LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE,
November 7, 1817.
_Orders for the Court's going into Mourning on Sunday next, the
9th instant, for Her late Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte
Augusta, Daughter of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and
Consort of His Serene Highness the Prince Leopold Saxe-Cobourg,
viz._:
The LADIES to wear black Bombazines, plain Muslin, or long Lawn
Crape Hoods, Shamoy Shoes and Gloves, and Crape Fans.
Undress:--Dark Norwich Crape.
The GENTLEMEN to wear black cloth without buttons on the Sleeves
or Pockets, plain Muslin, or long Lawn Cravats and Weepers, Shamoy
Shoes and Gloves, Crape Hatbands and black Swords and Buckles.
Undress:--Dark Grey Frocks.
For LADIES, black Silk, fringed or plain Linen, white Gloves, black
Shoes, Fans, and Tippets, white Necklaces and Earrings.
Undress:--White or grey Lustrings, Tabbies, or Damasks.
For GENTLEMEN, to continue in black, full trimmed, fringed or plain
Linen, black Swords and Buckles.
Undress:--Grey Coats.
For LADIES, black silk or velvet coloured Ribbons, Fans, and
Tippets, or plain white, or white and gold, or white and silver
Stuffs, with black Ribbons.
For GENTLEMEN, black Coats and black or plain white, or white and
gold, or white and silver stuffed Waistcoats, coloured Waistcoats
and Buckles.
[Illustration: FIG. 62.--_Funeral of Charles Darwin, Esq., in
Westminster Abbey._]
THE Register of "Notices" preserved at the Lord Chamberlain's Offices
date back from 1773 to 1840. They are written in chronological order
from the first folio (9th March, 1773) to folio 16 (28th Nov., 1785).
After this date a number of papers are missing, and, curious to relate,
the next entry is Oct. 24, 1793, and orders the Court to go into
mourning for ten days for Her late Majesty Marie Antoinette, Queen of
France.
On the margin of the one for mourning for Louis XVIII., is written
a note to the effect that the "King this day, Sep. 18, 1824, orders
three weeks' mourning for the late King of France." At about this time,
too, the word "the ladies to wear bombazine gowns" disappears, and is
replaced by "woolen stuffs."
Our military etiquette connected with mourning was really modelled
on that in use in the army of Louis XIV., as is proved by a rather
singular fact. In 1737 George II. died, and an order was issued
commanding the officers and troopers in the British army to wear
black crape bands and black buttons and epaulettes. Very shortly
afterwards the French Government issued a decree to the effect that,
as the English army had "slavishly imitated the French in the matter
of wearing mourning, henceforth the officers of the French army should
make no change in their uniform, and only wear a black band round the
arm." Oddly enough, at the present moment both the French and the
English armies wear precisely the same "badge of grief," a black band
of crape on the left arm above the elbow.
The Sovereign can prolong, out of marked respect for the person to be
mourned, the duration of the period for general and Court mourning.
The following are regulations for Court mourning, according to the
register at the Lord Chamberlain's office:--
For the King or Queen--full mourning, eight weeks; mourning, two weeks;
and half-mourning, two weeks: in all, three full months.
For the son or daughter of the Sovereign--Full mourning, four weeks;
mourning, one week; and half-mourning, one week: total, six weeks.
For the brother or sister of the Sovereign--full mourning, two weeks;
mourning, four days; and half-mourning, two days: total, three weeks.
Nephew or niece--full mourning, one week; half-mourning, one week:
total, two weeks.
Uncle or aunt--same as above.
Cousin, ten days; second cousin, seven days.
THE following are the accepted reasons for the selection of various
colours for mourning in different parts of the world:--
_Black_ expresses the privation of light and joy, the midnight gloom of
sorrow for the loss sustained. It is the prevailing colour of mourning
in Europe, and it was also the colour selected in ancient Greece and in
the Roman Empire.
_Black and white striped_ expresses sorrow and hope, and is the
mourning of the South Sea Islanders.
_Greyish brown_--the colour of the earth, to which the dead return. It
is the colour of mourning in Ethiopia and Abyssinia.
_Pale brown_--the colour of withered leaves--is the mourning of Persia.
_Sky-blue_ expresses the assured hope that the deceased is gone to
heaven, and is the colour of mourning in Syria, Cappadocia, and Armenia.
_Deep-blue_ in Bokhara is the colour of mourning; whilst the Romans in
the days of the Republic also wore very dark blue for mourning.
_Purple and violet_--to express royalty, "Kings and priests of God." It
is the colour of mourning of Cardinals and of the Kings of France. The
colour of mourning in Turkey is violet.
_White_--emblem of "white-handed hope." The colour of mourning in
China. The ladies of ancient Rome and Sparta sometimes wore white
mourning, which was also the colour for mourning in Spain until 1498.
In England it is still customary, in several of the provinces, to wear
white silk hat-bands for the unmarried.
_Yellow_--the sear and yellow leaf. The colour of mourning in Egypt and
Burmah. In Brittany widows' caps among the peasants are yellow. Anne
Boleyn wore yellow mourning for Catherine of Arragon, but as a sign of
joy.
_Scarlet_ is also a mourning colour, and was occasionally worn by the
French Kings, notably so by Louis XI.
[Decoration]
[Illustration: FIG. 63.--_Funeral of His Imperial Majesty Frederick
the Noble, Emperor of Germany. The Funeral Service in the Imperial
Chapel._]
[Illustration: FIG. 64.--_Funeral of His Majesty the Emperor of
Germany. The Procession leaving the Palace._]