which gave us not only a more extenfive view, but let the light in upon every part of the proceffion. I fhould tell you, that a rank of foot foldiers was placed on each fide within the platform; and it was not a little furprifing to fee the officers familiarly converfing and walking arm and arm with many of them, till we were let into the fecret, that they were gentlemen who had put on the dreffes of common foldiers, for what purpose I need not mention. On the outfide were Rationed, at proper diftances, feveral parties of horie-guards, whofe horfes,indeed, fomewhat incommoded the people, that preffed incefiantly upon them, by their prancing and capering; though, luckily, I do not hear of any great mifchief being done. I must confefs, it gave me much pain, to fee the foldiers, both horfe and foot, molt unmercifully belabouring the heads of the mob with their broad-fwords, bayonets, and mufquets; but it was not unpleasant to obferve feveral tipping the horfe-foldiers filly from time to time (fome with halfpence, and fome with filver, as they could mufter up the cash) to let them país between the horses to get nearer the platform; after which thefe unconscionable gentry drove them back again. As foon as it was day-break (for I chofe to go to my place over-night) we were diverted with feeing the coaches and chairs of the nobility and gentry paffing along with much ado; and ieveral períons, very richly dreffed, were obliged to quit their equipages, and be efcorted by the foldiers through the mob to their refpective places. Several carriages, I am told, received great damage: Mr. Jennings, whom you know, had his chariot broke to pieces; but providentially neither he nor Mrs. Jennings, who were in it, received any hurt.

Their majetties (to the fhame of thofe be it fpoken who were not fo pun&tual) came in their chairs from St. James's through the Park to Westminster about nine o'clock, The king went into a room which they call the Court of Wards, and the queen into that belonging to the gentleman-uther of the black-rad. The nobility and others, who were to walk in the proceffion, were muftered and ranged by the officers of arms in the Court of Requefts, Painted Chamber, and House of Lords, from whence the cavalcade was conducted into Weftminsterhall. As you know all the avenues and places about the Hall, you will not be at a Jofs to understand me. My pafs-ticket would have been of no fervice, if I had not

prevailed on one of the guards, by the irrefiftible argument of half-a-crown, to make way for me through the mob to the Hall-gate, where I got admittance just as their majefties were feated at the upper end, under magnificent canopies. Her majefty's chair was on the left hand of his majefty; and they were attended by the great chamberlain, lord high constable, earl marshal, and other great officers. Four fwords, I obferved, and as many ' fpurs, were prefented in form, and then placed upon a table before the king.

There was a neglect, it feems, 'fomewhere, in not fending for the dean and prebendaries of Westminster, &c. who, not finding themselves fummoned, came of their own accord, preceded by the cho. rifters, fingers, c. among whom was your favourite, as indeed he is of every one, Mr. Beard. The Hall-gate was now thrown open to admit this leffer proceffion from the Abbey, when the bishop of Rochefter (that is, the dean) and his attendants brought the Bible and the following regalia of the king, viz. St. Edward's crown, refted on a cushion of gold cloth, the orb with the cross, a fceptre with the dove on the top, another tipt with a crofs, and what they call St. Ed. ward's ftaff. The queen's regalia were brought at the fame time, viz. her crown upon a cushion, a fceptre with a cross, and a rod of ivory with a dove. These were feverally laid before their majefties, and af、 terwards delivered to the respective officers who were to bear them in the proceffion.

Confidering the length of the cavalcade, and the numbers that were to walk, it is no wonder that there should be much confufion in marshalling the ranks. At laf, however, every thing was regularly adjufted, and the proceffion began to quit the Hall between eleven and twelve. The platform leading to the weft door of the Abbey was covered with blue baize for the train to walk on; but there feemed to me a defect in not covering the upright pofts that fupported the awning, as it is called (for they looked mean and naked) with that or fome other coloured cloth. As I carry you along, I fhall wave mentioning the minute particulars of the proceffion, and only obferve that the nobility walked two by two. Being willing to fee the proceffion pafs along the platform through the streets, I hastened from the Hall, and by the affiftance of a foldier made my way to my former ftation at the corner of Bridge-freet, where the windows

