The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-10-16 00:00:00

DEPARTURE OF THE PRINCE OF

•
WALES FOR INDIA.
The Times of Tuesday gives the following particulars
of the departure of the Prince for India :
The departure of the Prince of Wales last evening was
made the occasion of a very interesting demonstration. It
was known that be was to leave the Charing-cross Station at
eight o clock, and as that hour approached not only were
the streets which lead to the station crowded, but a very
large number of those who are honoured with the Prince's
acquaintance assembled on the platform to bid him a re-
spectful—perhaps we might say an affectionate—farewell.
There was uo concerted attempt at a demonstration. A few
tickets had, indeed, been issued, but these bore no proportion
to the numbers who voluntarily assembled. Crimson cloth was,
indeed, laid down opposite the Royal train, which was drawn
up at the ordinary departure platform, and for a time the
police may have Imagined that this scarlet cloth would have
been kept sacred for none but Royal feet, but this delusion
was soon dissipated. The crowd increased, and it became
apparent that few would be content with only a distant view
of the Prince and those who were to accompany him. About
half•past seven o'clock the Guard of Honour arrived. The
Duke of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Teck
soon followed, and, after a short delay, the Prince and
Princess of Wales, the Dukes of Edinburgh and
Connaught, and the Princess Louise of Lorne, arrived,
attended by the suite who are privileged to attend
his Royal Highness in his Indian tour. Then ensued a strange
scene of excitement, the cheering was most enthusiastic, the
Princess and her Royal fellow travelhrs took their places in
the saloon, and the Prince sought among the crowd of friends
and acquaintances who pressed upon him those of whom he
desired to take a special farewell. At only a few minutes
after the time appointed the train moved slowly out of the
station, followed by acclamations and loudly expressed good
'washes. It was, indeed, a strange demonstration, for the
acclamations conveyed as much sadness as joy.
It would be impossible to give a list of those who were
present, so fortuitous was the assemblage, but among them
were the Russian Ambassador, the German Ambassador, the
Danish Minister and Madame Billow, the Duchess of Wel-
lington, the Duchess of Sutherland and Lady Florence
Gower, Lord and Lady Sydney, Lord Hartington, Mr. and
Mrs. Stonor, Lady Westmoreland, Prince Edward of Saxe-
Weimar Cennt Glaichen, Prince Teck and Princess Mary,
the Duke of St. Albans, Lord Colville, Lord Barrington, Mr.
Ward Hunt, Lord H. Lennox, Lord Hardsvicke, Mr.
Rothschild, M.P. ; Lord John Hay, Slr G. Arthur, Sir Percy
Doyle, General Doyle, Mr. H. Petre, General J. Macdonald,
Colonel Marshall, Colonel Start, Mr. H. Chaplin, Mr. G.
Drummond, Mr. Cockerell, and Mr. Christopher Sykes.
DOVER, Monday Night.

It was eight o'clock when the train left Charing-cross.
Ashford, 56 miles distant, was reached at 9.20. Here the
train by arrangement was stopped, and the Duke of Edin-
burgh and the Duke of Connaught parted from their brother,
going from Ashford to the Duke of Edinburghi residence at
Eastwell Park close by. Only three minutes were lost by
this stoppage, and Dover, 72 miles, was reached at 9.53. The
engine, driven throuzhout by Mr. Alfred Watkin, the South-
Eastern Locomotive Superintendent, son of the chairman,
did its work excellently well, and Pullman's cars could
hardly go with smoother or steadier motion than the
carriages behind it. Late as was the heur, the approaches
to the Admiralty Pier at Dover were occupied by six or
seven thousand people. Not a ripple stirred the water, and
the moon shone bright and clear. Last night there was a
tumbling sea Dover people said there had not been roegher
water for months. What landsmen, before going abroad,
has not heard that the water is like a millpond, but looking
around him with sinking heart, has utterly refused to he
comforted by this hollow mockery? To-night, however, the
mill pond was no fiction, and Britannia was ruling the waves
in their most placid moments. It was a happy omen and a
change full of comfort to the Royal travellers. L'p ,n arriv-
ing at the Pier the Prince and Princess were received by Cap-
tain Brace, R.N the Admiralty Superintendent, and by
Lord Granville, the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, who
had come over from Walmer with Lady Granville in
order to bid farewell to his Royal Highness. Among
the officers of the garrison present, most of them
in full uniform, were Major-General Parke, CB,
commanding the South-Eastern District; Lieutenant Parke,
Aide-de-Camp • Colonel Sarel, Assistant Adjutant-General;
Colonel the lion. J. C. Dormer, Assistant-Quartermaster-
General ; Colonel Gibbon, C. B. commanding Royal Artillery;
Colonel J. M. Grant, commanding Royal Engineers; Colonel
Glanville, commanding I.3rd Brfgade Royal Artillery; Cap-
tain Bell, V. C. commanding Ist 'Aimpany Royal Engineers;
Colonel Watson, commanding the 2nd Battalion 24th Regi-
ment; Colonel Mackenzie, C. 8., commanding the 78th High-
landers (Ross-shrke Beffs) ; and Lieutenant-Colonel Graeme,
commanding the 104th Bengal Fusiliers. The 78th High-
landers kept the pier. The guard of honour was furnished
by the 104th Regiment, and was under the command of Cap-
tain Cigou.
Moving slowly along the rails laid upon the pier, the Royal
train passed the mail boat and brought up opposite the Cas-
talia, which,with its four funnels, loomed large alongside, and
no sooner had the train come to a standstill than a party of
soldiers who lined the gangways of the Castalia ignited red
and blue port-fires, the guard of honour presented arms, and
the band played the National Anthem, while the Prince and
Princess and their suite walked on board. On their reaching
the deck Lady Granville received their Royal Highnesses, to
whom Captain Dicey, the inventor of the Castalia, Mr. Cotton,
one of the directors, and Captain Pittock, the commander
of this novel ship, were then presented. Then came the
inevitable Corporation Address, and the Mayor of Dover,
Mr. Peirce, who was accompanied by all the members of the
Council, the Borough officials, and by Mr. C. K. Freshfield,
one of the borough members, was conducted by the Lord
Warden to the Prince. His Worship said :
"I have the honour of presenting your Royal Highness
with this loyal and dutiful address from the Mayor and
Burgesses of the town surd port of Dover, heartily wishing
your Royal Highness a safe voyage and a happy return."
It.is hardly necessary to say that in the uncertain light
and fitful glare caused by the crimson portfirea the address
was taken as read. It was as follows:

