THE FUNERAL PROCESSION

feathers, of white horse-hair, of black horse-hair — plumes of every colour and variety,

The men did not walk abreast, but in a loose broken mass, which rather heightened the brilliant effect. They were from all parts of Italy, of every âge and rank : grizzled vétérans* who had fought with King Charles Albert and the Duke of Savoy in 1848-9, whose medals, doubtless, covered honourable scars; men in the prime of life also adorned with military décorations, and beardless cadets who had their honours yet to win.

After the military came the syndics of Rome and Turin, with the civil functionaries ; then followed the représentatives of the schools of arts and sciences, all in plain black ; four hundred deputies and two hundred senators next made their appearance; and then an imposing group of officers commanding by land and sea, the uniforms and décorations, which are strikingly picturesque, contrasting with the mass of black-coated gentlemen in front. Very fine also were the judges in; their crimson velvet togas. The clergy, eighteen in number, preceded by a white cross on a black field, then appeared ; and were followed by the gorgeous display of the foreign ambassadors, and the not less striking habiliments of the knights of the Santissima Annunciata — crimson velvet mantles trimmed with ermine.

When this blaze of gorgeous colouring had passed, a solitary horseman appeared, holding aloft a drawn sword, on which was inscribed, ‘ Viva Carlo Alberto! 1848.’

* Amongst the old officers we saw General Dorando, the brave commander who led the papal army in '48,

There was a look of settled sorrow in the old officer's face, but he sat his splendid charger with gp^ce and dignity. It was General Medici, bearing the dead hero’s battle-blade, the same which he had wielded in many a hard-fought field in the cause of Italian independence — and the sight went home to the hearts of the people. The interest of the spectators heightened, and tears rose to many eyes when the line of princes passed, with Amadeo in the midst — Amadeo who had never recovered the brightness of youth since his ill-starred sovereignty in Spain, who had lately lost a dear wife, and who, in this last affliction, had not the consolation of receiving his father’s final farewell. * P overo Amadeo!' was the exclamation that went round as the crowd caught sight of the pale sad face of the young general. Beside him walked the Archduke Ranieri of Austria ; there was also the Prince Impérial of Prussia, whose friendship for the royal family of Italy was shown by his warm sympathy in their sorrow ; there was the Prince Napoléon, the Prince of Baden, and the Crown Prince of Portugal, King Victor’s little grandson, a boy of fourteen.

Two outriders in black, mounted on black horses, rode forward ; and the funeral car approached and stopped for a short space, while a thrill of deep émotion shot through every heart The multitude uncovered their heads, and the ladies and gentlemen on the balconies and in the Windows bent forward to throw with trembling hands the garlands they had prepared. The hearse was an imposing sight — of enormous dimensions, with gold ornamentation on the black field, and the arms