The Express.
London, England, 1861-08-27 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENINI

THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO IRELAND.

THE REVIEW AT THE CURRAGH.
01011 OCR iPICIAL 00111WOND=fi.)

DUBLIN, AuGoer 24._

Saturday morning was a very busy thee in Dub-
lin. It is traditionally the " most car-driviugest
city in the world," and on this occasion there were
enough of these peculiar vehicles iu the streets to
transport the army of Xerxes, and it was terrific to
see drivers standing on the seats urging their horses
madly to and fro, totally reckless of collisions,
which seemed every moment likely to carry away
the shins of the passengers. I saw many notabi-
lities from your side of the water, accustomed
to luxurious carriages and prancing bays at home,
who seemed toenjoy this mad hurry-scurry, jolting,
and excitement, immensely. Amongst others I oh-
served Lord Llanover, holding on with great vigour
and resolution, and insisting upon getting on with
the same energy and perseverauce which distin-
guished his lordship's aduiinistration of the Board
of Works. His lordship's " darvie," who was, of
course, quite ignorant of the rank of his fare, was
shouting, " Never fear, your honour," and smash-
ing his way through everything under such able
direction. When Lord Llanover had alighted at
the station I told the carman who he had had the
honour of driving, upon which he scratched his
heed and exelaissed, " A groat Emil& lord ! And
all I asked him was sixpence ! " It was quite evi-
deut that had Paddy known the quality of his fare
he would have given a very substantial proof of his
respect for the British peerage. I maymentionhern,
whilst on the subject of vehicular demonstrations,
that the " turn-out " of Sir Robert and Lady Emily
Peel—whose poaition is already secured in the
esteem and favour of the people—is an object of
great attraction. It is a low phaeton, drawn by
two magnificent horses, and the people are never
tired gazing at the young and graceful couple and
their peculiarly elegant equipage. It seems to be
generally thought here that Sir Robert's appoint-
ment will turn out to be one of Lord Palmerston's
successes. In the first place, the people claim the
right hon. baronet as half an Irishman, being the
son of the beautiful Mine Floyd, who was once the
reigning belle of tho Irish Court. This is a grand
step to begin with, but it is well supported by his
manly appearance and frank friendly manner,
which is above all things what the Irish people
like. Sir Robert also likes heroes, and can ride
them, and if with a latle careful study he can also
educate himself up to a moderate relish for whisky
punch, I have no doubt that he will got on at
Dublin Castle niuch better than the most orderly
" bluebook in broaches" that could be sent over.

But to our muttons, we must get on to the re-
view, to which it ix au indispensable preliminary that
we should tint get into the railway station. Who
can hope to force his way through that myriad dis-
array of hackney cars that stretch " many a rood"
before the entrance f I have a driver who is equal
to anything in the way of abuse awl objurgation,
and who, like all able generals, holds the lives of
those under his °minuend in the most utter con-
tempt. He dashes against a square, and is re-
pulsed with a shower of oaths, whilst his passengers
have narrowly escaped having their legs torn off
by carrying them in a not peculiarly graceful
position aloft in the air. lie sees one par-
ticular enemy in front whose vehicle is drawn
right across the way, and to remove whom
is the key of the position. Force will not do,
and so the enemy must be " chaffed " off the field.
Fierce, becomes the encounter of wits, and I should
become exceedingly amused did I not fear I
should be late for the train. It promised to be
interminable, until at last my Jehu discovered that
his antagonist had a alight obliquity of vision.,
" Look at his crooked eye," he bawled out—" he's
lookiag at me through his ear!" and so general
was the laugh raised at the unhappy obstacle that
he drove madly out of the press and left a clear
passage for us to the platform. The rolling stock
of the Irish railways is not equal to these occasional
I emergencies, as is the case in Englaud ; but good
management will do wonders, and Mr. Illbery was
quite successful, by means of successive despatches,
in carrying off his four thousand customers in
safety to the Curragh, and this without interfering
with the ordinary traffic or the perfect isolation and
security which were required for the royal
train, which consisted of the saloou, state
carriage, and the usual ordinary carriages
fur the suite and servants. As my object was
to witness her Majesty's arrival and reception at
the Curragh I started in the previous train, but I
afterwards learnt that her Majesty ':pressed her-
, self entirely pleased with all the arrangements, and
was especially marked iu her approval of the state
carriage, which her Majesty was pleased to say was
the most comfortable and convenient she had for
some time travelled iu. By securing a place on
the roof of the grand stand at the Curragh I was
enabled to watch the arrival of the royal train, and
to witness her Majesty's reception. The crowd
about the entrance at this time was certainly by
no means great. Only one or two early trains had
arrived from town, and of the country people who
came in their own vehicles, or walked, the majority
had not yet arrived. But from all who were pre-
sent the loyal welcome was most emphatic, the only
restraint being the fear of the people that they should
annoy or terrify the Queen by any very noisy
demonstrations. So pertinaciously, in Let, had it
been dinned into their ears that the Quten's state
of feeling consequent on the death of her mother
required the utmost privacy and silence, that the I
poor people were actually afraid that if they
shouted as their loyalty dictated they would run
the risk of exposing their Sovereign to some very
serious consequences. Now I have it on exceed-
ingly good authority, that her Majesty, with her
intuitive quickness of perception, saw the state of
things at once, and that she was not at all obliged
to those officious officials who had exhibited such
tremendous seal in frightening the people about
their Sovereign's health, and cautioning them
against any marked demonstrations of welcome.
The Queen likes her people to come about her—re-
spectfully, of course ; she is gratified and proud of
their loyal homage, and on this occasion took every
means, consistent with her royal dignity, to neu-
tralise the mischief which had been done by her
subordinates. I never saw her Majesty look better
than she did ou stepping into the royal carriage,
followed by the Princesses, at the Curragh terminus.
The party were of course all in deep mourning, but
otherwise they looked well and happy, and bowed
repeatedly and graciously to the people. The
Princess Alice looked especially well, and was uni-
versally admired. The gentlemen of the eettfes
IMO all on horseback. The Prince Consort, who
rode his favourite Irish mare, wore the uniform of