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

FESTIVITIES AT BIRKENHEAD.

We have already given, iir 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 week 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 whole reade
ing community in possession of the princinal ' •
sac'
The day was one of the finest t.l-,er co
at this advanced net' • ulei be hoped- for
eloudlee. -.we of the a'aininn, the sky being
rg througlihitt, the sun bright, and the breeze just-
§tiffletait to produce a coolness highly grateful to ali en-
gaged in the-active movements of the occasion. Tl-4e
previous day having been also fine, and the nigh'h, dear ttnd
inclined to frOst) the streets and roads -were inprime
der fur the procession, being '-e'v once dry) ara. the
humidity of the previous dew, free front duet: Weather
equally favourable could scarcely, indeed, have been
found even in the middle of summer, itued its exhilarating
effect was visible in the happy .oennee_leances and general
good feeling and fellowship nf thse thousands who at-
tended. As curly as six o'clock in the morning the
sound of cannonaclin, w.d. heard reverlerating 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
made arrangements to devote themselves. The OA.-
head, froth an early 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 slips. The Woodside, Monk's Ferry, and Birken-
head 'steamers, were galy decorated with flags, as were
most of the
,vessels in.the river ; and the whole 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 the shore, the public and
many of the private -buildings, the roasts and yards of
vessels, large and small, aril, in fine, from nearly every
eminence whence they could he displayed. At Wood-
side ferry, and also round the site on which the founda-
tion stone was to he cielm•lted, long lines of flags of all
kinds and colours were hung on ropes eaeending hori-
zontally irons spar to spar, forming immense wreaths or
valances, at once gay and graceful in effect. From
Gleave's and the Monks' Ferry tfotels, 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.. -CMitraeleed with the previous day, though the
shore even there presented Webeerful, busy, and interest-
ingappearanee, the result of the improvements and new
works going on, the WhOle coast and town now assumed
a different and more INely aspect ; it was peopled by
'thousands 'and thousands, and dressed up, if we may so
'express tureeltes, in new and profuse holiday attire.
Many of the vessels in the Liverpool docks were also
faily•oenamented with flags, indicative of the friendly
'feeling entertained by the owners or captains towards
the 'new enterpriee on the opposite side . Seven steam-
boats plied regularly during the whole day between this
town and the 'Woodside and Monks' Ferries, and their
'commanders Tad others on board paid eve'-y possible at-
tention to the comfort and safety, in landlne or ernbatk-
ling, of -the passengers, which the great re quieitiou these
sconveYarieee were in would admit. The George's Pa-
rade -was so crowded, that it at in:ny periods of the day
requiredtorne perseverance and nerve to obtain a place
on boat. So extraordinary a rush was not eepected,
--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 *c have heard, took place, thnegh on some occasions
in the forenoon, females, from alarm, relinquished their
"Intention of c ossing.
•Vith regard to the interior ef the town and township
of 'Birkenhead and its adjuncts, Tranmere,
Otton, Claughton, Bidston, similar demonstrations
eef rejoicing were everywhere -conspicuous. Irt Hamil-
ton-street, in the immediate vicinity of the Town-hall,
i-the point whence the procession was to -evert, the scene
'was one of more than ordinary splendour and gaiety.
Almost from every t.vindoar were displayed new and
handsome flags, and each person seemed-to vie with his
neighbour in enthusi ism. At the north-eastern corner
of Hamilton-square, and also at the •entrance to the
platform, triumphal laurel arches were erected. -It would
be an endless, if not an inch:sinus task-, to attempt, parti-
cularly, to enumerate the -various houses-from which ele-
gant devices and colours were displayed. Suffice it-to
say, that the whets ef the `buildities in the town seemed
to be decked in holiday -dress. The streets were lined
with thousands, of the residents, and by perhaps treble
thousands from this town, Chester; "&e., -all apparently
resolved to be plea e(1 mid to please. The shops and
markets were all -closed, ani there was a general cessa-
tion from labour, each man having not telly the privilege
of a holiday, but tie boon of his day's wages. A-large
body of the Liverpool police,-under the-command of Mr.
Miller, was in attendanec. He was assisted by super-
intendents Leverett sad APDorild, and several inspec-
tors who bad the immediate -disposition-of the officers of
the police force,- and the arrangements were such as,
under the vircurnstanc.ts, reflected • great-credit-upon all
parties -concerned.

The ,out-door 75.-rangetnentp,' incluclings,the .cannon , the
flags, Bc. 'were under the superintendence of Mr. Morti-
mer, to whom tile press are especially indebted for the
readiness with .witieh he'furoished them with every possi-
ble information.

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