The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-02-09 00:00:00

Court News.

The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint
David Livingstone, Esq., to be Her blajesty's Consul in
the district of Quillimane, Senna, and Tote, on the
Eastern Coast of Africa.

......
His Royal Highness Prince Frederick William of
Prussia, before leaving this country, presented to Sir
John Key, Bait, by the hands of Count Bernstorff, the
Prussian Minister, • splendid gold snuffbox, with his
Royal Highness's cipher set in diamonds' of the value of
WO guineas, aa • mark of his personal friendship, and
in testiniony of his entire satisfaction at the manner in
which the right hon. baronet carried out the wishes of
the corporation of London in presenting his Royal High-
with the freedom of the city.
THE MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL—A sup-
plement to the Gazette of Tuesday oontains a long official
account of the celebration of the marriage of the Prin-
cess Royal with Prince Frederick William Nicholas
Charles of Prussia, on Monday week, at the Chapel
Royal, St. James's; and also an amount of the investiture
of the Prince with the order of the Garter at Windsor
Castle on Thursday last. The Gazette publishes addresses
of congratulation to Her Majesty on the occasion from
the Military Knights of Windsor, the borough of Tiver-
ton, from Belfast, Birmingham, Boston, Morpeth, Edin-
burgh, Dunbar, Groenook, Stirling, and Lanark.
His Royal Highness the Prince Albert of Prussia and
suite arrived at Dover at 9.30 Thursday evening, and
after dining at the Lord Warden Hotel, embarked
on board the Royal Mail Company's steamer, the
Queen, for Calais.
DEPARTURE OF THE PRINCE AND

PRINCESS OF PRUSSIA.
On Tuesday our late Princess Royal, now the Princess
Frederick William of Prussia, took her leave of the
country of her birth amid the cheers of thousands of
well-wishers, who thronged every part of her route to
wish her 'God speed." It had been judiciously deter-
mined that the route to the Bricklayers' Arms Station,
whence the Royal party were to proceed by train to
Gravesend, should be by the Strand, Fleet-street, Can-
non-street, London-bridge, and the Borough; and from
an early hour, the principal points along the line were
taken up. The hour fixed for the departure from the
Palace was a quarter before 12 o'clock, and shortly be-
fore that time • guard of honour of the Coldstream
Guards marched into the Court-yard, its band playing
the very appropriate air, "Home, sweet Home,' and in
a few minutes afterwards the escort of the 2nd Life
Guards arrived. The three-quarters had scarcely chimed
when the Royal corl4,e made its appearance through
the gateway of the Palace. First came • detachment of
the Lifeguards ; then an open carriage and four contain-
ing the Prince and Princess Frederick William, the Prince
Consort, and the Prince of Wales; • second carriage in
which rode the Duke of Cambridge and the Prince Alfred;
and four other carriages conveying the ladies and gentle-
men in attendance on the Royal party. A detachment

of the Life Guards brought up the rear. It would be
presumptuous to speculate on the scene which had
passed in the Palace, but it was evident from Her Royal
Highness's countenance that the trial of parting had
been to her a severe one, and it was some little time be-
fore she could sufficiently subdue her emotion to acknow-
ledge the cheers with which she was received. This
touch of nature gained her many a blessing as she
drove along. Her Majesty and the Royal children came
out on the balcony and watched the procession as long
an it continued in sight. The snow had already begun
to fall, and it came down faster and faster as the Royal
party moved at a gentle trot along the Mall, by Stafford-
house, down Cleveland-row, and Pall-mall. At Temple-
bar the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs in their State carriages
were in waiting to conduct the Royal party through the
city, and a guard of honour of the Artillery Company,
the representatives of the Old Train-Bands, presented
anus. The old obstructive pile, so long railed at by
utilitarians, did good service, for it afforded the only
opportunity which occurs on the route for an attempt at
decoration. Up the sides ran clusters of the national
flags of the two countries, flanked by shields, on which
were emblazoned the arms of the Royal Houses of Eng-
land and Prussia. Over the gate were medallions of the
Prinoe and Princess surmounting the legends "Gad
speed you" and "Farewell." Wreaths of laurel ran
about these, and round the upper semi-circle of the arch
was arranged a trophy of national flags. Over all
floated "St. George's banner, broad and gay." Old
Temple-bar thus dressed out forms a very picturesque
object—from the west end at least—and does credit to
the taste of those who so adorned it at the shortest pos-
sible notice. There was a short delay on the city side,
the Lord Mayor presenting, not the keys of the city, but
aboquet of choice flowers, which was graciously received,
and then the procession moved on at the same gentle
trot, the sheriffs and the Lord Mayor leading the way.
