At last Temple Bar, the boundary of the City, is reached, and here waits the Lord Mayor in Civic State, ready to offer fealty to his Sovereign by rendering up that famous pearl-hilted sword which Queen Elizabeth presented to the Corporation. The Royal carriage passes the Law Courts, where the learned judges and lawyers raise cries of welcome, and comes to a stand just within the City precincts, on the north side of the memorial which marks the site of the old City gates. Bowing low, with grace and deference the Chief Magistrate with both hands presents the sword. The Queen bends over the side of her carriage, lightly touches the emblem of authority, and, with a smile and softly-spoken words, once more consigns it to the Lord Mayor’s keeping. With an agility which the Queen good-humouredly remarks to the Prince of Wales, the Chief Magistrate, still wearing a long gold-embroidered robe of purple velvet, mounts his horse and, bare-headed, rides off towards the Mansion-House, sword in hand, while the people applaud approvingly. Then the Royal procession continues on its way along Fleet Street, and thence to Ludgate Hill, with its choice decorations of bright purples and delicate greens, its hanging garlands, its laurel festoons, and its gaily-bedecked masts. Here is the very apotheosis of all the splendour and magnificence of the day; for, as that mighty cavalcade surrounding and accompanying Queen Victoria reaches the summit of the hill, its stateliness and beauty is rivalled by such a picture of ecclesiastical pomp and circumstance, of grandeur and dignity, as was never before witnessed in connection with the rites of the Established Church. The solemn act of worship and thanksgiving is to be performed in the broad open space outside St. Paul’s, and on the steps leading to the west door of the Cathedral are grouped the highest dignitaries of the Church, in all their wealth of ornate vestments, waiting to receive the Sovereign; while gathered around are the military band and immense surpliced choir, a brilliant company of distinguished guests, including the Premier of England and the members of the Imperial Government, soldiers in brave array, and yeomen of the guard in their picturesque attire, a front line of splendid uniforms being formed by the corps of gentlemen-at-arms in their crimson cloth coats heavy with bullion adornments, their burnished helmets with nodding plumes of white, holding in hand richly-chased halberts. [Illustration: THE ROYAL PROCESSION LORD ROBERTS REVIEWING THE PROCESSION AS IT APPROACHES ST. PAUL’S]