The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-10-29 00:00:00

FESTIVITIES AT BIRKENHEAD.

We have already given, in our last publication, such
details of the preparations and programme in anticipation, of
the proceedings and festivities at Birkenhead, on occa-
sion of laying the foundation stone of the new docks in
that locality, that we do not deem it necessary, now that
nearly a tveek has elapsed, to furnish more than a con-
densed sketch of the events of the great day, more espe-
cially as the very full accounts of our intermediate con-
temporaries,
several of them accompanied by plans
or illustrations, haVe already put nearly the whose read-
ing
cornumnity in possession of the principal facts.
The day was one of the finest that could be boped for
at this advanced period of the autumn, the sky being
&oudless throughout, the sun bright, and the breeze just
sufficient to produce a coolness highly grateful to all en-
gaged in the active movements of the occasion. The
previous day having been also fine, and the night clear and
inclined to frost, the streets and roads were in prime or-
der for the procession, being at once dry, and from the
humility of the previous dew, free from dust. Weather
equally favourable could scarcely, indeed, have been
found even in the middle of summer, and its exhilarating
effect was visible in the happy countenances and general
good feeling and fellowship of the thousands who at-
tended.
As early a. six o'clock in the morning the
sound of cannonading was heard reverberating for miles
along both shores of the Mersey, rousing those of our
citizens, not yet astir, from their slumbers, to prepare
for the pleasures of a holiday, to which vast numbers had
wade arrangements to devote themselves. The pi-r-
head, from an ear), hour, presented an unusual scene of
bustle and animation. Crowds of well-dressed indivi-
duals of both sexes wended their way to embarking steps
and slip,. The Woodside, Monk's Ferry, and Birken-
head steamers, were gaily decorated with flags, as were
most of the vessels in the river ; and the wh&e line of
opposite shore from-the Black Rock, north, to the Royal
Rock Ferry on the south, was enlivened at every point by
flags and evergreens, fluttering in the breeze from all the
ferries, the new works along ti.:! shore, the public and
many of the private buildings, the masts and yards of
vessels, large and small, an in fine, from nearly every
eminence whence tasty could he displayed. A t Wood-
side ferry, and also round the site on which the founda-
tion stone was to be depo4ted, long lines of flags of all
kinds and colours were hung lin ropes cx'ending hori-
zontally from spar to spar, forming immense wreaths or
valances, at on..e gay and graceful in effect. From
Gleave's and the Monks' Ferry Hotels, a profusion
of flags was also displayed. Her Majesty's steam ten-
der, Redwing, lay at her anchorage ground, and was
literally covered with ensigns, union jacks, and signal
flags. Contrasted with the previous day, though the
shore even then presented a cheerful, busy, and interest-
ing appearance, the result of Cie improvements and new
works going on, the whole coast and town now assumed
a different and inure lively aspect: it was peopled by
thousands and thousands, and dressed up, if we may so
express ourselves, in new and profuse holiday attire.
Many of the vessels in the Liverpool docks were also
gaily ornamented with flags, indicative of the friendly

feeling entertained by the- owners or captains towards
the new enterprise on the opposite side Seven wean-
boats plied regularly during tha whole day betweni this
town and the Woodside and Monks' Ferries, and their
commanders and others on board paid eve.y possible at-
tention to the comfort and safctv, in land.nz or embark-

ing, of the passengets, which the great requisition these
conveyances were in would abnit. The George's Pa-
rade was so crowded, that it at m.,ny pet iods of the day
. required some perseverance and nerve to obtain a place
on board. So extraordinary a rush was rot epected,
and there was at first a want of a sufficient police force
to maintain order and avert danger. This was after-
wards remedied, and, happily, no serious accident, so far
as we have heard. 400 k place, though on some occasions
in the forenoon, females, from alarm, relinquished their
intention of c ossing.
With regard to the interior of the town and township
of Birkenhead and its adjuncts, Tranntere, Holt-hill,
Oxton, Claughton, Bidston, &c., similar demonstrations
of rejoicing were everywhere conspicuous. In Hatnil-
ton-street, in the immediate vicinity of the Town-11 aIl ,
the point whence the procession was to start, the scene
was one of more than ordinary splendour and gaiety.
Almost from every window were displayed new and

handsome flags, and each person seemed to vie with his
neighbour in enthtki ism. At the north-eastern earner
of Hamilton-square, and also at the entrance to the
platform, triumphal I.turel arches were erected. It wculd
be an endless, if not. an invi.lious task, 'o attempt, parti-
cularly, to enumerate the various houses from which ele-
gant devices and colours were displayed. Sutlice it to
say, that the whch of the buildings in the town seemed
to be decked in holiday dress. The streets w-re lined
with thousands of the residents, and by perhaps treble
thousands from this town, Chester, &c., all apparently
resolved to be p7ea,ecl and to please. The shopi and
markets were all mn -1 there was a general cessa-
tion from labour, each :Ilan having not only the privilete
of a holiday, but tie boon of his day's wrges. A large
Livprp,A. pullers tipavr the Command
Miller, wa; in attendance. lie WAS ni,..:ist.cd by super-
intendents Leveret slid M‘Donald, and several insdec-
tors who had the immediate disposition of the officers of
the police force, and the arrangements were such as,
Under the circumstances, reflected great credit upon all
parties concerned.
. The out-door a-rang_ including the cannon, the
flags, &e. were under the superintendence of Mr. Morti-
mer, to whom the press are especially indebted for the
readiness with which be furnished them with every possi-
ble information.