Chapter I: Declare This Dock Now Open, and That Henceforth It Is to Be (10)

"Your Graces, my Lords, and Gentlemen,--I have thought it more
for your convenience, as well as more within the compass of my
ability, that I should, with your permission, make a general
reply to the many kind addresses with which you have honoured
me, and copies of which have already by your courtesy been
before me, than that I should attempt a separate reply to each.
I feel myself highly honoured by having been welcomed in this
historic hall by so many bodies representing so many and so
varied interests as you do. Leaders of local administrations,
heads of religious communities, representatives of learning and
art, philanthropy and education, you have one and all greeted me
with the kindness and good will which has made a deep
impression upon me, and which I never shall forget. You have
alluded in terms of loyalty, which have much gratified me, to
your attachment to the Constitution, and have expressed in a
manner which I will not fail to communicate to the Queen your
devotion to Her Majesty.

"In varied capacities, and by widely different paths, you pursue
those great objects which, dear to you, are, believe me, dear
also to me--the prosperity and progress of Ireland, the welfare
and happiness of her people. That many difficulties from time to
time impede you I can well understand. Such is the natural
course of events. But I am glad to be able to gather from your
addresses that you are advancing steadily towards the goal which
you have in view. From my heart I wish you success, and I would
that time and my own powers would permit me to explain fully and
in detail the deep interest which I feel not only in the welfare
of this great Empire at large, but in the true happiness of
those several classes of the community on whose behalf you have
come here to-day. You have referred to the Princess of Wales,
who has accompanied me on this occasion, and for her I thank you
for your welcome to a country, of the past visits to which we
have pleasant recollections, and where we hope in future, as we
have in the past, to spend happy days."

The several deputations listened with great interest to the reply, and at the close gave expression to their pleasure in cordial acclamations.

The next event set down in the programme of the day was one to which great national importance is attached--namely, that of laying the foundation stone of the new Museum of Science and Art in connection with South Kensington. Elaborate preparations had been made for it, and the grounds at each side of Leinster House, which is to be the central building, were adorned with gay flags and fitted up with stands, from which the entry of the Royal party and the ceremonial itself could be seen. A guard of honour, contributed by the Cornwall Regiment, with their band, was stationed on Leinster Lawn, opening upon Merrion Square, through which the Royal party entered. On the route from the Castle to Leinster House, the streets were everywhere densely crowded, and the houses decorated. An open passage for the procession was kept by the police without any difficulty, the populace behaving with exemplary decorum. The Prince and Princess acknowledged most graciously the enthusiastic greetings of the crowds, which were largely composed of the working classes. The first stone having been duly laid, and a statement having been made by Professor Ball of the objects of the new "Museum of Science and Art, and of the National Library of Ireland," the Prince replied:--

"Mr. Ball, my Lords, and Gentlemen,--I thank you heartily on
behalf of the Princess of Wales and myself for the very cordial
welcome which you leave given us to-day. It is peculiarly
satisfactory to me to have been able to take part in the
interesting ceremony of laying the foundation stone upon which
the superstructure of the new museum will, I hope, before long
be built. It gratified me to learn of the action which the
Science and Art Department had taken in reference to this museum
and to observe the support which that action received both from
the Royal Dublin Society and from the Royal Irish Academy. It is
by a united movement such as this that difficulties are overcome
and success made possible of attainment. I am glad to think that
the two great societies I have named have combined to smooth the
way for an institute which will, I trust, be useful to a large
number of the people of Ireland. I hope some day to see in full
working order the institution of which the first stone has been
laid this afternoon. When this is so, the magnificent
collections, which have obtained a wide reputation, will be open
to a public thoroughly capable of appreciating their merit and
deriving advantages from their amalgamation under one roof. The
Museum will worthily face the great library, where the efforts
of a State Department have been successfully combined with a
movement originated by the the citizens, and supported out of
the rates, the object of which is to give free facilities for
reading and study to the people of this metropolis. I am glad to
have been assisted to-day by the councils of the great societies
to which I have referred. To them, as well as to the visitors of
the Museum, and the trustees of the National Library, I offer my
warm thanks for the kindness of their reception, as well as for
the opportunity they have given me for sharing in a movement
calculated to make Leinster House even more worthy than
heretofore of the pride of the Irish nation, and the admiration
of literary and scientific bodies throughout the world."

After leaving the Leinster House the Royal and Viceregal parties drove to the Royal University, where another interesting ceremony was performed. The hall of the University was crowded with a brilliant concourse of graduates and spectators. Their Royal Highnesses and the Lord Lieutenant and Countess Spencer were met by the Chancellor, the Duke of Abercorn, and the Vice-Chancellor, Lord Emly. After their Royal Highnesses had robed they were conducted to the hall. After all had taken their seats in the hall, a formal announcement was made by Dr. Meredith that the Senate had resolved to confer the degree of Doctor of Laws _honoris causâ_ upon His Royal Highness Albert Edward Prince of Wales, and also the degree of Doctor of Music _honoris causâ_ upon Her Royal Highness Alexandra Princess of Wales, and that their Royal Highnesses had been graciously pleased to intimate that they would accept those degrees. The announcement was received with loud applause by the assembly. The Chancellor then read and presented an address to the Prince, offering a respectful welcome and homage to His Royal Highness and his august consort. It also referred to the success of the University.

