The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-04-30 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

had the mournful satisfaction of contemplating the
Queen's last gift to her devoted servant. Her Majesty
gave also another wreath, but this one of everlasting
flowers and bay leaves. On the ends of the white
satin bow with which this wreath was tied were a
few words embroidered in gold—on one, From
Queen Victoria,' on the other, A mark of true affec-
tion, friendship, and regret.' The Prince of Wales
was personally present at the funeral, and placed
with his own hands upon the coffin two wreaths of
white roses and camelias, saying as he did so,
This is from myself, and this from the Princess
of Wales.' rhe Prince of Wales's wreath bore the
inscription, From his Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales—a tribute of friendship and affection,' and the
writing was that Of his Roy. 4' -_a_ighness. The Duke
of Connaught, who strode beside his Royal brothers
in the procession, laid also, just before it started; a
wreath upon the coffin from the Duchess of Connaught,
on which a few violets showed their scented petals,
emblematical of the soul, among white camelias and
eucharis. It bore the inscription, A token of
regret and respect from her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Connaught.' Prince Leopold offered on
his own part a wreath bearing the words, A mark of
fribndship and respect from Leopold.' Also upon
the coffin there was laid an immortelle of pure white
flowers, inscribed, A mark of respect from Beatrice.'
Other wreaths from the Royal family were—one
which be a card on which the words were written,
A mark of esteem from her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Cambridge ; ' a wreath from Prince and
Princess Christian, inscribed, A token of deepest
respect, gratitude, and affection from Prince and
Princess Christian ; ' from the Duke and uchess of
Teck, marked, A last tribute ohaffection, regret, and
admiration from Mary Adelaide." The Baron von
Pawel Rammingen attended the funeral, and brought
a wreath from the Princess Frederica."

The morning broke dull and lowering, slight
showers falling at intervals. As the morning ad-
vanced the weather somewhat brightened. Each
of the morning trains brought, numbers of pas-
sengers from London and other places' anxious to
secure positions for the best view of the funeral
ceremonial. From Beaconsfield parish many strangers,
the majority of them Americans, wended their way
to Hughenden. Before half-past twelve o'clock
so many people had gathered in the churchyard,
that the police found it necessary to clear the
graveyard. In High Wycombe most of the shops had
their shutters up, and at the private houses many
blinds were drawn; but at two o'clock every place of
business was entirely closed.

The appearance which the terminus of the Great
Western Railway at Paddington presented was one of
unusual activity. Long before the departure of the ordi-
nary 3.25 a.m. train the platform was thronged with
persons, many of whom had taken tickets over-night for
High Wycombe in order to be in time to witness the
sad ceremony at Hughenden. In addition to the
passengers several carriages and horses belonging
to distinguished personages were sent on by this
train to meet the late trains arriving at the local
station. It addition to the ordinary trains many
specials were made up for the occasion. The
first of these started at 10.55 from the middle depar-
ture platform. In consisted of 15 carriages and con-
veyed about 500 passengers, but the demand for room
was so pressing that many ticket holders had to be
left behind and content themselves with waiting for
the ordinary eleven o'clock train. The number of
persons who actually proceeded to High Wycombe by
the Great Western Railway, was 1,400 • being 300
first-class, 300 second-class, and 700 third-class passen-
gers' with 100 invited guests, who went by the 12.45
and 1.20 trains.

The train prepared for the conveyance of the Prince
of Wales to Wycombe consisted of 16 first and second
class carriages, the Princess of Wales's saloon, and the
ordinary brakes. No sooner was the train int its
place than.the
,carriages began rapidly to fill; and all
.seats procurable were occupied by the time the Prince
of Wales arrived. In the Royal waiting-room was
collected a few eminent personages, amongst whom
was Lord Colville, who had charge of a floral tribute
from the Princess of Wales, wreaths, and other
devices fashioned by her Royal Highness's hands.

The Prince of Wales, who was accompanied by the
Duke of Connaught and Prince Leopold, and at-
tended by Colonel Teesdale and Captain Clarke,
arrived at the station a few minutes before the time
appointed for the departure of the train. Almost
precisely at a quarter to one o'clock the train steamed
out of the station amidst the silent and respectful
salutations of the large crowd collected on the plat-
form. 0_ _ _ _

The special train chartered for invited funeral guests
left Paddington about three-quarters of an hour
after the train conveying the Royal and distin-
guished friends and official colleagues of the illustrious
deceased. The train was made up of six saloon
carriages and amongst their occupants were the
Duke Of Richmond, Earl Cairns, Marquis of
Salisbury, Earl Lytton, Earl of Derby, Earl
Percy, representing the Duke of Northumberland,
Sir W. Harcourt, Sir R. Cross, Mr. W. H.
Smith, Lord Henry Lennox several members of the
late Conservative Administration, and a large number
of private members sitting on both sides of the House
of Commons. A large crowd witnessed the departure
of the train from Paddington, and on the platforms of
the small stations on the line through which the train
passed considerable numbers were congregated, many
wearing complimentary mourning and standing un-
covered, as though by this reverent act they were
participating in the funeral solemnities.

At half-past twelve o'clock the Bucks Volunteers
arrived at High Wycombe by train from Marlow,
Buckingham, Aylesbury, Slough, Wolverton, and
Stony Stratford. At the station they were met by
the Wycombe Company, who formed up in the
station yard. The battalion then marched off
under the command of Major Springhall Thompson,
who is the next senior officer to Lieut.-Colonel
Wetherell, absent abroad.

