The Express.
London, England, 1852-11-13 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING. NOVEMBER 13, 1862.

LYING IN STATE AND FUNERAL

OF TMK

DUKE OF WELLINGTON.
THE LYING IN STATE AT CHELSEA.
Yesterday being the day act apart for the admission
of the foteign ambassadors and ministers, the nobility,
members of parliament, and ofileen of the army and navy,
to view the lying in state, carriages began to arrive at the
covered matinee at Chelsea Hospital u early as 9 o'clock,
and between 10 and 11 formed a continuous line along the
Queen's.roed and Grosvenor-row, Sloane-street, and Asy-
lum-row. Amongst the early arrivals were the principal
members of the government, foreign ambassadors,and mem-
bers of both Roams of Parliament, who, on alighting, passed
through the vestibule into the chamber where lay the
body of the departed ttu, surrounded by the mournful
paraphernalia on °sessions of lying in state. The several
gaieties having passed through the room, departed at the
exit dour is Queen'eroait. A very large body of police
were in attendance throughout the entire line of route,
who, owing to the excellence of the arrangements, sue-
ceeded in preventing any confusion or accident. The
arrivals and departures were increasing end continuous
during the entire morning, bat, owing to the extreme in-
clemency of the weather, comparatively few pedestrians
presented themselves, nor was there a very large attendance
of the public to witness the arrival and departure of the
privileged visitors.

_
The room is which the dead hero lies in state is the hall
of the hospital, no doubt well known to many of our
readers, but so changed by the funeral garb with which it
has been invested, that none would recognise it. Enter-
ing through n long vestibule hung with black, and
lighted by what we may call • plumed chandelier, in
front of • trophy formed of thirty tattered and faded
banners, surmounted by the Royal Standard, the
visitor pulsing on through thick and heavily draped
curteins, finds himself suil,!enly in presence of the illustrious
dead. At the end of a long hall, hang in • tent.like fashion
with sable draperies, wove which are carried silver cords,
so as to relieve the otherwise monotonous effect of an un-
broken service of black, he sees a raised dale, on which
rest the bier and coffin. the dais is covered in
the centre with • cloth of gold carpet, the bier (four feet
high and mine feet long), being formed of black velvet,
and surmoueted by the coffin, richly decorated with
gilding an.l crimson velvet. On the end of the bier is
suspended an overwhelming display of stars and orders—
among which the inelgnia of the Garter occupy the
proudest position. The whole bier is surrounded by a
magnificent silver balustrade adorned with heraldic devices,
from which project pedestals, which bear, upon black'
velvet cushioes, the Marshal's batons and orders 'of
Great Britain, Hanover, Austria, the Netherlands,
Portugal, Prussia, Kneels, and Spain, and the Duke's
standard and guidon, and attached to all are lion sup-
porters in gold, more than two feet high, bearing the
shields and banners of the nations enumerated. The
hall is lighted by four rows et colossal silver cande-
labra, distributed in double file, at regular intervals, on
either side, and extending to the foot of the dais They
are 24 in number, stand seven feet high, and have wax
candles in them seven feet long and three inches thick.
The rows of candelabra next tho side walls being
mounted on pedestals, burn at an elevation of 17 or 18
feet from the ground, and the light is thus shed more
evenly, than would otherwise be the case, over the sombre
decorations of the interior. A low platform runs along
the side walls of the ball, and upon this picked soldiers
of the Greaadier Guards 'Lind like statues, resting on
their arms reversed. Arouud the catafalque the Yeo-
men of the Guard are stationed, and nine mourner., one-
half military, tho other from the Lonl Chamberlain's
department, are seated. The chair of the chief mourner
is placed at the head of the coffin, and is concealed from
view.