The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-07-03 00:00:00

THE INTERIOR OF THE ABBEY.

Long before five o'clock, which was the hour appoined for
opening the 'abbey doors, crowds of fashionably-dressed
ladies and gentlemen assembled at the different entrances.
Fortunately, the weather was not cold, otherwise the ladies,
who were all dressed in evening costume, would have been
great sufferzrs. The arrangements at the doors were exceed-
ingly good, and there was no crowding or jostling, as too
common among crowds; the authorities having taken care to
issue no more tickets than each or the galleries could hold
with convenience. Among those present, soon after the
doors opened, were the sheriffs and four aldermen, and some
civic officers in their robes, who took their seats on the front
bench of the choir. ,The character of the interior was so
completely changed, that it could scarcely be recognised aS
the venerable sacred edifice of Westminster Aohey. • All the
stalls, reading desks, and pems wete removed to make way
fur the fittings-up; in their 'place were erected five rows of
benches on either side; that on the right for the accommoda-
tion of the law officers and Knights of the Bath, all of whom
were privileged to. be present during this ceremony, while
the left was appropriated to the officers of the royal house-
hold, and the members of the most honourable privy council.
Above these seats were erected two rows of galleries at each
side, which reach to the point where the transept intersects
the choir. The vaultings above these galleries, on either
side, were also fitted up for the accommodation of spectators.
All these galleries were lined in front towards the choir with
tasteful crimson draperies, edged and flounced with gold-
coloured fringe. There were gilt fiamings along the benches
running up to the choir, which gave a tasteful finish to the
whole. At the end of the choir, where it adjoins the inter-
section of the transews at the western end, were five raised
steps, leading, to the elevated dais on which was raised the
theatre, in its centre exactly ; the branches of the princesses
on the left hand, facing the high altar ; that for the peers
directly opposite them' in the southern transept, betterknown
as Poet's Corner. 'There were also galleries on each side of

the two transepts similarly decorated with the other galleries
alread vsdeseribcd.

At the point of intersection of the north transept, and the
channel whe:e stands the altar, stood the pulpit from which
the Bishop of London (to whom on these great occasions
that high honour devolves) is to preach the coronation
sermon; it is a small structure, and a staircase nearly
straight leads to it. The platform on which the Queen sits
to receive the homage of tier peers is elevated some steps,
and on it stood her Majesty's throne to the right hand towards
the peers' transept.
Beyond this, and immediately under the gallery occupied
by the members of the House of the Commons, was the sa-
crarium, on which were placed the altar, and the regalia used
in the ceremonial.

The distance from the platform to the interior of the sacra-
rium was about twelve feet. The principal object wh ch
caught the eye here Was the altar itself, the back of which
was covered with blue and gold. Beside it to the right hand
was the offering table used during the ceremonv.• On the
left hand. immediately adjoinint, the altar, was the chair of
the Archbishop of Canterbury, the chief officiating prelate;
it was of oak. in corresponding style to that of the abbey it-
self, pure Gothic. It was comfortably stuffed with bishop's
purple velvet. Beside it was his grace's kneeling cushion,
and similar one at the right hand of the altar, near the offer-
ing-table table, fot the Dean of Westminster. On the royal
carriage stopping, a very loud shout was raised by those who
tilled the galleries, erected in the part now known as Can-
ning-square; and the mutt' de at the doors, and on every
available part of the abbe, and the adjacent buildings.
The applause would, in itself, almost have been a signal for the
discharge of artillery, which announced her majesty's en-
trance to the abbey, and made known to herloyal and dutiful
subjects the commencement of the interesting ceremony of
her coronation.

The peers and peeresses began to arrive before seven
o'clock, and occupied the places appointed for them in the
transept, which commanded a full view of that part of the
-building where the ceremonial of the coronation took place,
and which is denominated in the official programme as the
theatre. .

At
uine o'clock the scene had greatly increased in magni-
'ficence and interest. The peers and peeresses continued to
arrive in rapid succession after eight o'clock, and the seats
to the choir were gradually occupied by distinguished military
office's decorated with their orders, and by the judges, who
occupied a front bench nearest the theatre. As the peers
and peeresses entered, their names were buzzed about, and
great anxiety was manifested to get a sight of the inure dis-
tinguished peers. The arrival from time to time of several
of.the foreign ilrinces-and noblemen in their splendid dresses
gaVeadditional interest to the scene. The Lurd Mayor and

Lady Mayoress, on their entrance, were conducted tot he seat
in the choir, which had peen reserved for them. The Duke
vie Neth9l.lTs came 'unattended, and was shown to a seat in
the place 'appropriated to the foreign ambassadors. The
choristers, mate and feniale, the latter dressed in white, took
their seatsin'the orchestra about eight o'clock; and the in-

strumental perfortners in uniforms took their places at the
same time, and increased considerably the ceremony. By
ten o'clock, all the appropriated places for those who were to
view the ceremony were nearly filled, and the appearance of
the abbey was magnificently splendid. The members of the
;house of commons began to enter their gallery about half-

past; nine.
:tier majesty'A arrival at the great western door was long
heralded by the loud and hearty acclamations of the people,
who crowded every iMok adjoining the abbey, or from which
the slightest glimpse of the royal COT teje could be obtained.
Their cries were as instantly taken up by the artillery firing
a royal salute of 21 guns, during which her majesty alighted
from- the state- carriage, the band stationed near, playing
" God save the Queen." From the time when a similar royal
salvo of guns announced her majesty's departure from Buck-
ingham Palace was as nearly as possible an hour.
On her arrival at the west entrance of the abbey, her ma-
jesty was received by the greatotlicers of-state, the noblemen
bearing the regalia, and the bishops carrying the patina, the
chalice, and the bible; when her majesty repaired to her
robingichainber, constructed on the right of the platform
without the entrance.

