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892 fflE LEADER. [No. 339, Sattodax/
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THE CHARTIST GATHERING. A ' j>emocbatic ...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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The Gorokation Of The Czar. Jjsother Ins...
this ? A very fine old gentleman indeed , somewhat gone in . years , but right royal and splendid in air and attire . It is Prince Paul Esterhazy , Ambassador of Austria . He is dressed in pace silk or velvet , with a . hussar jacket of the same material , braided all over with pearls . Diamonds flash forth from all the folds of his clothing . Hia maroon-coloured boots , which come up to tie knee , are crusted with pearls and diamonds , and on bis heels are spars of brilliants , which glitter finely in the sunshine . One would almost feel proud to be kicked by such a boot , but perhaps such an honour is only reserved for the great and noble . His Excellency has a very brilliant suite , but for their names , and for the list of the other arrivals , I must refer your leaders to the programme and to the Russian Court . Circular ; fox there is A great cheering in the inner court , and we must run to take our places . "
After a fanciful identification of the different courts of the Kremlin -with the Inner Temple , London ^ Mr . RusseU proceeds : — . . - It is now about ten o ' clock , and the crowd clears vrmy to the seats as the head of a grand pTocession begins to appear on the tipper landing of the scarlet staircase issuing from the palace before us . Preceded by Masters of Ceremonies and Chamberlains , and attended by a magnificent retinue , the Empress Alexandra , in an Imperial mantle , with a crown of diamonds on her head , walks along the upper landing , beneath a dais like that of the Emperor , and begins to descend the steps amid the acclamations of the people . She is accompanied by the Grand , Dukes and by the Grand
Duchesses , and is followed by the foreign Princes , Maids of Honour , and Ladies of her Court , and thus she slowly and feebly passes before us to'the door of the Cathedral of the Assumption , where she is received by the clergy with the cross and holy water , and then she eaters the building with her suite , and is lost to sight . All this time there is a tremendous ringing of bells from , all the towers of Moscow ; but above , them , all sounds the great throb of the bell close at hand in the tower of Ivan Veliki ( John the Great ) . As the last of the Empress-Mother ' s attendants leaves the upper landing of the scarlet staircase a pelotpnt of the Chevalier Garde , with two officers , come forth from the palace , and the Imperial procession begins as follows : —Forty-eight pages , two
masters of the ceremonies , the chief peasants ( £ . e . serfs ) of the State domains , one for each government ; three delegates of the German and other colonists , and representatives of the serfs of the Imperial appanages » y threes . They are all clad in the old Russian garb—long coats and odd hats , and many of them , rejoice in . splendid beards . Next come the senior merchants of the guilds in Russia and Poland ,, the foreign merchants , the civic functionaries , the Council of Manufacturers , a march of doctors , lawyers , government employes , heads of departments , the dons of the Russian colleges , the managers of the theatres , the representatives of all the troops of Cossacks , the Marshals of the Nobility , Count Arrnfeldt and the Finnish and Polish deputies , Masters of the
Ceremonies , Heralds at Arms , officers bearing the Collar of the Order of St . Andrew , the Standard of the Empire , the Seal , the Sword , the Mantle of the Empress , that of the Emperor , the Imperial globe , the sceptre , the two diamond crowns ( each being guarded by two Grenadiers of the Palace ) , then a peloton of the Chevalier Garde , a Marshal of the Court , the Grand Marshal , the Archmarshal of the Coronation , and now the Imperial canopy comes in sight , and the Emperor presents himself to the people , not amid cheers , but loud shrill cries , which overpower the tolling of the bells , the crash of arms , and the loud flourishes of drums and trumpets which rise all around us . Before him march two priests with a gold basin full of holy water , which an Archbishop
sprinkles profusely on the scarlet cloth . The canopy is ¦ up held by general officers , assisted by colonels of regiments of the rank of general-major . His Majesty , who 1 a in military uniform , is followed by his Ministry , and Aide-de-Camp-Generala , and immediately behind him . walks the Commandant of the Chevalier Garde , with Ida naked sword in his hand and his helmet on his head . This officer , who is a general in the army , is a man of great stature , and his person is set off by his -uniform—a gilt casque and crest of silver eagle , a whito tunic with a , scarlet back and body , on both of which are stars of brilliants and silver , and long jack-boots . The Emperor , who possesses the personal advantages of the Romanoff family —a fine , erect , and stately figure—marched with a
measured stride , and bowed right and left as he passed down to the eatrade . The Empress followed behind him , under the same canopy , with thirteen ladies of honour around her , and her appearance was the signal for repeated outbursts of cheering . Her Majesty was dressed with the utmost simplicity , and presented a most charming conwant to the glar e by which she was surrounded . There ¦ wiw a gracefulness in her movements—a quiet dignity 2 ™ J S aw-8 'Z hloh tOUched ovor r heart > and tu > ^ AViL « L eVeUfoom tho Person of her Imperial husband . of rikterin ^ ^ £ orne down the Bte P amid * l » e sheen in . l £ & r * , £ f Wades nourished at tho presence of ^ iSww ' fiSih PlCtUTO 0 ff 6 red hy th 0 c ° wt - of the ^ a ^ eant the ? T ? , eldom ^ es-tho . splendour of wa ^ nXasles of ti ^ V ^* tbo soldiery , and tho : CSS KW 2 M 2 SS - th % " ^ «**• At tho door of tho Cathedral of Aho Assumption
