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The Windsor and Eton Express.
Bucks Chronicle and Reading Journal

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Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express



1st July 1837

Lying in State and Funeral of His Late Majesty



The arrangements for the interment of the remains of our departed Sovereign, have proceeded with great rapidity. Everything in Windsor seems to partake in the gloom and solemn character which is so well suited to so lamentable an occasion, as that of the decease of a King, who was universally beloved by his subjects, as William the Fourth. The excellent personal qualities of that truly amiable Monarch, have endeared him to all who ever had the happiness of observing them.

In every part of the kingdom the people feel as though they have lost a friend, and symptoms of woe are manifested in most places by the partial closing of their houses and shops, until the funeral of our late departed Sovereign shall have taken place. In Windsor , where his personal as well as public character was so constantly before our eyes, and where his unostentatious manners have secured him the affection of the inhabitants, the deepest gloom is visible. All the houses and shops have been partially closed ever since the death of His Majesty, and the visitors, who are already numerous, in viewing the preparations that are making in the precincts of the Castle for the funeral of their late revered Sovereign, testify by their countenances the loss they feel they have experienced.

The preparations for the funeral commenced almost immediately after the death of His Majesty. The construction of the platform on which the funeral procession will pass from the grand entrance to St. Georges Hall - or the Clock Tower, as it is usually called - to the south door of St. George's Chapel, was entrusted to our esteemed townsman, Mr. Tebbott, who commenced upon this work on Friday morning, and with such rapidity has he proceeded, that the platform from the Chapel to the Norman Gate is now - as far as the carpenters are concerned - roofed in and completed. The portion from the Norman Gate to the entrance to the Clock Tower will be finished, it is expected, by Monday evening. The construction of the latter portion is carried on in the greatest silence, all the timber and flooring being screwed together, so that the noise of the workmen's hammers, which created such a constant din in the erection of the part of the work below the Norman Gate, might be dispensed with, and the feelings of the Queen Dowager might be spared as much as possible.

The platform will, when completed, be about 1,030 feet in length, of most substantial materials, twelve feet high, and nineteen wide. It is to be covered with black cloth, with which it will also be lined and festooned. The sides will be boarded to the height of three feet six inches, close up to which, we understand, the public will be permitted to stand during the procession; and, in order to divide the crowd, and prevent too great a pressure, and probably accidents, strong barriers are to be erected across the Castle-yard towards the Military Knights house called the Upper Foundation.

The preparations within the Castle for the Lying in State, which are under the management of Mr. Saunders, his late Majesty's upholsterer, are also proceeding with the utmost dispatch. The entrance to the Clock Tower, as well as from the entrance by the North Terrace, up the grand staircase to the Waterloo Gallery, is partitioned to admit of the ingress and igress of the public, and the timber work will be covered with black cloth. The portion of the Waterloo Gallery appropriated to the Lying in State, is already partitioned off with a lofty boarding; and the sides covered with black. When roofed and completed, it will form a sort of octagonal tent, within which the remains of his late Majesty will be placed on a raised platform, near which the public will pass from one side, retiring on the other. The Music Gallery has been covered with the trappings of woe, and will be the place from which the nobility will view [���]. It is arranged that the people generally shall be admitted by the gate near the Winchester Tower (Sir Jeffrey Wyatville's residence) on to the North Terrace, and along to the entrance by George the Fourth's Tower, and up one side of the grand staircase, returning by the entrance by which the public are generally admitted to view the State apartments. The nobility &c will enter under the Clock Tower, and return the same way.

In St. George's Chapel a raised platform has been constructed in the outer aisle level with the steps of the inner choir. The procession will enter by the south door , and proceed to the bottom of the outer aisle, whence it will turn and proceed up the centre into the choir. The banners of the Knights of the Garter in the Chapel were, on Wednesday, arranged in their proper order by the assistants of the Garter King at Arms, and those of the deceased Knights viz Charles the 10th, the Duke of Montrose, and the Marquis of Bath, were removed, and that of the Earl of Carlisle was placed up there. On the north side of the outer choir a gallery is now being erected, for the accommodation of those who are fortunate enough to obtain tickets of admission. During the progress of the works at the Chapel, the Cathedral Service is performed in the Library of the Dean and Canons.




Windsor Midsummer Quarter Sessions

These Sessions took place today before the Hon. John C. Talbot, Recorder of the Borough. The calendar contained a list of eleven prisoners for trial, but as against two the bills were ignored by the Grand Jury. These two were William Neal, aged 18 , charged with stealing some brass harness furniture, the property of Henry Thumwood, and Elizabeth Maskell , aged 19, for stealing two frocks the property of Richard White.

John Carter, aged 19, was convicted of uttering[?] counterfeit coin to Mrs. Goodchild, of Peascod Street, and others, and sentenced to twelve months hard labour at Reading.

William Morgan, a chimney sweep, aged 20, for stealing a copper bottle, the property of William Henry Wheeler, beer shop keeper, of George-street, was found guilty and sentenced to six months hard labour at Reading.

William Abbott, aged 81[?], for stealing a sheet and blanket, the property of Samuel Coombs, was sentenced to one months hard labour in the borough gaol.

Ann Ellis, alias Groves, aged 36 [?], was convicted of stealing a sheet, the property of Phoebe Gutteridge, in whose house she lodged, and sentenced to be transported for seven years.

William Willey, aged 28, and James Brewin , aged 29, privates in the Grenadier Guards, were charged, the former with assaulting Jane Hughes, a married woman, and also with having, as well as the latter prisoner, assaulted Henry Sexton, a policeman, in the execution of his duty. The assaults were of a serious nature.
Mrs. Hughes, while walking home between ten and eleven at night, was grossly assaulted by the prisoner Willey, who strove to steal a basket, which she was carrying, but fortunately by her resistance he was unable to accomplish his object. Upon the policeman going to take him into custody the prisoner committed a violent assault upon, and the other prisoner also struck the policeman. Both the prisoners pleaded Guilty. Willey was sentenced to three months imprisonment at Reading, and Brewin to two months - each to be kept to hard labour.

James Curtis, aged 16, was sentenced to nine months hard labour at Reading, and to be twice privately whipped, for stealing a shirt, the property of James Evans.

George Weblin, aged 23, was sentenced to one months hard labour in the Borough Gaol, for stealing a coat, the property of Wm. Williamage [?].

Price Jones, aged 38, charged with stealing a riding whip, the property of Charles Brambridge, was Acquitted.

The Court having got through all its business. Adjourned.