The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-31 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY.

Inauguration of the Prince Consort's Statue

at Perth,

Yesterday her Majesty the Queen inaugurated
with solemn ceremonial the statue which has been
raised to the memory of the late Prince Consort by
the city of Perth. The statue is one which, though
of common material and humble pretensions, bears
the stamp at once of artistic execution and fidelity
to the subject, and it serves, on a spot so often visited
by the deceased, to commemorate not only his name
but his personal figure and countenance.
To the "fair city," as Perth is traditionally
styled, the Queen and Prince Consort had for many
years been annual visitors on their way to their
Highland abode, and it was natural that the in•
habitants should wish to posssss a local memorial
of one whose occasional presence among them
quickened the love and esteem which they shared
for him with the whole nation.

The funds which the little city could bestow for
the purpose were limited in amount, but the sub-
scribers were fortunate enough to secure the aid of
a sculptor whose previous efforts were a guarantee
that the monument they proposed to raise would
not be unworthy of the object. The execution of
the work was entrusted to Mr. Brodie, of Edin-
burgh, and though only in Redhall freestone, the
design of the statue would have well merited the
more enduring material of bronze or marble. The
figure is 9ft. in height, and the robe is that worn
by the Prince when attired as a Knight of the
Ancient Order of the Thistle ; the dress is the
doublet and trunk
,hose of the old Scottish Court,
and the figure bears not only the insignia of the
Scottish but also of the great English order of
Knighthood, the Garter being worn below the left
knee. The collar and star of the Thistle show very
effectively on the richly embroidered doublet, and
the mantle falls gracefully in rear of the figure.
Theright hand rests on a square column or pedestal
and holds an open scroll, on which the outlines of
the Exhibition building of 1851 may be traced. The
likeness is excellent, and the whole figure serves
well to recall the Prince just as he was removed
from among us. In the course of the execution
of the model, Mr Brodie had the advantage of
several visits from Prince Alfred during his
residence in Edinburgh last winter, and his Royal
Highness also saw the statue when nearly finished,
in the sculptor's studio a few weeks ago. The
statue was highly approved by the Pricer, who
contributed some important suggestions to the
sculptor, both as to likeness and costume, and her
Majesty, to whom a photograph of the work was
'sent, was so gratified with the result that she sig-
nified her gracious pleasure to attend its inaugura•
Lion.
The site chosen for the statue is on the North Inch
of Perth, in the corner nearest to the Bridge of Tay.
The figure is set upon a pedestal 13ft. high, making
the whole height 22ft. The pedestal is octagonal,
approached by four octagonal graduated steps, and
is surrounded by a circular railing of bronzed
malleable iron of a star cross and floral pattern.
The railing was beautifully festooned with a series
of wreaths and with mottoes. Over the whole was
the Prince's motto, " Treu and fest," and under-
neath were the chaplets,—namely, first, the Cyprus,
emblematical of grief, with the words " 111ultis Ric
flebilis occidit ;" second, the imtnortelle, symbol of
immortality, with the scroll "Non omnis moriar ;1?
and, third, the olive, significant of peace, with the
motto, " Wisdom is better than weapons of war.''
The preparations for the ceremony were most satis-
factory. Every precaution was taken to secure the
comfort of her Majesty, and the maintenance of order
and decorum. The whole ground in the vicinity of
the statue was closed in and kept quite clear. The
pavilion for her Majesty was a most tasteful erec-
tion ; the front presented four shafts with floral capi-
tals, and three arches, the central one being appro-
priated for the Queen. The pavilion was hung with
crimson cloth and festooned with evergreens and
flowers, with crimson hangings to let down in case
of rain.

