The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1869-11-02 00:00:00

FUNERAL OF. THE. EARL. OF DERRY...

The remains of the Earl of Derby were on Friday
pieced in the new family vault in Knownley Church. It
was the express injunction of the late earl that his
funeral should be atrictly trivate. It was therefore
unstt. navel by any save the members of his family, •
few nose reistives, some of the upper officers on his vast
estates, and the servants at Knowaley. Thus the great
feudal ebi.f who has been thrice Prime Minister of
Englend pessed quietly to his grave in the church be
built and endowed, and was placed there with no other
ceremony than the simplest form of the burial service.
The few shops and hoetelie,s of Knowsley were closed.
and the blinds in the private houses were drawn. A
considerable nuniber of amities and cabs, drawn up
near the church, indicated that many present herlonme
from conailerehle distance,. A few young men, wearing
a "fast" Liverpool appearance, name on bizycles. The
request which was effectually made to the sbopkeeping
tenants on the estate to suspend business during the
funeral, was of no avail against the enterprise of catch-
perrny hawkers of what they called " niemorial cards."
Tley also traded in pamphlets containing a short
biography of the late earl, and to make themeelves more
conspicuous had decorated their hate with this literature
AO ari to give a fantastic resembianee to • mitre.
Tbe church at Knowsley is distant from the hall about
a mile and a bal. The road is private excepting for
for foot protegees. Thin being the route of the pro-
cession at many points Vele people who mostly seemed
to be residents. The funeral procession started at a few
minutes after twelve. The hearse, which it said to be
the arms as was used at the funeral of the late Prince
Contort, was drawn by aix hors., each covered with a
velvet sloth. On the side of the hear.' the Stanley
arms were emblazoned on a emend of white silk, the
motto, "San. changer," sinning in gollen letters. Eight
mourning coaches followed, each drawn by four horses
similarly draped and capariesued with three in the
hares, and each carriige surmounted by heavy black
plumes. The occupants of the carriages were the Earl
of Derby, Captain the Hon. Fred Stanley, the Hon.
Colonel Stanley, Captain fitanley, Captain Long, the
lion. Colon. I El. Wilbraham, the Rev. Canon Hopwood,
the Rev. F. Hopwood, Mr, Arthur Hopwood, Mr.
Charles Hopwood, Lord Gray de Wilton, Mr. Penrhyn,
the Rev. Oswald Penrhyn Pricer of Hisyton), the Rev.
'Phipps Chrimpness, Lord tikelmeradsle. Rear-Admiral
Hereby, the Rev. Edward Hereby, Mr. Edward Hornby,
Lord Hyde, Dr. Miller and Mr. Goat (the medical
Attendants on the late earl), Mr. Lawrence (the family
eolictor), Mr. C. C. Hale (the land steward on the
Knowsley ...tete). and Mr. W. Moult. Mr. Thomas
Stetter, Mr. Win. Moult, junr., and Mr. 1 Holme. The
enrfive was preceded by two mutes, following whom was
theists earl's velet, beanie on a crimson cushion a
coronet set In amine, and behind the carriage. about 80
of the principal men servants at the hall, dressed in
deep mourning, welked in proces.ion four deep. The
proweinionoectipied nearly an hour In reashing Knowsley
Choreb. Near the eburebyard the reed was lined with
spectator..
Knowsley chunk a neat specimen at perpeadiesler
Gothic, herl for an hour and a bait hem tilled. Adobe
'ion was by ticket, seri it was announced that none but
those wearing mourning would be allowed to pass tbe
door. The regulation was pretty strictly observed.
A lady alone, who managed to maps the vigilance
alike of police and vergers, was prominent In a green
dress and a crimson shawl, and idea of mourning
costume In More than one sense revolutionise.. The
church was draped and carpeted in black, the only
relief to the monotony of Deem trappings being the
Stanley Arms, emblazoned on • white silk pound, and
hung on the front of the pulpit.
During the time of waiting the wailing of the organ
broke the solemn puttees.; and when the organ wes
admit there was borne on the ear the faint, slow notes
of. muffled bell. About one o'clock the funeral pro.
ceesion reached the church, and the Incumbent, the
Rev. William Feilden Feilden, accompanied by the Rev.
3. R. Itoulton, went into the graveyard to meet the
coffin, which was aeon borne into the church ; while the
solemn word., "1 am the nieurrecrinn and the life."
"I know that my Redeemer bath," announced the
opining of the burial service. The coffin, which was
e ',tree I with crimson velvet, and richly ornamented with
gilt meuutinga, was placed on the teasels, the black
pall was cast over it, and above the grim token if
tnortelity was placed, on • crinsion cushion, and glowing
with ermine, the Earre coronet. Led by the present
laird Derby, the MOUrnert one by one took their places
unit the little ehurch was quite full. Then,
emir'
• stillness like unto that of the grave, and
in clear ettn tone., the Rey. Mr. Feilden
lead that Ninetienth Paalni which clothes with
magnificent imagery the fen that Man'. stay on
this earth Is brief and full of trouble. "The days of
our 'eon are threaoore yam sod ten." Nest followed
that stiblimest of Pauline chapters, in which the greet
Apostle of the Derail°, paints the glories of the
Reruns etion Day. The Collect was read, the blessing
pronounced, and all was over. When the rev, gentle-
man came to the words, " Ashes to ales, dust to dust,"
the clic( mourner was overcome with emotion, and
buried hie face in his hands for sonic time. As soon
as the coffin was placed in the vault. the coronet was
removed Irons the r rmine tippet on which it bad rested
and placed over the breastplate on the lid. After a few
brief monients of prayer, the mourner, left the church.
and the einiple hut majestic ceremony was at an end.
The eanlt. which was well lighted, is shout 40 feet
to.,g, and II feet broad, and II feet high. Thai,
iii a roef of groined stone; UPI on each side
there are twelve stone aloha, or ebel Vee for
the reception of the daid. The late Earl is the
fiat tenant of the gloomy abode, and his coffin
rests on the ioweet abet( of the right hand row. Or
whet., it alieuld be said, his conies; for hie remains
are enclosed in three. That which holds the body Is
made of oak, from • tree grown on the eetate, and is
enelaped in • lead covering of great weight aid," thick-
noes ; the whole Ireina tueleeed in a sealed °elfin
oak. The led eoeering bees the ; °Af
Oerefea, 14th E.; of time,
flat. Ur& ONO." On the ona co-
9th, 1799;
inscribed the full armorial of
nir Falwara tleriffery
Heron Stanley of Ito-k este e, ~,4 1-"hy.
" Hine :inn- telt
ha
P.O. Bore 29th Mardi. 1199 ; died T.l net,
After the visitors lad satialled their marl '
".4! be 'wading the IRIS. the covering 51 the vauh in.
eam
apiece& Use chetah slowly emptied, and the et... 4
.4
mourners trooped to their homes.