commanded

commanded a double view at the turning. I fhall not attempt to defcribe the fplendor and magnificence of the whole; and words mut fall fhort of that innate joy and fatiffaction which the fpectators felt and exprefed, especially as their majefties paffed by; on whofe countenances a dignity fuited to their station, tempered with the most amiable complacency, was fenfibly impreffed. It was obfervable, that as their majef. ties and the nobility paffed the corner which commanded a profpect of Westminster bridge, they ftopped thort, and turned back to look at the people, whofe appearance, as they all had their hats off, and were thick planted on the ground, which rofe gradually, I can compare to nothing but a pavement of heads and faces.

I had the misfortune not to be able to get to the Abbey time enough to fee all that paffed there; nor, indeed, when I got in, could I have fo diftin&t a view as I could have withed. But our friend Harry Whitaker had the luck to be ftationed in the first row of the gallery behind the feats allotted for the nobility, clofe to the fquare platform which was erected by the altar, with an afcent of three steps, for their majefties to be crowned on. You are obliged to him, therefore, for feveral particulars which I could not otherwife have informed you of. He tells me, as foon as their majellies entered the church, the choir struck up with an anthem; and, after they were feated, and the ufual recognition and oblations were made, the litany was chanted by the bishops of Chelter and Chichefter, and the refponfes made by the whole choir, accompanied by the whole band of mufic. Then the first part of the communion-fervice was read; after which a fermon was preached by the bishop of Salisbury, now archbishop of York. I was not near enough to hear it, nor, perhaps you will fay, did I much defire it; but, by my watch, it lafted only fifteen minutes. This done, Harry fays he faw very diftin&tly his majefty fubfcribe the declaration, and take the coronation oath, the folemnity of which ftruck him with an unfpeakable awe and reverence; and he could not help reflecting on the glorious privilege which the English enjoy, of binding their kings by the molt facred ties of confcience and religion. The king was then anointed by his grace of Canterbury on the crown of his head, his breaft, and the palms of his hands; after which he was prefented with the fpurs, and girt with the fword, and was then in

vefted with the coronation-robes, the armills, as they are called, and the imperial pall. The orb with the cross was also prefented, and the ring was put upon the fourth finger of his majefty's right hand by the archbishop, who then delivered the fceptre with the crofs, and the other with the dove; and being affifted by several bifhops, he laftly placed the crown reverent, ly upon his majesty's head. A profound awful filence had reigned till this moment, when, at the very inftant the crown was let fail on the King's head, a fellow having been placed on the top of the Abbey-dome, from whence he could look down, into the chancel, with a flag which he dropt as a fignal; the Park and Tower guns began to fire, the trumpets founded, and the Abbey echoed with the repeated fhouts and acclamations of the people. The peers, who before this time had their coronets in their hands, now put them on, as the bifhops did their caps, and the reprefentatives of the dukes of Aquitaine and Normandy their hats. The knights of the Bath in particular made a moft fplendid figure, when they put on their caps, which were adorned with large plumes of white feathers. It is to be observed, that there were no commoners knights of the Garter; confequently, instead of caps and vestments peculiar to their order, they, being all peers, wore the robes and coronets of their refpective ranks. I fhould mention, that the kings of arms alfo put on coronets.

Silence again aflumed her reign, and the fhouts ceafing, the archbishop proceeded with the rest of the divine fervice; and after he had prefented the Bible to his majefty, and folemnly read the benedictions, his majesty killed the archbishops and bifhops one after another as they knelt before him. The Te Deum was now performed, and this being ended, his majefty was elevated on a fuperb throne, which all the peers approached in their order, and did their homages.

The coronation of the queen was performed in nearly the fame manner with that of his majefty; the archbishop anointed her with the holy oil on the head and breaft, and after he had put the crown upon her head, it was a fignal for princefs Augufta and the peereffes to put on their coronets. Her majefty then received the fceptre with the crofs, and the ivory rod with the dove, and was conducted to a magnificent throne on the left hand of his majefty.

