The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-26 00:00:00

THE FETES AT BRUSSELS.

21,19

11,73

22,053

27,639

3,169

10,198
12,420

3,167

807
9,490

24,785

1,029

17,589
20,048

10,076

7,039

6,52

9663

13,112

7,437

longed. They were escorted by a detachment of the
Sapeurs-pompiers of the civic guard. They all pro-
ceeded to the town house, when after a long time a
Jury decided on their being worthy of the two first
prizes, and the names of the victors proclaimed by
the Bourgmestre. But not the least curious part of
the fite was the gathering of the sharpshooters,
archers, and crossbow-men. The competitors for
the prizes mustered at ten o'clock in the rue
de la Loi, and drew up in the order pre-
scribed by the programme ; then, the ar-
quebuse men leading the way, preceded by
military music, with the respective banners, some of
which were of rich crimson velvet, adorned with
massive embroidery, the spear heads tipped with rows
of rings, from which bang clusters of medals of silver
and bronze, or silver gilt, the bands moved—a detach-

ment of mounted Guides opening the march and
closing it—along the rue Royale, the place Royale,
the Montagne de la Cour, the rue de la Madeleine,
and the rue des Friperes, to the place of the Mint,
where they drew up in three lines. Here the medals
and prizes were distributed by the Burgomaster in
the name of the Corporation to the successful com-
petitors of this modern Wappenshaw. The prizes
consist of sums of money, varying from 1,200 f. to
125 f., and include nearly all sorts of manly exercise,
as well as firing at marks with the musket, or cross
bow.

A grand ball will be given to-night to the King,
by the Society of Artists and Litterateurs, in the
Palace which formerly belonged to the Prince of
Orange, the late King of Holland. The Palace was
purchased from the Prince by the city, and will be
placed at the disposal of the Duke of Brabant, as soon
as his age entitles him to a separate establishment.
An addition or extension of the Palace to the boule-
vard in the rear has been constructed of timber, in
order to afford more space to the numerous guests
that are invited. At 12 o'clock to-day the work was
not yet completed. The persons employed in decorat-
ing the interior of the structure were the artists them-

-.
selves who are giving the entertainment. The king
drove into town at half-past 12 o'clock from Lacken.
The city continues to be ornamented with tri-
umphal arches of foliage, and the houses with flags
and banners of every size and form, some of them
very tasteful. An avenue of artificial trees, poles
with branches of broom around them, bound with
garlands of ivy, extends from the Montage de la
Cour to the Port de Cologne, and from the summit
of each rustic arch waves the national flag. The
Grande Place is more elaborately ornamented, and
the balconies of the Hotel de Villa are covered over
with flags, streamers, vases of flowers, escutcheons
on which are emblazoned the arms of the provinces.
In the centre of the place is raised a Moorish
kiosk, and the fronts of the houses are interlaced
by festoons of foliage and flowers. The Place de la
Monnaie, the Rue de la Loi, and Place de la Nation

are similarly ornamented. The crowds of strangers,
English, Germans, and French, flocking in by the
railways, render it difficult to get even the simplest
accommodation at the hotels. The weather is splendid.

