The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-26 00:00:00

PRIMROSE •HILL.

Yesterday afternoon, in accordance with public announce-
ment by means of placards extensively circulated through-
out the metropolis, a demonstration in favour of the re-
establishment of Sunday bands in the public parks took
place at Primrose-hill.
_ _ _

Four o'clock was appointed as the hour of assembling,
and long before that time the summit of the hill was co-
vered by a dense mass of people, the majority of whom
were exceedingly well dressed, and appeared to belong to
the respectable class,s ; and, at the same time, thousands
were to be seen wending their way through the avenues of
the Regent's-park, and in every other direction, towards
the spot selected for the expression of opinion on the Sun-
day band question. It is computed that by four o'clock at
least 60,000 persons had assembled on the hill, but the
ominous aspect of the heavens, and the subsequently heavy
shower of rain which succeeded, not only soon thinned the
vest assemblage on the hill itself, but stopped the career
of those who were on their way to the scene of demonstra-
tion, and compelled a retreat to every available place of
shelter. But for this circumstance the impression prevails
that at least from 150,00) to 200,000 persons would have
assembled; as it was, many thousands, among whom were
a largo number of well-dressed females, stoically remained

Shortly after four o'clock ;.‘, well-appointed band of 20
performers, attired in a similar costume to that of the
Crystal Palace band, and who, as we understood, had been
engaged by the National aunday Lelgue, made their ap-
pearance, and, on reaching the summit of the hill, were re-
ceived with a general burst of cheering from the vast
assembly. A circle was immediately formed, and a picket
of the Guards, stationed on the hill to protect the corn-
imstible materiel for the fireworks already arrived there,
very kindly lent one of the artillery waggons for the use
of the committee and the shelter of the band.

A member of the committee of the Working Men's So-
ciety of London, who were all distinguished by a small slip
of blue ribbon attached to the button-hole, addressed a few
observations to those assembled, congratulating them that,
although the Government had not thought fit at present
to favour the people with the re-introduction of the mili-
tary bands in the parks and Kensington-gardens, yct that
they had very wisely and most considerately not chosen to
interfere with the rights and expressed wishes of the people
in providing their own bands. There was no interference
with them on the part of the police. It was felt by the Go-
vernment that the people would in this instance be their
own police, and he urged upon all assembled to prove to
the Government that they were worthy of the confidence
reposed in them. (The sentence was received with ap-
plause.) The speaker then read the following, which had
been extensively distributed in a printed form amongst
the people
Norm—The committee for the public demonstration in
favour of the Sunday bands, finding it impossible for human
voice to reach so large an assembly, have resolved upon the
following means of obtaining the opinion of the meeting : At
five o'clock precisely a union jack will be raised on the top of
the hill, when all persons who are favourable to the accom-
panying resolution will raise their hands :

Resolution, That the people now in public meeting as-
sembled consider the music in parks, established by Sir Ben-
jamin Hall, to be an innocent and healthful recreation, regret
its sudden discontinuance, and hope it may be speedily re-
newed.'

" The second demonstration will (if necessary) be in Hyde-
park on Sunday next, June 1, at four o'clock.

The band then commenced, amidst the most profound
silence, playing, as an opening, "Martin Luther's Hymn.'
The ballad of " Annie Laurie" followed, then the "Hun-
dredth Psalm," some lively music, and, as a finale to the
first part, immediately prior to the hoisting of the
union jack, " Rule Britannia." Several attempts at ap-
plause were made, but it was checked by cries of " Order,
order," emanating from tho vast body of the assemblage.
At five o'clock, on the conclusion of " Rule Britannia,"
the flag was hoisted, and at the same moment nearly every
hand in the vast coteourso of persons assembled was raised
in approbation of the resolution they had had submitted
to them. The band continued to play until six o'clock,
terminating their performance with "God save the Queen."
The people then dispersed in the greatest order.

SUNDAY RECREATION FOR THE

PEOPLE.

GLORIOITS DEMONSTRATION AT LEEDS.

