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

G EORGZ IV.

The coronation of George IV., which tookl
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 ou the day of the coronation. He

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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 t
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 ratify 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—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---j
this, the rich spectacle of the aisles crowded
with with waving plumage, and coionets, 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 1a banner,
or the edge of a group of battle-axes or parti-
zans, and then rested full on some fair form,
the cynosure of 'neighbouring eyes,' whose r
circlet of diamonds glistened under its. influ-
ence. Imagine all this, and then tell me if I _441
have made my journey of four hundred
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, ins
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 have 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
William IV. and Queen Adelaide were a !
compromise between economy and parade. 2.
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. The
new entrance to St. James's Park was opened
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, Weil torrill
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, 1500!. each £30,000
Two large centre diamonds, 20001. each . 4,000
Fifty-four smaller diamonds placed at the angles
of the former
Four crosses, each composed of 25 diamonds
Four large diamonds on the tops of the crosses . 40,000
Twelve diamonds contained in the deur delis . 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 . . 3'30
Two circles of pearls about the rim . . 3OO
£111,900

CORONATION ROBES.
The ancient coronation robes which were
destroyed in 1649, do not appear to have been
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 Inventory of the Regalia, now in West-
minster Abbey, in an iron chest," where they
were formerly kept.
4 e. d.
One common taffaty robe, very old, valued at . 0 10 0
One robe laced with gould lace, valued at .
One silver cullered silk robe, very old, and worth
notking
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 plaza of gloves, embroidered with gould, at 0 1 0
Three swords with scabbards of cloth of gould, at 3 0 0
One old carob of borne, worth nothing . . . 0 0 0

Tots.ll is 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.