The degrees having been conferred, the Prince rose and said:--

"My Lord Duke, my Lords, and Gentlemen of the Senate of the
Royal University,--I am very grateful to you for the manner in
which you have received us in this hall, and on behalf of the
Princess of Wales and myself I thank you for the kind welcome
with which you have greeted us. The higher education of the
people is a subject in which I learnt from my lamented father to
take a great interest. It is a question to the solution of which
your labours, I am happy to think, have contributed much. Though
no considerable time has elapsed since the foundation of the
Royal University, it has already had a marked effect among those
people of this country who are especially open to the influence
of a University career. I shall value the degree which you have
conferred upon me, and I am proud to rank myself among the
graduates of a University, the advantages of which I am happy to
hear from you that all classes of the community avail themselves
of.

"By the admission of women to your degrees you have supported
the view that the gentler sex are capable, not only of severe
competition in science, but of enjoying the benefits and using
the power which a well-considered scientific education bestows.
It gratified me to learn that you were willing to confer upon
the Princess of Wales the degree of Doctor of Music, which, Her
Royal Highness wishes me to state on her behalf, she has
received with pleasure not only because she felt that it was an
honour to herself, but because she wished to show her approval
of her action of the ladies of Ireland in accepting the
facilities and advantages which you have offered to them. In Her
Royal Highness's name and in my own, I thank you for the honour
you have done me, and for the kindness with which you have
received us to-day."

The Prince's speech was received with great cheering. The proceedings concluded with the National Anthem. The Royal and Viceregal parties returned to Dublin Castle amid renewed greetings from the citizens who still waited in the streets to see them.

Some of the incidents of the Royal visit must be passed over with simple mention, the Levée held by the Prince, the Drawing-room held by the Princess, and the State Ball given by the Lord Lieutenant, of which it was said at the time that "no scene so animated and attractive has been witnessed in Dublin Castle since the former visit of their Royal Highnesses to Ireland." The opening of the new dock at the extremity of the North Wall attested the progress that has been made in the Port of Dublin, accommodation being now provided for shipping of the largest class. The Prince congratulated the "Port and Docks Board" on the completion of this work, and the Princess performed the ceremony of opening and christening the new basin, which is called the Alexandra Basin in commemoration of the event.

This took place on Saturday, the 11th of April. On the same day the Royal visitors inspected the Artane Industrial School, with its workshops and farms, and its probationary institution for the very young, a truly beneficent work carried on by the Christian Brothers. The Artane institution is one of the best of its class. The Government contribute 5_s._ a week for each boy trained there, the rest of the cost being provided by charitable donations, and the profits of the workshops.

Having described the visit to the Royal University, that to Trinity College must not be omitted. The reception was one of most enthusiastic loyalty. In the hall a vast assembly awaited the entrance of their Royal Highnesses, consisting of the members of the Senate, Fellows, Professors, and invited visitors. An address was read by the Vice-Chancellor, in which reference was made to the former visit of the Prince, when his name was enrolled among those of adopted sons of the _alma mater_. The Prince made appropriate reply for himself and for the Princess, and at the close of his speech asked the Provost, Dr. Jellett, to grant the undergraduates a term. "I cannot," added the Prince, "ask for the degree examination, but perhaps you will grant the college examination." To the request so graciously made, the Provost said that the Board of Trinity College acceded. The cheers from the undergraduates as the Royal visitors passed into the hall had been enthusiastic, and were if possible more fervent as they left the College.

The last function performed by the Prince before leaving Dublin was presenting new colours to the Cornwall Regiment, then in garrison at Dublin. The ceremony took place in the Castle Gardens. The corps mustered 800 strong, under Colonel Stabb, the commanding officer. The Prince wore his Field Marshal's uniform, and his son that of the Norfolk Artillery Volunteers. The usual routine on such occasions was followed, after which the Prince addressed the regiment which had formed up close around the group of officers among whom he stood.

