The Sun.
London, England, 1820-12-26 00:00:00

A-,;i;;V,11. OF THE KING.

This town has now to pride itself upon the
presence of its ecnerous and illustrious Benefactor.
Ilu MaaraerY arrived at about twenty minutes
after two o't loCk yesterday afternoon, at least
an hour earlier than had been expected, three
o'elock having been the time specified, and fOr
which extensive preparations for his Majesty's
reception had been made. At twooo'clock, the
level from the palace on to Preston, some hun-
dreds of horsemen, many scores of carriages,
closely tilled, including a great number of ele-
gant dressed females, and pedestrians beyond all
count, presented a truly animated picture. On
this side of Preston the line of procession was to
tas formed according to a plan laid down; so that
the whole might be completely arranged by the
period named, three o'clock ; and,in the event of
his Majesty arriving after sun-set, a liberal quan- ,
tity of flambeaux were provided, and due instruc-
tions given for their use. A band, suitably ha-
bited, was in attendance, and a brilliant display
of colours, with appropriate inscriptious, iu cha-
racte.rs of gold and silver, were waved above the
heads of the rejoicing multitude. . The loyal
fishermen of this place, and there are no other,
anxious to make known their honest feelings on
the occasion,manned a large tilted waggon, hav-
ing raised the British flag at the stern, and placed
:three pieces of mounted cannon in the body of
the ponderous vehicle, the muzzles of which pros
jesting through the tilt on the larboard side, as-
sumed a something of the appearance of a Ship of
war, and produced an effect as novel as pleasing
This cumbrous machine, drawn by several strong
horses, at length took a position on the slope of
the hill to the north, a safe and convenient dis-
taste& from, but commanding a full and unin-
terrupted view of the turnpike. Elate with every
impulse that could characterize. a loyal people,
the order was now issued for the instant forma-
tion of the line of procession, but at this critical
moment the Royal cavalcade was discovered on
the road, and advancing at a rapid pace. To
effect this part of the design of the day, there-
fore became impossible; horsemen and carriages,
and pedestrians, indiscriminately mixed, fell back
to the sides of the turnpike, opening avenue be=
tween them, and through which his Majesty and
suite passed, the Previously raised 'colours being
Towered to and sWeeping'the ground, the band
playing the national :Anthem, and the seamen
discharging their great guns from their tar on
the slope of the hill. The interest now excited
was great ; his Majesty bowed repeatedly, and
simultaneous huzzas rent the air, which echo sent
back, as if enraptured also. As the King passed
on for the town, the joyous crowd in carriages,
on horseback, and on foot, impetuous as a moun-
tain torrent, streamed after him ; nothing could
check the ardour of the moment—one soul seem-
ed to actuate the great body of the people, which,
animated by one generous, loyal, patriotic, and
enthusiastic feeling, might well be supposed to
set every thing in the shape of regularity at de-
fiance. The King at length alighted at one of
the three remaining houses in 'Marlborough-row,
—and the populace, pouring .in from the Preston
road, soon after paesented a closely wedged pita-
. laux, hOms, cariia.ases, ta-c. intermingled, and
Colours waving as before, in front of it, filling up'
the wide and open space of the Grand Parade.—
The Monarch, on finding in the house he hid
entered, that the windows,of the drawing-room
had been made fast with screws and iron ittstru-'
meats, to render them less pervious to time wintry
blast, instantly commanded them to be opened,
which the workrnen about the Palace presently
effected, and his Majesty presented himself to the
people on the balcony. The Band again struck
up " God save the King ;" buzzes, four times
:four, followed, ending in the loudest expressions
of " God bless your Majesty ;" " God protect
car King," from all directions. The Sovereign
appeared fully to'appreciate the character of the
scene before him ; there was a dignified conde-
scension and an affection 'in his manner, that
struck home to the hearts of all assembled—
many shed tears. as he placed his hand on his
manly breast, and bowed in approbation of the:
generons enthusiasm he witnessed. The Band
once more struck up ; the Ladies again waved
their handkerchiefs in their several carriages,
the horsemen and pedestrians their hats and
surrounding villages must have heard the joyous
shouts and acclamations subsequently predomi-
nant, and which were continued till the Mo-
narch retired. The populace then paraded
the town in due order of procession, as
lows, via,
The town beadles in their best dresses, blue faced with red,
and trim toed with gold, with their staffs and gold-laced hats,
on font ; two trumpeters on horseback ; the high constable
and local authorities, as equestrian's, the former on e grey
ikitrse ; horsemen, three abreast, inthited in blue ;oats and
fintf waistcoats, with purple favours at their breasts; an open
caravan, handsionely decorated, with colours displayed, and
the band ; horsemen to a vast extent, as before; carriages,
many scores, the Ladies weaiing purple -favours; and atm-
string of equestrians closed the cavalcade.

'The joyous commotion in the streets through
which the procession passed, may be better ima-
gined than expressed. In the evening the town
was more generally and brilliantly illuminated
than it had ever appeared on any previous occa-
sion—the mansions of the Nobility, down to the
humblest cottages. of the peasants, all partook of
the splendid blaze, On the Steytie a skirmish-
ing display of fire-works was exhibited, and
flaming tar barrels succeeded each other on the
lawn from sunset till nearly midnight. Not an
accident happened from first to last—not a dis-
_pule among the populace occurred, thronged as
the streets were after dark, and the reason was,
no person bad to encounter a dissentient opinion.
Our genereus and common Benefactor, our illos-
trious.and beloved Patron, appears in the happiest
enjo,ment of gOod health, and its concomitant
blessing, good spirits. We had almost forgot to
mkttion, that the seamen, during the radiance
of the town last night, sleeted their nautically
rigged machine to' the Palace front, and there-
-discharged a royal salute. It will afford these
honest fellows much pleasure to know, that their
Sovereign has expressed his satisfaction at the

heart-dictated and loyal attention they have paid
to birth

avine Service, in the presence of his Majesty,
was performed in Marlborough-row, by the Very
Reverend the Dean of liereford, this morning.
His Majesty, subsequently, enjoyed a salutary
promenade on the enclosed grounds.

There *was a Meeting at the Old Ship on
Thursday, the Lord Lieutenant of this County,
the Earl of EGREMONT, in the Chair, upon the
subject of erecting a statue of his MAJESTY, by
limited subscriptions,' on the Steyne. The Meet-
ing was numerously and most respectably attend-
ed, and ardent was the desire. manifested to carry
the design into immediate 'effect. Various sUb-
Scriptions were ‘commenced in the room, making
the suit) antecedently in hand amount to upwards
of 20001. The Noble Chairman was a strong
advocate for the measure, who, with the Bishop
of Lincoln, Sir M. Tierney, and Sir C. Long,
upon the same ground were among the leading
speakers. The result of Ole proceedings was,
that a Committee of Management was appointed,
consisting of the Earl of Egremont, the Bishop
of Lincoln, the Right Hon. J. Trevor, the Right
Hon. Sir C. Long, Sir M. Tierney, Bart., the
Dean of Hereford, and W. Burrell, Esq. M. P.,
to forward the object without further delay. Its
speedy 'completion, therefore, may .now with
confidence be, looked for, particularly as recent
occurrences have rendered it more than. ever a ffe-
sideratum with the great mass of the inhabitants
of this, place, not only -as lasting memorial "of
their gratitude to their liberal and illustrious be-
nefactor, but as a symbol also of their loyal and
unalterable attachment to his Person and Govern-
ment.