The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-08-23 00:00:00

THE NEW EDDYSTONE LIGHTHOUSE.

The laying of the foundation-stone of the new
Eddystone Lighthouse was successfully accomplished
on Tuesday. It will be remembered that the historic
act thus consummated was to have taken place on the
21st of June, but on that occasion the weather was too
tempestuous to permit of a landing. The Royal
Princes, however, gave an immediate undertaking to
be present again when the weather became more
settled, to bestow on the occasion that éclat which their
presence alone could impart. In fulfilment of this
pledge, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edin-
burgh were once more in the three towns on Tuesday,
and the deferred ceremony was happily executed.
At the hour fixed for the starting of the Trinity
yachts and the other vessels officially connected with
the proceedings of the day, the outlook was not parti-
cularly inviting. There was a steady drizzle that was
symptomatic of treachery on the part of the almost
calm waters within the breakwater. At about ten the
various craft concerned commenced steaming into the
Sound. Altogether there were upwards of twenty
steamers of various kinds, the majority belonging to
the Royal Navy, and including the Siren and Alert
iTrinity yachts), the Enchantress, Princess Alice,
Vivid, Bacchante, Carron, and Trusty, and numerous
smaller and private craft, with several well-loaded
excursion steamers. The Corporation of Plymouth
were on board the steam tender Sir Walter Raleigh,
placed at their disposal by the Great Western Railway
Company, and that of Devonport on board the Carron.
Tne scene on the journey out was exceedingly
pretty and lacked but the charm of the sun's rays.
The sea was found slightly perturbed, and there was a
certain amount of that tossing or heaving which,
while it tests the constitutions of the bilious or the
otherwise unsailorly, renders all the more enjoyable
the trip to those by whom "up and down movements"
are disregarded. Running out in all directions were
private yachts with distended canvass. Scudding
through the foaming surf and in relief to their white
sails were the dark brown sheets of many a bold
trawler.

The Galatea did not get on the move until close
upon eleven, but when she started with her Royal
passengers she cut through the water at a clipping
rate. As she was hailed emerging from Barn Pool
the crews of the Bacchante and the training brigs
manned the yards, and the clouds of smoke and
the distznt booming of many guns announced
to those under way some miles in advance
that the Galatea was hastening to the scene.
Shortly before noon the first boatload of privileged
persons left the Galatea for the works, and, having
landed, the flag of the Trinity Brethren was run up an
improvised mast. The last to arrive on the dam were
the Prince of Wales, attired in the undress uniform of
a captain of the Army Reserve, and the Duke
of Edinburgh, in the uniform of an Admiral.
Their Royal Highnesses at once entered into conversa-
tion with Mr. Douglas, the architect and engineer,
and that gentleman explained the mode of procedure.
The Rev. Prebendary Wilkinson, the vicar of St.
Andrew's, the mother parish of Plymouth, who was
attired in his doctor's robes, then invoked the Divine
blessing on the undertaking, the assemblage standing
bareheaded. The rev, gentleman first recited the
following appropriate passages :—" Except the Lord
build the house, they labour in vain that build it."
" Thine, 0 Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and
the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and the
earth is Thine." The Vicar of Plymouth then de.
livered a prayer as follows :
"0, eternal Lord, who alone spreadest out the heavens,
who stillest the raging of the sea, and who holdest the
winds in Thine hands, be pleased in Thy goodness to
grant Thy blessing to this undertaking and prosper
it day by day. Preserve the lives of all who are
engaged in this work from accident and danger, and
crown their labours with success. We lay this atone in faith
and hope, and earnestly beseech Thee to grant that this Im-
portant work may in Thy good providence prosper. May its
light shine far over the troubled waters, be the means of
guiding many a mariner in storm and tempest and warning
him of danger. May it be the means of saving life and
furthering the interests of mankind for mans generations.
We pray Thee to behold with Thy favour our sovereign lady
the Queen: endow her plentifully with heavenly gifts ;
strengthen her that she may vanquish and overcome all her
enemies, and give peace in our time, 0 Lord. We also
beseech Thee to bless the Prince and Princess of Wales, the
Dnke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and all the Royal Family.
Prosper them with all happiness and bring them to Thy
heavenly kingdom. We heartily thank Thee for all rational
mercies and blessings, and pray Thee to pardon all our sins
and to receive our prayers, which are offered through Jesus
Christ our Lord."

