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the gentlemen of the Committee, and consequently got the best places: that at twelve they were again opened for the general reception of all who had a right to come in that particularly at the entrance of Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple, there was a loud and universal clap, which was continued for some time. The galleries presented a very brilliant show of Ladies; and among the company below, were all the Officers of State, the principal Nobility, and the Foreign Ambassadors, among whom I could not but particularly remark the rich and singular dresses of the Algerine and Tripoline Ambassador and his Son. It was past six before the Lord Mayor came in; when immediately dispositions were made for the reception of their Majesties and the Royal Family. The Sheriffs did not alight from their chariots, but went to Mr. Barclay's, to conduct the Royal Family to the Hall. A temporary passage (enclosed at the sides and top) had been made, leading to the Hall-gate, and this was lined by the Mazarines, many of them with candles in their hands; the Aldermen not on the Committee, in their scarlet gowns, stood across the Hall, to the steps leading to the King's Bench, and were supported by the band of Gentlemen Pensioners, with their axes in their hands. At the bottom of these steps stood the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, with the Aldermen and Commoners who were of the Committee for conducting this entertainment, to receive each of the Royal Family as they came in.

"After waiting about half an hour in this order, came the Princess Amelia, then, at some intervals, the Duke of Cumberland, the three young Princes, the Princess Dowager of Wales, and Lady Augusta, and after that the Duke of York, all of them being received with great clapping, &c. They waited in the body of the Hall until their Majesties entered it. Notice being

now given that their Majesties' coach was near, the Lord and Lady Mayoress, with the Aldermen, advanced to the great door of the Hall, and waited there to receive them. At their Majesties' entrance, the Lord Mayor kneeling, presented the City Sword, which being returned, he carried it before the King, the Queen following with the Lady Mayoress behind her. The music had struck up, but was drowned in the acclamations of the company: in short, all was life and joy; even their giantships, Gog and Magog, seemed to be almost animated.

"Their Majesties were pleased, with wonderful condescension, to return the compliments that were paid to them, and, in express terms, declared their admiration at the splendour and magnificence that every where surrounded them, as had also the rest of the Royal Family. The Committee then conducted the Royal Family to the Council-chamber, the Commoners thereof going first, the Aldermen next; after them came the Duke of Cumberland and the four Princes; then the Great Officers, with white staffs; then his Majesty, the Queen, the Princess Dowager, Lady Augusta, Princess Amelia, and followed by the Queen's attendants, &c. Their Majesties being entered the Council-chamber, Sir William Moreton, the Recorder, made the compliments of the City in a speech; the Aldermen's ladies and daughters were presented, and had the honour to be saluted by his Majesty, and to kiss the Queen's hand; and the number of City Knights were encreased, by the honour of knighthood being conferred on the two Sheriffs, Messrs. Nash and Cartwright, and the Lord Mayor's brother, heretofore Mr. Thomas Fludyer. After staying here for about half an hour, the Royal Family returned into the Hall, and were conducted to the upper end of it, called the hustings, where a table was provided for them. It is where you have seen the

drawing of the lottery. This table was set off with a variety of emblematic ornaments, beyond description elegant, and a superb canopy was placed over their Majesties' heads, at the upper end. It was almost nine before the dinner (or rather supper) was served up to the Royal Family, who all sat at the same table, and no other person with them. One particular I cannot help acquainting you with, viz. that the ladies in waiting upon the Queen had claimed a kind of right, by custom, to dine at the same table with her Majesty but this was over-ruled, and they dined at my Lady Mayoress's tables, which were no less than three in number, and served in the most elegant manner, in the apartment called the King's Bench. Other ladies of distinction not accommodated there, had an entertainment at the Town Clerk's house. The Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and their Ladies, had a table spread for them at the lower hustings. A table for the Privy-Counsellors, Ministers of State, and others of the Nobility, was on the right hand as you ascend the upper hustings; another for the Foreign Ministers on the left. At the upper end of each of these two last-mentioned tables was placed half a side of roast-beef, in one of which was stuck a flag with the Royal Arms; and in the other a flag with those of the City. The Mazarines (I have already explained the term to you) were not overlooked by those of their brethren, who had no small share in conducting the whole of this entertainment, for they had eight tables (as well as I can recollect) allotted to them in the body of the Hall, at the end where my Lord Mayor's table was. The Judges, Serjeants, &c. dined in the old Council-chamber. The attendants upon all the company were plentifully regaled in the Court of Common-Pleas. I should enclose you a topographical map, in order for your rightly understanding the various places of action; but let it suffice to tell

you, that the ground was properly marked out, and the commissaries were much more than not deficient in providing the alimentary supplies for each party.

"The seven Aldermen of the Committee set on the dishes, and attended the Royal table. The Lord Mayor stood behind the King, as we may say, in quality of Chief Butler, while the Lady Mayoress waited on her Majesty in the same capacity, but were, soon after the Royal Family were seated, desired by their Majesties to go to dinner. The entertainment consisted of three courses, beside the dessert. To say that it was elegant, sumptuous, and all that, is saying something and nothing; it is but justice to acquaint you, that the Committee were wholly disinterested, and took care that every bottle of wine should have the name of the person who served it pasted on the side, with an intent, as we may reasonably presume, to be a check upon the venders, as also that every one might have the liberty of calling for this or that person's wine, whichever he liked best.

"When the second course was bringing on to the Royal table, the Common Crier, standing before the Royal table, demanded silence, and then proclaimed aloud, that his Majesty drank to the health and prosperity of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Council, of the city of London, and the trade thereof; and added thereto, that her Majesty also drank confirming the same, whereupon the band of music immediately played the march in Judas Maccabæus, accompanied by the side drum.

"The Common Crier then came to the Lord Mayor's table, at the lower end of the Hall, and the music ceasing, he again demanded silence, and proclaimed that the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Council, drank health, long life, and a prosperous reign, to our most gracious Sovereign, King George the Third, upon

which the music iminediately played the latter part of Mr. Handel's Coronation Anthem, God save the King, &c. The music again ceasing, the Common Crier demanding silence a third time, and proclaimed that the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Council, drank health and long life to our gracious Queen Charlotte, upon which the band played again. The healths of the rest of the Royal Family were in order drank at my Lord Mayor's and the other tables, but not in the same ceremonious public manner.

"I must not forget to tell you, that the grand service of plate at the King's table was entirely new, and made by Mr. Gilpin. The City exchanged with him their old plate for his new, to do honour to this grand occasion.

"Their Majesties, with the Royal Family, retired directly after their repast, to the Council-chamber, where they had their tea. In the mean time every thing was removed; and the hustings where they dined, the floor of which had been covered with rich carpeting, was again covered afresh, and prepared for the ball which was to ensue. On the return of their Majesties, and as soon as they were seated under their canopy, the ball was opened by the Duke of York and Lady Mayoress. Other minuets succeeded, by the younger branches of the Royal Family with Ladies of Distinction. It was now about twelve o'clock, when his Majesty signified his intention of going; and the hurry and confusion without doors, in bringing up the carriages, rendering it impossible for the Royal Family to observe the same order in returning as in coming to the City, the Procession back was consequently irregular. Their Majesties waited half an hour before their coach could be got up, and after their departure the Princess Dowager was several minutes in the temporary passage, (nor could she be prevailed on to return into the Hall),

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