The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-20 00:00:00

The Lying in State and Funeral of Cardinal

Wiseman.

The arrangements for the funeral of the late
Cardinal Wiseman, on Thursday next, have now
been nearly completed by the chapter of the diocese,
and there is no doubt that the metropolis will wit-
ness a greater display of the Roman Catholic force
in this country than has been seen on any occasion
for many years back.
Although, as announced by us on Saturday, the
lying in state commenced on the preceding day,
Saturday was the first day on which full effect was
given to the imposing scene. Tickets were issued
by most of the Catholic clergy in London to mem-
bers of their congregations, and the arrangements
were that access to the late cardinal's residence in
York-place, Baker-street, should be obtained be-
tween two and four; but whether too many tickets
had been issued, or whether a greater number at-
tended than was anticipated, there was much con-
fusion at first in consequence of the difficulty of
obtaining entrance and egress by the hall door,
and the services of a body of police were
had recourse to in order to lessen the pressure and
restore something like order, which was only
effected by requiring those seeking to leave the
house to pass up the area steps, after having
visited the apartment in which the cardinal lay.
This was the drawing-room of the house, to which
visitors as they entered were directed by the priests.
The room, which had been darkened and hung with
black, was lighted by a considerable number of large
altar candles and others placed around in such posi-
tions as to afford a sufficient light to enable the
spectators to have a proper view of the body of the
deceased cardinal. At the entrance to the apartment
was a vestibule, in which was a large carved repre-
sentation of the Saviour on the Cross. hi the centre
of the apartment, resting on a bier, was the coffin
containing the remains of the deceased prelate,
attired in the full and splendid vestments of his order
as an Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church,
even to his gold-embroidered shoes, chain, and all
the insignia of his ecclesiastical office, with the
hands crossed on the breast, grasping a crucifix,
whilst on his fingers outside his gloves, the backs of
which were embroidered in gold, with the glory
and " 1.H.5.," were the large jewelled rings, which
are worn by all who attain to the dignity of car-
dinals of the Roman Catholic Church. The deceased
cardinal had on his head the small scarlet cap which
the Pope and cardinals usually wear (except on
state occasions). At the head of the coffin, however,
which was lined with white and yellow satin, was
an exceedingly large and richly embossed mitre in
figured white satin, whilst at the foot was an
elaborately ornamented cross, crozier, and other
emblems of ecclesiastical dignity. On one side
of the apartment, in its darkest recess, there had
been erected an altar, at which there were constantly
kneeling and praying a number of nuns, who ap-
peared occasionally to relieve each other, and who
in their turn visited and touched the cheek and
kissed the hand or crucifix in the hand of the de-
ceased cardinal. The Roman Catholics could be
easily distinguished. On passing round the bier
containing the corpse of the cardinal, nearly every
one either touched with their hand, their cross, or
their rosary the face of the cardinal, and also
attempted to kiss the hand. With regard to the
appearance of the cardinal in death, those who had
known him in life could scarcely believe they were
looking upon the remains of a man of so much bulk,
and generally speaking of so robust appearance, as
he had up to his last illness exhibited. Even the
body itself seemed to be much reduced, whilst the
full features of the face had apparently dwindled
away, exhibiting a large amount of prostration, and
of long and extreme suffering. On the right side of
the head and temple was a large plaister, some two
or three inches in diameter, and a smaller one pass-
ing right along the right eyelid. The circumstances
which had led to the necessity of these disfigure-
ments during his illness had evidently the effect of
rendering the countenance less pleasing than it pos-
sibly otherwise would have been, and are stated to
have arisen from the following causes :—The late
cardinal has been suffering for about 12 years from
diabetes. In 1860, whilst in Rome, he suffered
severely from carbuncle. His last illness was erysi-
pelas of the head and face, which came on about
three weeks ago. It was followed by a carbuncle
on the scalp ten days back. Ile gradually sank,
exhausted by this accumulation of maladies.
It is intended_that the remains of, the cardinal
shall lie in state until to-morrow, on the evening of
which day the body will be removed to Moorfields
Chapel, which has been entirely hung with black,
and will be open for admission by tickets during
Wednesday. On Thursday morning the solemn
dirge will be chanted by the priests of the diocese,
and a sermon will be preached by Dr. Manning,
who, it is believed, will be the successor of the late
cardinal in the Roman Catholic see of Westminster,
if he does not obtain the vacant cardinalatc.
The funeral, the arrangements of which have been
entrusted to Mr. James Taylor, of Lower Seymour-
street, Portman-square, in conjunction with Messrs.
Garstin and Co., of Welbeck-street, who supply the
furnishing and fittings, will be of an exceedingly

imposing character. Upwards of 30 mourning
coaches, which will contain the dignitaries and
priests of the various chapels in the metropolis, have
been already ordered, and it is believed that many
more will be required, irrespective of the carriages
of the Roman Catholic nobility, ambassadors,
foreign Ministers, and private friends of the deceased
which are expected to follow. The list of names
sent in to attend the funeral comprises nearly all the
Catholic clergy of the metropolis. It is expected
that the religious ceremonies at Moorfields will be
concluded about 1 o'clock, and that the funeral cor-
tege will leave the pro-cathedral between one and
two, passing along the City, Pentonville, Euston,
Marylebone, and the Edgware and Harrow roads,
to St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery at Kensal-
green, where it will arrive shortly before 4 p.m.
On arrival at the cemetery the bishops and clergy
(who will be vested in their appropriate ecclesiasti-
cal habits) will descend from their carriages and
accompany the corpse to the grave.
The coffin of the late cardinal, which is of crim-
son velvet, will bear on its lid a massive and elabo-
rately-engraved brass plate. The coat of arms,
with the cardinal's hat and pendants, will surmount
the following inscription :

Emus. et Emus. Dominus.
Tit. St. Nicholaus Pudentianae, S.R.C.,
Presb. Card.
Wiseman,
Primus Archiepiscopus
Westmonasteriensis,
Natus die 2, Augusti, 1802,
Consecratus die 8 Junii, 1840,
Obit die 15 Februarii, 1865.
Orate pro eo.

Which being translated into English reads thus:—
The Most Eminent and Most Rev. Lord Nicholas
Titular St. Pudentianae, S.R.C., Priest-Cardinal
Wiseman, First Archbishop of Westminster, born on
2d August, 1802, consecrated Bth June, 1840, died
15th February, 1865. Pray for him.

It is rumoured that a great many applications
have been made by the humbler classes of the Roman
Catholic community, and on behalf of some of the
schools, to join the procession walking.

The chapter (on whom has devolved the adminis-
tration of the diocese) will proceed at once to elect
a vicar-capitular to conduct that administration till
the new archbishop is appointed. The mode of
appointment is as follows :—The chapter select three
names of candidates which are forwarded to Rome
after previous approval by the body of English
Roman Catholic bishops. From these the successor
is usually, though not necessarily, appointed, the
Pope possessing absolute power in the nomination.

The " WEEKLY REGasTER" of Saturday remarks,
as follows, in regard to the Cardinal's last moments
and his coming obsequies :—For several days no
hope of his Eminence's recovery had been enter-
tained by his medical attendants, and the announce-
ment of his decease was hourly expected. On last
Sunday morning, the 11th instant, the Right Rev.
Monsig,nore Manning arrived in London from
Rome, whence he had travelled with the greatest
possible speed. On proceeding to York-place Mon-
signore Manning conveyed to the Cardinal the
solemn blessing of his holiness the Pope. Monsig-