The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-09-15 00:00:00

LIR. GLADSTONE'S SEA TRIP.

Ai nine o'clock on Saturday morning Mr. Gladstone,
accompanied by Mrs. Gladstone, Miss Gladstone,
Miss Constance Gladstone, Mr. Herbert Gladstone,
M.P , and the Hon. and Rec. Arthur Lyttelton, left
Hawarden Castle, for Barrow, there to board the
Pembroke Castle, a new stsamship, belonging to Messrs.
Donald Currie and Co., for a trip round the North-
West Coast of Scotland. The party drove to
Broughton Hall Station, where thay entered a saloon
carriage, and on tbeir arrival at Chester they were
joined by Mr. Alfred Tennyson, the Poet Laureate,
and Mr. Hallam Tennyson, his son. The carriage
was then attached to the 10.10 train for War-
rington. A group of sightseers had gathered on
the platform, and as the train moved away they
raised a hearty cheer, The weather was magnificent.
Warrington was reached at eleven o'clock, and here
there was a delay of about three.quarters of an hour.
Mr. Gladstone spent this time in walking up and down
the platform with the Poet Laureate. Sir R. A. Cross,
the ex-Home Secretary, entered the station and con-
versed with some membsrs of the Premier's Party. The
Premier looked somewhat pale, but appeared to be in
excellent spirits. A little before noon the North express,
to which the saloon carriage had been coupled, steamed
out of Warrington amidst the cheers of the people who
crowded the platform. At Preston and Lancaster,
where stoppages of some time were made, the spec-
tators cheered Mr. Gladstone. At the latter place
Sir Donald Currie and Mr. Fell, the Mayor of Barrow,
joined the party, and travelled in the Premier's
saloon. At Carnforth Junction the carriage was
detached from the main line express ad turned on to
the Barrow section. The Lancashire people were
most cordial in their greetings to the Premier all
along the Furness line. At Furness Abbey the
saloon was detached from the ordinary train
End wee drawn to the Pamsclen Dock Station
at Barrow, where many thousands of people
were gathered, both inside and outside the terminus.
When Mr. Gladstone alighted from the train
he was introduce I by the mayor to Mr. Ellis, the
secretary of the local Liberal association, who ex-
pressed on behalf of a numerous deputation who
accompanied him the hope that the Premier's voyage
would be both agreeable and beneficial to him. The
party was here augmented by Sir Andrew Clark, Mr,
Algernon West, Bir Arthur Gordon, Miss Tennant,
and Lord Dalhousie. The Pembroke Castle was lying
a few miles off, and the party were c4nveyed to her in
the tug Walmer ; as the little vessel left the quay Mr.
Gladstone was greeted with loud aheers from the
thousands of people gathered on the pier. The Premier,
who stood on the upper deck, with Tars. Gladstone
and Mr. Herbert Gladstone, bowed repeatedly in ac-
knowledgment.
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The Pembroke Castle arrived in Ramsay Bay, Isle of
Man, at eight o'clock on Saturday evening, and
dropped anchor about two miles from the town. The
weather was fine, with light westerly breezes. She
left at six o'clock on Sunday morning for °ban.

The Pembroke Castle arrived at Oban at noon on
Monday, Mr. Gladstone and all on board being well.
The vessel did not enter the bay, hut anchored outside
the northern end of Serrera Island, shout three miles
from Oban, allewing persons to put off in small boats
and yachts to view the esteatner and obtain, if possible,
a glimpse of the distinguished party on board. Sir
William Collins's steam yacht Fingal anchored along-
side the Pembroke Castle, and was subsequently
utilised as a despatch boat. In the afternoon Mr.
Gladstone and party steamed into Oban on board
Sir John Ramsden'a steam yacht Arid. Mr. Glad-
stone was met by a deputation from the local Liberal
Association, who presented an address, and after-
wards he drove to the ruins of Dunstaffnage Castle,
which is perched on a rocky eminence at the entrance
of Loch Etive, and from which the "Stone of
Destiny "now in Westminster Abbey was taken. Mr.
Gladstone ascended the walls, which is a feat sup-
posed to be accomplished by only the young and
vigorouct, and inspected the brass cannon which were
taken from one of the vessels of the Spanish Armada
wrecked on the voyage home among those stormy
seas. Mr, Gladstone, who expressed himself delighted
with the scenery, descended to the dungeons tal,tw
the Castle and examined the cells. The weather was
most pleasant.