March was played at the opening and the National Anthem at the close of the service.
At 12 o’clock royal salutes were fired by the Coastguards at Bopeep and other batteries, an at one o’clock a similar honour was observed at Government House and at the Castle. The Volunteers also after their perambulations fired a royal salute with the big guns and a few de joie with the rifles.
During the afternoon a variety of old English sports were engaged in at the West Hill, where thousands congregated to enjoy the fun.
At 5 o’clock, tea meetings were held at the Hastings and St. Leonards Temperance Halls, at which latter three new loyal songs by a local composer were sung, and the largely attended meeting was very enjoyable.
At about the same time an open-air tea meeting was improvised by the jovial dames of All Saints Street, who swung their kettles a la gipsy, in the street, and invited all comers to a bit of bread and butter and a "cup of tea". A fidler(sic) was afterwards pressed into their service and the merry old dads and dames tripped it merrily O! to the music of "The Wedding Day."
At 6 o clock the illuminations commenced and at 7 or soon after, the Fire Brigade started for their grand procession.
At half-past eight, signal guns were fired, and as though by magic, blue lights or port-fires were displayed by the Coastguards all along the parades. This was followed, first, by a flight of rockets from the revenue cutter, and then by a pyrotechnic exhibition on land. The scene altogether was one of enchantment.
At from about 9.30 till 10, a succession of coloured fires lighted up the already illuminated Castle, and this, with salvoes of artillery, formed a coup d'oeil such as perhaps was never witnessed in Hastings before.
The out door amusements were brought to a close with an immense bonfire, and the festivities were afterwards kept up by public balls at various places.
Several dinners and suppers to employees during the day were given, among whom were the police constables, the workmen of Mr. J. Wood (builder) and the servants of the south Eastern Railway Company.
The Processions.
To see a band of three thousand young and joyous faces marching round the town to music's cheering strains was a sight was a sight that must have gladdened the hearts of all who witnessed it. At an early hour they emerged from their respective school-rooms and hied them to the rendervous in Wellington square; the eastend schools, with two bands, descending thither from the top of High street, and the west end schools, with a band, getting there from St. Leonards After singing the National Anthem, the procession moved -