The snow falls heavier and heavier, but it does not chill
the enthusiasm of the crowds which line Fleet-street,
nor drown the hearty cheers which rise at every point as
the Royal carriage approaches. Every available spot
has its knot of sight-seers; some have even mounted to
the top of the Monument. Lines of banners are sus-
pended across the broad thoroughfare, the ships on the
river are gaily dressed out, the bells of the city churches
swell out the greetings of the crowd with their merry
peals, and so the Princess passes out of the ancient city
of London. St. Saviour's bells receive her on the other
side of the bridge with a jingling peal, which is weak to
say the least of it, and only. audible because every other
sound is still. It was half-past 12 when London-bridge
was crossed, and from this point the Bricklayers' Arms
is reached by the Dover-road and the Old Kent-road in
about a quarter of an hour. The route lies through •
very different quarter of the town from any which has
yet been traversed, but the enthusiasm is still sustained,
and the crowds are even greater. At the Bricklayers'
Arms there is an immense congregation, and it requires
great exertions to keep the road clear, for every one is
anxious to catch the last sight of the Princess. As her
carriage turns into the yard the cheers rise on every
side, and form a fitting finish to her parting ride through
the streets of London. At the Bricklayers' Arms the
admissions were regulated by a previous issue of tickets,
while those who were not fortunate enough to have ob-
tained the entree formed themselves into a mass out-
side, determined to shout a hearty "God speed you" to
the daughter of their Queen. The Princess on her
arrival was so covered with snow—the natural conse-
quence of sitting in an open carriage on such a day—
that before entering the station her dress was disencum-
bered of its unwelcome burden by one of the gentlemen
of her suite. After this little incident she passed
through the booking-offioe, leaning on the arm of her
Royal husband, to the receiving-room, the ladies rising
and waving their handkerchiefs, and the gentlemen
cheering with the utmost enthusiasm. In the receiving.
room a magnificent bouquet of the choicest flowers was
presented to Her Royal Highness by Miss Eborall, the
daughter of Mr. Ehorall, general manager of the com-
pany, which was graciously accepted by Her Royal
Highness. Her Royal Highness, who had upon coming
upon the platform worn her veil down, appeared mush
touched at her reception, and, raising her veil, she
bowed repeatedly to the assembly as she proceeded
slowly to the Royal carriage, accompanied by Prince
Frederick William, the Prince Consort, the Prince of
Wales, the Prince Alfred, the Duke of Cambridge, and
the ladies and gentlemen in their suite.
At 10 minutes to 1 the train, which consisted of eight
carriages and was drawn by a locomotive decorated with
holly and driven by Mr. Cuddesdon, superintendent of
the locomotive department, left the station. Thousands
of labourers and mechanics had taken possession of every
available truck upon the line and had °limed every wall,
and, despite the snow which fell incessantly, there they
remained to give a hearty cheer for the future prosperity
of England's eldest daughter. The train did not stop at
any station, but there was no station at which a crowd
had not assembled to add their contributions to the
general expression of the feelings of the country. The
Royal party reached Gravesend at 25 minutes to 2
o'clock. Before leaving the station at Gravesend Mr.
Eboral received through the hands, we belive, of Lord
A. Paget, a handsome ring, formed of a large topaz
surrounded with brilliants, as a recognition on the part
of their Royal Highnesses of the able and considerate
manner in which he had discharged the functions which
had fallen to his lot.

