Page images
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

The Chief Mourner,

THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY,
in a long Purple Cloak, with the Star of the
Order of the Garter embroidered thereon,
wearing the Collars of the Garter, the Bath,
the Thistle, St. Patrick, and of the Royal Ha-
noverian Guelphic Order, attended by His
Royal Highness Prince George of Cumber-
land, in a long black cloak, with the Star of

Supporter: The Duke of Gordon, G.C.B. in a long black cloak.

Supporter: The Duke of Beaufort, K.G. in a long black cloak.

the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order em-
broidered thereon, and wearing the Collar of
the said Order.

Train Bearers of the Chief Mourner-The Marquess of Lothian
and the Duke of St. Albans.

Sixteen Peers, Assistants to the Chief Mourner-viz.:

The Earl of Liverpool, the Earl of Ferrers, the Earl of Darnley, the Earl of Roscommon, the Earl of Lonsdale, K.G., the Earl of Fife, K.T., the Earl of Sheffield, the Earl Brownlow, the Earl Cawdor, Viscount Palmerston, Viscount Sidmouth, Viscount Doneraile, Viscount Goderich, Viscount Granville, G.C.B., Lord Grantham, Lord Stafford.

Gold Stick-Lord Viscount Combermere, G.C.B.

Princes of the HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF SUSSEX in a long black cloak, with the Star of the Order of the Garter embroidered thereon, and wearing the Collars of the Garter, the Thistle, and the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order; his Train borne by ViceAdmiral Sir Thomas Williams, K.C.B. and Sir Frederick Stephen

son.

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE LEOPOLD OF SAXE COBURG, in a long black cloak, with the Star of the Order of the Garter embroidered thereon, and wearing the Collars of the Garter, the Bath, and the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order; his Train borne by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Robert Gardiner, K.C.B., and Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Edward

Cust.

Blood Royal.

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The Duke of: CUMBERLAND, in a long black cloak, with the Star of the Order of the Garter embroidered thereon, and wearing the Collars of the Garter, the Bath, St. Patrick, and the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order; his Train borne by Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant, K.C.B., and Lieutenant-Colonel F. Poten.

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF

GLOUCESTER, in a long black cloak, with the Star of the Order of the Garter embroidered thereon, and wearing the Collars of the Garter, the Bath, and the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order; his Train borne by Colonel Higgins and Major William F. Forster.

A Royal Guard of Honour, composed of 140 rank and file, with Officers and noncommissioned Officers in equal proportions, from the King's Company, the Coldstream, and 3rd Regiments of Guards, commanded by the Captain of the King's Company.

Gentlemen Pensioners, with their Axes reversed.

Yeoman of the Guard with their Partisans reversed.

Upon the arrival of the Procession at the south door of St. George's Chapel, his late Majesty's band of music, the trumpets and drums, and the Knight Marshal's men, and Officers, filed off without the door.

The effect of the procession is variously related, perhaps almost as differently as the convenience and temper of those who have written its description. The prevalent opinion, and in which we can join without any sacrifice of feeling on our part, is, that it fell short of public expectation. The Atlas observes, "The platform lying on a descent, the weight of the coffins and body hurried forward in a somewhat confused manner. The pall-bearers were slightly disarranged. The procession, by passing through rows of lights, instead, perhaps, of having lights to move with it, and moving in a narrow or circumscribed space, was not so imposing as we expected it to be. There was no point of view from which it could be seen as a whole, though, at a distance from the

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

From the van of the proces

sion quitting the castle to the rear of it entering the chapel, the time occupied was an hour and five minutes. The noise and confusion which prevailed among the multitude assembled in the lower castle yard, ceased as soon as the sound of the distant trumpet and muffled drum reached them. Decorum and a becoming feeling was then manifested by the throng. Many persons took off their hats. A little difficulty was occasionally experienced in moving the car, especially where the platform took a new direction. As the car was passing the Deanery, the Peers who supported the canopy were forced close to the platform. To those who had the advantage of being near the procession, the sight was particularly imposing, but by the multitude a very imperfect view was obtained. During the period when the anthems were being sung, crowds flocked to the windows and doors to listen. Some scaffolding in front of the Poor Knights' Houses, was but in little requisition; indeed, excepting the feathers and the banners, scarcely any thing upon the platform was visible at that distance, especially when it is considered that a file of soldiers within, and dragoons without the barrier obstructed the view."

ON the Procession, specially, we have few observations to add. The Engraving has been a task of no ordinary difficulty. It represents the arrival of the pageant at the chapel door, which entrance was formed by command of George the Fourth, and through which his Majesty is said to have wished his remains to be borne..

The six lines of the Engraving placed lengthwise would occupy nearly ten feet; and upon counting the figures they will be found nearly to amount to four hundred.

The main cause of the confusion appears to have been the car with the massive coffin starting, as it were, from its proper course, owing to the too sudden descent of the platform. It was moved by men concealed beneath the pall; its guidance must, therefore, have been a toilsome task. Some effect too was lost by the canopy not being firmly carried: the noble supporters, probably from their inexperience in such pageant minutiæ, required more practice. Eight assistant-undertakers would have borne the canopy with more precision, though their names might not have graced the Earl Marshal's "Official Ac count" of the ceremonial.

