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]