The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-02-20 00:00:00

THE PRINCE & PRINCESS OF WALES

IN EGYPT.
A letter from Cairo states that the Prince and
Princess of 'Wales arrived in that city on the evening
of the 3rd inst., and were met at the station by the
Viceroy, who accompanied them to the palace he had ;
prepared for their accommodation. The following is
the description of the reception given by the Viceroy
to the Prince and Princess, as reported by the corre-
spondent of The Times :
The Viceroy's latest telegram, as he returns to his palace, !
infonus Idm that the Prince's train Is within half an hour of •
Cairo, and his Highness retires to put on his uniform. In
a few minutes more than the time indicated the whistle of •
the engine is heard afar, the Viceroy appears at the garden
gate la a blue frock, richly laced with gold, wearies the order
of the Durumli, and with a curved sword, the hilt of which
blazes with diamonds, by his side. The Egyptian band strikes
, up its weird national hymn, and the troops present arms as.
I turning a curve, a painted and decorated engine appears or
the end drawing an American state saloon and the carriages
of the Prince's suite. The engine drew np to a nicety, lad
the Viceroy, stepping from the gate to the platform, stood
ready to receive his visitors, whom English oyes soon ills-
covered through the scarlet uniforms in which they were
partially shrouded.
Knowing the taste of our fellow countrymen for mufti,
and the preparations made to receive them, it was with a
sense of relief our eyes rested on the evidence of his Royal
Highness s good taste and discernment in coming with •
certain degree of state to the Court of the Viceroy. . . . The
Prince wore a general officer's uniform. Ile seemed in very
excellent health. Every one was delighted to see the Princess
of Wales looldrig so well after her sea voyage and her Winter.
vexed travels through l'russia and Austria.
Thar:meting between the Viceroyand their Royal Highnesses
was most frank and friendly no great bowing and cere-
monious speeches, but cordial wek 444 e and a hearty recep-
tion of it. The viceroy, with the Princess of Wales leaning
on his arm, preceded a few paces by the Prince of Wales, led
the way up the steps of the Palace from the garden. His
Highness was followed by the Viceroy's eldest son, with
Mrs. Gray on his arm, and then came a small procession in
which were colonel Stanton, tier Britannic Majesty's Consul-
General; Colonel Teesdale, Captain F. Campbell, R. N, Cap-
tain Ellis, Lord Carington, Mr. 0. Montagu, Sir S. Baker. Am.,
and a number of Egyptian officers
In a very short time, however, the trumpets and bugles of
the horse and foot in the courtyard outside sounded, and
the troops presented arms as the Viceroy appeared with the
Princess of Wales on his arm, and the Prince of Wales a
little in entrance,. as before. .. A handsome open carriage,
drawn by two pairs of fine EnZlish grays, ridden by English
postillions in faultless tops and leathers and jackets, was
drawn up at the steps, and the Prince of Wales, stepping in,
took his seat with his back to the horses. The Princess of
Wales followed. Then came the Viceroy, who insisted on
the l'auce changing his place, slid sittnig beside the Princess.
His Royal Highness resisted a little; but who UM disobey a
Viceroy in his own land? And so the carriage drove off
with the Prince and his wife facing the Pasha....
The young Pasha followed in another carriage with Mrs.
Grey, and the rest nd the suite were provident for and followed
the Prince and Princess to their new home, through the
streets, where the camels and eases, and the people munching
sugar canes, were Jostled table for a monient by the caval-
cade to fall into their places placidly again after it had
passed by. At the palace the Viceroy left his guests.
If the Prince and Princess, and those who are with them,
are not well cared for and well lodged surely it will be no
fault of the Viceroy. For weeks past the newly-bullt palace,
which is intended as a present for one of the family, has been
the scene of incessant and Costly labour. It is a mass of
enormous chandeliers, of gigantic mirrors, and of the richest
furniture, the cost of which, measured on the European's
scale of dealing with the Viceroy's purse, inset be enormous.
The bedeteads of the Prince and Princess—great four-posters
—are poets and ad of silver, and silver and gold are beaten
and spread out all over the furniture and the walls. Air
auctioneer's inventory or the account of • great sale could
alone do justice to the details of the interior, in which there is
after all be it said, • certain want of finish—a something
deficient, which certainly has !Dr connexion with economy,
parsimony, or even moderate regent for expenditure....
In the evening the Prince and l'rincess went to the theatre,
where the Viceroy was waiting to receive them. The Duke
of Sutherland, the gentlemen with him, and those in the
suite of the Prince were invited, and oceupied three of the
Isixes, and the house was tilled by the llife of Cairo, and by
the officers of State, de ; but there was no State ceremonial,
and no show of fine dresses. Facing the box occupied by the
Viceroy and the Primus and Princess there were three boxes
fenced in by gilt lattice-work from top to bottom ; but a
certain play of light and shade WM viable to the outside
world which showed the iinterlors were not empty. The side
of the latticed retreat winch was nearest the box occupied by
some of the suite was fortified lips sort of mat placed against
the lattice-work soon after the play began. The company
, is French, and smacks of the Patois Royal, but the pieces
were decent and well acted. It wks strange to see the fez-
capped and turbaned people in the pit laughing at the Jukes
which have had their day in the emaisees far away. Great is
Is the power of civilisation. Some day these benighted
Egyptians may be so much improved as to stand a transfor-
mation scene in an English pantomime.