"The scene presented along Broadway altogether transcends description. Every available and even unavailable place was secured long beforehand, and from the Battery to Union Place one was obliged to run a gantlet of eyes more effective and more dangerous than any artillery battery. This display of female beauty, conjoined to the great array of flags, banners, and mottoes, made us think of a Roman carnival. To the pet military regiments, the Montreal artillery, and the officers and crews of the _Niagara_ and _Gorgon_ there was given a most splendid greeting all along the line. Everywhere we heard cheers for Field, Hudson, Everett, and their British coadjutors. We have never heard a more cheerful, hearty, and cordial shout than that which welcomed the gallant tars of the _Niagara_ as they moved up Broadway.... "The crowd upon Broadway was so great that the military had much difficulty in getting through it, and so the procession was somewhat retarded.... "The hour appointed for the interesting ceremonies inside the Palace to commence was half-past four o'clock, but the procession did not arrive there till within a few minutes of six. By that time there were about ten thousand persons in the building anxiously awaiting the arrival of the celebrities, whom all were desirous to see and hear.... "The crew of the _Niagara_, with a model of that ship, entered by the front door, and, marching up the centre aisle, took their place in front of the platform. They were loudly cheered, and they responded in true sailor fashion by cheering lustily for Captain Hudson, Mr. Field, the mayor, and almost every one they recognized on the platform.... "At night one would suppose the crowd would lessen. Not so. The illuminations, the fireworks, the many-colored lanterns, and the general gas and spermaceti demonstrations gave to Broadway a carnavalesque appearance which it is almost impossible to describe. Beginning with the clever design of the New York Club down to the Park there was a succession of illuminations and transparencies of every possible sort. The great bazaars vied with each other in the number and variety of their mottoes and designs, both for day and night; but, passing by all of them, we were especially struck with the following distich on the side of a car: "'With wild huzzas now let the welkin ring, Columbia's got Britannia on a string.'