The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-06-11 00:00:00

PRINCE ALFRED'S IMPRESSIONS
OF INDIA.

The Duke of Iblinhurgh has written a long letter to
Lord Mayo, surveying retrospectively his tour in
India. The letter was read by Lord Mayo himself at
the banquet given at Lahore in honour of the retiring
Lieutenant. Governor, Sir Donald Macleod. he
Doke says he has written the letter because he thinks
"They who have done so much for him have almost a
ri;ht to expect some less format expression of thanks
than that which he has used in replying to official
addresses." The anticipations of Oriental magnificence
which were connected in his mind with the idea of
India were, he says, more than re ilized during his tour.
It was a disappointment to him when he heard that the
durbgr, which was to have been held at Agra, could not
take place but he had since learned to appreciate the
Viceroy's wise decision in that matter, and was glad that
he had had better opportonities of making the acquaiat-
anee of the great Indian princes and chiefs, either in
their own territories or in the immediate neighbour-
hood of them, than he could have had during the for-
malities of a State durbar. "I heard it said," the
Prince continues, "that my visit to India occurred at
an unfortnnate time, owing to the financial difficulties
under which the country was suffering, but which are
now, I trust, in a fair way of being successfully sur-
mounted. Ido not take this view myself. Owing to
your wise orders and advice the expense to the public
was reduced as much IV pos.ible, and I hope that my
visit has been but little burdensome to the country.
Still this has not affected the large sums of money that
were so munificently spent by individuals in welcoming
me. The example set by your excellency at Calcutta
was only tootgrneraly followed—of that example,
fear, you will not let me speak ; but this I must say,
that the personal kindness which you chewed me, and
the splendid hospitality which you dispensed in my
honour, were features in my visit which I can never
forget."

After expressing his thanks for the "characteristic
magnificence" with which he bad been entertained by
the Indian princes, the Duke says :—"The hurried
character of my tour through the interior prevented
mu from obtaining more than a bircisieye view of the
principal parts of the country, but I have seen enough
to awaken in myself a strong interest both in its pest
history and its present condition. I have seen many
evidences of the anxiety which exists, not only among
the Briiish community, but among the m ra wealthy
awl influential of the nativetbern inhabitants, to raise
and nu! rove the moral and social condition of the poorer
classes. Tile importance of the spread of education is
gradually being understood, and in several instances I
was highly gratified by the manner in ,which the corm
munities of. some cities desired to commemorate my

visit—by the foundation of scholarinips bearing my
risme, by the ceramencement of recreation grounds
for the use of ti e people, by endowing high schools,
and at some of thaseaperts by contributing funds for
the erection or imliivement of melon; homes. These
laudable objects lave been vtry materially, in some
cases mainly, assisted by the munificence as well of
privato individnals as of some of the Indian princes,
whom generosity is so well known to everyone that it
would be impel fluous for me to mention their names
here. That my visit has been instrumental in bringing
about results such as these is one of the happiest reflec-
tions with which I shall look back to my brief stay in
Judie."
His Royal Highness goes on to say that he has never
travelled in gr, eter comfort than on the Indian rail-
ways, states ti z.t he "enjoyed with all his heart" the
few days he WA enabled to devo e to fidd sports, arid
expresses the ph :yaws with which he made the acquaint-
ance of jn,ny ciil ism, of whose friendship he is proud,
and the story of :hose Ives is not the least instructive
among the leese, that have been brought to his notice
in India,
With his visit to Bombay, the Duke says he was
much gratified, and remarks upon the fact that his
arrival there occurred almost contemporaneously with
three great events, each of which has a direct bearing
upon the city's future greatness— the completion of the
railway communication tertteetn Eastern mid Western
India, the opening of the Suez Canal, and the laving
of the Submarine Telegraph between Suez and Bom-
bay. " I trust," the Prince adds, "that the bright
hopes for the future which this happy concurrence of
events is caleulatod to inspire will be amply realized,
and I also hope that my kind friends iu Bombay will
sometimes remember that, siumitaneonely with the
dawn of good feriune, the son of their Sovereign came
among them to aesure them of the lively sympathy with
which her Majesty regards them, and of the pleasure
with which she will l, an of their hopeful prospects.
Madras, although heavily weighted in the race with her
sister capitals by local disalvantages, welcomed me so
warmly, entertained me with so much consideration, and
sped me on my way with such kind wishes, that I am
glad it was chosen DA the port for my re-embarkation.
My reception there was a most gratifying and flatter-
ing culmination to a very interesting tour. The three
mouths of my stay in India have passed only too
rapidly and pleasantly away. lam laden with a debt
of geatitude—a debt which I arn proud to owe, but
which I Can never hope to rep iy. In all that concerns
the welfare of India I shall ever take a deep interest,
for I have learned to regard her pomple with affection.
Jam the glad bearer of a message horn them to my
mother which will give her unbounded satisfaction, for
I have to tell her bow enthmi istic has been my recep-
tion, how universal the affectionate loyalty which has
greeted me, and how it is for her sake alone that I have
been thus welcomed to India, that my advent has been
thus eagerly relzrd as an opportunity for expressing
their sentiments of personal devotion to her Majesty,
and ief their heartfelt appreciation of the mildness and
benificence of her rule. I must now b:d to the people
of India an affectionate farewell. May God pour down
his choicest blessings on the land."