Yesterday (Sunday) in conformity with an announce-
ment made during the week by a committee formed for
the purpose of giving the working-classes of Leeds the
opportunity of breathing fresh wholesome air on 'Wood-
house Moor (ono of the most salubrious places in th,
neighbourhood of Leeds) a very efficient wind instrument
band played a selection of music from two until half-
past four o'clock in the afternoon. About 20,000 well-
dressed and respectable-looking people attended, and
evinced, not only by their pleasant countenances but
also by the orderly manner in which they conducted
themselves, the happiness they enjoyed. Several ma-
gistrates and many of the leading inhabitants of the
town and neighbourhood were present—Mr. Edward
Baines (the same gentleman who proposed three groans
for the Queen some years ago) was not present, but the
representatives of his paper were, and they will no
doubt inform him that though he and other sectarian
and narrow-minded professors of religion may, for a
while, have influenced the Prime Minister of England to
put down a great moral principle in his own native
town, they have brought about a demonstration in fa-
vour of innocent amusements on the Sunday, which it
would otherwise have taken years to have accomplished.
Lot it then go through the length and breadth of the
) land that Leeds has taken up a great movement, which
will be followed throughout the kingdom. So low,
as the people conduct themselves with order
and propriety there is no doubt of success.
Many thousands yesterday enjoyed the pure atmo-
sphere with their wives and, families on Woodhouse
Moor, who would otherwise have been poring over the
columns of the Leeds Mercury in the ale house. The
Sabbatarians attended in small numbers, and the Rev.
Mr. Aitken held forth to e small knot of them. We
question the propriety of Mr. Aitken's conduct in plac-
ing his rostrum so near the orchestra ; if he wanted to
spout, why did he not go further away ? Most pro.
bably he wished to make his audience larger than it
really was. Not the slightest accident or irregularity
occurred, with the exception that one of Mr. Aitken's
isteners was caught in the act of taking his next neigh-
bour's pocket-handkerchiefs ! The people conducted
themselves most admirably. Next Sunday two bands
are engaged, and a committee has been appointed for
the selection of the music to be played. The
people are determined to follow the example set by her
Majesty the Queen, and to enjoy music on the Sunday
afternoon in their own park (Woodhouse Moor being a
place of public resort.) The immense assemblage dis-
persed soon after half-past four, and when Mr. Edward
Baines and his family would go over the moor i❑ his
"hired Sunday cab" (as is his custom morning and even•
ing to his dissenting chapel), he would observe (whilst
lee was breaking the Fourth Commandment) that the
people had quietly dispersed to their several homes, or
to attend a place of Divine worship.

THE FORTHCOMING ILLUMINATIOIVS.

The following Police Regulations for preventing
obstruction of the thoroughfares and preserving
order on the night of the 29th inst. wore issued on
Saturday:--
1. No carriage will bo allowed to remain in Park-lane,
or in that part of Piccadilly adjoining the Green Park,
from 8 o'clock p.m., until the fireworks are ended.
2. No carriage will be allowed to pass through Park-lane,
or Piccadilly, adjoining the park, during the time above-
mentioned, except with company going to some house in
those streets, or in the immediate neighbourhood.
3. No carriage will be allowed to enter or remain in the
Green Park, or St. James's-park, after 8 o'clock p.m.
4. No carriage will be allowed to enter or remain in
Hyde-park, except as hereafter mentioned, after 8 o'clock
p.m.
Private carriages may stand, but so as not to cause ob-
struction, on the road in Hyde-park above the Marble.
arch, towards Kensiogtou-gardens, and at the side of Ken-
sington-gardens, and the Srpentine.
Carriages are to enter the park by the Victoria-gate
only.
5. No carriage will be allowed to pass or remain in any
part of the road in the park, between Apsley-house-gates
and the Marble-arch, after 8 o'clock p.m.; and the several
gates into the park, except Victoria-gate, are to be used
only by people walking.
6. No carriage will be allowed to stop in any street at
any time of the evening or night, so that an obstruction
may be caused.
7. All carriages of every
description are to be kept mov-
ing through the streets, and the carriages will, as far as
practicable, be formed in lines, on their proper side of the
street, so as to give to the persons in all the best opportu-
nity of seeing the illuminations. Ricaißß MAME.
-Metropolitan 134079140, May 23, iso6.