removed by command of her Majesty to Windsor Castle in one of the royal vans. The fire, it was supposed, was caused by the igniting of a beam connected with a chimney in one of the upper rooms of the state apartments. The housekeeper stated that she had noticed a slight smell of smouldering for two days previously, but could not ascertain whence it came. Many of the valuable pictures, the property of the Prince of Wales, were taken into the hall for safety, but, from the rapid course of the flames, were entirely consumed before they could be afterwards removed. The military and firemen remained on the premises during the night.

15. EXECUTION IN MAIDSTONE GAOL.-Joseph Welsh was executed in Maidstone Gaol, for the wilful murder of John Abrahams, at Deptford. Welsh had been employed by the murdered man to do some work for him as a paperhanger. A dispute arose about payment, and Welsh summoned Abrahams to the County Court, where the former was defeated. Shortly afterwards they met in a public-house, when an altercation ensued, and Welsh inflicted upon Abrahams a wound in the abdomen, of which he died. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, but recommended the prisoner to mercy. In accordance with the recommendation of the jury a petition was forwarded to the Home Office, praying for a commutation of the sentence, but without effect. The only persons present were the Under-Sheriff, Mr. F. Scudamore, Major Bannister, Governor of the Gaol, Dr. Joy, surgeon, two reporters, and a few warders. The black flag as usual was raised on the exterior of the building, where about 100 persons had assembled.

ARRIVAL OF THE KING OF THE BELGIANS.-The King of the Belgians, accompanied by his daughter, Princess Stephanie, arrived at Dover, from Calais, in the Belgian mail-packet "Belgique," Captain Gerard, convoyed by the Belgian steamer "Pearl," Captain Helim. The suite in attendance consisted of the Countess d'Yve, Count de Lannoy, Baron Prisse, M. Jules de Vaux, Colonel Frantzen, and Dr. Smith. Viscount Torrington, Lord in Waiting to the Queen, received his Majesty on his arrival at Dover, and accompanied him. to Windsor. The King was received at the Admiralty Pier by Captain Bruce, R.N., the Belgian Minister and Consul, Sir Luke Smithett, and by the principal officers of the garrison. A guard of honour of the 91st (Argyleshire) Highlanders was drawn up upon the pier. A royal salute was fired from the castle. The King proceeded to the Lord Warden Hotel, where he was received by the Mayor and other civic dignitaries. An Address was read by the Town Clerk, to which his Majesty graciously replied. The King travelled from Dover by special train upon the South-Eastern Railway. Mr. Eborall, the general manager, had charge of the train. His Majesty was enthusiastically cheered upon his departure by a large number of spectators. Upon the arrival of the King at the Waterloo junction of the Charing-cross and the South-Western Railway the engine was changed, and the journey continued over the latter line to Windsor. At this station a guard of honour of

the third battalion Grenadier Guards was in attendance with their band, which played "La Brabançonne." His Majesty was received at the station by Prince Leopold and Prince Christian. The King drove to the castle. The Windsor volunteers, with their drums and fifes playing the Belgian national anthem, were drawn up on the Castle-hill. The bells of the churches were rung, and flags and banners decorated the streets. The King was received by the Queen and the members of the royal family at the entrance of the castle. 24. OPENING OF THE SOUTHERN THAMES EMBANKMENT. The formal opening of the carriage-road and the footway of the Thames Embankment on the Surrey side from Westminster Bridge to Vauxhall, took place. The ceremony was extremely simple. At three o'clock in the afternoon the members of the Metropolitan Board of Works, headed by Sir John Thwaites, their chairman, walked across Westminster Bridge, and were met at Stangate by the Lambeth vestry. The wall of the Embankment is 4 feet above the level of high water. There is a terrace 20 feet wide, approached from the bridge by stone steps, which nearly corresponds with the river terrace of the Houses of Parliament, just opposite; and above this is a second terrace, forming the platform of the new hospital. The carriage-road and the footpath at this point are separated by the hospital, the road commencing at Stangate, the ancient stone-way or approach to the Archbishop's palace. Stangate, which used to be a crooked and narrow lane, is now improved into a straight road 60 feet wide; and here something like a procession was formed, with a band of music playing, "See, the Conquering Hero comes!" then Sir J. Thwaites and the Metropolitan Board, with Mr. Bazalgette, their engineer, and Mr. Vulliamy, their architect, while the Lambeth vestry, walking arm-in-arm, followed in the rear. There were no robes nor uniforms, and no carriages. The decorations consisted of a flag tied to each lamp-post. The new road, which skirts the archiepiscopal grounds, joins the footpath in front of the palace, and thence continues along the Embankment towards Vauxhall. When the procession arrived at Gunhouse-alley, the point where the Embankment for the present finishes, the chairman and a few members of the Board mounted a platform, and Sir J. Thwaites congratulated the inhabitants of Lambeth on the completion of what was a great sanitary work as well as an important Metropolitan improvementa work which would now keep them "high and dry," while it would be an ornament to the whole of London. He reminded his hearers that the Embankment was not an Imperial, but a municipal, work, carried out, it was true, by means of Parliamentary powers, but constructed and paid for by the people of the Metropolis themselves. In a few months he hoped that a similar work, executed under the same conditions, would be opened on the opposite shore. Such improvements as the Metropolitan Board and the Corporation had carried out would contrast favourably with those of the State; and this led him to speak of the value of a system of local self-government, under the control of public opinion. There was some cheering;

