Royal Family—the Duke of Cambridge-actually attended Divine Worship on the occasion. At Drury Lane Theatre, "the Interlude of The Victory and Death of Lord Nelson seemed to affect the audience exceedingly; but the tear of sensibility was wiped away by the merry eccentricities of The Weathercock"-the moral to be learned from which seems to be, that the good folks of the early century seemed to think that God should not be thanked, nor heroes mourned, too much. This must close this year, for Nelson's funeral belongs to the next.

After the Battle of Trafalgar, the Patriotic Fund was again revived, and over £50,000 subscribed by the end of

the year.

Consols were remarkably even during this year, varying very little even at the news of Trafalgar: January, 61% ; December, 65.

The quartern loaf varied from January Is. 44d., to December Is. 04 d.

Wheat varied from 95s. to 90s. per quarter.

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CHAPTER XIII.

1806.

Nelson's funeral-Epigrams-Death of Pitt-His funeral--General Fast-Large coinage of copper-Impeachment of Lord Melville-The Abolition of the Slave Trade passes the House of Commons-Death and funeral of Fox-His warning Napoleon of a plot against him-Negotiations for peace-Napoleon declares England blockaded.

T

HE year opens with the Funeral of Nelson, whose

Victory at Trafalgar had made England Mistress of

the Ocean. He was laid to his rest in St Paul's on January 9th, much to the profit of the four vergers of that Cathedral, who are said to have made more than £1000, by the daily admission of the throngs desirous of witnessing the preparations for the funeral. The Annual Register says, "The door money is taken as at a puppet show, and amounted for several days to more than forty pounds a day." Seats to view the procession, from the windows of the houses on the route, commanded any price, from One Guinea each; and as much as Five Hundred

Guineas is said to have been paid for a house on Ludgate

Hill. I

Enthusiasm was at its height, as it was in later times, within the memory of many of us, when the Duke of Wellington came to rest under the same roof as the Gallant Nelson. His famous signal—which, even now, thrills the heart of every Englishman-was prostituted to serve trade Advertisments, vide the following: "ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DUTY. NELSON'S VICTORY, or TWELFTH DAY. To commemorate that great National Event, which is the pride of every Englishman to hand down to the latest posterity, as well as to contribute towards alleviating the sufferings of our brave wounded Tars, &c., H. WEBB, Confectioner, Little Newport Street, will, on that day, Cut for SALE, the LARGEST RICH TWELFTH CAKE ever made, weighing near 600 lbs., part of the profits of which H. W. intends applying to the Patriotic Fund at Lloyd's." 2

His body lay in State at Greenwich in the "Painted Hall" (then called the "Painted Chamber") from Sunday the 5th of January until the 8th. Owing to Divine Service not being finished, a written notice was posted up, that the public could not be admitted until II. a.m.; by which time many thousands of people were assembled. Punctually at that hour, the doors were thrown open, and, though express

(1806.)

NELSON LYING IN STATE.

157

orders had been given that only a limited number should be admitted at once, yet the mob was so great as to bear down everything in its way. Nothing could be heard but shrieks and groans, as several persons were trodden under foot and greatly hurt. One man had his right eye literally torn out, by coming into contact with one of the gate-posts. Vast numbers of ladies and gentlemen lost their shoes, hats, shawls, &c., and the ladies fainted in every direction.

The Hall was hung with black cloth, and lit up with twenty-eight Silver Sconces, with two wax candles in each -a light which, in that large Hall, must have only served to make darkness visible. High above the Coffin hung a canopy of black velvet festooned with gold, and by the coffin was the Hero's Coronet. Shields of Arms were around, and, at back, was a trophy, which was surmounted by a gold shield, encircled by a wreath having upon it "Trafalgar" in black letters.

The bringing of the body from Greenwich to Whitehall by water, must have been a most impressive sight-and one not likely to be seen again, owing to the absence of rowing barges. That which headed the procession bore the Royal Standard, and carried a Captain and two Lieutenants in full uniform, with black waistcoats, breeches, and stockings, and crape round their hats and arms.

In the second barge were the Officers of Arms, bearing the Shield, Sword, Helm, and Crest, of the deceased, and

the great banner was borne by Captain Moorsom, supported by two lieutenants.

The third barge bore the body, and was rowed by fortysix men from Nelson's flag-ship the Victory. This barge was covered with black velvet, and black plumes, and Clarencieux King-at-Arms sat at the head of the coffin, bearing a Viscount's Coronet, upon a black velvet cushion.

In the fourth barge came the Chief Mourner, Admiral Sir Peter Parker, with many assistant Mourners and Naval grandees.

Then followed His Majesty's barge, that of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the Lord Mayor's barge, and many others; and they all passed slowly up the silent highway, to the accompaniment of minute guns, the shores being lined with thousands of spectators, every man with uncovered head. All traffic on the river was suspended, and the deck, yards, masts, and rigging of every vessel were crowded with men.

The big guns of the Tower boomed forth, and similar salutes accompanied the mournful train to Whitehall, from whence the body was taken, with much solemnity, to the Admiralty, there to lie till the morrow.

His resting-place was not fated to be that of his choice. "Victory, or Westminster Abbey," he cried, forgetful that the Nation had apportioned the Abbey to be the Pantheon of Genius, and St. Paul's to be the Valhalla of Heroes-and to the latter he was duly borne.