3 P4

I cannot

M

I cannot but lament that I was not near enough to obferve their majefties going through the most serious and folemn acts of devotion; but I am told, that the reverent attention which both paid, when (after having made their fecond oblations) the next ceremony was, their receiving the holy communion, it brought to the mind of every one near them, a proper recollection of the confecrated place in which they were. Prayers being over, the king and queen retired into St. Edward's chapel, juft behind the altar. You must remember it it is where the fuperftition of the Roman Catholics has robbed the tomb of that royal confeffor of fome of its precious ornaments; here their majefties received each of them a crown of fate, as it is called, and a proceffion was made in the fame manner as before, except in fome trifling inftances, back again to Westminfter-hall, all wearing their coronets, caps, &c. You know I have often faid, that if one lofes an hour in the morning, one may ride after it the whole day without being able to overtake it. This was the cafe in the prefent inftance; for, to whatever caufes it might be owing, the proceffion molt affuredly fet off too late: befides, according to what Harry obferved, there were fuch long paufes between fome of the ceremonies in the Abbey, as plainly fhewed all the actors were not perfect in their parts. However it be, it is impoffible to conceive the chagrin and difappointment which the late return of the proceffion occafioned; it being fo late indeed, that the fpectators, even in the open air, had but a very dim and gloomy view of it, while to thole who had fat patiently in Weftminfterhall, waiting its return for fix hours, fcarce a glimpfe of it appeared, as the branches were not lighted till jult upon his majefty's entrance. I had flattered myself that a new icene of fplendid grandeur would have been prefented to us in the return of the proceffion, from the reflection of the lights, c. and had therefore pofted back to the Hall with all poffible expedition: but not even the brilliancy of the ladies j wels, or the greater luftre of their eyes, had the power to render our darkness wifible; the whole was confufion, irregularity, and diforder.

However, we were afterwards amply recompenfed for this partial eclipfe by the bright picture which the lighting of the chandeliers prefented to us. Your unlucky law-fuit has made you too well acquainted

with Weftminster-hall for me to think of defcribing it to you; but I affure you the face of it was greatly altered from what it was when you attended to hear the verdict given against you. Instead of the inclofures for the courts of Chancery and King's Bench at the upper end, which were both removed, a platform was railed with feveral afcents of steps, where their majefties in their chairs of ftate, and the royal family, fat at table. On each fide, down the whole length of the Hall, the reft of the company were feated at long tables, in the middle of which were placed, on elevations painted to reprefent marble, the deferts, &. Conceive to yourself, if you can conceive, what I own I am at a lofs to defcribe, fo magnificent a building as that of Westminster-hall, lighted up with near three thoufand wax candles in most fplendid branches; our crowned heads, and almot the whole nobility, with the prime of our gentry, moft fuperbly arrayed, and adorned with a profufion of the moft brilliant jewels; the galleries on every side crowded with company for the most part elegantly and richly dreffed: but to con. ceive it in all its luftre, I am conscious that it is abfolutely neceflary one must have been prefent To proceed in my narration

Their majefties table was ferved with three courfes, at the firft of which earl Talbot, as steward of his majesty's houfhold, rode up from the Hall-gate to the fteps leading to where their majefties fat; and on his returning the fpectators were prefented with an unexpected fight, in his lordship's backing his horfe, that he might keep his face ftill towards the king. A loud clapping and huzzaing confequently enfued from the people prefent. The ceremony of the champion, you may remember we laughed at, at its reprefentation laft winter; but I affure you it had a very ferious effect on thofe ladies who were near him (though his horse was very gentle) as he caine up, accompanied by lord Effingham as earl marshal, and the duke of Bed ford as lord high-conftable, likewise on horfeback: it is needlefs to repeat what paffed on this occafion. I am told, that the horfe which the champion rode was the fame that his late majefty was mounted on at the glorious and memorable battle of Dettingen. The beaft, as well as the rider, had his head adorned with a plume of white, red, and blue feathers.

You cannot expect that I fhould give you a bill of fare, or enumerate the num

ber

ber of dishes that were provided and fent from the temporary kitchens erected in Cotton-garden for this purpofe. No lefs than fixty haunches of venifon, with a furprizing quantity of all forts of game, were laid in for this grand feaft: but that which chiefly attracted our eyes, was their majefties defert, in which the confectioner had lavished all his ingenuity in rock-work and emblematical figures. The other deferts were no lefs admirable for their expreffive devices. But I must not forget to tell you, that when the company came to be feated, the poor knights of the Bath had been overlooked, and no table provided for them: an airy apology, however, was ferved up to them instead of a subftantial dinner; but the two junior knights, in order to preferve their rank of precedency to their fucceffors, were placed at the head of the judges table, above all the learned brethren of the coif. The peers were placed on the outermoft fide of the tables, and the peereffes within, nearest to the walls. You cannot fuppofe that there was the greateft order imaginable obferved during the dinner, but must conclude, that fome of the company were as eager and impatient to fatisfy the craving of their appetites as any of your country 'Iquires at a race or affize ordinary.

It was pleasant to fee the various ftratagems made ufe of by the company in the galleries to come in for a fnack of the good things below. The ladies clubbed their handkerchiefs to be tied together to draw up a chicken or a bottle of wine; nay, even garters (I will not fay of a different fex) were united for the fame purpofe. Some had been fo provident as to bring baskets with them, which were let down, like the prifoners boxes at Ludgate or the Gate-houfe, with a Pray, remember the poor.

You will think it high time that I fhould bring this long letter to a conclufion. Let it fuffice then to acquaint you, that their majefties returned to St. James's a little after ten o'clock at night; but they were pleafed to give time for the peereffes to go first, that they might not be incommoded by the preffure of the mob to fee their majefties. After the nobility were departed, the illuftrious mobility were (according to custom) admitted into the Hall, which they presently cleared of all the moveables, fuch as the victuals, cloths, plates, dishes, &c. and, in fhort, every thing that could stick to their fingers.

I need not tell you, that several coronation medals, in filver, were thrown among the populace at the return of the proceffion. One of them was pitched into Mrs. Dixon's lap, as fhe fat upon a fcaffold in Palace-yard. Some, it is faid, were alfo thrown among the peereffes in the Abbey just after the king was crowned; but they thought it below their dignity to stoop to pick them up.

My wife defires her compliments to you: he was bugeously pleafed with the fight. All friends are, well, except that little Nancy Green has got a fwelled face, by being up all night; and Tom Moffat has his leg laid up on a ftool, on account of a broken fhin, which he got by a kick from a trooper's horfe, as a reward for his mobbing it. I fhall fay nothing of the illuminations at night: the news-papers must have told you of them, and that the Admiralty in particular was remarkably lighted up. I expect to have from you an account of the rejoicings at your little town; and defire to know whether you was able to get a flice of the ox which was roafted whole on this occafion.

I am, dear Sir,
Yours moft heartily,
JAMES HEMMING.

P. S. The Princefs Dowager of Wales, with the younger branches of the royal family, did not walk in the grand proceffion, but made up a leffer proceflion of their own; of which you will find a fufficient account in the public prints. They had a box to fee the coronation in the Abbey, and afterwards dined in an apartment by themselves adjoining to the Hall.

Since my writing the above, I have been informed for certain, that the fword of ftate, by fome mistake, being left behind at St. James's, the Lord Mayor's fword was carried before the king by the earl of Huntingdon, in its ftead; but when the proceffion came into the Abbey, the sword of ftate was found placed upon the altar.

Our friend Harry, who was upon the fcaffold, at the return of the proceffion closed in with the rear; at the expence of half a guinea was admitted into the Hall; got brim-full of his majefty's claret; and, in the univerfal plunder, brought off the glafs her majefty drank in, which is placed in the beaufait as a valuable curiofity. B. Thornton.

