The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-08-04 00:00:00

THE QUEEN DOWAGER AT PRESTON

We have endeavoured to furnish our readers with many
interesting particulars relating to the 9ueen Dowager's re-
cent visit to the North. and it now only remains for trii to
continue the narrative so far as to bringing the illustrious
stranger to " Proud Preston." The preceding account will
inform the reader that. her Majesty and suite left Lancaster
at a little after ten o'clock, per railway, in a special train ;
the carriage in which her Majesty was seated being lined
with beautiful white silk, and in all other respects most
handsomely fitted up. We'understand that along the whole
line from Lancaster to Preston, wherever anything like tole-
rable seeing accommodation could be obtained, great num-
bers of persons respectably attired were in waiting to have a
peep at the Queen ; and as their feeling of curiosity was in
every sense a very laudable one, and doubly commendable in
not being an offering to the " rising sun," we exceedingly
regret that the gentlemen in authority about her Majesty
had not the considerate kindness so to have directed the
speed for travelling, as to have gratified the wishes of these
countleSs admirers of the Queen, by enabling them to have
afterwards enjoyed the innocent gratification of knowing
that they had for once seen, and been seen by a Queen.
Instead of this satisfaction, however, having been experi-
enced by the anxious crowds, the train shot past them at an
arrow's speed, and the disappointed multitudes had to re-
trace their steps under feelings which are much easier con-
ceived than described. Of the preparations made at Preston
for her Majesty's arrival, we may briefly say that they were
such as did great honour to the feelings of the town ; there
was nothing formal about them, if we except the delightful
gatherings of the children instructed •in several of the Na-
tional and Infant Schools connected with the Church, who,
accompanied by their teachers, were collected in the field
near to Mr. German's bridge, a situation where they were
no doubt enabled to witness the passing of the train, but
from whence they would have no chance of seeing the ho-
noured and beloved object, in respect to whom they were
then assembled together. At the North Union Station a
great number of handsome flags were displayed, and over
the Fishergate tunnel we observed the beautiful union-jack
which many of our readers have often seen floating_ proudly
from the flag-staff on the Parish-church tower : various other
flags were to be seen along the line of railway. The crowds
collected at the station, and for a vast distance along the
line, exceeded, we think, any former assemblage, both as to
numbers and their very respectable appearance.
The train containing the object of so much anxious ex-
pectation came up soon after eleven o'clock ; when a halt
was made, for about a quarter of an hour, in order to take in
a supply of water, but snore particularly to allow an oppor-
tunity for gratifying the curiosity of the immense multitude
that were congregated at the station. Charles Swainson,
Esq., William Taylor, Esq., and John Winstanley, Esq.,
three of the North Union directors, were in attendance to
receive her Majesty, but the gentleman who appeared to enjoy
by far the largest share of her Majesty's condescending kind-
ness and amiable affability of behaviour, was our highly es-
teemed chief magistrate, William Clayton, Esq., who, after
being introduced to the Queen, took his stand at the carriage
door, (which he had prevailed upon her Majesty to be kept
open, to afford to the crowds of spectators a fuller opportu-
nity of seeing her Majesty,) and was in frequent conversation
with her Majesty during the time occupied by the halt. We
learn that the Queen expressed her warm admiration of the
people of Preston, for their loyalty towards her, and more
especially for the very respectable appearance which she be-
held in almost every individual assembled. And this is not
to be wondered at, for the collection of ladies present was
very great, and we have only to regret that some little pre-
cautionary plans were not adopted, in order that these per-
sons should have had the opportunity of personally offering
their respect to one who has ever been not only the pride of
her sex, but the admiration of the world at large. The brief
period for her Majesty's stay having expired, the train passed
on, accompanied by the blessings of the multitude for the
Dowager Queen Adelaide. We believe her Majesty would
not make any other stay along the line until she, got into,
Staffordshire, when it was understood she would visit Tren-'
tham Hall, the seat of the Duke of Sutherland, and Alton
Towers, the residence of the Earl of Shrewsbury; not so
much we believe for the purpose of making any stay with the
noble owners, as for that of examining the costly curiosities
collected in those respective mansions. We must'not omit
to say that our parish bells rang merily in honour of her
Majesty's visit, and that the royal standard was elevated on
the church tower. In conclusion, then, let us say in print,
what we are sure was the feeling of many a heart on Wed-
nesday—May God bless Queen Adelaide !—Preston Pilot.