The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-17 00:00:00

71IE BELGIANS AT 'WINDSOR.

Yesterday our Belgian guests paid their promised
visit to Windsor and to its palatial castle, the resi-
dence of her Majesty the Queen, as it has been of
her line for many a century. They were received
with every honour, and such manifestation of hearty
goodwill on the part of the townspeople as all the
rain that fell almost without intermission during the
morning could not damp. The streets were deco-
rated with flags and banners bearing expressive
mottoes ; and at every point of their march from
the railway station the volunteers were greeted with
shouts of welcome. Colonel Loyd Lindsay, M.P.,
and Captain Graves, M.P., of the 42d Lancashire
Rifles, came down in the train with the Belgians.
So soon as all the men had arrived they formed out-
side the station, headed by the Berkshire compa-
nies, and marched to the Castle, moving up Thames-
street and High-street. Passing through the
Horse-shoe Cloisters, they filed into the nave of
St. George's Chapel, which was carefully inspected
with much interest. The mernori:d erected by her
Majesty to the memory of the late King Leopold, I
and the beautiful monument of the Princess
Charlotte, were objects of particular atten-
tion. Leaving St. George's Chapel, the volunteers
were conducted along the north terrace into the
quadrangle, from which they entered the Castle,
and were taken through all the State chambers and
private apartments. In the riding-school covers
were laid for 1,100 guests, and 700 more of the
visitors were regaled in the glass coach-house, and
the remainder were accommodated in another coach-
house, which had been decorated with equal good
taste. In the riding-school Colonel Percy Herbert
presided, having M. Anspach, burgomaster of
Brussels, on his right, and Colonel Gregoire on his
left. The band of the Life Guards performed during
dinner. When the company were seated the ap-
pearance of the room was very brilliant. Colonel
Percy gave the health of her Majesty and of the
King and Queen of the Belgians, both which toasts
were received with an outburst of enthusiasm. Lord
Royston presided over the other division of the ban-
quet, and the same toasts were there received with
a like enthusiasm. Dinner over, the volunteers
dispersed, and strolled about the precincts of the
Castle, in the Home Park, and the gardens at
Frogmore. In the town the people displayed the
greatest cordiality and courtesy to their Continental
visitors.

The garden fete to be given on Friday by Miss
Burdett Coutts, at Holly Lodge, Highgate, if the
weather—now by its inconstancy become so grave
a consideration in these matters—be propitious, will
probably be one of the most enjoyable incidents in
the visit of our Belgian guests. The preparations
appear to be most liberal, and to be conducted with
a prudent forethought which has not characterised
at least one other of the banquets offered to the
Continental volunteers. The special guests of the
day are to muster, by permission, in the great
quadrangle of the Cavalry Barracks in Albany-
street shortly after noon. Thence without much
delay they will march past Gloucester Gate, down
Park-street, and, crossing by the Mother Red Cap,
proceed direct up the Kentish Town-road to High-
gate-hill, so as to enter the gates of Holly Lodge
not later than a quarter past three. Miss Coutts
has entrusted the direction of the banquet to Messrs.
Gunter. A large number of tents have been
erected, and a plentiful provision both of the most
substantial and the most delicate viands will be
made, with pale ale and champagne ad libitum.