New-York tribune., 1873-07-04
THE GUILDHALL BANQUET.

BALL GIVEN BY THE CORPORATION OF LONDON-AP-
PRARASCE OF THE sHAH-THE ROYAL PROCESS
sIoN-ADDREss TO THEisHAH AND HIS RESPONSE.
(FRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE !
LONDON, June 21.-Three thousand tickets
were issued by the Corporation OF London for the ball TO
be given last night In honor Of the Shah OF Persia The
applications, however, from persons whose requests
could be ignored, far exceeded the stated limit and
up within hour Of the doors being thrown
opeD the clerks at the Town Clerks Office busily
engaged in filling up cards OF invitation These cards
enormous pieces Of pasteboard about foot and
half long by foot broad covered with the portraits
Of the Shah and the City of Teheran, the
royal standard Of Persia, number OF Arabic
herogyphcs, and the arms OF the City.
In order, however, to suit the convenience OF the
holders they were informed that the cards simply
intended memorial Of the ceremony, and that they
need only present at the doors small coupon, which
might easily be detached from the card The doors at the
Guildhall thrown open at six, and by five o'clock
all traffic stopped along the route leading to the
civic palace. From that hour up TO half past eight the
time at which the barriers closed for ordinary
guests continuous string Of carriages poured from
West End into the city along the Strand
and Cheapside. Though hour before all London
had seemed 10 be congregated in Hyde Park and Cons
tuition Hill waiting catch sight Of the Shah as he drove
home through the Park on his way back from Windsor,
yet long before he could have reached buckingham
Palace the Strand route crowded with dense, we'll
dressed multitude The shop windows commandinga
view Of the procession let for high prices and the
very roofs OF the crowded with spectators
At every cross there stationed detachmens
OF horse guards and police who forbade access TO all
carriages not provided with pass for the Guildhal
BY eight, Just about the time when the lamps were
lighted the Guildhall crowded 70 0verOwing and
vet fresh arrivals kept coming IN every moment
should doubt whether distinguished assembly had
ever been collected within the walls OF the ancient build
no of
dgnitares of the state church and the army, the
most eminent in the world OF art and letters and
ell the distinguished foreigners in London were mixed
ND together with motley crowd OF aldermen, common
councmen, and civil magnates with their wives
and daughters. l fortunate enough TO secure a
posi- tion in the front rank of the passage reserved
for the entry of the guests. Archbishop Manning and
the prates OF Canterbury and York In almost in
O group together. MI Gladstone arrived early, looking
very pale and worn, aud was loudly oheered by the
crowd. He was followed shortly afterward by Mr..
Ayrton looking more burly and trucuent than ever,
and apparently quite undsturbed by the illusions 10
the Happy Land" which we're heard as he passed
through the lines Sir Bartle Frere, who has justGe-
turned from his mission to Zanzibar, very warmly
received but the truth s the celebrities followed
each other so rapidly that they attracted
comparatively little notice The one desire
of everybody was to secure good place to see
the Shah md the ushers, with their long wands sf0e
like free passage from the entrance Of the hail up TO
the banduetng chamber About o'clock the glitter
of drawn swords seen through the open doorway told us
that the first detachment OF the royal party had began
10 arrive The princes their arrival, were escorted
by the Lord Mayor 10 one OF the law
courts, which had been turned into an ante
chamber, as according 10 the programme
none Of the royal party were to enter the hall TIL the
whole procession could he formed. The Prince of Wales
OF
very soon afers Owing however, to a mistake on the
part of the Metropolitan Police by which the line was
allowed to broken by the crowd In the streets before
the Shah had passed His Majesty DELAYED for con
siderable ltime and did not reach the Guldhall TIL
nearly 10.
At last however the loud cheers OF the spectators
without and brilliant display Of blue lights In front of
the Hail. announced the arrival Of the Shah. The
cession was formed Immediately, and entered the Hall
I'm the following order: The Lord Mayor four uum-
peters, with their posbOy dress, marched abreast,
blowing very dscOrdant music from their Instruments
the Lord Mayor followed immediately preceded by the
sworbeareT and the and succeeded by the officers
OF the corporation in their civic state costumes. The
Shah came next giving his to the Princess Of Wales
Nassered DIN gave me the impression Of much younger
man than / had supposed when l saw him on board
the Vgilant He does not look his age Of three and
forty. He a short spare though thickset man. with
bright face and an intelligent counenance. Indeed but
for his extreme swarhness Of complexion and his short
ness Of stature the Shah might be described hand
some man He had any number OF Jewels on his breast
and saued repeatedly In Persian fashion by raising his
left hand TO his black cap The Princess OF Wales looked
remarkably bright and youthful. The Czarowitz,
who has grown very stout and pOrtly, es-
corted the Lady Mayoress. The Prince CT Wales
in the uniform OF the Royal Artillery Company,
led the Grand Duchess Dagmar. The Duke OF
Edinburgh brought in the Princess Beatrice Prince
Arthur was with the Duchess of Teck and Prince Chris
tian Prince Edward Of Saxe-Wenar, and the Duke OF
Cambridge concluded the royal party. Then followed
number OF the suite officers OF the Persian house
hod uniforms not unlike those OF the French army
The royal guests went Ia the first place to the
library at the Guildha The Town Clerk then read the
resolutions OF the Court OF Common Council with re
spect 70 His Majestys visit The Deputy Recorder then
read the following address;
To HIS Imperial Majesty ne shah:
May IL please your Majesty We, the Lord Mayor
Aldermen and Commons OF the City OF London Com
mon Council assembled. remembering the historic fame
the Empire Of Persia gladly avail ourselves 0t this
opportunity 10 offer to your Imperial Majesty our tribute
OF une gned respect We received with sincere pleasure
the intelligence that your Imperial Majesty had deter
mined on visiting the nations OF Europe with the view
dinerept IN many respects from those which
prevail in the wide domlniOns Of your Imperial
Majesty TrjOCe that this auspicOus expedition has
been undertaken with the wise and phiantrophic pur-
pose Of acquiring such information Ia regard TO the
may be useful facilitating the introduction into yorE
Msesty's dOminons OF such new usases ana Ideas as
NAV in the estimation Of Imperial Majesty be
adapted TO promote the prosperity and happiness OF
of this realm, we gladly welcome your Imperial
Majesty 70 the shores OF England, and as clti-
zens OF London. we deeply appreciate the honor
conferred upon by your Maiestys visit, as well
as the grace and readiness with which the hospltaes
of the Lord Mayor and Corporation have been accepted
by your Imperial Majesty. IL Is our ardent nope that
ali the advantages anticipated as The result OF TOUR
which your Imperial Majesty has been the nrst OF Your
ancient and ilustrOus line 20 undertake may be fuy
realized and that may De followed by sueh increased
freedom of commercial and friendly intercourse De
tween your Maesys subjects and those OF our beloved
as shall cOndnce 10 the welfare and prosperity OF
both countries and be the means OF rounding ana es
tabshng for all time 70 come mutual relations OF peace
and amity between Persia and Great britain.