The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-29


more; thence to st. Georges chapel, through the
Long Walk in the Great Park to the Virginia
Water. The weather was cold and wet. In the
evening there was q grand banquet in st. Georges
Hail. to which 14o guests, including the high
officers Of State, were invited Yesterday the
Gear came to London and received at buckingham
palace the members OF the Corps Dipomatque.
In the afternoon he drove in the Park. but greatly
disappointed were the crowds who had assembled
to see him, as ne was in closed carriage In the
evening he dned with the Prince and Princess Of
Wales at Marlborough House, and attended
splendid bail given In hts honor by the Duke and
Duchess OF Sutherland.
To-day ne visits the Crystal Palace whittier, in
order that his movements may be properly re.
corded in the HERALD, l must at once proceed.
The Imperial and Royal Banquet In
Windsor Castle-The Queen and the
Czar at Dinner.
The following account of the grand State ban
quet given at Windsor Castle by the Queen to the
Gear appears in the London 7elegraph:-
Three huge sideboards contained, among null
titude OF tankards, savers, chargers, goblets,
beakers and platters OF solid gold or parcel gilt,
the great st. Georges Candelabrum, the shield OF
OF exquisitely beautiful cups chased, embossed or
engraved by BenvenutO Cellini and the great
italian. Flemish, and German arr workers IN the
precious metals OF the fifteenth. sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries. From end to end OF the
han extended the dining table, set out with mass
gilt. and with a host OF waxliehts in trpeIs set in
golden scOnces. Gold vases and cups we're inter-
tne o Length o. tine with
bowers OF ferns and rare plants, while smaller
bouquets-each one ptcture-were placed in due
chair was at the centre OF the table and on each
side OF Her MaJestys iauteuil and on the side op.
posite to her extended two long parallel lines or
chairs, in crimson damask. white and gold. Imaa-
Inc all the multitude Of wax candles many hun
dreds in number. as it seemed-to be lit, and on
the walls above two parallel rows OF equally bright
quoting han for at least han an hour
u soa save By the yeo s as' OF ths
Guard, who in their quaint Tudor doublets, slashed
na ra Win gq@ as
bordering OF red and white roses, stood with their
partlsans OF cleaning steel and FURNISHED gold.
motlonleSs as statues. keeping guard over the
feast to which so many llustrious guests had been
hidden. Now and again some domesttcs would
hall to give the finishing touch to an arrangement
OF cups and glasses, or to see that all due requi
sites Tor the service OF the repast were provided at
the size tables; but anon these retalners would
fade away, ana the hall would be left in compare
tive solitude and silence, startling you somewhat
with Its multitude Of gancing tapers and
Its interminable vista Of empty chairs-aweing
you somewhat with the sOlemnity OF those sta
tuesque old halberders IN the doubets q scarlet
OF velvet, who moved not to the right nor to the
lett, who took heed either OF ganclng lights or
Servants, but who Stood there motoniess as
though they had been tree trunks carved and
eSoasa by arss Dy 5s e
Of Henry VIII, and who were with him at the
Field Of the Cloth OF Gold. At q quarter to eight
change. servants entered and remained Speedily
they increased In number and ranged them
selves behind The chairs OF crimson and white
Attendants
full state livery coats, OF which the crimson ground
could only be dlscerned here and there In thin
stripes and dlminutivc patches between the super
imposed lavishness OF heavy gold embroidery,
white kerseymere waistcoats and smalls, silk
bags at the neck behind. There were sergeant
fOOtmen, who wore small glltheaded rapiers. To
them soon entered the Queens Piper, IN complete
Highland costume, and with massive silver
badge on one arm. There were other pipers, TOO,
pertaining 1t Is presumed to the households o: the
Prince OF Wales and his brother: ana these clans
men ranged themselves behind the chairs or the
guests, opposite Her MaJesty's iauteuil Mean
while the band OF the Codstream Guards, in full
Uniform and under the skilled leadership OF Mr..
Godfrey, mad taken up position in the music gal
lery at the end OF the na to the left OF the royal
chair, and while these adrOit musicians were get
ting ready i0r their task. the cohort OF attendants
below received one notable addition in the shape
OF the Chasseur or Jaeger OF the Gar bench
green and gold, and with god-ililted hunting
knife by his side. AT about eight minutes to eight
Mr.. Godfrey's band struck up the sonorous strains
OF the Russian national anthem, and TO that strr-
ing air the great company OF royal and noble and
gallant and right honorable guests began slowly
to file into the enormous hall. Apart from the queen
and the princesses and the ladies OF their suite,
not many ladies' seemed to have been hidden to
the least. 1t was, the rather an imposing and
majestic muster OF notaDilities OF the sterner
sex-greaG noblemen, ministers and ex-ministers
OF state, prlvy councillors, general and stan
officers, diplOmatists ana c0urtlers, and sprink-
ling OF divlnes. so at least three gentlemen
might be deemed from the raven hue OF their
attire, since, in all other cases. uniform or court
dress was de rtgueaT. Amidst the English mill
tary uniforms, blazing as they were in scarlet and
gold, great number OF RUSSIAN uniforms, ia
visible; and special pains had been taken by the
indeatigable officials who had organized the
guests to their appointed places, that every Russian
0nicer should have on one side OF him at least an
OF explanation OF which he might stand in need.
Precisely as the stroke OF eight rang loud and SOL
emn through the grand Old hall, Her Majesty the
magnificent tiara OF diamonds, took her seat files
OF Yeomen OF the Guard and her Highland attend
Majesty were her ppers anIed BY more Yeom r,er
OF the Guard. On the Queens right hama sat His
MAJESTY, Alexander II, Emperor Of all the Rus
Alexis The banquet now commenced, the oand
Of the Coldstreams playing the overture 10
during the repast, with selection Of RUSSIAN
dance music, and concluding with grand March,
'C'est rEspagne.o The unique service OF gold
WINDSOR Castle was exclusively used for the re.
qurements OF The banquet. Thus wended it's
stately way proud ceremonial in which few,
even from the ranks OF the noblest OF the land,
could hope to participate, and which fewer still
could pc privileged TO behold as spectators. IL
was truly, indeed, state banquet, designed and
carried out after manner so superb. TO DO
hitting honor 10 a sovereign, whose own court
the traditions immutable and immemorial-of
etiquette. The Emperor Alexander viii not De
enabled 10 see great deal OF the English people,
albeit at the Crystal Palace tomorrow ne may he
IN o position 10 take rapidly comprehensive view
OF Englishmen untrammeled by etiquette, but IN
this grand ''funct0n'' at windsor ne has beheid all
the grave and dignined pageantry which properly
belongs TO the Court OF an English sovereign, ana
the retention which, with the fullest acquiescence