stood the Metropolitans of Moscow and Novgorod , who presented the Holy Hood to their Majesties to kiss , which they did most devoutly . They were also here sprinkled with holy water . " Amid the ringing of bells and the shouts of the populace , the young Emperor and his Empress reach the entrance of the church . Arid now they detach themselves from the crowd of officials about them , and , passing along the gorgeous screen that separates the chancel from , the church , they fall on their knees before the images of the saints , kiss with fervent reverence the sacred relics , and offer up silent prayers to heaven . Let the perfect grace and earnestness with which the young Empress performs these acts be noted . She is richly
attired in a white robe , studded with , the finest jewels , but her head is adorned only by her own luxuriant hair , without a single ornament . Her right hand is ungloved , and with this she repeatedly crosses herself as she performs her religious offices , not mechanically , as if going through part of a prescribed ceremony , but fervently , religiously , and with the grace of perfect womanhood . And now the Emperor , followed by his Empress , mounts the platform of the throne , and repeats from a book , delivered to him by the Archbishop of Moscow , the confession of his Christian faith . He-then receives the benediction of the Archbishop , and suddenly the choir , which has hitherto preserved silence , "bursts out in psalms and praise to God , and the holy building vibrates with the
ring of their harmonious voices . There is no note of organ nor sound of other instrument . The singers , admirably organized , and chanting with astonishing power and precision , need no support ; the plaintive soprano voices of the boys rise clear and distinct afcove the deep tones of the rich basses , and the sustained harmony , solemn and affecting * , throbs through the holy building . But already the Imperial mantle of silver and ermine , richly studded with gems , is in the hands of the Arc ~ h . bisb . op who proceeds to clasp it round the shoulders of "his Majesty . Next follows the great cr ' ovrn , which is placed by the same hands on the Imperial head , reverently
bent to receive it ; and the sceptre and globe are then delivered to his Majesty , who , invested with these Royal insignia , seats himself on the throne . The Empress now approaches with a meek yet dignified air , and falls on her "knees before the Emperor . His Majesty , lifting the crown from his own head , touches with it that of the Empress , and again sets it on his own brows . A lesser crown is then brought , which , the Emperor places on the head of the Empress , where it is properly adjusted by the Mistress of the Robes , and his Majesty , having invested the Empress with the Imperial mantle , draws her towards Mm , and tenderly embraces her . "
This is followed by a scene which Mr . Russell describes as touchingly beautiful . The whole of the Imperial family , together with the foreign Frinces , advanced , embraced the Emperor , and congratulated him with manifest affection . The Empress Mother " passionately clasped , and held him in a long embrace , " and the little Grand-Dukes clambered-up the Imperial knees , with , " faces which asked to be kissed , " though Alexander , in order to reach them , was obliged to bend himself downwards . The anointing was the next ceremony . The Archbishop of Moscow , dipping a golden branch in the consecrated oil , touched the Emperor ' s forehead , eyelids , nostrils ,
ears , hands , and breast . The Empress consort was also anointed , but only on the foiehead . In anointing the Emperor , the Archbishop exclaimed , — " Impressio doni Spiritus iSancti . " The Emperor and Empress then received the Sacrament , the latter , however , only partaking of the bread . The choir again burst forth , and their Majesties once more mounted the platform of the throne , and stood erect while the mass was intoned by the priests , and the responses were chanted by the choir . The Emperor then bowed right and left , and quitted the church by the northern gate , followed at a short distance hy the Empress . But we must here make a retrospect : —
" At the moment that the Emperor took back tho sceptre and the globe , the priest proclaimed tho Imperial title , and then chantod JDomine , salvumjac Jmjperatorem , et , Doming salvum fac Imperatricem , to which the choristers added ad mullos annos , and at tho sumo instant , the bells , which had been silent , burst forth once more with tremondous clamour , and the guns of tho batteries fired a hundred and one rounds . Tho smoke rolled over the walls , and floated like a fine veil over tho flashing arms of the soldiers and over tho crowd insido . It was
at half-past ten that tho mouth of the cannon , announced the prayers which has Majesty , kneeling , addressed before all his peoplo to the King of Kings t » sanctify his reign , All this tumult suddenly ceased . There was a murmur of voices for a moment in the court , which was hushed at once as a hell tinkled once or twice from the cathedral , and there wns a profound silence , as Empress , Metropolitan , and people inside , all linelt down and addroBsed their prayers to Heaven for tho Emperor . He alono stood upright as they prayed . "
On leaving the cathedral , the Emperor presented himself in the powerful sunlight to tho gaze of the people , holding tho globe and sceptre in his hands . " But now ho woars an imperial robe , and on his head there is a crown of dazzling- splendour . Tho sun ' s rays seem , to 8 eek congenial light in those flashing diamonds . Tho oyo cannot boar tho brilliancy , and tho
mujik . and the prostrate Russian may w « U be pardoned if , with his imagination heated by all that he has seen and heard—the chanting of the choirs , the carillons of bells , the strains of music , and the clamour of voices- — he thinks he sees a halo of leavenly glory around the Imperial head . In how many wild tongues , with what frantic gesticulations , did they call on Heaven to lleas him . ! The people on the terraces below , on the banls of the liver , and in the streets outside the Kremlin took up the cry and shouted like the rest , and some ! am told went on their knee 3 in the dust and prayed for the Czar . " ¦ The Czar and Czarina afterwards entered the Cathedral of St . Michael , where they kissed the holy reliques , and prayed at the tomb of their ancestors . A banquet and a splendid display of fireworks concluded the day .
