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diff --git a/43995-0.txt b/43995-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..de722ca --- /dev/null +++ b/43995-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1699 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43995 *** + +PETER PARLEY'S + +VISIT TO LONDON. + + + + + LONDON: + CLARKE, PRINTERS, SILVER STREET, FALCON SQUARE. + +[Illustration: _Madeley lith. 3, Wellington St. Strand._ + +THE CORONATION OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA.] + + + + +PETER PARLEY'S VISIT TO LONDON, + +DURING THE CORONATION OF QUEEN VICTORIA. + +[Illustration] + + LONDON: + CHARLES TILT, FLEET STREET. + MDCCCXXXIX. + + + + + TO THE GOOD + + LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS + + OF GREAT BRITAIN, + + PETER PARLEY + + DEDICATES THESE PAGES. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. + + PARLEY ARRIVES IN LONDON Page 1 + + + CHAPTER II. + + PARLEY GOES TO SEE THE NEW CROWN 6 + + + CHAPTER III. + + PARLEY VISITS WESTMINSTER ABBEY AND + HYDE-PARK.--PREPARATIONS FOR THE FAIR 11 + + + CHAPTER IV. + + PARLEY SEES THE QUEEN, AND RELATES SOME + ANECDOTES OF HER MAJESTY 16 + + + CHAPTER V. + + PARLEY CONTINUES HIS ANECDOTES OF THE QUEEN 28 + + + CHAPTER VI. + + PARLEY DESCRIBES WESTMINSTER ABBEY ON THE + MORNING OF THE CORONATION, AND RELATES THE + LEGENDS CONNECTED WITH ST. EDWARD'S CHAIR 40 + + + CHAPTER VII. + + PARLEY DESCRIBES THE PROCESSION TO + WESTMINSTER ABBEY 52 + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + PARLEY DESCRIBES THE CORONATION IN + WESTMINSTER ABBEY 65 + + + CHAPTER IX. + + PARLEY CONTINUES HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE + CORONATION IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY 81 + + + CHAPTER X. + + PARLEY GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF THE ILLUMINATIONS, + AND OF THE GRAND DISPLAY OF FIRE-WORKS 92 + + + CHAPTER XI. + + PARLEY ATTENDS A REVIEW IN HYDE PARK, AND + RELATES SOME PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF MARSHAL + SOULT.--CONCLUSION 103 + + + + +PETER PARLEY'S + +VISIT TO LONDON. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +PARLEY ARRIVES IN LONDON. + + +"WELL, my little friends, here is your old acquaintance, Peter Parley, +come to tell some more of his amusing Tales. You wonder, I dare say, +what could tempt such a frail old man as I am to leave home, and come +so far. You shall hear. + +"A Coronation, you must know, is a sight not to be seen every day in +the United States, where we have neither King nor Queen, so thinks +I to myself, I hear a great deal about the grandeur of the spectacle +which is to be exhibited at the crowning of Queen Victoria, and +though I have seen many grand sights in my day, I have never seen a +Coronation, so I shall just get into one of these new steam ships which +take one across the Atlantic Ocean so quickly, and have a look at the +affair. I shall, besides, have an opportunity of seeing the kind London +friends who treated me so handsomely when I was last in England, and +then I shall have such lots of new stories for my young friends. I +must--I shall go! + +"Peter Parley is not a man to spend much time in idling after +having formed a resolution, so the very next day, having bid my old +housekeeper good bye, I was on my way to New York. + +"As soon as I arrived at New York, I made enquiries about the steam +ships, and, finding that the 'Great Western' was to sail very soon, I +secured my passage in her, and then went to visit my friends in that +city, for I always like to fulfil the old adage, and finish my work +before I begin to play. + +"Every body was surprised at my undertaking, and some kind folks wanted +to persuade me to stay at home, thinking to frighten me by telling me +about the length of the voyage, &c. They did not know Peter Parley. +One wag, who wished to be very witty, asked me why I did not wait and +take my passage in the new American ship, the 'Horse-Alligator,' which +was to sail on the 25th of June, and arrive in London the day before! +I could not help laughing at the idea, but I told him that steam was +quick enough for me. + +"I have already told you about my voyages across the Atlantic, so I +need do no more now than make just one passing remark on the splendour +of the fitting-up, and the admirable arrangements of the 'Great +Western.' We passed a great many vessels as we came along, especially +when we were not far distant from the American and English shores. They +had no chance with us. Sometimes we discovered them far a-head, like +mere specks on the ocean. In an hour or two we came up with them, and, +in as much more time, left them far behind. The steady and untiring +whirl of the steamer's paddles carried every thing before it. + +"We reached Bristol in thirteen days, and, as I had nothing to detain +me there, I hurried on to London, and arrived in the middle of the +grand preparations. + +"Every body was as busy as a bee.--Nothing was talked of but the +Coronation. 'Oh! Mr. Parley, have you come to see the Coronation too?' +was my first salute from every lip. My kind old friend, Major Meadows, +insisted on my taking up my quarters in his house, and promised that +I should see every thing that was to be seen, and hear every thing +that was to be heard. This was just what I wanted to be at, so I fixed +myself with him at once." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +PARLEY GOES TO SEE THE NEW CROWN. + + +"AFTER paying a few visits, and renewing old friendships, I set myself, +in good earnest, to see what was to be seen. + +"The most attractive object, connected with the Coronation, exhibiting +at the time, was the new crown made for the occasion. I accordingly +made the best of my way into the city, to the shop of Messrs. Rundell +and Bridge, her Majesty's goldsmiths, on Ludgate Hill, who, with the +greatest liberality, had thrown open their rooms that the public might +have an opportunity of inspecting the crown. + +"So great was the crowd, all anxious to have a peep, that it was some +time before I could press forward to the door of the shop. Carriages +were so busy taking up and setting down company, that the street was +quite blocked up. At length, however, by dint of perseverance, Peter +Parley managed to squeeze in. + +"After traversing the shop, all round which are ranged articles of the +most massive and costly description, we were ushered into an interior +apartment, in which, in glass cases, were deposited the precious +curiosities. + +"In the centre, the admired of all beholders, was the Royal Crown. It +is beautifully designed, and formed in the most costly and elegant +manner, and so covered with precious stones, as almost to dazzle the +eyes of old Peter Parley. It is composed of hoops of silver, enclosing +a cap of deep purple velvet. The hoops are completely covered and +concealed by precious stones, the whole surmounted by a ball covered +with small diamonds, and having a Maltese cross of brilliants on the +top of it. The body of the crown is wreathed with fleurs-de-lis and +Maltese crosses; the one in the front being ornamented with a very +large heart-shaped ruby, once, I was informed, a principal ornament in +the crown of Edward the Black Prince, and which he is said to have worn +at the battle of Cressy. Peter Parley cannot remember all the details, +for besides these, there are many other precious stones in the crown. +The rim is surrounded with ermine, and it certainly struck me as being +one of the finest things I had ever seen. + +"Close beside the crown were the coronets of the Royal Dukes and +Duchesses, but though they also were made of costly materials, the +attractions of the crown were so great as to throw the others quite +into the back ground. I had hardly time to turn my eyes toward the case +containing the Orb and Sword of state, before I was hurried away by the +pressure of the crowd behind, which kept pouring in in undiminished +numbers. + +"As I moved towards the door behind the shop, which was set apart for +visitors retiring, I passed a table on which was displayed a service of +massive gold utensils, to be used in the consecration service. + +"When I reached the street, I found it still densely crowded. I wanted +to go to St. Paul's, which stands close by, but was afraid to venture +into such a crowd, so I directed my steps to Westminster Abbey, making +my way with some difficulty down Ludgate Hill and along Fleet Street, +and passing beneath Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +PARLEY VISITS WESTMINSTER ABBEY AND HYDE-PARK. PREPARATIONS FOR THE +FAIR. + + +"AS I approached the venerable pile I found all in bustle and +confusion. Every where carpenters were busily engaged fitting up +galleries for the accommodation of spectators of the procession on the +day of the coronation. Ranges of such erections lined the whole course +of the street through which the procession was to pass, up to the very +door of the Abbey; even the church-yard was lined with them. These +I was told were the speculations of tradesmen, who let the sittings +according to the value of the situation, at prices varying from +half-a-sovereign up to a couple of guineas. For some very choice places +even five guineas was asked. + +"Peter Parley could not help smiling at the fine names which had been +given to some of these erections; such as the 'Royal Victoria Gallery,' +the 'Royal Kent Gallery,' &c., &c. + +"By order of the Earl Marshal no visitors were permitted to enter the +Abbey; but as good luck would have it, just as I happened to be passing +the western grand entrance I met a gentleman connected with the Board +of Works, whom I had seen at Major Meadows's the day before, and who +most