The National Register.
London, England, 1813-07-25 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGIST

JULY 25.

PARTICULARS
OF

THE PUBLIC FESTIVAL AT VAUXHALL,

IN HONOUR OF
THE BATTLE OF VITTORIA.

The Public Festival given on Tuesday to celebrate the achieve-
ments ot Field-Marshal the Marquis of Wellington and the glorious
services of the army under his command, for which such laborious
preparations had been made, was perhaps never equalled in the his-
tory ail& or any other country. Those who have witnessed the
gaudy display of Eastern profusion, or those whose strong imagina-
tions base outrun the fabled descriptions ot Arabian story, may
form sonic cold and impeifect idea of the dazzling, the intolerable
splendour, and of the lavish, the unbounded magnifieenee_of the
scene—to those whose notions have been formed upon the vulgar
standard of metropolitan illaminatioes, or of civic festivals, we
despair of conveying even an adequate picture of what was on
Tuesday witnessed by the admiring visitors. When we reflect, in
cominnneing, that within the boundary of Vauxhall Gardens, in
the course of the evening was collected nearly all the nobility,
wealth, splendour, and beauty of the three kingdoms ; that
was ransacked, and art exhausted, to contribute to the pomp and
lustre of the entertaiummt ; language seems to sink under the bur-
den, and we search in vain for words that are suited to the grandeur
of time subject.
11. The adeetti-ement stated that dinner was to be on table at
five o'clock : those provided with tickets were not admitted
until tour, but long previous to that hour the company had be-
gan to assemble, and towards five the road from IVestniiimer
Bridge was clioaked with coaches. The pathways were crowded
by immense nombers ot spectators ; " leads were tilled, and ridges
horsed." Soon after five nearly one thonsand two hundred peo-
ple were assembled in the Gardens, awaiting time arrival of the
Duke of Yolk. The preparations made for accommodating the
company were the following :—The Rotunda was tilled by a semi-
circular table, which was raised upon a platform appropriated to
the Royal Family, the Foreign Ambassadors, the Ministers, &c. at
the head of which was placed a se at for the Illustrious Chairman ;
and behind was ranged, on raised shelves, covered with crimson
cloth, a vast quantity of the richest gold and silver plate, sur-
mounted by a bust of the Marquis of Wellington. At the back of
the Chair were stationed two trumpeters, and a grenadier holding
the standard of the 100th reliment of French infantry, taken at the
battle of Vittoria : the Baton of Marshal Jourdan was disposed
among the plate, so as to be obvious to all. Besides this semi-cir-
cular table, on the platform was a smaller square table, appro-
priated to the Lord Mayor, time Aldermen of time City, and their im-
mediate friends. In the rotunda were also placed three other square
tables, filling up the remaining space, occupied principally by such
of the Stewards as were not engaged in making arrangements.
In time saloon were three long tables, and beyond that, in a tem-
porary building, erected among the trees, the trunks of which serv-
ed to support the roof, appreitrately composed of the ensigns of
Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal, were accommodations in a
most convenient form for nearly 900 persons. These different apart-
ments were lighted by wax candles on the tables, by magnificent
glass lustres, by alabaster globes of patent lamps, and by other
lighti variously disposed in festoons, crowns, wreaths, pyramids, &e.
Such was time general disposition made for dining the company,
and, about half-past five, the Duke of York, attended by his Royal
Brothers, the Dukes of Clarence, Kent, Sussex, Cambridge, and
the Duke of Gloucester, arrived. The company then took their seats
at the tables, covered with a colti dinner. excepting turtle soup.
The wines provided were Port, Madeira, and Claret. As soon as
the cloth was withdrawn, one of time trumpeters stationed at the
back of the chair of the Duke of York sounded a parley, which
was answered by another trumpeter at a distant part of the garden,
producing a very novel and striking effect. The.public. singers
(about thirty in number) were then requested to sing Non nobis
Marline, which they complied with, in high style, although they
were placed rather too distant from the upper end of time rotunda.
The first toast drank was, " The King," with three times three, anti
the loyal anthem of God sane the King followed it. The company
next drank the " Prince Regent," with three times three, and Mr.
Taylor gave the song of The Prince and Old England for ever.
To this toast succeeded " The Queen and Royal Family," with
three.—" The Duke of York and the Army," was the next toast,
which was received with great enthusiasm, the applause continuing
for some minutes. His Royal Highness rose is; Ids
,seat, drank the
health of the company, and resumed it.—" The Duke of Clarence and
the Navy," was immediately afterwards drank with as much applause,

