MR. THACKERAY AT THE ROYAL WEDDING.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 74, 21 July 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

MR. THACKERAY AT THE ROYAL WEDDING.

On the day of her entrance into London, who looked more bright and happy than the Princess ! On the day of the marriage the fair face wore its marks of care already, and looked out quite grave, and frightened almost, under the wreaths and lace, and orange flowers. Would you have had her feel no tremor ! A maiden on the bridegroom's threshold, a princess led up to the steps of the throne? I think her pallor and doubt became her as well as her smiles. That, I can tell you, was our vote who sat in X compartment, let us say, in the nave of St. George's Chapel, at Windsor, and saw a part of one of the brightest ceremonies ever performed there. My dear cousin Mary, you have an account of the dresses, and 1 promise you there were princesses beside the bride whom it did the eyes good to behold. Around the bride sailed a bevy of young creatures so fair, white, and graceful, that I thought of those fairy-tale beauties who are sometimes princesses and sometimes white swans. The Royal Princesses and the Boyal Knights of the Garters wept by in prodigious robes and trains of pure velv< t, 30s. a yard, my dear,not, of course, including thelining, which, I have no doubt, was of the richest satin, or that costly " miniver" which we used to read about in poor Jerrold's writings. The young Princes were habited in kilts; and by the side of the Princess Royal trotted such a little wee solemn Highlander! He is the young heir and chief of the famous clan of Brandenburgh. His eyrie is among the Eagles and I pray no harm may befall the dear little chieftain. The heralds in their tabards were marvellous to behold, and a nod from Rouge Cioix save me the keenest gratification. I tried to catch Garter's eye, but either I couldn't or he wouldn't. In his robes, he is like one of the Three Kings in old missal illuminations. Gold Slick in waiting is even more splendid. With his gold r<*l and robes and trappings of many colors he looks like a Royal enchanter, and as if he had raised up all this scene of glamour by a wave of his glittering wand. The silver trumpeters wear such quaint caps as those I have humbly tried to depict on Ihe playful heads ot children. Behind the trumpeters came a drum-bearer, on whose back a gold-laced drummer drubbed his march. When the silver clarions had blown, and under a clear ciorus of white robed children, chanting round the organ, the noble piocession passed into the chapel, and was hidden from our sight for awhile, there was silence, nor from thejinner chapel ever so faint a hum. Then hymns arose, and in the lull we knew that prayers were being said, and the sacred rite performed which joined Albert Edward to Alexandra, his wife. lam sure hearty prayers were offered up omside the g«te as well as within for that princely young pair, and for their mother and Queen. The p ;ace, the freedom, the happiness, the order which her rule guarantees, are part of my birthright as an Englishman, and I bless God for ray share. Where else shall I find such liberty of action, thought, speech, or laws which protect me so well 2 Her part of her compact with her people, what Sovereign ever better performed 5 If ours sits apart from the festivities of the day, it is bec-mse she suffers from a grief so recent that the loyal heart cannot master it as yet, and remains treu und fest to a beloved memory. A part of the music which celebrates the day's service was composed by the husband who is gone to the place where (he just and pui-e of life meet the reward promised by the Father of all of us to good and faithful servants who have well done here below. As this one gives in his account, surely we may remember how the Prince was the friend of all peaceful arts and learning ; how he was true and fast always to duty, home, honor ; how, through a life of complicated trials, he was sagacious, righteous, active, sslfdenying. And as we trace in the young faces of his many children the father's fea tures and likeness, what Englishman will not pray that they may have inherited also some of the great qualities which won for the Prince Consort the love and respect of our country ? The papers tell us how, on the night of the marriage of the Prince of Wa'es, all over England and Scotland illuminations were made, the poor and children were feasted, and in village and city thousands of kindly schemes were devised to mark the national happiness and sympathy. " The bonfire on Coptpoint at Folkstone was seen in France," the Telegraph says, •* more clearly than the French marine lights could be seen at Folkstone." Long may the -fire continue to burn ! There are European coasts (and inland places) where the liberty light has been extinguished, or is so low that you can't see to read by it — (here are great Atlantic shores where it i flickers and smokes very gloomily. Let us be thankful to the honest guardian of ours, and for the kind sky under which it burns bright and steady. — Gomhill Magazine for April.