Letter from Lord Munster, Brighton, to Mary Georgiana Dawson-Damer, 1837 July 10 : autograph manuscript signed.

Relating, in detail and at length, the events of his father's funeral; saying "the Chief Mourner, having approved of my not appearing in Uniform & of allowing me to go to the Royal Closet - which had been set aside for me & my Family - by the Duke of Norfolk - so that I had no trouble or difficulty - nothing can have been more kind or more considerate & amiable than the conduct of the Duke of Norfolk who must be a most excellent good hearted Man - He has gone out of his way to do all that was good natured - He named DeLisle & Falkland two of the Kings Sons in Law as Supporters to the Duke of Sussex - Erroll to carry the great Banner of Scotland & to me to be one of the Supporters of the [illegible] - and altho the Corps Diplomatique claimed the part of the Royal Closet - and proved they had a right [to] it from former precedent He refused it to them, saying on this occasion, he kept it for the late Kings Family and in consequence we had it all to ourselves - which under our circumstances was most grateful to our feelings . The Ceremony was far too much of a Spectacle to create much feeling - on the contrary, I think prevented if not deadened it - It was almost impossible - at time not to forget that one was concerned, from the pomp & show below - and it was only, on the first sounds of the Dead March & the muffled Drums, at a distance & the repeated order coming along the line - for the troops to present arms that I was startled - The Anthem tedious & the musik & singing I thought bad, while the only part of the Service, that might have been impressive, the reading the Burial Service was lost in a bad voice & manner - In short, but for the lowering the coffin which was even too theatrical - being done by machinery & the breaking the Wands, over the mouth of the Vault - at the end & which a little upset me it had no effect upon me or indeed any of us - I am sure we all suffered more & shewed far more grief in the Chantry and at Penshurst - before the whole population of the surrounding Country, than we did in the quiet of the Closet - all to ourselves - There was much crying in the Queens Pew, only separated from us by a low partition - as soon as it was over, I slipped round by the Terrace & got into my Carriage, waiting outside & left for this place on a very cold night. The Queens Carriages were standing ready to carry her to Bushy in the Courtyard - but tho, I came by Kingston, she did not overtake me. All my Family, but the Errolls went off the same night - I hear Melbourne has been very feeling and friendly towards my Brothers & sisters - I found they had divided the Kings personal - immediate personal Trinkets &c - among themselves, before I arrived, & I have the Cross of the Bath He wore every day round his neck, the corresponding Star of the Bath - his usually worn Star of the Garter - & Silver Boxes, belonging to his Dressing Box - a parchment commission as Admiral of the White & a few Books & [illegible] - His silver gilt paper knife, which I had in my hand the whole time I conversed with him on the final interview on the 30th of May - and two Seals of my poor mother, with one of which (& with which she has often sealed hundreds of letters to me - full of all that true affection & excellent feeling she so greatly possessed) - I will use in closing this to you - the first time I use it - My Bust by [illegible] which I gave him is also mine - Augustus has the great Family picture by Hayter;" relating the plans of the family, saying that Lady Munster is doing well and that "...she & Baby have not an ail or ache - The Baby, tho not so large - like George - He is to be called Ernest - tho I would Henry - but Lady M. is superstitious about my Brother's early death, making it unlucky - was it not curious that he was born on the same day the King was buried? also the day of interment at Petworth of poor young George Wyndham. I have also a water colour drawing of myself that hung, since 1805 - in the Kings Dressing Room - and one of my Brother Henry - the latter by Eldridge - thank God, the Funeral is over - & I feel for the first time for Seven years - free - forgiving injustice - and borne out, in all & everything - in my conduct & a good conscience above all - and (however selfish) free from Remorse which I must have felt if one Iota of my convictions had been refuted - In short - I am rewarded beyond my expectations for all I have gone through by my present feelings - Malgré Injustice I was ever near him whether in Political difficulty or Sickness - and yet never compromised myself by one act - of [illegible] in what I knew was meant the reverse to right - I hope the pain in your face is quite gone & the swelling - I only hope that Lady Munster will not make herself ill - but she is doing all she can...The Monthly Nurse in such a rage, that she threatens to go away - A long letter and I am curious to know what subject will now arise - after all the deep interest of late - that will again make you wade thro so long an epistle."