The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-17 00:00:00

COLOGNE.

The great festival to commemorate the 600th an-
niversary of the building of the Cathedral of Cologne
commenced on the 15th. Great preparations were
made for the reception of the Archduke JOHN, the
Administrator of the Empire. Tricoloured German,
Prussian, Bavarian, &c., flags were waving from the
windows; and the streets being very narrow, these
flags in many instances intercepted the sight. The
place where the steamer, with the Archduke on board,
was to arrive, was adorned with flowers, ribbons, and
banners of every description. Thousand of spectators
covered the quays, the bridge, and the street by which
the Archduke was to proceed to the house of Her TON
WITTGENSTEIN, President of the Government, where
apartments had been prepared for him. At six o'clock
a tremendous shower of rain cleared the streets, but
the weather improved, and our countryman, Mr.
COIWELL, entertained the people with the ascension
of a balloon at the Hochstrasse-gate. At about
eight o'clock the Administrator of the Empire ar-
rived; the guns were fired, the bells rang merry
peals, the Burgher Guard presented arms, and ut:
tered vivats innumerable. The First Burgomaster
of Cologne, Herr STEINDERGER, delivered an address
to the ARCHDUKE, to which his Imperial Highness
replied in a speech full of compliment to the city,
and referring chiefly to the great work of German
unity to which the labours of all are at this moment
directed.
The ARCHDUKE refused to avail himself of the car-
riage placed at his disposal, saying he preferred walk-
ing. Accordingly he proceeded on foot through the
Frankgasse.
The following is a translation of the address with
which Privy-Councillor STEINBERGER, the head
Burgomaster of this city, greeted his Imperial High-
ness the Vicar of the Empire, on his arrival last
night :
" In homely, honest, and sincere language, as has ever
been the custom on the German Rhine, the old Rhenish
city gives a most respectful, a most cordial welcome to
your Imperial Highness the illustrious Vicar of the Em-
pire. And that welcome of veneration and affection is
uttered by us here, in presence of the lofty dome, the
symbol of the future greatness and unity of Germany.
And like renovated Germany, we behold that Cathe-
dral also, in its renewed strength, magnificence, and

dignity, and in the now certain hope of its completion,
festively adorned and prepared for the great anniversary
which in its venerable and sacred aisles will collect and
unite from far and near thousands and thousands of
noble Germans, headed, hand in hand, by the illustrious
Vicar of the Empire, and the illustrious Royal Pro-
tector, and accompanied by the chosen of the Ger-
man people, they to whom is intrusted the foundation, as
well as the construction of the most sublime and most
magnificent edifice of our times and of our country—
the cathedral of German power arid German unity.
And as, according to the plan of the architect, under
skilful guidance, and with the cheerful co-operation of
the true-hearted assistants in the work, we hope that
stone to stone will be happily and harmoniously joined
until the noble and God-dedicated temple be completed,
so we trust that all German races will powerfully and
harmoniously work together at the glorious edifice of
German nationality and unity. May both edifices,
under the Almighty protection, endure in their strength
and beauty until remote times and generations of men ;
and when 600 years more shall have expired may
another double secular festival be held here—a festival
of German sentiments, German power, and German
unity." The conclusion of this appropriate and pithy
address was greeted with enthusial ti-J cheers.
The reply of his Imperial Highness was to the fol-
lowing effect:—
"My warmest thanks for this cordial reception. You
have well called the Cologne Cathedral the symbol of
German unity. It is so, and it shall be so. The work
which, for Germany's, for our fatherland's welfare, we
have to erect, is a great, a gigantic one—even like your
own cathedral. A firm determination and skilful work-
men are required, in order that each stone may con-
duce to the harmony of the great whole. We will sup-
plicate God to give us the strength that will enable all
of us to co-operate with equal zeal and perseverance in
the construction of a united, a great, and a happy Ger-
many—one as firmly rooted as your cathedral. I renew
my warmest thanks, and give three cheers for the city
of Cologne!"