23 NOVEMBER 1867, Page 3

On the same day,—chosen, no doubt, for the convenience of

the Ritualists of St. James's Hall,—an "expensive stock of ecclesias- tical vestments, of costly materials, magnificently embroidered and jewelled," "richly decorated banners, mitres, and other appoint- ments ;" "also (introduced by permission) the magnificent Court uniform of a General of the Republican Army of Mexico," were sold by auction in King Street, Covent Garden. The *articles were of the most gorgeous description of millinery, "consisting of cloth of gold, broche, silk and satin damask, brocaded and moire antique silks, &c., for dorsal hangings, banners, and veils." This is the sort of specification : "A set of priest's vestments for low mass, consisting of chasuble, stole, maniple, chalice, veil, and bourse, with worked I.H.S. in centre, and trimmed with silk lace." "A set of Gothic ditto, of the form used in the eleventh century [or, as Archdeacon Denison would say, "apostolic, primitive, catholic "], with chalice salver in addition, of gold brocaded satin damask, the whole richly woven with numerous figures of saints, trimmed with silk lace, and lined with crimson silk." "A banner of brocaded satin-faced damask, with fringed border, in the centre the figure of a saint" [name, no doubt, to let] "beautifully embroidered, and worked in high relief ;" and so on for over 300 "lots." The Mexican General's uniform, "lavishly embroidered," with shoulder knots, "green, white, and gold sashes," &c., went, we believe, for 501.,—probably to a pur- veyor of fancy-ball costumes, which would be the best fate for the other disguises. How people with "dorsal hangings" and pic- tures on their back can pray at all, unless it be for eyes in their back, like some of the gorgeous insects they resemble, is past our comprehension.