The Life of Thomas Cooper, Written by Himself

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332–333

text excerpt

The funeral of the Great Duke [of Wellington] was the most impressively grand spectacle I ever beheld.  The morning was fair―the first fair morning for six weeks!  The bright sun seemed something new: the luminary seemed to have come out to grace the splendid show; and to do honour to him in death whom the nation had honoured in life.  I witnessed the passing of the entire funeral procession, and the greater part of it twice.  First, I got a place on the south side of the Green Park, near the Duke of Sutherland’s, and saw the procession come up the Mall, from the Horse Guards.  Then I crossed the Park, and got a standing-place opposite the Duke of Cambridge’s―the house in which Lord Palmerston afterwards lived―and saw the slow march along Piccadilly.  The pomp of the “Dead March in Saul” was varied by some of the regimental bands playing “Sicilian Mariners,” and others Handel’s “Old Hundred-and-Fourth.”[*]  The varied costume of the English regiments mingled with the kilted Highlanders, and Lancers and Life Guards with the Scotch Greys, rendered the vision picturesque as well as stately.

 [*] The hymn tune ‘Old Hundred-and-Fourth’ is actually by Thomas Ravenscroft (?1592–c1635), not Handel.

excerpt from 'The Life of Thomas Cooper, Written by Himself' pp. 332–333 (205 words)

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