine appearance
of her troops, and in the manner in which the evolutions
had been executed, returned to Buckingham Palace ; and
her illustrious visitor, accompanied by Prince Albert,
then entered the Green Park and inspected the prepara-

tions making there for the exhibition of fireworks.

In the afternoon her Majesty, as is customary, held a
birthday drawing-room, but no presentations took place.
Hyde Park at an early hour, presented an extremely
animated appearance ; thousands of persons flocking in
at all the gates to view the operations of fixing and pre-
paring the various pieces intended to figure in the grand
pyroteehnic display.
The Green Park, Victoria Park, and Primrose Hill,
each presented a similar appearance, and attracted a
numerous concourse of visitors.
There were feelings abroad amongst timid and nervous
people that many accidents would occur at the fireworks,
through the pressure of the crowd ; but such were the
precautions taken by the police to give safe ingress and
egress, and so vast, the space that offered itself for
standing ground, that it was hardly possible that thee
should be any real cause for uneasiness. The Queen
herself got a nearer view of the magnificent display than
that afforded from the windows of the palace; while the
domestics attached to the royal service, with their wives
and families, occupied a gallery constructed under the
palace windows; and the families of the soldiers in
Wellington Barracks were provided for by galleries
erected in the barrack yard—a long way from the scene
of display, but sufficiently near to lose none of its mag-
nificence.

As appearances with regard to the weather were not
pas titularly favourable, measures were taken to
postpone the firework exhibitions should the night be
rainy, notices having been printed for that purpose to be
issued V necessary. The streets throughout the morn-
ing were thronged with pesple watching the preparations
fur the illuminations.

As the government did not accede to the request of the
managers to throw open the theatres to the public free on
the night of rejoicing, the managers determined to close
them, and dramatic performances were consequently
given at two and three o'clock yesterday afternoon, in
order that the large concourse of strangers in London
might without difficulty have an opportunity of visiting
the theatres before the illuminations commenced.
THE ILLUMINATIONS
were the real attractions of the day, and these were on a
scale of unsurpassed splendour. To describe the whole,
would occupy a space in our columns which, however
extensive, would fail to he commensurate with the effects
achieved. It is enough for us, on this occasion, to
describe the leading features of this great demonstration.
THE GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

The home Office, the Treasury, the office of the Board
of Trade, and the Privy Council Office, was formed of
five banners suspended from a continuous cable, each
banner bearing the component letters of the word peace,
and the cable loops, by which the banners were suspended,
farmed medallions, containing the initial letters of the
different sovereigns; at the extreme ric.tht and left of the
composition were placed the letters V. N., encircled by
a similar cable and laurel wreaths. These several devices
were formed of coloured lamps.

Stationary Office.—llere the illumination was formed
by a large star in the centre, on the right the letter V.,

These

surmounted by the British crown, and on the left th
letter N., surmounted by the French crown
several devices were formed of coloured lamps.
Triumphal Arch, Constitution Hill. and Entrance
Facade to Hyde Park.—The illuminations consisted of
lampions placed on the cornices, bluckings, 8.:c., and was
of a very splendid character.
The Horse Guards was illuminated both on the front
and on the blck facing the parade. The whole of the
fagade was illmninated with continuos
.series, of jets of
gas, which produced a beautiful effect.
The Admiralty.—The design originally intended for this
department was an exceedingly beautiful one, and gave
general satisfaction, but on an estimate being required it
was found far too costly, especially the outlay for gas.
The centre arch was surmounted with a transparency.
War Department, Whitehall Gardens.—The front of
this office was illuminated with gas, a crown and V.R. in
the centre, and a star on each side.
Foreign °thee, Downing-street.—The initials V. R.,
large star, laurel leaves, and variegated lamps.
General Post-office, St. Martin's-le-Grand.—The whole
of the extensive Croat of this building was illuminated with
gas. More than 40,000 jets were used on this occasion,
and 140 persons engaged in the preparation.
Custom House.--The Custom House looked very mag-
nificent. The entire front facing the river was illumi-
nated with gas ; and, in order to give greater effect to it,
the city authorities illuminated Billingsgate Market,
which immediately adjoins it.
Somerset House.—The device was here formed ofthe flags
of England and France in the centre; with the standard
and banner of Turkey over, and the anchor and cable
beneath, surrounded with a laurel wreath ; on the right
was placed the letters V.R., surmounted by the British
crown, and a star beneath; on the left the letters L.N.,
surmounted by the French crown, and a star beneath; On
the extreme flanks was placed groups of flags repre—
senting the various nations, and the whole device was
encompassed at the base by an extended garter, with the
following motto:—" Peace and Good Will to all Nations."
Ordnance Office (Pall Mall).—ln the centre there was
a nine-foot crown, with two laurel wreaths in gas jets ;
each of these was thirteen feet—one containing the letter
V. and the other R.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

