The Sun.
London, England, 1836-09-20 00:00:00

BOHEMIA.

PRAGUE, SEPT. B.—Nearly fifty years having elapsed since
the accession of the late Emperor, the coronation of a King of
Bohemia was a novelty to most of the inhabitants of Prague ;
and the various preparatory ceremonies also .had raised ex-
pectation to the highest pitch. At six o'clock yesterday
morning all the citizens were in movement. These, by seven
o'clock, formed a continuous line for a distance of more than
a mile from the Palace. A considerable number of them had
six horses, and what with the silver lace reins, the numerous
chasseurs, looking like so many Russian Generals, and the
running footmen in liveries, almost covered with gold and
silver lace, they presented a tout ensemble highly gorgeous, at
least, if not in the best taste, according to the more sober
English ideas. Soon after eight o'clock all parts of the
Cathedral allotted to spectators were occupied. The throne
was erected on the right of the grand altar. A little lower
were two tribunes, opposite to each other, for the Empress,
the Nobility, and the Ambassadors. A double line of gal-
leries was also formed along the sides, and another large
gallery facing the altar, so that the number of spec-
tators admitted could not have been loss than twelve hun-
dred. At half-past eight his Majesty repaired to St.
Wenzel's Chapel, where, after some preliminary prayers,
he was invested by the Archbishop of Prague with
the royal mantle ; and at nine the sound of trumpets an-
nounced the entrance of the procession into the Cathedral.
The Archbishop, accompanied by twenty Bishops, wearing
their mitres, and with vestments of richly embroidered cloth
of gold, led the way; following them were the members of
the Privy Council, and the officers of the Court, among which
latter were conspicuous the Grand Warder, Count Mladota,
with a golden key ; the standard-bearers, Counts Chorinsti
and Krandatiss, with splendidly emblazoned banners of Aus-
tria and Bohemia ; and Count Waldstein, as Grand Carver,
with his assistant, bearing respectively on red velvet cushions
a gilded and silver loaf. Immediately preceding his Majesty
were the oppointed officers, with the emblems of Royal State :
Baron Wagemann, with the orb ; Knight Von Probazfa, with
the sceptre ; Count Clamcallas, with the holy sword of St.
Wenzel; and Count Kollowrat, with the Crown, who took this
office in place of the High Boroughreave, Count Chotel, unable
to attend in consequence of the death of his brother, the Arch-
bishop of Olmutz. The King was attended by the Grand Trea-
surer, Prince Lobkowitz ; the First Lord of the Bedchamber,
Baron Hess ; also by Counts Dietrichstein, Clam-Martinitz,
Kinsky, Clam, Lutgow, Horn, Shouborn, Spook, Hartman, &c.
mostly with the orders of the Grand Cross, the Fleece, and Maria
Theresa. A body of the Hungarian Guards closed the pro-
cession. The King took his seat, in the first instance, in the
centre of the nave, uncler a handsome canopy suspended from
the roof. After a variety of introductory ceremonies high
mass was performed, after which the King advanced to the
altar, and, placing both hands upon the Bible, pronounced in
Latin the coronation oath, to respect and hold inviolate the
customs and privileges of his Bohemian subjects. The cere-
mony of anointing between the shoulders, and on the right
arm, from the elbow to the wrist, was then performed by the
Archbishop, with the words " Ungo to in Regem de oleo
sanctificato in nomine Patris et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti."
The sleeve of the right arm, and the part of his Majesty's
dress between the shoulders, having been unbuttoned for the
purpose of anointing, the King, after this ceremony, retired
behind the altar for about ten minutes, that the oil might be
dried, and the dress re-arranged. His Majesty then, coming
again in front of the altar, was successively invested with
the sword, " Accipe gladium de Altari sumptum ;" the ring,
" Domine, sanctifica annulum istum," and " Accipe digni-
tatis annulum ;" the sceptre and orb, " Accipe virgam vir-
tutis et sequitatis ;" and finally his Majesty, with the as-
sistance of the Archbishop, placed his crown upon his
head. Thus, invested with all the Royal insignia, he pro-
ceeded to the Throne, where he seated himself, all the spec-
tators rising. Count Kollowrat then, as representative of
the Bohemian States, called upon all around to do reverence,
with the words " Let us acknowledge our King and heredi-
tary Sovereign," and set the example of approaching the
King, and, bending on one knee, touching the sceptre. In
this he was followed by all the officers of State, and the
nobles immediately round the throne, while a discharge of ar-
tillery announced the coronation to the city, and the bells of
all the churches commenced ringing. At the same time the
populace without were admitted into the great square of the
Castle, where they awaited with impatience the appearance of
the King. His Majesty then, having taken the communion
at the altar, again returned to the throne, and performed the
customary ceremony of dubbing as Knights of St. Wenzel
about thirty Bohemian Nobles, by touching the shoulder
three times with the holy sword. All the ceremonies
within the cathedral being thus concluded, the King,
crowned, and bearing all the regalia, proceeded, under a
splendid canopy, supported by eight principal Officers of the
Court, out of the church, and along the whole length of the
raised terrace, from thence to the grand entrance of the
palace, in full view of the assembled thousands who crowded
every inch of the spacious court, and rent the air with their
acclamations. A more impressive or mere gratifying sight
was never witnessed. After this the King repaired to the
great hall of the Castle, where a banquet was prepared for
the principal officers of State and others, in number about
140. Though everything was in abundance, the banquet was
rather one of ceremony than anything else, for as gentlemen
only sat down, and the Empress with the ladies of her Court
were among the spectators, who together amounted to about
200, those at table continued seated only till the formality for
which the banquet was principally prepared had been per-
formed. This was the Emperor drinking to the happiness and
prosperity of his Bohemian subjects. The Royal toast was
announced to the city by a discharge of artillery, and all the
hells again rang out their joj ous peals. After the banquet the
King again, in full regalia, presented himself in the balcony
to the people, amidst the same demonstrations as before. The
festivities of the day were to have been closed with an illumi-
nation the most extensive, and tasteful preparations for which
had been made ; but unfortunately just as the lighting com-
menced a heavy shower, which continued all night, com-
pletely extinguished every lamp. An illumination is, howe-
ver, intended for Monday next.

The splendid steam-ship Duchess (2f' Sutherland
arrived at Downe's Wharf, from Inverness, on Sunday after-
noon at half-past three o'clock, having performed the passage
in the unprecedented short time of forty-five hours, being at
the rate of sixteen miles an hour.