The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-19 00:00:00

ARRIVAL OF HER MAJETY.

_..)

(From our Evening Edition of Saturday.)

Last evening, orders were received by Sir Francis
Collier, the Senior Officer in command at the Dock-
yard, Woolwich, to make the necessary preparations
for the reception of her Majesty, who, it was stated,
would in all probability reach this port by ten o'clock
at .night. About six o'clock,.the Earl of Haddington,
with Sir William Gage, arrived at the Dockyard, and
had a conference with Sir Francis Collier, who
immediately ordered out the guard of honour of
the Royal Marines, under the command of Cap-
tain Pratt, on the parade, where they piled arms,
waiting the arrival of her Majesty. Shortly after this
hour, Lord Bloomfield, with several other distinguished
military and naval officers, took his post on the
ground, and by nine o'clock the whole of the troops
required to take part in the ceremonies, were at their
respective stations. A detachment of the Royal Ar-
tillery and the Royal Marines occupied a position to
give egress to the Royal cortege as it should pass out
of the Dockyard, and from this hour till twelve, the
greatest anxiety was manifested to gather tidings of
her Majesty's' arrival. The discharge of a quantity of
maroons .at Barking disturbed the tranquillity of the
officers posted on the look-out, but it was soon dis-
covered, that the Royal squadron had not arrived in
sight. By ten o'clock, the Princess Royal (one of the
new boats 'of the General Steam Navigation Com-
pany) -presented a brilliant illumination, which
in some small measure compensated for the disappoint-
ment occasioned by the non-arrival of her Majesty
the whole vessel, from the rigging to the deck,
being decorated with variegated lamps, while at the,
fore part of the vessel there were tasteful devices of
V. R., surmounted by the Crown, and supported on
either side by the Star of Brunswick, The Directors
were on board waiting the signal of the Mercury, an-
, other of their vessels, which they had despatched
down the river to give timely advice of the approach
Of the Royal squadron. Up to half-past twelve
last night no notice of the. appearance of the
squadron had been given, either by rocket, signal,
or otherwise, and in a short time afterwards the mu!.
titude dispersed.
At an early hour this morning the military were
under arms in the Dockyard; the artillerymen pre-
pared to fire a Royal salute, and out in the River the
Princess Royal steamer, brilliantly illuminated, served
as a beacon to guide the Trident with her Royal
freight, should she make her appearance during the
hours of darkness. During the night one or' two false
alarms were given, which occasioned a general stir ;
but as morning approached, the general opinion
seemed to be that there was little chance of the Tri-
dent until the strength of the flood tide came on.

The soldiers and marines on duty accordingly
formed quite a picturesque bivouac in the Dockyard,
sleeping in groups amidst their piled arms, and the
warlike stores and appurtenances around. The
morning broke beautifully with merry sunshine,
forming, indeed, a striking contrast to the dreary
Weather which, some few days ago, heralded her Ma-
jesty's departure ; and as the rigging of the vessels in
the distant reaches of the river became visible, every
f eye was anxiously directed to trace the expected
steamer on her way.
The morning advanced, and the Dockyard became
crowded with company. The Earl of Haddington,
the First Lord of the Admiralty, was early in atten-
dance, and we observed also the Earl of Jersey, Lord
Bloomfield, and several other noblemen and official
personages.

Shortly after nine the Black Eagle and Rhadaman-
thus Government steamers, made their appearance,
and no long period elapsed before the distant sound of
firing gave evidence that the Trident was near.
A fine easterly breeze was blowing, and from the
state of the tide, half-flood, a considerable number of
fine large steamers accompanied the Trident on her
progress up the river. Three large vessels in parti-
cular, two ships, and a barque, in tow of lug-boats
and gaily dressed with flags, gave an imposing ap-
pearance to the fleet ; while the steamers around, being
all large sea-going boats, formed a much more majestic
escort than the flotilla of river craft which accompa-
nied the Royal George to the Nore.
At ten o'clock she was opposite the Dockyard, and
surrounded. with a numerous fleet.of boats. An Ad-
miralty barge, steered by Admiral Sir Francis Col-
lier, was shortly floating at the gangway, the accom-
modation ladder, covered with green cloth, was rigged
out, and at half-past ten her Majesty, amid the cheers
of the assembled multitude and the thunder of can-
non, stepped with Prince Albert into the barge, the
rowers gave way, and the next moment the Royal
pair were safely landed. The Royal standard was
then struck on board the Trident, and hoisted in the
Dockyard ; the troops which were drawn up in double
lines presented arms, and the Royal carriage drove
rapidly along amid the loud acclamatimis of the crowd.
Her Majesty looked somewhat pale, but was animated
and cheerful ; she wore a tartan satin dress. The
Prince, who was in plain clothes, appeared rather
sunburnt.

