‘Herein is crystallised the talent, wisdom, and virtue of all generations. In her person we shall have the embodiment of our country’s dignity and honour. She shall become the Great Mother of India. The Founder of our Royal Line, and her name shall shine as the stars for ever and ever.’ In the presence of the greatest and most brilliant assemblage India had ever seen since the days of her ancient splendour; consisting of Princes and Potentates richly attired in court dress and coronet, representative of their respective positions of Peishwar, Raja and Maharajah the coronation took place a month later. By dint of working day and night the preparations for the grand Imperial Procession to be followed by the Crowning Function, were completed in that period. One thousand elephants, richly caparisoned in cloth of gold and various embroideries; their heads ornamented with fine filagree work in gold or silver, interspersed with gems, according to the wealth of their respective owners, carried the howdahs containing the wives and daughters of the dignitaries of the Realm. For Mercia had issued a mandate beforehand that the ladies of the Chiefs of the Empire would be expected to take part in the Function, veiled, or unveiled, according to their respective ideas of propriety. In obedience to which every Ameer, Maharajah, Rajah, Nawab, Sirdar, Dewan, and Nazim had the ladies of his family carried in howdahs, where they enjoyed a splendid view of the situation, owing to their elevated position, and at the same time added an Eastern air of gorgeousness to the procession, most impressive to the eye of the beholder. The Princes, and native dignitaries themselves followed in carriages drawn by horses, in the order of their rank the splendidly-appointed Imperial Chariot, containing ‘Mercia, The Peerless,’ as she was now named, and by her side was seated her Imperial Consort, ‘Dayanand, The Wise.’ Long lines of body-guards composed of the finest physiqued men in the realms, attired in a rich uniform of pale blue and gold bearing silver lances, and mounted on high-mettled steeds, preceded and followed the royal chariot, the sight of which drew forth the wildest acclamations of joy from the people. The ceremony took place neither in Christian nor Hindu temple, but in the great hall of their Parliament House, the most stately building in Calcutta. As soon as the Coronation Oath was taken by Mercia, in accordance with the custom of their most remote ancestry, she was sprinkled with water from the Ganges, which was contained in a golden bowl glittering with precious jewels. After which, the grand Imperial Crown was placed upon her head by the venerable Prime Minister, who officiated as high priest of the ceremony. ‘Now,’ said the old man, ‘I will finish by quoting a counsel from a part of the most ancient of India’s literature,—the Dasakumaracharita, or ‘Stories of Ten Princes.’