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892 T H E L i £ A DEB . [ No . 339 , Saturday ,
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THE CHAllTIST GATHERING . A * democratic DEMONSTRATION , ' to welcotne the return of . Mr .- John Frost , the Chartist , took place on Monday in the streets of tbe metropolis and on Primrose Hill The plan previously determined on-was to assemble in various parts of the town ; the scattered bodies thus collected being afterwards fused in Rnsbury-square which was to be the grand rendezvous . Russell-squaw and Lincoln's-inn Tields were to be two of the sub-places of meeting ; but , after the consolidation of the whole of the contingents iii Finsbury-sc [ uare , a procession -waste be formed , which , starting at twelve o ' clock , -was to proceed along Moorgate-street , Cheapside , St . Paul ' schiirchyard , Ludgate-hill , Fleet-street , the Strand , Trafalgar-square , part of Pall-mall , the whole length of Regent-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 Liucoln ' s-inn Fields . In these localities , pending the arrival of the Chartists , some street ' patterera * bawled a song called ¦ ' Welcome / to Frost , ' of -which the burden was—So > bold and brave ^ he stemna'd the wave Cheerup fhis 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 may be sure , Still he has friends , too * , plenty , For though grey his hairs , advanced in years , And past the age of seventy , He is hale and strong , may lie live , . . So unto gloiy lead ' em— . 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 tho 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 , coming from the direction of Leicester-square . These were foreign refugees—a fact tvhich they presently declared by unfurling a . crimson banner , surmounted by a pennon of crape , . and inscribed in white letters with the words— "Es Leb « die Algemeine Sociale Dcmocratische Republik . " The united Englishmen and foreigners then proceeded by the Holborn route to Finsbutysquaie , where they arrived a few minutes before twelve o ' clock , where a large crowd had already assembled . Shortly after twelve , an open carriage , containing Mr . Frost , Mr . JErnest Jones , Mr . James Finlen , Mr . J .
Cooper , of < wistol , and ^ two others , and drawn by four greys , with outriders , entered the square ; a . nd 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 , wliile many of them raa by the side of the vehicle and grasped him cordially by the hand . He is seventy-two years of age , but looks younger . " A short interval , " says the Times account , " was spent in marshalling the procession , and its arrangement was 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 tflite , so to speak , of the body , consisting of the six persons already named , wore comfortably seated in an open carriage , and all tbe rest , after their kind and degree , had to trudge along behind on foot , including two young married women ,
who each bore a banner aloft in the air , throughout the whole distanco , with a rabble continually pressing on their heels , and whoso heroic devotion would have ennobled a better cause . The younger of tlieso poor women , not moro than eighteen or twenty , and ono of whose eyes was covered with , a green shade , told the writer , in reply to a question from him , aa she planted her standard on Primrose-hill , that she had carried it that morning first from Chelsea to Finsbury-squarc , and thence to the cn < l of the long journey which she had just reached . The cortege was composed , first of three equestrians wearing party-coloured silk scarfa , seated on tlireo remarkably docile horses ; than enmo the carriage-nndfour , followed by a long lino of pedestrians , including n considerable number of women , who walked generally four abreast , with a number of banners floating overhead , some surmounted with a cap of liborty , and benr-
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mujik and the prostrate Russian may well he pardoned if , with , his imagination heated by all that he has seen and heard- —the chanting of th « choirs , the carillons of bells , the strains of music , and the clamour of voices he thinks he sees a halo of heavenly glory around the Imperial head . In how many wild tongues , with what frantic gesticulations , did they call on Heaven to bless him ! The people on the terraces below , on the banks of the river , and in the streets outside the Kremlin took up the cry and shouted like the rest , and some ' l am told weat on their knees in the dust and prayed for the Czar . " The Czar and Czarina afterwards entered the Cathedral of St . Michael , w 3 iere they kissed the holy reliques , and prayed at the tomb of their ancestors . A banquet and a splendid display of fireworks concluded toe day .
