ide for being
committed to the earth with more decency and less pomp. A host of
persons of all ranks and stations were congregated, who 'loitered
through the lofty halls,' chattering and laughing, and with
nothing of woe about them but the garb. I saw two men in an
animated conversation, and one laughing heartily at the very foot
of the coffin as it was lying in state. The chamber of death in
which the body lay, all hung with black and adorned with
scutcheons and every sort of funereal finery, was like a scene in
a play, and as we passed through it and looked at the scaffolding
and rough work behind, it was just like going behind the scenes
of a theatre. A soldier's funeral, which I met in the morning--
the plain coffin slowly borne along by his comrades, with the cap
and helmet and sword of the dead placed upon it--was more
impressive, more decent, more affecting than all this pomp with
pasteboard crowns, and heralds scampering about, while idleness
and indifference were gazing or gossiping round about the royal
remains. I would rather be quietly consigned to the grave by a
few who cared for me (if any such there might be) than be the
object of all this parade and extravagance. The procession moving
slowly through close ranks of Horse and Foot Guards holding
tapers and torches in their hands, whilst at intervals the bands
played a dead march, had, however, a very imposing effect. The
service was intolerably long and tedious, and miserably read by
the Dean of Windsor. The Queen Dowager, with the King's daughters
and her ladies, were in the Royal Closet, and the FitzClarences
in the one adjoining. At twelve o'clock she was to depart for
Bushey, and a bitter moment it must have been when she quitted
for ever the Castle where she had spent seven years of prosperous
and happy splendour.

[Page Head: THE ELECTIONS.]

We continue to hear of the young Queen's admirable behaviour, but
all other subjects are swallowed up in the interest of the
approaching elections. There will be more contests than ever were
known, and it is amusing to see both parties endeavouring to
avail themselves of the Queen's name, the Tories affecting to
consider her as a prisoner in the hands of the Whigs, and the
Whigs boasting of the cordiality and warmth of her sentiments in
their favour. The Whigs have the best of this, as they have some
evidence to show in support of their assertions, and the
probability really is that she is well enough conte