"Colonel Stabb, Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Men of
the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry,--I consider it a high
honour to be permitted to present new colours to such a
distinguished regiment as that under your command--one which
ever since it was raised in 1704 has had as brilliant a record
of services in the field as any regiment in Her Majesty's
service. You first served with the great Duke of Marlborough in
Flanders, and then in America. Dettingen is the first name
inscribed on your colours. In the great Peninsular War you
especially distinguished yourselves, and suffered heavy losses
at Corunna and Salamanca. At Quatre Bras and Waterloo you lost
more than any other corps engaged, and the gallant Sir Thomas
Picton was killed at the head of your regiment. Your next
service was in India, where you took part in the Punjab
campaign. Later, in 1857, you gallantly distinguished yourselves
in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny, and gallantly held the
Residency of Lucknow during its defence from June till November.
You were on that occasion commanded by Brigadier-General Inglis,
who for those services was created a Major-General and a Knight
Commander of the Bath, while you received the honour of being
made Light Infantry. You, Colonel Stabb, are, I believe, the
only officer of the regiment present who served during the
Mutiny. When some years ago I visited the remains of the
Residency of Lucknow, my attention was especially called to the
services of this regiment. On your return the Queen and my
father inspected the regiment and personally thanked the
officers, non-commissioned officers and men for their gallant
conduct at Lucknow, and I feel doubly proud as their son to
have the honour of presenting these new colours to you to-day.
The latest records on your colours are Egypt and Tel-el-Kebir. A
second battalion, at this moment serving in the Soudan, has
recently been added to you, which, with the Royal Cornwall
Rangers Militia, of which I am the honorary Colonel, and the two
Volunteer battalions, make up the Duke of Cornwall's Light
Infantry. From the title I bear I am simply proud to be thus
connected with this fine regiment. In confiding these colours to
your care I feel that the honour of your Sovereign and your
country will ever be before you as on former occasions, and that
in the future, as in the past, the roll of honourable
distinction of your colours will ever increase."

Colonel Stabb, in the name of all the officers and men of the regiment, thanked His Royal Highness for the great honour he had done them in presenting the colours, and said he could not do better than express a fervent hope, which he did with a great deal of confidence, that the regiment would as faithfully defend the new colours as they did their colours at Waterloo and Lucknow. He was sure the honour would be appreciated by the battalions of the regiment, and he tendered to His Royal Highness their grateful thanks.

On the afternoon of the 13th the Prince and Princess started from the Kingsbridge Station for Cork. At Mallow there were signs that the visit to the South might not be without unpleasant incidents. A loyal address was presented at the station, but Mr. O'Brien and other Home Rule leaders had brought a number of Nationalists with bands, to disturb the unanimity of welcome. The rioters had to be ejected by the Constabulary. At Cork there were similar attempts at hostile demonstration, but it was shown only by the lowest rabble, and at the instigation of the political agitators. The patriots of the present time are of immeasurably lower type than Daniel O'Connell, even when he was most zealous for Repeal of the Union. He was always loyal as well as patriotic, and however bitter in words, he was always a gentleman in his actions. Whatever may be the views as to politics, the men who could incite their followers to insult the Prince and Princess of Wales, whose hearts are full of sympathy and love for Ireland, are unworthy the name of Irishmen. At Cork, several of the Home Rule members urged the people to resent the visit of the Royal party as a degradation to their city. At Dundalk on the same day, Mr. Redmond, M.P., addressing a meeting of the National League, "expressed his joy at the difficulty of England with the Soudan and Afghanistan. He hoped that the Russian bear would soon stick his claw into the British lion. He was sorry that this Prince of Wales was not there to see what the real feeling of the Irish people was, instead of scampering about the country attended by military and police and bloody Earl Spencer."

In spite of a few jarring notes of this kind, the reception of the Prince and Princess in Ireland was worthy of the warm and hospitable character of the Irish Nation. Another proof was given that the disaffection is only temporary and partial, and due to the malignant influence of those who delude the ignorant with false representations. No one understands this better than the Prince of Wales, than whom the people of Ireland have no truer friend.

THE DARWIN MEMORIAL.

_June 9th, 1885._

As one of the Trustees of the British Museum, the Prince of Wales was requested to represent them on the occasion of the unveiling of the statue of Charles Darwin, in the entrance-hall of the Museum of Natural History, now at South Kensington. The ceremony of unveiling was performed by Professor Huxley, whose address, after brief reference to the high claims of the author of 'The Origin of Species,' and other works of enduring fame, gave a statement as to the history of the memorial statue. Then addressing the Prince as representing the Trustees, he was requested to accept the statue from the Darwin Memorial Committee.

The Prince, in reply, said:--

"I consider it to be a high privilege to have been deputed by
the unanimous wish of my colleagues, the Trustees of the British
Museum, to accept, in their names, the gift which you have
offered us on behalf of the Committee of the Darwin Memorial.
The Committee and subscribers may rest assured that we have most
willingly assigned this honourable place to the statue of the
great Englishman who has exerted so vast an influence upon the
progress of those branches of natural knowledge, the advancement
of which is the object of the vast collection gathered here. It
has given me much pleasure to learn that the memorial has
received so much support in foreign countries, and it may be
regarded as cosmopolitan rather than merely national; while the
fact that persons of every condition of life have contributed to
it affords remarkable evidence of the popular interest in the
discussion of scientific problems. A memorial to which all
nations and all classes of society have contributed cannot be
more fitly lodged than in our Museum, which though national is
open to all the world, and the resources of which are at the
disposal of every student of Nature, whatever his condition or
his country, who enters our doors."

THE BIRKBECK INSTITUTION.