892 Ffle Leader. [No. 339, Sattodax/
892 fflE LEADER . [ No . 339 , Sattodax /
The Chartist Gathering. A ' J>Emocbatic ...
THE CHARTIST GATHERING . A ' j > emocbatic DEMONSTBA . TION , ' to welcome the return of Mr . John Frost , the Chartist , took place on Monday in the streets of the metropolis and on Primrose Hill The plan previously determined on was to assemble in various parts of the town ; the scattered bodies tlui 3 collected being : afterwards fused in Uinsbury-square which was to be the grand rendezvous . Russell-square and Iancoln ' s-inn Fields were to be two of the sub-places of meeting ; but , after the consolidation of the whole of the contingents in Finsbury-square , a procession was to be formed , which , starting at twelve o ' clock , was to proceed along Mobrgate-street , Cheapside , St . PauI ' schurchyard , Xudgate-hill , Fleet-street , the Strand , Trafalgar-square , part of Pall-mall , the whole length of Regeat-street , Portland-place , and so on to its final destination at Primrose-hill , where there was to be ' a mass meeting' at two o ' clock . These arrangements were duly carried out . Several persons assembled at ten o ' clock ( the appointed hour for the first gatherings ) , to witness the initiation of the proceedings in Russell-square and Lincoln ' s-inn Fields . In these localities , pending the arrival of the Chartists , some street ' patterers 1 bawled a song called ' Welcome to Frost , ' of which th « burden was—So bold and brave he stemm'd the wave Cheer up this day all parties , And welcome with a loud huzza , . John Frost , the gallant Chartist . And this was one of the stanzas :- — Frost has got foes we rnay be sure , ¦ Still he has friends , too , plenty , For though grey his hairs , advanced in years , And past the age of seventy , . He i 3 hale and strong , may he live , So unto glory lead '« m—And cut away by night and day , ¦ For liberty and freedom .
The first sign of the business of the day in Lincoln ' sinn Fields was the arrival of some of the Chelsea democrats , preceded by a band , of music , and followed by twenty or thirty men in beards and ' wide-awakes , ' coining from the direction of Leicester-square . These were foreign refugees—a fact which they presently declared by unfurling a crimson banner , surmounted by a pennon of crape , and inscribed in white letters with the words— " Es iebe die Algemeine Socialc Democratische Republik . " The united Englishmen and foreigners then proceeded by the Ilolborn route to Finsburysquare , where they arrived , a few minutes before twelve o ' clock , where a large crowd had already assembled . Shortly after twelve , an ojen carriage , containing Mr . Frost , Mr . Ernest Jones , Mr . James Finlen , Mr . J .
Cooper , of Bristol , and two others , and drawn "by four gTeys , with outriders , entered the square ; and this was the signal for a round of cheering from the people waiting to fall into the procession , which , as Mr . Frost became recognized , was again and again renewed , while many of them ran by the side of the vehicle and grasped him cordially by tho hand . Ho is seventy-two years of age , but looks younger . * ' A short interval , " says the 2 i ? nes account , " was spent in marshalling the procession , and its arrangement wa 3 worthy of note , seeing that it emanated from men who are continually crying down all social distinctions , and with whom equality is first among the cardinal virtues . The < j 7 < fe , so to speak , of the body , consisting of the six persons already named , were comfortably seated in . an open carriage , and nil tho rest , after their kind and degree , had to trudge along behind on foot , including two young married women ,
who each boro a bunner aloft in tho air , throughout the whole distance , with a rabble continually pressing on thoir heels , and whoso heroic devotion would have ennobled a better cause . The younger of tlieso poor ¦ women , not more than eighteen or twenty , and one of whose eyes was covered with a green shade , -told tho writer , in reply to a question from him , a 3 she p lanted her standard or Primrose-hill , that aho had carried it that morning first from Chelsea to Finsbury-square , and thonco to the end of tho long journoy which she had just reached . The . cortfye was composed , first of throe equestrians wearing party-coloured silk scarfs , seated on three remarkably docile horses 5 then came tho carriagc-undfour , followed by a long lino of pedestrians , including 0 considerable number of vomen , who walked generally four abreast , with a number of banners fioating ovcr-Iiead , sobqo surmounted with a cap of liberty , and hear-
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 20, 1856, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_20091856/page/4/
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