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[[start left-hand column]] CAMBRIDGE INDEPENDENT CAMBRIDGE ^[[29 June 1838 - handwritten in ink]] CORONATION FETE. Perhaps in no city or town out of London has the Coronation been celebrated with a greater degree of splendour - certainly not with more heartfelt enthusiasm than has been exhibited by the inhabitants of Cambridge. No sooner was the wish generally expressed that it should be commemorated in a manner worthy of so great an event, than party differences were laid aside, and all united in the desire to give as much effect as possible to the proceedings. A truce was established to politics, and the two hostile armies piled their arms, and mixed with as much gaiety and conviviality as if they had been comrades all their lives. "Grim visaged war smoothed," for once, "his ruffled brow," and the dulcet strains of Orpheus could scarcely have had a more soothing effect over the sensorial organs of wild beasts than the coronation of the "fair vestal throned by the west" had upon the feelings of contending politicians. It seemed as if the golden age had come again, and that justice had returned once more to dwell upon earth. "Jam redit et VIRGO; redeunt Saturnia regna." The old and the young participated alike in the enthusiasm which the occasion excited; the former from a feeling of pleasure that they had lived to witness the event, not unmixed perhaps with the apprehension that it might be the last of the kind they should survive; while the latter looked forward to the blessings likely to flow to them and their children, from the mild and benignant sway of a young and lovely queen, that might long be destined to reign over them. Nor was the sense of these advantages diminished by the consciousness that she interposed a frail barrier to the accession of an odious tyranny, when the sceptre, which in her hand was one of mildness, and mercy might by some gloomy event, ever to be lamented, be converted into a rod of iron, and the whole nation plunged into tears. The fairer portion of the creation were not wanting in sympathy in the celebration of this day; but on the contrary, they were rejoiced to see so many of their lords and masters acknowledge the dominion of one of their own sex upon the throne, being content themselves to exercise undivided sway at home. Say not then that the age of chivalry has expired - or that gas and railroads and steamboats have monopolized the hearts of men, and left no room for the finer feelings of our nature to spring up in - that the romance of early life, or that "love's young dream" has perished altogether from memory. With a Queen such as we have upon our throne at present, that might rival in appearance Burke's celebrated description of Marie Antoinette --- "surely never lighted on this orb, which she scarce seemed to touch, a fairer vision," &c. We doubt not (following up the illustration) that ten thousand swords would leap from their scabbards to avenge her cause of quarrel. The spirit of loyalty and devotion to her Majesty was no where more powerfully evinced than in this town. As soon as it became known that all political opinions were merged in the feeling of the auspicious moment, subscriptions poured in from all sides, which amounted in a short time to about £1,500. It was resolved by a general committee, composed of the respectable inhabitants of the town, that arrangements should be made for giving a grand entertainment to the poor, to be followed up by exhibitions of sports calculated to amuse the people. The ingenuity of those learned in the lore of popular games was called into requisition, and prizes were proposed commensurate with the dignity and difficulty of each task. The pretensions of the patient donkey were not forgotten, and the wooden spoon met with its appropriate reward, in the instance of the animal that was fortunate enough to come in last. The members of the University had nearly all taken wing, and with the exception of a solitary and sable biped or two that lingered around her "cloisters pale;" the colleges seemed completely deserted. The dove might nestle undisturbed in its favourite retreat, and the blackbird whistle without the chance of obtaining a single response. But, notwithstanding the solitude within the gates, all was life and bustle without. The country people for miles round flocked in to take part in the festivities, and "the fens" where Lord Byron says, (but we are persuaded without reason) that "jokes are thrown away," yielded up this occasion a most merry population.