The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-07-02 00:00:00

TITS CORONATION..

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The preparation. staking fiir Oils splendid ce-
k remony in the vicinity of Westminster Hall and.
t Ahbsy, attracted grew! crewels every /Jay last week,l,
; until yesterday, ;viften .a ,loperieg sky, mei p torrent:
1 of rain, otter on, iiiterval of three, weeks .of, twin-
terrupted dry,weather, damped the erdrier of cu-
riosity, and disappointed a host 9f whalers from
every part of the town. Some doubt*. bad been
entertained that the Coronation would be ;iota:weed,
but we believe they originated merely ie... cons
teeinktion of the gimit 'difficulty of eceopipiishing
every thing wester, within the- time ametoweced.
ii.. the 19th ilmMell..• 74 Fie (*bits hm"F*6•44B
.. , . .
. now dissipated. • ,
The various . . • 'nerd in the Mgr
rations have be ea smidious in their labours.
and the arrangements are approacliiog quickly. to-
wards completion.
The platform extending from the Hill to the
Abbey, is finished. with the exceptiou of the distil
linings end decoration.; A space is left close to
New Palace-yard -for the pavane of tarriages, and
thietseill be co•tinsed epee till whie o'clock hi the
lineeining of Coronation, • when it will be finally
'abed. The materials are all ready for the pan.
peek pod can be erected in , a very short apse! ,f
time.
The 'table of the Champion is, with the excep-
tion of some trifling fitments, also cotnplete. It is
solidly built, and covered with lead. It is expected
that the roof will • be occupied by spectators, to
whom the Champion will have the privilege of
venting tickets. It will command an excellent
view of the procession. A stage, of gentle ascent,
reaches from the door of the stable to the platform,
along which the Champion will ride. This, like
the platform itself, will be covered with an awning.
Saturday the sides of the platform, from one end
to the other, were enclosed with boards, to exclude
the public, by whom it was made i sort of prone.
node. The object of this arrangement is to prevent
interruption to the upholsterer.. This screen will
be removed on the morning of Coronation.
The grandeur of the scene in the Hall results
chiefly from its simplicity and vastness. Its di-
notimuosis are aee feet by mote that 50, making it,
she believe, the largest apartment known. The
two rows of galleries on each side under its curved
and complicated Norman roof are simple and
straight, ornamented in front by Gothic panels
of the pointed arch description, coloured to
resemble the work of the ceiling, and lined with
crimson. These are supported by light iron pil-
lars. At the north end, opposite the throne, is the
triumphal arch, under which the procession passes,
seed the Champion enters, io all the pride and
MPof chivalry, to throw down his gauntlet.—
temporary erection, though of a minor branch
of the arts, merits high praise. The design is, ap-
propriately, Gothic. of the florid style of • castle
gate, composed of a pointed *rcpt in the centre,
crowned with a pyramidicel frontispiece, enriched
With foliage and pinnacles, having on each side a
toner. embelhshed with niches and the figures of
St. Edward and Richard 11. and surmounted by
mitistie battlements. The execution reflects credit
on the artists Who litre painted it, since. without
the aid which artificial lights bestow on scenic re-
presentations, it has all the effict of an edifice of
sculptured masonry. On these towers heralds and
trumpeters will take their stand, and in the centre
the full-toned organ and the grand orchestra will
be displayed. At the south end you rise by three-,
ascents of steps (fourteen iii number) to the ekes.
lion on which the throne is placed, which is souse-:
what after the ancient quadrangular model as to its.
canopy, graced by the modern style of drapery, is
crimson and gold embroidery.
To the right and left are side-tables, which will
be laden with the most costly and superb plate ap-
pertaining to the Crown of England and to the
present Sovereign. At this end of the Hell scarlet is
the general colour. To the right and left are the
enclosures for the Royal Family (the female
branches), and for the Foreign Ambassadois, which
are supported by gilt columns. It is here that the
most exuberant exhibition of regal magnificence
will be displayed. The ascent from the body of
the Hall is open to the whole width, which is an
improvement on the old practice of half enclos-
ing the place of estate by formal ballustrades.
Indeed a truer splendour is gained by simplicity
and the better taste of the present day.
To convey an idea of the ceremony in Westtnie.
ster Abbey, we may remark, that it is peculiarly
calculated, like all Gothic cathedrals, fur a solem-
nity in which regal and ecclesiastical grandeur are
combined, from its style of architecture, , its loug-
drawn sites, and its cruciform plan. • The approach
from the western door to the choir, throne, and
sacrarium, is lined with galleries, the fronts of which
are painted in itnitatio9 of carved masonry, with
harmonising Gothic ornamented lozenge...hayed
compartments, the seats being covered with criussop.
The arch leading into the choir, in which the he-
ralds and other officers of state will take their eta-
titres, is elegantly covered with crimson draperies.
In the centre of the cross of the Abbey rises. above
the general platform, an exalted, quadrangular
stage, where the King will sit on his enthrall:anion,
the flooring around being covered with dark blue
cloth. The north and south trausepts contain vest
series of crimson seats; those in front for the
Peers. those more distant for the Peeresses, who will
enter by the covered way front the House of (.orgy
through what is called Poets' Corner gate.
At the east end, where the old altar is removed
will be placed the choirs, with the organ end untrue
mental bands; and on the sides, the places assigued
for the Royal Family, covered with scarlet; and
opposite to them the bench for the Bishop., anti 1
other Ecclesiastics. The new temporary altar, at
which the Kiag makes his oblations, will be mag-
nificently adorned with crimson velvet sod gold,
alter the manner of the regal chair of state. The
pulpit is at the north-east corner of the transept,
and is • light Gothic fabric, pertly gilt. The
greeter portion of the ceremonies will be performed
in the eastern space, between the centre cross and
the altar; but the grand and imposing spectacle
will be when the Kings enthroned oti the platform,
exhibits himself its bialtill regalia. Ties will be
, truly magnificent, es the Monarch, io his royal
ABMs, surrounded by • glittering multitude of .
imbed and coroueted Peers. of Prelates. said of
household officers, will be pieced au au eutioence,