The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-05-19 00:00:00

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77

PRESEIITATION Of COLOURS T•) TUE LOYAL

LONDON VOLUNTEC.RS.

This interesting ceremony afforded one of the
most braltifuh and one of the grandest speetacles

met4npolis ever saw.
Abont eight o'clock yesterday morning, the seve-
ral regiments of London Volunteers assembled at
various places of embarkation, from Dyers' Hall
Stairs above London Bridge, to Irongate Stairs

frelow the Tower.
On a signil from a gun-boat, the procession down
the River commenced. The Lord Mayor, in his
b•ien barge, attended by several or the Companies'
barges, and a number of other barges, led the way.
Then followed the gun-boats ; after which, in their
order, according to their seniority, the regiments
embarked in them ; the boats that conveyed the
troops, each having the camp colours of the regi-
ment phlred on the stern ; and the leading boat of
each regiment, displaying a distinguishing stream-
... Each regiment was preceded by a boat, with
its band ; the several bands playing during the
whole procession on the River. That whole space
of the River, from London Bridge to a considera-
ble distance below Greenwich, exhibited an appear.
once the most lively that can be imagined ; hundreds
of merchant vessels displaying tteir national colours,
the roofs of the houses, and the shores being cover-
ed with spectators. The West India Dock Volen-
, tens were drawn up on their Quay, and presented
arms, as the piocession passed ; which was returned
by cheers from the troops. Almost all the private
Wharfs saluted the boats with cannon as they passed.
About I I o'clock, the Lord Mayor, aecomrat.ted
IT the Committee deputed by the Corporaucn to
attend die presentation of the colours, and Laving
them ire their custody, appeared off Greenwich. It
Is impossible to conceive more perfect order, than
that which governed this part of the river, or a
snore beautiful effed than wa3 produced by the ar-
rival of the Procession and the landing. The entire
teach opposite to Gieenwich, was kept clear of
pleasure. boats and wherries, by Captain Snow, and
the Harbour Marines. The greater number of the
boats conveying private parties (which were ex-
tremely numerous) had preceded the. procession, and
were ranged below the Hospital Stairs; while those
which torivod in company with the troops, ranged
above, sad offered no obstra6ion. The entrance,
therefore, of the procession into this :each, and the
ding, produced a prodigiously fine effect. The
Lord Mayor's barge, sand that of the Committee,
were saluted, on entering the Reach, by 50 cannon
from the Fencible gun-boats, the Harbour. Master's
=is, and other public vessels ; the Lord Mayor's
and those of the ether barges playing God
Sue the Kiag. The troops, as they approached,
(about a quarter of an hour after the Lord Mayor)
~re received with the same honours. On the
Teeter of Greenwich Hospital, the Greenwich
Volanteers were drawn up, and received first the
Lord 'Mayor, and afterwards the troops, with pre-
sented arms, all the bands playing God Saw the
4raig.• The Officers of the Hospital attended, and
paid eir 'eve& to the Lord Mayor and the Offi-
eters of the troops.
The following is the order in which the troops
landed at Greenwich :
Irss nessenen hoist at Ctiall Stairs, and the Centre
Stairs el lot Hospital.
at, At I he Platform of the Hospital, and Ship Stairs.
4th, At Garden Stine.
SIN At. Crane Stairs, and the Hospital Centre Stairs.
itlt, At the Maims and Ship 5t.11•16
Tin, At Garden Stairs.
ask, At Crane stairs, and the Cent,, of the Hospital.
Ws, At the Platfirrm and Ship Stairs.
10th, 41.1 Carden Stairs.
11th, !.t Crane Staus and the Centre of the Hntpital.
Th.' Regiments, as they landed, marched under
their Commanding Officers, into Greenwich Park,
where they formed into columns, composed of regi.
tents,. and thus marched through the Park, to the
grousd, on Blackheath. To behold them from the
top of the hill, enter the Park, from the various
landing places, form, and ascend the hill, was a
most beautiful spedacle. Two pieces of cannon,
from `Woolwich, with their artillery men, appointed
to be attached to each regiment, and to go through
the art mouvres with them, and the flying artillery
of the Light Horse Volunteers, joined the regi-
Mats on Blackheath, which then took their ground.
frevions to this, a line had been marked out, and
was ki.pt by the following troops : The London and
Westminster Light
_Horse; the Westminster Caval-
sy; Blacithenb Cavalry ; and the Deptford
Cavekry ; the Honourable the Artillery Company;
the St . James's Volunteers; the Custom-House Com-
pany; and some companies of Volunteer foot, from
the ne ighbouring places.
The ground extended from the windmills at this
end cii• the heath to the rising
.ground considerably
beyond Maudlin College, passing along the whole
of this front of that ground on which ,formerly
mood f Sir Gregory Page Turner's house.
rtegiments, preceded by Cavalry, marched
upon the ground in open columns, entering on the
deft ol tbeline by the windmills; and when the head
el the, column bad arrived at its ground, the whole
formed into line.
Mince immediately after this, the Duke of York,
• with ',ins staff, arrived, and received a royal salute
from the artillery, posted on the right of the line.
General the Earl of Harrington had arrived on the
short time before. The carriage of the
RIZ a
A. of Wales, in which was the Princess Char-
lotte of Wales, then appeared on the ground,
escorted lis a guard of honour detached from the
Linden Light Horse.
On a say, al (t.y gun) the grenadier company of
each regiment, attended by the band, advanced to
the c,:ar e, with the yeun:;er Ensigns, to receive the
colom s; and, being formed into a square, the
solemn and awful ceremony commenced. But al-
though it is ininossible to give an adequate idea to
the reader of the grandeur of this scene, it i. Lut
just tc endeavour ;o place it in snore degree witina
his retch. In the centre of this scene, were th •
Lord Mayor, and the persons empowered to ice
the colours in behalf of the Corporation the Cler-
iv rills who was to give them hi. be:it lesion the
I' iii of York and the Earl of Harrington with
teir resreclive staffs ; and a splendid assemblage of
diszingueshed females, the Princess Charlotte of
Wales, and the Duchess of Devonshire, being in
this circle. Immediately outside of this, the grena-
e'er' of he sevc:..l regiments were formed in a