Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-03-29
teripg the church, the view vas grand

ter;ug TIE church, the view vas grand
.susn sou,bre, Ihe whole exteEt was
,,ns with biac k clo.h, ornamented with
.leurs de lis, surmounted oy cornice
ormed of wax lights. About midway
M the nave we,e placed On either side
wo obeiisks, forming species oil
porch to a magnificent u.ausoleun
which rose from lue centre; from this
tows. co monumental pyramid, which
vas completely en'elopcd IN black vel
vet, hanging in rich folds, with an
apparent want of arrangement; from
the ceiling ~as suspended magniti-
cent canopy with silver fringe fhe
pclpit. the altar, the tribunes, were ST.
IoiIa,ly covered with black velvet,
which was in every instance powdered
with silver fsur de lis and lansus dos
fear, (6ery tonsues.)
The principal aisle was lined by an
elite srenadier company Of the garde
royal, and by 50 gardes du corps
pied Gents Swisses Round tie mau.
soleum (t was too magnificent to be
termed catafalque,) were placed -
gardes du corps, resting On theii car.
Dimes. In front Of the monument, look
ing towards the altar, stood the priDci-
pa! herald at arms, IN complete black,
except that his surtout was spr!nkled
with golden lilies. and that the ostrich
plume in his hat was white; in his hand
he held black baton. Fix other lie.
raur d Aymss, similarly equipped, were
ranged alongside the royal sspuichre.
In he tribunes were numerous .sdies;
in a private one-gritiee, sat the unhap.
py Child of the murdered king. the still
sorrowing d'Angoulsme. On tbs bench
es at either side of the nave, were the
Judges of the courts ofcassstion of pre-.
mier instance. Sec' TO the right, look
ing towards the altar, at the angle for
med by the cross, exactly in front of
the pulpit, and near to the mausoleum,
were the princes eff the roya! family.
The Count d'Artois and bis son the
Duke d'Angouleme, occupied the up
per seat-under them was the Duke de
Bourbon (son of Conde) on the floor
was the Duke d'Orleans-all these
wore the GORDON tieu, and all were
dressed en- militGire; close to them
were the officers of their respective
stats major tstaff) IN gorgeous uni.
forms. Almost opposite were seated
the marShals and other superior officers
Of the French army, past and present,
blazing with decorations, covered with
trapptngs Of all coiors, and, knowing
that there was at least some pre.ext
for their receiving these, | could not
but raise my eyes In wonder and thank
fitness to Heaven for having enabled a
body Of undecorated, unpretending sol
diers to piuox the laurel from their
manly weather-besren brows.
The grand mass was celebrated BY
the Archbishop Of Paris, supported by
six other Prclates, amongst whom was
Dr.. Patterson, Roman Catholic coad-
tutor Bishop of Edinburg. The choir
was occupied by nearly 200 performers
male and female, vocal and instrument |
tai. amongst whom were all the corps
d'opera. The music was magnificent.
Notwithstanding oil l have said, the
whole passed over without making SO
Tenn impression upon me. the whole
had too much the appearance of mil-
itary spectacle; or rather it was one
in reality. Nothing edifying appeared
in the conduct of any person present.