The coronation of Frederick William IV

It turned out that the morrow was the Kings birth-day, and also the day when he was to receive the homage of his subjects as King of Prussia.  Every public Building that we could see in going into the streets was completely covered with lamps.  In the square in front of the Palace, pursers were arranging places for the different deputations to stand the next day.  A temporary throne with hangings of gold and scarlet was being built in port and attached to the Palace, and preparations on a grand scale were going forward all over the city.  The various public monuments were hung with flags & flowers—the bridges had statues placed upon them made particularly for the occasion (of plaster of course), and the tops of the houses in the vicinity of the Palace were covered with seats [54] which were sold to Spectators for a Louis d’or each.  Occupied ourselves with walking around the city during the day—and were woken the next morning early by the din under our windows of bands playing, carriages passing &c &c.Rose immediately, and found the people already collecting, in fact the large square in front of the Palace already nearly filled with the various processions.  The King gave also an audience to the nobility, Diplomatic corps &c. and the line of carriages entering into the palace, directly opposite to our lodgings was unceasing.  Of course the equipages were as brilliant as could be made, and every one seemed to try to surpass some other one in his establishment.  It seemed as if there must have been at least 50 royal carriages that were sent by the King, to wait upon the many distinguished strangers, Ambassadors &c that had arrived in Berlin.

The many members of the diff[erent] branches of the Royal Family attended with their carriages & six, The Royal carriage having Eight [55] with 4 outriders.  The scene was truly magnificent and though, now and t hen a slight shower fell, still every thing seemed gay at least in the first part of the day.  For later it rained quite hard, and having no shelter many must have suffered much.  The ascendance of the King to the throne was announced by Cannon and the various deputations went forward and swore fidelity.  As it rained at the time very hard I contented myself with getting one glance of His Majesty and returning to the house.  Throughout the whole day the city was crowded with people (30,000 strangers said to be in Berlin) and in the evening, it was almost impossible to get along—a carriage could not be obtained for money, and walking was almost dangerous.  We had no other resource however, and footed it. Every house and building in the city was illuminated.  It was almost like fairy land, one blaze of [56] light.  The Arsenal in particular (considered as the finest specimen of modern architecture in Europe) surpassed any thing  I ever witnessed. It was completely one blaze of light.  Its size is immense, and there was seemingly a space left removed, where a light could be placed to advantage.

Zeughaus (Arsenal), Berlin