The seleotion of Gravesend as s place of ernbarcation
for the Royal bride and bridegroom was equally unex-
pected and welcome. The inhabitants exerted them-
selves most energetically to evince their loyalty, and
seldom has an English town displayed a prettier holiday
aspect. Bells rang out from the banner-covered steeples
flags in surprising numbers decorated the windows and
streets—triumphal arches spanned the thoroughfares—
and festoons of evergreens and roses hung from the
balconies, and were suspended from opposite windows
in extraordinary profusion.
Four Royal carriages were in attendance, and as soon
as the railway station was cleared the Royal party
passed under a splendid triumphal arch decorated with
the arms and flags of England and Prussia. The prettiest
sight was the vista presented by Harmer-street. This
broad and handsome street is graced by a balcony along
its entire length ; and festoons of evergreens and white
roses, suspended from the balcony, and occasionally
taking a flight across the street, tall masts with pennons,
and banners suspended from the windows, made up a
scene of extraordinary gaiety and beauty. The Princess
smiled and bowed her thanks and acknowledgments
with great affability, and. appeared charmed with her
reception and the true lovers knots', garlands, wreaths,
" Adieus," and wishes for her happiness, which were
expressed in every kind of floral alphabet. The point
at which the Princess Royal bade her long farewell to
English ground was the Terrace-pier, and the officials of
Gravesend, with most loyal zeal and admirable taste,
had done their utmost to adorn it. It was carpeted
with red cloth along the path actually reserved for the
procession, and had sloping rows of seats on each side.
The walls were hung with white banners, having alter-
nately the initials of the bride and bridegrroom in gold
and black, and long garlands of evergreens, intermixed
with artificial flowers, which varied the effect in the
most light and graceful manner. At the end a broad
banner, in which was worked the simple word "adieu"
in variegated flowers, stretched quite across the pier.
All the vessels of the Royal flotilla lay close at hand
and were decorated with flags. High above them all
rose the Victoria and Albert, moored close alongside
the end of the pier, with her slim, exquisitely-formed
hull and tapering masts, with every rope hauled taut,
and her general appearance rather suggesting the idea
that she was a beautiful model to be looked at, than
ever intended to skim ovr the most tempestuous seas
at the rate of nearly 18 knots an hour. At her fore,
main, and mime hung large and most tastefully finished
garlands of evergreens, and flowers draped with coloured
ribands and surmounted with the Royal crown. Near
and around the yacht lay a small flotilla of kindred
boats, all with their steam up, and everything ready for
a start, with their long slender bows dipping impatiently
to the ripple of the tide, as if fretting and chafing till
the moment came to be off. There were the Admiralty
yacht Black Eagle, the Vivid, the late Royal Yacht the
Osborne, and others, all more or less fleet and fairy
looking. Together with these were two determined.
obstinate, blunt-looking craft, the Alacrity and Lapwing
gunboats, which seemed as if they had charge of all and
were the natural guardians and protectors of their more
slender consorts on either side, A heavy fall of snow
set in. Dense clouds obscured the horizon, and the
drift of flakes flew across the river in such blinding
thickness that it was at times difficult to distinguish
even the sombre outlines of Tilbury Fort, while all
towards the mouth of the Thames was dark and gloomy
in the last degree. As all the spaces allotted to ticket
holders were filled, the pier presented a most gay and
brilliant aspect, which increased as the time wore on,
and uniforms and corporate robes were mixed with the
rich array of ladies' costumes. Perhaps the most in-
teresting arrivals were those of the 58 young ladies who
were to strew the flowers under the feet of the young
bride. They were all uniformly attired in light white
dresses, with mantles of blue trimmed with swan's-down,
and on their heads a wreath of drooping lilies of the
valley. With much good taste the young ladies selected
for this graceful act of homage to the Princess were
nearly all children, and their faces were radiant with
, delight. The Mayor's daughter, an exceedingly pretty
I and interesting child, came laden with a magnificent
bouquet, which she was specially charged to present to
the 'bride. At about half-past 1 o'clock news arrived
that the Royal train was at the station, and all was
bustle and excitement. The small procession of the
town authorities was arranged in all its minute dia.
