Celebration of the Imperial Birthday in Bolzano

Tyrol and Vorarlberg.

Botzen, 20 April. The return of the supreme birthday of His Majesty our most beloved Monarch was a welcome opportunity for the residents of the district town of Bozen to manifest their feelings of most sincere devotion to His August Person. — On the eve of the festival and at early dawn, mortar salutes and the ringing of bells announced its approach and commencement. At 9 o'clock in the morning, a solemn church service was held in the local collegiate and parish church in the presence of the Imperial-Royal District Office, the Collegiate Court, the military, all other Imperial-Royal officials, and a large crowd of people; during its principal parts, a company of the Imperial-Royal Infantry Regiment Grand Duke of Baden, drawn up in front of the church, fired the customary salutes accompanied by mortar fire. At midday, the Imperial-Royal District Captain gathered the officer corps, the heads of the Imperial-Royal authorities and clergy, and the deputies of the Estates present in Botzen for a banquet, at which toasts to the health of Their Majesties were offered with the greatest joy. The municipal community had a gift of wine distributed to the Imperial-Royal garrison in honour of the day. In the evening, a concert took place in the brilliantly illuminated playhouse before a large gathering of townspeople; at its commencement, before a tastefully arranged setting, the imperial hymn "Segen Oestreichs hohem Sohne" was sung and concluded with a general cheer. Thus all classes of inhabitants united to celebrate a day on which, through God's gracious providence, such a precious gift was bestowed upon them, for whose preservation everyone fervently entreats heaven each day.