Back to Photographs including press cuttings commemorating General Sir James Hope Grant 9L (died 1875)
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Item 0014
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| Accession number | 912L : 2090/3 |
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to concentrate on Even before the time specified in the Magistrates ' regulations , all carriage traffic along Princes ' Street was stopped by the assembling of vast crowds , the more prudent of whom had taken timely possession of all desirable standing points . Between nine and ten o'clock the stir apparent in this more than in any other part of the town gave evidence of some thing unusual being on foot , it being to this central thoroughfare that the large number of visitors who came in from Portobello , Dalkeith , Musselburgh , and other places within easy travelling distance betook themselves . Up till ten o'clock there was little tendency on the part of expectant sightseers any particular spot , but shortly after that hour small knots of persons began to defy the efforts of policemen to make them move on , and soon these little parties became the nuclei of crowds extending across the street from side to side , and forming at some places an almost impassable barrier even to pedestrians . As the time fixed for the starting of the cortege drew on , Princes ' Street along its entire length assumed a most impressive appearance . From St Andrew Street to the western extremity of the thoroughfare one dense crowd of people , mostly clad in dark winter costume , if not in mourning , awaited , with out any of those pleasantries generally incidental to public gatherings , the approach of the funeral pro cession under a cold grey sky , which harmonised with the prevailing sentiment of the scene . Besides the tens of thousands who thronged the thoroughfare , the door steps and balconies over the shop fronts were also fully occu pied , while every window had its group of favoured spectators , and hundreds more clustered on the numerous vehicles which had been arrested at the foot of every cross street . Shortly after eleven o'clock , when , by the advance of the Dragoons , it became evident that the cortege in St Andrew Square was getting into motion , it appeared as if there would be considerable difficulty in effecting a passage through the crowd in the neighbourhood of the Scott Monument and the Mound . As no attempt had been made to preserve a clear track for the procession , it is matter of congratulation that accidents were not rife along the whole route , and indeed these were only prevented by the extreme caution exercised by the cavalry and by the intelligence of their horses . In one case , for example , an unfortunate urchin who fell just in front of the Dragoons was only saved from injury by the knowing way in which the chargers , one after another , quietly stepped over him . To the solemn strains of the bands the procession slowly wound itself along through the restless crowds , whose subdued hum was hushed into respectful silence as the coffin came into view . From the time when the bier entered Princes ' Street , minute guns were fired from the Castle ramparts ; and what with the pealing of this stern war music , the wail of funeral dirges which filled up the intervals , the measured tread of the troops , as with arms reversed and colours draped with crape , they slowly paced along , and the still ness of the vast multitude who looked on with sympathetic interest , the scene was such as no one who witnessed it will readily forget . Wending its way as described , the cortege in the course of half - an - hour passed out of Princes ' Street into the Lothian Road the advance guard having turned down from Princes ' Street at half - past eleven o'clock , and the last of the cavalcade not reaching the west - end till a few minutes after 12 o'clock . Along Lothian Road a similar spectacle was pre sented , though here , as well as in Downie Place , Earl Grey Street , and Brougham Street , through which the cortege afterwards passed , the throng of in the leading spectators was scarcely so great thoroughfare . With a slightly accelerated pace , the procession advanced along Melville Drive , fringed on eitherside by dense crowds , many of whom already seen the funeral pageant in Princes ' Street , and had hurried across the town to obtain a second view . From Melville Drive the route fol lowed the line of Argyle Place , and here , in conse quence of the encumbered state of the carriage - way , as the result of building operations , a deplorable accident occurred , of which an account will be found below . This , however , did not occasion any material delay , and the cortege , passing finally along Chalmers Crescent , arrived within little more than an hour from the time of starting at the east gate of the Grange Cemetery . ha The place of interment , selected by General and Lady Grant when on a visit to Edinburgh in Sep tember last , is situated about the middle of the terrace which forms the western boundary of the cemetery , and on the left hand or east side of the walk . It is within a short distance of the resting places of Dr Chalmers , Hugh Miller , Dr Guthrie , and only a few yards south of the family burying ground of Sheriff Graham Speirs , whose wife was a sister of General Sir Hope Grant . At the request of the executors of the deceased General the grave was lined in a very pretty and touching manner with evergreens and flowers by Messrs Downie , Laird , & Laing . The spot is a retired and attractive one , and commands fine views of Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags on the east and of Edinburgh Castle and the irregular outline of the old town on the north . With the object , it is understood , of preventing an unruly crowd from assembling in the . graveyard , the directors of the Cemetery Company had levied an admission charge of a sixpence on every person not connected with the funeral cortege ; but about 1500 respectably attired persons paid this tax and took up a position on the ter race over the vaults , which divide the cemetery into two nearly equal parts . A detachment of dis mounted Dragoons , under the charge of two ser geants , arrived at the cemetery early in the forenoon , and they were so disposed in the side walks and carriage avenues as to prevent strangers from ap proaching