The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-04-01 00:00:00

MAUNDY THURSDAY.

Yesterday being Monody Thursday, the same was ob-
served at his Majesty's Chapel Royal, in the King's Palace,
St. James's, and at his Chapel, Whitehall. At the former
place of' worship shout 120 of the juvenile branches of the
Nobility were confirmed by the Bishop of London, as Dean
of the Chapel, upon which ()maven his Lordship delivered
a very impressive address. The chapel was crowded to
excess.
At the Chapel, Whitehall, the orders and ceremonies
attendant on the distribution of his Majesty's Royal bounty,
have been revived to the greatest extent.
Maundy Thursday is to be regarded merely as a corrup-
tion of Mandate Thursday, " Dies Mandan."
Edward 111. in the year 1363, appears to have been the
first English Monarch who introduced into the coun-
try the practice of feeding, clothing, and distributing money
to indigent persons on Maundy Thursday, •but the custom
of washing the feet of the poor has been long abolished.
The eastern nations not wearing any covering to their
legs, and few only to the soles of their feet, it naturally
became an act of hospitality to bring water to their gat-sts,
for the purpose of cleanliness and refreshment, and it was
esteemed a mark of particular stunner' and respect when
the host himself condescended to relieve his visitors of the
trouble of such ablution. The instance cur Saviour af-
forded of his humility and affection to the Apostles, was
therefore in conformity to the usage of the time and people
among whom he passed the period of his sojournment upon
cart h.
The usual annual Royal donations were distributed at
Whitehall Chapel yesterday, to as many poor men and *.vo-
men as the King is years old, viz. 63 of each.
MORNING SERVICE.
A temporary building, the whole length of Whitehall
Chapel, was constructed, under the direction of the Board
of Works, for the occasion. , The building was divided
into two compartment!: one division was appropriated to the
store larder, with shelves fixed round, loaded with
loaves of bread, salt fish, and platters strewed with herbs ;
the other was for the accommodation of the Maundy men
and women.
At eleven o'clock the attendants were stationed at the
doers to receive the Maundy people, and to arrange
them at two tables, preparatory to the distribution. Oar
table was appropriated to the women, and the other to the
men. Seats were prepared at each end of the principal
apartment for the accommodation of visitors, who were ad-
mined by tickets.
The Maundy people being arranged and seated, Mr.
Hanby, Secretary to the Lord High Almoner, and Mr.
Jones, Groom of the Ahnonry, attended by the yeomen
guard, gave directions that the tables should be covered
with white damask cloths provided for the purpose, and
they supplied every man and woman with a loaf weighing
a pound and a half each. The attendants then placed on
each table six large wooden dishrs, each containing a piece
of very fine beef, weighing three and three quarter
pounds, strewed with parsley. At twelve o'clock the Sub
Almoner, the Rev. Dr. Goodenough, in his robes, attended
by the Secretary,entered the building, and after having in-
spected the tickets by which the Maundy people were ad-
mitted, read the *Mowing grace before !mini—" Bless, 0
Lord, this Royal Maundy to the use of these thy servants,
and dispose their hearts to the praise of thy Holy name,
with gratitude to their Royal benefactor, through Jesus
Christ our Lord—Amen." After which the people were
supplied each with a piece of meat, and Dr. Goodenough
having inspected the quality of the meat, and seen that all
were supplied, pronounced the grace after meat.
Directions were then issued for the removal of the
cloths, and the second course being ordered, the attendants
plaited before each nelson a wooden platter. containing two
salt cod, two salt salmon, eighteen red, and a similar num-
ber of salt herrings, surmounted with four loaves. The
Sub-Ahnoner having again inspected the supply, the Pur-
veyor, Mr. Wyatt, approached to know if the quality of
the provisions met his approbation. The distributors now
brought forward large leather flagons filled with ale, and
several wooden ale-cups. The Sub-Almoner and attend-
ants drank to the heakb of King George IV. which was
also drank by the Maundy people in succession. The
Sub-Ahnoner then retired, and the recipients departed
with their load of provisions.