* Nor was the early part of the week devoid of its amusements. The accustomed fair was held on the Common, and numbers who had come to transact business, or as votaries of pleasure were induced to remain over until the whole of the festivities had terminated. Booths were erected, where to the sound of the pipe and the tabor responded the heavy tread of the well-booted farmer, as he figured towards a pair of modest Denmark satin shoes. The thirst created by such exercise was quickly allayed by an appeal to the ever-ready cask, nor were these revelries of rude delight disturbed by any inauspicious tumult that was not promptly quelled by the interference of a well regulated police. Gingerbread wives, gilt in the most approved fashion, adorned the stall of many a fair purveyor of sweets whose solicitations to provide you with so essential a commodity as a wife were sometimes too importunate to pass unheeded. In fact, every article of amusement or utility usually vended on those occasions, from the child's penny trumpet to the tin snuff-box of the village elder, was exhibited in tempting display, and pressed upon the attention of the hundreds of motley groups who passed along. Nor were there any lack of the usual amusements. Mr. Lees, the Richardson of those parts, had provided an ample bill of fare for every hour in the day and the best part of the night, and in front of his spacious booth called out through the stentorian voices of half-a-dozen satellites, to those who had silver to step in and see his unrivalled performances, and to those who had not to make way for those who had. The less unfortunate, however, of the sight-seekers were sufficiently gratified by the occasional display of the entire force of the company on the platform on the outside of the booth, in which royalty blended with rags, the fierce Lady Macbeth with the gentle Juliet, the bandit Massaroni with Friar Lawrence, and, conspicuous above all, the princely Dane contemplative of the skies in ludicrous juxta position with the Grimaldi of the concern, whose glorious grin and imperial horse laugh put everything else, for the moment, into the shade. Savoyards with rabbits, dancing dogs, white mice, and occasionally a sensible looking bear, hurdy-gurdy boys, and German women chaunting forth canticles of the Tyrol to the merry accompaniment of barrel-organ and tambourine were to be seen in all directions pursuing their vocation until Wednesday night closed upon the motley and the merry scene. Thousands of the Fair folk, including buyers and sellers, who could not procure beds in the town, bivouacked on the Fair Green, or remained up all night - Irish fashion - that they might be up early on the morning. [[end column]] [[start centre column]] PARKER'S PIECE - THE PREPARATIONS. Several days previous to the day of the coronation, the preparations for the fête commenced on Parker's Piece - which spot of ground, from its extent and contiguity, had been judiciously selected for the purpose by the committee. A spacious and lofty wooden rotunda was raised in the centre of "the Piece," capable of holding an orchestra of one hundred musicians. The sides of this erection were tastefully decked with evergreens, interspersed with the choicest flowers, the gift of the Cambridge Horticultural Society, which had held their meeting on the previous day. The whole was surmounted by a lofty flag-staff, from which waved the royal standard of England. An extensive promenade, consisting of three platforms, boarded underneath, with seats on each, encompassed the rotunda, from whence the more respectable inhabitants could have a commanding view of the dinner of the poor on the plain beneath. Surrounding this promenade was a green area of still greater extent, destined for the accommodation of the humbler classes. Around this latter circle, three rows of tables were placed, at which three thousand Sunday school children, of every religious sect in the town, were to be entertained at dinner. At a short distance from those tables, and radiating from them at equal distances, four sets of others were laid down, fifteen in each set, and each table capable of accommodating two hundred people. The entire number, therefore, of persons expected to dine at those sixty tables was twelve thousand, which, with the three thousand Sunday school children, made an aggregate of fifteen thousand. The whole circle, which covered an area of several thousand feet, was strongly roped round, to assist the police in preventing the ingress of strangers who were not provided with tickets. THE WEATHER. From the dull and dismal state of the weather on the day preceding, the gloomiest anticipations were formed of the morrow; and "coming events cast their shadows before," in the adumbration of myriads drenched with rain, and a forest of saturated umbrellas. "Birnam Wood" was nothing to what the imagination of those accustomed to look at the dark side of things, suddenly drew together. This went so far, that a sanguine speculator of the town is reported to have given an order to a wholesale house in Oxford-street for several hundred umbrellas, to be sent down specially for the occasion. - However we may lament the individual's loss - being always disposed to encourage enterprise - we cannot but count it great gain that he failed in the realization of his hopes and wishes. THE CORONATION DAY. The sun rose beautiful and refulgent- "So smile the heavens upon this holy act, That after hours with sorrow chide us not." The morning was ushered in by the firing of guns and a merry peal from all the bells of the various churches of the town. Divine service commenced at Great St. Mary's at half past ten o'clock. A Voluntary was played by Professor Walmisley and Boyce's Te Deum was chaunted by the choir of Trinity. The lessons were 1 Chron. xxix. 1-25, and 1 Pet. 11-17. The Rev. Mr. Carus, of Trinity, preached the sermon, taking his text from 2 Kings xi. 11. After the sermon the Coronation anthem was finely given. From an early hour Parker's Piece was crowded with thousands of anxious spectators - many who had had tickets, even for the promenade, being anxious to get there in time to secure their places. There seemed to be no need, however, of such hurry or anxiety, as such were the ad- ----------------------------- *It is where speaking of "The loudest wit, I e'er was deafened with," And whom preferment gave --"To lay the devil who looks o'er Lincoln, A fat fen vicarage and nought to think on." "His jokes were sermons and his sermons jokes, But both were thrown away among the fens, For wit hath no great friend in aguish folks." ----------------------------- mirable arrangements of the committee that there was ample space in every portion of the enclosure for the vast multitude of all classes to move about with pleasure and convenience.