_July 4th, 1885._

This institution was founded in 1825, by Dr. Birkbeck, a zealous educationist of that time, for promoting learning, chiefly among the middle and working classes, by opening evening classes, and establishing lectures and other means of instruction. The old building having become insufficient in its accommodation, a new edifice was erected near Chancery Lane, of which the foundation stone was laid, in 1883, by the late Duke of Albany. To open this new building the Prince and Princess of Wales came, on the 4th of July, 1885.

A loyal address having been presented by Mr. Birkbeck, M.P., one of the trustees, the Prince thus replied:--

"I thank you for the loyal address which you have presented to
me, and would express the heartfelt satisfaction which I
experience in visiting an institution with which my lamented
brother's name will ever be associated. You have referred to his
touching words when laying the foundation stone of this
building, and I am reminded that on that memorable occasion he
stated that he had lent his aid to an enterprise on the
accomplishment of which he would be able to look back with
feelings of satisfaction and pride! It was not permitted to him
to see this noble structure in its finished state, but I rejoice
to know that prior to the great calamity which befell us he had
received an intimation that the building was approaching
completion.

"I observe with pleasure the names of the distinguished
contributors to the building fund, and I rejoice that the Queen
has shown her interest in an institution which met with the warm
support of my revered father. Sixty years ago the Duke of Sussex
performed the inaugural ceremony of your old building; and it
speaks much for the vitality of your institution that after so
lengthened a period a member of my family should be again
invited to declare a building open so extensive as this one, the
erection of which has been absolutely demanded by the expansion
of your work. An institution in which provision is made for 6000
students, and to which both sexes are invited, must exert a very
beneficial influence on the young men and women of the
Metropolis, for whose mental advancement it has been erected.
Many of the students in the old building have worthily
distinguished themselves, and it behoves those who partake of
the greater advantages of the new institution to emulate the
noble examples which have been set by their predecessors.

"The movement initiated by Dr. George Birkbeck was a very
remarkable one, and the foundation of the old institution was an
event of historic importance. We are informed that this movement
has spread not only throughout the Kingdom, but that its
ramifications have extended to different parts of the world, and
the presence to-day of representatives of our Colonies is to me
one of the most interesting features of the proceedings. The
success of Dr. Birkbeck's work is to be traced in the fact that,
in the words of Professor Tyndall, 'it responded at the proper
time to a national need, and to a need of human nature.'

"This institution has anticipated some of the beneficent
movements of the age, and by its technical instruction, and the
admission of both sexes to its advantages, has exerted a very
powerful influence for good. With a vitality so potent we may
look forward to the time when even this extensive building will
be insufficient for your needs. It is a subject for
congratulation that the institutions which by the establishment
of the Birkbeck Institution have been called into existence are
being so wisely adapted to the requirements of the age, and are
exerting by their development such a beneficent influence among
the people at large. I desire to thank you most heartily for the
kind welcome you have given us here this afternoon, and I
earnestly hope that this great institution will continue to
flourish, and that we may hear from time to time of its
increasing prosperity.

"This building, which will be regarded as a memorial of my dear
brother's devotion to the great cause of education, I have now
the gratification to declare open, and, in his words, 'to
dedicate it to those noble uses which it is intended to serve.'"

The thanks of the audience to the Prince were proposed by the Lord Mayor, and seconded by Sir Charles Tupper, High Commissioner for Canada.

RAILWAY GUARDS' FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

_July 5th, 1884._

At the ninth triennial festival of the Railway Guards' Universal Friendly Society, held at Willis's Rooms, July 5th, 1884, the Prince of Wales presided. A large number of directors and leading men connected with the railway companies were among the company. In giving or responding to the usual loyal toasts, His Royal Highness, in a very grateful and gracious way, took the opportunity of expressing his warm sense of the uniform attention shown to the Queen, and also to himself and the Princess of Wales, during their very frequent journeys, by the directors and all the officials and servants of the various railway companies. Everything was done for their safety and comfort, and he wished thus publicly to acknowledge his appreciation of what was done.

In giving the toast of the evening, "Prosperity to the Railway Guards' Universal Friendly Society," the Prince said:--

"We are to-day celebrating the ninth triennial festival of this
Society, in aid of the 'Permanent Sick and Injured, and Widows
and Orphans' Fund,' and I think all will agree with me that
there is no charity which better deserves the attention and
support of the public than this one. That it has already
received such support is apparent to us from the length of time
it has existed, but like all other great institutions of the
kind in our country, the money which is required is, also,
greatly in excess of that which is at their disposal to meet the
actual necessities which arise.

