ed and increasing tide. Perhaps, indeed, there never was a sovereign who acted royalty so well as George IV. A deportment, in which majesty and graciousness are felicitously combined, which enables him to maintain all the dignity of the monarch, while it makes him felt as the personal friend of every one present, made it impossible for him to appear in public, without commanding the homage, and winning the heart, of every spectator.

A few experiments of this nature fully established the fact, that the public were prepared to welcome that august ceremony, which it had been hitherto judged unsafe to present to their eyes; yet, without which, installation into the office of King was not thoroughly completed. The arithmetical philosophy of the present day, has counted the cost, and proclaimed the emptiness of regal pageants. In this, it seems to shew itself over wise. Admitting, what may leave room for some controversy, that the people of England are become more grave and reflecting than heretofore, we may still doubt whether the mere abstract consideration of the benefits derived by the constitution from its executive branch, will maintain the "reverence due" in the minds of the multitude. Besides, though the display be made in name of, and with reference to, the person of the monarch, it goes to the behoof of all that endless crowd who attend as spectators, and scarcely less to that of the great body of the nation, to which, for at least a month, it afforded an inexhaustible fund of curiosity and conversation. Thus the people were fully prepared to applaud the ceremony, as made for themselves; and, forgetting all the doleful subjects which had engrossed its past lucubrations, turned an undivided attention to the pompous scene which was to be presented to its eyes.

Due preparation was now to be made for this august ceremony. The Hall and Abbey of Westminster, with the streets connecting them, were fitted up with vast galleries and platforms, capable of containing an almost endless multitude of spectators. All the dignitaries of the three kingdoms hastened from their remotest extremities, to claim the spots assigned to them by court and heraldic laws, on this splendid occasion. All things being duly and carefully arranged, on the 19th July, George IV. was crowned, in full pomp. The order of procession, and other details, belong to a future portion of the work; but it must be observed, in general, that the success was complete. England, on that day, made, in honour of her King, a full display of her modern wealth, combined with all the pomp of her early chivalry. The getting up was perfect; and not one of those marring incidents, which are apt to thrust themselves in on these occasions, and to mingle the ludicrous with the great, injured the effect of this national festival.

One jarring note alone sought to break the general harmony. Had the unfortunate Caroline been in any degree well advised, even as to prudence, she would have yielded to the torrent, and waited some more favourable opportunity of regaining her lost popularity. On the contrary, mortified, and eager to thrust herself forward, she formally advanced a claim to a share in the approaching solemnity, which, she well knew, if made good, would put a stop to it altogether. This claim, which, of course, had extensive usage in its favour, was received with that respect, which, in this country of law, is held due to whatever comes forward in a legal shape. The tribunal, indeed, to which the decision fell, being the Privy Council, could not be said to be a very favourable one. It received the claim,

however, and patiently listened to pleadsings continued during several successive days. The decision was, that no such right belonged to her Majesty; and, as her advocates vainly attempted to spur on the public to an interference in the case, the verdict was evidently final. Hereupon, this unfortunate lady was impelled to take, on the very day, a measure involving a total oblivion of the dignity and delicacy suited to her character; but for the narration of which, we glady refer to another part of our volumé.

The favourable impression made by these exhibitions, was improved by the King, in a series of excursions, which contributed widely to extend his popularity, and to diffuse through his people the spirit of loyalty. George III, even before the malady which wrapt his last days in gloom, had been of fixed and local habits. London, Windsor, and Weymouth, had been the circle, beyond which he scarcely moved. The appendant kingdoms had felt a dissatisfied surprise, that their royal possessor should not deign even to cast his eye upon them; that their capitals should not be graced, even for a moment, by the smiles and splendour of royalty. It was, therefore, an annunciation widely grateful to his people, that the present Sovereign was preparing to visit these exterior portions of his dominions. Ireland, from its magnitude, might fairly claim the priority; and Ireland was accordingly fixed upon for the summer expedition. In the end of August, the King went down to Portsmouth, and, crossing to the Isle of Wight, embarked at West Cowes, on board his yacht. Thence he proceeded round the western extremity of England towards Holyhead. Before he arrived there, however, an event had taken place at home, which engrossed for a short time the attention of the public.

The event to which we allude, is the death of the Queen, which took place at Brandenburgh House on the 7th August, after an illness of a few days. An obstruction of the bowels, followed by inflammation, and baffling all the remedies of art, led to its usual fatal termination. The death of those who have passed through great vicissitudes, are usually ascribed to mental causes; and the friends of the Queen exclaimed, that the series of wrong and suffering through which she had passed, afforded a too ample solution. Observers of a different cast might remark, that the malady affected organs over which the mind exercises no peculiar influence; that a simple physical cause was stated, in the taking of an over dose of magnesia; and that, as the Queen's health remained unimpaired during those critical proceedings which decided her fate, it was not likely that it should give way from mental agitation, after she was restored to comparative repose.

This event made a strong impression on the people. That enthusiastic attachment which seemed before almost extinct, was revived, for a time, in all its force, by this awful and final catastrophe; and manifested itself in an eager desire to pay to their former idolized favourite, a last tribute of homage.

An occasion seemed approaching when such an opportunity could not fail to be afforded. The Queen had expressed her wish to be buried at Brunswick, her native place; and, after some discussions as to the day, preparations were making to carry this desire into effect. For this purpose, the body must be embarked at Harwich for Germany, and, on its way, must necessarily pass through, or close by, London. The passage through the heart of London itself was the most direct and natural; and, in contempla

tion of its being taken, every prepara tion was made for celebrating it with the warmest testimonies of regret and attachment. Ministers, on the contrary, made it their study to cheat this expectation of the public, and to convey the procession by a track where it would escape any crowded notice. It is easy to judge after the event; but, perhaps, careful deliberation might have caused it to be foreseen as more politic, as well as generous, to give way to so strong an impulse, which was not likely to lead to any violent tumult, and of which the cause was so transient. The most unlimited concession could scarcely have led to an issue so unfortunate as that which actually ensued.

