The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-18 00:00:00

THE LIGHTING OF COLOGNE AND THE SHORES
OF THE RHINE.

It was long known that the city of Cologne had provided,
from its private resources, the munificent sum of six thousand
crowns, for the purpose of lighting up their splendid temple
and the noble lines of their picturesque city our bards du
.Rhin, to do honour to the visit of our fair Queen. As soon
as the intention of Queen Victoria was formally announced,
the preparations were commenced on the most gorgeous scale,
and the night of the 12th of August fixed on for the celebra-
tion of the most wonderful pyrotechnic festival certainly ever
produced in this country.
Soon after nightfall partial explosions of fireworks from the
shipping and the shore began, and continued for upwards of an
hour, as the tuning of the instruments precedes the regular
performance. At this time also the rain descended thickly and
heavily, but in spite of the weather, every coin of 'vantage,
whence the mighty show could be commanded was occupied by
persons whose appearance gave good assurance of their condi-
tion. The moon hid her face, as conscious of the rival she had
to contend against, and the inky obscurity spread as if to give
deep relief to the effulgence about to come. At nine o'clock
the passage across the Rhine was put an end to, in consequence
of the bridge of boats being opened to allow the steamers to
navigate in front of the city board. There were two of the
Company's vessels used in the navigation of the river, the Prin-
cess of Prussia being appropriated to the service of the sove-
reigns of England and Prussia.
The hour of ten told harmoniously from the city churches
when the river on both its banks sent forth the roar of artillery
and the blaze of ten thousand coloured fires. It was now that
the two Courts were gently falling down the stream abreast of
the town. Incessantly rolled the deep diapason of the heavy
guns of the batteries, and gleamed the glad fire of countless
feint de joie. Anon, in front of the grand landing-place, off
which the Queen of England's tender yacht, the Fairy, was
moored, vast note of preparation was remarked. By gentle
but sure degrees from her ports burnt a dazzling line of light.
—the heavens sparkled with a flood of rockets—the towers on
the banks of the river blazed up like giant beacons, and the
yards of the various craft were manned by the seamen in their
holiday attire. The Queen of the Isles comes in the pomp
and circumstance of her estate. Hark ! a bell—a quick,
sharp, treble startles the ear. Lo !in tracery of rays, such
as mines of diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, might have fur-
nished, that marvel of the olden triumphs of taste
and magnificence, the Cologne Cathedral tower bursts
upon the wonder-stricken multitudes. The rays of sap-
phire, and of onyx, and of flowing gold, it strikes dim their vi-
sion and dumb their wonder. So stricken by a necromancer's
wand, on the instant it flames forth in lusty light—a fire of ho-
nour and of homage such as never yet monarch lighted to the
welcome of a brother or a sister sovereign. . . . Haply
I may seem to speak of this scene in phrase too highly wrought
for sober ears. To those who judge this writing soberly, I can-
not appeal—to such as had the fortune to witness the event to
which it relates, I have but to say, " Alas ! that the vocabulary
of language affords no words to record the glories of this night
The illumination of the cathedral was the catastrophe of this
stupendous scene ; and while yet the spirit of its wondrous in-
cantations waved its rod of fire around them, Victoria passed
in triumph, and with many a loving wish and benediction from
'the lighting of Cologne and the shores of the Rhine.'"
THE CEREMONIAL AT COLOGNE.
COLOGNE, Ave. 14, 6 A.M.
About three o'clock processions of the townspeople, mer.
chants, craftsmen, and others, began to centre on the Ca-
thedral, and bands of lower-girls in picturesque attire,
streamed along the streets garland-laden and crowned with
wreaths. Also, as of course, music poured forth strains on all
sides, and you had assurance of a fete, if it were only in the
radiant faces of the multitudes. At four o'clock the bell of the
cathedral sounded. About ten minutes after four the royal
cavalcade reached the south tower of the cathedral, and then
making a round of the whole building, finished and unfinished
as its parts are, the Queen entered it, attended by the King
of Prussia, and the royal and noble persorages already named
as c imposing her suite. All the authorities of the city, civil
and ecclesiastical, were in attendance to receive the august party,
which was ushered through the cathedral by its functionaries,
who pointed out all most worthy of notice, either for its beauty
or historical interest. After spending some time beneath its
venerable roof, and expressing unqualified approbatim at the
magnificence of the scene, her Majesty thence proceeded to
view the Museum Trankgrasse, a collection of pit.tures chiefly
presented by Professor W ellroff, and remarkable as monuments
of a school which had its origin from nature direct, without
being fettered through the conventialisms of art. The Queen
and her illuatrious host proceeded to the Castle of Stolz mfels.
Her Alajesty remains but one night at Sto:zPnfels, but making
forced journeys thence, is expected to reach Coburg on Satur-
day, by way of Mayence and Wiirtzberg.— Advertiser.