Saturday 17 Aug 1844 (p. 3, col. 3-4) FUNERAL OF THE LATE DR. DALTON. ----- On Thursday evening, shortly after nine o'clock, the first step in this interesting public ceremonial took place. The remains of Dr. DALTON were removed from his private residence to the large room of the Town Hall, which has been converted into a funeral apartment for the occasion, with considerable taste and propriety. Shortly after nine o'clock, the coffin was placed in a hearse, drawn by four horses, and preceded by two mutes, and followed by a mourning coach, containing John MOORE, Esq., F. L. S. one of the vice-presidents of the Literary and Philosophical Society; Mr. CLARE, another vice-president of that society, and one of the executors; Mr. Thomas TOWNEND, a member of the committee of arrangement; with Mr. Alexander MORRIS, the undertaker,—it was thus conveyed from the late residence of Dr. DALTON, Faulkner-street, to the Town Hall, where the town-clerk received the small cortège, and officially received the remains from the privacy in which they had lain till that moment, for the purpose of giving to them the respectful honours attendant on a public funeral. The coffin was borne by eight men, up the principal stairs, to the large room, preceded by the mutes, and followed by the gentlemen named, and was placed on the platform prepared for its reception. The room is hung for the occasion with black drapery, which covers the whole of the side wall between the two entrances. A semicircular space, extending from one entrance to the other, has been enclosed in front of the wall, by a light guard, or rail, covered with black cloth. In the centre of this space, which, at its greatest diameter extends ten or eleven feet from the wall is placed a platform (to which there is an ascent by two steps), about eight feet in length, by three feet in breadth, upon which the coffin was placed, with its head to the wall, and its feet towards the centre of the arc formed by the fence. Over the platform and coffin is a handsome square canopy covered with black drapery, appropriately festooned. The floor of the platform, steps, and inclosed space, is covered with black cloth, and black fluted draperies cover the whole wall. The room is darkened for the occasion; all the windows are closed, so as to exclude the day-light; they are covered with black draperies; and the apartment is lighted by the two gas candelabra, and also by eight wax candles of exceedingly large size, in tall candlesticks, covered with black crape, and placed on square pedestals covered with black cloth. As the coffin could not be placed conveniently for the public reading the inscription on the breast-plate, copies of it have been printed and placed at the base of the platform, together with the words (which are not on the coffin-plate) "Aged 78 years." Behind and above the coffin, in the place usually assigned to the hatchment of the deceased, was placed the beautifully engrossed copy of the resolution of thanks and respect, so recently presented to Dr. DALTON by the council of the Literary and Philosophical Society,—the receiving which and his acknowledgement of it, being the last public acts of his life. The inner coffin is of strong oak, which is inclosed in a leaden one. Upon the lid of this lead coffin is soldered a strong copper-plate, bearing the following inscription:— "Within this coffin are the mortal remains of John DALTON, D.C.L. L.L.D. F.R.SS.L. & E.M.R.I.A. member of the Institute of France, president of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, &c. &c. &c.; the illustrious philosopher, who, amongst his many brilliant discoveries, first developed, by the power of his exalted genius and profound scientific investigations, the law of the arrangement of the ultimate atoms of matter, and of their uniting in certain definite proportions, which compose that great variety of bodies existing in nature.—He was born at Eaglesfield, in Cumberland, on the 5th day of September, 1766, and died at Manchester, the 27th day of July, 1844, where he had lived 51 years." The outer coffin is the most handsome one we have ever seen, being constructed of a very beautiful specimen of the finest curled Spanish mahogany, highly polished. It is quite without ornament, other than a projecting lid and base, and handles of frosted brass. Upon the lid is a shield-shaped breast-plate of brass, inscribed:— "John DALTON, D.C.L. F.R.S. &c. &c. Born, September 5th, 1766; died, July 27th, 1844." The public were admitted to the room between the hours of eleven and seven on Saturday. During the first hour and a half, the number of persons entering the room averaged 110 a minute; afterwards the average number varied from 90 to 100 per minute; and, during the eight hours, it has been computed that not fewer than 40,000 persons passed through the room. On Monday morning the preparations for the funeral commenced at an early hour. The various societies and public bodies assembled at their own institutions, and proceeded thence at or soon after ten o'clock to the Town Hall, where different rooms were assigned to them, and whence they were directed to their place in the procession. From its numbers and length, it was found necessary to commence the formation of the procession by assigning to its van a station in Market-street, as high up as Brown-street, and the various societies and public bodies occupied all the intermediate space, between that point (down Market-street, Exchange-street, St. Ann's Square and Street, and Cross-street) and the Town Hall. Owing to the excellent arrangements made, most of the different branches of the procession took up their respective positions without difficulty, the streets and avenues being exceedingly well kept by the police; no carriages or carts, from any direction, being allowed to pass through those streets along which the procession passed. At twenty minutes after ten o'clock the hearse arrived at the Town Hall, and shortly afterwards the coffin was placed in it. This is one of those elegant carriages which we believe are peculiar to this town, on which are sculptured allegorical subjects applicable to their intended use. The design in this car is simple, but bold in execution; the cornice is composed of scrolls and arches, supported by massive trusses, resting on a plinth, dividing the sides into three compartments. The centre on one side is occupied by a representation of Death: at the supposed moment of the departure of the spirit, the relatives are gathered round the couch, the clergyman has closed his book, all seem absorbed in grief, whilst the spirit is represented winging its way to realms of bliss. The whole effect reminded us of the cenotaph of the Princess Charlotte, in St. George's