The ladies of her majesty's household, and the oflicers

the royal household, and of the respective households of the
princes and princesses, to whom duties were not assigned in
the solemnity, immediately passed to the places prepared for
them respectively
Her ,majesty having been robed, then advanced up the
nave into the choir; the eholisters• in the orchestra singing
the anthem, " I was glad when they said unto me, We will
go into the house of the Lord," &c.
The order of tho ceremonial in the choir, as given in the

programme which had previously been issued by the Earl
Marshal, was adhered to with little or no deviation. It is
here subjoined, with such incidental remarks as occasional
occurrences suggested:—
At half-past 1) o'clock the procession entered the choir,
and every eye was at once turned towards the Queen. Her
Majesty, in advancing towards the altar, displayed an air of
calm and dignified composure; but still her countenance
plainly indicated how deeply impressed she was with the so-
lemnity of those holy rites which were this day to ratify the
compact between her and her people.
The great officers of state, the Archbishops of Canterbury
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 10 o'clock, where
the regalia, baying been previously laid on the table, were
delivered y 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 to be borne, in the
following order, viz.:—
REGALIA.

First, St. Edward's Staff, to the Duke of Roxburgh.
Second, the Spurs, to the Lord Byron, Deputy to the Ba-.
roness Grey de ltuthyn.
Third, the Sceptre with the Cross, to the Duke of Cleve-
land.
Fourth, the pointed Sword of Temporal Justice, or Third
Sword, to the Marquis of Wesminster.
Fifth, the pointed Sword of Spiritual Justice, or Second
Sword, to the Duke of Sutherland.
Sixth, Curtana, or Sword of Mercy, to the Duke of Devon-
shire.
Seventh, the Sword of State. to. Viscount Melbourne.
Eigth, the Sceptre with the Dove, to the Duke of Richmond.
Ninth, the Orb, to the Duke of Somerset.
Tenth, St. Edward's Crown, to ti►e Duke of Hamilton, as
I ord High Steward.
Eleventh, the Patina, to the Bishop of Bangor.
Twelfth, the Chalice, to the Bishop of Lincoln.
Thirteenth, the Bible, to the Bishop of Winchester.
The Dean and Prebendaries of Westminster were in the
'Nave, in readiness to join the Proceeding next before the
'Officers of her Majesty's Household.

On arriving at thelVest Entrance of the Abbe•, Her Ma-
jesty was received by the Great Officers of State, the Noble-
men the' Regalia, and the Bishops carrying the Pa-
tina, the Chalice, and the Bible, when Her Majesty rpaired
to her Robing Chamber, constructed on the rightof the Plat-
form without the Entrance.
The Ladies of Her Majesty'S Household, and the Officers
of the Royal Household, and of the respective Households Of
the Princes and Princesses, to whom no Duties were assigned
in the Solemnity, immediately passed to the places prepared
for them respectively.
Her Majesty, having been robed, then advanced up the
Nave into the Choir; the Choristers in the Orchestra singing
the Anthem, -" I was glad when they said unto me, we will go
into the House of the Lord, &c.
THE PROCEEDING
FROM THE WEST DOOR OF THE ABBEY INTO THE CHOIR.
The Prebendaries and Dean of Westminster.
Officers of Arms.

Treasurer of Iler Majesty's

Comptroller of Her Ma- Household (attended by two
jestv's Household. gentlemen,) bearing the Crim-
son Bag with the Medals.

Her Majesty's Vice Chan,-
berlain, acting for the Lord
Chamberlain of Her Majesty's The Lord Steward of Her
Household; attended by an Majesty's Household; his Co-
Officer of the Jewel Office, ronet carried by a Page.
bearing on a Cushiim the Ruby
Ring .and the Sword for the
offering.

The • Lord President of the
The Lord Privy Seat; his Council ; his Coronet carried
Coronet carried by a Page. by a Page.
The Lord Chancellor of Ireland,
attended by his Pitrie Bearer; his coronet carried by a Page.
The Lord Archbishop of Armagh, .in his Roche!, with his Cap
in his hand.

The Lord Archbishop of York, in his Rochet, with his Cap
in his hand.

The Lord High Chancellor, attended by his Parsc-Bearer;
his Coronet carried by a Page.
The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, in his Rochet, with his
• Cap in his hand, attended by two Gentlemen.
PRINCESSES OF THE BLOOD ROYAL.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of CAMBRIDGE,.
in a Robe of Estate of Purple -Velvet. and wearing a Circlet