The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-19 00:00:00

VISIT OF THE SULTAN TO THE CITY.

Last evening his Imperial Majesty the Sultan
visited the City in State, and was entertained
by the Corporation with magnificent hospitality.
The successor of the Mahomets, the Solymans, andl
the Amuraths, who not 200 years ago were the
terror of Christendom, drove calmly clown Fleet-
street. Temple-bar had put on a new face for the
occasion. Two steam fire-engines, playing on either
side early one morning, alarmed the neighbours,
who, seeing smoke, and hearing much noise, ex-
pected to see the ancient structure topple down into
the causeway. But the Bar was merely being
cleansed from the accumulated dirt of many years ;
and now, adorned with flags and evergreens, it

shone in all the lustre of a clean face. Beneath it,
at about 7 o'clock, passed the Sultan and his suite
in State carriages, with an escort of Horse Guards,
amid the cheers of dense masses of people who

lined the road.
It is to be feared that the Sultan will not carry
away with him a favourable recollection of the Eng-
lish climate. The rain fell heavily in the early part
of the day, the iaexorable St. Swithin having appa-

rently taken upon himself to spoil all the ceremonies
now in progress. There was a dry interval, how-
ever, during which the guests came and went, and
the crowd who had assembled to see the august
visitors had no need of the well-accustomed um-
brellas. Even before 4 o'clock the stream of visi-
tors began to flow from the west, and at that hour
the ordinary traffic was stopped between Temple-
bar and King-street. Some of the shops and ware-
houses along the line displayed such flags as they
hadat command, but the preparations outside Guild-
hall were not imposing. The interest excited by
the visit of the Sultan within the City bounds was
shown by the masses of people who had gathered
to greet him, and the Sultan had no reason to com-
plain of a cold reception. At Guildhall the prepa-
rations were most elaborate and splendid.
Entering from King-street, Cheapside, the guests
alighted in front of a stately Reception Hall,
erected expressly for the occasion, and occupying
the whole of what is usually an open space in front
of Guildhall. The façade was 120 ft. in length,
and of imposing appearance. An arcade of double
columns, between which statues were placed at in-
tervals, formed a porch beneath which the company
alighted. The portico was surmounted by a pedi-
ment and panels filled with figures and other em-
blems ; the guests, passing under an orchestra
about 12ft. high, supported by two handsome
caryatides, then entered the new Reception Hall.
This apartment, 54 feet wide, was supported by a
row of six lonic columns on each side. It was 22ft.
high to the loftiest point of the ceiling, and about
90ft. long, forming with the entrance lobbies and
porch a building 105 ft. in length. In the embellish-
ment of this hall the prevailing colour was cream
or white, relieved with gold. The walls were hung
with a richly-diapered decoration, each bay having,
an architectural frontispiece of imitation Wedg-
wood ware, with a lofty mirror, and an oval light,
the arms of the City and the Sultan alternating
above. The building was lighted by 10 chandeliers
of 12 lights each, and baskets of creeping flowers
were suspended from the roof with exquisite effect.
Four staircases, one at each corner of the Hall, led
to a spacious Supper Room, connected with the two
northernmost of which adjoining the porch to the
Guildhall were fountains decorated with choice
flowers. From the centre of this Hall, on the right
hand, a fifth staircase of handsome dimensions
communicated with Supper Rooms over the Courts
of Law, and also with that over the Reception Hall,
which afforded accommodation for 500 guests at
once, and there was room for 300 guests in the Law
Courts at the same time all seated. The decora-
tions of the .upper Rooms were less imposing than
in the room below, although considerable attention
had been paid to their artistic character. The
Upper Supper Room was decorated with pilasters
and cornices, and had on each bay a painting by
Absolon, representing arts, sciences, and civilisa-
tion. It was lighted by three sun burners, and
provision had been made by means of louvres and
dormers for its thorough ventilation, and that of
the ground floor. The low porch leading to the