"No public servants, I think, more deserve our sincere sympathy
and support than the guards of our railway trains. It is obvious
to all of us who have to travel constantly on railways how much
our safety depends on their industry, their vigilance, their
sobriety, and their discipline; and it is very gratifying to
know that we may confidently rely on finding these qualities in
them. Knowing what they have to go through, their exposure to
all weathers and to risks of all kinds; remembering how much
they have to be away from their homes and their families, it
seems to me that we have hardly the right to expect to obtain
from them their valuable services unless we in some measure
mitigate their sufferings in sickness and from accident, and
unless in case of death we do something for the maintenance of
their widows and orphans. The Society was founded in June, 1849,
and is one of the oldest societies in existence designed for the
benefit of railway _employés_, and may be said to represent
every line in the United Kingdom. It consists of forty-eight
districts at the present time, situated at the principal railway
stations throughout the country, from London to Inverness. In
addition to the usual advantages offered by friendly
societies--the ordinary sick and death benefits--this society
possesses two special features adapted to the requirements of
railway guards, who are exposed to very great risks from
accidents. These objects are: 1st, a liberal provision for life
for all those members who may become permanently disabled,
either from injuries or constitutional causes; 2nd, annuities
for the widows and orphans of deceased members. Other
institutions, if they attempt to provide these exceptional
benefits, only do so to a limited extent, and the members to
whom they are granted are elected as vacancies occur; but the
policy of this society has always been to provide these great
blessings for all who are so unfortunate as to require them;
and, notwithstanding that statistics show that guards run
greater risks than other classes of railway servants, the
contributions of the members themselves have been so largely
supplemented by the generous support accorded by the public
generally, that the society up to the present time has been able
to carry out this fundamental principle."

The greater portion of the speech of His Royal Highness consisted of statistics of a most interesting kind, both as to the vast extent of railway travelling, the number of trains, of passengers, of railway _employés_, at that time numbering 357,650. All these statistics, as obtained from the returns of the Board of Trade, and also the number of persons killed or injured, especially those employed on the lines, were presented with admirable clearness to the audience, and were heard with great interest; but the statistics are not the same now, and are therefore not here given. The Prince concluded with an earnest appeal for help to the institution for which he pleaded. The appeal was liberally responded to, the subscriptions amounting to £3383, including a hundred guineas from the Royal Chairman, which has been his generous custom at the close of most of the charitable meetings for objects which have had the advantage of his support and advocacy.

It ought to be added that the Prince had already presided at a festival of the "Railway Benevolent Association," where he spoke with equal warmth and sympathy for all classes of railway servants. There are now other institutions with similar objects, partly provident and partly benevolent, and it is an excellent kind of charity. The directors of companies do their part, and, where there is any just cause, can be made to do more, under the Employers' Liability Act. For unavoidable accidents the men themselves contribute their money, on the principle of mutual insurance, but there is need also for more of the benevolent gifts of those who travel by rail.

CONVALESCENT HOME AT SWANLEY.

_July 13th, 1885._

On the 8th of July, 1872, the Prince of Wales, as President of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, formally opened a new Convalescent Home, in connection with that Hospital. This was an institution much needed at the time, and its advantages had long been urged on the Governors by Mr. Foster White, the Treasurer. At several existing Homes, such as at Walton-on-Thames, and Bognor, patients from St. Bartholomew's had been received, but it was desirable to have an establishment of its own, and conducted by its own officers. The carrying out of this scheme would require large expenditure, and a suitable building could not be provided for a considerable time. A temporary home was obtained at Highgate, through the generous munificence of Sir Sydney Waterlow, one of the Governors of the Hospital. He presented as a free gift the lease, for several years, of Lauderdale House, a mansion with many historical associations, somewhat old, but with every convenience for use as a temporary home for convalescent patients, and so it continued for thirteen years. On the 13th of July, 1885, the Prince, accompanied by the Princess of Wales, and the Princesses Louise, Victoria, and Maude, visited Swanley, in Kent, to open the permanent Home, erected through the generosity of Mr. Charles T. Kettlewell, one of the Governors of the Hospital. It is a spacious building, with accommodation for forty-five male and twenty-five female patients, standing in the middle of beautiful grounds, comprising an area of fifteen acres.

Their Royal Highnesses having taken their places on the daïs at the end of a tent, Sir Sydney Waterlow, who had for several years given the use of Lauderdale House at Highgate, read an address, which gave a summary of the facts relating to the new institution. Besides the gift of £15,000 by Mr. Kettlewell for the building, an anonymous donor, a governor of the Hospital, contributed £500 for the site; Mr. Homan, another governor, and Mrs. Homan had built a chapel and provided its furniture and communion plate; and Sir James Tyler had given an organ to the chapel, and built the lodge at the entrance of the grounds.

Sir Sydney having finished his address, the Prince of Wales said:--

"Sir Sydney Waterlow, Ladies, and Gentlemen,--You have given us
a most interesting account of the history of the institution you
wish me to open. I can only say on behalf of the Princess of
Wales and myself that we are extremely happy to have an
opportunity of assisting at the inauguration of an institution
such as this, where the patients ought to feel very grateful for
the manner in which every plan for their comfort has been
carried out through the munificence of Mr. Kettlewell. Nothing
can be of greater importance than that convalescent homes such
as this should exist, especially in connection with large
hospitals such as St. Bartholomew's. The spot now chosen, with
its healthy aspect and beautiful scenery, will, I am sure, meet
all requirements. It affords me great pleasure to be here
to-day, and I feel proud to be the president of such an
institution as St. Bartholomew's, and to be able to assist Sir
Sydney Waterlow, who takes such interest in, and devotes so much
of his time and energies to, the prosperity of the hospital. I
have great satisfaction in declaring the home to be now open."

