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Glorious Consolation.

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passed through was hung with black cloth; and the adjoining room where it was placed was fitted up in a style of state: a large black velvet pall lay on the coffin, with a broad white border reaching to the ground, which, as well as the whole room, was covered with black cloth. On the coffin was the Princess's coronet, and at the head of the coffin, against the wall, a large silk escutcheon.

The feelings of those admitted to this scene of mortality were highly wrought up by the recollection, that this suite of apartments had once been occupied, in all the glow of heart, the ardour of youth, and the expansion of high raised hopes, by her whose now lifeless form was on the very verge of. the yawning grave! But now, how changed!—for the glow of health, the paleness of the cold, cold corse!-for the ardour of youth, the still sleep of death!-but-oh glorious consolation-for high raised earthly hopes, the blessed fruition of eternal happiness!

The infant and the urn were immediately conveyed to St. George's Chapel, and there received by the Hon. and Rev. Dr. Hobart, the Dean, the Rev. Mr. Northey, and the Rev. Dr. Cookson. The Dean stood with his back to the west, in the chapel, the Rev. Mr. Northey and the Rev. Dr. Cookson on each side of him. The most profound

silence was observed by all;

eight Yeomen of the

Guard standing round. The body and the urn

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Infant and Urn deposited.

were then gradually lowered by a windlass into the royal cemetery; two of the Yeomen, descending to receive them. They were deposited temporarily on a shelf, previous to being placed on the coffin of the Princess. No service took place, but an awful stillness was preserved. This was the whole of the ceremony."

* The apparatus for lowering the corpse into the vault of the royal cemetry, was constructed, after the death of the late Princess Amelia, by order of the King, who observed, "that as there would be a great crowd when he was buried, he would wish no one to be hurt by the procession being again ranged to conduct the body to the cemetery the ordinary manner."

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Funeral Procession and Ceremony-Public Feelings and Expressions of Grief-Concluding Observations.

WEDNESDAY, the 19th of November, 1817, consigned to earth the mortal remains of the Princess Charlotte-the last relics of her whom, from a child, we have watched with increasing sentiments of respect, admiration, and affection-but now, in the gloom of night, deposited in the sepulchre.

The general feeling upon this occasion was deep and impressive. In the city of London, in Westminster, in the Borough, and throughout the vicinity of the metropolis, business was every where suspended, except indeed in absolute and irresistible cases of necessity, such as the unavoidable payments of bills by the Bank of England, and the Banking-houses. The purchase of the Stock for the reduction of the National Debt was postponed, and the Committee of the Stock Exchange unanimously determined that the Exchange should be shut. A circular had been previously issued from the Treasury, acquainting the respective offices that no attendance would be required. A similar con

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Grief in the Metropolis.

duct was pursued by all other public establishments; and all the churches, not only in the metropolis, but throughout the empire, were opened for humiliation and prayer. All this was spontaneous; indeed, commanded testimonials of grief were so little necessary, that no command would have been powerful enough to arrest the universal and interesting display of genuine feeling. Nor was there any distinction of sentiment between high and low, rich and poor: the most humble individual claimed a right to lament the common affliction ; and the loftiest bowed under the stroke which has wounded us all. In this national suffering, however, there was a national consolation. Religion opened all her sanctuaries; and we felt the comfort of being a Christian people. It appeared as if the extreme grief of all ranks had been so overpowering, that no refuge from it could be found but in the house of prayer.

At an early hour the bells throughout the entire extent of the metropolis tolled the funeral knell, which was resumed at intervals during the day, and continued until twelve o'clock at night. Among these, the deep and melancholy tone of St. Paul struck upon the ear with a 'force and effect greatly exceeding all its melancholy associates. The standard on the Tower was hoisted at day-break, halfstaff high; and the example was followed by every vessel in the river. Every shop was shut as during

Church Services.

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the solemnity of the Sabbath; the shutters of most private houses were also closed, and while the deep tolling of bells sounded mournfully above, and afflicted countenances, and the black vestments of woe passed silently along, funeral processions seemed to move in every street the whole land to weep in desolation. It was the stillness of the grave. So sublime and affecting an illustration of national sensibility has been rarely exhibited to the world. Uncalled by any special ordinance of God, uninfluenced by any mandate of temporal authority, but prompted only by their unfeigned sorrow, and their profound reliance upon the consolations of reli gion, all ranks and classes thus voluntarily suspended their affairs, and with humble, awful earnestness, filled our sacred temples, to supplicate the throne of mercy. A whole people thus prostrate before God, that they might tell the anguish of their hearts, implore forgiveness for the past, and mercy for the future, was a spectacle at once holy, majestic, and edifying.

The very sight of the churches hung with black, and of the vast crowds which filled them, all bearing the external marks of woe, had in it something oppressive and when the preacher came to speak of the young, the innocent, the amiable Princess, the hope and pride of the State blasted, the mother and child both snatched away from us, the agonised husband, the doting father, left to endure the hope

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