commanded a double view at the turning. I fhall not attempt to defcribe the fplendor and magnificence of the whole; and words muft fall short of that innate joy and fatiffaction which the fpectators felt and expreffed, efpecially as their majesties paffed by; on whofe countenances a dignity fuited to their station, tempered with the most amiable complacency, was fenfibly impreffed. It was obfervable, that as their majef ties and the nobility paffed the corner which commanded a profpect of Westminsterbridge, they stopped thort, and turned back to look at the people, whofe appearance, as they all had their hats off, and were thick planted on the ground, which rofe gradually, I can compare to nothing but a pavement of heads and faces.

vefted with the coronation-robes, the armills, as they are called, and the imperial pall. The orb with the cross was alfo prefented, and the ring was put upon the fourth finger of his majefty's right hand by the archbishop, who then delivered the fceptre with the crofs, and the other with the dove; and being affifted by feveral bifhops, he laftly placed the crown reverently upon his majesty's head. A profound awful filence had reigned till this moment, when, at the very inftant the crown was let fall on the king's head, a fellow having been placed on the top of the Abbey-dome, from whence he could look down into the chancel, with a flag which he dropt as a fignal; the Park and Tower guns began to fire, the trumpets founded, and the Abbey echoed with the repeated shouts and acclamations of the people. The peers, who before this time had their coronets in their hands, now put them on, as the bifhops did their caps, and the reprefenta tives of the dukes of Aquitaine and Normandy their hats. The knights of the Bath in particular made a moft fplendid figure, when they put on their caps, which were adorned with large plumes of white feathers. It is to be obferved, that there were no commoners knights of the Garter; confequently, instead of caps and vefiments peculiar to their order, they, being all peers, wore the robes and coronets of their refpective ranks. I fhould mention, that the kings of arms alfo put on coronets.

I had the misfortune not to be able to get to the Abbey time enough to fee all that paffed there; nor, indeed, when I got in, could I have fo diftinct a view as I could have wished. But our friend Harry Whitaker had the luck to be ftationed in the first row of the gallery behind the feats allotted for the nobility, clofe to the fquare platform which was erected by the altar, with an afcent of three fteps, for their majefties to be crowned on. You are obliged to him, therefore, for feveral particulars which I could not otherwife have informed you of. He tells me, as foon as their majefties entered the church, the choir ftruck up with an anthem; and, after they were feated, and the ufual recognition and oblations were made, the litany was chanted by the bishops of Chester and Chichester, and the refponfes made by the whole choir, accompanied by the whole band of mufic. Then the first part of the communion-fervice was read; after which a fermon was preached by the bishop of Salisbury, now archbishop of York. I was not near enough to hear it, nor, perhaps you will fay, did I much defire it; but, by my watch, it lafted only fifteen minutes. This done, Harry fays he faw very diftinctly his majefty fubfcribe the declaration, and take the coronation oath, the folemnity of which ftruck him with an unspeakable awe and reverence; and he could not help reflecting on the glorious privilege which the English enjoy, of binding their kings by the moit facred ties of conicience and religion. The king was then anointed by his grace of Canterbury on the crown of his head, his breast, and the palms of his hands; after which he was prefented with the fpurs, and girt with the fword, and was then in

Silence again affumed her reign, and the fhouts ceafing, the archbishop proceeded with the rest of the divine fervice; and after he had prefented the Bible to his majefty, and folemnly read the benedictions, his majesty kiffed the archbishops and bifhops one after another as they knelt before him. The Te Deum was now performed, and this being ended, his majesty was elevated on a fuperb throne, which all the peers approached in their order, and did their homages.

The coronation of the queen was performed in nearly the fame manner with that of his majefty; the archbishop anointed her with the holy oil on the head and breaft, and after he had put the crown upon her head, it was a fignal for princess Augufta and the peereffes to put on their coronets. Her majefty then received the fceptre with the cross, and the ivory rod with the dove, and was conducted to a magnificent throne on the left hand of his majefly.