The ceremony over, the Rev. S. Kettlewell, who had offered the dedicatory prayer, and his son, Mr. C. T. Kettlewell, donor of the building, were presented to the Prince of Wales by Sir Sydney Waterlow. Before leaving, the Royal party visited the home, and also inspected the adjacent laundry buildings which have been erected for use as a washing establishment for St. Bartholomew's Hospital.

THE YORKSHIRE COLLEGE AT LEEDS.

_July 15th, 1885._

The Yorkshire College at Leeds is one of the most important and useful of the educational institutions that have in recent times been established. Commencing in 1874 on a comparatively small scale, it has gradually grown to be a great school, not for technical and scientific training only, but for all departments of study. The staff of the College includes professors of mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering, and various branches of industrial teaching; and also of classics, history, and modern literature, and languages. The celebrated Leeds School of Medicine has been affiliated to the College. For special departments of practical instruction provision has been made, the Clothworkers' Company of London undertaking to support that which pertains to textile industries, and the Drapers' Company that of colliery management and mining engineering. Workshops, laboratories, lecture rooms, and other premises, are connected with the College, the buildings of which were designed by Sir Alfred Waterhouse, and commenced in 1877, when the foundation stone was laid by the Archbishop of York. The friends of the College have contributed not less than £200,000 to bring it to its present condition. To inaugurate this great institution the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Leeds on the 15th of July, 1885.

On arriving at Leeds from Studley, the seat of Lord Ripon, their Royal Highnesses were received by the Mayor and Corporation, and conducted to the Town Hall, which was opened by the Queen and the Prince Consort in 1858. An address being read by the Town Clerk, the Prince replied:--

"Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,--I receive with the greatest pleasure
the address which you have just presented to me, and the
Princess of Wales joins me in thanking you most sincerely for
your kind words of welcome. Coming from the civic authorities of
one of our greatest industrial centres these expressions are a
proof, if any were required, that the population of this country
remains true in its appreciation of the value of our
time-honoured institutions, in devotion to the Queen, and in
attachment to the Royal Family. I rejoice to learn from your
address that the visits of the members of my family at various
times to this great city have been attended with beneficial
results, and have contributed in some degree to its welfare and
prosperity, and to the development of the many useful
institutions for which Leeds is so justly famous. Although it
has pleased the Almighty to remove some of my dearest and most
gifted relations from the scene of their labours, I can assure
you that their survivors will always be ready to encourage by
their presence and assistance the foundation and advancement of
such institutions as the one which we are brought together
to-day to inaugurate. It will be a source of sincere
gratification to me to convey to the Queen your expressions of
loyal devotion, and I can assure you that they will be highly
appreciated by Her Majesty."

An address from the Leeds Masonic lodges was also received and responded to, after which their Royal Highnesses proceeded to the Yorkshire College. Here they were received, in the Clothworkers' Court, by the Marquis of Ripon, President of the College and Chairman of the Council, Sir Edward Baines, Sir Andrew Fairbairn, Mr. Beckett Denison, and other distinguished persons. Deputations of the London Companies, the Mayors of several Yorkshire boroughs, and Yorkshire Members of Parliament; the Principal and Professors of the College; and a numerous company had assembled. Prayer was offered by the Archbishop of York; an address was read by Professor Bodington, the Principal. Sir Edward Baines made a statement as to the origin and growth of the College, in which he said that he must mention a feature of the College which, so far as he knew, was original and highly useful. Their professors had always been ready to deliver popular scientific lectures on extremely moderate terms, and those lectures had proved very attractive, but recently they had undertaken, in addition, to give scientific instruction to the numerous teachers of elementary schools on Saturdays and several evenings of the week, and thus they not only conferred a boon on the teachers, but qualified them to impart the elements of science to their scholars. A double advantage was realized to several hundreds of teachers and to thousands of scholars of elementary schools. The scholars were by these means introduced to such a knowledge of the elements of science as would qualify them to become useful members of mechanics' institutes, and might in many cases implant a taste for higher attainments than had been looked for either in the school or the institute.

The Prince of Wales replied as follows to the address read by the Principal:--

"My Lords and Gentlemen,--We have received your addresses with
feelings of extreme gratification, and it affords us sincere
pleasure to be present here to-day, and to be able to take a
part in the inaugural ceremony in connection with this
important and useful institution. I have for a long time been
deeply impressed with the advisability of establishing in our
great centres of population colleges and schools, not only for
promoting the intellectual advancement of the people, but also,
as you have very justly observed, for increasing their
prosperity by furthering the application of scientific knowledge
to the industrial arts. I rejoice to hear that your laudable
endeavours have been duly appreciated, and have received liberal
support from various quarters, and I beg to offer my most hearty
congratulations to the great company of the Clothworkers of the
City of London for their judicious and liberal encouragement of
your College--an example which, I trust, will ere long find many
ready followers. We have inspected with considerable interest
the various lecture-rooms and laboratories over which you have
conducted us, and we have had much satisfaction in acceding to
your request to declare this valuable addition to the science
and art of the country open. I thank you, in conclusion, for
your expressions of loyalty and devotion to the Queen, which I
will not fail to communicate to Her Majesty. I declare the
Yorkshire College now open."

