Peter Parley's Visit to London, During the Coronation of Queen Victoria

by Anonymous

  CHAPTER IX.

  PARLEY CONTINUES HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE CORONATION IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

  "THE ceremony of anointing followed next in order--Her Majesty havingbeen divested of her crimson robe by the Mistress of the Robes, tookher seat in St. Edward's chair, and the Dean of Westminster taking fromthe altar the ampulla, containing the consecrated oil, and pouring someof it into the anointing spoon, proceeded to anoint her Majesty on thecrown of the head and on the palm of both hands, in the form of across--four knights of the garter holding over her head a rich cloth ofgold.

  "The Dean of Westminster then took the spurs from the altar anddelivered them to the Lord Great Chamberlain, who, kneeling before herMajesty, presented them to her, after which she forthwith sent themback to the altar. The Viscount Melbourne, who carried the sword ofstate, then delivered it to the Lord Chamberlain, receiving in lieuthereof, another sword, in a scabbard of purple velvet, which hislordship delivered to the archbishop, who laid it on the altar. Aftera short prayer the archbishop took the sword from off the altar, and,accompanied by several other bishops, delivered it into the Queen'sright hand. Then rising up her Majesty proceeded to the altar andoffered the sword in the scabbard, delivering it to the archbishop,who placed it on the altar. Lord Melbourne then redeemed it by paymentof one hundred shillings, and having unsheathed it, bore it during theremainder of the ceremony.

  "The most important part of the ceremonial now approached: the Deanof Westminster having received the imperial mantle of cloth of gold,lined or furred with ermine, proceeded to invest her Majesty, who stoodup for the purpose. Having resumed her seat, the orb with the crosswas brought from the altar, and delivered into her Majesty's hand bythe archbishop; having in like manner been invested with the ring,the sceptre and the rod with the dove were placed in each hand. Thearchbishop, then, standing before the altar, took the crown into hishands, and again laying it on the altar said--

  "'O God, who crownest thy faithful servants with mercy and lovingkindness, look down upon this thy servant Victoria, our Queen, who nowin lowly devotion boweth her head to thy divine majesty; and as thoudost this day set a crown of pure gold upon her head, so enrich herroyal heart with thy heavenly grace, and crown her with all princelyvirtues, which may adorn the high station wherein thou hast placed her,through JESUS CHRIST, our LORD, to whom be honour and glory for everand ever. Amen.'

  "The Royal Crown was then brought from the altar and placed on herMajesty's head.

  "At this instant the most deafening and enthusiastic cries of 'GOD SAVETHE QUEEN!' rose from every part of the Abbey, the peers and peeressesput on their coronets, the bishops their caps, and the spectatorscheered and waved their handkerchiefs. The guns in the park, and at thetower, fired a royal salute.

  "After a short prayer by the archbishop, the choir sang an anthem, andthe Dean of Westminster taking the Bible, which had been carried inthe procession, from off the altar, presented it to her Majesty, who,having received it, delivered it again to the archbishop, and it wasreturned to the altar.

  "Having thus been solemnly anointed, and crowned, and invested withall the ensigns of royalty, the archbishop solemnly blessed the Queen,the rest of the bishops and the peers following every part of thebenediction with a loud and hearty 'Amen.'

  "The _Te Deum_ was then sung by the choir, and her Majesty passing tothe recognition chair in which she first sat, received the homage ofthe peers.

  "The bishops first approached, and, kneeling before the Queen, thearchbishop pronounced the words of homage; the others repeating themafter him, and, kissing her Majesty's hand, retired.

  "The Royal Dukes, ascending the steps of the throne, took off theircoronets, and kneeling, repeated the words of homage, and then,touching the crown on her Majesty's head, kissed her on the left cheekand retired.

  "The other Peers then performed their homage, each in successiontouching the crown and kissing her Majesty's hand.

  "The monotony of this ceremony was relieved by one little incidentwhich evinced much kindness on the part of her Majesty. As one of thepeers (Lord Rolle), who is a very aged and infirm man, approached thethrone, he stumbled and fell back from the second step upon the floor.He was immediately raised, and supported by two noble lords; when heagain approached, her Majesty, who beheld the occurrence with emotion,rose from her throne and advanced to meet him, extending her hand tohim, and expressed much concern for the accident. This little trait ofgenuine goodness of heart was warmly cheered.

  _Madeley lith. 3, Wellington St. Strand._

  HER MAJESTY'S STATE CARRIAGE.]

  "Peter Parley was highly amused at the scene which was enacted behindthe throne, where one of her Majesty's Household was busily engagedscattering the coronation medals. Peers, Peeresses, Aldermen, andMilitary officers engaging warmly in the scramble and eagerly clutchingat the coveted memorials.

  "When the homage was concluded, her Majesty descended from the throneand, proceeding to the altar, partook of the Holy Sacrament of theLord's Supper.

  "The procession was then marshaled in the same order in which it hadentered the Abbey. The rich effect of the costumes was however muchheightened by the coronets of the peers.

  "After a short stay in the robing rooms, the procession for the returnto Buckingham palace was formed, and the crowned Sovereign leftWestminster Abbey amid the enthusiastic greeting of her faithful anddevoted subjects.

  "Of course, there were many poems and songs made on this joyfuloccasion. 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!'"