within a couple of hundred yards of the grave . like About noon , a large crowd had gathered around the main entrance to the cemetery at the Lovers ' Loan , which was guarded by a few policemen . As their numbers increased , there was developed a tendency to horse - play scarcely harmonising with the solemn character of the occasion . At five - and twenty minutes past twelve , the advance guard of the 1st Royal Dragoons arrived at the head of Chalmers Crescent , and commenced to clear the Grange Road in front of the cemetery gates , and a few moments thereafter the main body of cavalry defiled into the thoroughfare , and opening up on either side of the roadway left a clear passage for the remainder of the cortege . A semi - circle was formed in front of the gates , and the band of the Dragoons took up a position on the east side , Bu and bye came the Royal Scots , their band playing the weirdly sorrowful Beethoven's Funeral March , and marching down the avenue of statuesque troopers , they changed their formation of column of companies into " fours by the right , " and turned into the cemetery . The route chosen to the grave was the main carriage drive running east and west at the north wall of the cemetery , and afterwards southwards along the west terrace . When the pioneers reached the grave the regiment halted , and opening up the ranks in single file , the troops lined the walk . After the Royal Scots came the Queen's Edinburgh Volunteer Ride Brigade in the came for mation , and the two corps constituted an unbroken avenue of soldiery from the entrance of the cem.e tery to the grave . The band the Royal Scots was stationed immediately to the north of the grave , and that of the Rifles half way down the east walk , and while the remainder of the procession was . slowly defiling into " God's acre , " the bands contin aed playing Beethoven's Funeral March and Handel's Dea March " from the oratorio of " Saul . " Next in order came the field battery of the Royal Artillery , and they marched un between the files of infantry , past the grave , and trning to the left , drew up in position on the vaulted terrace . The guns were placed in position facing the north the limber and ammunition waggons in line in the rear and the spectators who up to this time had occupied this vantage ground were forced to retire to lower and less eligible points of observation . On the arrival of the gun carriage containing the coffin at the cemetery gates , the band of the Royal Dra goons played the " Dead March , " and also while Arrangements were made for carrying the coffin from the gates to the grave . One half of the detachment of the 9th Royal Lancers , General Grant's old regi ment , were honoured with the post of bearers , and the coffin , still covered with the union - jack and the deceased General's decorations , hat and accoutre ments , was transferred from the gun carriage to their shoulders - the gun carriage thereupon being driven to the vaulted terrace and placed in line with the remainder of the battery . At ten minutes to one o'clock the cortege was re formed , and the final march to the grave com menced . First came in double open file the detach ment of the 9th Lancers , with their own and comrades ' lances at the slope , then the Rev. D. T. K. Drummond , in full canonicals , reciting in solemn strain the opening portion of the beautiful Church of England burial service , " I am the resurrection and the life , " " I know that my Redeemer liveth , and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth , " " We brought nothing into this world , and it is certain that we can carry nothing out . " Next came the coffin borne on the shoulders of eight men of the 9th Lancers , with the pall - bearers on either side . General Grant's charger led by a groom was in the immediate rear of the coffin , then came the chief mourners - Mr Charles T. Grant of Kilgraston , Lieutenant - Colonel F. Grant , and Sir George Home , Bart .; and next the carriages of Lady Grant and Miss Grant . The infantry , as the mournful proces sion passed through their ranks , stood at ease , with their arms reversed , the hands clasped over the butts of their rifles , and the head resting upon the hands in an attitude impressive and statuesque . this time the weather though chill had been fair , but as the mourners approached the last resting place of Up to the gallant soldier , a sleety rain began to fall , and the driving mist enshrouded Arthur's Seat . The muffled drum is rolling , and the low Notes of the death - march float upon the wind , And stately steps are pacing round that tomb With slow and measured tread ; but every brow Is darkened with emotion , and stern eyes That looked unshrinking on the face of death When met in battle , are now moist with tears . The silent ring is formed , and in the midst A bier . The mourners other than those mentioned , including the Edinburgh Civic Corporation in their scarlet robes , approached the grave by a side walk from the east , and quietly took up their places on the low ground beneath the terrace . Having deposited the coffin on a temporary bier over the grave , the Lancers retired behind the general officers who acted as pall - bearers ; while Lady Grant , Miss Grant , and companions alighted from their carriages , and with the other relatives grouped round the head or west side of the grave . Rev. Mr Drummond , continuing the burial service , read the Lesson from the 15th chapter of the First Epistle of St Paul to the Corin thians- " Now is Christ risen from the dead , and become the first - fruits of them that slept . For since by death , came by man man came also the resurrection of the dead , " & c . At this time the scene in the graveyard was one of deep and impressive solemnity . Surrounding the grave were the widow of the deceased " bowed with grief , " the relatives attired in the trappings and the suits of woe , " and greyhaired comrades who with their departed friend had faced death in many a hard - fought field , as their breasts covered with decorations eloquently testified . Close at hand the bannerets of the Lancers fluttered mournfully in the breeze . Lower down were crowds of scarlet - robed dignitaries commingling with officers representing every branch of Her Majesty's naval and military services ; on the left , long lines of troops mute and attentive as sentinels ; while high on the