The whole route from the railway station to the
site was thronged. The railway trains and con-
veyances from the country poured in crowds of
visitors and the townspeople gathered en masse to
witness the spectacle. By 8 o'clock every foot of
ground around the statue was occupied and the
crowd stretched far across the open sward of the
North Inch. Fortunately the morning was sunny
and beautiful. The train bringing the Queen, the
younger members of the Royal family, and suite
arrived at Perth from Windsor at twenty minutes
to nine. Her Majesty was accompanied by the
Princesses Helena, Louise, and Beatrice, and Prince
Leopold, and also by the Duke and Duchess of
Saxe-Coburg Gotha. In the Royal suite were the
Marchioness of Ely, the lion. Mrs. Bruce, Sir
Charles Wood, General Grey, General Seymour,
General Hood, Sir C. Phipps, Dr. Jenner, &c.
The Royal party was received at the station by the
Lord Provost and magistrates, the Lord Provost
of Edinburgh, the directors and officials of the rail-
wry, the Sheriff and the Sheriff-substitute, the
Procurator-Fiscal, &c.; but the general public were
excluded. At twenty minutes before ten the
Royal party, accompanied by the Lord Provost,
magistrates, and Town Council, the Hon. Arthur
Kinnaird, M.P. for the city, the Lord Provost of
Edinburgh, the members of the Conveners' Court,
and the members of the Memorial Committee, pro-
ceeded in state to the site of the statue via Marshal-
place, Princes.street, St. John-street, George-street,
and Charlotte-street. The procession was escorted
by a squadron of cavalry (two troops of the 15th
Hussars), and the streets were lined with detach-
ments of Highlanders and other regiments brought
for the occasion from various garrisons in Scotland.
Several companies of Perthshire Volunteers were
also on the ground. The troops were commanded
by General Walker, C. 8., the head of the North
British Staff. On arriving at the site, the
municipal bodies, the Memorial Committee, and
the high constables took up their places within
the barrier, along with the guard cf honour of
the 921 Highlanders and band of that regi-
cunt. A large company were accommodated
within the Royal pavilion, including the Lord
Provost and magistrates of Perth, the Earl of Maus.
field, Viscount Strathallan, Lord Grey, Lord Kin-
naird, Lord and Lady Blanche Dupplin, Sir John,
Lady, and Mrs. Richardson, Hon. A. Kinnaird,
MX., Sir John Ogiivy,M.P., Sir Patrick and Misses
Murray Threipland, Sir J. Stuart Forbes, the Head
Provost of Edinburgh, General Lindsay, Mr.
Smythe of Methven, Hon. John Rollo, Rev. Dr.
Duff, from Calcutta; Rev. Mr. Burdon, minister of•
East Church, Perth; Mr. Sheriff Gordon, Mr.
Sheriff Barclay, &e.
The ceremony was brief but impressive. On the
Queen's arrival the band of the 92d played one
stanza of the National Anthem, but without the
sound of drums.

The Rev. Mr. Burdon then engaged in prayer,
that the Almighty should prosper and guard the
work that they had finished, prolong her Majesty's
reign, and fill it with the blessings of peace 4 of pro-
gress, and of Christian enterprise.
The Lord Provost of Perth then presented a
loyal and dutiful address to her Majesty :

"Most excellent Majesty, most gracious .Majesty,—We
your Majesty's dutiful subjects, the Lord Provost, magis-
trates, and Town Council, as representing the community
of the city of Perth, beg leave to approach your Majesty
with the renewed assurance of attachment to your Majesty's
person, family, and throne. At all times gratified by your
Majesty's visits to our ancient city, we feel especially hon
oured by the kindness and condescension with which your
Majesty has been pleased to grace by your royal presence
the interesting ceremonial which is now to take place.
May the memorial this day to be inaugurated
bo an enduring testimony of gratitude, affection, and
respect. May it stimulate the men of coming generations
to the practice of those virtues which show forth so conspi-
cuously in the character of him whose name ib comme.
morates. Assured that such will ever no less com-
mand the praise and gratitude of the living than secure the
admiration:and applause of posterity, we feel that no inau-
guration of our city's memorial of ' Albert the Good' can
be more appropriate or graceful than that which proceeds
under the auspices of the equally good and gracious Sovereign
to whom the lamented Prince stood connected by Oat) Ina/.