THE KING AND QUEEN IN THE CITY ( continued )
IN THE PRINCIPAL COURT
The proceedings in the principal Court, where many members of the legal profession had assembled, including Judges, ex-Judges, King's Counsel, junior counsel and solicitors, lasted only a few minutes. The Judges, who wore their full judicial costume of scarlet and ermine with full-bottomed wigs, occupied seats at one end of the Bench. They included the Lord Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Grantham, Mr. Justice Ridley, Mr. Justice Darling, Mr. Justice Phillimore, Mr. Justice Walton, Mr. Justice Jelf and Mr. Justice Bray and with them on the Bench was Sir Alfred Wills. The King's Counsel and many of the juniors who crowded the Court also wore full-bottomed wigs. Lord Desart, the Public Prosecutor, sat with counsel on the front bench in official uniform. Several of the Metropolitan Police magistrates and a number of the leading solicitors, including the president and vice- president of the Law Society, were seated in the jury box, and the seats at the back of the Court were occupied for the most part by solicitors. The Law Officers of the Crown, several County Court Judges, and practically all the leaders of the bar, with the leading junior counsel practicing at the Central Criminal Court, had accepted invitations. The company began to assemble at half-past 10, and when the Judges entered shortly after 11 the Court was crowded.
Mr. Charles Mathews, whose receipt of the honour of Knighthood was only deferred till the end of the proceedings, was busily occupied during the period of waiting in showing the guests to their seats and generally superintending the arrangements. When their Majesties entered the Court at 20 minutes past 12 they were received at the Judges' entrance by the Lord Chief Justice, who showed them to their seats. Following the King and Queen were Sir J. Whittaker Ellis, Sir Joseph Savory, the Recorder and Sheriffs, the Town Clerk, the Common Serjeant, Judge Lumley Smith, Judge Rentoul and the Chairman of the City Lands Committee. The Judges and all present rose and respectfully greeted their Majesties, who bowed their acknowledgment.
Then, when all were seated, The Lord Chief Justice, standing alone a little to the left of their Majesties, addressed them as follows: “May it please your Majesties, in the unavoidable absences of the Lord Chancellor, I am permitted on behalf of your Judges who administer justice in this place in your name, on behalf of the members of the Bar, and on behalf of the members of the legal profession connected with it, to convey to your Majesties a humble expression of our loyal devotion to your Majesty’s person and Throne and our satisfaction at the part which your Majesties have been graciously pleased to take in the proceedings of today. Your Majesties have just listened to an interesting statement respecting the history, the jurisdiction and the business of this great tribunal. May I supplement that by only a few observations? and they are to call your attention to the fact that here maybe tried a case from any part of England and Wales the importance of which is such as to merit the attention of the highest tribunal, that here may be tried offences committed on the high seas, that here may be investigated any charge against Governors or any high officials from any part of your Majesty's dominions. But, your Majesties, the chief characteristic of this Court, to which I venture to call your attention, is the frequency of its sessions, to which in a large measure the satisfactory performance of its duties is due no less than 12 times a year by statute the sessions are held, the result being that no accused person need remain untried for a period of more than a few weeks. This Central Criminal Court has commanded for generations the respect and admiration of lawyers in all parts of the civilized world. It has been presided over by some of the greatest Judges that have adorned the English Bench. Its walls have echoed the eloquence of the most brilliant advocates at the English Bar. But beyond that, your Majesties, its procedure, its justice to the accused, and its unbroken adherence to the principle of the English law that every person is deemed to be innocent until he is proved by legally admissible evidence to be guilty has made this tribunal in the past that which I trust it will ever be in the future, a tribunal worthy of your Majesty's Crown and name. We to whom your Majesty entrusts from time to time the administration of justice here keep steadily before us this thought that from your Majesty, and from your Majesty only, is derived, our jurisdiction, that we act for you, and that we act in your name and this thought ought to make us one and all, whatever our position may be determined that we will strain every nerve, that 'we will spare no effort so that we may be not unworthy instruments in the exercise of the greatest of the prerogatives of your Majesty - justice and mercy. That your Majesties may long be spared to add fresh lustre to a Throne established by law and supported by justice is the earnest prayer of every one on whose behalf I have been permitted to speak to your Majesties.”
The King and Queen rose and bowed to the Lord Chief Justice, the other Judges, and the Bar. Then with the Lord Chief Justice they left the Court and were conducted by the Lord Mayor to the lift, by means of which they descended to the ground floor. Before leaving the King conferred the honour of Knighthood on Mr. Charles Mathews, who is leader of the Criminal Bar and has been Treasury Counsel at the Central Criminal Court for over 20 years. His Majesty shook hands with the new knight, and afterwards left the building amid loud cheers.
The return journey was made along the same route as that followed in the journey from Buckingham Palace. The crowd had increased by then, though, indeed, there was little space available for more spectators, as many were able in the luncheon interval to escape from their business to salute their Majesties. Both coming and going their Majesties were greeted with a remarkable enthusiasm, inspired not only by loyalty but also by the universal interest taken in the proceedings of the day.
*THE GOLD KEY*
The gold key presented to the King is richly adorned with gems, the Royal Crown in diamonds being specially conspicuous. This is at the summit of a bold design in alternating curves, all wrought open work, rising from a massive stem, enriched with many mouldings and set with two rows of diamonds, alternating with one row each of sapphires and rubies, forming the colours red, white and blue, which are seen from either side of the key. The front decoration of the head bears, in the upper portion, the Royal Arms in full blazon, in enamel. Below are the arms of the City, enamelled, and in the intervening space the name of the Court, and emblems of justice and judgment. The bosses of scrolls are finished with brilliants, and a spray of emeralds occur on each border, with an open band of rubies between. On the reverse, below the Crown, also set with diamonds, comes the Royal Cipher, the initial "E" being in brilliants, the other parts in sapphires and rubies, with a wreath in olivines for contrast. Several large sapphires and rubies occupy spaces at ends of scrolls around the inscription plate. The wards are in the form of the monogram, the idea being that each side of the key shall be equally interesting. The key has been designed and manufactured by the Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Company (Limited), silversmiths to the King, 112, Regent-street. All the fixture of the Courts and the furniture, carpets, blinds, and curtains were carried out by Hampton and Sons to the designs of Mr. Mountford.
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