obligingly offered to introduce me. + +"I gladly availed myself of his invitation, and was much struck with +the grandeur and extent of the preparations. + +"At the western entrance to the Abbey a suite of apartments for +robing-rooms for her Majesty and the members of the Royal Family had +been erected. So completely did this structure harmonize externally +with the rest of the antique building, that I should not have observed +that it was a temporary erection had it not been pointed out to me. The +chamber set apart for her Majesty was fitted up in the most gorgeous +manner--the walls beautifully ornamented, and the furniture, all of +the richest and most magnificent description. Though less costly the +apartments for the Royal Family were equally chaste. + +"The interior of the Abbey presented a scene at once animated and +beautiful. Workmen were busily engaged in various parts finishing the +preparations. I will have occasion to tell you about the interior of +the Abbey by and by, so I may as well say nothing about it at present. + +"Peter Parley now proceeded to Hyde-Park to see the preparations for +the grand fair which was to be held in that noble pleasure-ground on +this joyous occasion. + +"Already many booths displayed themselves on the plain, and many +more were in the act of being erected. Richardson, who Peter Parley +understood is one of the most famous of the show-folks, had erected +a large and handsome theatre, which even thus early seemed to have +considerable attractions for the multitude who had gathered round it in +great numbers. + +"Peter Parley having seen all that was worth seeing in the fair was +beginning to feel tired, and was directing his steps homeward, when +all of a sudden his attention was attracted to a particular part of +the Park to which people seemed to be hastening from all quarters. +Peter Parley hurried to the spot and was most agreeably surprised to +find that it was Queen Victoria, accompanied by her suite, taking her +accustomed airing in her carriage." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +PARLEY SEES THE QUEEN, AND RELATES SOME ANECDOTES OF HER MAJESTY. + + +"'WHAT a dear sweet lady!' were the first words of Peter Parley when +the Royal cavalcade had passed. + +[Illustration: _Madeley lith. 3, Wellington St. Strand._ + +HER MAJESTY LEAVING BUCKINGHAM PALACE ON THE MORNING OF THE CORONATION.] + +"'She is a dear sweet lady, Mr. Parley, and, what is more, she is as +good as she is sweet,' said my friend, Major Meadows, who, afraid lest +I should overwalk myself in my zeal for sight-seeing, had followed me +from Westminster Abbey and luckily fallen in with me in the park, +and he went on to relate many very interesting anecdotes of the young +Queen, which Peter Parley took good care to remember because he knew +they would gratify his young friends." + +"'Her Majesty is doatingly fond of children, Mr. Parley,' said he, 'and +that you know is always the sign of a good heart. Nothing can be finer +than the traits of character exhibited in a little anecdote which Lady +M---- told me a day or two ago. + +"'Not long since, her Majesty commanded Lady Barham, one of the ladies +in waiting, to bring her family of lovely children to the new palace. +They were greatly admired and fondly caressed by the Queen; when a +beautiful little boy about three years of age artlessly said-- + +"'I do not see the Queen; I want to see the Queen;' upon which her +Majesty, smiling, said-- + +"'I am the Queen, love;' and taking her little guest into her arms +repeatedly kissed the astonished child. + +"This little anecdote warmed old Peter Parley's heart towards the young +Queen; nor did any of the stories which Major Meadows told me tend to +lessen my regard for her. Peter Parley was pleased to hear that she has +a proper sense of the importance of the station to which she has been +called by Divine Providence. + +"On the day on which she was proclaimed Queen of Great Britain she +arrived in company with her royal mother at St. James's Palace for the +purpose of taking part in the important ceremony. As they drove towards +the palace the party received the most affectionate demonstrations +of loyalty and attachment, the people following the carriages with a +continuous cry of 'Long live the Queen'--'God bless our youthful Queen, +long may she live,' &c. Yet, exciting and exhilirating as were these +acclamations, her Majesty's countenance exhibited marks only of anxiety +and grief. + +"They arrived at St. James's Palace a little before ten o'clock. When +the old bell of the palace-clock announced that hour, the band struck +up the National Anthem, the Park and Tower guns fired a double royal +salute, and the young and trembling Queen, led by the Marquis of +Lansdowne, President of the Council, appeared at an open window looking +into the great court of the Palace. At the fervent and enthusiastic +shout of the people who had come to witness the ceremony, her Majesty +burst into tears, and, in spite of all her efforts to restrain them, +they continued to flow down her pale cheeks all the time she remained +at the window. Her emotions did not, however, prevent her from +returning her acknowledgments for the devotedness of her people. + +"Some of the most interesting anecdotes which Peter Parley heard, +however, related to an earlier period of the Queen's life, when she was +Princess Victoria. + +"'Here is an anecdote which I heard at a Missionary Meeting, Mr. +Parley,' said Major Meadows, 'and I assure you it told with great +effect.'" + +"A poor but truly pious widow, placed in charge of a lighthouse on the +south coast of the Mersey, had resolved to devote the receipts of one +day in the year, during the visiting season, to the Missionary cause. +On one of these days, a lady in widow's weeds and a little girl in +deep mourning came to see the lighthouse; sympathy in misfortune led +to conversation, and before the unknown visitor took her departure +they had most probably mingled their tears together. The lady left +behind her a sovereign. The unusually large gratuity immediately caused +a conflict in the breast of the poor woman, as to whether she was +absolutely bound to appropriate the whole of it to the Missionary-box +or not. At length she compromised, by putting in half-a-crown. But +conscience would not let her rest: she went to bed, but could not +sleep; she arose, took back the half-crown, put in the sovereign, went +to bed and slept comfortably. A few days afterwards, to her great +surprise, she received a double letter, franked, and on opening it, +was no less astonished than delighted to find twenty pounds from the +widow lady, and five pounds from the little girl in deep mourning. And +who were that lady and that little girl, do you think? No other than +her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent and our present rightful and +youthful sovereign." + +"During one of the summer seasons of the Princess's childhood the +Duchess of Kent resided in the neighbourhood of Malvern, and almost +daily walked on the Downs. One day the Princess and her beautiful +little dog Pero, of which she was uncommonly fond, happening +considerably to outstrip the Duchess and governess, she overtook a +little peasant girl about her own age. With the thoughtless hilarity +of youth she made up to her, and without ceremony, said to her-- + +"'My dog is very tired, will you carry him for me if you please?' + +"The good-natured girl, quite unconscious of the rank of the applicant, +immediately complied, and tripped along by the side of the Princess for +some time in unceremonious conversation. At length she said, + +"'I am tired now, and cannot carry your dog any farther.' + +"'Tired!' cried her Royal Highness, 'Impossible! Think what a little +way you have carried him!' + +"'Quite far enough,' was the homely reply; 'besides, I am going to my +aunt's, and if your dog must be carried, why cannot you carry him +yourself?' + +"So saying, she placed Pero on the grass, and he again joyfully frisked +beside his royal mistress. + +"'Going to your aunt's;' rejoined the Princess, unheeding Pero's +gambols; 'pray who is your aunt?' + +"'Mrs. Johnson, the miller's wife.' + +"'And where does she live?' + +"'In that pretty little white house which you see just at the bottom of +the hill, there;' said the unconscious girl, pointing it out among the +trees; and the two companions stood still that the Princess might make +sure that she was right, thus giving the Duchess and her companion +time to come up. + +"'Oh, I should like to see her!' exclaimed the light-hearted Princess; +'I will go with you, come let us run down the hill together.' + +"'No, no, my Princess,' cried the governess, coming up and taking her +Royal Highness's hand, 'you have conversed long enough with that little +girl, and now the Duchess wishes you to walk with her. + +"The awful words 'Princess' and 'Duchess' quite confounded the little +peasant girl; blushing and almost overcome, she earnestly begged pardon +for the liberties she had taken, but her fears were instantly allayed +by the Duchess, who, after thanking her for her trouble in carrying +Pero, recompensed her by giving her half-a-crown. + +"Delighted, the little girl curtsied her thanks, and running on briskly +to her aunt's, she related all that had passed, dwelling particularly +on the apprehension she had felt when she discovered that it was the +Princess whom she had desired to carry her dog herself. The half-crown +was afterwards framed and hung up in the miller's homely parlour, as a +memento of this pleasing little adventure." + +"This is but a childish story, but Peter Parley loves to hear stories +of good children, and he knows that his little friends love to hear +them too." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +PARLEY CONTINUES HIS ANECDOTES OF THE QUEEN. + + +"THERE was one anecdote of the Queen from which Peter Parley derived +much pleasure, because it showed that, notwithstanding her high +station, she is not unmindful of Him by whom 'Kings reign, and Princes +decree justice.' + +"A noble lord, one of her Majesty's ministers of state, not +particularly remarkable for his observance of holy ordinances, recently +arrived at Windsor Castle late one Saturday night. + +"'I have brought down for your Majesty's inspection,' he said, 'some +papers of importance, but as they must be gone into at length I will +not trouble your Majesty with them to-night, but request your attention +to them to-morrow morning.' + +"'To-morrow morning!' repeated the Queen; 'to-morrow is Sunday, my +lord.' + +"'But business of state, please your Majesty--' + +"'Must be attended to, I know,' replied the Queen, 'and as of course +you could not come down earlier to-night, I will, if those papers are +of such vital importance, attend to them _after we come from church +to-morrow morning_.' + +"To church went the royal party; to church went the noble lord, and +much to his surprise the sermon was on '_The duties of the Sabbath_!' + +"'How did your lordship like the sermon?' enquired the young Queen. + +"'Very much, your Majesty,' replied the nobleman, with the best grace +he could. + +"'I will not conceal from you,' said the Queen, 'that last night I sent +the clergyman the text from which he preached. I hope we shall all be +the better for it.' + +"The day passed without a single word on the subject of the 'papers +of importance,' and at night, when her Majesty was about to withdraw, +'To-morrow morning, my lord,' she said, 'at any hour you please, and +as early as seven if you like, we will go into these papers.' + +"His lordship could not think of intruding at so early an hour on her +Majesty; 'Nine would be quite time enough.' + +"'As they are of importance, my lord, I would have attended to them +earlier, but at nine be it;' and at nine her Majesty was seated ready +to receive the nobleman, who had been taught a lesson on the duties of +the sabbath, it is hoped, he will not quickly forget. + +"Exemplary as the young Queen is in her religious duties, however, +Peter Parley was pleased to find that she does not allow her religion +to consist in mere theory, but that in reality she clothes the poor and +feeds the hungry. + +"On one occasion when her Majesty, accompanied by her suite, was +taking an airing on horseback, in the neighbourhood of Windsor, she +was overtaken by a heavy shower, which forced the royal party to seek +shelter in an outhouse belonging to a farm yard, where a poor man was +busily employed making hurdles. Her Majesty entered into conversation +with the man (who was totally ignorant who he was addressing), and +finding that he had a large family and no means of supporting them +beyond what he gained by making these hurdles, her Majesty enquired +where he lived, and on taking her departure presented him with a +sovereign. Next day she went, accompanied by her Royal Mother, to the +cottage of the poor man, and finding his statement to be correct, +immediately provided some good warm clothing for his wife and children. +Her Majesty seemed very much pleased with the neatness and regularity +of the cottage, and on taking her departure presented the poor woman +with a five-pound note. + +"There was no end to stories of this description, but I can only afford +room for two or three more; one of which, in particular, shows how +early the Queen has been taught to look up to the only source of real +comfort in affliction. + +"An old man who once served in the capacity of porter to the Duke +of Kent, and who, in his old age and infirmity, has long since been +pensioned by the Duchess, is not a little gratified at receiving a nod +of recognition from her Majesty whenever her carriage chances to pass +his cottage. The aged man has a daughter much afflicted, and who has +been confined to bed for eight or ten years. On the evening of the late +king's funeral this young woman was equally surprised and delighted +at receiving from the Queen a present of the psalms of David in which +was a marker worked by herself with a dove, the emblem of peace, in +the centre. It pointed to the forty-first psalm, which her Majesty +requested she would read, at the same time expressing a hope that its +frequent perusal might bring an increase of peace to her mind. + +"Another poor man named Smith, who had for several years swept the +crossing opposite the avenue leading to Kensington palace, and whom her +Majesty always kindly noticed, rarely passing through the gates without +throwing him some silver from the carriage window, received a message +on the morning after the Queen's accession informing him that her +Majesty had ordered that a weekly allowance of eight shillings should +be regularly paid him. The poor man, however, did not long enjoy his +pension, dying within six months from its commencement. + +"Short and brilliant as has been her Majesty's career however, and +fondly and carefully as she has been watched over, her life affords a +very striking instance of providential preservation. + +"During one of their summer excursions on the southern coast of +England, the Royal party sailed in the Emerald yacht, and proceeding up +the harbour at Plymouth for the purpose of landing at the dock-yard, +the yacht unfortunately, from the rapidity of the tide, ran foul of one +of the hulks which lay off the yard. The shock was so great that the +mainmast of the royal yacht was sprung in two places, and her sail and +gaff (or yard by which the sail is supported) fell instantaneously upon +the deck. + +"The Princess happened unfortunately to be standing almost directly +under the sail at the moment, and the most fatal consequences might +have ensued, had not the master of the yacht, with admirable presence +of mind, sprung forward and caught her in his arms and conveyed her +to a place of safety. The alarm and confusion caused by the accident +was for a time heightened by the uncertainty as to the fate of her +Royal Highness, who had been preserved from injury by the blunt but +well-timed rescue of the honest sailor. + +"'There is one thing which pleases me mightily, Mr. Parley,' said Major +Meadows, 'and it is this, that with all this goodness our young Queen +has a truly British heart. Often and often has she manifested this, and +when quite a girl though perfectly acquainted with several European +languages, and particularly with French and German, she never could be +prevailed upon to converse in them as a habit, always observing that +'she was a little English girl and would speak nothing but English.' +There is a healthiness of feeling in this, Mr. Parley, which is quite +delightful.' + +"Long before Major Meadows had finished his anecdotes about the Queen +we had reached home. As it is the custom to dine late in London, +we dined after our return, and during the repast, the Queen and the +spectacle of to-morrow formed the chief subject of conversation, my +friend continuing from time to time to give interest by some new +anecdote, of which his store seemed to be inexhaustible. + +"Peter Parley is fond of early hours, so we retired to bed betimes, +which was the more necessary, because by sun-rise to-morrow we must be +up and away to Westminster Abbey." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +PARLEY DESCRIBES WESTMINSTER ABBEY ON THE MORNING OF THE CORONATION, +AND RELATES THE LEGENDS CONNECTED WITH ST. EDWARD'S CHAIR. + + +"EARLY in the morning, Peter Parley was up and dressed. He had hardly +finished his devotions when, early though it was, Major Meadows knocked +at the door of his room to enquire if he was stirring. + +"After partaking of a hurried breakfast we got into a carriage and +drove to the Abbey. As we passed along, we found people, even at such +an early hour, already begun to congregate in the streets, and to take +up stations from which they expected to obtain the best view of the +day's proceedings. + +[Illustration: _Madeley lith. 3, Wellington St. Strand._ + +HER MAJESTY LEAVING HER PRIVATE APARTMENTS IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.] + +"Peter Parley was pleased to find, on our arrival at the Abbey, that +the doors had been opened a short time before, and the crowd of eager +expectants who had been waiting, some of them upwards of an hour, had +been already admitted. We were thus saved the necessity of exposing +ourselves to being crushed by stronger and more energetic claimants for +admission. + +"On entering the venerable building I was struck mute with astonishment +at the magnificence of the preparations which now burst upon the sight +with all their breadth and effect; though I had seen it so recently, +I was not at all aware of the greatness of the scale on which they had +been undertaken. + +"The approach to the theatre was by six broad steps leading from the +vestibule under the music gallery. At the termination of the choir, +just where it is intersected by the north and south transepts, a +similar number of steps led to a large platform, covered with a +splendid carpet in rich puce and gold colours. Upon this platform was +raised a second of a smaller size, approached by four broad steps, +each covered with carpeting of the most magnificent description. The +fifth step, which formed the platform, was covered with cloth of gold, +and in the centre was placed a splendid throne of a rich gilt ground, +tastefully embellished with rose-coloured sprigs at short intervals, +and the royal initials in the centre. + +"A little further in advance of this