" To Ills Royal Highness Albert Edward, Prince of Wales."
P May it please your Royal Highness,—We, the Mayor,
Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Ancient Cinque Port
and Borough of Dover, with yaur Royal Highness's gra-
cious permission, gladly take the present opportunity
of renewing the assurance of our unabated loyalty to
Her Majesty the Queen and our continued devotion to
your Royal Highness, her Royal Highness the Princess of
Wales, and all the members of the Royal Family. The
inhabitants of this borough, from its natural position,
have had the good fortune to witness the arrival and
departure of many Royal personages upon the occurrence of
great national events. Very few of your Royal Highness's
predecessors, heirs to the Throne of these realms, ever left
these shores: and not one of them has done so for a purpose
of more important national interest than that which now
takes your Royal Highness to Her Majesty's Empire of India
It has, therefore, afforded us unfeigned pleasure that your
Royal Highness has selected Dover as the port of your em-
barcation. We trust that the progress of your Royal High-
ness through Her Majesty's Eastern dominions may ac-
complish all the objects for which it has been designed,
and that it may, under the blessing of Almighty
God, conduce to the religious, political, and commercial
prosperity of all the vast countries and varied nationalities
which are subject to the benign away of our beloved
Sovereign. The details of the visit of your Royal Highness
will be followed with lively interest by all, and we hope that
the history of the next few months may become a pleasing
and beneficial episode in the eventful life of your Royal
Highness. We pray that your Royal Highness may be per-
mitted to return in safety to those most dear to you, and to
enjoy for many many years the affection and devotion of all
Her Majesty's subjects.
"Given under our corporate seal at Dover this 11th day of
October, 1875. "FREDERICK SAMUEL PIXRCE, Mayor."
The deck of a steamer five minutes before starting, with
luggage tumbling on board, and seamen shouting, and con-
fusion seeming to reign supreme, cannot be reckoned as a
favourable platform for oratory. his Royal llighiless was
most courteous; but his reply, under these circumstances,
was a model of Spartan brevity. He only said, "1 am
much obliged to you, Mr. Mayor," and the Corpora-
tion of Dover had their answer. Soon they returned
to land in solemn procession, with maces, beadles,
robes, and the full pomp of civic pageantry. Three
roekets fired from the harbour tug Palmerston served as
an Impromptu signal for starting. The Trinity House tender
Galatea was brilliantly lit up, more portfirerwere burnt till
the faces of the crowd on shore glowed blood red with
reflected light. Lord and Lady Granville took leave of the
Prince and Princess. The Duke of Cambridge and Lord
Sydney also came ashore and at ten minutes past ten o'clock
the Castalia steamed away into the gathering gloom of
Calais amid mighty cheers from the crowds ashore. . . . It
may be added that the saloon of the Castalia was prettily
decorated with flowers and exotics, and every arrangement
Was made for the comfort of the Royal party, for whom
sapper would be served on board. . . .

PARB, Tuesday Morning.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales arrived at the
terminus of the Northern Railway precisely at twenty
minutes past seven o'clock this morning His Royal High-
ness looked the picture of health. Comparatively few of the
general public were present to witness his arrival, but Lord
Lyons was in attendance, and his Excellency was presently
joined by the Prefect of Police and an aide-de-camp of Mar-
shal MacMahon. Soon before the train arrived Marshal
MacMahon and a distinguished party, on their way to Cory-
piene for a day's shooting, took their stand on the platform,
and were the first to exchange greetings with the Prince, who
appeared agreeably surprised at seeing the Marshal and
several old friends of his, and among them the Duke de la
Rcchefoncauld Bissaccia, with whom he most cordially shook
hands —The Prince then got into Lord Lyons' carriage with
his excellency, and drove to the Hotel BristoL

The Prince's of Wales and suite returned to D )ver in the
Ceutalia at about 9.15 on Tuesday morning, and was received
on landing by Capt. Bruce, RN , tile Admiralty Superintend-
ent, Ma/ eralParke, C. 8., and Lieutenant Parke, his aide-
de-camp —The weather being delightfully fine, the passage
was an enjoyable, one, and was performed in a few minutes
over two hours. The Royal train was in waiting on the pier
to convey the Princess back to London, and left almost
immediately. There were large crowds of persons on the
pier, who cheered the Princess most lustily,