tinctions as to grade, and with a proper difference as to
place between the " Oars" of Rochester and "for'
geant-at-Mace of Maidstone." The 68 little houris, too
each now carrying an exquisitely shaped open basket,
filled with cut flowers, were arranged on both sides of
the path down the centre of the pier, and waited with
impatient* for the moment when they were to mutter
their scented offerings before the young couple. They
had not long to wait.
On the usual salute from the guard of honour the first
carriage drew up at the entrance. From it alighted
Prince Frederick William of Prussia, who immediately
assisted his bride to descend, and after the Royal couple
came the Prince Consort and the Prince of Wales. The
bride stood leaning on her husband's arm. Her face was
slightly flushed as if with the excitement of the scene,
and, with her eyes red and swollen as if from weeping,
she uourtsied with a stately gram peculiarly her own,
in return for the deep reverences which welcomed her,
and seemed, though self-possessed, to look around with
something of a feeling of timidity and hesitation. Her
Royal husband was, of course, received with a most
marked welcome, which lie seemed to feel, though, as
usual, he always left his bride to receive the ovations
offered, and watched her every movement with the
most affectionate solicitude. Prime Albert, the Prince
of Weise, Prim* Alfred, and the Duke of Cambridge
stood behind the young bride and bridegroom. As soon
as the first bustle of the arrival was over the Town
Clerk advanced and presented the address of the Mayor
and Corporation. This ceremony over, the Mayor's
little daughter, Miss Lizzie Trorghton, advaneed, and
with a simple childish grace that was inexpressibly win.
ning, presented the Prinoeu with her bouquet. Her
Royal Highness smiled and eourtsied as she took it. She
had already a magnificent one in her hand, but this was
instantly given to Prime Frederick William, while she
tunnel( torrid that given to her by Mies Troughton.
Preceded then by the procession of the local authorities,
to which no one vouchsafed a single glance, the Royal
party moved down the pier. The yards of all the
vessels of the flotilla were manned, and as the Princess
with her husband stepped upon the gangway leading to
the Royal yacht the cheers were deafening. Once the
Princess half turned and looked back upon the pier, at
all the windows of which hats and handkerchiefs were
waving, and then, slowly entering the saloon on the
quarter deck, was seen no more.
The Royal party waited on board nearly three-quarters
of an hour, which was occupied by the sailors of the

Royal yacht in shipping an almost fabulous quantity of
baggage with characteristic glee and rapidity, and by
some speculative boatmen, with inimitable coolness, in
landing a crowd of persons on the lighter to which the
Royal yacht was moored, and allowing the mob to peer
into its saloons for the small charge of one penny.
These cool intruders however, were soon removed. The
interval also afforded an opportunity for a display of
seamanship on the part of one of the vessels of the
Royal squadron, which concluded a short series of
nianceuvres by running its bowsprit thsough one of the
cabin windows of the Royal yacht. At last it was an-
nounced that the Royal party were returning, and the
emotion exhibited by the Royal party on their return on
deck showed how deeply affecting the farewell had
been. The Prince Consort was grave, but composed,
though the effort which it cost him to maintain an ap-
pearance of serenity was visible to all. With less self-
command the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred made
little attempt to conceal their grief, and the latter espe-
cially wept with all that bitterness which marks the
affliction of the young. With the Royal party came the
bridegroom, and as the Prince Consort left he again
warmly shook him by the hand, the Princess doing the
same. All then quitted the vessel and remained stand-
ing at the head of the gangway while the Royal yacht
cast off her hawsers and prepared to start The Prince
had stood till then watching with anxious eyes the
movements of the yacht, when suddenly he seemed to
remember something, or to wish to return and bid those
on board once more good bye. He had half proceeded
down the gangway with this intention, when there was
another display of seamanship on the part, as it was
said, of some other vessel of the squadron, which, appa-
rently with the most cool intent, ran smash into the
Terrace-pier, shaking it almost to its foundation, and
smashing her own paddle-box to pieces. The shock was
violent, and the Prince himself was so startled as to
hasten back up the gangway, which, like a bridge, led
from the yacht to the pier. This incident evidently
caused him to abandon his intention of going on board
again, and the Royal yacht began to cast off, and swing
with her head towards the centre of the river. The
Prince Consort waved his hand to the Royal bridegroom
again and again, but kept his composure, but not so did
the young Princes, whose grief seemed only redoubled
by the tokens of farewell around them. Neither could
conceal his sorrow, and neither tried to do so, but stood
, brushing away the tears from their eyes, and still
watching the Royal yacht till as her distance from the
I shore increased Prince Alfred fairly hid his face in his
handkerchief and sobbed as if his heart:was breaking.
