Ministers, were seated on stools and benches, near them.

After the King's nuptials, the following Proclamation was published, to give notice, that it was His Majesty's intention Her Majesty should be crowned at the same time and place :

BY THE KING,

A PROCLAMATION,

Declaring His Majesty's Pleasure touching His Royal Coronation, and of the Coronation of His Royal Consort, the Queen.

GEORGE R.

WHEREAS by Our Royal Proclamation, bearing date the eighth day of July last, We did (amongst other things) publish and declare Our Royal intention to celebrate the solemnity of Our Royal Coronation upon Tuesday, the twenty-second day of September instant, at Our Palace at Westminster. And whereas Our Royal Nuptials have since been celebrated with the Princess Charlotte of Mecklenberg Strelitz: We have therefore resolved, by the favour and blessing of Almighty God, to celebrate the solemnity of the Royal Coronation of Our dearly beloved consort the Queen, upon the said twenty-second day of September instant, at our said Palace at Westminster. And We do by this Our Royal Proclamation, give notice of, and publish Our resolution therein. And Our Royal will and pleasure is, and We do hereby strictly charge and command all persons of what rank or quality soever they be, who either upon Our letters to them directed, or by reason of their offices, or tenures, or otherwise; are to do any service at the time of such Coronation, that they do duly give their attendance at the said solemnity, upon Tuesday the said twenty-second day of September instant, in all respects furnished and appointed as to so great a solemnity appertaineth, and answerable to the dignities and places which every one of them holdeth and enjoyeth: and of this they or any of them are not to fail, as they will answer the contrary at their perils, unless upon special reasons, by Ourself, under Our Sign Manual, to be allowed, We shall dispense with any of their services or attendances.

Given at Our Court at St. James's, the eleventh day of September, One thousand seven hundred and sixty-one, in the first year of Our reign.

GOD SAVE THE KING.

For the celebrating of the Coronation Feast, Westminster-Hall was laid open throughout, and · every thing it before contained entirely removed, excepting the floor and steps of the King's Bench Court. A new boarded floor was then laid from the North gate, up the middle of the hall, to those steps, and covered with matting. On each side was built a large gallery, the lower part about five feet from the ground, and containing eight benches, covered also with matting, for the spectators. Over this was erected a second gallery, not so wide, but of the same length as the open part of the hall, when the King's Bench Court was standing; over which, also, a third gallery was fixed as it were in the roof, and supported by those beams which are decorated at the ends with figures of angels; being nearly the same length as the others, but scarcely so wide, from its being placed in a narrower part of the building. Between the first gallery and the floor were erected, on each side, large closets or pantries, with double doors, answering the purpose of sideboards and cellarets, as well as to contain the plates, dishes, glasses, &c. &c. wanted by the company and waiters. In a space left between these pantries and the platform up the middle of the hall, the tables were placed for that part of the company who had not the honour to be seated with the King (Vide the plan). His Majesty, with the Queen, Nobility, Great Officers of State, &c. dined in the elevated part of the hall, near the Court of King's Bench. The whole was lighted by fifty-two large chandeliers, each

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ornamented at the top with a gilt Imperial Crown. Over the North gate, opposite the King's table, was erected a large balcony for the trumpets, kettle-drums, and other music, and in the centre over them was fixed an organ. It was under this music, that the Champion, attended by the Lord High Constable, and the Earl Marshal, made their entrée, on horseback, into the hall.

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A platform was likewise erected from the end of Westminster Hall, where the Procession commenced, which continued through New Palace-yard, Parliament Street, and Bridge Street, into King Street, and so round through the West door of the Abbey on to the Choir, where his Majesty was crowned (Vide the plan). In view of this platform, the houses on each side were lined with scaffolding, the seats on which were let at the most exorbitant prices. The front seats in the galleries of the Abbey were let at ten guineas each; and those in commodious houses along the Procession, at no less prices. The terms, in ordinary houses, were from one guinea to five, so that a small house in Coronation-row, after the scaffolding was paid for, cleared 700l. and some large houses upwards of 1,000l.* In the Coronation Theatres, as they were called, which were large temporary erections, capable of containing from 12 to 1,500 seats, the prices were

* It is generally understood that there is a clause in the leases of those houses which command a view of the Procession, stating that the possession of them shall revert back to the landlord for a certain period at a Coronation.

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