This dedication having concluded, the Princes des-
cended the cavity in which the stone hung ready for
"laying." Mr. Douglas then handed a silver trowel to
the Duke of Edinburgh,who formally spread the cement
in the cavity the stone was to occupy, the stones on
either side of it being already in their places. The
Prince of Wales also took the trowel in hand, and,
when a bottle containing a parchment on which was
inscribed the date and the names of the actors in the
tcehreesmtoonnei a had
was dl
obweeerne
dplced in a
in
nits
place,
acec,aavnitdy
dpercelpaarreeddbfyorthi t,
e
Duke of Edinburgh, amid loud cheers, to be well and
truly laid.
The handle of the trowel presented to the Duke is
of polished granite taken from the reef, and is sur-
mounted with a Turk's-head knot. The trowel itself
is of silver, splendidly engraved and mounted. On one
side is engraved the coat of arms of the Trinity House,
and underneath this are depicted the three lighthouses
which have stood on the Eddystone reef—Winstanley's
1696 1703 ; Rudyerd's, 1706-1755; and Smeaton's,
1757-1879; whilst there is a further engraving of
the new house which is to be erected, Beneath
this is engraved a plan of the rocks and the position of
the lighthouses. Around the edge of the trowel is the
motto of the present lighthouse, "Except the Lord
build the house they labour in vain that build it." On
the reverse is the Royal coat of arms, and beneath is
the following inscription :—" To Rear-Admiral H. R. H.
the Duke of Edinburgh, KG., Master of the Trinity
House, by whom in the presence of H.R.H. the Prince
of Wales, KG., the Elder Brethren, and other mem-
bers of the Corporation, the first stone of the
fourth Eddystone Lighthouse was laid, this trowel is
respectfully presented." Underneath is the name of
Mr. J. N. Douglas, the engineer. The box in which
the trowel is enclosed is of polished oak, taken from
the existing lighthouse. On the lid of the box is a
plate with the inscription :—" This box is made from
a portion of the original internal fittings of Smeaton's
lighthouse on the Eddystone, 1757-1879."
Their Royal Highnesses having acquitted themselves
of their functions, were conveyed to the old lighthouse,
which they inspected with manifest pleasure.
They were much interested in the fact that the
fabric is as solid as ever, and in the explanation
that the eating out of it rocky foundation has
alone compelled the Trinity Brethren to supersede
a structure which has survived the mighty tempests
of more than a century. On leaving, the Duke of
Edinburgh was presented, on behalf of the Duchess,
with an ornamental cardbasket, bearing the word
" Eddystone " neatly carved by one of the keepers.
As the visit was now terminated, and as the weather
was squally, a hasty retreat was made, the Harpy
being the first to decamp, followed by the Siren, the
Sabrina, and the Galatea, the Enchantress bringing
up the rear.

Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, accom-
panied by her five children and suite, left London on Tuesday
evening, en route for Denmark.

it appears from a Parliamentary return issued on
Tuesday that 292 urban`sanitary authorities in England have
contracted outstanding loans for gas and waterworks. The
amounts were: For water only, 0•£699867 water and gas,
£19,899,422 ; gas only, £1 592,485; total, £28,490,524.

- •
• .
"A correspondent Oates. that a proposal has been
made to form a religious guild for persons connected with
the press, 'from the editor to the stoker's boy at the engine.'
The rules suggested are that members should pledge them-
selves to go to some place of worship at least once on son-
days, ano, it possible, once on week-days; to spend live
minutes a day in private prayer- to be temperate in dress,
speech, and food- to be friendly with those with whom they
wit& ; and, if potslble, to Wife() them Co I'din the guild.

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