A numerous party of police patrolled the rout*
taken by her Majesty, and the utmost excitement
prevailed along the whole line.

(ANOTHER ACCOUNT.)
- It was expected that her Majesty would have
reached Woolwich in the course of last night, and
preparations were accordingly made to receive her.
The Marines of that port, reinforced by 200 men from
Chatham, were placed in the Dockyard as early as
six o'clock in the evening, together with their band.
A detachment of the Royal Artillery, also with the
band of their corps, were stationed at the same time
with their guns, in readiness to give the signal on her
Mtk!esty's arriving in sight, and the Royal salute upon
her reaching the port. The "flags of all nations" were
hung in a position to be hoisted, on the signal, to the
rigging of the Port Commodore, Sir Francis Collier's
yacht, the William and Mary, and soon after night-
fall, the splendid steam-boat, the Princess Royal, be-
longing to the Commercial Steam Navigation Com-
pany, which lay alongside the Dockyard Pier,. was
brilliantly illuminated with variegated lamps, thickly
clustered along her rigging, from the deck to her
mast-heads. She carries two masts ; and a large il-
luminated device of the Royal arms was displayed about
half-way up the funnel.
Great numbers of people remained up all night in
the Dockyard and its neighbourhood, as well as upon
the river, for the purpose of giving her Majesty a
loyal and joyoua welcome, and the Artillery and
Marine hands occasionally enlivened the dulness of
the night, and cheered " the sickness of the heart
which arises from hope deferred," by playing various
airs in capital style. ' We should say that in the
severe fatigue of a damp night watch, the men were
not left without refreshment, and at eight in the morning
thew artillerymen were ordered to their barracks, to
breakfast; when they returned about nine. Shortly
before that hour, the steam-boat the Black Eagle,
which was originally called the Firebrand, and
changed her name on account of her having had the
honour of conveying his Majesty the King of Prus-
sia from this "country, after his recent visit—having
in that service lost her figure-head, for which that of
the Black Eagle of Prussia, with its crown of gold, is
substituted—arrived off the Dockyard, having on
board the First Lord of the Admiralty (the Earl
of Haddington) and suite. His Lordship led the
little squadron of steam-boats which attended her
Majesty; and the Black Eagle was followed by the
Rhadarnanthus, bearing other Lords of the Admi-
ralty and Officers of State. The Rhadamanthus did
not arrive until nearly ten. At a few minutes before
ten the guns at the arsenal fired the signal that her
Majesty was in sight. The Royal salute of 21 guns
then followed, and at 20 minutes past ten the Trident
steam-ship, aptly chosen to bear the Queen of the
Ocean, appeared in Woolwich Reach, and was
hailed with the most enthusiastic cheering from the
multitudes who were assembled in the numerous boats
of every description crowded before the Dockyard,
as well as from the multitudes who were assembled
on the shore. It may here be observed that if her
Majesty's arrival could have been at all expected so
soon by the people of London, her reception, cordial
as it was, would have been attended with vastly more
eclat. But even the people of Woolwich knew nothing
of the matter until after the Marines were ordered to
the Dockyard.

ller Majesty and Prince Albert landed about
fifteen minutes before ten, and were re-
ceived by the Commander of the Garrison,. Lord
Bloomfield, and the CoMmodore of the Port, Sir
Collier, with the usual e p

vvere in waiting', and immediately conveyed
her Majesty and Suite to the terminus of the Great