The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-17
Death In the Palnce-..whas ThcY lso
with 4 Dead Queen.
nnI1d0n StA0UNr0,I l

Death I'm the Palnec-.sWhae ThcY lso
with \ Dead Queen.
fLondon Standard
Z MADRID, June 2S.-During the illness Of
The Queen nuch sympathy was shown to
her and to the King by the nobility. by the
gentry, and by the official society OF Ma
drid. They fiocked at 81. hours OF the day
10 the palace, and inquired anyiousay for
the bulletins, which were issued regularly
three times 4 day. The majority OF the
Madrilenos showed their usual s,oncytdlGnt
indifference, and their theatres, their gar
tens, their places Of amusement closed only |
on the day before the Queens death, when
&c was known that no recovery could be ex.
pected. AT that last hour more sympathy |
was displayed, and the poorer classes began |
to congregate round the palace, aud to eX.
press their Borrowing sympathy with loud
voice and much gesticulating. The richer
classes OF society and authorities displayed
much religious zeal in the shape Of masses.
prayers, candles in the churches. vows. &C.,
Tor her Majesty's recovery. The political
world at first did not seem to believe
that she was at the point OF death, and
had to bear the brunt Of very
severe attack Of the Liberals in. the Cortes,
led on by Senior Navarro Rodrigo and Gen.
eral Lopez Domingues. Coming out OF the
debate the Premier was ordered to the pail
ace to see the last relapse OF the dying Queen.
1t Is the usage in Spain that all the Minis
tiers, Cardinals, and high functionaries OF the
Kingdom should witness the death Of the
King or Queen. The consequence OF this
was scene OF unusual emotion and painful
expectation in the bed-chamber from mid
night until morning. 1t is described in all
its most narrowing details In every paper IN
Madrid. 1t will suffice to say that the
Queens bed was surrounded by all her rel
atiyes near the King and Duke, besides
about forty other persons.
The religious rites were repeated on
Wednesday in presence Of all these specta-
tors, and King Alfonso never left the slde
nf his PARTNER until she had breathed her
last. He allowed the Bishop OF Salamanca
TO close her eyes, and he took away her ring,
retiring immediately to his own apartment.
There he only permitted Senior Canovas ana
the Royal family to enter, as Castiilan ell
quette requires nine days, nouena, 10 pass
before he can even leavethe palace Tor the Es-
curial, where heirtends to spendafew weeks
close to the last resting-place OF his queen.
Thither she was carried TINS morning.
The body Of the Queen had lain IN state
from Yesterday morning until about last
night, when the chapelle ardente was closed
in consequence Of the rapid decomposition
of the remains. The Duke OF Montpensler
had positiYely,refused to allow them TO De
embalmed. They were exposed in cha
pelle ardente, hastily arranged in the palace
hall, and the bier lay on rchly-gllded In
perial ped, guarded by halberdiers, knights,
and lords-in-waiting. Seventy thousand
persons were admitted IN succession 10
take last look at Queen Mercedes, ana
her own father in the evening came ana
oit for cly p1innfps M her 1eGb.
This morning mass was said at O'Clock
in the cbapelle ardente, and it was at
tended officially by the Ministers, gran
dees, foreign Ministers. generals, and Ma
firid authorities, both civic and military.
The body was carried to the hearse by
eight crandees OF Spain, and it was drawn
AWAY by eight horses of Andalusian breed,
very gaily harnessed, and led by powdered
Iacaueys. The funeral cortege was rather
simple. 1t was only formed by few regi-
ments OF infantry, one battery OF horse ar
tiIIery, the Alabarderos OF the palace, ana
the Queens own household. AS cher
mourners, in accordance with etiquette,
e walked behind the hearse the Minister OF
Grace and Justice, the Cardinal Patriarch
Of the Indies, and che Marshal OF the Pal
nee. A few ioot-guards and huSsars in
bright blue uniform closed the fu-
neral corteqe OF Queen Mercedes. 1t
passed down the street near the pal
ace, and passed the artillery barracks
again down the hill to the station. The
crowd was Immense and very quiet. Few
! hats were raised, and only the people
in the houses showed any marks OF sorrow.
at the station train was ready to take the
Oueen's followers and the three high otfi-
GERS who acted as State mourncrs as above
to the Escurial. 1t dashed away from the
station before O'Clock. In the Escurial
the body OF Queen Mercedes was taken
straight to the chapel in the sombre palace
of Philip ii. 1t was carried through the
great doors, which only open to let In the
remains of the Bourbon princes, and a
large military force under General Cor
tito paid her Majesty the honors due to
an Infanta Of Spain. She was not entitled
to more because she had died without
male issue. The Minister OF Grace and
Justice and Marshal Of the Palace surren.
dered the remains Of the Queen TO Cardinal
BenavideS on the steps OF the church, ana
his Eminence, with the chapter and clergy,
conducted the bier to chapel where brick
and marble monument had been hurrledly
prepared. Thus has closed the short exist
ence OF Princess only eighteen years OF
age, and most Sraniards think that this
death NAV become national calamity. AL.
ionso MI. is only twenty-one years OF age,
and he is left alone once more, exposed 10
the intrgues OF parties and many influences
which. like the very evil influence or the
Basilewsy Palace, had been averted by his
marriage with Queen Mercedes.