The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-02 00:00:00

THE PROCLAMATION AT THE ROYAL

EXCHANGE.

The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, on receiving
from the Duke of Newcastle, on Saturday night,
the important intelligence of the victory of the
allied armies over the Russians on the Alma, at
once proceeded to make known the glorious news
to his fellow-citizens by proclaiming the fact in
front of the Royal Exchange. The letter accom-
panying the copy of the Extraordinary Gazette
was dated. " 8 p.m., Downing-street„" and the in-
telligence did not reach the Mansion-house until
after 9 o'clock. The Lora. Mayor, hastily sum-
moning two or three members of his household,
immediately left the Mansion-house. His lord-
ship first proceeded to the London Tavern,
where the leading members of the corporation
were partaking of the hospitalities of the new
sheriffs of London and Middlesex, and here
his lordship, amid the cheers of the com-
pany, announced. the gratifying intelligence
to the assembled guests. The Lord Mayor then,
accompanied by Mr. Alderman Wire, Mr. Mil-
lard, and several other influential gentlemen, pro-
ceeded to the Royal Exchange for the purpose of
more publicly proclaiming the news. The civic
trumpeter having sounded several times, a cro ivd
of eager spectators soon surrounded the group,
upon whose identity a flickering light was thrown
by the bull's eyes of half a dozen policemen's
lantern's.

The Lord Mayor, speaking from an elevated
position under the portico, said—" Fellow-citi-
zens and gentlemen, I have to announce to you
the intelligence of a splendid victory obtained by
the allied forces over the Russians in the Crimea.
(Loud cheers.) Before I commence reading to you
the despatches which I have received on this sub-
ject, and in order to give a little more time for
our fellow-citizens to assemble, I beg to propose
that we give, on this memorable occasion, three
good and hearty cheers for our Queen."
This appeal caught the spirit of all present ad-
mirably, and her Majesty's name was greeted with
three times three good cheers, which might have
been heard in St. Paul's Churchyard. A call for
a similar compliment to the Emperor Napoleon
by a person in the crowd was readily responded
to, and his Imperial Majesty's name in the heart
of the city of London elicited manifestations as
cordial and enthusiastic as could have greeted it
in the centre of his own capital.
The crowd in front of the Exchange had by this
time increased to some 400 or 500 persons, and
the Lord Mayor again proceeded to address
them. He said—" Fellow-citizens—l have this
night received a most important despatch from
his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, her Majesty's
Minister of War, conveying intelligence of a
great victory obtained by the allied forces
over the Russians in the Crimea. (Loud cheers.)
Permit me to say that I feel my present a
most delightful duty. Some few months since it
fell to my lot, as the chief magistrate of this city,
to announce to you that war had been proclaimed
between this country and Russia. I have now
the great satisfaction of making known to you
that the allied forces have taken the first step
towards reducing the harbaric power , against
which they are engaged within reasonable limits.
(Cheers.) I cannot help adding that I feel the
interests of humanity and the happiness of the
whole human race are all deeply concerned in this
victory. (Renewed cheering, and cries of " Bravo,
Sydney 1") I will now read to you the letter
with which`l have been honoured by the Duke of
Newcastle. The Lord Mayor here read the letter,
which will ba found in another column, and the
accompanying telegraphic message, as it appeared
in the Extraordinary Gazette, published on Sa-
turday night.. The important passages in both
documents were received with immense cheering
by the crowd, amongst whom great excitement
prevailed. Having gone through both commu-
nications, the Lord Mayor said—Gentlemen, I
thank you for your attendance. I cannot but
feel proud of this opportunity of addressing my
fellow-citizens—the representatives of the freest
city in the world—upon an occasion of such vast
interest. (Cheers.) I believe this victory will do
more to promote the civilisation and happiness of
the world than anything which has occurred in
in Europe during the last fifty years. (Loud
cheers.) Before I retire I must call upon yon to
give three times three for those brave, bold, and
patriotic men who have left our shore to fight
their country's battles.
This sentiment was received with a deafening
burst of acclamations, and was followed by three
good cheers for " The French—our Allies."

The Lord Mayor now retired amid the applause
of the crowd, having previously announced his
intention of publishing immediately the glorious
intelligenco throughout every quarter of the me-
tropolis.