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15 March 1870 — Madrid | |
Tuesday. 15th [March 1870]. I knitted in the morning while Henry had his lesson & in the course of the morning I got a note from Mme Riaño recommending us to put off going to see the pictures at the Academy—in case there should be any disturbance at Don Enrique’s funeral. Henry & Mr Ff: went to the antiquary’s shop to see the funeral pass. They came back about 2 & said there was a dense crowd but quite orderly. There were large bodies of police in the procession & the car was drawn by 8 miserable horses & the procession consisted of a large body of Freemasons in their aprons &c 2 or 3 republican Members of the Cortes—& a large quantity of the lowest class of republicans & freemasons walking 8 or 10 abreast. There were then mourners, his brother in law Duke of Sessa. His nephew by marriage Mr Bertrand de Lis & some other nephew (there was no cross or priest or any religious ceremony)—& there were abt 20 seedy carriages or cabs. Mercier told Henry he had been invited to the funeral in these terms “The sons of Osiris invite you to the funeral of their brother Zoroaster don Enrique de Bourbon &c &c.” It appears that at the cemetery a platform had been erected from whence the republican members made speeches denouncing France & that cries of “Let the French die” were raised. Henry & I went at 3 for a drive in the Casa de Campo where it was lovely & we explored a road new to us. Coming back we met the Asylum music bands & the boys with tapers returning from the funeral. We went to call on the Ayltons & met Mme A. & her daughter at the door & went in. They told us that they had seen on passing yesterday the Enriques’ house that the body (embalmed) was laid in a coffin under glass in a room on the ground floor & was guarded by Freemasons in their aprons with drawn swords & that any body was allowed to enter to see the body. We went home to tea and Mr Hunt came & we sang. Mr Inzenga & the Hunts & Mr Ff: dined with us & Cerruti came in in the evening for a few minutes. We had a very pleasant evening practising duets & Mr Inzenga sang us Spanish airs. | |
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