The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-04-05 00:00:00

The Belgian Court will go into mourning for
twenty days on account of the death of the Duke of
Albany.
The King of Spain sent a telegram to Queen
Victoria expressing condolence at the death of the
Duke of Albany.
Referrinc, to the sudden death of the Duke of
Albany, the Journal de St. Petersbourg to-day says:
"In the first moment of sorrows such as this relief
can only be sought in submission to the decrees of
Providence. But the boundless love with which
Queen Victoria is surrounded by her children, the
attachment of the entire English nation, and the
veneration felt for her Majesty throughout the world,
will help to console the afflicted mother."
The news of the death of the Duke of Albany has
been reePivAa with prucuuna LegrAi•
deep sympathy is felt for Queen Victoria throughout
the Dominion.

Mr. Frelinghuysen, Secretary of State, has tele-
graphed to Mr. Lowell, expressing the condolence of
President Arthur with Queen Victoria on the occasion
of the death of the Duke of Albany.

Very great regret has been felt by all classes at
Cairo at the news of the death of the Duke of Albany.
General Stephenson has issued a general order noti-
fying the mourning to be worn by officers. The
General also has cancelled invitations that had been
sent out for a large official dinner.

REMOVAL OF THE BODY FROM CANNES.
On Tuesday the boiy of the late Duke of Albany
was removed from the Villa Nevada at Cannes, tho
Prince of Wales accompanying the body on its
journey through France. An impressive religious
service was held in the mortuary chamber at the villa
prior to the removal of the coffin. The Times corres-
pondent gives the following details:
The mortuary chamber was still more fragrant and
beautiful with floral wreaths and crosses than on the
previous days. The remains of the deceased duke
had been enclosed in a handsome outer coffin of
yellow wood, and this was nearly hidden from view
under a dense mass of flowers. Precisely at half-
past ten, General Du Plat and the Hon. A. Yorke
began to lead to their places, through a door opening
on the garden, the personages gathered there, and
when this ceremonial had been gone through, the
Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Duke and
Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, was ushered into the
chamber.

His Royal Highness stood at the head of his
brother's coffin, having his uncle on the left and the
Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha on his right. He
was painfully affected; his face bearing only too
evident signs of his grief, and more than once during
the ceremony he could not restrain his tears. At this
moment the scene was deeply impressive. The
sombre gloom of the mortuary chamber con-
trasted strikingly with the fair scenery and radiant
exotic verdure that advanced up to its very
threshold. It was one of the most significant
illustrations that could be conceived of the solemn
words, soon to echo in our ears, "In the midst of life
we are in death." The beautiful burial service of the
Church of England was read clearly and feelingly by
the Rev. Mr. Brooks, chaplain of Trinity Church, in
the parish of which the Duke of Albany died, and
when the Lord's Prayer was reached, nearly all
present, and several of those in the garden, who could
not find room within the mortuary chamber, fell on
their knees. It seemed as if each one present were
mourning a near and dear relative.
On the conclusion of the service the Prince of
Wales witkdrew to tie inner apartments, but almost
immediately afterwards appeared in the garden,
througli which he walked slowly, shaking hands
with several of those present, and receiving the re-
spectful salutations of all. Accompanied only by
the Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg Gotha, he
then passed forth by a little side gate, and proceeded
on foot to the Villa Edelweiss, close by, where he
was staying.
Some three-quarters of an hour had still to elapse
before noon, the time fixed for the removal of the
body, and several persons present left the Villa
Nevada and drove into the town, on their way to
await the arrival of the procession at the railway
station. It was not till 12.15 that, the coffin having
been placed in the hearse, the cortege set out, its
start being notified to the town below by the first re-
port of the salute of 101 guns fired by the fort on
the island of Sainte Marguerite.
Meanwhile the streets along the entire route from
the entry into the town to the railway station had
become lined, not only by the battalion, 600 strong, of
the 111th Infantry Regiment, from Antibes, but also
by all the inhabitants of Cannes. Shops, as I have
said, were everywhere closed, the flags of the various
Consulates and of the yachts and ships in the
harbour flew at half-past, and the scene, if not so
imposing as on similar sad occasions in a great city,
was still impressive in so small a place as this. The
steepness of the winding road leading to the town
from the Villa Nevada necessarily rendered slow the
descent of the hearse. But time was well kept, and
not the slightest hitch occurred.
The first indication of the approach of the proces-
sion in the long Rue d'Antibes was the appearance of
a deputation of a trade society, the locksmiths. This
little body proceeded to take up its position at the
railway station, and after a considerable interval the
cortege came in view. It was headed by mounted
gendarmerie, succeeded by half a company of in-
fantry, with craped drums. The offer made by the
military authorities to bring the band of the 111th
Regiment from Nice had been declined by the Prince
of Wales; so the ceremonial passed off without
music, and in complete silence. Immediately after
the infantry came an open carriage containing the
Prefect and General Thiery, and in the next were
seated General Du Plat and the lion. A. Yorke.
The hearse, which was drawn by four horses,
caparisoned in black velvet housings ornamented
with !White stars, was laden with wreaths. Velvet
drapery, fringed and studded with silver, and a silver
and gold cornice, ran round the roof. On the sides
and at the back was the letter "L." in silver, and on
the hammercloth a "G.," which created some sur-
mise. I believe it was placed there as being the