This concluded the proceedings in this part of the day's programme, and the company then dispersed. The Royal visitors accepted an invitation from the authorities of the College to luncheon in the Coliseum, which is a newly-erected edifice affording much larger and better accommodation than any other building in the town for great public gatherings. Besides the invited guests, the two tiers of galleries were overcrowded with spectators. The Marquis of Ripon, who presided, having proposed the usual loyal toasts, the Prince replied as follows:--

"In the name of the Princess and in my own, I beg to tender to
you, Lord Ripon, our warmest thanks and acknowledgments for the
very kind terms in which you have proposed this toast, and to
you, ladies and gentlemen, for the way in which you have
received it. I am anxious to tender to the mayor, as the
representative of the citizens of this large and important town,
our thanks also for the magnificent and cordial reception we
have met with to-day, one which we are not likely to forget.
This is certainly not the first visit I have paid to Leeds, as I
did so some seventeen years ago, but the pleasure on this
occasion is enhanced in my eyes as the Princess has been able
to accompany me. The mayor also alluded to the fact that the
visit of the Queen and of my lamented father had not been
forgotten, and we were glad to visit that very Town Hall which
they opened some twenty-six or twenty-seven years ago. I
consider that the object of our visit here is connected in some
respects with the visit of the Queen and my lamented father, as
he alluded at that time to the great importance of scientific
and technical education, and of a great town like this if
possible taking up the matter. In opening to-day that important
and useful building, the Yorkshire College, I feel I may in some
way have followed in his footsteps, by having been the means of
promoting what is of the greatest importance to our country, and
what is also of the greatest importance to the success of our
great commercial enterprises--viz., technical and scientific
education.

"The building which we have visited to-day will always be in our
recollection one of great interest, and we feel sure that it is
likely to flourish and be of the greatest importance, and to set
an example to all the other great towns of the kingdom. The
rooms we visited, and all the arrangements for learning in a
scientific and technical manner not only the industries
themselves, but their scientific principles, cannot but be
productive of the greatest good not only now, but in years to
come. The College has received many great and munificent
donations, which will be read out later on, but I may mention
the names of Sir Andrew Fairbairn, the Duke of Devonshire, and
Lord Ripon, your President, as having contributed largely to the
funds of the institution. I must say also that those who are
interested in the College owe a deep debt of gratitude to the
Clothworkers' Company of the City of London, for the magnificent
donations which they have given are a proof of the importance of
this institution. They have also shown their interest in it, and
their belief that it is certain to be successful."

His Royal Highness then referred to the importance attached to
music in Yorkshire, and to the great interest he had taken in
the Royal College of Music. He remarked that he thought the
promotion of that art would materially benefit all classes in
this country. Towards that College he knew nearly £1000 was
collected in Leeds, but that unfortunately was insufficient to
endow a scholarship, but if the president and directors of the
Yorkshire College could see their way at some future time to add
music to the list of subjects taught he felt sure they would not
in years to come regret it, and that it would be of great
benefit to the people of Leeds.

Before proceeding with the toast he had the privilege to
propose, "Prosperity to the Yorkshire College," with which he
could not help feeling that he must associate the health of Lord
Ripon. He felt that they would wish him to say a word with
regard to its former president, one who was distinguished and
lovable in every sense of the word, and who was carried off by
the hand of the assassin in the midst of health and life. That
was indeed matter for thought and reflection, and he felt sure
that every Yorkshireman deeply regretted the death of Lord
Frederick Cavendish. In his successor, however, they had found
one who had occupied some of the most important offices which
could be held under the Crown, and who, having himself been
President of the Council on Education, was well fitted to hold
the high office which he now did. He therefore called on them to
drink with him, "Prosperity to the Yorkshire College," with
which he had the greatest pleasure in coupling the name of their
president, Lord Ripon.

The Chairman, in acknowledging the warmth with which the toast was honoured, alluded with pride to the position the College had in ten years won. He hoped they would place the crown upon their work by coming into union with the Victoria University at Manchester.

THE GORDON BOYS' HOME.

_January 12th, 1886._

After the sad tidings of the death of General Gordon at Khartoum had been confirmed, there was a universal desire to connect his name with some national memorial. Tributes of honour were paid to him by the leaders of both parties in Parliament, and a grant was voted for a public monument, in the form of a statue, which is now seen in Trafalgar Square. But a desire was felt for some other memorial, and after much consideration the most suitable was thought to be an institution for training boys of the class in whose welfare he took deep personal interest. This was the origin of the Gordon Boys' Home, first located at Fort Wallington, Fareham, and now having its permanent site at West End, Chobham.