The public were kept as long as possible in suspense, being only informed that the procession would not pass through the city. Even on the day of its departure, the uncertainty still continued, till after it had passed Kensing ton. It then appeared, that the plan was, to proceed along the northern skirts of the city, by what were called the Oxford, the Edgeware, and the New Roads. The critical point was, when, after passing through Hyde Park, instead of entering Oxford Street, it was to proceed through Cumberland Gate into the Edgeware Road. The multitude were assembled here in vast numbers, and exhibited the most determined spirit of resistance. Not only did they obstinately refuse to stir, but threw stones and missiles of every description at the military. It appearing now impossible to effect a passage, unless by forcible means, the riot act was read, and after a short interval, the soldiers fired. Several among the crowd fell wounded, two of them, as it afterwards proved, mortally. The multitude now fled in the utmost confusion, and the procession got on without interruption to the point where the New Road joins to Totten

ham Court Road, a broad avenue leading into the heart of the city. Here the multitude had rallied, and, seeing that this must be their last stand, had blocked up the New Road with waggons laid across, and piled on each other, in such a manner as to render it impossible to advance, without some very extraordinary effort. A deliberation was held, and, upon the advice of Sir Robert Baker, it was determined to yield, and to proceed through Tottenham Court Road to Holborn. The public, however, deemed it not enough, unless the procession could be led through Temple Bar, and along St Paul's. Holborn, therefore, was found blockaded in like manner; and, after a little further hesitation, it was determined to concede everything; and the direction was taken down Drury Lane into the Strand. The procession then went on through the central thoroughfare of the metropolis, by Fleet Street, Cheapside, and Whitechapel. The Lord Mayor, with several of the city officers, joined it at Ludgate Hill. The progress through the city was attended by vast crowds, who shewed a mingled emotion of sympathy and triumph. The march from London to the place of embarkation, was not marked by any events worthy to be here commemorated; but the details will be found elsewhere.

It was impossible that the transactions of this day could be viewed by the eye of power without deep dissatisfaction. The example of a state procession, escorted by a military force, successfully opposed and turned aside by the multitude, was at once irregular, and of most dangerous precedent. It was judged necessary to make several examples. Sir Robert Wilson, who was supposed to have encouraged the resistance of the people, and Sir Robert Baker, understood to have advised yielding to them, were visited by marks of royal displeasure, which, however,

could not be said to be popular, and rather tended to prolong the impression. Even after the day, a ferment was still kept up among the people, by the unfortunate catastrophe of two of their number. The inquest on these men, Honey and Francis, being conducted with an evident popular bias, ended in the verdict "wilful murder," which might have been productive of the most serious consequences, had it not fortunately closed with the words "by a life-guardsman unknown." All attempts to fix the deed upon any individual proving happily abortive, the affair gradually sunk into oblivion.

The melancholy impression made by this scene, was soon effaced by others of a quite opposite character. After a short interval of such decent grief as could be expected, his Majesty prosecuted his excursion to Ireland, and on the 17th September made his public entry into Dublin. The events which dis. tinguished his stay, though important by the impression they left on the public mind, and the interest they excited, could not, in their details, find a place here. The whole conduct of the King -the union of dignity and courtesy in his demeanour-the graceful and judicious answers to the numberless addresses poured in from every quarter, combined to heighten the delight which the Irish nation felt at seeing their Monarch for the first time tread the soil of Ireland. All tended to call forth that airy and lively enthusiasm which characterizes the people, and those social and cordial emotions which place their character in its most amiable light. It would have been too much, indeed, to expect, that the valuable parting recommendation of their Sovereign should have fully prevailed, and all the deadly feuds generated by years of strife, been buried in oblivion; but still there remained behind a general savour of loyalty, which will not

soon part from the public mind of Ire land.

At the close of the year, the King paid a visit to Hanover, also long unvisited by the princes of whom it had been the native seat. There too his presence diffused the highest satisfaction; and he was waited on by the ministers of the great continental powers; among whom was Prince Metternich from Austria. That minister is supposed to have held conferences with the Marquis of Londonderry, who accompanied the King, in which some important political affairs were arranged.

We are sorry to be obliged to close this catalogue of events, by some of a most painful nature, which rendered the sister island a scene of frightful disorder. They occurred generally in the southern and south-eastern provinces, inhabited by Catholic peasantry, always an ignorant, bigoted, demisavage population. The general pressure of the times, with certain changes in the state of property and society, had involved them in more than ordinary distress, the source of which they were wholly incapable of seeing, in the natural and necessary course of things. The result was less any form of what is usually styled rebellion, than a ge neral unhingement of the whole frame of society, and a return to that turbu lent state of nature, which certain philosophers have supposed to be the ori ginal state of man. Scarcely a symp tom occurred worthy the notice of history; but the whole territory was covered with individual examples of outrage, murder, and pillage. The most ordinary business of life could not be carried on except by the aid of a military force. The disorder was the more serious, that, presenting no fixed or tangible point of resistance, it evaded all attempts to strike a decisive blow against it. A large military force,

however, was concentrated in the disturbed districts; and a special commission was sent over for the purpose of bringing to speedy trial and punishment, the individuals who were apprehended in the commission of these outrages. Finally, the Marquis Wellesley,

whose vigour of mind, and profound pqlitical views, had been proved in many important spheres of action, was invested with the high dignity of Lord Lieutenant. These measures, however, did not begin to operate till the commencement of the following year.

VOL. XIV. PART I.

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