The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-11 00:00:00

Arrival of the Prince and Princess at
Southampton.

SOUTHAMPTON, Tuesday Evening.
The great national event of 1863, the marriage of
the Prince of Wales to the Princess Alexandra of
Deno ark, and the honourable distinction conferred
on the town of receiving a visit from their Royal
Highnesses on their bridal day, caused a spoutane-
one oatburst of enthusiastic feeling from all classes
of the community, their presence adding consider-
ably to the great interest which the people of this
town take in the persons of the Royal daughter
of Denmark and England's fu'ure King. For
considerable time past, the inhabitants of the
borough have been making arrangements in anti-
cipation or the Royal visit with which they have
to-day been honoured. The streets were festooned
on each side with evergreens and flowers, stretched
from fir-poles, placed equal distances apart ; a mul-
titude of banners, flags, decorations, and mottoes,
were every where displayed; and the town, from
one end t_► the other, presented a beautiful appear-
ance. The authorities and the general public did
their utmost to make it a day of rejoicing for the
poor, who were not forgotten. Early in the tnorn-
ing a dist ributioli of beef, bread, &c., to upwards of
3,000 families, were wade on the Parade-ground,
and 6,000 children of the various Sunday and public
schools were presented with ribbons, medals, &c.
The members of the various benefit societies, the
mayor, and corporation formed in procession, and
proceeded to Andrews's Park, where two oak trees
were planted, named the "Albert Edward and
Alexandra oaks." Royal salutes were fired from
the platform battery, and old English sports and
other amus, ments were indulged in. The boys of
her Majesty's training ship Boscawen, nearly 300
in number, were entertained by Mr. George Cook-
sey in the grounds of his brother. They were
regaled with cake, wine, &c., and each boy pre-
sented with medals and wedding favours. The
principal place of attraction was the docks. The
arrangements made by the authorities in the short
time at their disposal for the reception of their
Royal Highnesses, were admirably carried out
under the superintendence of Messrs. Giles, Hedger,
and Levy. The entire line of railway from the
dock gate was barricaded on each side down to the
place of embarkation, where seats were erected for
the accommodation of a large number of persons,
A magnificent fleet of some of the finest steamers in
the world, with yards manned and dressed in
colours, and their decks crowded with thousands
of spectators, presented a magnificent spectacle
worthy of so important an occasion. Her Mejesty'S
ships of war Boscawen and Dauntless, and other
ships of the Royal Navy, were stationed in the
river, and took part in the honour paid to the Bride
and Bridegroom. As the time drew near for the
arrival of their Royal Highnesses, a vast multitude
of people thronged every available space in the
neighbourhood of the railway and the docks, and
the greatest excitement was manifested. At ats
o'clock the Royal train, with the illustrious visitors,
was signalled, and on their arrival at the station
were conveyed in the Royal carriages to the place
of embarkation amidst the most enthusiastic cheers
of the assembled multitude, the Hants Volunteer
Rifle Engineer and other corps forming a guard of
honour along the tramway, their bands playing
the Danish and English national airs. On reaching
the point of embarkation there were stationed the
mayor and corporation. The Prince and Princess
here alighted from the Royal carriage on to a plat-
form made for the occasion, when the mayor, F•
Perkins, Esq., advanced and presented the follow'
ing address :--
"To THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE PRINCE AND
PRINCESS OF WALES.

"May it please your Royal Highnesses,
" We, the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of the
ancient and loyal borough of Southampton, avail
ourselves of the earliest possible opportunity
afforded us to tender to your Royal Highnesses our
sincere congratulations on the happy event of this
day—a clay full of hope for the Britisi empire, end
to express our warmest wishes for your Royal High-
nesses future welfare and happiness. We desire
also, on this very gratifjing occasion, to render the
expression of our devoted attachment to the person
and Throne of our beloved Sovereign, whose public
and private virtues have so much endeared her to
her people, and whose example in all the relations of
life has exercised the most beneficial influence over
her extensive empire, an influence which will cause
generations yet unborn to speak of her name With
veneration and affection. We feel deeply the high
and distinguished honour that his been conferred-
upon Southampton by your Royal Highnesses' visit
to it on your wedding day, and we beg to assure
your Royal Highnesses that there does not exist
throughout her Majesty's dominions a co =unity
who more earnestly desire that your Royal High-
ness's married life may be crowned with every
earthly blessing. We are highly gratified with the
renewal, in your Royal Highnesses' persons, of the
alliance of the Danish and British nations. England
and Denmark have long been friends, and we trust
that the marriage of to-day—a marriage on both
sides of love and affection—will still further
strengthen and consolidate that ancient friendship'
to the great advantage of the ptople of both count'
tries. To-day the heart of England beats with jeY
from one end of the land to the other, the people
celebrating an event full of bright hopes and anti'
clpations for our gracious Queen, your Royal High"
nesses, and the nation at large, and we only express
the universal feeling of her Majesty's subjects, when
we earnestly pray that Almighty God may bless your
Royal Highnesses' union, and spare your valuable
lives in health and strength to exhibit those virtues
and excellencies of character to the world which
best adorn a throne, and fix its foundations on the
affections of a free, contented, and loyal people.
" Given under our common seal at SouthamPt°ll
this 10th day of March, in the year of our
Lord 1863."

Their Royal Highnesses, shortly after the presety.
tation of the above address, proceeded from the plat'
form to the crimson-covered barge, and from thence
embarked on board the royal yacht. The cheer°
that now arose from the assembled thousands Oa'
gregated on the steamers and wharves of the dock.
it is impossible to describe. The reception afforded
their Royal H ighnesses by the people of SouthanV;
ton was as enthusiastic a reception as any part a'
their triumphal progress from Gravesend to their
arrival at Windsor. As the royal yacht now 810;11
steamed through the avenue of those magnifieellti
vessels, covered with their living freight, renew
eu
cheering rent the air, only to be re-echoed back
from the masses of human beings from the Val
and jetties running out into the river. The iteYa
yacht now proceeded on her way for Osborne, the
ships of war stationed in the harbour and the plat'
form batteries of the town saluting their passage
down the river. Their Royal Highnesses were,
received on behalf of the Dock Company by Colony:
Barlow,chairman ; T. R. Davison, d?puty• chairroath
and Messrs. Giles, Hedger, and Levy, who were
entrusted with the arrangements of the proceeding°.
Several officials were present on the part of the
South-Western Railway Company, but the arrange'
ments were under the direction of Messrs. Beanit
and Cook, the respective superintendents here.
Too much praise cannot be awarded to Captaitle
Engledue and Vincent, the representatives of the
Peninsular and Oriental Mail Company, for then:
admirable arrangements, and the appropriation ot
their fine steamers for the accommodation of the
public. Capt. Nicholson also deserves the thanks
of the community for the disposal of his fine shlP
the Adriatic, belonging to the Galway Company'
for his exertions on the occasion.
At 7 o'clock the public buildings of the town were
magnificently illuminated, and brilliant displaYsf„
fireworks from all quarters of the town, under t"'"
direction of Mr. Darby, of London ; the varivec:
steeples of the churches were lit up with colours
fires,
and later in the evening torchlight procession°
and balls terminated the amusements of the dal"

ROYAL WEDDING7EXETER HALL.--The 14::s
tional Cht,ral Society will celebrate this event this
evening (Wednesday) by a grand performance of Mende's'
.;
sohn's oratorio "Elijah," to be preceded by the N.B". ]_o,
Anthem ; band and chorus of 700, with a new verse writ d,
for the occasion, solo by Mr. Sims Reeves; and the we
ding march by the full band, Conductor, Mr. 0'
Martin.