The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-07-16 00:00:00

THE LORDS' PROCESSION TO THE PALACE

(From the Morning Herald of Friday)
The spectacle presented yesterday in St. James's Park was
one indeed of peculiar and splendid interest. A procession
of the lords to address the throne against its ministers is an
event of very rare occurrence. But on the present occasion
the historical importance of the event derived a moral charm
from the object in view—the defence of the national religion,
which greatly enhanced the interest of the scene.
To the eye alone that scene was solemn and magificent.
The lengthened line of superb equipages, drawn by elegantly
caparisoned steeds, slowly approaching the palace through the
majestic avenue of ancient elms in their summer verdure,
had a most imposing appearance. The beauty of the day
greatly set off the richness of a spectacle which, for chaste
brilliancy, could not be paralleled in any other part of Europe.
A numerous and respectable assemblage were attracted to
witness the procession, who manifested their feelings with
the frankness and fervour, but, at the same time, with the
decent self-restraint that, even in moments of high political
excitement, characterise John Bull.
In the procession the greatest of England's peers, and
the foremost man of all the world," was at first looked for
in vain ; but just before the head of the cavalcade reached
the palace gates, the carriage of that great man—need we
name the Duke of Wellington ?—drove rapidly into the court-
yard, and the moment his grace was recognised, a burst of
enthusiastic feeling welcomed the veteran warrior, whose
name is identified with the glory of his country. Soon after-
wards, Lord John Russell was seen crouching in a corner of
his carriage, and the reception which the mover of the
" money grant" met with, cannot be better described than
by the exclamation of one of the crowd, who, as soon as is
lordship passed, cried out, " Well, I never heard so hearty a
groaning as that in all my life. He'll remember that many
a day." In fact, the groaning and hooting was like the blast
of Fame's trumpet reversed. We can assure the Morning
Chronicle that Lord John was not " mistaken for Sir Robert
Peel." He ventured one peep from his carriage window,
and looked far less like the great conservative leader, than
like Faust's friend, Mephistophiles, very ill at ease. Lord
Palmerston soon after received a similar salute, in which the
word " Cupid" was very audible. Lord Normanby passed
without much observation ; but the lord chancellor, we re-
gretted to find, was strongly hissed as he passed in the pro-
cession in his state coach. This could have only happened
to that distinguished functionary as one of a government
generally hated and despised ; for, personally, the lord chan-
cellor is a gentleman, and, professionally, one deserving of
public respect. His lordship looked very much displeased
and rather disconcerted at the reception which he encountered.
We observed that in leaving the palace he went away in a
private carriage, leaving the state coach to his secretary and
mace-bearer, or some of his train, who had to encounter the
hisses of those who did not know the lord chancellor's person.
With the exception, however, of Lord John Russell, Lord
Howick was the minister who received the largest share of
hearty public disapprobation.
On the other side, next to the Duke of Wellington, the
venerable Archbishop of Canterbury was noticed with the
most enthusiastic cheering. Great applause was also given
to the Bishops of London and Exeter; and, indeed, to all
the bishops. We heard a spectator say—" This ought to
compensate the bishops for their reception eight or nine
years ago."

Among the peers most applauded were Lord Lyndhurst,
Lord Canterbury, the Duke of Buckingham, the Marquis of
Londonderry, the Duke of Beaufort, the aged Lord Rolle,
the Duke of Newcastle, Lord Kenyon, and Lord Shaftesbury.
The Irish primate, Lord John Beresford, was also warmly
applauded.

At the departure from the palace the ministers, who left
the last, received—more especially Lord John Russell and
Lord Howick—a repetition of the unpleasant indications of
unpopularity which they had previously to encounter. Lord
Melbourne, either possessing more cunning or less nerve than
his colleagues, remained behind for some time, thinking the
crowd would pass away, but seeing his carriage in the court-
yard they obstinately declined to move without rendering
due honours to this chief of the bed-chamber ministry. Even
the band, and beef-eaters, and guard of honour, all moved
off, but Lord Melbourne did not come. The crowd, how-
ever, would not stir, and at last the old fox was unearthed.
The moment his carriage was seen leaving the palace-gates
the groaning, hissing, and hooting conveyed to his ears the
unwelcome tidings that even Lord John Russell was not the
most unpopular man in England. The police kept close to
his carriage, while he rapidly escaped from such unwelcome
observation.

THE FIRST SKEW BRIDGE IN EN GLAND.—A correspond-
ent of the Liverpool Mercury says, " I have lately read a re-
port of a trial at the last Lancaster assizes, respecting a bridge
erected over the road at Galgate, on which occasion several
eminent civil engineers were examined. Amongst them was
the celebrated G. Stephenson, Esq., who is reported to have
said that he is one of the first who built skew bridges, and he
commenced on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. The
necessity of avoiding curves on railways has suddenly brought
these singular constructions into common use, and they are
generally considered to have originated with railways ; but
the old proprietors of the Lancaster Canal believe, that the
first skew bridge in England was built by their resident en-
gineer, Mr. William Cartwright, on their canal, upwards of
forty years ago. It is placed at Green Bank, in Preston, and
the road to the Fylde passes over it. You are so well known
as the recorder of all matters of ingenuity and curiosity, that
I beg to ask if you are aware of any earlier bridge of the kind
in England ?" We think it must be considerably more than
forty years since the skew bridge over the river Medlock, in
Oxford Road, connecting the townships of Manchester and
Chorlton-on-Medlock, was built.—. Manchester Guardian. I