* * *
[1] The Duke of Leinster. High Constable of Ireland.
[2] Giniral Dullbeak. Sir James Charles Dalbiac, K.C.H.( Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order, instituted by the Prince Regent in 1815. It was not conferred after the separation of the crowns of England and Hanover.) But Mr. Maguire’s name is an inspiration.
[3] Corporal Casey. This hero was doubtless present, teste his countryman, but is among the number unrecorded.
[4] The King of Arums. Sir William Woods, Deputy Garter, Clarenceux King of Arms, K.H.
[5] The Prince of Potboys. Prince de Putbus, Ambassador Extraordinary from the King of Prussia.
[6] Esterhaiy. The resident Austrian Ambassador, Prince Esterhazy, G.C.B.
[7] Alderman Harmer. Owner of the Radical Weekly Despatch. He began life as a weaver, then became a solicitor, and on becoming an Alderman in 1833 gave up his large practice, said to be worth £4,000 a year. He stood for Lord Mayor, but was defeated, partly owing to the venomous opposition of The Times, 1840.
[8] Hill. Lord Hill, later Viscount Hill, G.C.B., &c. Distinguished in Egypt, Peninsular War, Waterloo. He was among the few cheered in the Abbey.
[9] Hardinge. Sir Henry Hardinge, K.C.B., later Viscount Hardinge. He had been in the Peninsular War and at Quatre Bras.
[10] Sir De Lacy. Sir George De Lacy Evans, K.C.B. India, Peninsular War, America, Waterloo. Commanded British Legion assisting Queen Christina against Don Carlos 1835-7. M.P. for Westminster. Greville says his new K.C.B. (1837) was much criticized in the clubs.
[11] The Duke Dalmasey. Marshal Soult, Duke of Dalmatia, Ambassador Extraordinary from the King of the French. He was one of the most popular figures of the Coronation.
[12] Lord Melbourne. Bore the sword of State in the Abbey.
[13] Duke of Pell-Mello. Duke of Palmella, Ambassador Extraordinary from the Queen of Portugal. He was a familiar figure in London society, and must have held much the same place as the Marquis de Soveral later. He appears in Harriette Wilson’s memoirs as one of the protectors of her sister Amy.
[14] Misthur Spaker. James Abercromby, Speaker 1835-9.
[15] Misthur Pays the Quaker. Joseph Pease, railway promoter. He was the first Quaker M.P., being allowed to take the oath by affirming, 1833.
[16] Lord Brougham. Essex and Brougham had been on good terms, but after the Reform Bill, Essex took Grey’s side. At about this period Brougham went down to Cashiobury, Lord Essex’s seat, uninvited, and was severely rebuffed, Lord Essex refusing to see him.
[17] Crass Lord Essex. The fifth Earl married the singer, Miss Stephen, that year. She was present in the Abbey.
[18] Baron von Alten. Count Alten, G.C.B., Ambassador Extraordinary from the King of Hanover.
[19] Prince von Swartienberg. Prince Schwartzenberg, Ambassador Extraordinary from the Emperor of Austria.
[20] Mehemet Ali All our researches fail to detect the presence of this person at the Coronation. Is it possible that Mr. Maguire confused him with Sarim Effendi, the Turkish Ambassador? We learn that on entering the Abbey Sarim Effendi ‘seemed absolutely bewildered, he stopped in astonishment and for some time could not be moved to his allotted place’.
[21] Sir George Smart. Musician and orchestral conductor, who produced Mendelssohn’s St. Paul at Liverpool in 1836 and conducted most of the provincial festivals. Composer to the Chapel Royal. Conductor for funeral of George IV and Coronation of William IV and Queen Victoria.
[22] The Lord Archbishop. The Archbishop of Canterbury, William Howdey, D.D. The ‘Bounty and great wealth’ were the offerings of first an ingot of gold of one pound’s weight, and secondly a purse of gold. The Archbishop’s words, slightly exaggerated by the enthusiastic Mr. Maguire, were: ‘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?’ Greville describes him as ‘meek and quiet, not dignified, but very civil and attentive’.
[23] Sir Claudius Hunter. Lord Mayor, 1811-12.
[24] The Great Lord May r. Sir John Cowan, Bt.
[25] The Earl of Surrey. Treasurer of the Household and heir of the Duke of Norfolk. After the homage he ‘threw the Coronation Medals about the choir and lower galleries’, though we cannot discover that the Lord Mayor was hit in the eye. A ‘thirteen’ was the Irish name for a silver shilling, worth thirteen pence at that time in the Irish coinage.
[26] Lord Rolle. ‘This aged and infirm peer, upwards of 80 years old, stumbled and fell in ascending the steps to do his homage, when the Queen rose from her seat, extended her hand for him to kiss, and expressed a hope that his lordship was not hurt. This act of royal and gracious kindliness was instantly felt and appreciated by all the spectators who loudly and zealously applauded it.’
[27] Count Von Strogonoff. The Count Stroganov, Ambassador Extraordinary from the Emperor of Russia. There is no confirmation of Mr. Maguire’s indictment, but a description of the lunch laid out on the altar in King Edward’s chapel may be read in the journals of Queen Victoria, who was rather scandalized by it.
[28] The cannons thundered. ‘A telegraphic communication was made from the floor through the roof (of the Abbey), and as the crown was placed on her head a rocket was fired and cannon thundered from the Park and Tower.’
Coronation Summer Page 17