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I cannot but lament that I was not near enough to obferve their majefties going through the moft ferious and folemn acts of devotion; but I am told, that the reverent attention which both paid, when (after having made their second oblations) the next ceremony was, their receiving the holy communion, it brought to the mind of every one near them, a proper recollection of the confecrated place in which they were. Prayers being over, the king and queen retired into St. Edward's chapel, juft be. hind the altar. You must remember itit is where the fuperftition of the Roman Catholics has robbed the tomb of that royal confeffor of fome of its precious ornaments; here their majefties received each of them a crown of ftate, as it is called, and a proceffion was made in the fame manner as before, except in fome trifling inftances, back again to Weftminfter-hall, all wearing their coronets, caps, &c. You know I have often faid, that if one lofes an hour in the morning, one may ride after it the whole day without being able to overtake it. This was the cafe in the prefent inftance; for, to whatever caufes it might be owing, the proceffion moft affuredly fet off too late: befides, according to what Harry obferved, there were fuch long paufes between fome of the ceremonies in the Abbey, as plainly fhewed all the actors were not perfect in their parts. However it be, it is impoffible to conceive the chagrin and difappointment which the late return of the proceffion occafioned; it being fo late indeed, that the fpectators, even in the open air, had but a very dim and gloomy view of it, while to thofe who had fat patiently in Westminsterhall, waiting its return for fix hours, scarce a glimpse of it appeared, as the branches were not lighted till juft upon his majesty's entrance. I had flattered myself that a new scene of fplendid grandeur would have been prefented to us in the return of the proceffion, from the reflection of the lights, &c. and had therefore pofted back to the Hall with all poffible expedition: but not even the brilliancy of the ladies jewels, or the greater luftre of their eyes, had the power to render our darkness vifible; the whole was confufion, irregularity, and dif

order.

However, we were afterwards amply recompenfed for this partial eclipfe by the bright picture which the lighting of the chandeliers prefented to us. Your unlucky law-fuit has made you too well acquainted

with Westminster-hall for me to think of defcribing it to you; but I affure you the face of it was greatly altered from what it was when you attended to hear the verdict given against you. Instead of the inclofures for the courts of Chancery and King's Bench at the upper end, which were both removed, a platform was raised with feveral afcents of steps, where their majefties in their chairs of state, and the royal family, fat at table. On each fide, down the whole length of the Hall, the reft of the company were feated at long tables, in the middle of which were placed, on elevations painted to reprefent marble, the deferts, &c. Conceive to yourself, if you can conceive, what I own I am at a lofs to defcribe, fo magnificent a building as that of Westminster-hall, lighted up with near three thoufand wax-candles in moft fplendid branches; our crowned heads, and almoft the whole nobility, with the prime of our gentry, moft fuperbly arrayed, and adorned with a profufion of the moft brilliant jewels; the galleries on every fide crowded with company for the most part elegantly and richly dreffed: but to conceive it in all its luftre, I am conscious that it is abfolutely neceffary one must have been prefent. To proceed in my narration

Their majefties table was ferved with three courses, at the firft of which earl Talbot, as fteward of his majesty's houthold, rode up from the Hall-gate to the steps leading to where their majefties fat; and on his returning the fpectators were prefented with an unexpected fight, in his lordship's backing his horfe, that he might keep his face ftill towards the king. A loud clapping and huzzaing confequently enfued from the people prefent. The ce remony of the champion, you may remem ber we laughed at, at its representation laft winter; but I affure you it had a very serious effect on those ladies who were near him (though his horfe was very gentle) as he came up, accompanied by lord Effingham as earl marshal, and the duke of Bedford as lord high conftable, likewife on horfeback: it is needlefs to repeat what paffed on this occafion. I am told, that the horse which the champion rode was the fame that his late majefty was mounted on at the glorious and memorable battle of Dettingen. The beaft, as well as the rider, had his head adorned with a plume of white, red, and blue feathers.

