Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-01-17

King at arms, advancing to the head of the grave
proclaimed the style and titles Of the deceased
Prince, saying:
" Thus it has pleased Almighty God to take
out of this transitory life to his Divine mercy the
Most High, Most Mighty, and Most Ilustrious
Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, Duke Of
saxony, Prince Of SAKE Coburg and Gotha,
Knight Of the Most Noble order Of the Garter.
and the Most Dear Consort of her Most Excel
lent Majesty Victoria, by the Grace of God of
the United Kingdom Of Great Britain and Ireland
Queen, Defender Of the Faith, &C., whom God
bless and preserve with long life health and
honor"
This formal proclamation has hitherto always
concluded with the words tWhom God bless and
preserve with long life, health, and happiness "
But ou this occasion, for the first time during
her Majesiy's reign, the prayer for happiness
was left out, and only that for ''life and honor"
offered. The change is mournfully significant,
though the words we have quoted were in fact
not spoken for with the first mention of the
Queens name Sir Charles Young's voice faltered,
and the concluding sentence Of tho mournful
prayer, If uttered, was quite inaudible. Then
Dr.. Elvey, who presided at the organ, began the
solemn strains OF the .'Dead March" In Saul, as
the mourners advanced to take last look into
the deep grave. The Prince of Wales advanced
first, and stood for one brief moment, with hands
clasped, looking down; then all his fortitude
seemed suddenly to desert him, and bursting into
a flood Of tears he hid his face, and, ushered by
the Lord Chamberlain slowly left the Chapel
OF the two, Prince Arthur seemed the more COM
posed at the end OF the ceremony, as If his un-
restrained grief had worn itself out. All the
mouruers, and those invited to the ceremony,
advanced in turn to take u farewell glance at the
coffin, and not one looked down into the deep
black aperture unpoved-none quilted the
Chapel without traces of deep and heartfelt
sorrow.
INTERIOR OF THE VAULT.
When all was over, and the last of the long,
lingering train Of mourners had departed, the
attendants descended the entrance to the grave
with lights and moved the bier and coffin along
the narrow passage which leads to the entrance
to the Roynl vault. At the bottom Of the grave
down which the bier was lowered is stone
passage, about six feet broad and some eight or
nine feet high On the right, in n little niche,
stands the very simple machinery used for low
ering the biers, and n little beyond this, in
another niche, few OF very tall, black. gaunt
looking two armed wooden cLnllebra-, employed
for torches when the Royal vault itself is opened.
For some twelve or fifteen feet beyond this the
passage continues descending, and turning little
to the left, till further ingress is cut of by two
plain, rusty wide barred iron gates This Is the
entrance 10 the Royal vault,
1t is difficult without strong lights to pierce
the intense gloom which always pervades this
last resting place Of Royalty, and even when its
sombre contents are revealed, there is, after all,
but little to be seen. Ii is very plain, wide
lofty stone vault, with gFoned roof springing
from stone columns. On either side, supported
by these columns, are four tiers of marble shelves;
in the centre are three very wide aud massive
slabs of marble, raised some two feet from the
ground The side shelves are destined for the
members Of the Royal family-the centre marble
biers for the collins of monarchs only.
As the light slowly penetrntes this dismal
chandler, two purple collins, looking almost black
in the gloom, can be distinctly seen at the fur
theat end, brightly rejecting back the rays of
light as the beams fall upon their richly gilded
ornaments, which shine as though affixed but
yesterday. These are the collins Of George ILL.,
and Queen Charlotte. Above their heads, but
shining out warmly with bright crimson glow
are the collins of three of their children, who
died young. At their feet but some distance
apart, and quite alone lies the gorgeous coffin
of George w. On the centre slab. and nearest
to the gates the cofiins of William ". and Queen
Adelaide rest side by side, the Queen being oil
the Left The light distinctly shows these cotfies,
and the velvet is us soft and rich as and the gil.
ded plates aud handles us bright as on the day
when they were first laid there many years agp.
Not even dust seems to have soiled their funereal
grandeur; and except few stray bits Of gravel
On and round the centre plates where the earth
was thrown nt that solemn passage which com
mits the body to the ground, and tells how We
are all alike before the sight Of God, there is
nothing to show that all the remains had not
been carefully watched and tended since the day
of their iuterinent. There are no coifins on tho
right side OF the vault, but on the left are those
of the Duke of York, the Duke of Gloucester, the
Duke of Kent, aud the Duke of Cambridge
Strangely enough the coffin nearest TO the gate
is that Of the Princess Charlotte of Wales. 1t
is a crimson coffin, close in view, and like the
rest, as bright ~ that which, alas has been 80
lately laid there.
AFPEoTIoN's LAST OFFERING.
Along the passage we have described the bier
Of the late Prince was wheeled till the foot of
the cofliu was at the gates of the Royal vault
There it lemains, though it was not left to the
gloom of its dark and narrow home till some dear
memorials of love and fond regret from the be-
nd cltIdran hau ha had en in