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The King's Plate
The Baptismal Font for Royal Princes_Made in the Reign of Charles II. - Used till 1840, when Queen Victoria ordered a New Font-Charles II.'s font described-The Alms Dish belonging to it-And the Flagons-The Flagons described-The Maundy Dish-Used on Maundy Thursday at Westminster Abbey-The ancient ceremony- The Dish described-The Alms Dish and Flagon of William and Mary - Described-Used in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower-Charles II.'s Wine Fountain-Its uses-Presented by the Borough of Plymouth-Queen Anne adds 432 ounces of pure gold to it-The Fountain described-Queen Elizabeth's Saltcellar-The oldest piece of Royal Plate in the Tower Described-St. George's Salts-Eleven in number-To replace those destroyed by the Commonwealth-A set of four described-Their curious history-Upside down for 98 years-The weight of each, 54 ounces, 12 dwts. A second set of four St. George's Salts-Height of each 164 inches-Three St. George's Salts of different patterns - Described-Height and weight of each-The Salt of State-In the form of a castle, richly jewelled-Presented to Charles II. by the City of Exeter-Used at Coronation Banquets from Charles II. to George IV. - The Salt described in detail-A miniature fortress with portcullis and armed with guns-The receptacles for the salt-Height of tower 18½ inches-Probably made in Exeter, 1660-The eight Royal Maces-Charles II., James II., William and Mary, George I. -The origin of the Mace-A cavalry weapon-A policeman's truncheon-Borne by Serjeants-at-Arms Two Maces of Charles II. described-A drinking cup at the head of a Mace-The State Trumpets. I THE BAPTISMAL FONT HE Baptismal Font, the alms dish or basin, together with two very handsome flagons, form a set of silver-gilt plate made for Charles II. on his restoration. The font was intended to be used for the baptismal ceremony of princes and princesses of the blood royal who might thereafter be born. The first recorded christening at which it was used was that of the Princess Augusta (afterwards Duchess of Brunswick), third daughter of Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, at St. James's Palace, on August 29th, 1737, but doubtless it had been used at earlier royal baptisms. It was next used for the baptism of George IV., which took place in the Grand Council Chamber in St. James's Palace on September 8th, 1762. George III. was not himself christened in this font, but it was used for all his children except Prince Alfred. The latest recorded ceremony in which it was used was that of Prince Octavus on March 23rd, 1779. Queen Victoria, in 1840-41, ordered a new silver-gilt font, which is kept at Windsor, and in this Edward VII., the Empress Frederick, and the other children of Queen Victoria were christened. The old font at the Tower has consequently, at any rate, temporarily, fallen into disuse.