BRUSSELS, WEDNESDAY EVENING.—The review
yesterday was one of the most brilliant and imposing
that has been held in Brussels since the revolution of
1830. It was preceded bye religious ceremony, cele-
brated at 10 o'clock, in the Church of Saints Michael
and Gudule, in honour of those who fell on that oc-
casion. At an early hour the bells of every church in
the city esmounced the solemnity of the day; and at
8 o'clock 21 guns mingled their thunder with the
more se,lemn sounds that issued from every steeple in
Brussels ; while from the balconies, or the roof of
every public building, and many private ones, the
national flag of Belgium waved in the morning air,
and at each moment the squares, and streets, and
public places became alive with human beings.
The ceremonial in the church was very much the
same as on previous occasions. The religious service
was celebrated in its usual imposing manner; and the
officiating clergyman, clad in dark vestments, was
assisted by a numerous body of pries's. The cortege
quitted the church only to proceed to the review
ground on the Boulevards. The force drawn up
there amounted to no less than 20,000 men, well
armed and equipped, and admirably disciplined. The
infantry comprised not less than eight regiments.
The cavalry, a regiment of mounted Chasseurs, one
of Lancers, the fine regiment of the Guides, a regi-
ment of Cuirassiers, and one of Gendarmerie. The
artillery included ten batteries. The officer who
commanded in chief the manoeuvres of all arms was
General L'Olivier. The Civic Guard of Brussels
and its faubourgs was also placed en echelon on the
ground, under the command of General Petilhan.
The whole of this force had arrived on the ground,
and occupied the positions assigned respectively to
each part, at a little after half-past eleven o'clock.
Tne King left the Royal Palace, accompanied by
the Princes and his staff, a few minutes after one
o'clock. His Majesty wore the uniform of a general
officer of the civic guard, and the Princes the uni-
forms of their respective corps. The moment the
Royal cortege made its appearance one immense
shout burst irom the multitude that filled the park
and the boulevards, and as the father and the royal
youths rode along the line of armed men, the cry of
"Vine le Roil" " Vivent les Princes!' did not
cease for a single moment. Reviews have been so
often described, that it would be superfluous to say
more than that the ordinary manoeuvres were gone
through, and the defiling was executed with
much precision. The civic guard presented itself
very well, and as each section passed the men ac-
claimed the King and Princes with much energy and
fervour. Indeed, so great and so general was the
enthusiasm, that at one moment a part of the crowd
burst in, and separated for a time the King and his
sons from the staff, but it was to manifest still nearer
their respect for his person. The King appeared
much affected by these marks of attachment, and both
by word and gesture he expressed his thanks. The
Princess Charlotte, attended by the ladies of the
Palace, witnessed the defiling from the grand balcony;
she was subsequently joined there by the King and
the Princes, and this became a signal for the renewal
of the acclamations. The review was over at a quarter
to five o'clock.
A procession, also of a military kind, took place
subsequently by torchlight. At seven o'clock a loud
burst of music was heard from the Place du Palais,
and not less than sixteen full bands all at once
thundered forth a piece of national music. A de-
tachment of Cuirasssiers led the way, the bands of
music followed, another detachment, also of Cuirassiers,
formed the rear guard, and a crowd of persons
walked on both sides with torches. The cortege
proceeded through several parts of the city, and was
hailed with acclamations wherever it passed.
A banquet at the palace terminated the file of yes.
terday. The Ministers, high functionari&s, civil and
military, were among the guests. The King pre-
sided at one table, and the Duke of Brabant at the
other.
The fete of this day was also ushered in by a peal
of bells from all the steeples. Precisely at eight
o'clock the harmonic societies, some remarkable for
the quaintness of their costume, assembled in the
Place du Palais. Amongst those societies were to
be seen detachments from the bands of the National
Guards of the French frontier towns; Lille and Rou-
baix furnished strong contingents to the muster; and
Courtrai, Ninorf, Lacken, and other places in the
neighbourhood of Brussels were fitly represented on
the occasion of this competition for the prizes awarded
to superior skill in music, as also to the best tenue
mili-
tary and civil. Those who belong to the civic corps wore
their respective uniforms, and the
,cis Diens were for
the most part dressed in black with white neckcloths,
and rosettes at the button-hole. The gathering took
place to the sound of music and amidst the acclama-
tions of the crowd. At 9 o'clock the order was given
to march, and the cortege, preceded by the Royal
Society, called La Grand artnonie, moved on with
bands playing towards the square of the Hotel de
Ville by the Place Royale, the Montagne de la
Cour, the rue de la Madeleine, the herb market,
and the rue de la Colline. The societies repre-
sented by communes went in advance of those of
towns of the second rank, and these last of
towns of the first. Each society carried its ensign at
its head, adorned with streamers, and with the name
in gold letters of the town or district to which it be