| Description | "Attends and describes the funeral of William the Fourth. Montagu ‘sent up’ a third time. Wants a supply of money." (Directed to be sent by cross-post.)
Eton. July 9th. 1837.
My dear Papa,
We went yesterday to the funeral, which took place in St. George’s chapel, & was a very fine sight. About 200 of us went, together with the masters, we started from Eton at a quarter past five, & did not come down again till past 12, having to stand 6 hours in the chapel. There was a very great crush in getting in, & also inside the whole time, as only those on the outside of the place where we stood could see the procession. The soldiers also who lined the whole way down which the procession past, prevented us from seeing it so well as otherwise. Guns were fired the whole day at intervals of five minutes, till the funeral commenced, when they were fired every half minute. The day before, & part of the day itself, the king lay in state in the Waterloo gallery, which I went to see.—Montagu’s place is not given out yet, but I suppose it will be in a few days, he has been sent up this half, which being the third time he will get a book from Dr. Hawtrey, & have a star to his name in the list. He is now up to Mr. Cookesley.—My money is quite spent there being a great many sweepstakes & subscriptions at this time of the half, which one is expected to subscribe too, & I should be much obliged if you would send me a small reinforcement.—Our holidays begin on Monday the last day of July, & if you come to take us home, you will hear the speeches. Pray give my love to all, & believe me to remain
Your affectionate Son
M. P. W. Boulton
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