From the time of the first suggestion of a memorial the Prince of Wales took the most active interest in the matter. He attended the early meetings of the committee formed to carry out the proposal, and moved the first resolution for a memorial at the Mansion House on May 30th, 1885. At that time the idea was to found a hospital at Port Said, but this scheme was not carried out. There seemed to be difficulty in agreeing about some fitter memorial, but the committee finally resolved on the establishment of the Boys' Home, and the War Office granted the use of Fort Wallington to commence the undertaking, for which the funds had to be provided by public subscription. In support of this fund the Prince of Wales summoned a meeting at Marlborough House on the 12th of January, 1886. At this meeting he said that "having had the honour of presiding at the meeting of the Gordon Memorial Committee in the summer of 1885, he thought it desirable, at the beginning of another year, to summon a meeting to hear what progress had been made." He told of the appointment of Major-General Tyndall, C.B., as commandant, and of his commencing the work with a few boys at Fort Wallington, the number gradually rising to fifty. The Prince called on Lord Napier of Magdala to say a few words in addition to the formal report which was read.

Lord Napier of Magdala, as Chairman of the Executive Committee, then presented the report of the progress made in the establishment of the Gordon Memorial Home. He said that on visiting the institution a few days ago he found the boys on parade in a neat and appropriate uniform. They looked clean, smart, and steady. The dormitories were like soldiers' barrack-rooms, in perfect order. The lavatories gave every facility for cleanliness. In the kitchen the boys all took a turn in cooking. In the workshops the pupil teachers were undergoing instruction in carpentry work. The school was well arranged and the teaching effective. In short, the progress of the institution was remarkable, considering the short time it had been established, and this was due to the organization of General Higginson and the administration of General Tyndall and his staff. Nor had the necessity for amusement been left unprovided for. The work was done in the spirit of the great soldier and Christian whom the institution commemorated, and the results were most gratifying.

The Prince of Wales said:--

"I feel sure it must be gratifying to all of us to hear the
statements made by Lord Napier of Magdala of the satisfactory
manner in which the Gordon Boys' Home is progressing. I may
also say that all of us are indebted to the great energy which
Generals Higginson and Tyndall have displayed."

His Royal Highness then called on General Higginson, who pointed out the special advantages to be obtained by the institution, where the training would fit the boys for any calling which they might choose, if they do not go into the army. He said that "this was a national memorial to a great man. It would be more than pitiful if an institution like this were allowed to languish or to be cramped in its development. That would lead the world to believe that Gordon's memory was forgotten. The one great object Gordon had was to help the distressed, and he could not imagine that when it was known what work was being done the institution would fail for want of funds."

The Duke of Cambridge made a very earnest and generous appeal, and ended by telling the meeting that it was to the Prince of Wales that the success of the movement would be mainly due. "Gentlemen," said the Duke, "we have had great praise bestowed, and justly bestowed, upon my gallant friend Field-Marshal Lord Napier of Magdala and upon General Higginson, who have taken up this interesting charge; but allow me to remark that there is nobody to whom we owe so much as His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. I do not wish to flatter him, but I must say that when the Prince takes up a subject he always does so thoroughly and well. I do not think there has ever been a subject which he has taken up more feelingly and thoroughly than he has taken up this Gordon Memorial, and having done honour to those who have assisted in the way they have, I think we should do equal honour to His Royal Highness, and I therefore beg to move a vote of thanks to him for the kind and gracious manner in which he has taken up this subject and has presided at this and other meetings."

The Prince of Wales said:--

"After the kind and flattering remarks which have fallen from my
illustrious relative I regret to be under the painful necessity
of calling him to order, but there is a motion which has not yet
been put to the meeting. At the same time I thank him beforehand
most sincerely for what he has been good enough to say. You all
know the very great interest I take in this important matter,
and I feel sure it is right we should bring before the public as
much as possible the name of that great and distinguished
officer and Englishman who is now no more. He is not forgotten,
but as months and years go by so many important events come
before the public that sometimes other matters naturally are
considered more prominent, and even a name like General Gordon's
might be forgotten for a time. I am inclined to think there is
nothing that could perpetuate his memory in a more satisfactory
form in regard to his own relations, and what they think he
would have wished, than this boys' home. I cannot help thinking
'The Gordon Boys' Home' will be ever associated with the name of
General Charles Gordon.

"To obtain money is always a difficulty. I do not doubt the
willingness of the public to give money, but their ability is
not always so great, and I have a suggestion to make to you
which may find favour in your eyes. If it is thought desirable
that we should have a public dinner, I should be happy to take
the chair. We could invite many to attend and give as much as
they were able, and I have great hopes that in that way, and
from speeches that may be made, the subject will be brought
still more prominently before the public, and that we may do
more good than by advertising." The resolution "That the
Institution cannot be developed without larger funds, and it is
resolved that further effort be made to obtain them," was then
put to the meeting by His Royal Highness and carried.

The Duke of Cambridge said: "Having made my speech, I will not repeat it. I admit I was out of order, but I now beg to move a vote of thanks to His Royal Highness for his kindness in presiding on this occasion." The motion was seconded by the Duke of Norfolk.