THE BOOK OF THE COURT; EXHIBITING THE HISTORY, DUTIES, AND PRIVILEGES OF THE SEVERAL RANKS OF THE ENGLISH NOBILITY AND GENTRY, PARTICULARLY OF THE GREAT OFFICERS OF STATE, AND MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD; INCLUDING VARIOUS FORMS OF COURT ETIQUETTE, TABLES OF PRECEDENCY, RULES TO BE OBSERVED AT LEVEES AND DRAWING ROOMS, ETC. ALSO AN INTRODUCTORY ESSAY ON REGAL STATE AND CEREMONIAL, AND A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE CORONATION CEREMONY. BY WILLIAM J. THOMS, FELLOW OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. SECOND EDITION. LONDON: HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. MDCCCXLIV. TO HER MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY THE QUEEN. MADAM, I HAVE the honour to dedicate to Your Majesty the following volume, which I have ventured to designate "The Book of the Court;" and I beg leave, most respectfully, to tender my grateful thanks for the distinction which Your Majesty has conferred upon me, by granting me Your Majesty's gracious permission so to do. May I be allowed to add to this expression of thanks, my fervent prayer for Your Majesty's long and happy reign, and that, -while under Your Majesty's governance, the country may boast of the same high honour in arms, and glory in the liberal arts, which distinguished it in the reign of Elizabeth,-Your Majesty may, under Providence, secure those advantages to Your people, without the heavy cares and ceaseless anxieties which their purchase entailed upon that illustrious Queen. I remain, With the profoundest veneration, Madam, Your Majesty's most faithful Subject and dutiful Servant, WILLIAM J. THOMS. b |