splendid throne, and nearer +the altar, stood a chair of a more humble bearing, but far more +interesting, from the legendary stories connected with it. This was St. +Edward's chair, of which Peter Parley must say a few words. + +"The chair is made of solid oak, and beneath the seat is deposited +a large stone, on which the Scottish kings used to be crowned. The +legendary history of this stone is very curious. It commences as early +as the time of Jacob, who is said to have rested his head on it in the +plain of Luz, when, as you will recollect, he fled from the anger of +his brother Esau. It was afterwards carried to Spain, by the Scythians, +whence it found its way into Ireland in the time of Romulus and Remus, +the founders of Rome. Here, it seems, from all accounts, first to have +exhibited miraculous powers--making a 'prodigious noise, and being +surprisingly disturbed,' whenever a prince of the Scythian line was +seated upon it. Peter Parley would not have you believe any of these +marvellous legends, none of which are true, but which are interesting +nevertheless, as they serve to show in what manner the people of +former times were misled by the silly and ridiculous legends of the +darker ages. + +"From Ireland this singular stone was carried into Scotland, and placed +in the Abbey of Scone, where the coronation of the Kings of Scotland +usually took place. One of the Scottish kings caused an inscription to +be cut upon it, an ancient prophecy, as it was said, but more probably +an invention of some monkish chronicler of the time:-- + + "If Fate speak sooth, where'er this stone is found, + The Scots shall monarch of that realm be crown'd." + +"When Edward I. dethroned Baliol, he sent this celebrated stone, on +the possession of which the Scots set great value, to London, along +with the Scottish regalia. In the following year, the monarch presented +these trophies at the shrine of St. Edward the Confessor; and it +appears soon afterwards to have been placed in the coronation chair, +where it has remained ever since. + +"Peter Parley has heard that the ancient prophecy, to which even at so +late a period the more superstitious amongst the Scottish nation clung, +was held to be fulfilled when James I. ascended the throne of England; +and it is also said not to have been without a certain influence in +reconciling many of the people to the Union with England. + +"But we must not forget the coronation in Westminster Abbey, in our +interest in the legend connected with St. Edward's chair. + +"On each side of the platform on which the thrones stood, were the +galleries appropriated for Peers and Peeresses and their friends, also +those for the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Privy Councillors. + +"There were two other galleries rising above these on each side, the +highest quite among the vaultings of the roof, which were appropriated +indiscriminately to the rest of the visitors. + +"The whole of these extensive galleries were covered with crimson +cloth, and trimmed with gold fringe, which had a very rich effect when +contrasted with the sombre colours and antique stone walls of the +building. + +"The decorations of the chancel and altar were of the most gorgeous +description; the draperies being of the richest purple silk, brocaded +in the most sumptuous pattern with gold. Behind the altar the +decorations were of a still more delicate character than the rest, both +the ground-work and the gold being of a lighter shade. Against the +compartment behind the altar stood six massive gold plateaux, two of +them being of very large dimensions. The table itself was loaded with +a gold communion service, as well as with other articles used in the +ceremony. + +"Peter Parley had time to notice all these things from being in the +Abbey so early in the morning, before the visitors were so numerous, +and the place so crowded as it afterwards became. The good sense and +knowledge of Major Meadows led him to select a seat from which, while +we could see as much of the ceremony as nine-tenths of those within the +Abbey, we could readily retire to the roof, from which we could obtain +an admirable view of the procession outside. + +"By six o'clock in the morning the visitors began to arrive in the +interior of the Abbey, and bustle and confusion began to prevail, +where, but an hour before, all had been stillness and silence; the +rich and elegant dresses of the ladies giving an air of gaiety to +the scene. An hour later the Peers and Peeresses began to make their +appearance, and the attention was kept completely on the alert by some +new arrival of a distinguished personage, or of a rich or picturesque +costume." + + * * * * * + +"At length the sound of the Park guns announced that the Queen had +entered her carriage and was on her way to the Abbey. This joyful +announcement seemed to inspire every one present with joy and +animation. The Peers, who had hitherto dispersed themselves over +various parts of the building, giving, by their rich and picturesque +costumes, additional brilliancy and variety to the already gorgeous +scene, now retired to their appointed places, and a certain degree of +order began to prevail within the Abbey. + +"As the procession began to draw near, Peter Parley took advantage of +Major Meadows' foresight, and, with some little difficulty, made his +way to the roof, to view its approach." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +PARLEY DESCRIBES THE PROCESSION TO WESTMINSTER ABBEY. + + +"FROM this elevated and commanding position Peter Parley had a most +admirable view of the procession, and of the immense multitude of +spectators which lined the streets and crowded every window and roof +from which even the most distant and casual view of it could be +obtained. + +"Far as the eye could reach was one dense mass of human beings. +The deafening cheers of the populace, the waving of ten thousand +handkerchiefs, the clang of martial music, and the novelty and +singularity of the whole scene, well nigh turned the head of poor Peter +Parley. + +"He had hardly time to satisfy his old eyes with gazing on the immense +assemblage when the procession began to approach. + +"Peter Parley will not attempt to give you an exact list of the +procession, for he knows very well that a simple catalogue of names +would not at all interest you; he will therefore merely run hastily +over the principal parts of it, and show you drawings of several of +the most striking scenes, which he knows very well will give you by +one glance a clearer idea of it than if he were to spend hours in mere +description. + +"Preceded by a squadron of horse-guards, whose gallant and warlike +bearing excited general admiration, came the carriages of the foreign +ministers resident in this country. Even in the midst of so much +bustle, Peter Parley could not help moralizing on the singularity of +the scene. Here were the representatives of every power on the face of +the globe gathered together in one harmonious congregation; and the +feelings to which their passing thus in review, in a living panorama +as it were, gave rise were of the most peculiar description. Here were +all separate and rival interests for the moment buried in oblivion, and +people from the east, from the west, and from the north, and from the +south, came to assist in doing honour to England's Queen. + +"Immediately behind the resident ministers followed the ambassadors +extraordinary, that is, those who had been sent by their respective +governments for the express purpose of taking part in the solemnity. +Some of the carriages and trappings of these ambassadors excited the +greatest attention and admiration. Those in particular of Marshal +Soult, the French ambassador, one of the ablest opponents of the Duke +of Wellington during the peninsular war, were rich almost beyond +description. In colour his carriage was of a rich cobalt relieved with +gold, the panels most tastefully ornamented with his Excellency's +armorial bearings, at the back of which was a field-marshal's baton. It +was furnished at each corner with a lamp surmounted by a massive silver +coronet, and the raised cornices with which it was ornamented were +of silver, deep and richly chased. These, with the beautiful harness +(of white--the furniture was also of silver exquisitely chased), gave +an air of richness and beauty to the whole equipage which was quite +unequalled in the procession. Peter Parley thought he should never have +done gazing at the rich and splendid equipage. + +"The carriages and attendants of the ambassador from the Sultan, though +far less richly caparisoned, were objects of equal curiosity, partly +on account of the eastern dress in which Ahmed Fetij Pasha appeared, +and partly because of that undefined idea of romance which exists in +the popular mind in connection with the crescent and the rising sun, +the emblems of Turkish power. + +"The carriage was of a rich lake colour, with the emblems which Peter +Parley has just mentioned richly emblazoned on the panels. Inside +it was lined with crimson and yellow silk, in rich festoons; the +hammercloth blue, with gold and scarlet hangings, the centre of scarlet +velvet with the rising sun and crescent in diamonds. + +"The only other ambassador's carriage which Peter Parley shall notice +is that of the Prince de Ligne, ambassador extraordinary from Belgium. +I mention it not that it was very much more striking than the others, +for they were all beautiful, and each was distinguished by some +peculiarity of elegant chasteness or rich display. The carriage, which +was also of rich lake tastefully ornamented with gold, was drawn by +six beautiful grey horses, and was preceded by a couple of outriders +likewise