The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-06-26 00:00:00

THE CROWN JEWELS.

As. considerable alterations have recently been made in the
arraugernent of the crown jewels, in anticipaiion of the anpreach-
ingooronation7-and as the public generally, and that Portion
of our readers to whom the movements Of royalty are a matter
of inquiry, are more particularly interested in the 'subject, the
following notice may not be unacceptable. The regalia used at
coronations are deposited in a small apartment of the Tower Of
London, into which only a certain number of persons—we-be-
lieve;six:—are admitted at a time. They are divided from the
apectaturs by a strong double row of brass bars, and are in a
largo glass case- which forms one• side di the apartment. The
most conspicuous amongst the crowns, both from its size and its
antiquity, is the ancient imperial crown, or, more properly, re-
gal crown. This crown was used at all coronations from the
time of Edward the Confessor till that of George the Fourth.
It is very: large and heavy. Its arches, flOwers,- and fillets are
covered with large jewels of every colour, surrounding a cap-of
purple velvet, faced with treble rows of ermine. •
Next to this is the Queen's crown: it is composed entirely of
diamond's of the-largest size. It was made for Mary of Modena,
the wife of James the Second. It is said to have cost one hu`n-
dred and eleven thousand pounds.
The next is a coronet of plain gold, without any jewels, which
is called the " Prince of Wales's Crown." When there is an
heir apparent to the throne, it is placed before his seat in the
House of Lords ou a velvet cushion. During the rege,ncy of
George the Fourth, it was placed at the left of the regal crown
when the Regent went to the House of Lords.
The " Queen's diadem" is exceedingly beautiful—it is com-
posed entirely of pearls-and diamonds; it differs in shape from
the" Queen's crown," as having no arches. • It was made for
the wife of William the Third, Mary, the daughter of JameS
the Second. What was, tilt very recently, called " The New
Imperial Crown," is now no longer here; its has been removed
to Messrs. itundell awl Bridge's on Ludgate-hill, where it will
he broken up for the construction of the new crown, witli which
her present Majesty is to be crowned. It was made for George
the Fourth, and with it both he and William the Fourth were
crowned. It was of the imperial form, with upright, and almOit
pointed arches, bearing a diamond mound, or orb of the lito§i
brilliants. On the top of the mound was. a cross of preciOus
stones, adorned with three remarkably large pearls. In the front
of this crown was a large Jerusalem cross, entirely frosted with
brilliants, and in its centre was a unique sapphire, two inches
long, maned:ly as broad, of the purest and deepest azure. This
crown: ffas, however, more gorgeous -than 'elegant ; there was
but little taste displayed in the shape of it : it was of a size far
too large for the head of her present Majesty, audits Weight was
nearly seven pounds! The .jewels with which it was decorated
have been: transferred to the.crown now being tnade by Messrs.
Rundell and Bridge. This very elegant crown is in shape some-
thing like the crown of Elizabeth, but it is rather larger, and will
come down:more upon the head of the wearer than did the dia-
dem of the celebrated daughter of Henry the Eighth. The arches
are of the imperial form; the cap is .of purple velvet, surround-
ed at the, bottom with a. band of ermine. There is little gold in
it, the frame and hoops being composed of silver, in which the
brilliants and otterpreeionsistones are set, very thickly and with
great. taste. It wl.l, after.the coronation, be placed m the Tower
for the iuspectioo of the public.
The golden orb is a ball Of gold, six inches in diameter, edged
with pearls and girded with precious :stones ; it is surmounted
with a cross, beneath which is a remarkably large' amethyst.
This will be placed. in the left hand of the Queen during one
part of the coronation.

There are now in the Towerihree sceptres—the one is called
" the sceptre with the cross.:" it is placed in the right hand of
the,Monarch during the coronation ceremony. The head of it
is composed of triple leaves of jewellery, representing in their
form and colour the emblems of the imperial Union.
Another is the " sceptre with the dove." The cross whereon
the symbol of peace reposes is, together with the centre' and
prominel, richly covered with jewels. And the third. " the
Queen's ivory sceptre." It belonged to the Queen of James the
Second. It is mounted in gold, and has on its top a dove of
white onyx. This sceptre has no jewels, but it is remarkable
for its elegant simplicity. A legend is attached to ii, which
renders it an. object of great interest : it was used at the ,corona-
tion of the unfortunate Anne Boleyn.

Besides these crowns and sceptres, there are in 1.1,a jewel.
room, or as it is called in the old Norman French, the language
of our ancestors, " Salle de Counonnes,".a vast number of most
gorgeous, and costly gold vessels, fair the use of the Monarch
and his guests and the coronation banquet. There is a golden
wine fountain, nearly three feet high, and as much in 'circum-
ference. lt pours out four jets du tin, in several divisions, and
is, together with the other golden vessels, of the most elaborate
workmanship. The golden font, in which the royal childreti
are baptized, is also here, as also the " Ampulla," or golden
eagle, from which the holy oil for the annointment of the Mon-
arch is poured into the golden spoon. These two last were
brought by Tholual a Becket from they Abbey of Sens, in
France. They are of very high antiquity, and of very curious
workmanship. The whole of these costly gems are urider the
guardianship of the Lord Chamberlain, which keeps the key
of thecioset in which they are placed. The crowns and sceptres
have recently been cleaned, mid their present appearance is
exceedingly dazzling and brilliant. The fee for a sight of them
has been lowered to one shilling ;. and •they certainly afford as
good a sight, both to the amateur and the antiquary, as any
thing for the same money in London.