The Sun.
London, England, 1838-06-28 00:00:00

GEORGE IV.

The coronation of George IV., which took
place on July 19, 1821, was the most splendid
ever celebrated in England.
A special act of parliament was passed to
enable the duke of Norfolk, who was a Ro-
man Catholic, to perform the functions of earl
marshal on the day of the coronation. 1.14

also, as premier peer of England, returned
thanks for the sovereign when the king's health
was toasted by the peers.
During the coronation feaSt the 'king ac-
knowledged the different services performed
according •to ancient usage very graciously,
save only when the cup of wine was presented
by the lord mayor and citizens of London.
His majesty treated these gentlemen with
marked coolness, and did not acknowledge
their service by any salutation.
The account of this coronation given by Sir
Walter Scott is so graphic and lively, that we
think it will gratify our readers to insert an
abridgment of it.
The effect of the scene in the Abbey was
beyond measure magnificent. The altar sur-
rounded by the fathers of the church-7—the
king encircled by the nobility of the land and
the councillors of his throne, and by warriors,
wearing the honoured marks of distinction
bought by
.many a glorious danger—add to
this, the rich spectacle of the aisles crowded
with with waving plumage, and coronets, and
caps of honour, and the sun, which brightened
and saddened as if on purpose, now beaming
in full lustre on the rich and varied assemblage,
and now darting a solitary ray, which catched,
as it passed, the glittering folds of a banner,
or th 6 edge of a group of battle-axes or parti-
zans, and then.rested full on some fair form,
the cynosure of neighbouring eyes,' whose
circlet of diamonds glistened under its influ-
ence. Imagine all this, and then tell me if I
have made my journey of four hundred miles
to little purpose.
‘,‘ The box assigned to the foreign ambas-
sadors presented a most brilliant effect, and
was perfectly in a blaze with diamonds. When
the sunshine lighted on Prince Esterhazy, in
particular, he glimmered like a galaxy. An
honest Persian was also a remarkable figure,
from the dogged and impenetrable gravity
with which he looked ,on the whole scene,
without ever moving a limb or a muscle during
the space of four hours. Like Sir Wilful Wit-
woud, I cannot find that your Persian is ortho-
dox ; for, if he scorned everything else, there
was a Mahometan paradise extended on his
right hand along the seats which were occu-
pied by the peeresses and their daughters,
which the Prophet himself might hare looked
on with emotion."

But, in truth, the only interesting spectacle
connected with this feast was the challenge of
the champion, which is now not only unmean-
ing but illegal ; for it is directly contrary to
the statute abolishing wager of battle in all
cases whatsoever.

WILLIAM IV.

The arrangements for the coronation of 11
William IV. and Queen Adelaide were a
compromise between economy and parade.
The procession from the Hall to the Abbey;
and the coronation feast in the Hall, were
omitted. The popular enthusiasm was greater,
however, than on any former occasion. Tha
new entrance to St: James's Park was opined
for the first time, and in the evening the me-
tropolis was universally illuminated. The very
lanes and alleys tenanted by the poor classes
were lighted, to testify the loyal affection of
even the humblest for " the sailor king."

VALUE OF THE CROWN JEWELS.
The ruby in the crown of state is valued at
10,0001., and the aqua marina, which forms
the mound, is still more precious. When the
notorious Colonel Blood had nearly succeeded
in stealing the crown from the Tower, the ruby
fell in the struggle, and was not recovered for
several days, when it was picked up by a poor
old woman who was sweeping a crossing.
The values of the other jewels have not' been
ascertained, with the exception of those in the
crown worn by the queen consort on her re-
turn to Westminster Hall, which have been
estimated as follows :
Twenty diamonds round the circle, 15001. each • £30,000
Two large centre diamonds, 2000/. each . . . 4,000
Fifty-four smaller diamonds placed at the angles
of the former . . 100
.... • •
Four crosses, each composed of 25 diamonds . . 12,000
Four large diamonds on the tops of the crosses . 40,000
Twelve diamonds contained in the flour do lis . 10,000
Eighteen smaller diamonds contained in the same 2,000
Pearls, diamonds, &c., on the arches and crosses 10,000
One hundred and forty-one diamonds on the mound 500
Twenty-six diamonds on the upper cross . . . 3,000
Two circles of pearls about the rim . . . 300

£111,900

CORONATION ROBES.
The ancient coronation robes which were
destroyed in 1649, do not appear to have bcen
very valuable, if we may judge from the enu-
meration given of them by the parliamentary
commissioners, from which we have before
quoted. In their report we find the follow-
ing Inveritory of the Regalia, now in West-
minster Abbey, in an iron chest," where they
were formerly kept.

t a. d.
One common talraty robe, very eld, valued at . 0 10 0
One robe laced with gould lace, valued at .
One silver cullered silk robe, very old, and worth
nothing
One robe of crimson taffaty sarcenet, valued at
One paire of buskins, cloth of silver and silver
stockings, very old, and valued at . . 0 2 6
One paire of shoes of cloth of gold at . . . 0 2 0
One paire of gloves, embroidered with gould, at 0 1 0
Three swords with scabbards of cloth of gould, at 3 0 0
One old comb of borne, worth nothing . . 0 0 0

Totall in the chest . . 4 10 6

The comb, which is here dismissed so con-
temptuously, was supposed to have belonged
to Edward the Confessor, and was used in the
ancient forms of coronation, to smooth the
king's hair previous to the anointing.

KINGS-AT-ARMS.

The dresses of the kings-at-arms, heralds,
and pursuivants, add considerable splendour
to the ceremonial of a coronation. The kings- •
at-arms wear tabards, pr surcoats of velvet
and cloth of gold, on which the royal insignia
are emblazoned; these tabards resemble
sleeveless gowns in form, but they are fur-
nished with wings, which fold over the arms.
They wear also collars of SS, that is, composed
of links shaped like the letter S, made of silver
gilt, with badges at the centre, containing the
shamrock, rose, and thistle, enamelled in their
proper colours. They are also entitled to
wear coronets, or plain circles of gold, deco-
rated with sixteen upright leaves, eight el
which are long, and eight short. So import-
ant was the office of king-at-arms anciently
held, that a solemn ceremony was appointed
for their inauguration. In fact, it was the
mimicry of a royal coronation, except that the
unction was performed with wine instead of
oil. In Scotland, Sir David Lindesay was
crowned Lyon king-of-arms by his sovereign,
with the ancient crown which the monarchs
wore before they assumed a close crown, A.
1592.

London: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG,,,FI
No. 11'2, Strand, at The Sun Office. No. 112, Strand, to
tilt: county of tdidtilehez.—Thursday, Juno VI, 183134 ',l