National Gallery—The illuminations here presented a
very striking appearance from Whitehall.
Guidhall.—The Guildhall was illuminated with gas
from top to bottom on the front facing King-street.
Beads of gas run along the different outlines of
the edifice, and there were also the royal initials and
the City motto.
The Royal Exchange.—Of all the different public build-
ings, this, perhaps, looked the most effective. From its
commanding position, and from the beauty of that portion
of the structure illuminated, it was well deserving
the attention of the sightseers. Each of the massive
columns was illuminated with beads of gas jets running
spirally from the top to the bottom. Across the front at
the top was a scroll with words commemorative of the
return of peace.
The Bank of England lit up in her wonted style, making
the ordinary gas lamps the basis of her operations.
Mansion House.—A star of Brunswick, ten feet: in
diameter. V. R. peculiarly constructed, with laurel leaf
in the centre. An endless knot, emblematical of lasting
peace.

Royal Mint, Tower large British crown,
elaborately enriched, surmounting a brilliant star. On
one side the initials V. R., on the other the character of
Napoleon 111. and the Turkish crescent.
East India House, Leadenhall-street.—A. brilliant
crown, supported by stars of Brunswick. Letters V. R.
and N. E. with appropriate motto.
Temple-bar illuminated with jets of gas running along
the top and the different projections.
United Service Institution (Whitehall Yard).---A. bril-
liant star in gas jets with the initials V. R.
THE CLUBS.

The Union Club contented itself with the ordinary illu-
mination of the Queen's birthbay ; that is to say, V. it,
and a crown. The Junior United Service Club went to
considerable expense in preparing a device. It consisted
of scrolls of laurel, surrounding a medallion containing
the royal initials, and the shamrock, thistle, and rose, the
whole surmounted by a crown. The Athenaeum,
Travellers', Reform, and Carlton Clubs, also had ingenious
devices. _ _

Army and Navy' Club, Pall-mall.—The device of this
club was very effective.

The Guards displayed a star and crown, encompassed
by wreaths of laurel. • .

Senior United Service Club.—A. very brilliant gas
illumination, consisting of a large centre piece, or
medallion, encircled the rose, thistle, and shamrock, sur-
mounted by a large crown and two flags. On each side
were two large stars, with the thistle and shamrock in the
centre ; underneath were wreaths of laurel and a star,

with the' rose in the centre, and the Word " Peace" in
very large letters.
The Conservative Club had an enormous crown, with
laurel wreaths. The initials V. R. in a peculiarly shaded
letter, supported by the rose, thistle, and shamrock.
The Wellington, St. James's Park, exhibited a crown,
surny-,unted by alien, two military flags, a large anchor.
the letteis Ar. R. on either side of the crown; a wreath of
rose, shaairock, and thistle : ribbon with motto, " Cor
unum via una." Along the top, " The Wellington," in
14-feet letters

Boodle's. (St. James'
with crown in the centre

wick stars.