The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-04-25 00:00:00

some some or two of constabulary on foot, to force back the
maws which blocks op the course and pin it within the rope.
These lawless people yield at onceo and cheering and laugh-
ing good humouredly give way. One peculiarity In this
Crowd; ill, not noisy. 111, not what one expects an Irish
crowd to be. The same of the road—much quieter than the
People on the road to Epsom or Ascot. The first ra. Is at
hand. And what happened In it, as In all other, must be
loft to the chronicler of the races to tell. The Prince took
the liveliest interest In the sport. Ws Royal Highness, his
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, his Serene flightless
Prince Tech, and Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar came to the
top of the Royal Stand whenever any race was going on,
and it is a matter on which the Prince congratulates himself
for the sake of his wife and of himself that for once Punches.
town was d4stinguislied by a series of hard twee In which
there were, it is said, no irmie broken, no horse killed—
nobody hurt, In foot, although there were divorcee between
the upper nail lower parte of several centaurs. The Prince
WU delighted with the view, with the scene, with the sports.
II Is ibiyal iligliniess has, I an. told, expressed the greatest
possible gratification at his reception by the people, and the
Pi Ince.. of Wales shares the feelings of her illustrious
consort to the fullest extent.

Kingstown owes its mime to the lauding of George IV.,
and, although buelcary may sound as well, no one can say
its meaning Is as c:exr unless he hen high scholar. The
Cove cf txrk is known to all the world as Queenstown since
the advent of tier Majesty, and It has long been the custom
In Ireland to use loyal denominations and accept Royal
signations. Thus we have Maryborough, Williamstown,
King's County, and Queen's County. Punchestown, where
there never was a town at all, and where there Is no punch
for 3G3 days 1p the year, is a misnomer, and Ills a OlifgUlti-
ing name as well, because it suggests to the Saxon mind
images of whisky and fighting, whereas ill. an exceptionally
temperate and peactiul haunt of men bent On sport rather
than on disorder.

. . . . . Friday wee a racing day. to a racing man's heart
The rainfall at night sod to the eariy morning disposed of
dust on the road anti softened the hard ground and freshened
the air. The races were good, the running spirited, and the
falls, which, out of compliment to the Princess, were re-
served for the day aim was not present, produced nothing
more serious than the formal incident in the condition of a
steeplechase rider at the close of • spirited meeting—a broken
collarbone. No horkci were killed, no rider dangerously
hurt, tut there was afforded prat the fillp of anxiety and
excitement needed by the sport, which caused tho usual
" He's down'"A bad fall," 'No! he's up again, ilurroo
to buss about the air. And he it said with sumo confidence
by one who never means to try them that the obstacles at
Punchestown are not really formidable, though they are
numerous, and that the only danger arises from the sharp-
ness of the pace at which the horses are ridden, which
makes a " puler " rather hazardous.

• . . . . People, who pretended haughtily that they only
came to look at the racm, gradually before the day was over
crept towards tho Royal Stand to have a good look at the
Prince, and it Is a positive fact that some of the peasantry
believed he rode in one of the races, and were highly de-
lighted at It, aa a proof that he was a good sportsman. "Which
of them Is the Prins.) f" asked a stout frieze-coated farmer,
as two rider, took the stone wall together. " liegorra ! he
rides well." Which of the two the rustic singled out cannot
be determined, but ho might take tila choice, for they were
both bony, bard-faced jockeys of the sect seen at Irish and
suburban courses, and the conclusion he arrived at In well
known to be justified by his &Jul Highness's excellent
performance 110.09 country. After a race in which two
Fitzpatrick' bit the dolt, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince
Edward of Saxe Weimar, Lord Strathnalni, Lord henry
Lennox, and Sir Hope Grant set off on foot to visit the
ground, making first of all for the place where one of the
Injured riders lay with a crowd around him nicking up all
the air, in spite of the horsewhip of a sanitary officer, who
cut about vigorously. The crowd moved. They were piloted
by Lord liowth on horseback. The Duke of Cambridge is
remembered by ninny, and, of course, Lord Strathnairn Is
well.known, but there was no attempt to follow or "mad
dog" them, though they were treated with all respect save
one old woman, who evidently had an idea that his Royal
Highness was somehow at the botton3 of the fall, for she
groused out an earnest prayer as he creased the wall: "The
Lord forgive them that note on poor people to break their
necks," in atone suggestive of much doubt that her pniyer
could or would be attended to.
There, too, was Lord Strathnairn, that terrible
amino, who is supposed to be thirsting for the blood of
poor Paddy, " stravaging " about with no more formidable
weapon about him than his shirt pin over fields and ditehm,
amid the peasantry, and explaining the course to his distin-
guished friends, for he knows the country well and was one
of the stewards,

