The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-23 00:00:00

STAMPED

Preparations for the Royal Marriage.

From the small town, lately a mere fishing
hamlet, of Gravesend, to the quiet borough in
Berkshire, where Windsor Castle rears its stately
towers; along the railways and roads, through the
streets and crowded thoroughfares of Southwark,
the cities of London and Westminster, in the broad
open space of the parks, in every city, town and
village of the kingdom, active preparations are
going on to celebrate the royal marriage, and to
welcome the Royal Danish bride. The Corpora-
tion of the City of London are resolved that, so far
as they are concerned her Royal highness shall be
worthily received and duly honoured. Early and
late the Reception Committee summon its members
to discuss the thousand details which are necessary
in order to give fitting expression to the good
wishes and the hearty feelings which alike from
rich and poor are entertained towards the Prince
of Wales and his affianced bride. On Saturday the
committe sat for upwards of two hours at Guildhall
and decided upon various points in connection with
the approaching festivities. Among other things,
it was settled that the medals to be struck in com-
memoration of the marriage should be thrown open
to competition, and that a number of medallists
should be selected and requested to send in designs.
The committee deserve credit for deciding upon
this course. The event which is to be celebrated
is one which but rarely happens, and it is
fitting that an opportunity should be afforded
for bring forward any talent which the country
may possess. It is the fashion to talk of the pro-
gress of art and the general improvement in taste
among all classes. An opportunity is now afforded for
giving a practical test of the value of the assertion.
The munificent act of the Common Council in voting
£IO,OOO for the purchase of a suitable present for
the Princess Alexandra will also afford a good op-
portunity for illustrating the taste of our artists,
and the skill of our workmen, in the production,
let us hope, of some really creditable work. The
presents which were made to the Princess Royal by
the city of Berlin and the nobility of the Rhenish
provinces, which formed such attractive objects at
the late Great Exhibition, afforded evidence that
the opportunity which they afforded for the encou-
ragement of artistic talent was not lost sight of in
the exuberance of the loyalty and affection of the
people for the princess. We are heartily glad, for
the sake or the corporation, that the proposition
which was understood to have been submitted by a
worthy alderman, that the sum to be voted for the
purchase of a suitable present should be reduced by
one-half of that originally proposed, was indig-
nantly rejected by a very large majority. With
respect to the manner in which this sum is to be
disposed of nothing has yet been decided, and the
announcement that the corporation have £lO,OOO to
spend in a wedding present will stir into activity,
all the goldsmiths and jewellers of Europe
each of whom will have something charm-
ing and elegant with which to bewilder and dazzle
the unfortunate committee that may be entrusted
with the final selection of the present. It would
be a graceful thing if the wishes and tastes of her
Majesty or of the princess herself were first con-
sulted as to the nature of the present which would
be most acceptable.

The decorations of the various public buildings in
the City, and the illuminations on the day of the
marriage, are under the consideration of Mr. Bun-
ning, the City architect, who will find ample scope
for the versatility of his genius. London-bridge
will be decorated from end to end, the recesses on
each side being made use of to form the basis of
suitable displays of flags and trophies and statues.
There will be a triumphal arch erected on the north
side of the bridge, over the dry arch of Thames-
street. This will remain standing until after the
royal marriage, on the night of which it will be
brilliantly illuminated. The Monument- will also
be illuminated. A very splendid effect might be
produced by a spiral line of gas jets winding up the
body of the column and terminating with lines of
gas upon the summit. At Guildhall and Temple-
bar there will be illuminations on a very extensive
and elaborate scale; and Temple-bar, through which
the royal procession will pass, will be treated as a
triumphal arch, and profusely covered with decora-
tions. Far the thousands of spectators who will
be anxious to see the Princess Alexandra abundant
accommodation will be provided at every open space
of ground. In the front of the Fishmongers' Hall
there will be a staging provided for about 500 per-
sons, and in front of the Mansion House a gallery
for 400 people will be constructed. The whole of
the open space within the enclosure on the east,
south, and west sides of St. Paul's will be occupied
by seats, rising tier over tier, and with canopies,
for the accommodation of about 10,000 people, in-
cluding the dean and chapter, the governing bodies
of the whole of the livery companies, with their
friends, 600 boys from the City of London
School, and 100 belonging to the Orphan School.
Refreshment and retiring rooms will be provided in
connection with this giant platform. The construc-
tion of this staging will cost at least £7,000.
The borough of Southwark will make a very im-
posing display, for they have not only been roused
into a state of activity by the knowledge of what
the City of London is about to do, but have disco-
vered that they have cllims to precedence in the
procession over the more fortunate citizens who can
boast a Lord Mayor and sheriffs, and the whole
paraphernalia of a municipal corporation. The same
feeling, too, exists in Westminster, but the dissa-
tisfaction which exists in the minds of some per-
sons with respect to the non-possession of civic dig-
nitaries will not be permitted to interfere with the
most strenuous exertions to give a worthy reception
to the Danish Princess. In Southwark the old site
of St. Thomas's Hospital will be made available for
the erection of a platform to accommodate several
thousands of persons, as well also as the open space
at the corner of the new Southwark-street, and the
ground on which the Town-hall formerly stood. A
triumphal arch is to be erected at the junction of the
Old and New Kent-roads, near the railway station,
and another in the wide part opposite St. George's
Church ; and the hideous iron railway beam which
stretches across the top of Wellington-street will,
if possible, he made to bear something of an orna-
mental character. In accordance with the reso-
lution agreed to at the meeting of the St. James's
vestry on Friday a deputation waited upon the
Reception Committee at Guildhall on Saturday, and
stated that the inhabitants of St. Jamess were anxiety;
to co-operate in every way with the City in order
to give a worthy reception to the Princess Alexan-
dra. It was finally arranged that Westminster
should be duly represented at Temple-bar by the
high bailiff and burgesses of the it
Westmin-
ster, and probably also by the Duke of of
of Buccleuch,
Steward of West-
who holds the office of Lord High
minster. The parochial representatives are also
occupied with the consideration of some suitable
mode of showing their rejoicing and welcome. It
has been proposed, and Sir George Grey has sanc-
tioned the plan, that a triumphal arch should be
erected in the Strand close to Wellington-street.
This arch, as at present proposed, will bear a suit
able inscription.

As finally arranged, the Prince of Wales and the
Princess Alexandra will be received at the Brick
layers' Arms station by the Lord Mayor and sheriffs
and members of the Reception Committee, alder-
men, and common counQillors, as a deputation, and
that the remainder of the corporation who may
take part in the procession will fall in at the en-
trance to the City on London-bridge. The Lord
Mayor and sheriffs will wear their state robes, and
the state carriages of the Lord Mayor and sheriffs
will be brought into requisition. The illustrious
visitors will no doubt be pleased to find that the
time-honoured Custom of presenting a
long and
stilted address will be dispensed with on this occa•
sion, The Prince and Princess will receive on a