The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-11 00:00:00

The Metropolis and the Illuminatio:

London last night was bright and glorious with myriads
of lights—its streets alive at midnight with the roar of count-
less multitudes. There was something almost overwhelm-
ing in the endless lines of light, and in the wonderful pro-
cession of the people. The whole of the population seemed
to be in the streets. At times the main thoroughfares were
almost impassable. The carriages could not stir—even the
foot-passengers could not advance. Assuredly one of the
grandest features of the night was the marvellously good
behaviour of the people, who were to a great extent their
own police. At times, indeed, a band of roughs—but even
the roughs wore rosettes I—pushed its way through the
dense throng by a rather rude and sudden charge ; but even
these were good humoured. Those who had chosen to
survey the illuminations from carriages seemed
in many instances to repent of their choice.
Occasionally an empty vehicle appeared to indicate that its
former occupants, utterly tired of the delays which so fre-
quently occurred, had fairly given up the attempt in
despair, and joined the ranks of the pedestrians,
• The Victoria Tower —This majestic tower would appear
naturally to present itself as an object for display upon
such occasions as that of last night, when for the first
time an attempt was made to illuminate it. Its great
height and massive proportions rendered it a matter of
difficulty to decide upon the particular mode of lighting
which would best render it an object of attr ction among
the numerous brilliant spectacles presented in the metropo-
lis. The Board of Works made en experiment of lighting
the summit of the tower by means of lampions, or, as they
would be called in this country, "grease pots"—large
vessels filled with tallow, each Tampion having two
wicks of more than an inch in. diameter. These were
ranged in four rows, gradually rising, upon the roof
of the tower, and at the foot of the central
turret, others being placed in the smaller turrets spring-
ing from each corner of the tower. The thick atmosphere
of last evening did not afford the best opportunity of judg-
ing of the effects of this mode of illumination, but under any
circumstances the experiment of last night could hardly
have been a great success. As it was, for a brief space the
result was striking, the beautiful tracery of the numerous
openings and the gorgeous gilding lavished upon the
various turrets being brought out in a most effective
manner by the ruddy glare cast upon them by the 800 or
900 lights employed, while the deep shadow in which
the main shaft of the tower was left presented at a dis-
tance the appearance of a gorgeous pavilion suspended in
mid-air. But last night, after a brief interval, the rain ma-
terially interfered with the experiment, the lights being gra-
dually extinguished or deadened until there remained but
little beyond a dull glare, which was not visible beyond a
very limited distance from Palace-yard.
The illuminations at the Government offices and other
public buildings were, of course, amongst the chief features
of the night. Somerset-house, the War.•office, the Treasury,
the Ordnance-office, all had their appropriate devices. At
St. Paul's Cathedral, in addition tothe electric light, there
were a host of powerful lanterns, such as those which are
now used in the Royal navy. Round the base of the dome hung
24 bow lanterns (red), and 24 mast lanterns (white), whilst
higher up there were 16 others, similarly varied in their
colour. These lanterns were placed in their position by
sailors told off for the purpose. Abundant pains had un-
doubtedly been taken to make the display as effective as
possible, but the effect obtained was perhaps scarcely so
satisfactory as might have been desired. The Monument
was illuminated by the electric light, and the lamp employed
was the one used by Professor Holmes at the International
Exhibition. Four hundred and twenty nitric acid batteries
were employed, and it was calculated that in a clear night
the light would be visible at a distance of 30 miles. Much
of its effect, of course, was injured by the unpropitious
weather of last night; but the sight was still a very striking
one, as was that cf a somewhat similar display upon the
summit of the Duke of York's Column. The National Gal-
lei y derived an unaccustomed beauty from the lines of light,
which, glittering from its awkward outlines, seemed for once
to make them beautiful. In fact, the scene in Trafalgar-
square was one of the grandest imaginable. Its vast area
was filled with spectators, same of whom marohed off to-
wards Pall-mall to witness the illuminations of the clubs,
whilst others turned down towards Westminster, where an
equally brilliant display awaited them. It was well worth
while to turn aside from these various throngs and to walk
into St. James's-park. Even here:there was a large assemblage
of people; but it was as nothing to the hosts in the neighbour-
ing streets. Many men,not unused to crowds,gave up the at-
tempt to make their way through the dense masses that
swarmed around them. In the park a sight could be seen
which was not one to be missed. In other parts of London,
only particular portions—or sections so to speak—of the
illuminations were visible ; but from the Park the mighty
glare of the whole city could be seen, lighting up the sky
with a redness that seem td that of some mightly conflagra-
tion. Instinctively the mind recurred to those days—they
were only 80 years ago—when some such lurid glare in the
sky warned people in the country that London was in
flames, kindled by the torches of a maddened and infu-
riated mob; and the whole of the difference between that
time and this—the whole of the mighty progress that had
been made—was forcibly suggested by the sight. It is
needless to say that all the West-end tradesmen did their
best to add to the general effect of the display. Perhaps
Temple-bar looked as well as almost any one of the chief
points, the graceful decorations which have lately almost
entirely changed its aspect being crown to the best
advantage by the brilliant light from Fleet-street
and the Strand. The traveller who, after an inspection of
the illuminations of the West, had still sufficient courage,
or strength, or time, to journey Eastwards, would have
found his journey well rewarded. At the Custom House
there was a large star with the is oyal initials ; the Trinity
House, the Mint, St, Ketharine's Docks, were all brilliantl)
illuminated.

