474 LON 
The Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, Aldermen, and City Officers, 
had previoufly arrived at Temple Bar in their ftate-car- 
riages. On the approach of the proceffion, they mounted 
liorfes, which were decorated for the occafion with crim- 
fon ribbons. The firft part of the cavalcade having ad¬ 
vanced, the carriage of the Prince Regent drew up, when 
the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriffs, advanced, and, 
after offering the keys of the city, they took the lead of 
his Royal Highnefs’s carriage in the following order: 
Sheriff’s Officers, City Marflial,and Lord Mayor’s Footmen. 
Band of the London Militia, playing God lave the King. 
Sixteen Aldermen in their robes, bare-headed. 
The Town Crier, bearing the City Mace* and the Sword 
Bearer. 
The LordMayor, bare-headed,carryingtheSword of State. 
He was dreffed in a rich velvet robe; and was followed 
immediately by the carriage of the Prince Regent. 
In this order the proceffion proceeded to Guildhall, 
cheered as they went by the fpeftators in the houfes and 
ftreets. 
Upon approaching Guildhall, the firft obje£t of notice 
was a temporary paffage which had been erected from the 
principal feat of the hall, half-way acrofs Guildhall-yard. 
This paffage was lined with green cloth, and the flooring 
covered with matting ; it was illumined by a profufion of 
lamps, and led to the porch of the hall, which was alfo 
lined with green cloth, and converted into a temporary 
arbour, in which was difplayed the molt coftly flowering 
Ihrubs and evergreens arranged upon Ihelves and orna¬ 
mented with mofs. This arbour extended into the hall ; 
and, being illuminated with variegated lamps, had the 
moft enchanting effeft. Thus conducted into the hall, a 
fcene of dazzling fplendour burft upon the fight. 
The manner in which Guildhall was fitted up for the 
©ccafion does infinite honour to the fcience of Mr. Dance. 
Let no gibe or reflection be hereafter thrown on city-tafte; 
for this entertainment prefented a model of the moft per¬ 
fect refearch, and fuch as no palace at the weft end of the 
town, and no city in the univerfe, could equal in magni¬ 
ficence, chaftity, and tafte. The grand Gothic hall, with 
its two fuperbly-painted windows, fuggefted to the claff- 
cal mind of the architect the appropriate decorations of 
the interior; and within the ftiort fpace of eight days he 
produced what may truly be denominated a magical effeCt. 
The fimplicity of the defign, the magnitude of the parts, 
and above all the harmony of the colour, diffufed a luftre 
over the whole upon which the eye repofed with the moft 
fatisfied delight, and with which the moft cultivated eye 
•was the moft delighted. Here was no frippery, no patches, 
no broken nor disjointed parts; but the combination had 
an unity, a character of ftrength, a breadth and tone, the 
moft attractive. Mr. Dance had, by an external erection, 
contrived to illuminate the painted windows, fo as to 
throw into the hall the rich and warm influence of the 
immenfe body of light with which all the Gothic divifions 
of the two windows were articulated, and which, linking 
on the brilliant circle of ladies in the galleries beneath, 
fpread a glow on their faces, whilft their head-dreffes fparkled 
with diamonds, producing an effeCl which no painter from 
Titian to the prefent day, and which no art, could poffi- 
bly equal. The animation and brilliancy of the fcene was 
unequalled by any thing we ever faw in any country ; and 
lord Wellefley faid it furpaffed whatever he had feen of 
eaftern magnificence. 
The walls were covered with bright crimfon cloth ; but 
the two monuments of the earl of Chatham and Mr. Pitt, 
were, with great judgment, left uncovered. Magnificent 
chandeliers of cut glafs (there not being time to prepare 
them in the antique form) were fufpended from the roof; 
and there was a blaze of gold and filver candelabras, with 
wax lights on all the tables. 
