of spectators, was evident to most observers; for therewas only a single instance mentioned in any of the newspapers at the time, of a family having refused to attend on knowing the Queen's intention; and but one of an individual taking a seat when it was universally known that her Majesty had been, was refused admittance, and had retired peaceably. As to the prices of seeing a Coronation, it is curious to observe the rapid increase which for many centuries has taken place on this point. On consulting Stowe, Speed, and other antiquaries, with regard to the sums formerly given, it appears, that the price of a good place at the Coronation of William the Conqueror was a blank, and probably the same at that of his son, William Rufus. At Henry the First's it was a crokard; and at Stephen's and Henry the Second's a Pollard. At Richard's and King John's, who was crowned frequently, it was a suskin, and rose at Henry the Third's to a dodkin. In the reign of Edward the coins begin to be more intelligible, and we find that for seeing his Coronation a Q was given, or the half a ferling, or farthing, which was the fourth part of a sterling, or penny. At Edward II. it was a farthing, and at his son's, Edward III. a halfpenny, which was very well given. In Richard the Second's thoughtless reign it was a penny, and continued the same at that of Henry IV. At Henry V. it was two pennies, or the half of a grossus, or groat; and the same at that of Henry VI. although during the reign of this monarch, Co ronations were so frequent that the price was brought back to the penny or halfpenny, and sometimes they were seen for nothing. At Edward IV. it was again the half-groat; nor do we find it raised at those of Richard III. or Henry VII. At that of Henry VIII. it was the whole groat, or grossus; nor was it altered at those of Edward VI. and Queen Mary; but at Queen Elizabeth's it was a testour, or tester. At those of James I. and Charles I. a shilling was given; which was advanced to half-a-crown at those of Charles II. and James II. At King William's and Queen Anne's it was a crown; and at George I. it was seen by many for the same price. At George II. some gave half-a-guinea, but that was thought vastly extravagant. How different was the case at the Coronation of his successor, his late Majesty George III. The front seats in the gallery of Westminster Abbey were let at ten guineas each; and those in commodious houses along the line of procession at no less prices. The prices in the ordinary houses, were from five guineas to one guinea, so that one little house in Coronation-row, after the scaffolding was paid for, cleared 700l. and some large houses upwards of 1000l. In the Coronation Theatres, as they were called, being a sort of large booths, capable of containing from twelve to fifteen hundred seats, the prices were beyond all precedent. The rent of the ground on which the scaffolding was erected, was proportionably extravagant. That in the Broad Sanctuary let at three guineas and a half per foot, and that within the rails enclosing the Abbey, at five guineas. If the objection to paying for a sight of the Coronation of George IV. had chiefly originated in the high demands made upon the public for the gratification of their curiosity, how can we account for the still higher demands eagerly complied with, made at the Coronation of the late King? The fact is, that almost every body saw that the refusal of the Queen's request to be crowned with her royal husband, was an insult offered to the whole nation; and thousands upon thousands resented it, by tarrying away from the scene of what might and ought to have been the grandest spectacle England ever witnessed. It was remarked, by those who stood near the Queen at the time of her savage dismissal from the door of Westminster Abbey, that, although she appeared to bear it with patient fortitude, and even smiled on the instruments of her barbarous persecutors, her heart was torn with the bitterest anguish. The cheers of the multitude, for a season appeared to cheer her spirits; but the last blow of her assailants had evidently been struck-the fatal stab had been given; for, although in good bodily health on the day of the Coronation, in the short space of fourteen days afterwards, she was so much indisposed as to render it necessary to issue a bulletin of her health; and it was evident to every one who had any opportunity of daily seeing her, that the conduct shown towards her on the day of the Coronation, had a fatal effect on her constitution; which, although naturally strong, could not withstand the long and repeated strokes which had been so wantonly and deliberately aimed to "destroy" her. The narrative of her last illness and lamented death well demands a distinct division in the present volume. CHAPTER II. THE vivacity of the Queen's character and disposition was almost proverbial. The consciousness of innocence had long enabled her to support with fortitude the reiterated attacks of her bitterest foes. Often after the vilest slanders had been heaped upon her, and the vilest attempts had been made to ruin her in the estimation of the world, she would smile with the greatest apparent cheerfulness ;-unhurt at the impotency of their malice, she maintained, for a long series of years, the native pleasantness of her character; and often when she was herself really suffering, she would put on the appearance of contentedness, and even of mirth and gaiety, lest she should inflict pain on those around her. Still she daily drank some fresh draught from the poisoned cup of persecution; the "iron had entered her soul;" and nature could not longer sustain the unequal conflict. "The malice of a thousand foes-each earthly ill At last o'ercharg'd the pois'nous lava spread Here Britain's ill-used persecuted Queen A seraph's form shall guide her spirit's flight; These lines, the spontaneous production of my friend, C. M. Westmacott, Esq. though somewhat highly charged with the fire of just indignation against oppression and oppressors, but too aptly express the real cause of the late Queen's death. Although it was evident to all the Queen's immediate friends and household, that the insult on the day of the Coronation had a most malignant effect on her health, she still endeavoured to preserve her wonted vivacity of spirit; and, as it had been announced that she would honour Drury Lane Theatre with her presence on the ensuing Monday, though on that day she was greatly indisposed, and was very urgently pressed not to attend, she re |