New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-18

gloomest capital in the world, ia TO be seen at this
instant the gayest MONDAY illumination OF color and
tnse OF which the history OF fte days has any cord
few privileged watchers among have been standing
these two hours this summit boot soles resting
nearly over the heads of the iron spikes which, little
less than hundred years ago, upheld their last
ornaments OF rotting skulls. The view from where 1
write along Fleets and the Strand which join their
names into a single street under the archway On both
sides of the gate extend far away along the lines
OF the royal march immense extcmporZed balconies the
ample timber Of whose making would suffice for the
building of an Armada. They are protected overhead,
and turned literally into pavions of cloth and gold,
with their vast interior spaces ranged to the hight Of
classic amphheaer. with tiers of filed the
with a swarmng multitude out of polite West End.
These seats seized upon days ago the choicest
vantage ground over the great spectacle.
Napoleon OF Chselhurst had engaged his position here,
but was invited by the Club OF the Army and Navy
their palace in Pan Mall and translated still later by
Queens grace into the Buckingham cortege itself SO
the fallen Emperor is visible in these gorgeous boxes
hut his place sit OF the stateest gTandees Of
Belravia The view westward from the Bar is
intercepted by the Church OF ST. Clement Danes right in
the center of the Strand splitting the monster mob that
pours this way Its outside is piled to the caves with
ranges OF crmsOncOored seats which, amid the forest
red and yellow banners floating down from the steepe
are perchcd 10000 people. looking over the seethng
popuace toward Temple Bar. Turning toward St. Pauls
into lane of splcndor is at its extremity, the
great Gothic trumphal arch where it has been thrown
UP like an Aaddins palace in night with its FACADE
clitteling with mimic gold. Beyond and under this
arch is caught glimpse of the lane of Ludgate
Ill., commonly mean and dismal as an alley in
Turkish CAIRO to-day III with flames OF flags into the
very vestibule OF ST. Paus
Flectst and the strand have lost through their load
OF decoration their character streets and appear as
parallel walls hung from summit 10 base with tapestry
a vast canal of blazing light and color 10 the end of eve
range whose brink $1,000 people are peering down
from the hOusetOps the crowds in the space below.
The windows equally populous down five ranges of
stories they packed with expectant giving
along this elaborate pathway Of royalty the picture of
myriad Of heads thrust through crimson arras And at
the eastward limit OF the procession is the dome OF 81
Pauls swelling aoft into the sunlight and closing mp
the vista The troops stationed immediately west OF
Temple Bar the body of the 23d Welsh FusieeTs who
came hour since. blowing their way through the
packed OF the Strand. On the east OF the gate in
the city, have advanced down Fleet-s and stationed
themselves as a Queens Guard the Honorable Artil
lery Company OF London whose immemorial privilege
it is TO attend on British sovereignty whenever 1t enters
the precinct OF the ancient city. These troops have
ranged themselves either side Of Temple Bar, IN long,
gtteriug lines contrasting with the darkcOaed swarms
along the crDtones. These latter spectators are the
turbulent element OF the occasion. London has beched
them up everywhere from her deepest dcn, until they
have filed for five hours of the morning the whole line
OF the march with tumult and disorder.
In these co minutes some OF the best events OF the day
have passed here already, under view and have
stopped between the sentences of this manuscript to
watch them. For half hour there streamed under our
feet the carriages Of the mobiles, and the hired
baroucnes Of the best stables in West End, carrying
the Lords aud Commons and the thousand favored
guests their seats for the spectacle, inside OF 81
Paul's. The great Parliamentary leaders, Gladstone
Disrae their barouches close 10 the front
and received, as they passed from under the Bar the
burrahs OF their parsans the balconies either
side-thOugh to tell in which direction the political
British wind il blowing to-day requires more than
straw like this Premier GladsOnes face after the late
parliamentary contest is looking to-day, more nervous
and anxious than and was evident enough rs he
went by that he wishing himself well out of this
ROYAL Typhoid Of Thanks giving, Disrao, the
trary leaned placldy back in bis carriage paddngs a
bearing lust ancient Lothian he is vain enough TO al
feet With all his Imagination nothing III the way Of
occasion seems TO affect the equanimity of this
chief of the Tories and as the cheers out Of the upper
aristocatc galleries above the gate came down over his
carriage you could just detect faint smile under
the nose of the exPremier while perhaps, he
TRANSMITTING with the dictionary OF the intensely Con-
servative the approving noise into new lease
OF Tory power or perhaps as lie IL passing his birth
place here in dark neghborne street to Temple Bar
he is thinking how far away his talents have translated
him since his obscure boyhoOd into shining West End
The procession Of the Parliament aud of the Cathedral
spectators gone by, have had IN this succeeding half
hour the first act in the ceremonies at this city gate To
omit the medieval farce Of admitting with formal
monies British sovereignty inside OF London gates,
would be "a Royal Thanksgiving with its chief role OF
Temple Bar left But the spirit that srs the English
capital to-day emnenty retrospective. and allows the
Lord MAYOR and his venerable staff TO enact the parts OF
their ch varic comedy without limit The carriages Of
the Cathedral audience had scarcely disappeared under
the cterng structure OF Gothic pasteboard at the foot
of Ludgate Hi when there seen troOpng from the
east under It's archway down Fleet-st., and toward
Temple Bar this time-nOnOred Council OF London CITY
They ride in fancy ION kuighy errand here 10 open
their gates at sound of the bugehorn and the sum
mons OF their SOveregnbut the gates are never shut
and the sovereign never 1t is solemn farce,
and not drop Of knighty blood runs in the riders
veins Cbeesemongers and dealers hops are they, and
for such vulgar preGmnence in unknighty trahc they
and their generation of London COuncmen have been
chosen from time immemoria to wear the badges OF
civic distinction Hardly one of tins CITY seven Is less
than septuagenarian and, as for beng eheVaileIs,
their equity legs the third time Ill their three
score and ten wears are stretched today apart for the
intrusion OF a sadde-but still they have insisted on
riding down the Temple Bar here TO play out their
medieval comedy in the face OF 100000 roaring spec
tators If Her Majesty the Queen has imposed TINS JOKE
has outdone Mr.. Punch for her loyal SUBJECTS are
splitting their sides with laughter But on tTot ana
trunde the aged and mighty burghers, their shanks
held their saddles by ackeys running al ther ues'
and holding by the bits meekes ades that have been
able to be discovered for the occasion out OF the queens
whole artillery service As they totter and sway on
their perches, they suggest The predcameht Oh 'he
equestrian Bishops at the Pesth coronston OF Whatever
other scene may lnger memory Imagination OF the
ludcrous attitudes OF human nature. Beh Deiuined'
peed nassed under heaps Of velvet and fuStan they
II fh.uy rid "A