Arched galleries about nine feet in depth, were erefted 
on the north and fouth fides, and weft end, of the hall, at 
gbout fourteen feet from the floor $ they were fupported 
DON. 
by a feries of arches, all ornamented with rich and tafte- 
ful draperies of crimfon cloth. Thefe galleries, which 
were referved folely for the accommodation of the ladies, 
were fubdivided into different compartments allotted to 
the feveral wards ; fo that the ladies of each diftricl were 
placed together. The old clock and gallery, which flood 
in front of thofe celebrated images Gog and Magog, were 
removed, and in their room a gallery for muiicians erefted, 
which was in a more elevated fituation than the other gal¬ 
leries ; while at thofe ends of the galleries neareft the weft: 
end of the hall were formed fntall boxes for the vocal 
performers—Meffrs. Bellamy, Taylor, Gofs, Vaughan, 
Leete, See. 
From thefe objefls the eye was naturally turned to the 
place apportioned to the allied fovereigns ; and here a 
fcene of brilliancy and magnificence was exhibited which 
excited the ftrongeft feelings of aftonifliment and admi¬ 
ration. On a platform at the eaft end, elevated about 
two feet from the other part of the floor, was placed a ca¬ 
nopy of matchlefs elegance, fufficiently capacious to co¬ 
ver the three chairs of the Prince Regent, the Emperor of 
Ruffa, and the King of Pruffia. The top of this canopy 
was formed by a dome, covered with crimfon velvet, and 
interfered with golden ropes ; the fummit of this dome 
was furmounted with a crown of gold, and the bafe 
formed of a cornice, carved and gilt in a ftyle of great 
richnefs and tafte. From this hung feftoons and drapery 
of crimfon velvet, trimmed with broad gold lace. The 
chairs deftined for the three fovereigns were all alike ; the 
feats were covered with velvet, and the backs and feet 
gilt in the moft coftly manner. On each fide of thefe 
chairs were placed other chairs, fronting the hall, of which 
a full view was thus afforded. The table placed on this 
platform was calculated to accommodate twenty-five per- 
fons, all of whom were of royal blood. The decorations 
of this table were brilliant and appropriate. They con¬ 
fided of a feries of triumphal arches, bearing fmall ban¬ 
ners, on which were painted the Ruffian, Pruffian, and 
Auftrian, eagles, the Britilh ftandard, and a variety of de¬ 
vices applicable to the circumftances which led to the 
feaft j—an immenfe profufion of plate, gold and filver, and 
every other requifite which was neceffary to complete the 
whole in a princely grandeur. The platform itfelf was 
afeended by three fteps, and was covered with a Turkey 
carpet. The remaining part of the hall was occupied by- 
tables, which extended from the platform to the weft end 
of the hall, an extenfive divifion having been left open fo 
as to form an avenue from the entrance to the fteps lead¬ 
ing to the Court of King’s Bench. Thefe tables were 
three in number, and were, like the prince’s table, orna¬ 
mented with great fplendour—triumphal pillars and arches 
fucceeding each other to the end. At the tables next the 
platform were placed the diftinguilhed vifitors who had 
been invited to the feaft, while at thofe iituated at the 
other end of the hall fat the principal members of the cor¬ 
poration. The common council were placed in the re- 
ceffes which were formed by the arches fupporting the 
galleries; and, although feparated from the main tables, 
the arrangement for their entertainment were in unifon 
with the magnificence difplayed in every other part of the 
hall. 
The royal perfonages began to arrive about five o’clock. 
They were feverally announced as they entered; and were 
conduced through the hall with fhouts of welcome and 
with appropriate mufic: our own princes of the blood 
royal with the national air of “ God fave the kingthe 
illuftrious warriors with the air of “ See the conquering 
hero comes.” Of the fovereigns, the King o£- Pruffia and 
his fons came firft, the Prince Regent next, and laft the 
Emperor, with the Archduchefs under his arm. The 
other illuftrious perfons, princes, ambaffadors, marflial s, 
minifters, peers, judges, &c. See. continued to arrive in 
uick fucceffion ; and were all received with the moft cor¬ 
ial Ihouts of applaufe. They paffed on to the Common- 
council and King’s-Bench chambers, which were richly 
4 fitted 