mounted on greys. His Excellency's armorial bearings were +emblazoned on the panels, the roof ornamented by four gold coronets, +one at each corner. The richness of the liveries and trappings made +this equipage very much admired. After the foreign ambassadors followed +a mounted band and a detachment of life-guards which preceded the +carriages of the branches of the Royal Family. + +"Peter Parley cannot find a word to express his idea of the gorgeous +magnificence of the carriage of the Duchess of Kent, the mother of +the Queen. The masses of gold lace by which the hammercloth and the +attendants' liveries were ornamented had an extremely rich effect. Her +grace seemed highly delighted with the ceremony, and nothing could be +more gratifying than her reception, unless indeed it was that of the +Queen herself. Every where was the Duchess cheered, and she returned +the people's greetings by smiling and bowing in the blandest and most +courtly manner. + +"The Duchess of Gloucester, and the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex, +followed next in order, and each was received with the same warm and +enthusiastic cheers. + +"After these came the Queen's bargemaster and his assistants, +forty-eight in number. The blunt sailor-like appearance of these +men, some of whose weather-beaten countenances gave token of years +of service, excited much interest. When Peter Parley saw them they +recalled to his mind the anecdote of the saving of the life of the +Princess Victoria, and he wondered which of the bluff sailors it was +who had been so ready and so thoughtful. + +"The Royal carriages now approached. These were twelve in number, each +drawn by six splendid horses, and accompanied by two grooms walking +on each side. As they passed in succession, the interest became more +intense as her Majesty drew nigh. The beauty of the maids of honour, +the courtly bearing and gay dresses of the lords in waiting, which the +carriages conveyed, the richness of the trappings, and the beauty and +spirit of the horses, excited the intensest admiration. At length the +twelfth carriage passed, and the most breathless interest prevailed. A +squadron of Life Guards and a mounted band preceded the military staff +and aides-de-camps, including some of the most distinguished military +officers of the day. The Royal Huntsmen next appeared, followed by +six of her Majesty's horses, with rich trappings, each led by two +grooms. Though nothing could be finer than the appearance of these +most beautiful animals the amount of attention which they received was +but small, for close behind, preceded by one hundred Yeomen of the +Guard, appeared the state coach, drawn by eight cream-coloured horses, +attended by a Yeoman of the Guard at each wheel, and two footmen at +each door, conveying + + "THE QUEEN. + +"The cheering by which other parts of the cavalcade had been received +was loud and heartfelt, but no sooner did the young and amiable Queen +make her appearance, than the loudest and most enthusiastic plaudits +rent the air. The ladies in the balconies waved their handkerchiefs, +the people cheered, peal after peal of joyful applause came thundering +upon the ear, shout followed shout, and acclamation burst after +acclamation, until the music of the military bands and the discharges +of the artillery were completely drowned in the roar of popular +applause. The Queen seemed to enjoy the exciting scene, and continued +bowing on all sides in the most graceful and engaging manner. + +"The excitement which prevailed along the line of the procession, as +her Majesty approached, was, Peter Parley was assured, great beyond +description. _Then_ were the rich trappings of the Foreign Ambassadors, +the magnificence of the Royal carriages, the dazzling scarlet uniforms +of the watermen, the magnificently caparisoned horses, the rich +uniforms of the great officers of state, and even the beauty and +attractions of the maids of honour, all forgotten. There was one and +one only thought of--it was THE QUEEN. The struggle was to look upon +her, and the object of each individual present seemed to be-- + + "'How and which way he might bestow himself, + To be regarded in her sun-bright eye.' + +"Never, Peter Parley will venture to say, did British monarch +receive more heartfelt greeting, or pass under brighter auspices within +the portals of Westminster Abbey." + +[Illustration: _Madeley lith. 3, Wellington St. Strand._ + +THE PROCESSION APPROACHING WESTMINSTER ABBEY] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +PARLEY DESCRIBES THE CORONATION IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY. + + +"AS soon as the Queen, the great object of attraction, had passed, +Peter Parley and his friend hurried into the Abbey to resume their +places. As they entered they encountered the most deafening and +enthusiastic plaudits, to which the announcement of her Majesty's +arrival within the Abbey gave rise. + +"While her Majesty was undergoing the ceremony of robing, in the +magnificent room which Peter Parley has already told you about, the +procession, which forms part of the ceremony within the Abbey, was +arranged in order. + +"Every thing having been prepared, her Majesty made her appearance +habited in a rich mantle and train of crimson velvet, over a dress +of satin wrought with gold, and the assembled thousands of her loyal +subjects rose with one accord, and welcomed their Sovereign in a manner +which must have thrilled the heart of the greatest potentate who ever +swayed a sceptre. The band of instrumental music swelled forth their +richest notes, and the choir gave magnificent effect to the anthem:-- + +"'I was glad when they said unto me we will go into the house of the +Lord. For there is the Seat of Judgment, even the Seat of the House +of David. O pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that +love Thee. Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces. +Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it +was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. +Amen.' + +"As the procession moved slowly up the Abbey, the effect was most +magnificent; the splendour of the pageantry, the beauty of the young +Queen, whose mild blue eyes shone scarcely less brightly than the +circlet of diamonds which encompassed her beauteous brow, and the +rich effect of the music, as it reverberated among the aisles of the +building, almost made Peter Parley think it was a scene in fairy-land, +or one of those bright and unsubstantial visions which flit across the +mind in our dreams. + +"The Queen having advanced to a chair which had been provided for her, +about midway between the throne and the south side of the altar, the +noblemen and others who composed the procession took up the stations +which had been appropriated for them; the choir in the mean time +continuing to chaunt the anthem. + +"The cadences of the anthem had scarcely died away among the aisles +of the Abbey, when Peter Parley was startled at the sound of youthful +voices, singing at their highest pitch. He directed his eyes towards +the spot whence the sound proceeded, and found it was the Westminster +scholars, who, according to an ancient and established custom, greeted +their sovereign with a kind of chaunt, 'Vivat Victoria Regina!' + +"At the conclusion of this chaunt, which, though not the most +harmonious, struck Peter Parley as certainly not the least interesting +part of the greeting, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord +Chancellor, the Lord Great Chamberlain, and the Earl Marshal, advanced +and commenced the ceremony of the Coronation by what is called the +Recognition; that is, advancing towards each side of the theatre in +succession, they thus addressed the assembled spectators:-- + +"'Sirs, we here present unto you Queen Victoria, the undoubted Queen of +this realm; wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage, +are you willing to do the same?' + +"As the question was repeated on each side, the Abbey rang with the +joyful response 'God save Queen Victoria!' A flourish of trumpets added +to the enthusiasm of the scene; and even Peter Parley, carried away +by the feeling of the moment, shouted forth his acclamations, in as +heartfelt a manner as the most devoted of her Majesty's subjects. + +"During this part of the ceremony, the Queen remained standing by the +chair on which she had at first taken her seat, and turned her face +successively toward that part of the Abbey to which the question was +addressed. + +"When the enthusiastic cheering subsided her Majesty resumed her seat, +and preparations were made for that part of the altar service called +the Oblation. The Bible, the chalice, and patina, were placed upon the +altar, before which, two officers of the wardrobe spread a rich cloth +of gold, and laid upon it a cushion for her Majesty to kneel upon. The +Bishops who were to be engaged in the service also advanced and put on +their copes. + +"Every thing being ready, her Majesty, supported by two bishops and +preceded by the great officers of state bearing the regalia, approached +the altar, and kneeling upon the cushion, made the various offerings. + +"The first, which consisted of a pall or altar-cloth of gold, was +delivered by an officer of the wardrobe to the Lord Chamberlain, and +by him handed to the Lord Great Chamberlain, who delivered it to the +Queen. Her Majesty then gave it to the Archbishop of Canterbury, by +whom it was placed on the altar. + +"An ingot of gold, a pound in weight, was then handed by the Treasurer +of the Household to the Lord Great Chamberlain, by whom it was placed +in the hands of the Queen, who delivered it to the Archbishop, by whom +it was put into the oblation basin, and set upon the altar. + +"The Archbishop then said the following prayer, the Queen remaining +kneeling before the altar:-- + +"'O God, who dwellest in the high and holy place, with them also +who are of an humble spirit, look down mercifully upon this thy +servant Victoria our Queen, here humbling herself before Thee at thy +footstool, and graciously receive these oblations, which, in humble +acknowledgment of thy sovereignty over all, and of thy great bounty +unto her in particular, she hath now offered up unto Thee, through +JESUS CHRIST, our only mediator and advocate. Amen.' + +"At the conclusion of this prayer her Majesty returned to the chair on +the south side of the altar, and the whole of the regalia, except the +swords, were delivered to the archbishop and placed on the altar. + +"The Litany was then read by the Bishops of Worcester and St. David's, +which was followed by the Communion Service, previous to which, the +choir sang the _Sanctus_:-- + + "'Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God of Hosts; + Heaven and earth are full of thy Glory; + Glory be to Thee, O Lord, most High. Amen.' + +"At the conclusion of the service the Bishop of London ascended the +pulpit, which had been placed opposite her Majesty's chair of state, +and preached the sermon. His lordship's text was chosen from 2 Chron. +xxxiv. 