and when Sir John declared the Embankment open, the band played the National Anthem, a salute was fired, the bells of St. Mary's Church rang, and the business of the day was over. A dinner was given by the vestry of the parish of St. Mary, Lambeth, at the Albion Tavern, Aldersgate, to the chairman and members of the Metropolitan Board of Works. Mr. Robert Taylor, churchwarden of Lambeth, presided: he was supported by Sir John Thwaites; Mr. M'Arthur, M.P. for Lambeth; the Rev. J. F. Lingham, Rector of Lambeth, and other persons of local interest.

25. PRESENTATION OF ADDRESSES TO THE KING OF THE BELGIANS. -The presentation of complimentary addresses of welcome to the King of the Belgians, from the Corporation of the City of London and many other municipalities in this country, joined by the Lords Lieutenant and High Sheriffs of counties, and likewise from the volunteer corps throughout Great Britain, took place at Buckingham Palace. His Majesty was staying at Claridge's Hotel, but as he was a visitor to the Queen, it was ordered that one of the state apartments of her palace should be used for this reception. The first-mentioned address-that of the City, borough, and county authorities which was called the National Address, originated with a committee, of which the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex were members. The other owed its origin to the National Rifle Association. At a meeting of volunteer commanding officers, held at the office of that association on the 15th ult., it was determined that an address should be presented to the King of the Belgians on his visit to this country. An executive committee was formed, consisting of Lieutenant-Colonels Lord Elcho, the Marquis of Donegall, Lord Truro, Lord Bury, Loyd-Lindsay, Thomson, Walmsley, and Wilkinson. This committee prepared a short address, tendering to his Majesty the heartfelt thanks of the volunteers for the kindness and hospitality shown by him to those of their comrades who were able to visit Belgium on the occasions of the International Tirs. The volunteer commanding officers throughout the country were informed of these proceedings, and the result was that more than 300 Lieutenant-Colonels sent in their written requests to have their names attached to the address. The signatures included those of some of the nobility, in addition to the names of two of the Princes. Officers of the Army, Navy, and Militia were invited to join the volunteer commanding officers in the act of presentation.

The King of the Belgians had visited the City to inspect the new Meat Market at Smithfield and the Holborn Viaduct, on the preceding day, when he inspected also the new Foreign Office and India Government Office, at Westminster. It had been proposed that one long procession should leave the Mansion House; but as the police authorities expressed an opinion that the traffic would be much impeded, if not entirely suspended, were that proposition carried out, the committee agreed to divide the procession into three sections.

Before ten o'clock the members of the first division assembled at the Mansion House; and among the company, some attired in a

