26th Jan 1841 [FIGURE] This is a great day in London as it is the opening of the house
of Parliament I started in company with H. C. Kimball Doctor Copeland & wife, Br Crook
& sisters Mary Conner & Ellen Belfour Redman &
walked to Saint James Park, we arived in the park
at 1 oclock & found the citizens of London imbodying
by tens of thousands, for the purpose of having a
view of her Majesty Queen Victoria as she passed thro-
ugh the park to the House of Lords to open the Parliamen
in person. Long before 2 oclock the whole line from Buckingham Palace through St Jamess Park along
Whitehall & Parliament Street leading to the House of
Lords, was one continuous mass of the inhabitants
of the Metropolis & of all classes. The windows of the
houses in Parliament Street Whitehall, & Richmond
terrace were occupied by fashionable Dressed ladies
while on Richmond terrace and on the steps at the base
of the Duke of York's column were immense bodies of people
(It was Judged there was from 3 to 400,000 persons
gatherd together on the occasion, yet notwithstandind
this immens Body of people we had the good fortune to
(through the favor of one of the Queens Horslife guards) to get
a place in the front line. Her Majesty started a quarter
before 2 oclock. The cortege consisted of five carriages
containing the attendants upon Royalty, & the state carriage
in which were her Majesty & Prince Albert who sat on her
left, & the Mistress of the Robes, & Master of the Horse
The Queen's Body Guard was formed by the Royal Horse Guard
(Blue) The life guards did duty on the line. The state carriage
containing Her Majesty & Prince Albert was drawn by
8 cream colored Hanovarian Horses
the whole train passed within 10 feet of us so that we had
a fair & perfect view of the Queen & Prince Albert
both going to & returning from the house of Lords. Her
Majesty is small in stature vary plain in features & Dress
Her costume was of white satin trimed with lace she wore a
necklace of brilliants. Prince Albert appeared like is
quite a good looking man. They Bowed to us as they passded
& we returned the compliment. It was the grandest
earthly scenery I ever beheld. Her Majesty was conducted
to the Throne by Prrince Albert & after she read
her speech she again returned to the palace and appeared
much fatigued
~ Tuesday
26th Jan 1841 [FIGURE] This is a great day in
London as it is the opening of the house
of Parliament I started in company with
H. C. Kimball Doctor Copeland & wife, Br Crook
& sisters Mary Conner & Ellen Belfour Redman &
walked to Saint James Park, we arived in the park
at 1 oclock & found the citizens of London imbodying
by tens of thousands, for the purpose of having a
view of her Majesty [FIGURE] Queen Victoria as she passed through the Park to the House of Lords to open the Parliament
in person. Long before 2 oclock the whole line from
Buckingham Palace through St Jamess Park along
Whitehall & Parliament Street leading to the House of
Lords, was one continuous mass of the inhabitants
of the Metropolis & of all classes. The windows of the
houses in Parliament Street Whitehall, & Richmond
terrace were occupied by fashionable Dressed ladies
while on Richmond terrace and on the steps at the base
of the Duke of York's Column were immense bodies of people
(It was Judged there was from 3 to 400,000 Persons
gatherd together on the occasion, yet notwithstandind
this immens Body of People we had the good fortune to
(through the favor of one of the Queens Horslife guards) to get
a place in the front line. Her Majesty started a quarter
before 2 oclock. The cortege consisted of five carriages
containing the attendants upon Royalty, & the State Carriage
in which were her Majesty & Prince Albert who sat on her
left, & the Mistress of the Robes, & Master of the Horse
The Queen's Body Guard was formed by the Royal Horse Guard
(Blue) The life guards did duty on the line. The State Carriage
containing Her Majesty & Prince Albert was drawn by
8 cream colored Hanovarian Horses
the whole train passed within 10 feet of us so that we had
a fair & perfect view of the Queen & Prince Albert
both going to & returning from the house of Lords. Her
Majesty is small in stature very plain in features & Dress
Her costume was of white satin trimed with lace she wore a
necklace of brilliants. Prince Albert is
quite a good looking man. They Bowed to us as they passed
& we returned the compliment. It was the grandest
earthly scenery I ever beheld. Her Majesty was conducted
to the Throne by Prrince Albert & after she read
her speech she again returned to the Palace and appeared
much fatigued
"Journal (January 1, 1841 – December 31, 1842)," January 26, 1841, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed November 4, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/n8P