31,--'And the King stood in his place and made a covenant before +the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, and his +testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his +soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this +book.' + +"At the conclusion of the sermon, to which the Queen was deeply +attentive, the Archbishop of Canterbury advanced toward her Majesty, +and standing before her, thus addressed her:-- + +"'Madam, is your Majesty willing to take the oath?' + +"The Queen answered, 'I am willing.' + +"The Archbishop then ministered these questions; and the Queen answered +each question severally, as follows:-- + +"_Archbishop._--Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the +people of this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the +dominions thereto belonging, according to the statutes in Parliament +agreed on, and the respective laws and customs of the same? + +"_Queen._--I solemnly promise so to do. + +"_Archbishop._--Will you to the utmost of your power cause law and +justice, in mercy, to be executed in all your judgments? + +"_Queen._--I will. + +"_Archbishop._--Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the laws +of God, the true profession of the Gospel, and the Protestant reformed +religion established by law? And will you maintain and preserve +inviolably the settlement of the United Church of England and Ireland, +and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as +by law established within England and Ireland, and the territories +thereunto belonging? And will you preserve unto the bishops and clergy +of England and Ireland, and to the churches there committed to their +charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do or shall appertain +to them, or any of them? + +"_Queen._--All this I promise to do. + +"The Queen then proceeded to the altar, attended by the various +functionaries, who had taken up their stations about her, and kneeling +before it, laid her right hand on the great Bible, and, in the sight of +her people, took a solemn oath, to observe the promises which she had +made, saying-- + +"'The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and +keep--So help me, God.' + +"Her Majesty then kissed the book and set her royal sign manual to a +copy of the oath. After this solemn ceremony she returned to the chair, +and kneeling at her fald-stool, the choir sang, with the most touching +effect, the magnificent hymn-- + + "'Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, + And warm them with thy Heav'nly fire; + Thou who th' Anointing Spirit art, + To us thy sevenfold gifts impart; + Let thy bless'd unction from above + Be to us comfort, life, and love; + Enable with celestial light + The weakness of our mortal sight: + Anoint our hearts, and cheer our face, + With the abundance of thy grace. + Keep far our foes, give peace at home-- + Where Thou dost dwell no ill can come. + Teach us to know the Father, Son, + And Spirit of both, to be but one, + That so through ages all along, + This may be our triumphant song; + In Thee, O Lord, we make our boast, + Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.'" + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +PARLEY CONTINUES HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE CORONATION IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY. + + +"THE ceremony of anointing followed next in order--Her Majesty having +been divested of her crimson robe by the Mistress of the Robes, took +her seat in St. Edward's chair, and the Dean of Westminster taking from +the altar the ampulla, containing the consecrated oil, and pouring some +of it into the anointing spoon, proceeded to anoint her Majesty on the +crown of the head and on the palm of both hands, in the form of a +cross--four knights of the garter holding over her head a rich cloth of +gold. + +"The Dean of Westminster then took the spurs from the altar and +delivered them to the Lord Great Chamberlain, who, kneeling before her +Majesty, presented them to her, after which she forthwith sent them +back to the altar. The Viscount Melbourne, who carried the sword of +state, then delivered it to the Lord Chamberlain, receiving in lieu +thereof, another sword, in a scabbard of purple velvet, which his +lordship delivered to the archbishop, who laid it on the altar. After +a short prayer the archbishop took the sword from off the altar, and, +accompanied by several other bishops, delivered it into the Queen's +right hand. Then rising up her Majesty proceeded to the altar and +offered the sword in the scabbard, delivering it to the archbishop, +who placed it on the altar. Lord Melbourne then redeemed it by payment +of one hundred shillings, and having unsheathed it, bore it during the +remainder of the ceremony. + +"The most important part of the ceremonial now approached: the Dean +of Westminster having received the imperial mantle of cloth of gold, +lined or furred with ermine, proceeded to invest her Majesty, who stood +up for the purpose. Having resumed her seat, the orb with the cross +was brought from the altar, and delivered into her Majesty's hand by +the archbishop; having in like manner been invested with the ring, +the sceptre and the rod with the dove were placed in each hand. The +archbishop, then, standing before the altar, took the crown into his +hands, and again laying it on the altar said-- + +"'O God, who crownest thy faithful servants with mercy and loving +kindness, look down upon this thy servant Victoria, our Queen, who now +in lowly devotion boweth her head to thy divine majesty; and as thou +dost this day set a crown of pure gold upon her head, so enrich her +royal heart with thy heavenly grace, and crown her with all princely +virtues, which may adorn the high station wherein thou hast placed her, +through JESUS CHRIST, our LORD, to whom be honour and glory for ever +and ever. Amen.' + +"The Royal Crown was then brought from the altar and placed on her +Majesty's head. + +"At this instant the most deafening and enthusiastic cries of 'GOD SAVE +THE QUEEN!' rose from every part of the Abbey, the peers and peeresses +put on their coronets, the bishops their caps, and the spectators +cheered and waved their handkerchiefs. The guns in the park, and at the +tower, fired a royal salute. + +"After a short prayer by the archbishop, the choir sang an anthem, and +the Dean of Westminster taking the Bible, which had been carried in +the procession, from off the altar, presented it to her Majesty, who, +having received it, delivered it again to the archbishop, and it was +returned to the altar. + +"Having thus been solemnly anointed, and crowned, and invested with +all the ensigns of royalty, the archbishop solemnly blessed the Queen, +the rest of the bishops and the peers following every part of the +benediction with a loud and hearty 'Amen.' + +"The _Te Deum_ was then sung by the choir, and her Majesty passing to +the recognition chair in which she first sat, received the homage of +the peers. + +"The bishops first approached, and, kneeling before the Queen, the +archbishop pronounced the words of homage; the others repeating them +after him, and, kissing her Majesty's hand, retired. + +"The Royal Dukes, ascending the steps of the throne, took off their +coronets, and kneeling, repeated the words of homage, and then, +touching the crown on her Majesty's head, kissed her on the left cheek +and retired. + +"The other Peers then performed their homage, each in succession +touching the crown and kissing her Majesty's hand. + +"The monotony of this ceremony was relieved by one little incident +which evinced much kindness on the part of her Majesty. As one of the +peers (Lord Rolle), who is a very aged and infirm man, approached the +throne, he stumbled and fell back from the second step upon the floor. +He was immediately raised, and supported by two noble lords; when he +again approached, her Majesty, who beheld the occurrence with emotion, +rose from her throne and advanced to meet him, extending her hand to +him, and expressed much concern for the accident. This little trait of +genuine goodness of heart was warmly cheered. + +[Illustration: _Madeley lith. 3, Wellington St. Strand._ + +HER MAJESTY'S STATE CARRIAGE.] + +"Peter Parley was highly amused at the scene which was enacted behind +the throne, where one of her Majesty's Household was busily engaged +scattering the