1th of July.

CORONATION OF GEORGE IV.

It had been intended that the king's coronation should have taken place
in August, 1820; but the queen's appearance had set that intention
aside. Her trial further delayed it; but after the storm of passion
with which that was accompanied had subsided, it was announced that the
coronation would take place on the 19th of July of the present year.
This announcement brought the queen again into the field. On the 25th
of June she preferred a claim to be crowned like her royal
predecessors; and the case was argued, at the king's request, before the
privy-council. Her majesty's claim, however, was rejected; and as soon
as she received it, she stated her fixed determination to be present
at the ceremony, and demanded a suitable place to be provided for her
accommodation. This also was refused; and the queen then requested the
Archbishop of Canterbury to crown her alone, a request with which he had
not the power to comply. Thus repulsed she prepared a protest, which she
determined to deliver personally into the king's hands on the day of
his coronation. This occasioned expectations that the celebration of
the coronation would be interrupted, if not prevented, by some popular
commotion or infraction of the peace. Every precaution, however, was
taken by ministers to preserve the public tranquillity, and to draw off
public attention from the queen. Shows, balloons, fireworks, and all
sorts of entertainments attracted the populace from the vicinity of
the abbey, while, in case any commotion should arise, every disposable
regiment was brought into or near the metropolis. There needed, however,
no warlike preparation; for while the queen's popularity had abated,
that of the king had so much increased as almost to fulfil Lord
Castlereagh's prediction, that, at the end of six months after the
trial of the queen, his majesty would be the most popular man within his
dominion. He had, in fact, from that time been courting popularity,
and the goddess had greatly favoured him. On the day of the coronation,
therefore, no tumult was created in favour of the queen; she, in fact,
on whom the populace, almost as one man, had, but a little time before,
waited with addresses, assuring her of support and commiseration, was
allowed to go from door to door of the abbey seeking admittance, and
to be at every door rejected with contumely and scorn, with impunity.
George IV. was crowned without interruption