We take the following account of the Funeral ceremony
from the Evening Standard
At about half-past one the bell of Wycombe Church,
on the tower of which a white ensign had been
placed half-mast high, began to toll, and this was
apparently taken by the inhabitants as a sign for
them to close their shops, this being at once com-
menced. By this hour the streets presented a most
animated appearance, each train disgorging large
numbers on the thoroughfares. Of course all took
the same road. The Prince of Wales, who was
accompanied by the Duke of Connaught and Prince
Leopold, arrived at Wycombe at a little after two
o'clock. Their Royal highnesses were received by
Lord Carrington, who was accompanied by his
brothers, Colonel the Hon. William Carrington and
the Hon. Rupert Carrington, the members for the
city and the borough. The Mayor of Wycombe, Mr.
Thomas Wheeler, and the Town Clerk, Mr. Daniel
Clarke, were also present unofficially. All the
approaches to the station were kept by the police, but
a crowd gathered outside, which respectfully uncovered
as the Royal party, seated in Lord Carington's car-
riages, passed through their ranks on the may to
Wycombe Abbey, where they partook of lunch -before
going on to Hugh_enden.
- -

The Prince of Wales had a wreath enveloped in
paper with him, and there were also two other boxes
apparently containing similar articles. With the
Prince and his brothers were Lord Bridport, General
Ponsonby, Colonel Colville, Colonel Teesdale, Mr.
Francis Knollys, and many other members of the
Royal Households. By the time this train arrived
the rain had cleared away, and the sun once more
shone forth with a promise of a fine afternoon.
The special train conveying the guests reached
Wycombe at twenty-five minutes to three. Mr.
Arthur Vernon, the architect to the late Earl, was at
the station, and directed the visitors to the carriages,
of which there were something approaching two
hundred in waiting. The long procession then
wended its way by Castle Hill and the Hughenden•road
through the Green Gate, in exactly the same way that
the remains were brought on Sunday morning. All
along the roadside and almost as far as the Golden
Gates of the Italian
.Garden thrones of people were
gathered, who anxpiply scanned- the faces of the
many noble and distinguished men of politics, art,
and science, who thus passed them. Amongst those
most readily recognised were the Marquis of
Hartington and Sir W. Harcourt. The Prince of
Wales and his Royal brothers reached the Manor
House from Wycombe Abbey at a little after
three, and were shown into the saloon; where the
body lay upon the bier. By this time the assem-
blage must have numbered some thousands, but
in such a convenient position does the church
stand that nearly all were able to obtain a
view. The
.pproaches were excellently kept, but
with such a well-ordered crowd there was not much
difficulty about the matter. All down the lane that
winds some three hundred yards from the front of the
lawn to the entrance of the churchyard, the Volun-
teers were drawn up with arms reversed, while behind
their ranks the people crowded from three to six deep.
At half-past three, the hour apnointed for the cere-
mony to commence approached., almost the only
sound to be heard beside the church bell was the
shrill cry from the peacocks that strutted around
the Manor. Then came a sharp call for ".atten-
tion " to the military, and the solemn cortege !was
seen wending its way down the hill towards the
church. First came Mr. Frederick Baum, the con-
fidential valet of the late Earl, carrying the Insignia
of the Garter and the coronet. Immediately behind
was the coffin on a four-wheeled bier, such as is
often used in Scotland, supported at the sides by
eight of the labourers on the estate. The oak of
which the ,coffin is made was almost hidden be-
neath the mass of wreaths with which it was
covered. Immediately in rear of the coffin walked
the chief mourners, Mr. Ralph Disraeli, and his
son Coningsby, Lord Rowton, and Viscount
Barrington, Sir Nathaniel de Rothschild, and Sir
Philip Rose. The Prince of Wales and his Royal
brothers were next in order, and were immediately
followed by General Sir Henry Ponsonby, Colonel
the Hon. W. J. Colville, representing his Royal
Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel Bridport,
Captain Eliot, representing the Prince and Princess
Christian, Colonel Tyrwhitt, C. 8., representing his
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the Ambas-
sadors and Ministers of Foreign Powers, two and two,
the friends of the deceased nobleman who were his col-
leagues in the Governments of 1868 and 1874. Behind
these came the other friends of the deceased ndbleman
who had received invitations to be present. Mr. A.
Tumor, Mr. J. F. Daly, and Mr. W. H. Van Baerle,
the late private secretaries; Mr. Rose, solicitor; 111 r.
Arthur Vernon, the land agent, the household
servants, while the rear of the funeral oortege was
brought up by the tenants. As the funeral procession
approached the entrance of the churchyard it was
met by the vicar, the Rev. Henry Blagden, who in
the most impressive manner intoned the opening
passages of the burial office.
On entering the church, 11,Ir. Baum carried the in-
signia as far as the Communion Thble, where he stood
during the intonation of the first portion of the
service. Mrs. Blagden, who officiates at the organ,
played Beethoven's "Funeral March " as the
. mourners took their places, in an exquisite style.
The chief mourners, including the members of
the Royal family, were accommodated with seats
in the chancel, Mr. Ralph Disraeli sitting by the
side of the vacant stall that was usually occupied by
the Earl, and in fruit of which hung a massive floral
ivreath and cross, The remainder of those composing