The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-07-25 00:00:00

BATH.

At Bath, the preparations made for the reception of the
Prince in the station, were splendid and extensive. It was
beautifully fitted up with, in addition to decorated stand-
ing places for visitors, a raised platform, with a canopy,
and a sofa below covered with crimson silk damask, for
his accommodation, and the whole was richly and taste-
fully ornamented. His royal highness was received by
the mayor, the town council, a deputation from the inha-
bitants, and a vast number of gentry, by whom he was
presented with a very feeling address, expressing a hope
that when his time permitted he would honour that loyal
city with a visit. His royal highness returned a brief, but
feeling and most gracious reply, and after complimenting
those around him on the beauty of the city and its envi-
rons, so far as he had seen them, took his leave, and re-
turned to his carriage, followed by his attendants, and pro-
ceeded to Bristol. A grand public breakfast afterwards
took place in the banqueting room of the Guild Hall, and
the healths of her Majesty and her consort, &c. were
drunk with great enthusiasm. A vast number of passen-
gers proceeded from Bath to Bristol,—quite as many as at
the time of the great agricultural meeting, special trains
being put on. The number of persons, indeed, that tra-
velled on the Great Western Railway on that day was
no less than 10,718, the total fares for which amounted to
£2515 Bs. 4d.

BRISTOL.

The arrangements here, which were necessarily still
more extensive, were generally concluded by about nine
o'clock. At that hour the Mayor and High Sheriff and
their attendants met at the Council-house and proceeded
in state to the raiway terminus. His worship rode in a
state carriage drawn by six bays, with coachman and foot-
man in rich liveries. A considerable number of troops of
military of various corps, including splendidly dressed
yeomanry, all under Lord John Somerset, commandant
of the district, were disposed in various parts of the town
to maintaiu order, in addition to the police force, a body
of which was stationed in the yard where the large ship lay,
on the south side of the Avon. Soon after nine, the rail-
way station, which was splendidly decorated, became
densely crowded by parties who bad formed the civic pro-
cession ; a large body of the clergy, headed by the very
Rev. the Dean, Dr. Lambe, many of the noblesse of the
city and elsewhere, and numerous citizens who were ad-
mitted by ticket. From half-past the hour stated, expec-
tation was at its height, and a train preceding the roya
one created some disappointment. A pilot engine, how
ever, soon arrived, and announced the arrival of the
Prince at Bath, which restored all to good humour.
Amongst those present, were the Mayor, James Gibbs,
Esq., all the civic officers ; Thomas Kingston, Esq.,
chairman of the directors of the Great Western Steam-
ship Company ; 0. Bush, Esq. deputy chairman ; Cap-
tain Claxton, the managing director; T. R. Gully, Esq.,
and other members of the board. The fine band of the
Ist Life Guards was also brought up and played a variety
of pleasing airs. At length, very shortly after ten, the
bell was heard, and in an instant the royal train rapidly
entered the station ; the band played the national anthem,
and the cheering from all sides was most animated. The
Prince alighted amidst redoubled shouts and took his
station on the platform (under the canopy) erected for
him. His Royal Highness it was stated was in his usual
health, but he certainly looked thin and througout the day
pale, if not sallow. He was plainly dressed, as a private
gentleman, with a Newmarket cut upper coat or wrapper,
mixture trousers, and light waistsoat. He wore the star
and order of the garter, but all that was visible of orna-
ment beyond a short distance from his person, was, the
broad blue ribbon hung over his shoulder and under his
upper dress, in the manner of that represented in the pic-
tures of her Majesty before her marriage. He was atten-
ded by the Marquis of Exeter, Lord Warncliffe, the Earl
of Liverpool, Lords Lincoln and Willesley, his private
secretary G. E. Anson, Esq., and other gentlemen of the
royal household. In the second carriage were the_Chair-

man of the Directors of the G. W. railway ; C. A.
Saunders. Esq., the Secretary and others.
The Mayor having been introduced to his Royal High-
ness, presented to him the addresses of the several public
bodies of the city,—namely, one from the corporation,
and one from the society of merchant venturers, delivered
as an address by the master, J. Savage, Esq., who also
presented to his royal highness the freedom of the society
in a splendid gold box. These were couched in the most
loyal and affectionate terms, and were acknowledged in
affable and appropriate terms. The Dean was then intro-
duced and addressed the prince on behalf of the clergy.
His royal highness replied in a few words complimentary
to the order, as distinguished for their learning and vir-
tue. The whole of these parties passed the platform be-
fore him, and were individually bowed to with much affa-
bility.

