Our Colonial Administration page 3

The approaching coronation of the Queen became, as the season advanced, the prevailing topic of conversation in all circles. The feeling excited by it was so strong, so deep, and so wide-spread, that a radical journal pronounced the people to be 1' coronation mad." The enthusiasm was not confined to the United Kingdom. The contagion was carried to the Continent, and foreigners of various ranks, from all nations, flocked into the metropolis to behold the inauguration of the maiden monarch of the British Empire. "The thousand equipages that thronged the streets, the plumed retainers of the ambassadors, the stream of swarthy strangers, and the incessant din of preparation which resounded by alight as well as by day along the intended line of the procession, constituted of themselves a scene of no ordinary animation and interest, and sustained the public mind in an unceasing stretch of expectation." There were, however, some dissentients, whose objections disturbed the current of public feeling. As soon as it was understood that, on the score of economy, the time-honoured custom of having the coronation banquet in Westminster Hall would not be observed, the Marquis of Londonderry and others zealously exerted themselves to avert the innovation. On the 28th of May the marquis presented a petition from the merchants, traders, and others of the metropolis, praying that the coronation might be deferred till August, and then be conducted on a scale of befitting splendour. Earl Fitzwilliam ridiculed the zealots for court ceremonials. He declared that he viewed the coronation as little better than an idle and ridiculous pageant. Would the loyalty of noble lords, he asked, be augmented by the childish ceremony of putting coronets upon their heads, and compelling them to walk in an absurd procession? Coronations are only suitable to barbarous ages; and he hinted a doubt "whether the exhibition of a youthful princess to a staring populace was consistent with feminine delicacy." The Marquis of Salisbury declared he was less affected by the idle and irreverent taunts of Lord Fitzwilliam than by the humiliating acknowledgment that this great country could not afford to give a dinner to its sovereign. " But I thank God," solemnly exclaimed the noble marquis, "that her Majesty's Ministers have not relinquished the sacred parts of the ceremony; I thank God, too, that my sovereign will do her duty." The Marquis of Londonderry asked whether Lord Fitzwilliam really meant that there should be no coronation? And having received an answer in the affirmative, he asked absurdly whether the noble lord was prepared for the sequel of the proposition, that there should be no Earl Fitzwilliam?

The coronation took place on the 28th of June. The jnly novel feature of importance consisted in the substitution of a procession through the streets for a banquet in Westminster Hall. It was certainly an improvement, for it afforded the nation an opportunity of enjoying the ceremony. The people of all ages, ranks, and conditions, embodied visibly in one animated and exalted whole, exultant and joyful, came forth to greet the youthful sovereign. All the houses in the line of march poured forth their occupants to the windows and balconies. The behaviour of the enormous multitude which lined the streets, and afterwards spread over the metropolis, was admirable. The utmost eagerness was shown to furnish all the accommodation for spectators that the space would allow, and there was scarcely a house or a vacant spot along the whole line, from Hyde Park Corner to the Abbey, that was not occupied with galleries or scaffolding. At dawn the population were astir, roused by a salvo of artillery from the Tower, and towards six o'clock chains of vehicles, of all sorts and sizes, stretched along the leading thoroughfares; while streams of pedestrians, in holiday attire, poured in continuously, so that the suburbs seemed to empty themselves of all the inhabitants at once. At ten o'clock the head of the procession moved from the palace. When the Queen stepped into the state coach, a salute was fired from the guns ranged in the inclosure, the bands struck up the National Anthem, a new royal standard was hoisted on the marble arch, and the multitude broke forth in loud and hearty cheers. The foreign ambassadors extraordinary looked superb in their new carriages and splendid uniforms. Among them shone conspicuous the state coach of Marshal Soult, which belonged to the last great prince of the house of Condé, and was re-decorated for this occasion. The white- haired marshal himself was greeted along the whole line of procession, and also in the Abbey, with the most cordial cheers. The arrangement of the procession was as follows: - Trumpeters, Life Guards, Resident Ambassadors, Ambassadors Extraordinary from France, Portugal, Sweden, Sardinia, Hanover, Prussia, Spain, Netherlands, Austria, Russia, Belgium, Naples, the precedence being regulated by the time of their arrival; mounted band of Life Guards, the branches of the Royal Family - the Duchess of Kent, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Sussex; mounted band; the Queen's Barge Master; the Queen's forty - eight Watermen; twelve of Her Majesty's carriages, each drawn by six horses, and accompanied by two grooms, walking on either side; Life Guards' mounted band; Military Staff and Aides-de-camp, on horseback, three and three, attended by one groom each on either side; Royal Artillery; the Royal Huntsmen; six of Her Majesty's horses, with rich trappings, each horse led by two grooms; the Knight Marshal on horseback; Marshal men, in ranks of four; 100 Yeomen of the Guard, four and four; the state coach, drawn by eight cream-coloured horses, attended by a yeoman of the guard at each wheel, and two footmen at each door, the Gold Stick, the Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard riding on either side, attended by two grooms each, conveying the Queen, with the Duchess of Sutherland, Mistress of the Robes; the Earl of Albemarle, Master of the Horse; the Duke of Buccleuch, Captain-General of the Royal Archers, attended by two grooms; and lastly, a squadron of Life Guards.

