DOMESTIC CHRONICLE. MARCH, 1820. CEREMONIAL OF HIS LATE THE solemn interment of our late lamented Sovereign, took place at Windsor, on Wednesday, the 16th of February, at eight o'clock in the evening. To preserve in the memory of our readers, a ceremonial so interesting, we have collected from various sources the following authentic account, and only regret that our limits will not allow of more detailed particulars. ORDER OF THE PROCESSION. Knight Marshal's Men, two and two, with black Staves. Trumpets and Kettle Drums, and Drums and Fifes of the Foot Guards Poor Knights of Windsor. Pages of his late Majesty. Apothecaries to his Majesty. Apothecaries to his late Majesty. Surgeons to his Majesty. Surgeons to his late Majesty. "The Curate and Rector of Windsor. Gentlemen Ushers Quarterly Waiters to his Majesty. Grooms of the Privy Chamber to his Majesty. Physicians to his Majesty. Physicians to his late Majesty. Household Chaplain to his late Majesty. Clerk Marshal and First Equerry. Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber to his Majesty. Grooms of the Bed-Chamber to his Majesty. Solicitor General. Master of the Robes to his Majesty. Attorney General. Barons of the Exchequer & Justices of both Benches. The Lord Chief Baron. The Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. Comptroller of the King's Household. Treasurer of the King's. Household. Privy Councillors (not Peers ) Covered with a fine Holland Sheet and a Purple Velvet Pall, adorned with Ten Escutcheons of the IMPERIAL ARMS, carried by Ten Yeomen of the Guard, under a CANOPY of Purple Velvet. First Gentleman Usher Daily Waiter to his Majesty. Garter Principal King of Arms. THE CHIEF MOURNER, in a long Black Cloak, his Train Supporter: borne by two Peers, Assisted by the Vice Sixteen Peers, Assistants to the Chief Mourner. Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. Supporter: in long black cloaks, the train of each borne by two The Council of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, Master of the Household of his late Majesty on the Windsor Establishment. Groom of the Stole Vice Chamberlain to his late Majesty on the Windsor Establishment. Lords of his late Majesty's Bed-Chamber. Equerries to his late Majesty. Gentlemen Pensioners, with their axes reversed. The solemn splendor of the interesting spectacle we want language to describe. Even were time and space at our command we should feel ourselves wholly unequal to the task. The stalls on each side of the Choir lined with black cloth-the floor covered in the same way-the splendid canopy of mazarine, or Royal blue velvet, raised over the open sepulchre, sustained by the frame work, surmounted by a Royal Crown, and adorned with Escutcheons, and all that the pomp of Heraldry could supply, furnished a picture of surpassing magnificence. Had this been all, the effect would have been most striking: but when, in addition to this the superb blaze thrown from the chandeliers fixed all around the walls of the sacred edifice, in addition to what were formerly used on funeral occasions, were seen throwing their rays on the cold remains of a Monarch about to descend into the yawning grave, it will easily be conceived, that nothing was wanted to give the mournful parting scene all possible grandeur, that nothing could be added to heighten the effect of . "The last words that dust to dust conveyed." The service was read by the Dean of Windsor, in his usual impressive manner.-An awfully thrilling sensation ran through the whole assembly, when the moment arrived in which the remains of his late Majesty were to be lowered into the vault destined to receive them; and when the coffin was seen slowly descending, every eye, though dim with sorrow, was strained to catch a last glimpse of this most interesting part of the awful solemnity. It was at a quarter after ten that all that was mortal of the revered George the Third sunk to its last resting place. In the course of the ceremony, Kent's "Hear my prayer" was performed, and immediately before the last collect and the blessing, Handel's Funeral Anthem, composed on the occasion of the death of Queen Caroline, was sung. The service terminated with the blessing, and the other Royal and Noble personages left the choir, a solemn voluntary being performed on the organ as they retired. The grave remained open for some time, and many who were previously excluded from the chapel, eagerly embraced this last opportunity of gazing on the coffin of their late Sovereign, on which the Crowns of England and Hanover rested. The soldiers were dismissed, and the whole business concluded, shortly after midnight. It is not possible for us to do justice to the feelings of sor tow and of fond affectionate regret which marked every part of the progress of this interesting scene. Among all classes it was felt to be a national event of such high impore tance, that every one was anxious to be able to tell that he had seen the last honours rendered to the good old King. Thus were committed to the grave, in all solemnity and honour, with the high ceremonial of religion and of state, the mortal remains of his Most Sacred Majesty George III, But though his body is given to the dust, his memory will not decay, while there is veneration in England for Royal virtue. His Majesty, placed in an inferior rank of life, would have been an honoured man ;-for integrity, munifi cence, and purity, he would have been the first Nobleman of the Land. The Providence that placed him on the proudest throne of the world, destined him to preside over an age in which all earthly Sovereignty was to be tried, to be yet preserved and restored by the Throne of England, made strong by the affections of the people, and those affections won by the virtues of the Sovereign. TO CORRESPONDENTS. We are much indebted to a Correspondent, (without any signature to his letter,) who sent us a discourse on the Death of the late King, and regret that its length precludes our wish of inserting it. We have received many articles this month from our Poetical Correspondents, and also letters signed Cantab. Civis, and F., for which we are much obliged. T. BELL, PRINTER, QUNdle. |