The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-12 00:00:00

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess arrived

at the hall at half-past 1 o'clock, and were received at the
entrance with every mark of consideration and respect by
the Master and Wardens, accompanied by th►ir clerk, Mr
R. B. Towse, all of whom wore their robes of office. A
detachment of the Hon. the Artillery Company, of which
his Royal Highness is Captain General and Colonel, formed
a guard of honour on the occasion, under the command of
Capt. Ritherdon. On alighting the Prince and Princess
were loudly cheered by the people who had assembled out-
side, and the band played the National Anthem. From the
entrance their Royal Highnesses were escorted to the re-
ception room, where the Wardens and members of the
Court of Assistants had the honour of being formally pre-
sented to them. Their Royal Highnesses were attended by
the Marchioness of Carmarthen, Earl Spencer, Lieut.-Gen.
Knollys, and Capt. Grey. The Prince wore the blue
riband of the Order of the Garter on the occasion. Their
Royal Highnesses were then conducted to the court room,
attended by the members of their suite and household men-
tioned, and the Matters, Wardens, and Assistants being
constituted a Court, the ceremony began. The Duke of
Manchester, the Bishop of London and Mrs. Tait, and Miss
Burdett Contts were also present among others. The Master
having requested the Prince and Princess to be seated, the
clerk of the company (Mr Towse) read the resolution of the
Court inviting his Royal Highness to assume the freedom.
This done, the MASTER (the Rev. Edward John. Ward,
A.M.), addressing the Prince, who rose as he did so, said
the pleasing duty devolved upon him of requesting his Royal
Highness to accept the freedom and livery et, the Com-
pany of Clothworkers, and of expressing, on the part of the
governing body, their sense of the honour his Royal High-
ness had conferred upon them by condescending to become
a member of their ancient guild. He hoped that might not
be the last occasion on which they would be honoured by
the presence of his Royal Highness. They esteemed it a
high privilege to enrol the name of his much-lamented
father on the list of their brotherhood, and they trusted
that hereafter, as in times past, there would be a continuous
association between them and the Royal family of this king-
dom. The Master then handed to the Prince the gold box
enclosing the document relating to the freedom, and re-
marking that it was set in a table of chestnut wood, part of
a beam of the ancient hall of the company, on the site' of
which the present building was erected.
His ROYAL HIGHNESS, turning to the Master, Wardens,

and Assistants, assured them that it was a great source of
gratification to him to receive the freedom of their company
and to be enrolled among its members, and he thanked th 3
Master for the kind words he had been pleased to address to
him on the occasion.

The Clerk then tendered to the Prince the accustomed
oath, which he took and subscribed. It pledged his Royal
Highness substantially as a freeman to be good and true to
our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria ; to observe, maintain,
and keep the laws and ordinances for the government of
"the fellowship of the art or mystery of clothworkers," and
for its common profit; to be obedient at all times and in all
lawful matters to the Master, Wardens, and Assistants, and
to attend before them at all times upon a lawful summons
either of clerk or beadle, having no lawful or reasonable
excuse to the contrary.
On the motion of Alderman Sir J. MUSGROVE, 0900nded
spiendowe The Master
a ett:od_kt to
luncheon,t heban-
by Mr Alderman ROSE, M.P., the seal of the some was
affixed to the deed of enrolment, and with that the cere-
the reincedss sat on his
mony terminated.
The Prince and Princess were then mad
were the Duke of Man-
chester, hall, where their Royal Highnesses
of tho Master, the Marquis
which was served with befitting
the Bishop of London
presided at the entertainment,
right hand, and the Prince oa hf
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lef4an
on the right
secer,tLieu .-General Knollys, and
and left of their Royal Highnesses
andt
ed with
included
h t..e thebanners Wardensof t
the
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Miss 13. artist eeutts) Mrs Thwaytes, and
and
Captaini‘l rs
Gray, Ea3SP
f the Master
Lieut., Colonel Cavendish; The Company was about 150
e andeo
mApsasni Assistants na tnsd andbe-
hind members
of their families and friends. The hall was taste-
fullyin number,dera
there was a grand display of
their ancient plate.
The IIAsTER. gave the toast of " The Queen," which
was drunk. with every mark of respect. He afterwards
proposed, in complimentary terms, " The Prince and Prin-
hind the chair o
cess of Wales."
His. Royal Highness the PRINCE, responding to the
compliment, said,—Master, my Lords, Ladies, and Gentle-
men,--I beg to tender my warmest thanks for the very
kind words in which the Master has proposed my health
and that of the Princess, and for the way in which the
toast has been received by every person in this hall. I need
hardly assure you that it has been a source of sincere gra-
tification to me to-day to be enrolled as a member of this
ancient corporation. I feel proud to think that I follow in
that respect in the footsteps of those Kings, my ancestors
and relations, and of my beloved and lamented father, who
received a similar compliment at the hands of the company.
In my turn I beg to propose a toast, which I am cure
will bo well received in this hall. It is " Prosperity to
the Clothworkers' Company, coupled with the Master and
Wardens."
The MASTER having acknowledged the honour which
his Royal Highness had paid them, the Prince and Prin-
cess took their departure, attended as before. Their
Royal Highnesses were escorted to their carriage by the
Master and Wardens, and as they left the hall the crowd
outside raised alkenthusiastic cheer.