of gold, decorated in a similar manner, having three very large oval pearls, one at the top of the cross, and two others pendant at the sides of it. This Crown is composed, as all those of England are, of four crosses, and as many fleurs de lis, upon a rim or circle of gold, all embellished with precious stones, from the tops of which crosses arise four circular bars, or arches, which meet at the top, and at the intersection is the pedestal, whereon is fixed the mound. The cap, within the Crown, is of purple velvet, lined with white taffeta, and turned up with ermine, thickly powdered in three rows. (Vide plate 4, fig. 1.)

The Crown of State, is so called, because it is worn by the King at all such times as he comes in state to the Parliament-House, and also on his return to Westminster-Hall. It is very magnificent, being embellished with several large rose and table diamonds,* and other precious stones, besides a great number of pearls; but it is most remarkable for a particularly large ruby, set in the middle of one of the four crosses, esteemed worth ten thousand pounds, as also that the mound is one entire stone, of a sea-water green colour, known by the name of an Aqua-marina.+ The cap is also of purple velvet, lined and turned up as the former. (Fig. 3.)

The Queen's Circlet, which her Majesty wore in the proceeding to her Coronation, is a rim or circle of gold,

* Jewellers have given to diamonds various names alluding to the manner in which they are cut. Table is an expression used when a diamond is made perfectly flat on the top, and it also signifies the principal face. The word Rose is applied to those stones which are flat beneath, but have the upper part cut into several angles, which usually terminate in a point.

+ Aqua marina, i. e. the water of the sea, a name given by jewellers to the precious stone called a Beryl, on account of its colour. This stone, which is very rarely to be met with of the size mentioned above, is found in the East Indies, about the gold mines in Peru, and sometimes in Silesia, in Germany.

richly adorned with large diamonds, beautifully set with a string of pearls round the upper edge. The cap is purple velvet, lined with white taffeta, and turned up with ermine, richly powdered. (Fig. 2.)

The Queen's Crown, wherewith her Majesty was crowned, is a rich Imperial Crown of gold, set with diamonds of great value, intermixed with precious stones of other kinds, and some pearls. It is composed of crosses and fleurs de lis, with bars or arches, and a mound and cross on the top of the arches, after the same manner as the King's Imperial Crowns, differing from them only in size, being lesser and lighter. The cap is of purple velvet, lined with rich white taffeta, and turned up with ermine, or Minever pure, richly powdered. (Fig. 15.)

The Queen's rich Crown, which her Majesty wore in her return to Westminster Hall, is likewise of gold, but so splendidly embellished with diamonds and pearls, that scarcely any of the metal is visible. It is also an Imperial Crown, composed of crosses and fleurs de lis, with arches and a mound, as is her Majesty's other Crown. The cap is purple velvet, lined with rich white Florence taffeta, turned up and richly powdered with ermine. The whole value of this Diadem, as it has been used at former Coronations, has been computed at one hundred and eleven thousand nine hundred pounds sterling.* (Fig. 17.)

The five Sceptres are as follow :—

St. Edward's Staff, in length four feet eleven inches and a half, is a staff or Sceptre of gold, having a foot of steel, about four inches and a quarter in length, with a mound, and cross at the top; the ornaments are also

*The following is an estimate of the value of the different jewels which are contained in this magnificent Diadem :-

*

of gold, and the diameter of it is upwards of three quarter of an inch. (Fig. 4.)

The King's Sceptre with the Dove, is a Sceptre of gold, in length three feet seven inches, three inches in circumference at the handle, and two inches and a quarter round at the top. The pomel is decorated with a circle, or fillet, of table diamonds, and in several places with precious stones of all sorts, and the mound at the top is embellished with a band or fillet of rose diamonds. Upon the Mound is a small Jerusalem Cross,* whereon is fixed a dove, with wings expanded, as the emblem of Mercy. (Fig. 5.)

The King's Sceptre with the Cross, or Sceptre Royal, is likewise of gold, the handle plain, and the upper part

Twenty diamonds round the circle, £1500 each

.£30,000

Two large centre diamonds £2000 each...