- At twelve o'clock, the Sunday school children of the different parishes began to march in procession from their respective localities towards the ground, marshalled and accompanied by their friends and teachers - some of whom bore flags and banners with appropriate devices. The children, as they arrived, took their places in excellent order at the inner tables allotted to them. The humbler classes of the various parishes were then brought up in similar array, in bodies of one and two hundred, and placed at the outer tables. All the stewards, carvers, and waiters - of whom there was a great abundance - wore white rosette favours. All the carvers, together with the president and vice-president of each table, had, by previous order we suppose, provided themselves with a knife and fork - a very sensible, as well as a very classic arrangement, which was observed by all those who came to partake of the dinner, as well as providing the necessary adjuncts of a plate and a mug. Beer-mastets presided over a goodly number of barrels, who distributed the grateful beverage to the waiters on presenting their tickets. A waiter was assigned to every twenty guests. It was wisely and humanely ordered that the fragments of the feast should be given to the poor on the following day. THE DINNER. At two o'clock, on the announcement of the Mayor, the following grace, to the tune of The Old Hundredth, was sung by the choristers in the orchestra, accompanied by the band, which was admirably conducted by Professor Warmsley:-- Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Immediately the presidents, vice-presidents, and the other carvers, commenced their operations, and the work of mastication went bravely on. Rounds and sirloins of beef, shoulders and legs of mutton, veal of all cuts and sizes, hams, tongues, pickles, varied and innumerable, from the spicy walnut to the cooler kidney-bean, and though last, not least, numerous plum-puddings, of pleni-lunar dimensions, vanished in quick succession. Nor was the system of deglutition uninteresting, or less admirably arranged. Busy tapsters were seen in all directions, hurrying to and fro with foaming mugs of Cambridge's renowned and best, and filling again, "in hot haste," to satisfy the legitimate cravings of the thirsty souls who essayed to dilute properly the solid sports of the day, and who loved, in their loyalty, to drink over and over again the health of their young and glorious Queen. A sheep, roasted whole, lay extended on a gigantic platter on a board near the rotunda, which also disappeared, somewhat like "the old guards" at Waterloo, after sustaining a most destructive attack. Never was banquet but half so numerous, half so well arranged. There may have been more splendid ones, but a happier were impossible. There was abundance of room, no lack of anything that could contribute to the comfort and pleasure of the guests, and all around was good humour, happy faces, and sunshine. The coup-d'-oeil from the promenade of the rotunda was spirit-stirring in the extreme; and the view of this eminence from the plain beneath, crowded as it was with the elegantly-dressed beauty of Cambridge and its vicinity, was also splendid and beautiful. After dinner the following verses were sung, like the former one, to the tune of The Old Hundredth:- [[end column]] [[start right-hand column]] O King of Kings, thy blessings shed On our anointed Sovereign's head; And, looking from thy throne in heaven, Protect the crown thyself hast given. Her, for thy sake, may we obey, Uphold her right, and love her sway; Remembering - all the powers that be, Are ministers ordained by thee. By her, this favoured nation bless; To her wise counsels give success; In peace, and war, thy power be seen; Confirm her strength: - O save our Queen. And, when all earthly thrones decay, And earthly glories fade away, Give her a nobler throne on high, A crown of immortality. A grand overture and chorus, by Professor Warmsley, was then given by the choristers of Trinity and King's colleges, the members of the Choral Society and the band, which was universally admired as a composition of great brilliancy and force. The words of the chorus were as follows:- All hail to our fair, our illustrious Queen! May her glories be bright, and her days be serene: May remotest of countries re-echo her fame, And our national toast be Victoria's name! The Queen's health having been announced by the Mayor, and given with deafening cheers, the National Anthem was struck up and joined in by the assembled multitude, standing up. The singing in this anthem, as well as in the strains before and after dinner, of so many thousand voices, blending in unison with the very numerous and efficient band, and especially those of the charity school children, had a beautifully happy and sublime effect. The fragments of the banquet having been removed for the use of the poor on the next day, fresh ale was sent round the tables, and pipes and tobacco were introduced. As each humble but honest patriot commenced to blow a cloud, an appearance was hailed in the upper air - we cannot say the clouds above, as the hour was one of cloudless splendour, indicative of an approving Providence, and worthy of the festive occasion. This sail in the air proved to be a tiny balloon, the first of a series which followed preparatory to the ascent of the majestic one, which was to take place on the front part of Midsummer Common in the evening, and which handsome little skimmers of the skies were happily designated to the instant by a friend of ours of facetious notoriety, "bubbles from the brunnens of the great Nassau." Many and lively were the speculations, especially amongst the younger branches, as to whether each of the winged messengers which ascended in quick succession, was not the identical balloon mentioned in the programme, and which was to be exclusively the great "observed of all observers." Such innocent doubts were however one by one resolved by the speedy dissolution of the objects themselves as they ascended to a proper altitude for a flare up, without subjecting the auricular sensibilities of the female portion of the audience at so early an hour to the inconvenience of an explosion. There could not have been less than thirty-five thousand persons present, of whom fifteen thousand occupied seats at the dinner tables. We did not see a dissatisfied face or a drunkard amongst the guests, nor hear a word or expression uttered but what breathed of loyalty, good feeling, good sense, and satisfaction. It was delightful to behold the interest which the respectable inhabitants of all sects and parties took in seeing that the dinner guests were provided with all that they required or could wish for. Many also of the most distinguished, as well as the most beautiful of the ladies of Cambridge attended personally on the Sunday school children, and shed a bright - we should say a hallowed - influence over the animating scene, for beauty clothed in the attributes of charity is like mercy twice blessed. Those members of the University too, who remain among us should not be forgotten when the meed of commendation is given to all who deserved it, for the zeal and efficiency which they evinced throughout the proceedings. THE SPORTS. As soon as the banquet had terminated on Parker's Piece, the stewards gathered together, and accompanied by a band of music, heralded the way towards the scene of the sports. This was situated on the lower part of the Common, and no games, whether ancient or modern, ever presented a greater variety or a more motley admixture of the ludicrous and the gay. The committee who superintended this department were stationed on a platform raised upon a broad-wheeled waggon, so that they might be said to be regular comedians of the olden time. The "plaustra" of the ancients could not have yielded more amusement than did the sports, emanating from this vehicle, afford to the surrounding multitude. Mr. Alderman Bridges acted as chief manager, and by his good humour and the zeal he evinced to please the people, had no difficulty, even independently of the character of the performances, in securing a most approving audience. In Rome, there were certain days when the slaves were privileged to run riot, to insult their masters with impunity, and even be waited upon by those whom they had hitherto been obliged to serve. In the present instance, the poor, whose "short and simple annals," however affecting, are not stained with the badge of slavery, received every attention from those whom fortune had elevated to a higher sphere, nor did they prove ungrateful for the license, on the contrary it will be found that the nature of the people of this country is not so obdurate, as to require artificial barriers to controul it at every step we go. It is owing to such conventional forms as these that a latent spirit of discontent and dissatisfaction is generated in the minds of the lower classess, and which too often finds vent in acts of barbarous wantonness that give a colour to the expediency of always maintaining the strictest discipline. In passing, we may also observe, that if our places of amusement, or of works of art, were more generally thrown open, as in France, to the public, we should not find the same spirit of destructiveness so frequently exercised, as unfortunately is the case at the present time. We will not examine very minutely whether the character of the sports exhibited on the present occasion were of a very humanizing tendency; quite certain we are that humanity need not grieve over any exhibition of harmless pleasantry. There were races of men and donkies, and diving for sixpences in meal, which being discovered, we have no doubt were very speedily converted into malt. The whole affair went off with the utmost good humour and satisfaction, which was loudly expressed in the frequent laughter and cheers of the assembled crowd. [[end column]] ^[[267 - handwritten in pencil at the bottom of page]]
