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."