The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-07-18
LANCASTER H. SOUTH WEDNESDAY MORNING. JULY 49, 1856

tower, that the Queen of England had been
crowned. Her uncles, Sussex and Cam.
bridge, toddled forward, and with adjust
ed glasses, read their homage in these
words -
81 do become your liege man of life md
limb and of earthly worship, faith and
truth. | will bear unto you to live and
die against all manner of folks. So helm
me, God.
Peer after peer followed, and with
tins classic peroration the proceedings
closed.
Pleasant were the incidents Of the day.
The sun,which always smiles on Victoria.
shone with asplendor occasionally shaded
by sentimental cloud. Wellington.
Melbourne and Gray, were cheered as
they ascended tle steps. Old Lord Role
fell down on going up the steps, and when
Victoria, with sweet smiles and agile grace
tripped forward to aid the aged devotee,
the noble temple rang with cheers to re-
ward her queenly courtesy. O'Connell
was recognised in a hired snuff.colored
court suit, and was hissnd for his seryity.
Joe llume would not don court.lackcy
livery, and was cheered for his indepen.
dence. Bu'wer, to his great chagrin,
passed unnoticed. The Bishop of Exeter,
in his impetuous zeal to pay homage to
the gorgeous Austrian, Esterhazy, tripped
and rolled upon the floor, and some cried,
Thus fall all bishops"
But while lords and ladies, and princes
played within at this majestic mummy,
there passed outside the people, those over
whom she had been given to reign, whose
sweat was to maintain, and whose blood
to defend her sovereignty. Many Of the
multitude was will fed, and decent and
decorous; but among those people were
many, too, lolling lazily in the sun, or
glaring with bieared, british gaze on this
masquerade; hordes from the foul dens
round Westminster, who had risen from
their lairs to cape and grin, who knew
not God, and were not men, something
lower than the animal, with every head
jungle Of vermin, and every face We
snvins Of gin-groat ghastly limbs OF Lon
don life, most terrible to look on. But
the coroneted coaches, each with its per-
fumed hummer, passed along, needless
OF the coarse curse or ribaled Jest which
followed them. Not so the Queen. She
looked and heard the shout and laughter
with terror, and when she reached the
palace she burst into tears-as she said.
with fear tn think she was Queen. After
all, human nature is the same in all; and
it was impossible for one so Young to hear
that day the voice of speh n multitude,
voice even more terrible than that of
the tempest in its ruffian hour or to think
that she was raised TO rule over millions
many Of them brute men-without
feeling her heart swayed and engrossed
b. deep emotion. She is said to lave
never forgotten that day, and to the les
son it has taught Of awe of the people,
and Difference to their will, she perhaps
owes the secure position which her throne
now holds, and has held during the storm
which. in ls4s, shook and swept down
so many.
-
As might be expected in the case of a
virgin Queen possessed, in addition to so
many golden accomplishments, Of that
beauty Of youth which is common alike
to the peasant and the monarch, gossip
with gay garrulity had bestowed her nf.
fections upon variods gallant cavaliers
around the court. Its luxurious fancy
with fertile facility can ever convert
yawn into a sigh, or gid the simplest smile
with sentiment. Lord Elphinstone, Lord
Arundel, and Lord Alfred Paget were TO
Victoria's court what Leicester, and Essex,
and Raleigh were to Elizabe.h's. Lord
Elphinstone was the tave rite companion
OF her childhood, and Is noblcman of
generous mien and manner. But the
friendship Of childhood seldom ripens into
love. That passion comes oftener with
the spring Of tiger than the stealth Of
cat. Whether 1t be that, having bis name
mentioned with the Queens, lie would
not soil the shadow Of her fame by court
ship with a subject we know not; but
his harp still hangs on the wiIlow-tres.
The next the present Earl Of Arundel
and Surrey, and son Of EogIands premier
peer, the Duke OF Norfolk, with the blood
Of alIthe Howards 10 bis veins, an u uausu-
ally noble presence. and counienance re-
p1arksblc scr its sweet expression, was a
lord worthy Of any queer. Heposseased,
too, that most useful accomplishment 70
an Eoglish sOvereign--a lack Of brains.