The Marquess of Winchester and the Duke of Wellington immediately preceded the King; the Noble Duke halted repeatedly as if to correct the confusion near him. The King walked on with a firm and steady step, leading Prince George of Cumberland. His Majesty wore a kind of Spanish hat with much crape. In the Engraving this part of the royal dress is correctly copied, although its form is very different from the original appearance of the hat. The front appears to have fallen down, with some of the crape. We only notice this circumstance to maintain the accuracy of our Illustration. The Procession here was much confused, and the reporter of a morning paper actually overlooked Prince George of Cumberland with his royal uncle. The Duke of Cumberland and Prince Leopold appeared much affected by the sad scene: to the latter it must doubtless have recalled many mournful circumstances of "sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek," when

in the dust The fair-haired daughter of the Isles was laid, The love of millions!

Such are the principal details of the Procession from the State Apartment to its entrance into the Chapel. The ceremony within, and the last rites of burial will form the subject of a Large Engraving which will be given in the Mirror, No. 445. Accordingly, the reader will perceive that only such portion of the Earl Marshal's Programme as relates to the Procession is in the present pages; the remainder will follow in proper place.

its

In the evening the wind sprung up, and occasionally extinguished the flambeaux held by the soldiers, which greatly. increased the natural gloom. Nothing could exceed the mournful melody of the music as "the night winds crept:" it, was indeed, as Marvell beautifully terms it "the mosaic of the air." Its melancholy fell deepening on the ear"such majesty with sweetness blend-, ing." The contrast of this moment, with the previous bustle left the latter as a day-dream, and reminded one of the noble poet's paraphrase

blessed be the Lord,
For what is past,
And that which is:
For all are his,
From first to last,
The vast known and immeasurable unknown.
Time-space-eternity-life-death-

Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset House,) London; sold

by ERNEST FleischER, 626, New Market, Leipsic; and by all Newsmen and Booksellers.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][subsumed]

PRIVATE DINING ROOM

WINDSOR CASTLE.

THE chastely-elegant apartment on the annexed page, was the private diningroom of his late Majesty. Here the King usually dined in plain style, probably endeavouring to assimilate the splendour of regal state with the less ostentatious comfort of domestic life. On such occasions he laid aside much of the pomp of royalty, and with a "retired few," his Majesty showed many of those kindly feelings which the most rigid biographers must number among his good qualities. Ease and elegance of manners, unalloyed with kingly pride, lent many a charm to the royal table; whilst a bland and munificent disposition is known to have endeared his Majesty to all around him, and will cause his memory to be long and fondly cherished. Each may say, as the virtuous John Evelyn did of his sovereign, "He was even kind to me, and very gracious upon all occasions, and therefore I cannot, without ingratitude, but deplore his losse, which for many respects, as well as duty, I do with all my soul."

The "Private Dining Room " was originally intended for an audiencechamber, but being contiguous to his Majesty's private apartments, it was preferred as a salle à manger. It is of beautiful proportions, (thirty-seven feet in length by twenty-one feet in width, and eighteen feet in height,) and is exquisitely designed. The large oriel window commands the whole of the flower-garden, with its fountain and statues, and beyond this scene of trim nature, is a prospect of less cultivated luxuriance.

The ceiling of the room is formed into three circular compartments, with enriched mouldings, massive trusses in the cove supporting the upper portion. The centre spaces and angles between the trusses have a beautiful scroll of French foliage. The sides of the apartment are divided into panels by piląsters, with carved mouldings. These panels, when the room was first finished, contained green silk, which has since been removed-the whole of the ceiling and walls being now of a delicate French white. In two panels, to the right and left of the chimney-piece, are portraits of her late Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte, and of the late Queen of Wurtemburg.

The whole of the carved and plaster enrichments and mouldings of the dining room are entirely gilt. Mirrors in rich gilt frames occupy the panels be

[ocr errors]

tween the pilasters, which, by reflecting the many beauties of the room, almost produce an effect of fairy enchantment. The chimney-piece is of black marble inlaid with ormolu ornaments. The floor is of oak, with a broad margin inlaid in lozenge forms, and covered with a rich carpet of Axminster manufacture, the ground colour maroon, divided into compartments similar to the ceiling.

The window curtains are of green silk damask, with a yellow flower, and deep border and fringe of silk bullion. The chairs, sofas, and couches are all richly carved and gilt, with coverings of green silk damask. A circular table of Amboyna wood, with gilded pillar, occupies the centre of the room; and suspended from the ceiling are three large chandeliers of admirable design and workmanship. The oriel window is a superb feature of the room, each compartment being of an entire piece of plate glass, measuring six feet by two, and of considerable thickness.*

It may not be uninteresting to know that the late King generally dined in this room at nine o'clock, and not unfrequently alone. The table-service, on such occasions, was mostly of white and brown china, and not of silver as has been stated. This late hour is much at variance with the early habits of his present Majesty, who rises at seven, breakfasts about nine, and usually retires to rest at eleven o'clock. Indeed, previous to his accession, and when at Bushy, there was some little difficulty in assembling the family to breakfast at so early an hour as we have stated; but the Duke, rather than have his arrange-* ments interfered with, at length got rid of the inconvenience of the "falsely luxurious," by breakfasting alone.

We ought not to part with the reader without commending to his notice, the extreme delicacy and chaste finish which our Engraver has imparted to the annexed Illustration. In effect it is even superior to his execution of the Bedchamber, in our No. 437, which, we have reason to know, has gained him high credit. Our praise, on the present occasion, may perhaps be suspected of some duplicity: before we are thus taxed, it ought, however, to be remembered that an Engraver has not the opportunity of returning such a compliment; and, as we often notice well-executed works of art in the pages of other publications, we do not see why we should overlook any extraordinary merit in the Illustra

*The furniture is omitted from this room for the reason stated in our description of the Royal Bedchamber in No. 437 of The Mirror.

« PreviousContinue »