Star.
London, England, 1831-04-01 00:00:00

MAUNDY THURSDAY.

A confirmation of the juvenile nobility and gentry was
held by the Bishop of London, as Dean of the Chapel Royal,
yesterday, being Maundy Thursday, at the Chapel Royal,
St. James's Palace. After the church service, the Bishop
addressed an appropriate discourse to those about to be con-
firmed, and then proceeded with the ceremony.
his Majesty's royal bounty was distributed in a temporary
building erected at the back of Whitehall Chapel, to as many
poor and aged men and women as the King is years old ; via.
sixty-five of each. The bounty was all given in the morning,
instead of two different periods in the morning and afternoon,
the church service and anthem usually performed being
omitted, in consequence of Whitehall Chapel being under
repair.
The Maundy people having been arranged, the men at
one table and the women at another, a procession from the
Almonry Office entered the building soon after twelve
o'clock, in the following order :

A Yeoman Usher and two Yeomen iu ;heir state dresses, and onr
bearing a large gold dish with white and red purses arranged round it ;
the Sub. Almoner, followed by two boys and two girls from the West-
minster National School. selected for their good conduct ; the Secretary
and Yeoman and the groom of the Almonry, with several others, all
wearing white scarves, and carrying nosegays.
The Sub-Almoner repeated the following prayer, prepared
for the occasion :

" 0 Almighty andlEverlasting GOD, who art exalted as Head over
all, and dost dispose the heart of Kings as it seemeth best to thy Godly
wisdom, we praise and magnify thy holy name, that thou bast not only
bestowed greatness and majesty upon onr Sovereign Lord King
WILLIAM, but haat also given him a heart to take compassion upon
the poor and needy. Accept, 0 Lord, the tribute which he thus pays
unto thee, and grant that he may be fruitful in all good works, and that
his Throne may be upholden by thy mercy ; and so turn the hearts of
those who are now to be partakers of bis bounty, that they may bless
and praise thee for the goodness thou hast vouchsafed unto thy people,
and may receive the Royal gifts in a grateful and pious spirit. through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

The Sub-almoner then distributed to each of the Maundy
men a pair of shoes, a pair of stockings, and cotton and
linen cloth, and two purses to each of the men and women ;
one purse containing a sovereign, and a white purse contain-
ing as many silver pennies as the King is years old.
Mr. Hanby, Secretary and Yeoman of the Almonry, and
Mr. Jones, Groom of the Almonry, gave directions that every
man and woman should be supplied with a loaf of bread,
weighing one pound and a half. Large wooden dishes, con-
taining a number of pieces of fine beef, weighing 3ilb. each,
were placed on the table.
The Sub-Almoner then inspected the tickets by which the
Maundy people had been admitted, and read the grace before
meat, afterwhich the people were supplied each with a piece of
meat. The Sub-Almoner having inspected its quality, pro-
nounced the grace after meat. The attendants next placed
before each person a wooden platter, containing two salt sal-
mon, two salt cod, eighteen red, and a similar number of salt
herrings, and four loaves. The Sub-Almoner again inspected
the supply.
The distributor brought forward several large leather
flagons filled with ale, and several wooden ale cups. The
Sub-Almoner and attendants drank to the health of King
William the Fourth, which was also drank by the Maundy
people in succession.