ASSASSINATION OF LORD MAYO —THE LYING IN STATE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 108, 6 May 1872, Page 2

ASSASSINATION OF LORD MAYO —THE LYING IN STATE.

The Calcutta correspondent of the Allahabad Pioneer thus describes the lying in state of the body of the late Viceroy of India : — During tbe lying-in-state, Government House was thrown open unreservedly to the public ; and during the appointed hours — i.e., from 6.30 to 10 a.m., and again from 3to 6 p.m. of each day — a continuous stream of human beings of all classes poured into the Government House from tho north-east gate, in Old Court House Street. Tbe entire spectacle was solemn and imposing in the extreme. Over the entrance to the Marble Hall fell heavy folds of black drapery which completely shut out the light of day. As you entered, and these folds of black cloth closed behind you, there stretched away before you, over the whole length of the Marble Hall, a loug and gloomy vista For remainder of news see fourth page.

draped in black, and dimly lighted by an array of candlesticks on either side. There was a softening and chastening influence in this shadowy place which ex- ] eluded all idea of ghastliness from the I mind; and but for the knowledge that the ] murdered Viceroy lay beyond, you might, as you paced, it, have thought yourself in one of those painless dreams in which the mind is oppressed by a sense of gloom, and gradually yields itself up to tbe prevailing influence, without any anxiety as to how or when it will end. The Hall passed, you came to the threshold of the Throne Room, and then the light grew brighter as it fell on the coffin of the murdered man. This room was also draped in black from top to bottom, but the candles placed round the bier were larger and brighter than those in the Marble Hall, and just took away enough from the darkness to make it less oppressive, without robbing it of any of its gloom. The first thing that caught the eye as you entered, was the flash of a polished plate on the coffin, which bore the following inscription : — "RICHARD SOUTHWELL BOURKE, EARL OF MAYO, VISCOUNT MAYO, BARON" OF NASS, K.P., G.M.5.1., VICEROY AND GOVERN OR-GENER AL OF INDIA. BORN 21ST FEBRUARY 1822. DIED BTH FEBRUARY 1872." As the eye grew accustomed to the light, it took in next the immediate surroundings of the coffin. The flag still lay over it, wrapt in which'it had been brought up on the previous Saturday. On the coffin lay the plumed hat which Lord Mayo had worn on State ceremonies, the insignia of the Orders to which he belonged, and some wreaths of flowers. Impressed with the solemnity of the scene, few present could have given very close scrutiny to the objects which lay before them. I noticed little more than I have mentioned above. I may add that two of tbe late Viceroy's Aides-de-Camp stood near the coffin, one on each side of the bier. Each of them held a drawn sword in his hand, with the point turned to the ground, and they stood so still that they looked like a couple of statues. Altogether the spectacle was one of the most imposing tbat Calcutta has ever witnessed, and the melancholy interest attaching to it helped to make it all the more solemn and impressive. Morning broke to-day with tbe booming of guns, summoning Calcutta to the funeral services, which were held on the broad flight of steps on the north side of Government House. The coffin was placed in front of the steps on the guncarriage which had brought it to Government House on Saturday. About five or six hundred people occupied the steps, and twice as many more gathered round the coffin, from which they were separated by a space of about six or eight yards The Body Guard were grouped in front of the bier, and from thence the Calcutta Volunteers stretched away in two lines to the northern gate. The service read was the usual burial service with a few modifications. It opened with a hymn which was sung by the choristers of St. Paul's Cathedral ; and although the hymn was beautifully sung, yet it struck me as taking away something from the mournful character of the scene, which however, as a whole, was very impressive. Ido not remember the precise order in which the other portions of the music were cone through, but the music consisted of Hymn 163 from Hymns Ancient and Modern, Psalm 60 ; and an anthem specially composed by the organist, for the words "Man that is born," &c. ; and Hymn 114. A harmonium and tbe band of the 14th accompanied the singing. I find it very difficult in giving you this meagre narrative to convey to you any accurate idea of the general impression created on the spectators by the ceremony. To the profound grief which the tragedy has created in all hearts was added, on the occasion of this ceremony, the thought that this was the last of poor Lord Mayo in India. Speaking for .myself, I say that with this thought there came up again before me the whole story of the horrible crime — the story of a brave, trusting, energetic soul going forth in its might to perform a self-imposed duty, and being brought back a few weeks later a senseless corpse. That something like this also occupied other minds was evident from the settled gloom on the faces of all the spectators. That a good deal more than this filled some other minds was sufficiently obvious from the tears which fell while tbe service was being read.