coronation medals. Peers, Peeresses, Aldermen, and +Military officers engaging warmly in the scramble and eagerly clutching +at the coveted memorials. + +"When the homage was concluded, her Majesty descended from the throne +and, proceeding to the altar, partook of the Holy Sacrament of the +Lord's Supper. + +"The procession was then marshaled in the same order in which it had +entered the Abbey. The rich effect of the costumes was however much +heightened by the coronets of the peers. + +"After a short stay in the robing rooms, the procession for the return +to Buckingham palace was formed, and the crowned Sovereign left +Westminster Abbey amid the enthusiastic greeting of her faithful and +devoted subjects. + +"Of course, there were many poems and songs made on this joyful +occasion. The best which Peter Parley has seen is one by Charles Swain, +which will form a very appropriate conclusion to this chapter. + + +"'CORONATION SONG. + +I. + + "'Thou music of a nation's voice, + Thou grace of old Britannia's throne, + Thou light round which all hearts rejoice, + God save and guard thee, England's own! + While thousand, thousand hearts are thine, + And Britain's blessing rests on thee, + Pure may thy crown, Victoria, shine, + And all thy subjects _lovers_ be! + + +II. + + "'Come, wives! from cottage--home, and field! + Come, daughters! oh, ye lovely, come! + Bid every tongue its homage yield, + Sound, trumpets, sound; and peal the drum! + GOD save the Queen! ring high, ye bells! + Swell forth a people's praise afar; + She's crowned the acclaiming cannon tells! + The Queen!--GOD save the Queen! hurrah! + + +III. + + "'Long may she live to prove the best + And noblest crown a Queen can wear + Is that a people's love hath blessed, + Whose happiness is in her care! + GOD bless the Queen! ring sweet, ye bells! + Swell forth old England's joy afar, + She's crowned the exulting cannon tells; + The Queen!--GOD bless the Queen! hurrah!'" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +PARLEY GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF THE ILLUMINATIONS, AND OF THE GRAND DISPLAY +OF FIRE-WORKS. + + +"AFTER the splendid pageant, which had rivetted the attention of every +one during its continuance, had passed away, the fair in Hyde Park +seemed to be the great centre of popular attraction. + +"Though pretty well tired out with the unusual exertion of the last +day or two, Peter Parley proceeded to Hyde Park to see what was going +on there. He had come across the Atlantic to see the show, and he was +determined to see all that was to be seen. + +"How different an aspect did the park now present to what it did when +Peter Parley visited it but two days before! The fair was now begun +in good earnest, and there was no end to the booths for the sale of +fancy goods of every description. Tents for the supply of articles of +more substantial enjoyment were in equal abundance, and every one of +them seemed to be completely crowded. When Peter Parley had wandered +about the outskirts of the fair for some time, he saw a great many +people standing looking at a large erection which seemed more like a +house than a tent. He soon recognised the theatre of Mr. Richardson, +which he had seen erecting when he first visited the park; as he drew +near he saw that the people were laughing and enjoying the antics of a +clown or merry-andrew, who was dressed in a parti-coloured dress, and +was cutting the most ridiculous capers, to the no small delight of the +spectators. + +"Peter Parley loves a little fun, and can laugh as loud as any one at +innocent amusement, so he got close up to the booth to see how the +clown acquitted himself. + +"'Come along, old boy!--this way, this way, father Adam!' cried the +fellow to Peter Parley, when he saw him advancing--'make way there, +ladies and gentlemen!' he continued, leaping right over the head of a +countryman who was gazing at him with intense delight, at the same time +knocking his hat over his eyes so as completely to blindfold him. In +an instant the clown stood beside Peter Parley, and was hurrying him +up the steps of the theatre before he knew what he was about. Peter +Parley, however, did not relish such a summary mode of introduction, so +he disengaged himself from the fellow's grasp and moved to another part +of the fair, amid the rude laughter of the by-standers. + +"Peter Parley was amazed at the number of round-abouts and swings of +every description, which beat the air and performed their evolutions +with almost incessant rapidity. Some of them in the form of boats, +which in the course of their movements rose and sunk alternately so as +to imitate the motion of a vessel on the water, seemed particularly +ingenious and appeared to be in constant request. Donkey races, too, +lent their attractions, and altogether such a scene of gaiety Peter +Parley never witnessed. + +"As long as daylight lasted these out-of-door amusements seemed to +lose little or none of their attractions. When it became too dark for +their performance people crowded into the theatres and tents, or waited +patiently for the grand display of fireworks which was to take place +at a late hour in the evening. + +"By way of making the most of his time Peter Parley got into a hackney +coach and drove through the principal parts of the town to see the +illuminations, which it was expected were to be on a grand scale. + +"All along the line of the procession the display was most splendid, +and though many of the exhibitions of private individuals were +beautiful and tasteful, the public offices certainly carried off the +palm. Peter Parley thinks he never saw such a brilliant display as that +at the Ordnance Office, in Pall Mall, the whole front of which was one +blaze of light. Peter Parley was told that there were no fewer than +sixty thousand lamps employed in the devices! + +"The Admiralty, Somerset House, and the Horse Guards, shared, with the +Ordnance Office, the attention of the evening. The former displayed a +magnificent imperial crown surmounting an anchor, with the union flag +on each side in coloured lamps. It had also an inscription, 'God save +the Queen.' + +"Somerset House, in which are several of the public offices, excited +a good deal of attention from a novelty in the art of illumination. +Instead of being lighted up with oil, the coloured lamps were +illuminated with gas, which added greatly to their brilliancy and +effect. The Horse Guards was, also, lit up in the same manner, and was +equally attractive. + +"There were, besides these, hundreds of others well worth looking at +and remembering too; but so many attractions offered themselves to his +notice on every side, that Peter Parley does not know which to tell you +about. + +"After being satisfied with gazing at the illuminations, Peter Parley +again proceeded to the Park, as the time approached for the grand +display of fireworks. + +"So dense was the crowd of eager spectators, that it was with +difficulty that Peter Parley could gain access to the Park. He +succeeded at length, however, thanks to the virtue of perseverance, +which has done much for him in the course of his life. + +"The display commenced by the discharge of what is called a maroon +battery, which fired off successively a series of immense crackers, +each giving a report like the loudest cannon. The commencement of the +spectacle was hailed with loud cheers by the assemblage, many of whom +had waited several hours, and were beginning to lose all patience at +the delay. + +"This startling display was immediately followed by an exhibition of +coloured fire, and four balloon mortars shooting forth serpents and +squibs of every variety of colour. The beautiful variety of tints, +blue, green, red, and purple, to which some of these gave rise when +they exploded in the air, was most magnificent. + +"For two whole hours did the gentlemen who had the direction of this +exhibition continue the display, each successive variety vieing in +beauty and brilliancy with that by which it was preceded, to the +delight of all beholders, many of whom, and Peter Parley among others, +never witnessed such a grand sight. The young Queen, it was said, +enjoyed the splendour and beauty of the sight from the palace window, +with as much interest and delight as any of her subjects. + +"It was almost one o'clock before the fireworks were concluded, and +nearly an hour later before Peter Parley could make his way home; and +the sun rose high in heaven before he awoke next morning. + +"Peter Parley must not omit to mention that all the theatres and places +of public amusement were, by her Majesty's command, open to the public +free; of course they were all filled, but Peter Parley did not visit +any of them. + +"It pleased Peter Parley to hear that the poor and the unfortunate were +no less kindly attended to. In almost every parish committees were +formed by the inhabitants for the purpose of collecting subscriptions +and arranging matters for regaling the poor and the children attending +the charity schools, so that to all the 28th of June should be a day +of rejoicing. Nor were the unfortunate inhabitants of the prisons +forgotten. In all those belonging to the city, they were each allowed +an ample repast, and in some of the others the great brewers supplied +them with a good allowance of ale or porter." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +PARLEY ATTENDS A REVIEW IN HYDE PARK, AND RELATES SOME PASSAGES IN THE +LIFE OF MARSHAL SOULT.