The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-11-25 00:00:00

FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR. SIMEON.

CAMBRIDGE, Nov. 20.—Cambridge has, perhaps, scarcely
ever before exhibited a scene so striking and so solemn as that
' of the funeral of this devoted servant of God.
The hour fixed for the commencement of the funeral was 10
in the forenoon of yesterday. More than an hour before that
time, parties of ladies and gentlemen from among the inhabi-
tants of the town were seen flocking towards the gates of King's
College, all habited in deep mourning, and obtaining admission
by means of printed tickets which had been issued ou the two
preceding days. Before the appointed hour the hall of King's
College was filled with members of the University. The deep-
est and most solemn melancholy seemed to pervade every face,
which was heightened by the sombre black of their dresses and
academical gowns, as well as by the peculiar manner in which
the cap is adorned when it is made a symptom of mourning; a
cockade is formed at the centre of the cap, from which radiate
four broad ribands, terminating at the corners of the square ;
and on the part which encircles the head small bows are sewn
in every direction, so as to cover its surface. It was not until
considerably past the appointed hour that the procession issued
from the College-hall and combination-room, where the mour-
ners had assembled. Proceeding from the ball, the procession
advanced round the grand quadrangle, walking four abreast;
it was headed by the choristers, with their surplices, followed by
the scholars and fellows in hatbands of long silk, and large silk
scarfs covering their gowns. Last of these came the Provost
of the College, Dr. Thacker y, in deep mourning. The princi-
pal mourner, Sir Richard Simeon, a nephew of the deceased,
followed the bier, which was borne upon the shoulders of men ;
among the other mourners were the trustees of his livings, anti
many of the incumbents that filled them; and the rear was
brought up by an immense body of the members of the Univer-
sity, among whom were the professors, and many of the heads
of houses, and a very large number of fellows of colleges and
resident masters of arts. Last of all came a long array of un-
der-graduates, who indeed, though last, constituted from their
number, the largest part of the procession. The whole, as they
walked closely four abreast round the spacious path that sur-
rounds the great quadrangle, nearly covered each side,—the
number exceeding perhaps 2,000. After passing behind the
fellows' building, the slow-pacing pageant entered the Chapel
through the western door, and proceeded at once through the
choir. On each side •he visitors, who were not members of the
University, the greater part ladies and respectable females,
were arranged, and exhibited the deepest and most unaffected
grief. The body was placed in the centre of the choir, the
mourners arranged on either side; the clergy were accommo-
dated with the front seats, and the other members of the Uni-
versity passed on to the eastern side of Chapel; none but these
were admitted to join in the procession or to enter the choir:—
The funeral service was read by the Provost, in a voice which
betrayed at times the deep interest ho felt in the solemn duty;
the parts appointed to be sung were beautifully chanted by the
choristers of the College, and on the termination of the cere-
mony the " Dead March in Saul," was performed, with its
grand thunders on the organ, by Mr. Pratt, the usual perfor-
mer. The vault is near the western door, and is already occu-
pied by others of the senior fellows.
It is scarcely possible to conceive the effect of such a scene
as this in such a place as the Chapel of King's College, which
is literally one of the finest temples of Protestant worship in
the world. The whole town throughout the dal partook of the
general feeling of mournful solemnity, which still continues to
be felt on this day (Sunday ;) the shops were all closed during
the ceremony, and a general silent awe pervaded the streets.
After the ceremony, a sermon was preached by the Bishop of
Lincoln at St. 11Iar)'s ; and this day two others at Trinity
Church, of which Mr. Simeon was lately the Rector,—one by
Dr. Dealtry, and the other by Archdeacon Hodgson, both of
which were heard by many more than the Church was intended
to accommodate.

An affecting funeral sermon was preached to a crowded con-
gregation yesterday morning, for the above respected gentle-
man, by the Rev. Joseph Haslegrave, M.A., at St. Peter's
Chapel, lslington.—Standard.