The Queen reached the western entrance of the Abbey at half-past eleven o'clock, and was there met by the great officers of state, the noblemen bearing the regalia, and the bishops carrying the patina, the chalice, and the Bible. The arrangements in the interior of the Abbey were nearly the same as at the previous coronation, but the decorations were thought to be in better taste. Galleries had been erected for the accommodation of spectators, to which about 1,000 persons were admitted. There was also a gallery for the members of the House of Commons, and another for foreign ambassadors. Soon after twelve o'clock the grand procession began to enter the choir, in the order observed on former occasions. The Queen, in her royal robe of crimson velvet, furred with ermine and bordered with gold lace, wearing the collars of her orders, and on her head a circlet of gold, had, on one side, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, also at either side ten gentlemen-at-arms, with their standard-bearer. Her train was borne by Lady Adelaide Paget, Lady F. E. Cowper, Lady A. Wentworth Fitzwilliam, Lady M. A. F. Grimstone, Lady C. A. Gordon Lennox, Lady Mary Talbot, Lady Catherine Stanhope, Lady Louisa Jenkinson. Then came the Mistress of the Robes, the Ladies of the Bedchamber, the Maids of Honour, the Women of the Bedchamber, &c.

" The Queen," says the chronicler, " looked extremely well, and had a very animated expression of countenance." The scene within the choir is described as very gorgeous, so much so, that we are told the Turkish Ambassador was absolutely fascinated, and for some time he could not move to his allotted place. Among the foreign ambassadors, Prince Esterhazy presented the most dazzling appearance. "His dress, down to his very boot-heels, sparkled with diamonds." The Queen was received with the most hearty plaudits from all parts of the building, and when she was proclaimed in the formula - "Sirs, I here present unto you Queen Victoria - the undoubted Queen of this realm. Wherefore, all you who are come this day to do your homage, are you willing to do the same F " - there was a loud and universal burst of cheering, with cries of " God save the Queen." When the crown was placed on Her Majesty's head, there was again an enthusiastic cry of " God save the Queen," accompanied by the waving of hats and handkerchiefs. At this moment the peers and peeresses put on their coronets, the bishops their caps, and the kings of arms their crowns, the trumpet sounding, the drums beating, the Tower and park guns firing by signal. The Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex removing their coronets, did homage in these words: - "I do become your liege man of life and limb, and of earthly worship and faith and truth I will bear unto you to live and die against all manner of folks, so help me God." They touched the crown on the Queen's head, kissed her left cheek, and then retired. It was observed that Her Majesty's bearing towards her uncles was very affectionate. The dukes and other peers then performed their homage, the senior of each rank pronouncing the words. As they retired, each peer kissed her Majesty's hand. The Duke of Wellington, Earl Grey, and Lord Melbourne, were loudly cheered as they ascended the steps to the throne. Lord Rollo, who was upwards of eighty, stumbled and fell on the steps. The Queen immediately stepped forward, and held out her hand to assist the aged peer. This touching incident called forth the loudly expressed admiration of the entire assembly. While the ceremony of doing homage was being performed, the Earl of Surrey, treasurer of the household, was scattering silver medals of the coronation about the choir and the lower galleries, which were scrambled for with great eagerness. The ceremonials did not conclude till past four o'clock. The procession, on its return, presented a still more striking appearance than before, from the circumstance that the Queen wore her crown, and the royal and noble personages their coronets. The mass of brilliants, relieved here and there by a large coloured stone, and the purple velvet cap, became her Majesty extremely well, and had a superb and classic effect. The sight of the streets " paved with heads," and the houses alive with spectators, was most