The feelings of the brave men who
were to receive these decorations were raised to enthusiasm, when they
learned that they were to receive such a reward of their courage and
constancy from their beloved queen herself. The place appointed for this
grand ceremony was most appropriate--the square of the Horse-Guards,
in St. James's Park. The writer of this History, as he looked upon the
extensive and magnificent preparations for this event, felt strongly the
sequel it presented to the scene which he witnessed little more than
a year before, near the same spot, when the people's representatives
passed along to Buckingham Palace to assure her majesty of their
support in the war she had declared. Galleries were erected for
the accommodation of the lords and commons, for the members of the
government, and for the families of those who were to be publicly
honoured--a most graceful tribute on the part of the country to the
feelings of these gallant men. How proud that day must many a wife's,
and parent's, and brother's, and sister's heart have been, as the
objects of their affectionate solicitude bowed before his sovereign to
receive upon his breast the glorious badge his noble conduct won! The
royal family occupied a capacious balcony projecting from the lower
central windows of the Horse-Guards, which was festooned with scarlet
cloth, and otherwise decorated.
At ten o'clock on the morning of the 18th of May, the scene presented
from the windows of the Horse-Guards, and the windows and roofs of the
neighbouring houses,' was most striking and effective: a vast mass
of people filled the whole area within view, yet all preserving the
greatest order.
Pages:
4396
4397
4398
4399
4400
4401
4402
4403
4404
4405
4406
4407
4408
4409
4410
4411
4412
4413
4414
4415
4416
4417
4418
4419
4420