The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-05-06 00:00:00

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1876.

PROCLAIMING THE QUEEN'S NEW

TITLE.

On Monday morning, at half past ten, Mr. Alder-
man Knight and Mr. Deputy Breflit, the Sheriffs of
London and Middlesex, attended by their Under-
Sheriffs, went in State to the Royal Exchange, and
from the steps there, facing the Wellington Statue,
caused to be read the Royal Proclamation announcing
the assumption by Her Majesty of the additional title
of Empress of India. They then proceeded to Charing-
cross at eleven, and afterwards to the Town-hall,
Brentford, at noon, where the ceremony was repeated.
So unusual an occurrence naturally excited much
curiosity. On each occasion the reading of the Pro-
clamation was heralded by a flourish of trumpets, and
at the conclusion, the Sheriffs called for three cheers
•for Her Majesty, which were heartily given.
The Act "to enable Her Most Gracious Majesty to make all
addition to the Royal Style and Titles appertaining to the
Imperial Crown of the United Kingdom and its Depen-
dencies," which received the Royal assent on the 27th ult.,
was issued on Monday. Reference is made to the Act 39 and
40 George 111., c. 67, by virtue of which, and of a Royal Pro-
clamation dated January 1, 1801, the present Style and Titles
of Her Majesty are "Victoria by the Grace of God of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, De-
fender of the Faith." The statute 21 and 21 Vict., c. 106,
for the better government of India, declared that the
Government of India, theretofore vested in the East
India Company in trust for Her Majesty, should become
vested in Her Majesty, "mad it is expedient that there
should be a recognition of the transfer of government so
made by means of an addition to be made to the style and
titles of her majesty." It is them enacted by the present
statute which will be known as the tenth chapter of the
29th Victoria, that "it shall be lawful for Her Most Gra-
cious Majesty, with a view to such recognition as aforesaid
of the transfer of the Government of India, by Her Royal
Proclamation under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom,
to make such addition to the style and titles at present
appertaining to the Imperial crown of the United Kingdom
and its dependencies as to Her Majesty may seem meet." On
Friday's Proclamation was gazatted that the new title was
" Empress of India."

The Dublin Correspondent of 7'ite Times writes :

The Corporation of Dublin, having resolved to present an
address of congratulation to the Queen on the occasion of
the Prince of Wales's return from India, felt some difficulty
as to the use of the new title assumed by the Queen, and
consulted Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster King of Arms, on the
subject. Ulster has given his opinion in the following
letter :
" Dublin Castle, May 1, 1876.

"Sir, —ln reply to your inquiry I beg to state that the
Corporation, in the address about to be presented to the
Queen on the occasion of the return of his Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales, should address Her Majesty under the
style and titles of 'Victoria, by the Grace of God of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen,
Defender of the Faith, Empress of India.'

"I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient tervant,
"J. BZILNARD BIJRKE, Mater.
"Mr. W. J. Henry, &c: