Dec] 



CHRONICLE. 



1 



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tickets issued for the ante-chapel; 

 for a procession without specta- 

 tors is, of all things, the most 

 uninteresting ; and yet this was 

 the case yesterday. That grand 

 and ample space which would 

 have contained several hundreds 

 of spectators had only a few 

 soldiers, whose torches scarcely 

 illuminated the place, and only 

 served to show the dreary solitude 

 over which they were scantily 

 scattered. Before we dismiss 

 this part of the subject, it may be 

 fit to say a word as to the con- 

 duct of the numerous bodies of 

 military, who, with a selection 

 not apparently well suited to the 

 occasion, formed a principal part 

 of the procession to conduct a 

 Queen to her tomb. The cavalry, 

 without any exception, behaved 

 with the utmost propriety, and 

 performed their civil duties of 

 maintaining order with much 

 good temper and courtesy. The 

 behaviour of the Foot-guards was 

 less conciliatory — less gentle ; 

 but it is merely common justice 

 to say that the officers, whenever 

 applied to, listened to every com- 

 plaint of those who thought 

 themselves aggrieved, with the 

 most ready, polite, and anxious 

 attention. 



We now proceed to describe 

 the ceremonial as it took place 

 within the walls of St. George's 

 Chapel. The number of persons 

 admitted as visiters on this occa- 

 sion, and not forming part of the 

 preparation itself, was very small, 

 being limited to fifty-four, who 

 were allowed, by means of 

 tickets, to pass by the eastern 

 door of the chapel, adjoining to 

 the deanery, and to take their 

 •tation in "the organ-loft, from 



VOL. LX. 



whence a tolerable view both of 

 the entrance of the procession 

 and the solemn concluding cere- 

 mony could be obtained. These 

 visiters were admitted soon after 

 6 o'clock, at which time the 

 chapel was still so dimly lighted 

 as scarcely to render objects 

 visible. The scene, however^ 

 soon began to assume the ap- 

 pearance of illumination in a 

 slight degree, as the soldiers who 

 were stationed in the ante-chapel 

 were gradually supplied with 

 torches. The choir, though 

 lighted in the usual manner, from 

 the effect of the black cloth with 

 which it was covered, still re- 

 mained gloomy and indistinct. 

 At 7 o'clock the bell of the 

 chapel began to toll, as an inti- 

 mation that the procession had 

 moved from Frogmore, while the 

 marshals and the persons belong- 

 ing to the Lord Chamberlain's 

 office began to call over and to 

 form those who were to precede 

 the procession into the choir. 

 This was managed with great 

 decorum, and so as scarcely to 

 disturb the general silence that 

 reigned throughout the arcades 

 of this noble building. The in- 

 terval till eight o'clock was thus 

 occupied, when the quick moving 

 of lights and general bustle dis- 

 covered through the windows 

 annoimced the arrival of the 

 funeral cavalcade. At this mo- 

 ment the notes of the organ 

 were heard, and the choirentered, 

 each singer bearing a lighted 

 taper in his hand, and singing the 

 well-known anthem from Croft's 

 burial service. The strength and, 

 completeness of this choral band, 

 at least treble the usual number 

 allotted to the cathedral service, 

 N aud 