right , in bold relief against the cold grey sky , was the battery of the Royal Artillery - the guns pointing over the parapet of the terrace , with the gunners standing at the breech , and the horses in the background im movable as statues or silently pawing the turf . Here and there among the yews and wil . lows groups of soberly clad citizens . As the service proceeded the sleet and rain cleared off , and in sad silence the coffin was uncovered , the union - jack and the General's decorations and accoutrements being preserved , and , decked with its chaplet of laurels and wreaths of pure white Bowers placed there by loving hands , it was lowered into the grave by men of his old regiment , while his old comrades as pall - bearers held the cords . When the minister came to the words in the service , " Earth to earth , ashes to ashes , dust to dust , " and the dull reverberation of the first clod falling on the coffin was heard , there were few dry eyes around the grave . The remainder of the service was conducted amid quiet and dignified expressions of grief , and at the close a signal was given to the battery on the terrace , when the Royal Artillery paid the last mark of military respect to General Grant by firing over his grave a salute of fifteen guns - the first time that the echoes of the Grange were wakened by such a demonstration . A last look was taken at were the coffin and the grave , softly the band of the Royal Scots played a few bars of Beethoven's Funeral March , and the mourners left . Of the troops the Dragoons were the first to march homewards , and they proceeded by way of Grange Road , Salisbury Road , and Queen's Park , to Piershill . The Royal Scots marched to the Castle via Grange Road , Causewayside , Buccleuch Street , Bristo , and George IV . Bridge ; while the Volun teers took their way back to the Drill Hall , Forrest Road , by Chalmers ' Crescent , Argyll Place , and the Central Meadow Walk . The spectators , both within and without the cemetery , also gradually dispersed , and shortly after two o'clock the cemetery was left to its wonted stillness . K Extract from stuch % Mr. Hon . Gaytine Handy on moving the army March – § . 1875 . Estéludes . I have mentioned some distinguished names in the course of what I have said , and I may be allowed to mention one more . A most distin guished officer who commanded at Aldershott has died within the last few days , and I cannot proceed further with out mentioning the name of Sir Hope Grant . ( Hear . ) As a Cavalry officer he was one of the most daring and in trepid that ever led Cavalry into action . He was beloved by subordinates and soldiers , and when he was promoted and became a General he was found to show the same con sideration for his men and for his officers , and the same trust was reposed in him by his officers , as when he com manded a regiment . And , although some persons con ceived that Cavalry officer was not best suited for the command , which Sir Hope Grant held , yet it was found that in India and China he distinguished himself in the highest manner , and returned to this country having added to the ( Hear , hear . ) I lustre and honour of the British name . cannot help saying that Sir Hope Grant was one of those officers of whom England may well be proud . He raised himself entirely by his own exertions . He owed nothing favour - everything to his own right hand - and to his modesty was equal to his courage . ( Hear , hear . ) I have no doubt we shall always find officers equal to the occasion , but it , is something worthy of note that , when an officer who for a long time has been in comparative obscurity is suddenly called upon to fulfil duties of the utmost responsibility , conspicuous ability and high qualities are proved by the difficulties of the position in which he was placed and the manner in which they were met and overcome . ( Hear , hear . ) شه Sir J. Hohe Gr aut . 1874 به 17 يث 17 Bassane bertagu " Pall Mall Gazelle » - 8 March 1848 . The late Sir Hope Grant has left in the records of his military career plain proof that it does not need those peculiarly exceptional qualities which make a Cæsar or a Napoleon to win for the soldier of a con stitutional army the highest honour and respect that the active exercise of his profession can offer . Determined courage , single - minded devotion to duty , unselfish care for the interests of those under his command : these were the characteristics of the colonel of the 9th Lancers , and of the cavalry brigadier of the Mutiny ; and , combined with a frame of iron and good opportunities , they served him in the place of genius , and carried him on to a degree of personal distinction in the army which neither his recent position at Aldershot nor his Grand Cross of the Bath seem by any means adequately to indicate . With any army but one in which the highest military honour is bestowed like the prize of a tontine association , Sir Hope Grant would have been a field - marshal on his return from the occupation of Pekin , at a time when even the more ignorant and prejudiced of continental writers admitted that the merit of the joint success was certainly not with the French part of the expedition , to put the case moderately . It was fortunate , however , for the army , which derived much benefit from his honest work and kindly heart in the year following , that Sir Hope Grant did not receive the baton , for so high a rate of pay is given to a field - marshal when on duty that can rarely afford to employ one . Hence , perhaps , it is that the rank is reserved for princes , like the present Commander - in - Chief , who hold the title but forego the pay , or for nonagenarian seniors of the generals ' list , who , remaining on half - pay , bear their honours , if not meekly , at least with little cost to the country . It is but two years ago , therefore , that the lamented general , despite his former command - in chief in a successful war and his distinguished personal share in the Mutiny , was promoted even to the rank of full general , answering to hat of general of a corps ; and possibly it was fortunate for our troops at Aldershot that he did not possess even this grade earlier , or it might have been raised as an official objection to his receiving the lieutenant general's command which he exercised with such admirable tact and diligence during the last four years . we Senden |