On such an occasion there were not many who could re-
sist the contagious influence of a sorrow so innocent and
an sincere, and there were few who looked with dry eyes
upon this scene of the departure of the daughter of Eng-
land. At last something like a procession was again
formed, and the Royal party returned as before, with the
last echoes of the saluting guns still ringing in their ears,
and the Royal yacht fast disappearing into the snowstorm
and banks of heavy clouds that hung over the water.
! The Prince Consort with the Princes entered the car-
riage almost instantly, and amid the most tumultuous
demonstrations of loyalty from the crowd outside.
In the course of the evening intelligence reached
Gravesend that the Royal yacht ran into a collier at the
! Lower Hope and carried away the taffrail of the latter.
The Victoria and Albert immediately slackened speed,
but seeing that the damage inflicted was but slight, and
that a boat had put out from the Prince Frederick
William, (one of the Royal Mail Company's steamboats,
which accompanied the Royal yacht down the river,)
Captain Denman resumed his voyage to Antwerp. Mr.
Chnrchward, manager of the Royal Mail Company, hay-
ing boarded the collier to see whether any assistance was
needed, found her able to pursue her voyage without
danger, and the Prince Frederick William then returned
to Gravesend. The reception at Antwerp and progress
to Brussels were of the most enthusiastic character.
. . _

The royal party did not reach Brussels from Antwerp
on Wednesday evening until a quarter to seven o'clock.
The ball was to open an hour later, but his Majesty and
guests did not enter until half-past nine o'clock. The
principal state bodies of Belgium and the Diplomatic
Corps were fully represented. Lord Howard de Walden
had unfortunately, however, become suddenly indis-
posed on his return from Antwerp. Upwards of 1,200
persons were present at the ball. The princess wore a
dress of rose-coloured silk trimmed with tulle, the skirts
ornamented with roses. Her head-dress was a wreath
of roses to match; the only jewel worn by her Royal
highness was the magnificent necklace of thirty-six
pearls, the gift of her husband. Her Royal Highness
wore the ribbon which is understood to be the distinctive
decoration of the Order of the Swan worn by Prussian
ladies. The Nord states that the sweet expression of
her features and the charm of her manner were the
general theme. The ball was opened by their Royal
Highnesses. The quadrille was partly made up of the
Duke of Brabant dancing with the Princess Frederick
William, and the Prince Frederick William dancing
with the Princess de Ligne. At eleven o'clock their
Royal Highnesses entered the refreshment saloon, where
a magnificent supper was laid out. Their Royal High-
nesses afterwards retired with the King and the Duchess
of Brabant, but dancing was kept up until half-past
twelve o'clock, the Duke of Brabant and the Count de
Flandres remaining until the close of the ball.
The Prince and Princess left Brussels Thursday morn-
ing at eight o'clock. The King accompanied them to
the platform of the railway, where a special train was
waiting to convey them to Cologne. The Duke de Bra-
bant, the Count de Flandres, and the ministers of
Prussia and England accompanied their Royal High-
nesses to the Prussian frontiers at Verviers.