The Sun.
London, England, 1837-11-10 00:00:00

THE GUILDHALL.

The preparations made by the Committee core
responded with the universal feeling upon the occa- '
sion, and exceeded anything ever attempted in the city
of London. Various were the experiments with de-
signs, and numerous were the objections taken. At
length, after discussion upon discussion, the Enter-
tainment Committee agreed to a plan of arrangements
of which the following is an outline :
At the eastern end of the Guildhall the Gothic win-
dow was boarded up, and large sheets of iron were
placed over the timber, in order to introduce in gas the
words " Welcome V. IL," under which appeared also
in gas a scroll reaching from wee side to the other of
the spacious building.
The letters and the scroll were punctured with gas
holes, and the light blazed through with great brilliancy.
On a raised platform under these words, stood the
throne. In the back of this magnificent seat, and
above it, was a great profusion of crimson velvet, richly
laced and trimmed with the letters V. R., surmounted
by the crown and cushion. The back fluting was com-
posed of white satin, and the top of crimson velvet.
Large folds of crimson velvet fell from the top, intro-
ducing the Rose, Thistle, and Shamrock, brilliantly
executed in white velvet. The scat itself was richly
carved and gilt, and covered with crimson velvet.
The table prepared for her Majesty was most
splendidly set out, and covered with the finest white
damask, trimmed with gold, and before it was placed a
great qUantity of plants of all sorts. Behind the
throne were spacious mirrors, and ranged along a
shelf, extending the whole breadth of the Hall, was
the City plate in great abundance.
At the east end of the Hall the large window was
also hidden from view, for the purpose of producing the
illumination of a Star, and the words " God save the
Queen," which appeared most brilliant from the glass
drops of which they were composed.
Two very beautiful chandeliers were suspended a
few feet from the top of the Hall, and the sides were
lighted with gas, in a manner not attempted before
in this building.
Four tables were placed along the hall from the Royal
table, extending about half-way down, for the Ministers,
the Nobility, and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen ; and
at the west end of the Hall were ranged six tables, in-
cluding side-tables for the Common Councilmen and
other guests.
The music gallery was fitted up in the Gothic
style, and was large enough to admit sixty or seventy
performers.
The Common Council Chamber was fitted up as her
Majesty's drawing-room. It was hung with crimson
cloth, festooned with red and white roses, and splendidly
carpeted. At the upper end, on a platform, was a
splendid carved and gilt chair, without hangings, on
which her Majesty sat on her arrival at the Hall. In
this apartment there is no other seat.
The room occupied in Alderinanic discussions was
selected on the occasion as her Majesty's private room.
It was beautifully hung round with crimson, orna-
mented with festoonings, and the floor was cover-
ed with crimson and gold carpet, a toilet table com-
posed of white satin graced the recess, and the initials
V. R. appeared in a wreath of gold in the interior.
In this apartment were several of the chairs which
were the favourite pattern of George IV., and were
lent upon the occasion by Sir Thomas Ellis of
Stratford. The elegant retiring room appropriated
to the use of the other members of the Royal family
t a the Reading-room of the Court of Common Conn-
It. vk a; furnished with Consol tables with marble
tops and cabriolet chairs and sofa, each chair varying
from the other.

The old Council Chamber to the left or the Court
of Aldermen was fitted up for her Majesty's suite, and
decorated with crimson cloth. It contained a large
ni.rror and toilet, with abundance of perfumes.
The Chamberlain's Office was fitted up for the retir-
ing rocm of tl.e lady Mayoress, the Aldermens' ladiep,
an I other ladies of distinction, and the Old Court of
King's "knelt was arranged for the accommodation
of the ladies of the members of the Court of Common
Council.

The streets in the neighbourhood of the Guildhall pre-
sented an unusually animated appearance from a very early
hour, and, indeed, the " busy note of preparation"-had con
need almost without intermission throughout the night.
As early as ten o'clock the windows in the line of the
procession in Cheapside and King-street began to fill, and
before eleven o'clock there was scarcely a seat un-
tenanted. The great majority were ladies, and these
mostly in full dress, and the waving of flags and banners,
the bands of music which were stationed at almost every
opening, " the cliak of hammers," the cries of the itinerant
venders of " peppettnint lozenges," " the Royal Victoria
medal," " the full and true account of the processioa," &e.
&c., mingled with the pealing of bells, and the din and con-
fusion of the dense crowd which thronged the strc, ts,
formed one of the most animated and novel scenes that can
well be imagined.
Up to 11 o'clock the preparations for the evening illumi-
nations continued with unabated vigour, but after that hour
the decorators, with their ladders, and other parapha-
nalia began to disappear, and encreased accommodation
was thereby afforded to the multitude, which kept pour-
ing its tide along from east and west, and indeed every
point of the compass.
Nearly 1,000 special constables bad been sworn in, and
these were placed at a few paces apart on either side of the
streets, and we must do them the justice to state that they
discharged their arduous duties with exemplary forbearance.
At 11 o'clock the police proceeded to clear King-street,
leading to the Guildhall, which up to that time had been a
compact mass ofhuman beings, and this having been with some
difficulty accomplished, the barriers were closed, and no
person permitted to pass without an order from the City
authorities.

The several City Companies, on their way to their sta-
tions at St. Paul's, also came in for a full share of the plau-
dits of the multitude, and at one o'clock the company be-
gan to arrive at the Guildhall, and were loudly cheered by
the populace in their progress along the line.
The exterior decorations of the hall were not finally
completed till nearly one o'clock, and from that period the
carriages, hackney coaches, cabriolets, &c., poured along
in a continuous stream ; and such were the order and regu-
larity with which the arrangements in the Guildhall-yard
were conducted, under the surveillance of a party of the
city police, that not the slightest confusion or inconvenience
took place.
Among the earliest arrivals were Sir Frederic Pollock,
Aldermen Scholey, Brown, Wilson, and Lainson ; Mr.
Sergeant Arabin, Aldermen Copeland, M.P., Sir Peter
Uurie, Sir James Shaw, Alderman Johnston, Mr. Sheriff
Montefiore, &c.

The number of ladies was unusually great, every car-
riage containing one or more, and the display of ostrich
plumes and jewels equalled that of the most brilliant drawing-
room or levee at the West-end.

At two o'clock precisely the barriers were again closed,
and shortly afterwards the Hon. the Artillery Company,
which was to compose her Majesty's guard :of honour,
under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Cox, marched into
the yard, preceded by their band, and took up their posi-
tion in line on the left of the entrance.

At half-past three the procession, which was headed by
the Superintendent and a party of the mounted city police
reached Guildhall, and the excitement and enthusiasm of the
assembled crowds, were raised to the highest pitch.
After the Lord Mayor, the officers of the Corpo-
ration, and other civic functionaries, had passed, and
the State Carriage of her Majesty appeared in sight, the
Artillery Company presented arms, the Officers sa-
luting, and the bands playing the National Anthem.
A party of the Gentlemen Pensioners lined the
outer lobby of Guildhall ; and on her Majesty
alighting from her carriage some of the diamonds of her
stomacher gave way, and were scattered about the en-
trance. They were picked up immediately afterwards by
the Royal attendants in waiting. The last carriage of the
procession had not set down until nearly half-past 4 o'clock.