the form of a cross, with the consecrated oil, which had been poured from the ampulla into the anointing spoon. He pronounces the words, "be thou anointed with holy," &c. The archbishop then reads the prayer after the anointing, and the Sovereign resumes his seat in St. Edward's Chair.

THE SPURS are then presented; and subsequently THE SWORD, having been laid upon the altar with prayers, is placed in the Sovereign's hand, with the words," Receive this kingly sword, brought now from the altar of God," &c. It is then offered on the altar by the King or Queen, and is redeemed by the Prime Minister for one hundred shillings, who draws it, and bears it naked for the rest of the ceremony.

THE INVESTITUre. The imperial mantle, or Dalmatic robe of cloth of gold, is put on with the assistance of the Dean of Westminster and the Lord Great Chamberlain; the archbishop delivers the orb, with the words, "Receive this imperial robe and orb," &c. The ruby ring is next put on; the lord of the manor of Worksop presents a pair of rich gloves; and the two sceptres are successively placed in the Monarch's hands.

THE CROWNING now follows: the archbishop consecrates the crown with prayer, and, with the assistance of the other bishops, places it on the Sovereign's head; the peers and peeresses present all put on their coronets, the bishops their caps, and the kings of arms their crowns, amid the firing of guns, the acclamations of the assembly, and the sounding of trumpets.

THE BIBLE is then presented, and

THE BENEDICTION is pronounced by the archbishop; after this follows

THE TE DEUM, during which the King or Queen removes to the recognition chair.

THE INTHRONIZATION is then performed, and by the assistance of the archbishop and bishops, the Sovereign is placed in the Royal Throne; the exhortation of "Stand firm, and hold fast, from henceforth, the seat and state of royal dignity," &c. is then pronounced.

THE HOMAGE is next performed, the archbishop first for himself and the other lords spiritual, repeating the words of the homage; next, the royal dukes, and then the senior of each rank in the peerage for his own degree; each peer repeating after his premier, and successively touching the royal crown and kissing the Sovereign's hand. During this, the Treasurer of the Household throws about the medals struck to commemorate the occasion.

THE HOLY SACRAMENT is next administered. The Sovereign receives from two of the bishops the patina and chalice, and offers bread and wine, the archbishop saying, "Bless, O Lord, we beseech thee, these gifts," &c.; the second offering of a purse of gold is next made, and received into the oblation basin. The archbishop then reads the prayer, “O God, who dwellest," &c. while the Sovereign goes to the chair on the south side of the area. After this the King or Queen returns to the altar, and receives the sacrament.

The Sovereign then returns to the throne, and the

communion service proceeds; at the end of which the final prayers are read, and the blessing pronounced.

The Sovereign next passes into King Edward's Chapel, and there exchanges the robe of state for the royal robe of purple velvet; the orb and sceptre royal are placed in the royal hands, and the procession having been in the meantime formed by the heralds and officers of arms, the Monarch returns to the royal palace with the same state as in the procession to the abbey.

PARLIAMENTARY CEREMONIES.

THERE are certain ceremonies which take place at distant intervals during the progress of public business in the houses of Parliament, and which are seldom detailed at full length in the journals that record the mere fact of their occurrence. As the readers of newspapers are usually presumed to be acquainted with these forms, the particulars of each are not repeated on every occasion; but from their permanent nature, and from their always being performed in the same manner, a description of them naturally comes within the plan upon which this work was constructed. The most important parliamentary ceremonies which it is proposed to describe, are the opening, prorogation, and dissolution of the Legislature, the granting of the Royal Assent, the forms observed in the exchange of Mes

sages, and the peculiarities of the meetings termed Conferences.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. As has been fully stated in the article on the royal functions, the authority for summoning a Parliament is vested in the King, the Queen-regnant, or the Regent for the time being; but this power they do not exercise upon their individual authority, for the summons is issued "by and with the advice of our privy council." Forty days at least before the members are required to assemble, writs are issued by the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, and Lord Chancellor of Ireland, under the authority of a royal proclamation for the summoning of a new Parliament. These writs are addressed and sent to each of the lords spiritual and lords temporal, the first being commanded by their “faith and attachment," the second by their "faith and allegiance," to meet at the place assigned in the summons. This may be any town in the kingdom, but it is scarcely necessary to observe that Westminster is always, in modern times, the specified locality. The sheriffs of each county receive other writs, commanding them to conduct the elections of the members of the Lower House. When the two houses had assembled at Westminster on the day appointed for their meeting, it was till very recently the practice to prorogue Parliament for a few days, until the members of the Commons had time to take the oaths before the Lord Steward. But now it is the practice for the clerks of the House to administer the oaths in the presence of the Speaker, who is the first mem

ber sworn. Formerly the Speaker was not elected till after the oaths had been administered, but this is not the course followed at present, for the unsworn members proceed at once to the election of their mouthpiece. On the day fixed for that purpose, either the Sovereign comes in state to the house of Lords and opens the session in person, or commissioners are appointed to represent royalty on the occasion. When the Sovereign comes in person, Her Majesty, crowned and robed, is conducted by the Lord Chamberlain into the house of Lords, where she takes her seat on the throne, and returns the salute of the house, the members of which are also robed and receive the Monarch standing. Having desired the Lords to be seated, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod is dispatched to summon the Commons. This officer proceeds to the lower house, and says, "Gentlemen of the house of Commons, the Queen commands this honourable house to attend Her Majesty immediately in the house of Peers." The Commons, headed by the Speaker, proceed in a body to the bar of the house of Lords, and there stand, uncovered, during the remainder of the ceremony. The Speaker is now approved of by the Sovereign, and formally requests for the house. the enjoyment of their ancient privileges. The monarch next receives the royal speech from the hands of the Lord Chancellor, and reads it to the assembled parliament, addressing such portions of it as regard pecuniary matters to the Commons only. The Sovereign then retires, and the Commons immediately withdraw to their own house. When the Lords resume business, the speech is reported to the

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