The National Register.
London, England, 1818-07-19 00:00:00

IR F. BLTRDETT'S CHAIRING.

Monday being the day appointed for performing the ce-
remony of chairing Sir V. Burdett, the west end of the town
presented a scene of unexampled gaiety and bustle. The
Committee, to whose exertions may, in a great measure, be
attributed the return of this candidate as the representative
of Westminster. having once gained that end, were equally
anxious to celebrate then triumph in a way creditable to him
whose cause they had espoused. With this view they post-
poned the due of chairing to such a period as would afford
all who were desirous of 'hewing their respect to him who has
been described as" the Manor the People." an opportunity of
participating in the ceremony. Some alteration took place
iii the order of the procession from the fact of Mr. Lee, the
High Constable, and his assistants, who were to have been
present, being ordered not to attend, by Lord Sidmototh.
At an early hour the bustle commenced, and there was
'every appearance of the approaching celebration of some
public festival. All the inhabitants of the' houses situated in
the direct line of procession were seen decorating their slrps,
and windows with laurel wreaths and blue lands, while
•others were not less active in preparing accommodations. and
erecting setts and scaffolding fur the reception of those who.
were liesirons of witnessing time ceremony. At 12 &clock
•every winiiew was filled with persons of all tanks, the tops of
'the houses were crowded to excess; the streets were Sweden
'both •sislcs with carriages. carts, waggons, and every de.
scription of vehiele, all of whirl' were ove;flowirigwith their
inmates. Every well, every projection; lamp poet, and scar-
*fold, presouti it a sworn. of !mean beings, who, like a cluster
of bees, hung to each other for support. and excited a feeling
of terror in the minds onthese below, lest they might be pre-
icipitated from their perilous situation upon the pavement,
and dashed to pieces The streets themselves were equally
'thronged, and scarce sr square foot of ground conld be found
whiee-wes notoccupied. At 10 o'clock the Electors of the
seven!PariShes of Westntisister assembled at their respective
places of rendezvous, anti, preceded by bands, and attended,
by persons bearing the banners of their perishes, marched for-
ward to Knightsbridge. Every man wore a bile favour, end
'the instruments of the musicians were decorated with blue
silk. Many of time persons were eecompanied by their wives
and female friends, who vied with each other 'in the gaiety of
•their appearance, and the predominance of the favourite co-
lours Of the day. The greatest soli humour seemed every
where to prevail, and It •reiteration of cheers and sada-,
mations of ' Burdett forever!" burst from all quarters.
At Knightsbridge the crowd was heydnb calculation, and a
good 'deal •df toansion prevailed ; by the activity of the
'Committee men, mounted on horses, however, who marshal-
•led their forces with considerable method, this was in • great
measure counteracted, and the order of the proceeding, at-
• cording to the programme, was preserved.
His impossible to give an accurate description of the im-
mense assemblage at Hyde Park Corner, below the gate
•learling •to Knightsbridge, enibln the Park.—Many of the.
Electors ef lee differattperilhes arranged themselves ism Hyde
Park prevarateey te jektingthe precession. ekt one o'clock
* streamer of white amt blue was hoisted'frant the stop lamp
Test at Hyde Park Comer,es a signal, from which therockets
were to be fired on the approach ;MI departure of 'Cr Fran.
cis. About hull past one o'clock the discharge of a rocket',
announced the approach of Sir Francis. The six grey horses,*
beautitlilly caparisoned and decorated with dark bine ribands,
-had previously arrived. Shortly afterwards the ear and
•rirairetrrived,eated at ten minutes before two o'clock, the
.horses being set to, and evesy other pre.parationsbuieg coine I
plete, a rocket was'firesi, which was the aunoissireconeat of
Sir Francis moneting the ebair, which he instantly did, end
'Me spontaneous acclamations ef .the multittide reverbeeeted
i through time air. Sir Francis 'was dressed in a blue ceat,!,
'white wesistcoat, black breeches and silk stockings. He:l
*freeuently took off his hat, and politely bowed to the populace:
•as they cheered him. The tiring of another rocket cave no-'
tire, that the procession was ready to move, and the follow-
• log is the order with which it moved :
Mr. Cleary mounted on a white charger. richly decorated
'with blue riband.—Three trumpeters on horseback, with blue
scockaides-Eight horsemen.—Three blue flags, with the in-
scription in goldifetters—" Sir Francis Burdett."
The chair, which was of the most splendid deuriptsion, was
rfizad upon a car of vaquero shape. richly *lamented and
gilt, supported by four wheels, The ascent to the chair con-
• Mated of four steps, upon the first• of which was inscribed, in
geld letter., the peed "Truth," upon the second " Justice,"
• asd apeodul Wit " Ballem." At the base, were placed the
IgAllaa."24/111/02 ef,Lsidee„ sad in front ot -the whole the'
Westminster aims, nu sides were ornamented with the
eiablearalkal Ileilres of Britannia and her Lion. The tow
eeseasbk was axial d 7 beastUW. Mr. Brace and Mr. Kin:
nairdoweasted as imiudiad bleed horses, richly decorated
with Wee. cease sett la eider, and after them followed nine
• other equestriameodfl a Mae gag, voalainieg the words " Ra •
dical Reform." About SO bineeseadwita blue favours, and.
:et() without &veers, suceeedid. These were followed by Asti
open landau, in which were'Mr. Starch and Mr. Brooks.
The rear was brought 'up by twelve carriages, and ant
• immense multitude of the- no` .
'The calvalcade, which. proc at an extremely slow
t pace, was impeded by the immente,crowd which enclosed it
• ~a all sides, and which sent forth the loudest and most maim.
,1.1•1! shunts of congratulation. From the windowa•and tops
..:- it !muses the cheers Were re-echoed, and the Hen. Ban.
•, . • .eluted by a edarlant waving of handkerchiefs from the!
.1. 'ex, who seemed us anxious Ii evince their patriotism by
+:.e, tribute of respect to the wont! nutaber, as theriost ar.
.. neofsh is 'male friends.
Theprecession pursued :ts slow couttfilowo the Haymar-
ket to Charing Cross. An attempt mat here made to go
reend the statue of King Charles 1 lett this found imprac-
icable, from the collection of carts and es Hied with
found
'ks purtato rs . The whole then advanced th the Strand,
to Bedford-street, from thence through H tie-street, to
Covent Garde*. where it arrived at a quarter attentive...-
the diseharge of a raeke: ateionnced this event, and the
-imonts ef the maltitatle were repeated with liddttional

l'hc area presented one solid and immoveahle mass of pee-
;le ; the roofs of the houses, the verandas, and every shed lo
place being completely covered. On the arrival of Sir
Francis Burdett opposite the church, another signal rocket
was sent up, and when the procession reached the Musa
coffee Moose, the acclamations were really astounditsc.--,
Cheers, not only nine times nine, but ninety-nine times al I
ascended to the roof of Heaven as the cavalcade mot
rotund to •Sottthamploarstreet.

On soil. merino the Strand, the whole of the electors;
them4elve% on each side, forming a spacions way
1iiT(.1,311 which the car approached the Crown and Anchor

~

THE NATIONAL ArGISTEII,

Tavern, prebedtd only by tbe•'ditienent banners. and the
bands playing 6' See the Compering Hero comes." The
worthy Baronet arrived at the tavern at a quarter before sic,
and alighted amidst a repetition of the former cheers.—Tbe
multitude winch followed dispersed with great quietness.