Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-31


landing place and afforded ample room ii
which all the civil, military and naval bodies
attendant upon the ceremonies of the transfer
sf she remains from the British to the Amer
lean authorities were assembled aud formed
The Legislaturp formed line in the rear fac
ing the landing with the Mechanic Blues and
Portland Light Infantry in front, while GOV
. ernor Chamberlain and the Executive Council
took their station near the funeral ear at the
left and shore extremity Of the line. The
tender swung in to the slip and was made fast,
Captain Commerell and his officers stepped
\ ashore clad in full uniform, the band OF The
4 Monarch followed and the British Marines
4 landed and formed line to the right OF the
Governor and Council The remains were
/ then removed from the tender to the landing
and placed on bier while the Band played a
drge and the troops stood with reversed arms
| Twelve sturdy British tars raised the bier ana
its contents upon their shoulders, which ii re-
! uuired all their strength to perform, and car
ricd it and placed it in the funeral ear. fol-
lowed by the officers of the Monarch with
uncovered heads. This over, Captain Com
mcrel turned to Governor Chamberlain and
addressed him as follows:
Governor Chamberlain, The vcnerated re-
mains of this great and good man now before
us were placed in my charge by Mr.. Motley,
the Minister of the United States to the Court
of St. James, to be conveyed from the country,
| NAV almost say of his adoption, to the land
which gave him birth, conveyed by the | nlted
States ship Of war Plymouth, Capt. Macomb'
and accompanied by his near relative MI
Geo. Peabody Russell. We have arrived dt
the city of Portland. in the State of Maine,
where most magnificent preparations have
been made to receive it, The noble vessel
which | command has been elected for this
honorable service. have right TO believe,
from the name she bears. | have received or
dcrs to show. by every means IN my power,
the respect and admiration in which tins great
philanthropist was held, not only by our most
Gracious Sovereign, Queen Victoria. but by
tie people of the United Kingdom. This task
has been rendered doubly easy to me, by the
knowledge the citizens of the United States
already possess of the expressed feelings on Il
former OCCASION of our beloved Queen. The
President of the t nited States of America has
testified to the appreciation of what we feel,
by the appointment of an officer of great dis
tinction and renown, Admiral Farragut, in
command of a squadron of such character. to
receive these vcnerated remains. 1t gives US,
indeed great pleasure to feel that one OF our
great vessels of war has been sent on her hrst
errand. not of destruction and death, but OF
peace and good will. Governor Chamberlain.
into your hands as Governor of the State OF
Maine, now deliver my sacred trust, but
though the remains of this great and good man
must pass from us. you cannot deprive US OF
his memory. The suffering artizan, the widow
and the orphan on both sides of the Atlantic,
both North and South. will hencetorth bless
the name of George Peabody.
Bowling gracefully at the close of the fore
going remarks Gov. Chamberlain responded:
Captain Commcrcl,-I receive into the Gus
todv and care of the State of Maine this
sacred trust SO konorahly contided to you and
now so faithfully and nobly fulfilled. With
mourntul pride this State sees herself chosen
as the shore where two nations meet to min
gle their tears over the bier of the benetactor
of mankind. 1t is bcftting that should eX
press the deep gratitude of the American
people in recognizing the courtesy, rising to
the height of honor and tenderness. with
which it has pleased Her Majesty, the Queen
of Great Britain. to restore to his native land
this precious dust. England honorcd this
man while he lived. When he ceased, she
laid him with her kings. One of her finest
ships has borne him hither, in charge of
officers known and honored in both countries
You were escorted by an American SLIP
whose name reminds us at once of the tie
that binds us to the old home and the spirit
that makes us a nation. You are met here
by the highest officer of the American Navy
whose deeds the world admires. You are
received by this vast concourse of people
h., a,,praciatn oil thiS honor and min with
full hearts in these august ceremonies. |
thank, you Captain, for your generous cour
tesy in allowing our people to see the almost
royal state in which you have borne hither
the remains of this good man. We have
seen how England sent hm-even as our
Saxon fathers of old sent their good king
after death, in their proudest ship, freighted
with costiest treasures, launched out upon
the sea whence he mysteriously came. You
will return without him, but not void. You
will bear treasures of memory and affection
which cannot fail. You will return from a
mighter victory than your guns in their
proudest triumph shall ever win. You will
bear nations gratitude, and reverence, and
love.
MARCH TO CITY HALL.
The procession was under the direction of
Marshal Kicker. The funeral car has already
been accurately described in these columns
1t was prepared under the direction of
Colonel John W. Brown of the Governor
Staff, and was a rich, well designed, well fin
ished and appropriate car for the occasion.
1t was drawn by six large black horses, with
heavy housings or coverings of black that
nearly swept the ground as they marched.
These were led by six grooms, while Marshal
Kicker rode at their side upon white horse.
The ceremonies at the landing being over the
procession was Immediately formed and the
march to City Hall commenced. The order
was as follows:
Portland Band.
Mechanic Blues and Portland Light Infantry under
command of Col John NJ. Brown.
Maine Legislature, with Hon. T. III. Gushing n
Marshal
Funeral Car, attended by the committee OF the Pea
body Institute as Pail Bearers.
Relatives of the Deceased
Admiral Farragut and stan.
Governor and Executive Council. 8
Mayor and Heads of Departments of Portland
Capt. Commerell and officers of the British and
tn,ar an Soma