The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-07 00:00:00

Lord Mayor's Day,

The preparations at Guildhall for the banquet on Wed-
nesday next are rapidly approaching completion, and there
is no doubt that, with the new timber roof just completed,
and the judicious improvements in progress, in the style of
decorating the hall, the venerable buildirg will present
an appearance far more grand and interesting than on any
former occasion. The clusters of wall columns, which
support the arches of the new roof, have been made to re-
semble red granite, highly polished, and the carved capitals
have been richly gilt. The cornice, on the space between
each set of columns, is inscribed with the mottoes of the City
of London, the principal livery companies, dr). The screen
which formerly lined the lower portions of the side walls
has been discarded, so that the well-proportioned architec-
tural features of those parts of the hall will be seen to full
advantage. Flags, banners, trophies of armour, &c., will
be employed ix various parts to aid to the general effect.
The great window at the east end will be illuminated
externally, so as to display the stained glass with which it
is filled. In the correspanding window at the west end will
be placed the Prance of Wales's plume of feathers, composed
of spun glass, a highly resplendent and effective ornament,
In the corridors and rooms above ttairs, which are being
tastefully huag with drapery and carpeted by the City
upholsterer, Mr N. Pher 6, will be displayed a choice selec •
don of sculpture and paintings, including portraits of the
outgoing and incoming Lord Mayors, the much lamanted
Captain Speke (the African travelle.), the late Vircount
Canning, Sir Henry Lawrence, Sir John Lawrence, and
other distinguished personages.
The out-ot-door procession will include the boys of the
Marine Society, who have ceased to appear in the proces-
sion (though always a popular part of it) for several years
past, the bands of the Royal London Militia, the Society
for the Protection of Life from Fire, the London Rill)
Volunteer Brigade, the Grenadier Guards, the Hon. Artil-
lery Company, and the mounted band of the Ist Regiment
of Life Guards. The Company of Tallowchandlers (of which
the new Lord Mayor is a member) will attend in a number
of carriages, accompanied by a military band of their own
providing. There will elso be six knights in various kinds
of armour from the Tower, each attended by two Esquires
in appropriate costume, and an unusually large display of
the flags and banners of the various Livery Companies of
the City, and of national bannera, the rest of the procession
being made up of the usual official personages, Aldermen,
Sheriffs, City Officers, Old and New Lord Mayor, Lady
Mayoress, Military Guard of Honour from the 13th Hus-
sars, &c.
On account of the lengthened route on the present occa-
sion, and a desire to pass through the Wards over which the
Lord Mayor and Sheriffs preside (viz., Coleman-street, Al.
dersgate, and Candlewick), the procession is expected to
leave Guildhall not later than half-past 11. Its course will
be through the following streets :—King-street, Cheapside,
Martin's-le-Grand, Aldersgate-street, Jewin. street (instead
of Barbican), Redcross-street, Fore-street, Finsbury-pave-
ment, Finsbury-circus. London-wall, Moorgate- street,
Princes-street, King William-street, Cannon-street, St.
Paul's-churchyard, Ludgate-hill, Fleet-street, Strand,
Charing-cross to Westminster Hall.
The wands of cffi)e for the Dinner Committee have been
manufactured by Messrs Stillwell and Son, of Barbican,
The wands are of white wood, and are surmounted by a very
pretty design in frosted silver. In the centre of the design
are the City arms; above are the Lord Mayor's (Slr Ald.
Hale), and at t'at) bottom those of the Sheriffs. On a garter
is the word "Guildhall," and the date, 1864. The figures

and -mottoes are shall) and well &fined, though in the case
of the legend on Mr Ald. and Sheriff Dakin's arms some
little difficulty was experienced in consequence of its lengit.
Messrs Grant and Co., of Ludgate-hill, have executed
the dinner tickets.— Cay Press.

RAILWAY COLLISION.—On Friday night last a
collision occurred on the Midland Railway, at the
Water-lane junction, near Leeds. At this point, which
forms one of the angles of a triangular system, the lines of
rails, front the Wellington station and from Holbeck join.
The accident was caused by the passenger train for York
and Hull, which leaves the former stati n at 7 p.m , com-
ing into collision laterally with a goods train which li ft
Holbeck for Huuslet-lane at about 640 p.m. Through some
misunderstanding with regard to the signals, which has not
yet been explained, both trains were allowed to approach
the junction at the same time. The point would have
been cleared by the passenger train had a minute or
two more been allowed, but at the moment when it was
passing on lo its own line of rails it came in contact with
the goods train, the engine and tender of which it threw on
the six feet way. The goods train was moving slowly, the
other with some rapidity. The passengers were a good
deal shaken, and some of them suffered from slight con•
tusions, but they were all able to proceed on their journey.
One of the carriages was slightly damaged, and was left
behind. The goods train could not be moved, as the engine
and tender had become embedded in the ground, and had to
be lifted on the rails before the traffic could be resumed.
The line was cleared shortly after midnight,