You cannot expect that I fhould give you a bill of fare, or enumerate the num

ber

ber of dishes that were provided and fent from the temporary kitchens erected in Cotton-garden for this purpofe. No lefs than fixty haunches of venifon, with a furprizing quantity of all forts of game, were laid in for this grand feast: but that which chiefly attracted our eyes, was their majefties defert, in which the confectioner had lavished all his ingenuity in rock-work and emblematical figures. The other deferts were no lefs admirable for their expreffive devices. But I must not forget to tell you, than when the company came to be feated, the poor knights of the Bath had been overlooked, and no table provided for them: an airy apology, however, was ferved up to them instead of a substantial dinner; but the two junior knights, in order to preferve their rank of precedency to their fucceffors, were placed at the head of the judges table, above all the learned brethren of the coif. The peers were placed on the outermoft fide of the tables, and the peereffes within, nearest to the walls. You cannot fuppofe that there was the greatest order imaginable obferved during the dinner, but must conclude, that fome of the company were as eager and impatient to fatisfy the craving of their appetites as any of your country 'quires at a race or affize ordinary.

It was pleasant to fee the various ftratagems made use of by the company in the galleries to come in for a fnack of the good things below. The ladies clubbed their handkerchiefs to be tied together to draw up a chicken or a bottle of wine; nay, even garters (I will not fay of a different fex) were united for the fame purpose. Some had been fo provident as to bring baskets with them, which were let down, like the prisoners boxes at Ludgate or the Gate-house, with a Pray, remember the poor. You will think it high time that I fhould bring this long letter to a conclufion. Let it fuffice then to acquaint you, that their majefties returned to St. James's a little after ten o'clock at night; but they were pleafed to give time for the peereffes to go firft, that they might not be incommoded by the preffure of the mob to fee their majefties. After the nobility were departed, the illuftrious mobility were (according to custom) admitted into the Hall, which they presently cleared of all the moveables, fuch as the victuals, cloths, plates, difhes, &c. and, in fhort, every thing that could ftick to their fingers.

I need not tell you, that feveral coronation medals, in filver, were thrown among the populace at the return of the proceffion. One of them was pitched into Mrs. Dixon's lap, as fhe fat upon a fcaffold in Palace-yard. Some, it is faid, were alfo thrown among the peereffes in the Abbey just after the king was crowned; but they thought it below their dignity to stoop to pick them up.

My wife defires her compliments to you: he was bugeously pleafed with the fight. All friends are well, except that little Nancy Green has got a fwelled face, by being up all night; and Tom Moffat has his leg laid up on a stool, on account of a broken fhin, which he got by a kick from a trooper's horfe, as a reward for his mobbing it. I fhall fay nothing of the illuminations at night: the news-papers must have told you of them, and that the Admiralty in particular was remarkably lighted up. I expect to have from you an account of the rejoicings at your little town; and defire to know whether you was able to get a flice of the ox which was roafted whole on this occasion.

I am, dear Sir,
Yours moft heartily,
JAMES HEMMING.

P. S. The Princefs Dowager of Wales, with the younger branches of the royal family, did not walk in the grand proceffion, but made up a leffer proceflion of their own; of which you will find a fufficient account in the public prints. They had a box to fee the coronation in the Abbey, and afterwards dined in an apartment by themselves adjoining to the Hall.

Since my writing the above, I have been informed for certain, that the sword of ftate, by fome mistake, being left behind at St. James's, the Lord Mayor's fword was carried before the king by the earl of Huntingdon, in its ftead; but when the proceffion came into the Abbey, the sword of state was found placed upon the altar.

Our friend Harry, who was upon the fcaffold, at the return of the proceffion closed in with the rear; at the expence of half a guinea was admitted into the Hall; got brim-full of his majefty's claret; and, in the univerfal plunder, brought off the glafs her majefty drank in, which is placed in the beaufait as a valuable curiosity.