Guildhall proper bad been cleaned and left with
only its architectural proportions, the pathway on
. each side being decorated breast high with flowers
and shrubs. Along the walls of the Guildhall it-
self a double range of seats was place I where prac-
ticable—the general character of the Ball, in its re-
cently restored and embellished state not requiringany
special decoration, except the necessary erection of a
large dais at the eastern end, 50ft. by 36ft., with 3
canopied seats in the centre. Round the eastern-
most bay was hung an arras, l6ft. high, of crimson
velvet, with crescents and stars in gold, and the
two balconied windows there were filled with rare
flowers and lighted, in addition to the permanent
chandeliers in the building, by two very handsome
crystal candelabra. The windows, containing stained
glass, were illuminated from the exterior. Return-
ing to the Reception Hail, a communication was
made with the South Law Court, which was fitted
up for light refreshments and decorated with flowers
and shrubs ; then passing under the gallery at the
west end of the Guildhall, the North Law Court,
fitted np and decorated in a similar manner, was
reached. A handsome staircase led to the lobby
at the top of the steps from the Guildhall. The
lobbies and loggia were hung with draperies and
decorated with pictures. The Exchequer Court and
the Aldermen's Chamber were also fitted up for light
refreshments, with floral decorations. The new
Committee Room and the room adjoining were
appropriated to the Sultan and the suite of His
Imperial Majesty, and another Committee Room
to the Prince of Wales. The open area between
the Aldermen's Chamber and that of the Common
Council was converted into an Italian garden with
fountain and statues. The Council Chamber, used
as a supper-room for the more illustrious of the
guests, bad been re-decorated in a style according
with the architectural character of the apartment,
and the fine pictures on historical subjects and the
statues and busts with which it is ordinarily
adorned had been restored. The space around the
statue of King George 111. was occupied with buffets
of gold and silver plate, floral decorations, and works
of art of fabulous value, many of the great City
Companies having placed their plate at the com-
mand of the Corporation for the occasion. The
ancient crypt was fitted up as a refreshment-room,
the yards adjoining being decorated with fountains
and flowers, while a staircase conducted the
guests from the crypt to the Court of Exchequer,
and thence to the Great Hall. Further accommo-
dation wag provided for the refreshment of the
numerous
Coopers
hall,
by covering over the site of
which contained about 500 persons.
In Guildhall proper there was probably as bril-
liant a gathering as ever assembled under the eyes
of the two kindly giants who keep watch and ward
in that ancient chamber The dais was reserved for
distinguished guests, but
e
although the Sultan was not so"
after 4 o'clock,
expected till three hours
later, the seats on either side of the dais were filled.
After 5 o'clock seats were with difficulty obtained
by any corners. Mr. Disraeli was amon,, the
earliest arrivals, and was warmly received. Lord
Derby was not present, but Lord Stanley on enter-
ing was a good deal cheered. Earl Russell, the
Duke of Sutherland, the Duke of Wellington, Lord
Romilly, the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord
Strathnairn, Mr. Cardwell, the new Lord Justice
(Sir John Rolt), Lord Cairns, Vice-Chancellor
Malins, and Mr. Goschen entered in rapid succes-
sion. Then followed Baron Brunow and many
members of the diplomatic corps, is their brillia
uniforms. As they arrived, the distinguished gu
were conducted to their places on the dais by the
al,Lrmen and members of the Entertainment Com-
mittee, whose jewelled wands sufficiently indicated
their office. A group of Belgian officers represented
the Volunteere who have received so cordial a re-
ception among us. Ambassadors, Ministers,
attaches, uniforms of scarlet and dark blue, gold
and
silverstars, lace, rich aldermanic gowns, the orders,
almostribands, and decorations which glittered on
breast every
t in the groups that were now
thickly gather
eye. You turrll eupon the dais, literally dazzled the
of dark velvet withworn
relief to the becoming suits
to the Windsor uniform. by
the Equity Judges, or even
It is said that the Sultan,

