Page:The Queens of England.djvu/579

CAROLINE OF BRUNSWICK. 525 in less than three weeks from the coronation, at Brandenburg House, in Hammersmith, being then only in the fifty-fourth year of her age. Her last will directed that her remains should be interred at Brunswick, and that her coffin should bear the inscription, "Here lies Car dine of Brunswick, the injured Queen of England." The king, who had set out a few days before for Ireland, received the intelligence of her death at Holyhead, where his yacht had bee'n detained by contrary winds. The sufferings of the woman, wife, mother, queen, were ended ; yet were not the remains of the ill-fated Caroline suf- fered to proceed in peace to their final resting place. The corpse of the queen was removed on the 14th of August to be embarked at Harwich for the Continent. Near Kensington Church, an immense mob which had collected endeavored to prevent the funeral procession from pursuing the route pre- scribed, and to force it to pass through the city instead of taking a circuit round London as had been arranged. To prevent its progress the pavement was torn up and trees placed across the road. Thus interrupted, the procession had to pass through Hyde Park and, endeavoring to take the Edge- ware-road at Cumberland Gate, the mob was so violent that a conflict took place and two persons lost their lives. The proces- sion, however, proceeded to the New Road, by the Edgeware- road, but at the top of Tottenham-court-road was met by such a concourse of people tha't it wasvforced to take the route of St. Gile's, Drury-lane, and Whitechapel. It afterward passed through Bow, Stratford, Ilford and Romford ; every demon- stration of respect being testified by the people at those places. At Chelmsford, where the corpse remained for one night, it was conveyed into the church, followed by the members of the queen's own household. At Colchester a plate was affixed to the coffin, pursuant to the queen's will, with an inscription dictated by herself. "Here lies Caroline of Brunswick, the injured Queen of England." But it was removed, in spite of the pro- testation of the executors, by the agents of government. In this violent and disturbed manner were the remains of the unfortunate Caroline transmitted to Harwich, whence they were conveyed to the Continent by the Glasgow frigate, Lord and Lady Hood, Dr. Lushington, Sergeant Wilde, with Lady Anne Hamilton, attending them all the way to Brunswick. At Cuxhaven they were transferred to the Gannet sloop-of-war,