Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-24
FOREIGN ARTICLES.


few short hours, and all that is mortal Of
Eng glands beloved Princess, will be consigned
TO the sepulclre. Fourteen day. have elapsed
since the nation frs learned its great calait,
Yet sorrow Is as fresh in every bosom as ii il
were but now the dismal tid,nSs had been dis
closed. What consoiatory homage to her
memory, is this Mingled tribute of respect for
her virtues grief for her death aud honor for
her rank. All these feelings blended in
that emotion, which melts into tenderness AT
the mention of her name. SO Young So
lovely! let-youtl and beauty often sleep
together IN the tomb. so virtuous too Yet
where IS the day that passes, which sees not
virtue sink into the grave; In these then we
ma not the motives to private grief, which is
ever hailowed, because ho one presuines To vio.
late ITS Sanctity. W are, indeed, so inuci, the
creatures OF habit, that even our tears are obe-
dent to its power. The Lowry viiIager, i'm all
the pride OF youth, OF health, Of beauty; Chaste
as Inc Iclcic that hangs on Dian's iemnle -
expires, and brief sigh alone conlesses that
we are mortal. Unite these same qualities
with birth, with dignity of station with all the
pomp and splendor of the worlds luxury, and
we follow their llearse with bitter iamentati-
ons, as " their possessor was privileged not TO
ule' we forget, then, the honeiy truIh, which
so easily consoles us when common mortaIs
pay the debt of nature. We invest the nobler
victim OF inevitable fate, with all the trappings
OF our own fancy, rocal the images of temporal
grandeur thaf adorned tie sphere i'll which it
moved, think OF this world alone, and aggra
vate our grief by comparisons, which only tile
infrmity OF our nature exaits into real sources
OF affection.
1t shall not be our Office, however, to play
the metaphysiCian, and anatvze the moral eau
ses OF nations woe. 1t lives in every heart
ltspeaks IN every cOuntenance il is manifest
III every act; tits proclaimed, with unexam-
pea soiemnity i'll tie sacred duties which
the whole Empire, with one common accord.
has consented to discharge this day towards
heaven. IN token Of its sorrow and humlia.
non. what noble, what a touching specta.
Gle So many thousand human beings, enya-
ged, at the same instant, in spontaneous deyo.
ton, 10 breathe their sorrows before COP, and
offerup the pioas incense of their love for the
treasure of which his mysterious will has be.
reaved them. This is no State ceremony; no
cold compliance of Public decency; no mere
Onward shew, where the heart is uncOnceYn-
ed. Inferior TO tue veiiefnenee of private
grief(and ii would be afiectation to identify
them,; the British family mourn their loss in
aspirIt OF meek afhictl0n, which proves its
sincerity because it is not violent. They have
seen Royal Branch destroy ed from which,
IN the very moment OF its blight, they were
prophesying suspicious fruit. This, as A
national calamity, they have cause 10 deploro.
But 1T is not this alone, that prompts their
signs, They weep DER tie grave where youth,
and virtue, and beauty, lie entombed Their
sympatllies have been touched deeper than
their fears. We question neither the annals
OF any country can produce the record ola
scene so morally sublime, as England this day
OFFERS To the werid. Uncalled by auV special
ordinance of COP, nnbdden by any mandate
of temporal authority, but prompted only by
Their own unfeigned sorrow, and their profound
reliance upOnthe consultations ofreligion, they
have voluntarily forgOne public affairs, and
with humble, awful earnestness, filled our
sacred temples. TO supplicate the throne of
mercy. whole people thus PROSTATE before
COP, that they may tell the anguish of their
hearts, implore forgiveness for the past, and
mercy for the future, has in il some thing so
holy, so majestical, so edifying, that we should
blush for ourselves, If we hesitated to acknow-
ledge the emotions of pietv with which we are
inspired. If The expression of such feelings.
IN individuals, is accounted virtue, and the
assured means of divine grace, we may be per-
mitted to indulge the pious hope, that as an
act of national devotion il will procure MS that
favor, without which all human wisdom is as
nothing.
Not shopis open in any part of the Bri
tlsh metropolis. nor, we may add, in any part
OF the British empire. A great number ofpri-
victim OF death lay within. TO say that the
churches and cbapels were full, is feeble
phrase. They were crammed and never, we
will venture TO assert, did voices inter or BIO.
sons beat with religious feelings more deep
and more sincere.
The bells of the churches have tolled at in
iervaS during the day.
The roads TO Windsor have been crowded
yesterday and today, and il was scarcely pos
sible this morning to procure a conveyance
thitheT.
In many Of the parishes tie parochial chill
dren have been partly dressed in mourning
black collars and cuffs, instead of red or blue,
or green, and black binding round their caps
and badges. The females with black ribbons
Oh their gowns and caps.
The courts ct law, the public Offices. the
bank, the exchange, are all shut. Orders have
been sent to the backwards to prevent any
business from being carried on TO day. In the
different Sea-pOrts minute guns are to be fired
at night Every ship, of every nation, has her
COlOrs half-mast high.
Many of the churches and chapels have been
hung with black.
Yesterday evening, at the appointed hour,
commenced the mOnrnful ceremony of remoy-
ing her Royal Highnesss loved remains from
CidremOnt. The preparations began early ia
the morning but they were sfudiously con-
Quoted in such way, that nothing might meet
Tie sight OF the afflicted Prince, till the last
possible moment. About ten o'clock hearse
drawn by eight beautiful black horses, follow
ed 10y hVe mourning coaches, arrived at the
Bear Inn, Esher. MIR. Bauting, who had the
superintendence Of the whole, was present ac-
cOmpanied by about forty of his assistants IL
was a little after five, when The melancholy
CaValcade reached Cldremonf. The bodies of
the illuStriOus mother and her haplcsg babe
aud placed IN the hearse and coach apprOpriat.
ed for their reception, Prince Leopold was
appTiSed that the time was come when il would
be necessary to depart. " Irat his feelings
were vt that moment VIC Will not attempt TO
describe. Faithful 10 the solemn duty he had
imposed upon himself, lie prepared to quit the
mansion, so lately blessed widi her cheering
presence, whose cold inaniniate remains lie
was now about to follow. Painful, heart.rcnd-
ing as the task must have been, his ardent affec.
tons for her when living, would not suffer him
to forget this last, this agOnising tribute to her
memory. Pale and silent, he descended from his
chamber; and with acOuBtenance and manner
TOO distressing 10 look upon, entered the coach
Eyerv thing being arranged. the nrocOQeion
moved slowly onwards. As Il passed through |