The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-02-19
BROWNING GEORGE III
a DESCRIPTION OF HIS CORONATION
AS SEEN BY A GENTLEMAN.
Picturesque Incidents Of the Ceremony
Tho Amounting of the King-Gorgcous
Banquet--King Edwards Coronation
VIII BE n Similar Function.

/
| VIII BE n Similar Function.
"As the friendship of Mr.. ROLES. who
| had procured me n pass-ticket, as they
call 1t, enabled me to be present both
In the hall and the abbey, and as had
fine view of the procession out of
| doors from ne-pair-of-stairs-roo
which your neighbor Sir Edward, had
hired at the small price of 100 gum
cas-, on purpose to obllge his acquaint-
ance, l will endeavor TO give you as
minute an account as | can of all the
particulars omitted in the public
papers"
So wrote Mr.. James Heming to
friend in the country ages ago. His
letter Is dated Tuesday. September %,
1861. the day on which George III. was
solemnly crowned Mr.. Heming faith
fully guarding his precious pass-ticket
which gave him the right TO rove
where he chose, was afoot overnight.
The fronts OF the houses in all the
streets that could command the least
point of view were lined with scaffold-
ing, like so many galleries or boxes,
| raised one above another 10 the very
/ roofs. These We're covered with car
pets and cloths of different colors. and
filed quite early in the day with richly
dressed spectators. the mob underneath
making "a pretty contrast" to the rest
Of the company.
Of course, there were plenty of foot
soldiers on the ground. Mr.. Heming
relates how surprised he was to see
the officers familiarly conversing and
walking arm in arm with many of the
privates. This surprise lasted until
1--WE were let into the secret that they
Were gentlemen. who had put on the
dresses of common soldiers for what
purpose need not mention"
Mr.. Heming has n tender heart. at
gave me pain" he confesses, "to see
the soldiers. both horse and foot.
obliged most unmercifully to belabor
the heads of the mob with their broad
swords. bayonets and muskets, but 1t
was not unpleasant to observe several
tipping the horse soldiers slyly from
time to time (some with halfpence and
some with silver as they could mus
ter up the CASH to let them pass be-
tween the horses to get near the plat
form, after which these unconsciona-
BILE gentry drove them back again."
Still he himself is not above having
recourse to "the irresistible argument
of half crown" One of the guards
accordingly pilots him to the hall gate,
where he got admittance just as their
Majesties We're seated at the upper
end under magnificent canoples.
The procession began to quit West
minister Hall between IL and ~. He
seems n veritable familiar" does this
Mr.. Heming in his power to dart hith-
er and thither. Being willing to see
the royal procession pass along the
platform through the streets from
Westminster Hall to the west door of
the abbey. he hastens from the hall,
and "by the assistance of soldier"
gets back to his former station at the
corner of Bridge street, where the win
dows commanded double view ut the
turning.
He has not, however, the words to
express that innate joy and satisfac-
tion which the spectators felt and eX-
pressed, especially as their Majesties
passed by; on whose countenances a
dignity suited to their station, tenn
pered with the most amiable cOmpla.
cency. was sensibly impressed" The
young sovereign had only been mar
ried to the good Queen Caroline in the
previous July. 1t was noticed that as
theG Majesties and the nobility passed
the corner which commanded pros
pect of Westminster Bridge they
stopped short and turned back to look
ut the people, whose appearance. as
they all had their huts off, and were
thickly planted on the ground, which
rose gradually. Mr.. Heming compares
to nothing but a pavement of heads
and faces.
Mr.. Heming next turns up in the
Abbey, but 1t is not to be wondered at
that he did not get there In time to
have so distinct view as he could
have wished. Still he saw good deal
and "our friend Harry Whitaker had
the luck to be stationed in the first
row of the gallery behind the seats al
lotted for the nobility" Harry Whit
aker consequently supplements the
narrative at this interesting point.
The coronation sermon lasted only
fifteen minutes. The king was anoint
ed on the crown of his head, his breast
and the palms of his hands. At the
very instant the crown was placed or
the kings head q fellow having
been placed on the top of the abbey
dome, whence he could look down into
the chancel. with flag which ht
dropped as signal the park and Tow
er guns began to fire. the trumpets
sounded, and the Abbey echoed viii
the repeated shouts and acclamations
OF the people, which, on account OF
the awful silence that had hitherto
| reignel lnl Il YnrY stI.ilxinG nffnct