1831.] THE SHOPS SHUT. jg^ 



to the shops with me and bullies about prices (not that I yet 

 buy) : hang me if I give ^60 for pistols. 



Yesterday all the shops were shut, so that I could do noth- 

 ing ; and I was child enough to give i is. for an excellent 

 seat to see the Procession.* And it certainly was very well 

 worth seeing. I was surprised that any quantity of gold could 

 make a long row of people quite glitter. It was like only 

 what one sees in picture-books of Eastern processions. The 

 King looked very well, and seemed popular, but there was very 

 little enthusiasm ; so little that I can hardly think there will 

 be a coronation this time fifty years. 



The Life Guards pleased me as much as anything they 

 are quite magnificent ; and it is beautiful to see them clear 

 a crowd. You think that they must kill a score at least, 

 and apparently they really hurt nobody, but most dpeucedly 

 frighten them. Whenever a crowd was so dense that the 

 people were forced off the causeway, one of these six-feet 

 gentlemen, on a black horse, rode straight at the place, mak- 

 ing his horse rear very high, and fall on the thickest spot. 

 You would suppose men were made of sponge to see them 

 shrink away. 



In the evening there was an illumination, and much 

 grander than the one on the Reform Bill. All the principal 

 streets were crowded just like a race-ground. Carriages 

 generally being six abreast, and I will venture to say not go- 

 ing one mile an hour. The Duke of Northumberland learnt 

 a lesson last time, for his house was very grand ; much more 

 so than the other great nobility, and in much better taste ; 

 every window in his house was full of straight lines of brilliant 

 lights, and from their extreme regularity and number had a 

 beautiful effect. The paucity of invention was very striking, 

 crowns, anchors, and "W. R.'s " were repeated in endless 



father a newsagent's business, to which he steadily adhered up to his death, 

 " in his 73rd year." He was a man of a thoroughly amiable and honour- 

 able character, and was a valued office-bearer of several of the learned 

 Societies. 



* The Coronation of William IV. 

 13 



