Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-06-24
FAMOUS CARRIAGES.
Those Used on State Occasions by Once,
Victoria and Londonss Lord Mayor.

Those Used on State Occasions by Queen
Victoria and London's Lord Mayor.
During the reigns of Anne and of the
hrst two Georges most persons of rank
or wealth had carriages. State car
riages of great men of the GEORGIAN
time are well illustrated by that of Lord
Darnley, now at South Kensington. The
framework is admirably carved, and
the top covered with leather, and with
gilt coronets at the angles. The panels
are gaily painted, and the hinges and
other metal work are modelled in
bronze. The reader will remember car
rlages like tin etchings and pictures of
Hogarth. Sedan chairs carried bv two
men have been in use down to recent
times. Persons of rank went to draw
ing rooms and court receptions with a
string of sedan chairs, accompanied bv
footmen, each containing one of the
ladies of the family. Such a process
sion has been described to the present
writer by an eyewitness as nothing nm
common eighty years ago. The tops of
sedan chairs are hinged-are. in fact.
lids which shut down over the front and
sides, and keep them together when
closed. There are specimens from other
countries now in the Kensington Mu-
scum, for they were in use all over
Europe.
There are, besides the Speakers coach.
two other state carriages in London.
both built in the last century, those of
the Lord Mayor and her Majesty the
Queen. The former was built in the
reign of George Ii. 1t was first used
during the mayoralty of 1857. The
framework is carved in bold acanthus
carving, ON looking glass frames. ETC.,
OF the day The upper panels are of
plate glass. The royal state coach is of
later date, more fanciful in structure.
The bed of it is composed of four tri-
tons, who support the body on massive
cables OF carved oak. The drivers box
is planted on the two front figures, and
he has carved scallop shell for a
foot-board. The body is composed of
eight palm trees. with trophies on the
four angles. A crown surmounts the
center, upheld by three boys, represent
ing the three kingdoms, and holding
the sword of state and other insignia
The panels are of beveled Vauxhall plate
glass. The painting represents groups
OF categorical figures, Britannia, Victory,
Abundance and the Virtues. tbs drawn
by eight horses, but 1t has not been used
since the death of the Prince Consort 1t
was designed by Sir w. Chambers, and
the decorations were superintendent by
Pigalle. sculptor, and by Capitsoldi
and VOuers, decorators settled in Lon
don. Joseph Wilton superintendent the
painting; the carving is by Nicolas Col
lett; the chasing by Colt; the builder
was Butler. The harness is of morocco,
with silver gilt mounts, made by Ring
stead. 1t measures twenty-four feet by
eight feet three inches; the pole is twelve
feet long.
Whatever may have been the skill of
the coach-makers of Hungary, France,
Italy and other continental countries
during the reign of Louis the Magni-
ficent and his contemporaries, it seems
indisputable that from the reign of
George Ill. London builders have held
the palm in structures of this kind.
They were the first to make carriage
good carriages-of lighter and more
convenient shape. Englishmen bred
the best horses, and had passion for
travelling fast. The state carriage of
the Irish Chancellor is, though large,
light in comparison with the older car
riages we have described. A chariot
made for George III differs from those
old-fashioned chariots which have not
wholly gone out of use, with G springs
and sword cases. The sides are fiatter.
and the fore and hind parts of the bed
are connected by two perehes instead
one. During the last century good En-
glish carriages were bought by foreign
ers who wanted the best thing of the
kind that was then to be had. There is
one in the Hotel de Cluny. Lord Ma
cartney took English carriages az pres
ents to the Emperor of China when he
made his embassy to that potentate.
They were found by our allies, the
Palace of the reigning Emperor during
the Chinese war, some few years ago.
They were covered with dust, and it
was believed that they had never been
put into use.-Magazirae Of art.