impressive. The Queen entertained a party of one hundred at dinner, and in the evening witnessed, from the roof of her palace, the fireworks in the Green Park. The Duke of Wellington gave a grand banquet at Apsley House, and several cabinet ministers gave official state dinners next day. The people were gratified, at the solicitation of Mr. Hawes, M.P. for Lambeth, with permission to hold a fair in Hyde Park, which continued for four days, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Monday. The area allotted comprised nearly one-third of the park, extending from near the margin of the Serpentine river to a line within a short distance of Grosvenor Gate. To the interior there were eight entrances, the main one fifty feet wide, and the others thirty feet each. The inclosed area was occupied by theatres, taverns, and an endless variety of exhibitions, the centre being appropriated to lines of stalls, for the sale of fancy goods, sweetmeats, and toys. The Queen condescended to visit the fair on Friday. The illuminations on the night of the coronation were on a larger and more magnificent scale than had been before seen in the metropolis, and the fireworks were also extremely grand. All the theatres in the metropolis, and nearly all the other places of amusement, were opened gratuitously that evening by her Majesty's command, and, though all were crowded, the arrangements were so excellent that no accident occurred. Indeed, it was a subject of wonder that during a long day of excitement and crowding, where hundreds of thousands were either waiting for hours in certain positions, or rushing from place to place, the most perfect good order and courteous behaviour characterized the enormous masses of the middle and working classes - all the effect of the good feeling and self-command of the people, without the aid of the military or police: which was a mystery to foreigners. From a return laid on the table of the House of Commons of the accidents and offences on the day of the coronation, it appeared that only twenty persons were brought to the stations - seven charged with picking pockets, twelve with gambling, and one with a felony committed some time before. Upwards of one hundred children were lost; but they were all brought to the police-stations, and restored to their parents. In the provinces, rejoicing was universal. Public dinners, feasts to the poor, processions, and illuminations were the order of the day. At Liverpool was laid the first stone of St. George's Hall, in presence of a great multitude. At Cambridge 13,000 persons were feasted on one spot, in the open field, called Parker's Piece, in the centre of which was raised an orchestra, for 100 musicians, surrounded by a gallery for 1,600 persons. Encircling this centre were three rows of tables for the school children, and from them radiated, like the spokes of a wheel, the main body of the tables, 60 in number, and 25 feet in length. Beyond their outer extremity were added 28 other tables, in a circle; and outside the whole a promenade was roped in for spectators, who were more numerous than those who dined. The circumference of the whole was more than one-third of a mile.

The fêtes continued for several days, and it was many weeks before the metropolis was divested of its gala appearance. The Corporation of London, never backward in hospitality, invited the foreign ambassadors to a splendid entertainment, where they were met by the most distinguished personages in the United Kingdom, without distinction of party.

The coronation of George IV. is said to have cost £243,000. William's coronation was on a modest scale, and cost only £50,000. The Queen's came to £70,000, the excess being occasioned by the measures taken to enable the great mass of the people to participate in this national festivity. The Chancellor of the Exchequer stated, in the House of Commons, that the public had paid for seats commanding a view of the procession no less a sum than £200,000; and that 400,000 individuals had been added to the ordinary metropolitan population, which was then 1,500,000. "Never," said the right hon. gentleman, " was there given to a sovereign, or to a country, a more exalted proof of good conduct and discretion than was afforded by the assembled multitude on this occasion."