blaze of scarlet, blue, and gold uniforms, were the Right Hon. Lord Napier of Magdala, Colonel the Right Hon. Lord Seaton, Sir John Causton and Sir James Vallentin (Sheriff's of London), several of the Aldermen, Captain Charles Mercier (hon. secretary), and other officers and gentlemen on the committee. The Lord Mayor (Mr. Alderman Besley) and the ex-Lord Mayor (Sir James Lawrence, Bart., M.P.) met the company in the reception-room, while the band of the 19th Surrey performed popular selections. As the time appointed for starting had arrived, the state coaches of the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs drove to the entrance, and the dignitaries entered their proper vehicles and set off, amidst the cheers of some thousands who had assembled to witness the procession at the Mansion House. Many private carriages of noblemen and gentlemen followed, the vehicles forming a continuous line more than a quarter of a mile in length. The Belgian colours were in fashion; the horses were decked with tricoloured rosettes, and the coachmen and servants wore the national colours of Belgium. Each member of the National Address Committee wore a handsome decoration in silver gilt, hanging to a tricolour ribbon, with buckle and clasp, specially designed by Messrs. Howell and James. On one side was the motto, "Union fait la force," and around was a wreath of laurel. On the reverse side, in relief, were the words, "The National Committee for the Reception of the King and Queen of the Belgians." The name of each committee-man was engraved on his badge. Flags and banners were hung from many house windows, and across several streets; and as the procession passed Fleet-street, the bells of St. Dunstan's rang out a merry peal. The line of route so far was kept by the City police; and the Metropolitan police, numbering nearly 1000, detailed for this especial duty, kept the streets between Temple Bar and Marlborough House; and another police detachment between Buckingham Palace and Marlborough House to the top of Constitution-hill. There was no block, hitch, or impediment from the start to the arrival. Some hundreds of people were assembled in Trafalgar-square; Cockspur-street was profusely decorated. When the first division arrived at Marlborough House the carriages containing the Mayors had already come up, the second section having been marshalled by Mr. W. A. Irvine, who had arranged the line so nicely that the two divisions joined without any disorder or delay. The third section brought up the rear, and the united procession extended over more than a mile of ground. There was a great crowd assembled in St. James's Park, and on each side, from Marlborough Gate to Buckingham Palace, people clustered by thousands, and a crowd outside the lines, formed on each side, moved towards the palace, cheering as it went. As the weather was cold and foggy, most of the carriages were closed; but just when the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs entered the palace gate the sun burst through the clouds, the mist cleared, and the pleasant change, regarded as a favourable omen, was especially welcome at noon. They drove through the eastern gate of the great quadrangle to the

main entrance, where they alighted, followed by their mace-bearers and officers, and attended by servants in royal livery stationed at the doors. It was then about a quarter before twelve o'clock. They were received at the state entrance, passed through the grand hall, went up the state staircase, and were ushered through the promenade gallery to the ball-room, which had been appointed for the hall of audience. The members of the procession more than half filled the room. The municipal dignitaries were in full costume, and their scarlet and furred gowns produced an imposing effect, while the uniforms of the military officers and the Lords Lieutenant or Deputy Lieutenants gave life and variety to the scene. Many of the Mayors were accompanied with the mace or other insignia of their office, but these were all deposited in the back part of the room.

At half-past eleven o'clock the King of the Belgians came from Claridge's Hotel, and was received at the garden entrance of the palace by Viscount Sidney, Lord Chamberlain; Lieutenant-Colonel Sir J. Cowell, Master of the Queen's Household; and Colonel Stephenson, C.B., Field Officer of Brigade in Waiting. The guard of honour of the second battalion of the Grenadier Guards was at the entrance on his Majesty's arrival. His Majesty was attended by the Count de Lannoy, Master of the Household of the Queen of the Belgians; M. Jules de Vaux, Private Secretary of the King; Colonel Frantzen, Aide-de-Camp; Le Baron Colonel Prisse, Adjutant; and Dr. Eustace Smith, Physician to the King. The Baron de Beaulieu, the Belgian Minister, with M. Van de Velde, First Secretary, and M. Octave Delepierre and Prince de Chimay, Secretaries of the Belgian Legation, accompanied the King. At a few minutes past twelve o'clock Lord Torrington, the Lord in Waiting to the Queen, specially appointed to attend the King, conducted his Majesty through the picture-gallery and dining-room into the ballroom. The King was followed by the Belgian Minister and the Secretaries of Legation, and by the members of his suite already named. Surrounded by these gentlemen, who were all in their official uniform, his Majesty took his place on a dais at the end of the apartment. He wore the uniform of a General in the Belgian army, with the star and ribbon of the Garter and the star of the Order of Leopold.

The ball-room presented a grand scene at this moment. At the end opposite to where the King and his staff had taken up their position, and along both sides of the apartment for about half its length, the sword-bearers and mace-bearers of numerous corporations stood at short distances. Mayors in their official robes, and gentlemen in plain clothes, but wearing Belgian scarfs, medals, and rosettes, stood in the centre of the room, and immediately in front of a reserved space that led up to the dais were the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London in their scarlet robes, Lord Napier of Magdala and Lord Seaton, both in military uniform, and a number of the Lieutenancy of the City of London also in uniform. They formed a brilliant array. Lines of gentlemen wearing the Belgian