4'77

.. . . . . .
and his Royal. Highness bowed his acknowledgments, and pledged
the company. Rule Britannia was swig by the whole vocal band,
and the visitors joined in the chorus with their usual animation.
The next toast given was " The Margolis of Wellington," but so
eager were the company to testify their approbation, that they could
not restrain their fervour until the toast was regularly given out.
The applau4e was maintained for
_many minutes with unabated, spi-
rit. The band played See the conquering Hero contest after which
was performed. with great effect the subjoiucd Ode composed for
the occasion :

High mounts the star of Spain !—o'er Southern skies
Her triumphs kindle, and her trophies rise.
Borne from • Arlanson's steep along the gale,
The voice of conquest fills Zadora's vale ;
The trumpets clang, the loud artillery's roar,
Prolong the peal o'er Ebro's echoing shore ;
Avenging fires pursue the vauntisg Gaul,
Hang on his headlong flight, and urge his fall.
How chang'd the hour, since first Invasion's hand
Flung the wide fury or his wasting brand !
The hour of vanisli'd Hope ! —when Spain deplor'd
Iler brokep olive-hi-Inch and shiver'd sword ;
When the rude spoiler mocked her captive groan,
Prophaned her altar, and usurped her throne !
Then Albion hearil ;—her pitying eye afar,
Mar k'd the sad course of Spain's declining star.—
Then pour'd from all her isles the impatient brave,
MOM the bright steel, and hasten'd o'er the wart ;
The sons of Freedom lad the Gadian strand,
And Insitimia Mord the generous band.—
Then, tint.' the myrtle's desolated bower,
The revag'd temple, and the ruin'd tower, •
• The citron's prostrate grove and wasted Nine;
Spread the long glory of the British line ;
While proud Castile resuni'd the patriot spear,
And desled from her pale cheek ill' indignant tear.
Now issuing forth—as crst in elder day—
The kindred squadrons blend their bright array,
Where the red cross of Albion streams on high,
And, Spain ! thy hammed lions brave the sky.
Ile comes ! —the Chief from India's horning
Of soul intrepid, and of front sublime
. -
From tart and tower, from mountain and from plans.
Ile wins the trophies of exulting Spain
Here Vimiera's earliest blossom springs,
And her ;lad tribute Talavera brings ;
Aloseida's circling palms their triumph shed,
And high Rodrigo rears his castled head.—
Here Badajos prepares the conquering bough.
And SaIRRIRCCa pays her laurell'n vow ;
The proud Escurial open her portals free,
And last Vittoria cro‘ms th' emprizc .f VICTORY.
These, Wcitt.olos, are thine !—Around thy sword
Her praises bath a rescued nation pour's.
On Mercian hills, or Andalusian dales,
Through matin breezes, and through evening gales,
The youthful hero, resting from the war,
Shall to thy glories tune his light guitar ;
And, mid the watchings of the serenade, •
Sing thy lov'd triumphs to his listening maid.
Nur less shall Albion's voice thy praise prolong,
Strength of her hope, and treasure of her song
In thee, her ARTHUR'S chivalry returns ;
In thee, her Msnr.nortouo les kindred spirit burns ;
Her IT EN HY smiles to see thy laurels bloom ;
And her BLACK EDWAan nods 111.5 triple plume.
Lord of ihe Eagle glance ! to nerve thine arm,
Thy country's genius gives a mightier charm :
Her Irmour'd REnENT pays the patriot :need
Of tyrants vanquisted and of victims freed.
And, oh ! shall Albion wonder to Lehold
Her conquering sons their trophied pride unfold,
While his auspicious Grace her noise inspires.
Reams from thy crest, andtkindles all its fires ?
On ! —lead o'er frig fired France thy warrior train !
High mounts our Albion's sun ! - high mounts the star of Spain.
• p
This was sureeeded by "
engued in the glorious bat'
the Duke of York's band pl;
of the non-comm:—:___ _ •

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three
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laying Briton's Strike Home. l'ise.health
Dicers mid privates was likewise drank