And whose are these °Pretty bonnets and lovely
faces?" The crowd makes way and there comes forth to a
little knoll a bmall bevy of the ladies of the Court with two
attendant cavaliers (on foot', who have walked soros. the
course through all the roughs as they are found over here,
and have heard or seen nothing to make them sorry for their
bold adventure. Punchestown that day was an enormous
success. The Prince and the people got on famously. There
was not much of what is called fun, but there was hard
riding, good sport, and most unbounded hospitality. Turtle
soup within a march of Tallaght ! Yet BO it was; and plenty
of it,

. . . . . But the most Interesting matter for the British
people to know Is that the Prince of Wales went to a great
and promiscuous gathering of the Irish people in an out, of-
the-way place turned into a popular racecourse, that he event
about among them, was respected, welcomed, greeted, and
cheered, ae he stood without guards or escorts in the midst
of them. 'leaven knows what "evils" he may have
" touched" an his lingers were grasped by rugged hands I
Who can tell what mischief has fled at his frank and genial
smile The Scotch of the North for a long time sang
"Will ye one come back again" to one who luckily
for them and us never did come back, and whom they
do not care much about at present, and the Irish people
are now in a vary different sense inclined to repeat
the same words in their own way to the, Prince of Wales,
and are surely hoarse with asking it of the Princess of Wales,
And what is the answer to be? After the last race the Prince
and hie party returned in open carriages to Saltine, with
some half-dozen mounted constabulaty to clear the way,
though the cars drew up on the roadside at his approach
most readily. A }rung lady on a grey pony, with a little
dog as her sole guardian, dashed out of the throng at a gate-
way, and tried to get up to the Prince's carriage as it rolled
over the greensward leaving the course. There were a few
gentlemen tiding at each side, who blocked up the way, as
there were hedges lining the route, and she fell back
dispirited, exclahning in the prettiest llttle accent possible,
"And I'm not to see him, after ell V" Encourage,' by the
aides In the following carriage, she whipped on her horse
again, and once more failed to break the ranks of the cavalry.
" Let her pale, like good fellows!" cried ecinle friendly
voices, as, encouraged by fresh admonitions "10 cut on
again !" she laid on the whipcord once more, and this time
the enthnslastic loyalist passed through, took a good look at
the Prince, dashed on ahead of the carriage, and drew up to
have another good look, and was gratified beyond measure
when the Prince took off his hat to her. Oh, thank you
all !" she cried, as the aides passed her. "1 have seen him
quite close. And now I'll go home quite happy'' And,
with a little modest kiss hand and bOW, the young Indy and
her dog turned to quieter pursuits than the " chaire mix
Prilices" on the road to NW,/

TIM INSTALLATION AT or. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL.
The festivities consequent upon the visit of the
Prince and Princess of AN ales to Dublin reached their
climax on Saturday, when in the venerable and ancient
Cathedral of the city his Royal Highness was installed
Principal Knight Companion of the Most Illustrious
Order of the patron saint of Ireland. The weather
was extremely fine, and the out-door processions were
viewed with great interest by vast crowds of the
populace, who loudly cheered the Royal visitors and
the leading nobility. The pageant within the sacred
fane was gorgeous in the extreme; the magnificent
dresses of the Princess of Wales and the Irish ladies
who were privileged to be present adding much to the
general effect.
The installation took place between four and five
o'clock, the Cathedral having been filled at three.
The Prince of Wales seated himself on a low chair in
front of a vacant stall, and the choir sang Sir John
Steveneon's "To Deum." While this anthem was
being performed, Ulster ICing of Arms, attended by
his pursuivants and heralds, went back to the chapter-
room to fetch the insignia of the Order. On his return
the Usher of the Black Rod went to the stall of his
Royal Highness and conducted him to the table. At
the command of the Grand Master, the Marquis of
Clanricarde and the Marquis Conyngham, as senior
knights present, descended from their stalls, and by
, them his Royal Highness was girt with the sword, the
' Prelate reading the following admonition :
,

Take this sword to the Increase of your honour, and in
token and sign ef the most illustrious Order which you have
received, wherewith you being defended may be hold strongly
to fight in defence of those rites and ordinances to which you
be engaged, and to the lost and neeesaary defence of those
that be oppressed and needy.

