The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-09-16 00:00:00

THE QUEEN AT STIRLING

Fitting preparations were made for her Majesty's recep-
tion in the town of Stirling, which is rich in romantic
features and historic recollections. At the lower extremity
of Stirling Bridge, where the keys of the town were to be
presented, a most gorgeous and imposing arch was erected,
with a battlemented top, and having four youths on the tur-
rets waving flags, inscribed with the word " Welcome !"
The magistrates and town-council at eleven o'clock pre-
sented addresses to the Queen and Prince Albert, to which
the royal pair graciously replied.
The royal party, instead of taking the low road and
coming up the High-street, wended their way to the Castle
by the upper road along the base of the hill, entering Broad-
street from St. Mary's Wynd, and pass'ed on by Mar-place
up the colonade, arrived at the Castle gate shortly after
twelve.

The esplanade presented a gay and animated sight; in-
deed, we must say of " old Stirling" that on this occasion
she nobly did her duty. The streets-were densely thronged,
a great influx of strangers having arrived by the early con-
veyances from Glasgow,- Edinburgh, and other adjacent
towns. We have seldom, if ever, seen a more beautiful and
picturesque scene than the streets and neighbourhood of
Stirling upon this occasion.
So soon as her Majesty and suite had alighted at the gate
of the castle she was.received by the Governor, the gallant
veteran Sir Archibald Christie, who conducted the royal
party to the lower quadrangle, where a company of the brave
42d were drawn up, and where her Majesty inspected the
battery called the seven-gun battery, we believe, which was
laid round with scarlet cloth, two chairs being placed for the
convenience of her Majesty and her royal consort. From
this point the royal party ascended to the upper quadrangle.
The Queen was leaning on Prince Albert's right arm, and
on her left was Sir Archibald Christie, in earnest conversa-
tion with her Majesty, who looked cheerful, in excellent
health and spirits, evidently improved by having inhaled the
fresh mountain breezes. She was dressed in the royal tartan,
and wore a red coloured shawl. The Prince was in plain
clothes, and also looked extremely well. Her Majesty
entered the Governor's house, the steps being laid with
scarlet, and partook of a dejeuner; in the meantime, Sir
Robert Peel, the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord
.Liverpool, and
others of the royal suite remained in the quadrangle, and
viewing the grotesque and antique emblematic figures with
which the old buildings are ornamented. On leaving the
Governor's house, her Majesty and the Prince inspected the
armoury, which contains John Knox's pulpit, and other
ancient curiosities; the members of the suite and the clergy
of the burgh following uncovered.
It lvaa--.-xpected that her Majesty would have visited the
Georap 11.chanan, " taught the Royal Boy," but the late-
ness of the hour prevented her; and the royal party de-
scended by the same path to the gate, and entering the car-
riage drove slowly down the esplanade, amid the most enthu-
siastic acelainations of the assembled thousands. The other
carriages followed with Sir Robert Peel and the rest of the
party. The premier was loudly cheered, and hundreds avail-
ing themselves of the opportunity, shook him heartily by
the hand.

ENTRANCE. INTO FALKIRK

Early in the morning, strangers were moving towards Fal-
kirk, and as it approached to twelve o'clock the main-street
became very much crowded. The shops were mostly closed,
and the population appeared dressed in their holiday clothes.
The town crier at this time summoned the special constables
to their place of meeting by tuck of drum. The town soon
presented a very gay and cleanly appearance—the fronts of
all the houses being ornamented with flowers and evergreens
tastefully arranged. A number of banners were also dis-
played, having devices and inscriptions complimentary to her
Majesty. At the entrance of the house on the Stirling road,
a triumphal arch was erected, adorned with evergreens, and
surmounted by a crown, having the inscription—" Welcome
to Falkirk."

