The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-31 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S ARRIVAL IN
EDINBURGH.

(From a Second Edition of the Edieurgh Evening
Courant of Thursday.)
Since the memorable visit of George IV. to Edin-
burgh, in 1822, or the more recent visit of her Ma-
jesty twenty years later, no event in our civic annals
has excited such general interest in the Scottish
metropolis as the expected sojourn brief as it is
to be—of Queen Victoria in the palace of her an-
cestors, at Holyrood. The residence amongst us
of a Sovereign so beloved, is an event that will
be remembered for generations, as marking her
Majesty's attachment to Scotland, and her confidence
in the hereditary loyalty of the Scottish nation. The
arrival of the royal party this afternoon was ex-
pected, therefore, with enthusiasm ; and the latter
part of the day was generally observed as a holiday
in honour of the occasion—the shops being shut,
while dense crowds in their best attire flocked from
all quarters to the long-forsaken " Court- end" of the
city.

The station at Meadowbank, about a quarter of a
mile from Holyrood Palace (now to be named " The
Queen's Station,") on the line of the North British
Railway, was selected—(on the suggestion, we be-
hove, of the Lord Provost)—as an appropriate land-
ing-place for the royal party, and the requisite ar-
rangements were consequently made for her Majesty's
arrival by the directors of the North British
Railway Company. Its chief advantage consists in
its being in the neighbourhood of the palace, which
is easy of access, without the pressure and incon-
venience of a crowded thoroughfare. The royal
demesne of the Queen's Park (the right of forestry
over which, once exercised by the Earl of Hadding-
ton, has recently been acquired by purchase by the
Commissioners of ',Voods and Forests) extends to
within a few yards of the landing-place at Meadow-
bank. The lower part of the Queen's Drive, formed
on the site of the old Duke's Walk, affords an excel-
lent carriage road to Holyrood Palace.
The preparations made for the reception of her
_Majesty in this quarter were in general marked by
an absence of laboured " pomp and circumstance,"
though they were of an elegant and tasteful de-
scription. The character of the royal visit was such
as to dispense with extensive or ostentatious•display,
although there were not wanting everywhere ex-
pressive symbols of the popular regard. The land-
ing platform is about one hundred yards west of the
tunnel below the Portobello-road, and on the south
side of the railway. It is ninety-seven feet in length
and ten feet broad, and was covered with crimson
cloth. Immediately in the centre is the vestibule lead-
ing to the spacious flight of steps by which her Ma-
jesty was conducted to the royalcarriage in waiting on
the Abbeyhill-read, close by Parsonsgreen. The vesti-
bule was roofed by an elegant timber canopy, finished
in front to resemble festoons of drapery. The royal
crown surmounted the centre, with the letters V. A. on

each side. The neighbouring slope was fenced by
light frame-work, and decorate' with heather; and
at the entrance to the flight of steps, on each side,
two elegant pedestals were places, bearing urns
filled by splendid exotics, in the full luxuriance of
flower. The interior of the landing gallery, or pa-
vilion, had a superb and tasteful appearance. The
roof was finished in the style of an Arabian tent, by
graceful festoons of white and pink drapery. Be-
tween each column the pink drapery assumed the
form of an Arabian arch; and the pillars themselves
were finished with pink, fluted white. The steps,
which were divided into two series, were laid with
crimson cloth from end to end ; but the carpet placed
for her Majesty to walk from the railway train to
the royal carriage was formed of what is called
" the Stewart hunting tartan." The pavilion was
open at the sides, and was separated from the
neighbouring green slopes by a neat rustic rail-
ing. The steps were lined on each side between
the pillars by a superb collection of exotic plants
from the conservatories of the Duke of Buccleuch
and other noblemen and gentlemen. The old gate-
way closing upon the road was entirely removed, and
its place filled by a splendid crimson curtain, hung
with much taste, and forming an appropriate ter-
mination to the beautiful vista of the interior. The
gateway whence the Queen emerged to the royal
carriage was spanned by a graceful arch, decorated
with bay leaves, and dahlias interspersed. It was
surmounted by a floral crown, with an anchor sus-
pended ; and displayed on each side the initials V. A.
in flowers. The effect of the whole was striking—
the bright hues of the dahlias presenting a pleasing
contrast to the sombre green.
The decorations of the works at St. Margaret's
were rather more limited than last year. Various
buildings displayed floral emblems and devices, and
the numerous flags which waved from their summits

imparted an aspect of gaiety to the whole. The most
prominent object was an immense crown of ever-
greens and flowers erected near the line. The ordi-
nary engines and trains were also decorated in every
variety of style.
Emerging from the landing gallery, the first ob-