The exterior of the theatres—within whose walls the ap•
plause of crowded audiences testified how heartily the
privilege of free admission was appreciated—presented
a most brilliant appearance. At Drury Lane there was
a large crown, with jewels complete, Prince of Wales's
feathers, two imperial stars, with the usual initials, and gas
jets through the portico. There was a large star at Co-
vent-garden, and at Her Majesty's there was an imperial
crown, with wreaths of laurel. At the Lyceum, Mr.
Fechter exhibited a crystal plume of feathers of great
size, and two central stars, the arms of Denmark being in
the centre of one of these, and those of England in the
other. Mr. Buokstone's display at the Haymarket was
more elaborate. A transparency, representing the army and
navy of England welcoming the Princess, was en the pedi-
ment, at each corner of which, as well as in the centre,
tripods were burning, with a complimentary inscription be-
low. On each side were two large stars, with the initials
of the Prince and Princess, and the six columns in front of
the theatre were decorated with coloured lamps. At the
Adelphi Mr. Webster provided a transparency of the happy
pair, with the Prince of Wales's feathers, the letters A. A.
surrounded by laurel, and a large star above all. The
Olympic had a transparency with portraits, surmounted by
the Prince of Wales's feathers and the motto, " May peace
and happiness ever be theirs." At the Theatre Royal,
Westminster, Mr. Bouicicault displayed to the inhabitants
of Lambeth the initials A. D. on a blue ground, the feather,
and two wreaths enclosing medallion portraits of the Princ(
and Princess. The Surrey showed a sunflower in crystal
glass with four initials P. W. and A. A., with crown and
wreath. The Strand had a large star; and the St. James's
a transparency.
The display at the clubs was equally brilliant. At the
Carlton there were flambeaux along the front of the build-
ing, with wreaths of laurel, colossal Prince of Wales's
plumes, a coronet and motto ; whilst the Reform had a
blaze of light from numberless gas jets and tripod lamps.
At the Junior United Service there was a special de-
vice of rose, thistle, and shamrock, intertwined into a
large medallion, surmounted by a Royal crown over the
centre window in Waterloo place, with the princely
plumes below; whilst in Charles-street appeared the
letters A. A., with a central radiating star, and there
were rows of gas jets around the cornices of the building.
At the United Service in Pall-mall there were four_crystal
devices, all with different mottoes. The Athenaeum had
two large wreaths of laurels, and encircling the initials P.
W.; and the Naval and Military displayed a new style of
crystal star, with a central plume jewelled. At the
Union there were two laurel wreaths, with A. E. A
under a radiating star ; whilst the Conservative had a
plume, crown, and motto, with laurels, amidst which the
rose, thistle, and shamrock were displayed. The Army
and Navy had a plume surmounting a shield, encircled with
laurel, the words "Army and Navy Club," and beneath
its motto, " TJnitate fortior.'' The Travellers' showed
tripod lamps and a similar display to that of the
Reform Club ; and the Guards' had a pair of very large
laurel wreaths, a large Prince of Wales's feathers, stars,
and the initials A. E. and A. L., all terminated by a true
lover's knot in gas. The East India Army and Navy, in
St. James's-square, had the plume and motto " Ich dien,"
the initials, and two st ars. Brookes's had the initials A.E.A.,
and a star in gas ; and at Arthur's all the columns in front
of the building were ornamented with scrolls of gas jets
surmounted by the plume. The Volunteers' showed the
Prince of Wales's plume and wreaths of laurel, with two
large stars ; and the Wyndham also had the Prince's
plume and A.E.A. in gas. The Mansfield Club, 18, Harley-
street, a large gas star, &c. The Conservative Land So-
ciety, Norfolk •street, Strand, the Prince of Wales' plume
in brilliant gas jets:with motto, " Ich Dien," in large letters,
the whole of colossal size. Messrs. Day and Sons'
great
funding, three rows of gas jets along the cornice, sur-
mounted by a twelve-foot gas star, Frederick May, her
Majesty's newsman, Prince of Wales' feathers and motto
in centre, connected on each side by festoons and two
Brunswick stars, and at the base a chain of festoons; the
whole in variegated lamps.