The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-05-07
How the Prince of Wales took his
Seat i'm the House OfLOrdS.

The following is an interesting account Of the
ceremonies observed on the occasion when the
Prince Of Wales first took his scat in the House
of Lords. Parliament had been opened In the
morning by the reading Of the Queen speech
The Commons having quilted the House OF
Lords, the latter adjourned, the mace remaining
on the table. in front Of the wOOlsack. For TWO
more hours the large gilded ball was silent like a
hermitage the rays of the sun falling from
above through the painted windows, full with
the life-size pictures Of Il hundred Kings and
Queens Of Great Britain, and playing Oh the
floor IN ever-varying fantastic shadows. 1t was
not until the large bell in the eastern tower had
struck a quarter 10 four that signs OF life began
again to be visible. One by one the noble peers
OF the realm began 10 drop IN and take their
seats upon the leather-cOyered forms, now vacated
by the ladies while the benches close To the
right Of the woolSack got filled with dignltaries
Of the Church, ~crOWding together nearer. than
ever. The noble lord at the head of the Foreign
Office Earl RUSSELL, who had ensconced hIlse.i
comfortably, a few minutes previous, IN the seat
belonging to the Primate Of All England. was
driven from his repose by the rUstling of thelawn
sleeves, and had scarcely composure enough to
find his way down to the ministerial bench.
At this moment the clock struck four, ana the
Lord Chancellor, in his dark robes of office, once
more entered the House. The narrow-saated
form in front of the throne has now been rcmov-
ed, and for the first time the Speaker OF the Lords
takes MS seat on the DfOdu WOOlsttHh, sldllIlnS,
theoretically, not within but without his House.
No sooner has his lordship taken his seat, when
the youngest of the members OF the Episcopal
bench steps forward TO the table on which lies the
mace, and begins to say prayers. All the Lords
simultaneously sink on their knees. Again the
vast hall is lulled into deep silence, through
which only the voice Of the bishop is heard.
Slowly, after the final Amen the peers Of Great
Britain resume their seats, 10 listen TO a few
words from the Speaker. Then all eyes tlrn
towards the door opposite, from which issues Il
long procession.
The coronet of the Duchy of Cornwall is borne
on a velvet cushion in front of the solemn cor:ege,
consisting of sOme twenty lords, rObed in dong
scarlet mantles, with the collars and insignia of
the Order of the Garter. In the midst of the
procession walks a youthful figure, with head
erect, the brow flushed with excitement. Ii is
the heir apparent of Great Britain, Albert
Edward, Prince of Wales, now going 10 take mis-
seat for the first time as Duke Of Cornwall amcng
the peers Of the realm. Led by the Colonial Sec
Rotary and the tall Commander-in-Chie of the
Army, the Prince walks up to the table Of the
Clerk of the House, to take the oath on the Con-
stitution Of Great Britain and inscribe his name
upon the roll of Parliament. While the length
ened document is being read, there is time to
examine the look and physiognomy of the young
est OF the peers of the realm.
The Prince of Wales face is one to which as
yet no justice has been done by painters and
photographers. 1t is Il pretty face on paper or
canvas, but nothing more, and it looks unmaan-
ing almost in It's extreme juvenility. The living
original is very different indeed from the earle de
riSite portrait. The blue eyes look serious almost
to sadness the mall mouth and high forehead
beam with intelligence, and the whole expression
OF the face Is that Of the thoughtful and earnest
man rather than of the growing youth. The
Prince of Wales has the features of his late father
even more than of his mother. He has that look
of mOdesty which so much characterized the
DuSDrt that same refined outline of the
lower face, denoting the absence Of grosser pas
sions and those same small, but not n~arrow;Iips,
given to thinking rather than talking. The vIsi-
BILE modesty, nay, shyness. is striking in one
whose crown lay in his cradle. The virgin Hush
which covered the temple of the heir apparent on
his entering the House of Lords does not disap-
pear while ne is standing at the side Of the grave
clerk who is reading the Constitution Of P&rlia-
ment.
In faltering accents and low voice the heir
apparent syyears fidelity to the laws, and his hand
but trembles while he kisses the Bible and
signs his name in confirmation Of his oath. But
he regains his compOsure as soon as this act has
been accomplished, and the procession has been
set in movement again. The long line of scarlet
peers, Tho have stood III a semicircle around
the table of the clerk, now move % towards the
wOOlsack, which has no sooner been reached,
the Prince of Wales leaves the procession,
and with graceful steps ascends the royal dais,
seating himself in the armchair to the right of
the throne, and covering his head. Having
greeted the lordly assemblage by Il twice repeated
silent bow of the head, the Prince again descended,
and, walking up 10 the wOoiSack, shakes hands
with the Lord Chancellor in a warm-hcartcd,
friendly manner. The most perfect grace of
nien and department distinguished the whole of
-hese ~eme and before the mind has well
realized the historical scene, the heir apparent
Joined once more the procession OF peers, and
is leaving the hall on the opposite side.