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

THE NAVE.

The great body of the general spectators were congregated
in the Nave, along the sides of which galleries were con-
structed arranged in an amphitheatrical form, with ten rows
of benches rising above one another, and calculated to hold
at least r,500 persons. Very shortly after five o'clock, the.,
hour at which the Abbey was opened, these galleries begaal
rapidly to fill, and by seven o'clock were crowded. The
spectacle presented by this vast audience was very striking!
The diversified colours of the different dresses. Naval and
military officers in their respective uniforms, clergymen in,
canonical robes, civilians in endless variety of apparel—fromithei
most orthodox full dress to the ordinary every-day gar-
ments (for the regulations as to full dress were by no means
, enforced, though none were to be seen who were not well
attired)—and above all, the countless hues which marked the
dresses of the fair —all combined to render the scene at once
picturesque and pleasing. The patience of these spectators
Vas to be severely tried by a six hours' delay ; but there were
lot wanting numerous objects to divert their attention and
mile away the t,:dious interval. Those more distinguished
Personages who had seats in the choir had of course to pass up
tie nave, to reach their various destinations, and were a
s(urce of perpetually changing attraction. Now, a Judge of
the land, with Slow and legal step, paced the floor ; then, a
Pier of the Realm arrayed in coronation robes of crimson
vevet, edg;:cl with ermine, and coronet in hand, not un-
fttquently 'with areal and unassumed dignity of port and bearing
I
thkt forcibily reminded us of the " Knights and Barons bold "
1 13,f by-gone ages ; and led us for a moment to believe that
" the age of chivalry ' had not yet fled : anon, still more
att,active, came some noble dame—her splendid flowing. train
spr,cling around her in luxurious magnificence, her fair and
lofty brow bearing the impress of nobility, followed perhaps
I by; me " lovely daughters of a noble house," not unworthy of
th ' titled ancestors ; officers, "in all the pomp and pride of
glo, ous war ;" bishops and aldermen, pursuivants, gentlemen-
at-2 ms passing in quick succession. Between seven and eight
con anies ot foot guards arrived and lined the hall. Many of
the 'oreign Ambassadors now arrived ; and the novelty and
rici ess of their dresses excited great admiration. not, how-
eve: equal to that which was awakened by the appearance of
son , of the younger branches of the female aristocracy, who
as Oley tripped lightly along the hall, seemed incarnations ot
Icrielness and grace, their beauty needing not the aid of the
ci)stl, gems that glittered around their persons.
Tie Attorney General came in his official costume as first
I Lawofficer of the Crown, accompanied by his Noble consort,
tale Lady Stratheden, in her robes as Peeress. One Noble

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1838.

Peer came attended by a little child of such remarkable beauty
as attracted universal observation, as Page, carrying his coro-
net. About half-past nine a cheer was heard outside, which
announced the arrival of some distinguished person ; and a
few minutes after his Grace the Duke of Wellington entered.
His appearance was greeted by an enthusiastic shout of ap-
plause. The Marquis of Normanby (late Earl Mulgrave)
was received in a similar manner. Shortly after eleven the
Special Envoys from Foreign Powers began to arrive. The
magnificence of their dresses, and that of their suites, were
greatly admired. Marshal Soult was most cordially cheered.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchesses of Cambridge and
Kent were enthusiastically received, especially the latter.
Their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Sussex and Cambridge
met with as hearty a reception. As the Royal procession slowly
wound its way between the lofty aisles, the spectacle pre-
sented was one as gorgeous and impressive as anything that
could well be imagined. When her most Gracious Majesty
came within sight, the vast audience simultaneously rose ;
and a shout " loud as from numbers without number," rung
through the venerable arches of the Abbey, and was re-echoed
by the multitudes without, testifying in sincere and heartfelt
tones the loyalty and affection with which the youthful and
august monarch of these realms was regarded by her thou-
sands of assembled subjects. Her Majesty, as she walked
up the Nave displayed perfect self-possession, returning the
enthusiastic greetings with which she was received in a
manner marked by that union of gentleness and dignity so
characteristic of her Majesty's. Her Majesty was immediately
preceded by Lord Melbourne, and the Duke of Wellington (as
Constable of the Tower) a circumstance which was re-
marked by the spectators, and elicited no slight applause. On
her Majesty's entering the choir, the cheering was again re-
newed, and was indeed only put a stop to by the opening of
the Coronation Anthem.
The Great Officers of State, the Archbishops of Canter-
bury and York, the Noblemen appointed to carry the Regalia,
all in their robes of estate, and the Bishops who were to support
her Majesty, as well as those who were to carry the Bible,
the Chalice, and the Patina, assembled in the Jerusalem
Chamber, adjoining the Deanery; before ten o'clock, where
the Regalia, having been previously laid on the table, was
delivered by the Lord Chamberlain of the Household to the
Lord High Constable, and by him to the Lord Willoughby
d'Eresby, as Lord Great Chamberlain, and by his Lordship
to the Noblemen by whom the same were borne in the fol-
lowing order, viz.:—