At that instant Landguard fort fired the first minute gun. The coffin was lowered into the Glasgow's barge. A loud shriek announced that a female had fainted in one of the many boats that surrounded the point of the jetty crowded with spectators; and the most painful anxiety and death-like stillness prevailed amongst those who, from all the surrounding points, as well as the vessels, were able to witness the last melancholy scene. A period of deeper interest, mingled with horror and disgust, never occurred on any civilized ceremony in any age or country. The coffin was in the barge, and the spectators could now see that the new silver plate had replaced the gilt plate ordered by her Majesty's Will, which was affixed by the executors, and torn off by the orders of those persons who had, agreeably to his Majesty's instructions, declared their determination to fulfil her last wishes, George Nayler, Mr, Chittenden, Mr. Bailey, and Mr. Thomas, now carried the crown and cushion into the barge and placed them on the head of the coffin; and these worthy gentlemen were the only persons who were allowed to accompany the Queen's remains from the shore. Thus a single herald, an undertaker, a deputy undertaker, and a nondescript from the Chamberlain's office, without a signed order, paid the last honour to the departed Queen of England! The barge was quickly towed off, surrounded by the men of war's boats to the Pioneer schooner, a vessel employed in the preventive service, which instantly hoisted the royal Sir standard, and made sail out of the harbour to join the Glasgow frigate, which lay two miles east of Languard fort. As soon as Lord Hood could recover from the agitation of the melancholy scene, his attention was directed to his own situation and to that of his wife, and of Lady Anne Hamilton, and the others of her late Majesty's household. His lordship, besides the distressing circumstances of the scene described, had been much affected by the sight of Mr. Mason, midshipman on duty in the barge of the Tyne. The father of this young gentleman commanded the Jupiter, the ship that brought the Queen to England; and Lord Hood was also struck by the other strange coincidence, that Captain Doyle, who was now in charge of her Majesty's remains to convey them from England was the very midshipman who handed the rope to her Majesty on her ascending the man of war that brought her to England. Up to this period no one bad communicated to Lord Hood when or how he was to attend the royal corpse. Mr. John Calvert, member of Parliament for Huntingdon, who had made his appearance for the first time that morning, and who was understood to have full powers from Government to attend and direct the remainder of this disgraceful proceeding, was observed upon the jetty. Lord Hood turned to this gentleman, and asked if he knew in what manner he and her late Majesty's household were to proceed from Stadt to Brunswick, and afterwards return to England. Mr. Calvert said he knew nothing of the matter. Lord Hood then remonstrated, and said, that unless he knew there was some provision for their progress and return, he should not proceed. Captain White, of the Tyne frigate, most feelingly and politely assured his lordship he believed a ship of war would attend his lordship's return at Stadt: as to his progress he of course knew nothing; but Mr. Calvert still professed ignorance as to the whole matter. Subsequently, however, Captain White communicated an order from the Admiralty, which satisfied his lordship that a ship would be ready to bring him back. It might have been expected that boats would have been prepared to take him at the time. A short time afterwards his lordship and his lady, Lady Anne Hamilton, Dr. and Mrs. Lushington, Count Vassali, and young Austin, embarked on board the boats of one of the schooners in the offing, and immediately proceeded to the vessel which had been prepared for their reception, and which, a few minutes after they had reached it, hoisted its sails and left the harbour to join the rest of the squadron. Such was the beggarly manner in which those who wielded the power of Great Britain thought fit to dismiss from its shore the body of their late Queen. But the line of conduct which they in their folly thought it expedient to pursue, served only to render the affection with which the people regarded her remains more clear and powerful by the contrast. The whole population of the neigh |