Washington telegraph., 1850-08-14
FUNERAL OF PRESIDENT TAYLOR.

|
on Saturday. the 18th inst:
| Washington, July 13.--To-day the
city exhibited tokens in all directions of
extreme solemnity. From every quarter
| the national colors were displayed at
half.msst and draped in sable. The
Presidents house, the various depart
ments, and other public buildings, were
draped in black. On Pennsylvania Ave-
nue., and many of the other streets, the
same sad ensgns were displayed. The
cars from Baltimore, and The various
steamboats, and other public conveyan-
ces, came crowded with people, anxious
10 pay last tribute TO the departed chief
! The troops were formed at IL o'clock.
The Senators were in attendance at 10i
o'clock. The usual badges of mourning
were prepared at IL o'clock. The Rev.
Mr.. Butler delivered an impressive
prayer.
The Senators then proceeded to the
Presidents mansion, from whence the
grand civil and military procession waste
move, after performing the funeral obse-
qnies. The Senate. ON returning 10 the
Senate, chamber, adjourned.
The same proceedings were had in the
House.
The doors Of the Executive mansion
were opened at o'clock for the admis-
sion of heads of Departments, foreign
ministers, and others. The crowd filled
up every avenue leading to the mansion,
not appropriated to military and other
bodies that were to take part in the pro-
cession. The membets of the cabinet,
H. l.olN tt,
and those members of the two houses of
Congress who could be admitted. occu-
pied the East room. Col. Bliss, Col.
Taylor, of Baltimore, and other relatives
OF the deceased, occupied positions next
to the remains. The foreign ministers
all appeared in full court costume.
The inscription on the coffin plate is as
follows: '.Zachary Taylor. President Of
the United States aged Co. The COZ
fin is magnificent one. 1t is covered
with black velvet. the edges being OF sill
yer with huge silver tassels looped with
gold d-fringed buttons The countenance
of the deceased is unchanged, though
much emaciated Mrs. Taylor would
not consent to embaIming the body. BY
request of the family, prayers were held
over the remains this morning, when
none but the immediate relatives were
present. The coffin rested on a raised
platform in the centre of the East room,
enveloped with black Grape.
AS soon as all had assembled, Rev.
Mr.. Smith Payne, of the Protestant
Episcopal Church, performed the solemn
burial service, during which many an
eve was moistened. An eloquent dis
course was delivered by the Rev. gen.
tleman. The family of the deceased
were within hearing distance OF it.
When he had concluded, the coffin was
removed and placed upon the fnner-
al car near which the favorite war horse
of the deceased was standing. The fu-
neral car was a plain hearse. under
raised canopy, the American eagle being
represented in the centre. 1t was drawn
bv eight white horses, with black
| housings.
| The procession moved at 12 o'clock.
when minute guns were fired. Tie pail
bearers were Messrs. Clay, Cass, Berfen,
| Winthrop, Benton, Webster, and IA 9TH
ers. The troops were under the COM
| mand of Gen. Scott. The procession
| a
were strewn along Pennsylvania Avenue
for several hundred yards from the White
| House. The civil procession has been
estimated at 10000, and the military at
900, besides companies of artillery
| There were 10 bands of music compri-
sing hundreds of instruments. The
effects along the Avenue was very tlae.
| Signor Fagnan, an Italian artist, yes
terday took a sketch of the head and face
of Gen. Taylor before he was placed in
the coffin. No cast was taken, the fam
ily being unwilling. Gen. Scott, when
he arrived in the East room, wept over
the body of his distinguished companion
in arms. On arriving III front OF the
congressional burying ground, the militia
nv escort were formed in two hnes-the
first, consisting OF detachments TO fire
the last voiley, were facing the cemetery
and three PAGES from it, and the second
line, consisting of the remainder OF the
infantry in the escort, twenty PAGES III
rear. The battery of artillery took q po-
sition on the rising ground about lou
| PAGES in the rear of the second line.
The burial ground, at an early hour in
| the morning, was filled with thousands
Of people.
The funeral pageant was of the most
impressive character. The mournful
tone of the music, the solemn tread OF
! the soIdiery, the tolling of the bells, the
booming Of minute guns, filed all hearts
with sorrow, and every one seemed TO
realize the fact shat great and good
man had fallen. The body was received
by the sexton of the burial ground. A
national salute was fred as the process
ion passed the City Hall, the Capitol.
and the Navy Yard Arriving at the
a