ject that attracted the attention was the tasteful and
beautiful gallery erected in the grounds of Parsons-
green by A. Mitchell Lines, Esq. The front dis-
played a series of five Roman arches, divided in
the centre by a projecting arch of double the propor-
tions of the others, bearing a handsome entablature,
enriched by chaste and elegant cornices and mould-
ings. The columns of the arches were wreathed in
bay leaves, and encircled at the baie with splendid
exotics. Floral stars adorned the panelling with
the exception of the centre, which displayed graceful
festoons of dahlias. The cornices and other parts of
the entablature were enriched with paterse formed of
a single dahlia ; and between each arch floral festoons
were hung with exquisite taste. The crnaments on
the other parts of the gallery were of the same rich
and varied character : and the erection being em-
bosomed amidst the fine old trees that adorn the park,
the effect was perfectly unique and striking.
Along the whole route galleries were erected at
every eligible locality for the accommodation of the
spectators. They were in general plain but substan-
tial structures, and erected without ornament. Se-
veral were in the immediate neighbourhood of the
palace ; and an extensive platform erected, under the
express sanction of the authorities, on the sloping
ground which borders the road through the Queen's
Park, was estimated to contain above 3,000 persons,
and, with other galleries, was filled long before
the hour of her Majesty's arrival by respectable
parties.
A large area on the old Abbeyhill-road, fronting
the royal landing-place, was secured by closing the
thoroughfare from the Abbeyhill on the one side and
the Portobello road on the other. Near the watering-
place a barrier and gallery were erected to prevent
communication from behind; and a similar erection
was placed across the Portobello road, opposite Par-
sonsgreen lodge. The area thus enclosed was occu-
pied by the royal carriages, the military escort, and
other parties.
The guard of honour at Meadowbank, consisting
of one captain, two subalterns, and 50 men of the 93d
Highlanders, with the band of the 13th Light
Dragoons, and a Queen's colour, arrived on the ground
shortly before two o'clock. The cavalry escort con-
sisted of one officer and twenty men of the 13th Light
Dragoons.
The route of the royal party through the Queen's
park was lined on botu sides, from the railway sta-
tion to the Palace gate, by the 13th Light Dragoons
and 93d Highlanders. The latter fine body of men
extended from Meadowbank for some distance along
the road. No access was allowed to the palace
yard, and barricades were erected across the streets
leading to it, to prevent any approach. At the
eastern extremity lof the park, near Parsonsgreen,
a strong barrier was raised to prevent the pressure of
the crowd; and a shriller erection was formed near
the south-eastern angle of the palace.
The hour of her Majesty's expected arrival was
generally known in the city ; and, as we have said,
from an early hour in the afternoon crowds of well-
dressed parties poured in a continuous stream through
all the different avenues leading to the Queen's Park.
Each moment augmented their numbers, and in a
short time every eminence likely to command a view
of the royal progress was occupied. The great ex-
tent and diversified surface of the park, forming on
the north side a vast natural amphitheatre, was of
in the dense throng, which afemmpalleescapacity for the immense concourse. Many
mingled•
over-
spread the heights to their summit; and the gay and
varied colours of their dresses presented a striking
and singular contrast to the more sombre shades of
the verdant hill-side. The sloping ground along
the road through the park--as, perhaps, the most
favourable for commanding a near view of the
party—was occupied throughout its whole
royale
xten
t.a'his road is here formed near the old
Duke's Walk," which is supposed to have de-
rived its name from having been the favourite pro-
menade of James VII., when. Duke of York, during
his residence at Holy rood. It is difficult to conceive
a more magnificent avenue to the old Palace of our
Kings. The hill rears its dusky sides to a great
height on the south, broken towards the west by the
steep ascent which bears on its summit the crumbling
ruins of the ancient chapel and hermitage of St. An-
thony. The overhanging cliffs beyond impart an as-
pect of grandeur to the prospect, which is terminated
by the towering peak of Arthur's Seat. The graphic
pen of Sir Walter Scott, in the " Heart of Mid-Lo-
thian," has described with characteristic felicity the
picturesque beauties of the scene; and Scottish song
has added its poetic charm in the well-known lyric—
" Now Arthur's Seat shall be my bed—
The sheets
m n l truel u
shallt it love's a pressedkenme by me ;
awaited h
St. Anton's well shall be my drink,
S
c.''
The immense arrival of her
t'
Majesty in their elevated position, without impa-
fleece, end the exercise of the greatest good humour.
Tne morning was marked by bright -sunshine, and
many anxious spectators were busy examining the
eu
different preparations at t
1111 early hour. The tky