The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-09-17 00:00:00

THE ROYAL PRINCES AT SYDNEY.

Advices from Sydney dated August sth, states that
the detached squadron had not then left Port Jackson,
owing to the serious illness of Rear-Admiral the Earl
of Clanwilliam. On the 22nd July his lordship
was seized with a fainting fit, which rendered him
unconscious for nearly three hours, and on recover-
ing consciousness ha remained in a precarious
condition. The Inconstant, flagship, was closed
against all visitors, and on the following day so serious
was the Admiral's condition that the medical officers of
the fleet held a consultation, with the result that the
departure of the squadron, which had been fixed for
that day, was indefinitely postponed. The Admiral's
illness, it seems, was of a somewhat complicated.
nature, the nervous system, and especially the spinal
chord and brain, being most affected, and complete
repose was deemed necessary in order to ensure re-
covery. When the mail left his lordship had greatly
improved, and there was every prospect of a few days
seeing his complete restoration to health.
On the night prior to the day of the intended
departure of the detached squadron, the ships were
serenaded by the German residents in Sydney.. The
Princes were on shore at the time at a ball given by
Lady Augustus Loftus at Government House. A
steamer conveying about five hundred serenaders,•fol-
lowed by several other steamers filled with spectators,
visited each ship of the Squadron, and sang the
English and German National Anthems, glees' and
choruses. The seamen of the Tourmaline replied with
"The anchor's weighed I" and "Good-bye, sweet-
heart ! " The electric light was used to illuminate the
scene, and the effect was picturesque in the extreme.
Owing to the continued illness of Earl Clanwilliam,
the Princes on returning from the ball at Government
House remained on board the flagship several days. In
the meantime the squadron wasjoined by the Bacchante,
which had completed her repairs at Melbourne, and
the Princes were transferred from the flagship to her.
On the 2nd August advantage was taken of the
cor tinned detention of the squadron to arrange
that the Princes should take part in the cere-
mony of laying the foundation stone of the pedestal
for a statue of her Majesty the Queen, which is to be
erected in Sydney, close to the statue to the late Prince
Consort. The work was pushed forward, and the
arrangements rather hurriedly made, but notwith-
standing this the opportunity was made the occasion
of a great public demonstration. Between sixty and
seventy thousand people thronged the streets and the
vicinity of the site, and were enthusiastic in their de-
monstration of loyalty. The Royal party started from
Government House in a state carriage, preceded by a
body of mounted troopers. In the carriage were the
Governor and Lady Augustus Loftus, and Princes
Edward and George, and following them was a long
procession, made up of naval and military bands, de-
tachments of sailors and marines from the ships of
the squadron, colonial volunteer corps, fire brigades,
friendly societies, and temperance organisations.
Within a barricade erected around the site were
gathered some fifteen or twenty thousand children
from the various public schools, and these, in the
course of the proceedings, sang national airs.