in accepting the invitation to the city, expressed a
wish that he should see plenty of English ladies and
English flowers.- Both were there in perfection.
On the dais as well as in the body of the hall the
ladies formed in every sense the better part of the
brilliant throng, and their diamonds and many
coloured dresses gave fresh life to the scene. We
wish we could have added that all the ladies ob-
tained seats. In some cases urgent appeals were
made, and made in vain, to male persons who were
comfortably seated. They ungallantly declined to
give way to the weaker sex, and some ladies were
thus kept standing for over three hours.
About half-past 6 o'clock the Duke of Cambridge,
accompanied by the Grand Duke and Duchess of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the Prince Teck and the
Princess Mary Adelaide, arrived and were received
at the entrance by the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, and
escorted to the seats assigned them on the dais. Soon
afterwards a flourish of trumpets announced the arri-
val of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the
Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse, who were con-
ducted in like manner to their seats by the civic dig-
nitaries, preceded by the trumpeters, the Prince of
Wales giving his arm to his sister the Princess Louis
as they walked up the hall. Shortly after 7 o'clock
his Imperial Majesty the Sultan, with their Imperial
Highnesses his son and two nephews, the great offi-
cers of State and suite of his Majesty, 36 in number,
arrived, attended by an imposing military escort.
On alighting the Lord Mayor and the rest of the
civic authorities received the Sultan with every mark
of profound respect. His Imperial Majesty entered
the ball, with a grand flourish of trumpets. His ap-
pearance excited intense interest, and he bowed his
acknowledgments of the cordial greetings with which
he was received. Having taken the place assigned
to his Imperial Majesty upon the dais, with the
Prince of Wales on his right band and the Lord
Mayoron his left, the Right Hon. the Recorder (Mr.
Russell Gurney) addressing the Sultan, said :
" May it please your Majesty,—We, the Lord
Mayor, Aldermen, and Commoners of the City of
London, in Common Council assembled, desire to
offer to your Imperial Majesty the tribute of our
sincere respect. In common with the people of
this country we gladly and cordially welcome to
our shores the Sovereign of a great Empire, with
which this nation has long been in close alliance,
and in whose continued prosperity we take the
deepest interest. 'We rejoice, too, to see in your
Imperial Majesty an enlightened Sovereign, who
unites to a firm attachment to his own faith the de-
sire to afford to all his subjects the free exercise of
their religion. 'We are anxious to recognise the
honour conferred upon our ancient city by the visit
of your Imperial Majesty on this the first occasion
on which you or any of your predecessors have
visited the kingdoms of the West, and wetrust that
the effect of this visit may be to strengthen the
relations which have so long subsisted between this
country and the Ottoman Empire." (Cheers.)
The address, enclosed in a casket of gold, having
been presented to the Sultan by the Lord Mayor,
His Imperial .MAJESTY, speaking in Arabic, re-
turned the following reply, which was afterwards
read in English by Musurus Pasha :
" I sincerely thank the Lord Mayor, Aldermen,
and Commons of this great and noble city of Lon-
don. lam happy to proclaim the gratitude which
I feel for the cordial and hearty reception I have
met with from your gracious Queen, my august ally,
as well as from his Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales and the great English nation. I have two
objects in view in visiting this and other parts of
Europe—one to see, in these centres of civilisation,
what still remains to be done in my own country to
complete the work which we have begun ; the other,
to show my desire to establish, not only among my
subjects, but between my people and the other na-
tions of Europe, that feeling of brotherhood which
is the foundation of human progress and the glory
of our age." (Loud cheers.)
The Sultan stood during the ceremony, as did
also the Prince of Wales and the Lord Mayor. At
its conclusion, Mr. Deputy Fry, the mover, and
Mr. Stapleton, Chairman of the City Lands Com-