this ? A very fine old gentleman indeed , somewhat gone in years , but right royal and splendid in air and attire . It is Prince Paul Estertazy , Ambassador of Austria . He is dressed in puce 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 . His maroon-coloured boots , which come up to the knee , are crusted with pearls and diamonds , and on his heels are spur 3 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 readers to the programme and to the Russian Court Circular ; for 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 . Russell proceeds : ^—"It is now about ten o ' clock , and the crowd clears away to the seats as the head of a grand procession begins to appear on the upper landing of the scarlet staircase issuing from the palace before us . Preceded by Masters of Ceremonies and Chamberlains , and attended by a magnificent retinue , tee 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 tten she enters 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 peloton . of the Chevalier Garde , with two officers , come forth from the palace , and the Imperial procession begins as follows : —Forty-eightpages , two
masters of the ceremonies , the chief peasants ( i . 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 by 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 inarch of doctors , lawyers , government employes , heads of departments , the dona of the Russian colleges , the managers of the theatres , the representatives of all the troops of Cossacks , the Marshals of the Nobility , Count Armfeldt and the Finnish and Polish deputies , Masters of the
Ceremonies , Heralds at Arms , officers bearing the Collar of th 9 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 , wliich an Archbishop
sprinkles profusely on the scarlet cloth . The canopy is upheld by general officers , assisted by colonels of regiments of the rank of general-major . His Majesty , -who ia in military uniform , is followed by his Ministry , and Aidc-de-Camp-Generals , and immodiately behind him walks the Commandant of the Chevalier Garde , with hla naked sword in his hand and his helmet on his head . This officer , who is a general in th « army , is a man of great stature , and his person ia set off by his uniform a gilt casque and crest of silver eagle , a white 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 meaaured stride , and bowed right and loft as he passed down
to the estrade . 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 . H « r Majesty was dressed with the utmost simplicity , and presented a most charming con-Jraat to the glare by which she was surrounded . There *•* •• gracefulness in lier movements—a quiet dignity *> M gentleness , which touched ovory heart , and turned yX * *® mu from th - ° P eraO 1 * ° * er Imperial husband . of rfjft ^ SnOpy wa 8 borne down the st ° P amid * ho saeen l T ™ 8 ftword-bladea flourished at the presence of SWelnt tS * 7 ° ? ° 80 ld 0 m » ea-the splendour of wrvSKa ^ a ^ f " 6 ady « llne * of th 0 B ° Wi « y . a" * S ^ g nTa ^ antea" ? ** ° ° » and * ° *»* A * the door of the Cathedral Of the 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 tlie shouts of the populace , the young Emperor and his Empress reach the entrance of the church . And 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 , kjsa 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 nair , 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 above 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 tbe hands of the Archbishop , who proceeds to clasp it round the shoulders of his
Maesty . Next follows the great crown , -which is placed by the same hands on tne 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 Bobes , and his Majesty , having invested the Empress with the Imperial mantle , draws her towards him , 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 Princes , 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 tip the Imperial knees , with "faces which asked 1 o 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 forehead . In anointing the Emperor , the Archbisliop exclairned ,-r"Impressio doni Spiintw Sancti . " 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 light and left , and quitted the church by the northern gate , followed at a short distance by the Empress . But we must here make a retrospect : —
" At the moment that the Emporor took back the sceptre and the globe , the priest proclaimed tho Imperial title , and then chanted Domine , salvum / ac Imperat&rem , et , Domine , salvum Jao Jmperatricem , to which tie choristers added ad miiltoa annos , and at tho same instant , tlie bolls , which had boen silent , burst forth once more with tremendous clamour , and tho guns' of tho batteries fired a hundred and one rounds . The smoke rolled over the walls , and floated like a fine veil over tho flashing arms of the soldiers and over tho crowd inside , It was
at half-past ten that the mouth of the cannon announced tlio prayers which hia Majesty , kneeling , addressed before all his people to- the King of Kings to 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 bell tinkled once or twice from the cathedral , and there was a profound silence , as Empress , Metropolitan , and people inside , all knelt down and addressed their prayers to Heavon for tho Emperor . He alone stood upright as they prayed . "
On leaving tho cathedral , tho Emperor presented himself in the powerful sunlight to tho gaze of the people , holding the glebe and sceptre in his hands . "But now ho wears » n imperial robe , and on his head there is a crown of dazzling splendour . Tiie sun's rays seem to seek congenial light in those flashing diamonds . Tho eye cannot bear the brilliancy , and the
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 20, 1856, page 892, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2159/page/4/
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