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$140.

robe of linen was no lefs deficient; and the difcovered several chafms in our furniture, efpecially in the articles of plate and china. She is alfo determined to jee a little pleasure, as he calls it, and has actually made a party to go to the next opera. Now, in order to fupply thefe immediate wants and neceflities, the has prevailed on me (though at a great lofs) to turn the prize into ready money; which I dared not refufe her, becaufe the number was her own choofing: and he has further perfuaded me (as we have had fuch good luck) to lay out a great part of the produce in purchafing more tickets, all of her own choofing. To me it is indifferent which way the money goes; for, upon my making out the balance, I already find I thall be a lofer by my gains: and all my fear is, that one of the tickets may come up a five thorfand or ten thousand.

I am

Your very humble fervant,

JEOFFREY CHANCE.

P. S. I am just going to club-I hope they won't defire me to treat them again. B. Thornton.

§ 141. Characters of CAMILLA and FLORA.

Camilla is really what writers have fo often imagined; or rather, the poffeffes a combination of delicacies, which they have feldom had minutenefs of virtue and tafte enough to conceive; to say she is beautiful, fhe is accomplished, the is generous, he is tender, is talking in general, and it is the particular I would defcribe. In her perfon he is almoft tall, and almost thin; graceful, commanding, and infpiring a kind of tender refpect; the tone of her voice is melodious, and the can neither look nor move without expreffing fomething to her advantage. Pofieffed of almoft every excellence, the is unconscious of any, and this heightens them all: fhe is modeft and diffident of her own opinion, yet always perfectly comprehends the fubject on which the gives it, and fees the quellion in its true light: he has neither pride, prejudice, nor precipitancy to mifguide her; the is true, and therefore judges truly. If there are fubjects too intricate, too complicated for the feminine fimplicity of her foul, her ignorance of them ferves only to difplay a new beauty in her character, which refults from her acknowledging, nay, perhaps from her poffeffing that very ignorance,

The great characteristic of Camilla's underftanding is tafte; but when she says moft upon a fubject, the still fhews that he has much more to fay, and by this unwillingnefs to triumph, the perfuades the more. With the most refined fentiments, the poffeffes the fofteft fenfibility, and it lives and fpeaks in every feature of her face. Is Ca-` milla melancholy does fhe figh? Every body is affected: they enquire whether any misfortune has happened to Camilla; they find that the fighed for the misfortune of another, and they are affected fill more. Young, lovely, and high born, Camilla graces every company, and heightens the brilliancy of courts; wherever the appears, all others feem by a natural impulfe to feel her fuperiority; and yet when the converfes, fhe has the art of infpiring others with an eafe which they never knew before: fhe joins to the moft fcrupulous politeness a certain feminine gaiety, free both from reftraint and boldness; always gentle, yet. never inferior; always unaffuming, yet never afhamed or awkward; for fhame and awkwardness are the effects of pride, which is too often mifcalled modefty: nay, to the moft critical difcernment, the adds fomething of a blufhing timidity, which ferves but to give a meaning and piquancy even to her looks, an admirable effect of true fuperiority! by this filent unaffuming merit the over-awes the turbulent and the proud, and tops the torrent of that indecent, that overbearing noife, with which inferior natures in fuperior flations overwhelm the flavish and the mean. Yes, all admire, and love, and reverence Camilla.

You fee a character that you admire, and you think it perfect; do you therefore conclude that every different character is imperfect? what, will you allow a variety of beauty almost equally striking in the art of a Corregio, a Guido, and a Raphael, and refufe it to the infinity of nature! How different from lovely Camilla is the beloved Flora! In Camilla, nature has difplayed the beauty of exact regularity, and the elegant foftnefs of female propriety: in Flora, fhe charms with a certain artlefs poignancy, a graceful negligence, and an uncontrouled, yet blameless freedom. Flora has fomething original and peculiar about her, a charm which is not eafily defined; to know her and to love her is the fame thing; but you cannot know her by defcription. Her perfon is rather touching than majeftic, her features more expreffive than regular, and her manner

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