The Press.
London, England, 1857-11-07 00:00:00

glttropalitan.

PRESENTATION OF THE FREEDOM OF THE
CITY TO THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE.
THE freedom of the city of Landon, together with
a superb ssord of honour, was presented on Wed-
nesday, at a Special Court of Common Council, to
his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge. The
presentation took place at five o'clock in the after-
noon at the Guildhall. An hour before the arrival
of his Royal Highness the hall was crowded with
visitors, and its appearance when lighted was very
beautiful and brilliant.
His Royal Highness arrived soon after five p.m.,
and on entering the hall was loudly cheered. The
Duke immediately seated himself on the left of the
Lord Mayor, and receiving the freedom of the City,
signed the declaration presented to him. Sir John
Key, the City Chamberlain, then advanced and ad-
dressed his Royal Highness in eloquent terms, re-
calling the Crimean campaign, and recording tilt
courage and devotion to his duty of his Royal High-
ness. "It seems; therefore, needless to say," con-
tinued Sir John Key, " how entirely our gracious
Sovereign carried with her the suffrages of her loving
subjects when in the selection of a fitting person to
occupy the highest military position in the country
she was led to the nomination of your Royal High-
ness ":

How little hereditary preferences would be permitted to
influence this choice, how little the prestige accorded as
of right to one in your Royal Highness's position, how
little any consideration save a desire to promote the
honour, the happiness, the efficiency of her beloved army,
let any man tell who has ever heard of the deep emotion
of the Monarch at the story of her soldiers' sufferings, or
who has ever listened to the loud outburst of grateful and
loving loyalty when soldiers are gathered round their
Queen. Yes, sir, you were designated by your Royal
mistress to your exalted office because she would that lie
who was to bear rule in military affairs should be one who
could sympathise with bravery, had had experience of
hardship, who could lend a helping hand to struggling
merit, could remember past services and reward them ;
and already are both the army and the country reaping the
first fruits of this wise selection. We see in our military
councils a vigour of purpose, a discrimination of character,
a breadth of plan and object in the educational arrange-
ment*, and a considerate regard for the circumstances of
the lowest suba!tern, which, if permitted to be carried '
out, will cause the British soldier to be as much respected
for his high-toned moral deportment in the barracks as
for his fearless and undaunted spirit in the field.
The Duke in modest terms disclaimed the high
praises of Sir John Key :
Gentlemen, it will hardly be expected on your part,
and it would ill become me if I ventured in any respect to
allude to the very limited and bumble services which If
have performed on various occasions in different parts of
the world. The worthy Chamberlain has alluded to those
services in terms which I really think go beyond the
merit which they deserve—(cries of " No, no !" )—for
after all what I have done is that which would be done by,
I think, any one who had the feelings of a man and who
had the interests and the honour of his country at heart.
I therefore pass over these events, which have now become
matters of history, and which will, no doubt. be recorded
in their proper light for ages to come. That I should have
had the advantage—the honour of participating in these
great events, I certainly now look back upon as one of the
greatest pleasures and one of the greatest satisfactions
that I can poeiibly experience.
His Royal Highness expressed a hope that in other
ways, in his endeavour to promote the interest and
welfare" of his fellow citizens, he had obtained their
esteem and approbation, for he trusted that from
being a soldier a man was not the less a " good
citizen." " Gentlemen," concluded his Royal High-
ness,

I repeat that the honour that has been conferred upon
me is one of which any man may be justly proud whatever
his station or position in life ; that I am justly proud of
that honour; that I am confident from the kind expressions
which I have rece►ved from all quarters that that honour
is conferred upon me not because of the official position