--CONCLUSION. + + +"PETER PARLEY had begun to recover from the fatigue which he had +undergone, and was thinking of once more crossing the Atlantic, and +returning to the enjoyment of his quiet home, when one morning at +breakfast, Major Meadows announced that there was to be a grand review +in Hyde Park, on a scale of such splendour, that Peter Parley must see +it before he left town. + +"The day fortunately turned out one of the most beautiful that could be +conceived, and the crowds of persons who assembled to witness the grand +military display, were very great. It was estimated by some of the +military officers, who are accustomed to form pretty accurate notions +of vast bodies of men, that at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, there +were not less than two hundred thousand spectators present, in and +around the Park. + +[Illustration: MARSHAL SOULT'S STATE CARRIAGE.] + +"Early in the day the troops began to arrive, and by ten o'clock all +the regiments to be reviewed were on the ground. Shortly after, the +Duke of Wellington, Lord Hill, and a great number of English military +officers, as well as Marshal Soult, and all the foreign ambassadors, +attended by their brilliant suites, arrived, and were every where +received with great cheering. + +"At half-past eleven her Majesty arrived accompanied by her suite in +four carriages, each drawn by four horses, and escorted by a detachment +of Life Guards. She was attended by her Aides-de-Camp in full military +uniform. The arrival of the royal party was announced by a discharge +of cannon, the band striking up the national anthem, and the soldiers +presenting arms as her Majesty approached. + +"The great attraction among the foreign visitants was Marshal Soult, +who, as usual, excited much attention. As he rode close past the spot +where Peter Parley and his friend Major Meadows had taken their stand, +his stirrup broke, and we feared he would have fallen from his horse, +but the Marshal is a good rider, and quickly recovered. Peter Parley +afterwards saw a curious anecdote in the newspapers connected with this +accident. On learning what had happened, Sir H. Vivian immediately +dispatched a messenger to the saddlers to the Ordnance, to procure a +pair of stirrups to replace the broken one. It happened, singularly +enough, that the Saddlers had in their possession the stirrups which +Napoleon used in many of his campaigns; so that Marshal Soult, during +this review, actually did what was next to standing in his master's +shoes! + +"Seeing that Peter Parley was very much interested in the Marshal, +Major Meadows, who had been engaged in the Peninsular war, and had +fought against him in some of his most celebrated battles, continued, +when our attention was not completely occupied by the evolutions of the +troops, to relate many most interesting anecdotes of his distinguished +career. + +"'Marshal Soult,' said Major Meadows, 'is a very singular man, Mr. +Parley, and like many of Napoleon's generals, rose from the very +humblest rank. He entered the army as a private soldier, and, after +serving some time in this capacity in a royal regiment of infantry, he +became sub-lieutenant of grenadiers. + +"'He afterwards rose through the various ranks, till in 1796 he was +appointed general of brigade, and sent to join the army of Italy. Here +he soon won for himself new laurels, and his fame attracted the notice +of Napoleon, who henceforth honoured him with his personal esteem. + +"'On the eve of the memorable battle of Austerlitz, in which he was +entrusted with the command of the centre of the army, Napoleon, as +usual, called his marshals together to explain his plans to them, and +to give them instructions for their guidance. To the others he was +minute in his directions, in proportion to the importance of the posts +assigned to them. When he came to Soult, however, he merely said, 'as +for you, Soult, I have only to say, act as you always do.' + +"'In the midst of the battle, an aide-de-camp arrived with an order +that the Marshal should instantly push forward and gain certain +heights. 'I will obey the Emperor's commands as soon as I can,' replied +Soult, 'but this is not the proper time.' Napoleon, enraged at the +delay, sent a second messenger, with more peremptory orders. The second +aide-de-camp arrived just as the Marshal was putting his column in +motion. The manoeuvre had been delayed because Soult observed that his +opponents were extending their lines, and, consequently, weakening +their centre. Complete success attended the attack. Napoleon, who, from +the elevated position which he occupied, saw the attack, instantly +perceived the reason for the delay, and the brilliancy of the movement, +and riding up to Soult, complimented him in the presence of his staff, +who, but a few minutes before, had seen him angry at the supposed +disobedience, saying, 'Marshal, I account you the ablest tactician in +my empire!' + +"'After the battle of Eylau, Napoleon was very much discouraged at +the loss he had sustained, and wished to fall back, so as to form a +junction with the other corps of his army. Against this resolution +Soult warmly protested, telling the Emperor, that from what he had +seen, he expected the enemy would retreat during the night, and thus +leave the French army in possession of the field. Napoleon complied +with the Marshal's advice, and every thing took place just as he had +foretold. So that it was to the sagacity of Soult that the French army +owes the honour of the victory of Eylau. + +"'In 1808, Soult, now Duke of Dalmatia, was entrusted with the command +of the army in Spain, and his first movement was to pursue the gallant +Sir John Moore in his memorable retreat towards Corunna. Under the +walls of that town he engaged the British army, but, after a sharp +contest, was completely repulsed. The British general, however, was +killed in the action, and was buried in the citadel, his corpse wrapped +in a military cloak, and the guns of his enemy paying his funeral +honours. Marshal Soult, with that noble feeling which can only exist in +minds of true greatness erected a monument to his memory, near the spot +where he so nobly fell. + +"'To the Duke of Dalmatia Napoleon entrusted the command of the army, +when the defeat of the French at Vittoria had placed the Peninsula +at the mercy of the Duke of Wellington. After a series of conflicts, +which covered the British army and its able general with glory, Soult, +finding the cause of his imperial master hopeless, gave up the contest +and returned to Paris. + +"'Soult afterwards fought at Waterloo, but without that distinction +which might have been expected from his old renown. After this battle, +which for ever stamped the fate of Napoleon, and showed Wellington the +greatest general of the age, Soult retired to the country, and lived +for some years in seclusion. He was however recalled, and created a +peer of France by Charles X.' + +"Such was Major Meadows' account of this celebrated man. To Peter +Parley he was an object of great interest, because his presence +recalled the remembrance of some of the spirit-stirring events in +which he had been a participator; not that Peter Parley is an admirer +of military genius or delights in military renown. He would rather do +honour to the humblest benefactor of the human race than the greatest +general that ever lived. With him the glory of James Watt, the inventor +of the steam-engine, far outshines the lustre of a Soult, or a Ney, +or an Alexander! and he would rather be the author of the Waverley +Novels than be crowned with the blood-stained laurels of a Napoleon or +a Wellington! + +"Peter Parley is one of those who hope the time is now come when the +sound of war will be heard no more, and nations, instead of wasting +their energies in deeds of blood, will strive to rival each other only +in the peaceful pursuits of commerce and the arts." + + * * * * * + +"Peter Parley must now bid his young friends good bye! When he meets +them again he hopes to find them all equally willing to be pleased and +as patient and attentive to the tales which he tells them, as they have +been to his 'VISIT TO LONDON DURING THE CORONATION OF QUEEN VICTORIA.'" + +[Illustration] + + + FINIS. + + + CLARKE, Printers, Silver Street, Falcon Square. + + + + +JUVENILE WORKS JUST PUBLISHED. + + + STORIES ABOUT DOGS, + ILLUSTRATIVE OF + THEIR INSTINCT, SAGACITY, AND FIDELITY. + + BY THOMAS BINGLEY, + _Author of "Stories about Instinct."_ + + Embellished with Engravings from Drawings by + THOMAS LANDSEER. + + _Price 4s. neatly bound._ + + +NOW READY, BY THE SAME AUTHOR, + + STORIES + ILLUSTRATIVE OF + THE INSTINCT OF ANIMALS, + THEIR CHARACTERS AND HABITS. + + WITH ENGRAVINGS BY THOMAS LANDSEER. + + _Four Shillings bound._ + + +II. + + TALES OF SHIPWRECKS, + AND OTHER DISASTERS AT SEA. + + WITH ENGRAVINGS, + + _Four Shillings bound._ + + +APPROVED JUVENILE WORKS. + + + TALES OF ENTERPRISE, + For the Amusement of Youth, + BY PAUL HOPKINS, + WITH ENGRAVINGS, BEAUTIFULLY BOUND AND GILT. + _Price Half-a-Crown._ + + + _Price 5s. bound in ornamented cloth._ + BIBLE QUADRUPEDS; + THE + NATURAL HISTORY OF THE ANIMALS MENTIONED IN + SCRIPTURE. + WITH SIXTEEN ENGRAVINGS. + +"This is an excellent little tome for young people; cherishing at the +same time a love for the Holy volume and a taste for natural history. +It contains sixteen nice pictures of the most prominent subjects, by S. +Williams."--_Literary Gazette._ + + +CHARLES TILT, FLEET STREET. + + + + +LIST OF PLATES. + + + I.--THE CORONATION OF QUEEN VICTORIA. + II.--HER MAJESTY LEAVING BUCKINGHAM PALACE. + III.--MARSHAL SOULT'S STATE CARRIAGE. + IV.--HER MAJESTY'S STATE CARRIAGE. + V.--THE PROCESSION APPROACHING WESTMINSTER ABBEY. + VI.--HER MAJESTY LEAVING HER PRIVATE APARTMENTS IN + WESTMINSTER ABBEY. + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Peter Parley's Visit to London, by Peter Parley + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43995 *** |