front of the throne is the wool-sack of the Lord Chancellor, looking
like a drawing-room divan, covered with crimson velvet. Below this
are rows of seats for the judges, who are all in their wigs and
scarlet robes; the bishops and the peers, all in robes of scarlet
and ermine. Opposite the throne at the lower end is the Bar of the
Commons. On the right of the Queen's chair is a vacant one, on
which is carved the three plumes, the insignia of the Prince of
Wales, who will occupy it when he is seven or nine years old; on the
left Prince Albert sits.

The seat assigned me was in the front row, and quite open, like a
sofa, so that I could talk with any gentleman whom I knew. Madam
Van de Weyer was on one side of me and the Princess Callimachi on
the other, and Miss Murray just behind me. She insisted on
introducing to me all her noble relatives. Her cousin, the young
Duke of Athol; the Duke of Buccleuch; her nephew the Marquis of
Camden; her brother the Bishop of Rochester. There were many whom I
had seen before, so that the hour passed very agreeably. Very soon
came in the Duke of Cambridge, at which everybody rose, he being a
royal duke. He was dressed in the scarlet kingly robe, trimmed with
ermine, and with his white hair and whiskers (he is an old man) was
most picturesque and scenic, reminding me of King Lear and other
stage kings. He requested to be introduced to me, upon which I
rose, of course. He soon said, "Be seated," and we went on with the
conversation. I told him how much I liked Kew Garden, where he has
a favorite place.

When I first entered I was greeted very cordially by a personage in
a black gown and wig, whom I did not know. He laughed and said: "I
am Mr. Senior, whom you saw only Saturday evening, but you do not