Chapel, Windsor; from which, though much altered in the arrangements, the idea seems to have been taken. In the centre compartments on the other side is a representation of the funeral ceremony: the clergyman has just performed the last rites of the church, and is seen retiring in the distance. The relatives are lingering around the grave, age and youth alike desirous to cast a last look into the tomb. The end divisions on each side contain representations of angels kneeling in the attitude of prayer; on the end, or door, is a figure of St. John preaching. The top is mounted with five handsome plumes; the centre one of large dimensions, giving a very imposing effect; and the whole is much improved by the judicious method of finishing the panels. The figures are left in dead colour, which enables them to be seen and understood at a glance; and affords great relief to the architectural parts, which are highly polished, without detracting from the solemn grandeur of the whole. The six black horses, with black velvet quarter cloths, led by two grooms in mourning attire, greatly heightened the tout ensemble of this handsome funeral car. The following was the programme of the procession, as fixed by the Committee of Management:— Police constables. Mutes. Steam engine and machine makers, millwrights, &c. Manchester and Salford Temperance Association. Private carriages. Gentlemen, not representing any public body, on foot. School of Design. Portico committee. Salford Literary and Mechanics' Institution. Medical Society. Private club, of which Dr. DALTON was a member. President of the Sheffield Philosophical Society. Athenæum. Geological Society. Botanical and Horticultural Society. Manchester Mechanics' Institution. Royal School of Medicine and Surgery. Royal Manchester Institution. Medical officers of the Manchester Lying-in Hospital. Natural History Society. Manchester Agricultural Society. The Society of Friends. The boroughreeve of Salford, the constables & churchwardens. The mayor and corporation of Salford. The churchwardens and sidesmen of Manchester. Boroughreeve of Manchester. The mayor and corporation of Manchester. Mutes. H E A R S E, Pall Bearers. Four CONTAINING Four Pall Bearers. Bearers. T H E B O D Y . Bearers. Relatives and mourners. Members of the Literary and Philosophical Society. About five minutes after eleven o'clock the head of the procession began to move from Market-street, opposite the end of Brown-street. There were nearly 400 of the borough police force on duty; lining the streets, and keeping an open space for the procession during its passage from the Town Hall to the Cemetery, with a small body of police at the head, and another bringing up the rear of the procession. It is right to add, that there was not the slightest attempt, on the part of the dense crowds, to force their way; and nothing could be more marked or gratifying than the quiet, orderly behaviour, and silent respectful demeanour, of the immense concourse of persons along the whole distance. We never saw so large a multitude manifesting its presence and numbers by so few audible signs. The head of the procession moved from Market-street opposite the end of Brown-street, exactly at eleven o'clock, and reached the gates of the cemetery precisely at a quarter past twelve,—a distance of about a mile and a half. The rear of the procession entered the same gates about ten minutes before one; so that the time occupied by the procession passing a given point would be about 36 minutes. As the whole distance was traversed in about double the time taken to past [sic] a given point, it follows that the length of the procession was about three-quarters of a mile. The square presented a very interesting scene, as the procession passed through it. It was densely crowded; the shops were closed; ladies and gentlemen, in mourning, filling every window; and even the roofs of the houses (as was the case along the whole line of route) were numerously occupied by parties evidently taking a deep interest in the occasion. On reaching the cemetery, we found there nearly a hundred members of the Society of Friends, of both sexes, who, having conscientious objections to forming a part of the procession, had gone direct to the cemetery from their respective residences. On the procession entering the cemetery, the police kept the gates and the outer enclosure, and lined the principal walk; and some of them directed all the carriages into the side walk, where they set down their occupants, and then passed out of the cemetery by the gate at the end of the side walk, in Summer Place. The mourners, relatives, and immediate friends of the deceased were contained in six mourning coaches, each drawn by four black horses, and a private carriage, which set out from the late Dr. DALTON's residence, Faulkner-street, and took their place in the procession at the Town Hall, in the following order:— First coach—Mr. and Mrs. Robert ABBATT, of Liverpool; Mr. and Mrs. Robert BENSON, of Preston. Second coach—Mr. Henry DALTON, of Eaglesfield, and Miss WOOD; Mr. ROBINSON, of Eaglesfield, and Miss JOHNS. Third coach—Mr. John DALTON, of London, and Miss HOYLE; Mr. John DALTON, jun., and Mr. Henry DALTON, jun. Fourth coach—Mr. Alderman and Mrs. Wm. NEILD; Rev. Wm. JOHNS and Mrs. JOHNS. Fifth coach—Mr. Joseph COMPTON, Mrs. RANSOME, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred BINYON. Sixth coach—Mr. and Mrs. Ollive SIMMS, of Stockport; Mr. JACKSON, of Warrington. Mrs. TAYLOR's carriage (of Meston)—Miss TAYLOR, Miss POTTS, of Chester, and Mr. Peter CLARE. Mr. J. A. RANSOME's carriage, in which were Mr. and Mrs J. A. RANSOME. The funeral service was concluded with the usual benediction at twenty-four minutes after one o'clock. The parties forming the great bulk of the procession then left the cemetery, after looking at the coffin as placed in the vault. The mourners returned to the residence of the late Dr. DALTON, in Faulkner-street; and, we understand, that during the afternoon the will and codicil of the deceased were read. The cemetery was thronged with crowds the whole afternoon, the public being freely admitted to see the vault and coffin. The cemetery was admirably kept by a strong body of the police; but they had little trouble or difficulty in doing so, as, notwithstanding the many thousands of people that were admitted during four hours, there was not the slightest disorderly feeling manifested. At six o'clock in the evening the large stone was placed on the ledge within the vault, in the presence of Mr. A. MORRIS, the undertaker; the crowds quietly retired from the cemetery, and thus closed a day that must ever be memorable in the annals of Manchester.—Abridged from Manchester Guardian.