388 
on board the fleet ; and another, de- 
claring, that any British subject 
found on board an enemy’s ship, 
with intent to commit hostilities 
against this country, will be liable to 
suffer death. 
1sth. ‘This day, by order of his 
majesty, a DecrAnation or Wan 
on the part of Great Britain against 
France was laid before parliament : 
And thus, after a feverish interval of 
exactly ONE YEAR AND SIXTEEN DAYS, 
have hostilities commenced between 
the two countries, as it was pre- 
dicted and believed they would, by 
every man in the empire, who aspired 
to the science or to the name of a 
politician ! 
19th. 
remonial of the installation of the 
knights of the most honourable mi- 
litary order of the Bath, which took 
place this day. 
From the prince’s chamber in the 
house of lords was a covered plat- 
form, which reached to the N. EK. 
door of the Abbey, wide enough 
to admit six persons to pass in 
breadth; this platform was lined with 
the guards. So strong was the ex- 
pectation of the crowd, that as early 
as 6 o'clock, several houses were 
filled with visitors, and at 8 the win- 
dows and houses in. New Palace 
Yard were crowded. At half past 
8 o’clock, the life-guards were sta- 
tioned in all the streets and avenues 
leading ito the abbey, from the 
Horse-guards to Petty-France, 
Dean’s-yard, Millbank, and all the 
leading avenues, with sixty horses, 
which guarded the platform on cach 
side leading to the door, to prevent 
the pressure of the crowd. About 
9 a passage was made. to the plat- 
form, large enough to admit car- 
riages, where the knights and es- 
quires were set down; and after- 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
The following was the ce- 
1803. 
wards proceeded to the anti-chamber 
leading to the prince of Wales’s 
chamber r, where they were received 
by the dean and chapter of West- 
minster, pursuivants, heralds, and 
provincial kings of arms, who con- 
ducted them to the prince’s cham- 
ber, preparatory to forming the 
procession. At 10, her majesty 
and the princesses arrived, and en- 
tered the great south door: and 
soon after, his royal highness the 
duke of York appeared in his state 
carriage, his horses ornamented with 
yellow ribbons ; his appearance was 
announced by the beat of drums and 
sound of trumpets ; his royal high- 
ness alighted near the door of the 
abbey, and proceeded upon the 
platform, attended by Mr. Stepney, 
his train-bearer, from thence to the 
prince’s chamber, where the proces- 
sion was in waiting. About 10 thi- 
nutes past 11, the spectaters were 
aroused by the sound of 15 knights 
trumpeters, six drums, and a kettle- 
drum. The old national. air of. 
‘* Britons strike home” was played, 
after several interchanges between 
the drums and trumpets. ‘Phe pro- 
cession advanced in slow march to 
the middle of the ‘platform, where 
it remained for some time, till the , 
remainder of the procession came on 
in regular succession. About half 
past 11 the procession entered West- 
minster abbey, by the south-east 
door, leading into the south cross, 
and passed down the south aisle in 
the following order : 
Six gentlemen in dark crimson silk 
scarfs, uncovered, preceding, the 
’ procession. 
Druims of his majesty’s household. 
The.drum-major. 
Kettle-drums and trumpets. 
The serjeant-trumpeter with his 
mace. 
Twelve 