THE PROCESSION.

The Prince after leaving the platform. and descending
by the fine staircase entered the first carriage in waiting
amidst the cheers of the spectators. He was seated by the
mayor, in his robes and broad gold chain of office, Lord
Wharncliffe, and Lord Lincoln. Two grooms in royal
livery rode on the box behind. In the second carriage
were the Marquis of Exeter, Lord Liverpool, Lord C.
Wellesley, and Colonel Bouverie. The mayor's state car-
riage followed, drawn by six horses, and containing the
sheriffs and town-clerk. In the fourth carriage rode the
dean, Thomas Kingston, Esq., chairman of the steam-
ship company, and J. Savage, Esq., master of the Mer-
chant Venturer's Society. The whole were escorted by
detachments of Dragoon Guards, Yeomanry Cavalry, and
police. They proceeded through the principal streets
which from their direction were available on the occasion,
and also made a detour through the beautiful suburb of
Clifton. The first movement taken from the station was
through Temple-street, a rather rough locality, but some-
what nearer than by Thomas-street, which also (though
better on the whole) is very narrow at one extremity.
We have not space to enter into minute details of the
royal progress, or of the gay and complimentary objects
that ever and anon presented themselves. No single indi-
vidual indeed, unless he had been seated in one of the carri-
ages, and was well acquainted with and very observant of
the several localities, could have caught in all that was to
be seen by the mind's eye in the course of the route ; and
our reporter having had but little previous knowledge
(obtained many years ago) of the " outs and ins" of
" the anciente citie of Brestowe," we must be brief, and
necessarily imperfect in our enumceration. Every part
of the line was crowded with multitudinous masses of
spectators, clustering on temporary stages, old and new
buildings fitted up, balconies, &c. ; and what was said
with reference to Caesar's triumphal entries into Rome
might be applied with some modification to the Bris-
tolians on this occasion—

" You have climbed up to walls and battlements,
To towers and windows, yea to chimney tops,
Your infants in your arms, and there have sate
The live long day with patient expectation
To see great Albert pass the streets of Bristol;
And when you saw his chariot but appear,
Have you not made an universal shout
That Avon trembled underneath his banks
To hear the replication of your sounds,
Made in his concave shores."

Near Temple Gate a triumphal arch was thrown across
the entire street, covered with evergreens, flowers and
devices, and bearing the inscription " God bless the
Queen and Prince Albert." A little higher a line of
flags crossed the road, one on one side inscribed " Church
and Queen," and one on the other presenting a view of
the old church of St. Mary Redcliff. Other lines of
flags, some with suitable inscriptions, crossed Temple-
street, and Bath-street was equally gay. Manufactories
and private dwellings were also decorated with laurel,
flags, and devices in flowers; and from Bristol-bridge,
with an arch at either end, the vessels in the Avon were
seen " with streamers floating in the wind." On one of
the arches in Redcliff-street a bird of Paradise was dis-
played executed in roses, dahlias and other flowers—also
the crown, with V.R. beneath. On the Bristol side were
equally gorgeous decorations, varied according to the
taste of the designers. In Corn-street the Exchange was
covered with evergreens, and here were platforms oceu-
pied by the boys of Queen Elizabeth's Hospital on one
side of the gate, and the " Red Maids," each with bou-
quets of flowers, on the other—presenting an affecting and
pleasing sight. The procession crossed the Draw-bridge,
where the still more numerons vessels were gaily deco-
rated with flags. The populace throughout was immense,
and all in their holiday attire. The neighbourhood of
St. Augustine's Church and College-green (the latter a
large triangle surrounded by noble trees) also evinced its
loyalty, and the churchyard and green were crowded
chiefly by ladies splendidly attired. The warmest mani-
festations of welcome to the Prince were manifested
thaou ghout.

" You might have thought the very windows spake,
So many greedy looks of young and old
Through casements darted their desiring eyes
To gaze upon him."