..4,000

Fifty-four smaller diamonds placed at the angles of the former....100

Four crosses, each composed of twenty-five diamonds...

.12,000

Notwithstanding such an uncommon mass of jewellery, independent of the gold, velvet cap, ermine, &c. this Crown weighs only nineteen ounces ten pennyweights. It measures seven inches in height from the gold circle to the upper cross, and its diameter at the rim is five inches.

* Jerusalem Crosses may be considered as of two distinct kinds; namely, that alluded to in the text, which has its lower limb longer than the others, and which is sometimes called a Cross Calvary; and another sort which is equal, but spread out at the extremities, denominated, in heraldry, a Cross Potent. This latter, with four smaller Crosses inserted in the quarters, was adopted by Godfrey of Boulogne, the first Christian King of Jerusalem, from whence its name has been derived.

1

wreathed: it is in length two feet nine inches and a quarter, and is of the same thickness as the former. The pomel at the lower part is enriched with rubies, emeralds, and small diamonds; and the space of five inches and a half in length, above the handle, is elegantly embossed and embellished with similar precious stones. The top rises into a fleur de lis, with six leaves, of which three are upright, and the other three hanging down, all enriched with precious stones: out of the fleur de lis issues a mound made of an amethyst, set round with table diamonds, and upon the mound a cross, wholly covered with precious stones, and a large table diamond in the centre. (Fig. 6.)

The Queen's Sceptre, with the Cross, is also of gold, adorned with diamonds and other valuable jewels, being in length two feet ten inches, with a mound and cross at the top, issuing out of a fleur-de-lis; it is like the King's in its embellishments, only smaller, not wreathed, nor altogether so thick. (Fig. 11.)

The Queen's Ivory Rod, is a sceptre of white ivory, in length three feet one inch and a half; the pomel and ornaments are of gold, as is also the mound and cross at the top, but the dove on the top of the cross is enamelled with white; the circumference at the lower part is about two inches, and at the top about an inch and a half. (Fig. 12.)

The four Swords consist firstly, of

The Sword of State, which is a large two-handed Sword, having a splendid scabbard of crimson velvet, decorated with gold plates of the Royal Badges in order as follow. Up at the point is the Orb or Mound, then the Royal Crest of a Lion standing on an Imperial Crown; lower down, are a Portcullis, Harp, Thistle, Fleur de lis, and Rose; nearer the hilt is the Portcullis repeated; next are the Royal Arms and Supporters; and, lastly, the Harp, Thistle, &c. occur over again. The other

side of the Scabbard is exactly the same. The handle and pomel of the Sword are embossed with similar devices in silver gilt, and the cross is formed of the Royal Supporters, the Lion and Unicorn, having a Rose within a laurel, between them on one side, and a Fleur de lis encircled in the same manner upon the other.

Curtana, or the pointless Sword, representing the Sword of Mercy, is the principal in dignity, of the three Swords which are borne naked before the King at the Coronation. It is a broad bright Sword, of which the length of the blade is thirty-two inches, the breadth almost two inches, the handle, which is covered with fine gold wire, is four inches long, and the pomel an inch and three quarters, which, with the cross, is plain steel gilt; the length of the cross is almost eight inches. The Scabbard belonging to it is covered with a rich brocaded cloth of tissue, with gilt ornaments. (Fig. 10.)

The Sword of Spiritual Justice, or, as it is commonly called, the Second Sword, is pointed, but somewhat obtuse. The length of the blade is forty inches, the breadth an inch and a half, the handle as before (covered with gold wire), is four inches long, and the pomel an inch and three quarters deep. The length of the cross is almost eight inches, which is plain steel gilt, as before; and the scabbard in all respects is similar to the former. (Fig. 9.)

The Sword of Justice of the Temporality, or third sword, is sharp pointed; the length of the handle is four inches, the pomel an inch and three quarters, and the cross seven inches and a half: the scabbard, in all respects, is like the two former. (Fig. 7.)

The two Rings consist of

The King's Coronation Ring, which is of plain gold, with a large table ruby violet, on which a plain cross, or Cross of St. George, is beautifully enchased. (Fig. 13.)

The Queen's Coronation Ring is likewise gold, with