Year: 1863

Correspondence OF the y. Y. Evening Post.


LONDON March II, 1868.


The Journals will give you the details OF
the great event which has set all England
agape, and | shall confne myself to Sc
lection from them of the leading incidents.
Let me begin at the beginning, then, by
saying that the Princess Alexandra arrived
at Gravesend on Saturday, the 7th day of
March.


RECEPTION OF THE PRINCESS.


The Prince of Wales was there, with an
escort to receive her, and went on board
of the vessel as soon as she had anchored.
Every eve was strained, of course, to catch
q glimpse of the meeting of the royal
couple. The Princess Alexandra awaited
at the door of the state cabin the arrival
of her affianced. The Princes face was
slightly flushed as he passed under the
Gaze of hundreds of bright eyes of ladies
who we're ranged on either side of the pier,
and who gave him a welcome. With
quick, almost impatient step, the Prince
proceeded to the door Of the cabin, and
then taking his bride by the hand and
holding her hands in his, he kissed her with
all the fervor and heartiness of youthful
lover. This natural and wholly unaffected
mode of salutation was seen by hundreds;
the zone touch of nature" made prln ,e
and people kin; and the hundreds who
witnessed it cheered more Justify than ever,
and some stalwart voices cried "bravo."
The women whispered the little fact from
one to the other, for they felt that the rule
with respect to kissing and telling did not
apply to this case, and that they approved
Of it, thought it highly proper, and such as
under similar circumstances they would
themselves expect, was evident from the
waving of handkerchiefs that followed
The Prince was introduced to the father,
mother and sisters of the bride, and the
illustrious party proceeded below to take
some refreshments.


THE SCENE AT GRAvEsEND.


After the party came from the cabin they
went on deck to see the crowds and the
decorations. 1t was magnificent sight.
The piers were splendidly festooned with
hundreds of flags, and tall masts, around
which ran wreaths of laurel, surmounted
with streamers. On either side Of the
carriage-way of the pier bowers OF ever
greens were erected, each Of which was
filled by elegantly dressed ladies. One
remarkable feature was a number of large
cornucopias, which were placed between
each of the bowers, from which sprang an
gels, holding out bridal wreath of white
roses. Another extremely pretty effect
was produced by the sixty young ladies Sc
lected to attend on the pier, and strew
flowers in the path of the Prince and
Princess. They were each dressed in
white tarlatan (two skirts and six flounces),
trimmed with white rOsettes OF Coventry
ribbon. and bordered with lace at the neck;
a red Danish colored Bernous cloak, with
white silk trimmings and tassels, and
rather coquetish-looking straw hat, encir-
cled with wreath of oak leaves and acorns.
Amidst the thunder of the ships OF war
and the guns of Tilbury Fort, Princess
Alexandra landed from the royal yacht.


THE ARRIVAL IN LONDON.


Of the journey by rail and the demon
strations along the way, of the addresses
by Mayors and Mayoresses, at every stop
ping-place, of the reception of the Prin-
cess by the Duke of Cambridge and Sir
George Gray, at the station, and of the
multitudes assembled to catch glimpse
of the party, say nothing; but of the
procession through London, it is to be said
that for the want of proper arrangements
it was the most disorderly and mobbish
affair ever got up. In New York you can
get half million of people together and
manage them easily, but the stupid officials
of this metropolis came near allowing the
distinguished objects Of the festival to be