Hie Royal Highness was then robed with the mantle,
the prescribed admonition being read by the Prelate
as follows :

Receive this robe and livery of this Most Illustrious Order,
In augmentation of thine honour, and wear it with a firm
and steady reeniutton that by your character, conduct, and
demeanour, you may approve yourself a true servant of
Almighty 0011, and a worthy Brother and Knight Companion
of this Most Illustrious Order.
The Prince of Wales, having advanced to the stall
of the Grand Master, his Excellency invested him tvith
the collar of the Order, saying :

Sir, the loving company of the Order of St. Patrick bath
received you their brother, lover, and fellow, and In token
and knowledge of tills they give yon arni present you this
badge, the which Clod will that you receive and wear from
henceforth to fits praise and pleasure, and to the exaltation
and honour of the said I Uustrions Order and yourself.
Then the banner of the Prince of Wales was un-
furled by his equerries, and brandished about the
chancel ; and next, after a flourish of trumpets, the
titles, honours, and dignitiee of the newly-elected
knight were recited by 'Ulster King at Arms. There-
upon his Royal Highness presented a purse to the
registrar (the fees of installation amount, by statute,
to one hundred pounds sterling), and then the banner
was handed over to the appointed depositaries, and
the ceremonial was virtually over. The Princess
watched the proceedings of the ceremonial with the
liveliest interest. Cardinal Cullen was not in the
Cathedral, and no higher dignitary of the Roman
Catholic Church was present than the Her. Dr.
Russell, of Maynooth.

At the banquet in the evening the Lord Lieutenant
in proposing the health of the l'rince of Wales, said :
I need not tell you that the presence of that illustrious
Prince here is of no ordinary significance and import, still
less need I offer a welcome to our illustrious guest on behalf
of Ireland. That welcome has already haul fully and unre-
servedly given by the Irish people themselves. The shouts
of acclamation that for four successive days hive rung in our
ears, the thunders of applause and congratulation that have
greettd the illustrious Lleir of these kingdoms in the streets
to-day, will have shown him, better than any words of
mine, the kindly nature of the Irish people, and the attach-
ment that may be awakened in their generous and cordial
hearts. They know and believe that in assuming the Mantle
and Collar of the Patron Saint of Ireland our illustrious
guest has inaugurated no empty pageant, but ratlitr the
promise of an era of increased mid mutual attachment and
confidence between the people of this country and hie
illustrious House: a hope enhanced, it I may be permitted to
say so in his presence, by the cordial bearing and great
and universal pet sone! popularity of his Royal Ilighness.
But, iny lords and gentlemen. I should say that the (lays of
chivalry were indeed gone by were it possible, in an assem-
blage of knights on this occasion, not to proffer also our
heartfelt thanks and homage to the illustrious and noble
lady, the consort of our Royal guest, on this the first occasion
of her visit to Irish shores. There is no man worthy of the
name of Irishman, whether he lie the coroneted peer, the
installed knight, or the hardy and stalwart son of the soil,
lio has not felt the fair presence of that illustrious lady as
a ray of sunbeam gilding the Irish horizon.

Thu following is the Prince's reply :
Your Excellency, your Royal Highnesses, my Loris,
Ladies, alai Gentlemen,—ln the name of tho Princess of
Wales and myself, I beg to tender you my warmest thanks
for the very kind and flattering manner in which this toast
has been proposed, and for the cordial way in whicka has
been nicety.' by the company present here this caning.
Under any circumstances I should feel it a great honour to
have my health proposed by his Excellency the Lord Lieu-
tenant, but to-night the circumstances multr which it has
been proposed are peculiar, for! appear here as a Knight of
the Illuatrious order of St. Patrick. I can assure you that
I feel very proud to wear this evening for the first time the
star and !Rand of this Illustrious Order; and tam very grate-
ful to her Majesty the Queen for having given it me. On for-
mer occasions! have received the orders of Great Britain from
her Majesty's own hands and although I canno but regret
that on this occasion she has not been able to give this Order
lauislierselt, gill It viag the quetu's wish W41511°41,1 receive