“Given at our Court at Windsor, the 26th day of April,
1802, in the forty-second year of our reign.
“God save the King.”
On the 29th of April, a public proclamation of the same was made, and it must have been a far more imposing spectacle than the very shabby scene displayed in 1856. All mustered in the Stable-yard, St. James’s. The Heralds and Pursuivants were in their proper habits, and, preceded by the Sergeant Trumpeter with his trumpets, the Drum Major with his drums, and escorted on either side by Horse Guards, they sallied forth, and read aloud the Proclamation in front of the Palace. We can picture the roar of shouting, and the waving of hats, after the Deputy Garter’s sonorous “God save the King!” A procession was then formed, and moved solemnly towards Charing Cross, where another halt was made, and the Proclamation was read, the Herald looking towards Whitehall. The following is the order of the procession:
| Two Dragoons. | ||||||
| Two Pioneers, with axes in their hands. | ||||||
| Two Trumpeters. | ||||||
| Horse Guards, six abreast. | ||||||
| Beadles of Westminster, two and two, with staves. | ||||||
| Constables of Westminster. | ||||||
| High Constable, with his staff, on horseback. | ||||||
| Officers of the High Bailiff of Westminster, with white wands, on horseback. | ||||||
| Horse Guards flanked the Procession. | Clerk of the High Bailiff. High Bailiff and Deputy Steward. Horse Guards. Knight Marshal’s men, two and two. Knight Marshal. Drums. Drum Major. Trumpets. Sergeant Trumpeters. Pursuivants. | Horse Guards flanked the Procession. | ||||
| Sergeants- at-Arms. | { | Heralds. King-at-Arms. | } | Sergeants- at-Arms. | ||
| Horse Guards. | ||||||
Thence to Temple Bar, which, according to precedent, was shut—with the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, and civic officials on the other side. The minor Officer of Arms stepped out of the procession between two trumpeters, and, preceded by two Horse Guards, rode up to the gates, and after the trumpeters had sounded thrice, he knocked thereat with a cane. From the other side the City Marshal asked, “Who comes there?” and the Herald replied: “The Officers of Arms, who demand entrance into the City, to publish His Majesty’s Proclamation of Peace.” The gates being opened, he was admitted alone, and the gates were shut behind him. The City Marshal, preceded by his officers, conducted him to the Lord Mayor, to whom he showed His Majesty’s Warrant, which his lordship having read, returned, and gave directions to the City Marshal to open the gates, who duly performed his mission, and notified the same to the Herald in the words—“Sir, the gates are opened.” The Herald returned to his place, the procession entered the Bar, and, having halted, the Proclamation was again read.
The Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, &c., then joined the procession in the following order:
| The Volunteer Corps of the City. The King’s Procession, as before stated. Four Constables together. Six Marshal’s men, three and three, on foot. Six Trumpeters, three and three. Band of Music. | ||||
| Sheriff’s Officers on foot. | { | Two Marshals on horseback. Two Sheriffs on horseback. Sword and Mace on horseback. | } | Sheriff’s Officers on foot. |
| Porter in a black gown and staff. | { | Lord Mayor, mounted on a beautiful bay horse. | } | Beadle. |
| Household on foot. Six Footmen in rich liveries, three and three. State Coach with six horses, with ribands, &c. Aldermen in seniority, in their coaches. Carriages of the two Sheriffs. Officers of the City, in carriages, in seniority. Horse Guards. | ||||
The line of procession was kept by different Volunteer Corps.
The Proclamation having been read a fourth time, at Wood Street, they went on to the Exchange, read it there, and yet once again, at Aldgate pump, after which they returned, and, halting at the Mansion House, broke up, the Heralds going to their College, at Doctor’s Commons, the various troops to their proper destinations; and so ended a very beautiful sight, which was witnessed by crowds of people, both in the streets, and in the houses, along the route.