be made, nor any fireworks played off in any | coaches and chairs on that day, without exor bitant rates, their lordships caused an order to part of Westminster, from Whitehall to Milbank, and from thence to Buckingham-gate, round the south-west part of the artillery ground, till seven days after the coronation; and, by another order, all fires were forbidden to be lighted on the day of the coronation, in, under, or near any part of the scaffolding, on any pretence whatever; and, in case there should be a necessity for people to go under, the scaffolding with lights, that they should be obliged to make use of lanterns. By these wise precautions, all terrors from fire, which might have affected many persons, were removed. The board of works carefully surveyed all the scaffoldings erected on the occasion, not only for the procession itself, but for the spectators, and ordered such of the latter to be pulled down, as were judged insufficient in point of strength, or found to jut out so far as to obstruct the prospect or passage. And to prevent accidents by the stoppages of coaches, &c., on the day of the coronation, notice was given, that a way was made for them to pass through Parliament-perly, if they would but leave it entirely to street, cross the New and Old Palace-yards; and they were ordered, as soon as discharged, to proceed on directly to Millbank, and from thence to Hyde Park Corner without making any stop; and, it was further commanded, that none but the coaches of peers, peeresses, and others, who attended the solemnity, should pass that way after seven o'clock that morning, nor any whatever after nine; and, in the evening the coaches were to return the same way; but no coaches were permitted to pass back by any of those ways till after their majesties returned to St. James's. Information having also been given to the lords of his majesty's honourable privy-council, that the hackney-coachmen and chairmen had entered into a combination not to work their themselves. This notice had the desired effect. The chairmen gave due attendance, and were generously paid. A guinea for a set-down from any of the squares at the court end of the town to Westminster Abbey and Hall and places adjacent was grudged by few; nor does it appear that any of those who might grudge such high prices, complained to the board for regulating hackney-coachmen and chairmen ; the said board, in consequence of an order from the coronation committee, having given notice that they would have three or four extraordinary meetings to hear and determine such complaints. Indeed it might seem unreasonable that any one set of men should be debarred setting a just value on their labours, when others took the most extravagant prices for what cost them little or nothing; for on the day of the coronation, many spectators were glad to give sixpence for a glass of water, a shilling for a roll, and so in proportion for other refreshments. The day before the coronation, the call for horses to bring people to town, and of coaches to set them down at the places they had taken to see the coronation, was so great, that many were obliged to walk several miles, and some, after coming a great way on the occasion, to return home without having been able to satisfy their curiosity. The military officers were also appointed their proper stations. Sir John Mordaunt's light horse patrolled the streets all the day and night, to prevent disorders; Sir Robert Rich's dragoons were placed at Charing-Cross, St. James's-square, and in the Park, at the end of George-street, for the same purpose. The soldiers on duty were ranged in such a manner, that no obstruction whatever attended the ceremony; the nearest hospitals were cleared too as much as possible for the reception and speedy relief of the unfortunate, in case that any accident had happened. A proclamation was also published at the Royal Exchange, commanding all magistrates, peace-officers, &c., to preserve the peace on the coronation-day; in consequence of which the justices of the peace for Westminster, ordered the constables of their districts to patrole the streets where the scaffolding was built, on the nights of the 21st and 22d, and for seven nights after, and to apprehend all persons throwing squibs, crackers, &c. Such were the wise regulations that those worthy personages to whom the conduct of this most magnificent ceremony was intrusted, caused to be published from time to time; and the measures they pursued were attended with the desired effect; for, notwithstanding the greatness of the crowd, the absence of so many persons from home, and the great and universal rejoicings made to solemnize this august ceremony, no accident of any kind happened, which it was possible for human wisdom to prevent. At length Tuesday the 22d of September, the day appointed for this august solemnity being arrived, their majesties and the princess dowager repaired in the morning through the Park from St. James's in chairs, and their attendants in coaches, to Westminster-hall, where they arrived by nine, much sooner than a great many who were to assist in the procession. His majesty retired into the court of wards, and her majesty into the Black Rod's room; where they continued until the officers of arms ranged the procession into order, and brought the persons down from the Court of Requests, Painted Chamber, and House of Lords, into Westminster-hall. Their majesties being there seated at the upper end of it, under their states (her majesty's chair being upon the left side of his majesty,) and being attended by the duke of Ancaster, lord great chamberlain of England, the duke of Bedford, lord high constable, and the earl of Effingham, earl marshal, and by the great officers; the four swords and spurs