It having been arranged that her Majesty was to change
horses within Callender Park, this, as might have been ex-
pected, was the great centre of interest. Mr. Forbes' te-
nantry, about sixty of them on horseback and double that
number on foot, guarded the road, the forther occupying the
ground immediately opposite her Majesty's guard of honour,
the 66th regiment of foot, who stood at the spot where the
relay of horses was ready to be yoked to the royal carriage.
The high grounds of Callender Park presentedia scene of life
and bustle never before witnessed within this noble demesne.
The anxiety of the multitude was now at its highest pitch,
when about half-past one o'clock, Mr. Ramsay, of Barnton,
arrived, announcing the near approach of the royal company.
In half an hour more, the cheering outside proclaimed their
arrival, and shortly after two o'clock the cortege entered the
grounds. At this moment the crowds who had followed her
Majesty through the town, rushed into the western gate with
a fury which no force could have opposed, every one running
at the top of his speed towards the lawn before the house to
get a second glimpse of the Queen. The cheering from
15,000 voices was absolutely deafening. Mr. Forbes and the
Earl of Zetland accompanied the royal party ; the former in
the uniform of a deputy-lieutenant, the latter at the head of
a large body of his tenantry. The royal -cortege re-entered
the public road by the gate at Lauriston Toll, which was,
like the others, decorated with a magnificent floral archway.
The soldiers then gave three cheers for the Queen, which
were readily re-echosd by the vast multitude present, the
Camelon band playing the Queen's Anthem ; and after accom-
panying the royal cavalcade as far as Linlithgow Bridge, Mr.
Forbes's tenantry returned to the Callander, where dinner
was prepared for them, to the number of 180.
We are sorry to have to record an accident which it was
supposed would prove fatal. A dragoon was pitched from off
his horse, which kicked him severely on the head while he
was on the ground.

PROGRESS THROUGH LINLITHGOW•
From an early hour the town of Linlithgow was full of
excitement and bustle in anticipation of the royal visit.
For some days past the most active preparations have been
in progress, with a view of improving- the aspect of the
burgh. The Cross-well—one of the curiosities of the place
—which had grown dusky and dingy in the course of time,
was renovated ; and everywhere houses, which. were but
lately begrimed with smoke, presented a trim appearance.
At ten o'clock the town rapidly filled, and was decorated
al?;14,
wr cal rwrictjaa
being visible. At the West Port a double festoon of ever-
greens, with a crown depending from the centre, and an in-
scription, s• God save the Queen and Prince Albert," had
been raised.
About half-past one o'clock her Majesty arrived at Lin-
lithgow Bridge, where the Avon forms the boundary betwixt
the counties of Stirling and of West Lothian. At this
point of the great viaduct on the railway, with the beautiful
vale of tha Avon peeping beneath the arches, and the river
gently winding till-it is lost to the eye amidst the woods, pre-
senting a scene which, strikingly picturesque in itself, was
heightened and animated by the accumulation of the living
masses assembled on the spot to great her Majesty with the
expressions of their loyal enthusiasm. The Earl of Hope-
toun, who was accompanied by the Hon. Charles Hope,
M.P, for the county of Linlithgow, and by the county gen-
tlemen, received her Majesty when she crossed the Bridge,
and entered the county of West Lothian. The road was
lined by the tenantry on horseback ; and as their numbers
were great, so was their appearance admirable.
Her Majesty proceeded on her route towards Linlithgow,
which is distant about a mile from the bridge. All was
breathless expectation—every hat was removed—every white
handkerchief was unfolded—as the royal cortege appeared
on the declivity of the West Port. In descending, however,
the cortege unfortunately went somewhat- beyond the mark ;
for the carriage could not be drawn up until it had passed
some paces beyond where the Provost and Magistrates were
assembled. It had been intended to present addresses to
her Majesty and the Prince, and to confer the freedom of
the town on the latter; but owing to this unlucky accident,
it was found necessary to abandon the previous arrange-
ments, though, we understand, the disappointment occa-
sioned not less regret to her Majesty than to the authorities
of the town. The crowd, however, which immediately fol-
lowed the royal carriage,was such as precluded the possibi-
lity of fulfilling her Majesty's'wish.
The acclamations, as the royal cortege proceeded, were
incessant ; her Majesty and tlrePrince acknowledging in the
most gracious manner the manifestations of loyalty and re-
gard. The royal carriage drew up betwixt the Cross-well
and the Town-hall to change horses.
Sir Robert Peel was recognised immediately after the royal
cortege entered the town. ..He was accompanied by Lord
Aberdeen, and his reception was most cordial.
At half-past three the royal cortege passed through Kirk•
liston, and at half-past four reached the railway tirminus, at
Edinbugh. The party entered the city by Athol Crescent,
along Maitland-street, and into the Lothian-road—at which
point the castle guns fired a royal salute, and the royal
standard was hoisted. The cavalcade next turned into Bread
Street and proceeded along Lauriston. The bays of Heriot's
Hospital, and the schools of this institution, and the boys of Watson's Hospital, numbering several thousand children,