§ 140.

140. A Letter from a fuccessful Adventurer in the Lottery.

Sir,

You will not be at all furprifed when I tell you, that I have had very ill-luck in the lottery; but you will ftare when I fur ther tell you, it is becaufe unluckily I have got a confiderable prize in it. I received the glad tid ng of my misfortune laft Saturday night from your Chronicle, when, on looking over the lift of the prizes, as I was got behind my pipe at the club, I found that my ticket was come up a zooo!. In the pride as well as joy of my heart, I could not help proclaiming to the company my good luck, as I then foolishly thought it, and as the company thought it too, by infifting that I should treat them that evening. Friends are never fo merry, or stay longer, than when they have nothing to Fay: they never care too how extravagant they are on fuch an occafion. Bottle after bottle was therefore called for, and that too of claret, though not one of us, I believe, but had rather had port. In fhort, I reeled home as well as I could about four in the morning; when thinking to pacify my wife, who began to rate me (as ufual) for ftaying out fo long, I told her the occafion of it; but instead of rejoicing, as I thought the would, fhe cried" Pith, ONLY two thousand pounds!" However, fhe was at lait reconciled to it, taking care to remind me, that she had chofen the ticket herfelf, and fhe was all along fure it would come up a prize, becaufe the number was an odd one. We neither of us got a wink of fleep, though I was heartily inclined to it; for my wife kept me awake-by telling me of this, that, and t'other thing which he wanted, and which the would now purchaf, as we could afford it.

I know not how the news of my fuccefs fpread fo fcon among my other acquaintance, except that my wife told it to every one fhe knew, or not knew, at church. The confequence was, that I had no lefs than feven very hearty friends came to dine with us by way of wishing us joy; and the number of thele hearty friends was increafed to above a dozen by fupper time. It is kind in one's friends to be willing to partake of one's fuccefs; they made themfelves very merry literally at my expence; and, at parting, told me they would bring fome more friends, and have another jolly evening with me on this happy occafion,

When they were gone, I made fhift to get a little reft, though I was often disturbed by my wife talking in her fleep. Her head, it feems, literally ran upon wheels, that is, the lottery-wheels; fhe frequently called out that he had got ten thoufand pounds: the muttered feveral wild and incoherent expreflions about gowns, and ruffles, and ear-rings, and necklaces; and I once heard her mention the word coach. In the morning, when I got up, how was I furprised to find my good fortune published to all the world in the news-paper! though I could not bat fmile (and madam was greatly pleafed) at the printer's exalting me to the dignity of Efquire, having been nothing but plain Mr. all my life before. And now the misfortunes arifing from my good fortune began to pour in thick upon me, In confequence of the information given in the news-paper, we were no fooner fat down to breakfast than we were complimented with a rat-a-tatoo from the drums, as if we had been just married: after thefe had been filenced by the ufual method, another band of mufic faluted us with a peal from the marrow-bones and cleavers to the fame tune. I was haraffed the whole day with petitions from the hofpital boys that drew the ticket, the commiffioners clerks that wrote down the ticket, and the clerks of the office where I bought the ticket, all of them praying, "That my Honour would confider them." I fhould be glad you would inform me what thefe people would have given me if I had had a blank.

My acquaintance in general called to know, when they fhould wait upon me to wet my good fortune. My own relations, and my wife's relations, came in fuch shoals to congratulate me, that I hardly knew the faces of many of them. One infifted on my giving a piece of plate to his wife; another recommended to me to put his little boy (my two-and-fortieth coufin) out 'prentice; another, lately white-washed, propofed to me my fetting him up again in bufinefs; and feveral of them very kindly told me, they would borrow three or four hundred pounds of me, as they knew I could now fpare it.

My wife in the mean time, you may be fure, was not idle in contriving to dif pofe of this new acquifition. She found out, in the first place, (according to the complaint of most women) that the had not got a gown to her back, at least not one fit for her now to appear in. Her ward

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