mittee, the seconder of the Address, as also the two
senior magistrates, Mr. Alderman Copeland and
Mr. Alderman Wilson, had the honour of being
presented to his Imperial Majesty.
When this ceremony was concluded, a concert
followed.
The vocalists sat directly .under the monument
to Alderman Beckford, but Guildhall is not a
good concert-room, and is not well adapted
for the transmission of sound. There was little
or no applause after the various pieces, nor
did the Sultan himself, though he is said to
be a musical composer, appear to pay much atten-
tion to the music. During the concert he conversed
much with the Prince of Wales, his Excellency
Fuad Pasha acting as interpreter. When the con-
cert was at an end his Imperial Highness WAS escorted
to his retiring room, ,where he remained for some
time. In the interval the distinguished visitors on
tho dais broke up into groups and awaited the
return of the chief guest. By this time the daylight
and the occasional gleams of sunshine which pene-
trated the hall had given way to a soft, artificial
light, shed from roof pendants and two immense
glass candelabra on either side of the dais. Under
the influence of this light, mild as it was, the scene
throughout the old hall became more dazzling than
ever, and• as the Sultan was escorted back to his
throne by the City dignitaries, and the glowing
living mass divided to let him pass, a chapter from
the "Arabian Nights" seemed to be brought before
the eye, the Commander of the Faithful himself
being present to complete the picture. The Sultan
bad hardly returned when a new procession was
formed soon after nine o'clock towards the State
supper-room--a spot which by this time; by reason
of heat and much weariness of the flesh, became in-
vested with considerable interest. The civic digni-
taries led the way, and then followed his Imperial
Highness, conducting the Princess Louis of Hesse,
the Prince of Wales, with the Duchess of Mecklen -
burg-Strelitz, and the rest of the Royal and dis-
tinguished guests.
At the back of the Lord Mayor, who presided,
was a buffet loaded with gold plate, belonging to
the Corporation and the City Companies. On the
supper table were some beautiful epergnes and pla-
teaux in silver, lent by the Grocers' Company—ex-
quisite works of art, and of great intrinsic value.
Four toasts were given at the table—" The Queen,"
" The Sultan," " The Prince of Wales and the rest
of the Royal Family," and " The Lord Mayor and
Corporation."
Three thousand visitors required some providing
for, and there was no stint of meat or drink or
room. Guildhall itself was, of course, left free for the
company, but in other parts of the building supper
rooms had been improvised on a -large scale, and
there was but one opinion of the noble hospitality
by which the corporation had on this occasion vin-
dicated its ancient reputation for good cheer.
greatAf hall,
his Imperial Majesty, with the mem-
bers of the royal family present, returned to the
2 and the ball began with a quadrille, in
which his Royal Highness the Prince of 'Wales
danced with the Lady Mayoress, Prince Louis of
Iwlierh theweith the Princess Mary, the Duke of Aosta,
Princess Louis of Hesse, and the Duke of
Sutherland
or—the May bliss Gabriel, of the Lord
Shortly before 11 o'clocklooking on.
leis Imperial Majesty,
with the members of the royal family, took their de-
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sh:tdbeen observed on
and they were enthusiastically
as they left the hall. cheered
eats

BRITISH MEDICAL SEDVICE.—An examination
of candidates for commission as Assistant-Surgeons
in her Majesty's army will be held at Chelsea Hospital,
on Monday, the 12th proximo. Candidates having the
necessary qualifications to practise medicine and surgery,
under the Medical Act are eligible to attend. The obliga-
tory subjects at this examination are—Anatomy and phy-
siology, surgery, medicine, including therapeutics, the
diseases of women and children, chemistry and pharmacy,
and a practical knowledge of drugs. There will probably
be 55 vacancies. The successful candidates will subse-
quently undergo a course of practical instruction, as; Net-
ley, in the duties they will have to perform in the army.
The course lasts four months, during which period each
candidate receives an allowance of se. per diem with quar-
ters, or 7s. daily without quarters, to cover all costs for
maintenance.