- -
Every church (and the city is bristled with many fine
old ecclesiastical structures) displayed its flags from
tower or spire. After mounting Park-street, which is full
of picturesque buildings, the procession moved more ra-
pidly towards Clifton, and such was the crowd that the
Prince, who seldom rose from his seat, was but rarely
recognised. Clifton, resembling our Everton in site, and,
like it, overlooking the river, was festooned and decorated
throughout by the opulent inhabitants. At the end of
Royal York-tertace, a splendid arch was erected resem-
bling Portland stone, covered with flowers and devices,
and with a musical band playing on the top. The Prince,
on moving to the Mall, enquired for the mansion in which
the Duchess of Kent and the Queen resided some years
ago. He stepped out and visited the promontory near
the Zig-zag Walk, which commands .1 delightful view of the
river, the Rocks of St. Vincent, and the cliffs and woods
opposite. He appeared to be highly delighted with the
picturesque locality, and was much cheered by the people.
His Royal Highness had not time to visit the summit of
Clifton Down, from which there is a splendid view ; and
the procession, passing the villas of Clifton, descended to-
wards the Bridge Valley-road. The view all round is
beautiful, both of the country and the river. Two steam-
packets crowded with company came up at the time with
bands of music, which heightened the effect. There are
here two rocky cliffs of great height, with a wooded chasm
below, between which it was intended some years ago to
erect a chain bridge ; and the piers are built, but the pro-
ject abandoned, at least for the present. A bar of iron is,
however, extended from pier to pier, with two guiding
ropes ; and when the Prince passed under it, a party of
ladies and gentlemen were drawn across it in a car of
basket work, and appeared for the time suspended in mid
air as from a thread. The procession went thence to the
Hotwells, where his Royal Highness was heartily cheered
by the schoolboys of Hotwell House, who stood on a
platform, and displayed a flag inscribed " Trade and
Commerce." Leaving St. Vincent's Parade, the cortege
passed Cumberland Basin, where the vessels were adorned
with flags. It then crossed the dam to the New Cut—a
sort of artificial river—and thence to the yard of the
Great Western Steam-ship Company, where the Prince
and his attendants were heartily welcomed.

On entering the yard they were received by T. King-
ston, Esq., chairman, and the direct°. s. The Prince was
taken into the company's office, which was fitted up as a
retiring room, and was waited upon by R. Guppy, Esq.,
managing director, by whom and others he was conducted
to the ship, which was close at hand i❑ the graving dock
in which she had been built. A great number of persons
had previously obtained admission to the yard and the
vessel by tickets at a guinea each, which also admitted
them to the banquet (afterwards partaken of) in an ad-
joining wooden building.
On his Royal Highness appearing on deck, (the ascent
to which was by stairs covered with crimson cloth,) the
cheers were loud and long from the company present,
which included many of the nobility and gentry, and a
great number of ladies elegantly attired. He appeared to
be much astonished at the great size of the vessel, which
was then on the blocks, so that her whole bottom and bulk
could be distinctly seen, though not without moving from
point to point, so stupendous is her size, and so extraor-
dinary her length. A passage was opened for him on the
upper or spar deck, so that he might see her from end to
end, and in company with Captain Claxton and others, he
examined her with much interest and curiosity, The at-
tention of all on board was at this time directed to the
contiguous shores and the Avon, and more particularly to
Brandon-hill, a lofty and picturesque common, with a fine
swell, in the neighbourhood of Clifton, and which was
crowded by many thousands of spectators. A great num-
ber of stands were also erected dose to the water on the
opposite side, containing their hundreds ; and every ter-
race- road, field, shrubbery, and garden, height above
height, amongst the villas to the west, was equally crowded
with gay assemblages full of curiosity and enthusiasm.
The river was also thick with vessels, from ships to wher-
ries—all crowded. Our reporter, who has seen many
public sights, states, that he never witnessed one so ani-
mated, or so striking, whether as regarded the mass of
persons congregated, or the sylvan and romantic beauty
of the scenery on all sides. The top sides of the vessel,
with her six masts decorated with numerous flags of all
nations, amongst which the British and the American
(U.S.) were most conspicuous,—was visible from all these
points, and presented a very noble appearance, though
she was considerably below her line of floatation as re-
garded the level of the river close adjacent. The Prince
descended into the saloons fore and aft, and inspected all
the accommodations, with the extent and elegance of
which he expressed much delight and astonishment. He
then inspected the engine room, with the machinery yet
fixed, and afterwards descended in to the dock by a temporary
inclined plane, and surveyed her stupendous yet sym-
metricai hull from the keel plate upwards. He also ex
amined the Archimedean screw (temporarily formed of
wood) by which she is to be propelled, and it was turned
round from within and its principle and action explained
to him and his suite, who expressed their wonder and
delight at its ingenuity—the comparatively small space
which it occupies—the great advantages it presents over
the ordinary cumbrous paddle-wheels both in lightness
and in " stowage" (if we may so term it)—and in its al-
lowing the vessel to carry sail without detriment to her
power of steam propulsion. The Prince and his attend-
ants, as well as the company generally, soon afterwards
retired to the banquet, before noticing which, however,
we give the following brief