•
AFTERNOON SERVICE.
At two o'clock the recipients re-assembled in the interior I
of the chapel, and were arranged upon forms provided for
the occasion, fur the purpose of heating Divine Service, and
receiving the remainder of the Royal Maundy.
At three o'clock the procession moved from the Almonry
office, and entered the chapel, preceded by the Yeoman
Usher and ten Yeomen, in their state dresses, and one bear-
ing the gold dish with the purses, each purse containing a
sovereign, and small silver pennies, as many as the King
is years old ; the Sub-Almoner, followed by two girls and
two boys from the Westminster National Schoo!, who were
selected for their good conduct ; the Secretary and the
Groom of the Almonry, with several others, all wearing
white scarfs and earning nosegays. The procession ad-
vanced up the aisle, and the several parties took their
station, two Yeomen within the altar and the others along
the aisle, under the royal closet and at each door ; the
Sub-Almoner within the altar, and the officers and children
on seats in front of the organist. Mr. Cooper played a
voluntary as the procession entered the chapel, and con-
tinued playing until the whole was arranged, when the
c:reti.anial commenced. The church service appropriate
for the day a as'read by the Rev. Dr. Vivian. 'f he Rev.
Messes. Beckwith, Packtran, Barham, Knapp, and Fly,
assisted. The anthems were sung by Messrs. Clark, Nield,
Evans, Molyneux, and Goulden.
A manuscript chaunt was given, composed by the late
Dr. Wm. Hayes.
Mr. Jobo Nost, belonging to the Lord Chamberlain s
Office, who assisted in the distribution of the different ar-
ticles of the King's bounty, completed his 5241 year in his
official duties. One of the female receivers of his Ma-
jetty's bounties was in her 102 d year. Several were between
90 and 100 years of age. The first Anthem was, " Hide not
thou thy face." 'The Sub-Almoner, Atm distributed Ana
and stockings to the Maundyrnen. Alter they returned
to their si.ats, the aIF eond Anthem was sung. " Call to re-
membrance." The Sub-Almoner, &c. then distributed
the woollen and linen cloths, &c. After they returned to
their seats, and the third Anthem being sung, "0 Lind
pant the King a long life," &c. the Sub-Almoner dia-
titillated purses of money to the Maundymen and women.
Ater they returned to their seats, the church service was
resumed utstil the fourth Anthem wassung, " Who is this
that comes from Edom '" cumpoeed by Dr. Arnold. Theis
followed two prayers for the King, and the usual prayers, to
the conclusion of the Service, when Dr.. Goodenough
ascended the steps of the altar; the officers of the
wine cellar, Mr. Hanby the Secretary, and Mr. Joiws
the Groom, arproached with the wine and cups, and
the Sub-Almoner drank the King's health out of a
gold cup. The wine was supplied out of a large gold
cup. His Majesty's health was likewise drunk by
the officers of the Almonry, and the gentlemen of the
Chapel Rpl. When "God save the King" was played,
the Sub-Almoner, and the Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal.
retired to the Vestry, and the officers of the wine ce.Lr,
misted by the Groom of the Almotiry, supplied the
Msundv prop!? • ith a cup of wine to drink the King's
health, each being permitted to retain his cup.

StnocrioN.—A few (lays since, the family of Mr. S.
ass thrown i:,to the greatest affliction, in consequence l!t. the
'l..We"Dent t.t Mrs. S. under circumstances the must distressing.—
I appears that Mrs. $.. the wife of a highly-respectable. merchant,
residing in the City-road, and the mother of four children, all of
churn ye daughters, eloped on Friday morning last, with a gentle.
mart of considerable property raiding in the neighbourhood, and
who is upwards of Illy years of age. The seducer was on the
most ii.iiirate terms with Mr. S. and his family, being altiwista
ca7:stant slain:eat the house of the unfortunate husband ; and it is
supposed that in the absence of Mr. S. he succeeded in pining the
firenjOln of his wife. Every exertion on the part of Mr. S. has
beer made to discover the place of the ftigirise's concealment, and
it was not until Tuesday evening that the faithless wife and her
rerssreLr were discavered, residing at Cliches, in ready-furnished
leskires. The unfortunate husband, attended by a friend, wen:
to the above place,—and it Tat not until then that Mr. S. disco-
',rt.! ho was the destroyer of hits domestic happiness. Since the
Ouse uhfcrtunite occurrence. Mr. r.`• has been labouring under the
mac distressirg feelings, RP much so, that he is now confined to
ha bed. Mrs. S. is scarcely 30 years 'Wage, essing great per-
Ott' attractions. %Ve understand that the subjecposst will, in the en-
'cad Term, untlargo public iraestigmion.