were presented, and laid upon the table before his majesty. Then the dean and prebendaries of Westminster, in a solemn procession brought from the Abbey the Holy Bible, with the following regalia belonging to his majesty; St. Edward's crown, upon a cushion of velvet laced with gold, the orb with a cross, the sceptre with a dove, the sceptre with the cross, and St. Edward's staff; as likewise the regalia of her majesty, her crown on the like cushion, her sceptre with the cross, and the ivory rod with the dove; which were severally laid before their majesties. | begun on foot from the hall to the Abbey of All which were afterwards by his majesty's Westminster, upon a way raised for that purcommand, delivered to the lords who are here- pose floored with boards, covered with blue after mentioned to have borne them. cloth, and railed on each side, in the following About eleven of the clock the procession was manner: The king's herb woman, followed by her six maids, strewing the way with sweet herbs. The high constable of Westminster, with his staff, in a scarlet cloak. A fife. Four drums. The drum-major. Eight trumpets. A kettle-drum. Eight trumpets. The serjeant-trumpeter. The six clerks in chancery, in gowns of black flowered satin with black silk loops and tufts upon the sleeves. The king's chaplains, four a-breast. The two sheriffs of London. Thirteen aldermen of London below the chair, in their scarlet gowns. The recorder of London, single. The aldermen above the chair, wearing their gold chains. The king's three younger serjeants at law, in scarlet gowns, their caps in their hands. The king's ancient serjeant, David Poole, Esq. Barons of the exchequer and justices of both benches, in their judges robes of scarlet, with their caps in their hands, the juniors first, two and two. Chief baron of the exchequer, in his scarlet robe, with the collar of SS of gold. Children of the choir of Westminster, in surplices. The sub-dean of the chapel royal, in a scarlet gown, turned up with black velvet. Prebendaries of Westminster, in surplices and copes, with their caps in their hands. The master of the jewel-house, with one of his officers going by him, both in scarlet. Bath king of arms, in his habit of the order, and carrying his coronet in his hand. Knights of the bath, under the degree of peers, in the full habits and collars of their order, two and two, carrying their caps and feathers in their hands. Viscountesses, in their robes of estate; their coronets in their hands. Viscounts, in their robes of estate; their coronets in their hands. Brunswick herald, in his coat, collar, gold chain and badge. [Heralds.] Lancaster, with his coat and collar. Earls, in their robes of estate; except such as carried any of the regalia; their coronets in their hands. Richmond, in his coat and collar. Windsor, in his coat and collar. Ulster, with his coat, collar and badge; his coronet in his hand. Lord privy-seal, in his robes of estate; his coronet in his hand, earl Temple. Norroy, with his coat, collar and badge, his coronet in his hand. Lord president, in his robes of estate; his coronet in Lord Chancellor, in his robes of estate, and coronet in his hand, bearing the purse, lord Henley.'" Two gentlemen of the privy chamber, in crimson velvet mantles, lined with white sarcenet, and faced with minivor powdered with ermin, their hats in their hands, representing the dukes of The lord great chamberlain of England, in his robes of estate, and coronet and white staff in his hand, duke of Ancaster. His royal highness the duke of Cumberland, in his robes of estate, and coronet in his hand; his train borne by the honourable colonel John Fitzwilliam. His royal highness the duke of York, in his robes of estate, and coronet in his hand; his train borne by colonel Brudenell. The sword of state*, borne don, in his robes. Lord high constable of Eng land, in his robes, with The sceptre with the St. Edward's crown, dove, borne by the duke of Richmond, in his robes. The paten, by the bishop of Rochester. Bishop of Hereford. borne by the lord high steward in his robes, earl Talbot. The bible carried by the The KING, High constable of Scotland in his robes, with his coronet and staff, earl of Errol. The orb, borne by the duke of Somerset in his robes. The chalice, by the bi shop of Chester. Bishop of Durham. In his royal robes, (on his head a cap of estate adorned Viscount Mandeville, Lord Howard, Lord Beauchamp, Marquis of Hartington, Lord Grey, Lord Newham. And at the end of it, the master of the robes, Hon. James Brudenell. All the peers in the procession, were in their robes of estate; and being Knights of the Garter, Thistle, or Bath, wore the collars of their respective orders. The manner of disposing, seating, and placing the several persons who came in the grand Procession, after their entrance into the church, was as follows: The drums staying at the west-door of the church, the trumpets and kettle-drums first entered, and coming to the west door of the choir, turned up the stairs on the left hand, into their gallery, over the said door. After them the six clerks entered the choir; and being conducted by two officers of arms, ascended the steps of the theatre; and dividing themselves to the right and left, went to their seats in the galleries on the side of the choir, level with the theatre, to the west-end of the benches, and stood before their seats (as all others did,) until their majesties were seated. Next, the king's chaplains having dig The king's sword of state having, by some mistake, been left behind at St. James's, the lord mayor's sword was carried before the king by the earl of Huntingdon, in its stead: but when the procession came into the abbey, the sword of state found P aced upon the altar. was |