The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-23 00:00:00

The Prince of Wales at the Sailors' Home.

FroM the High-street, Whitechapel, down to the
river side, yesterday, it may be fairly said there was
a general holiday to welcome the Prince of Wales
on his way to open the new building in extension of
the Sailors' Home, in Dock-street and Well-street,
London Docks.

Long before one reached what may be called the
scene of action there was visible signs that Eastern
London was determined to east aside its business
cares and interests, and to give itself up unre-
servedly to the rare enjoyment of a visit from
Royalty, having for its object the welfare of a class
by which that important district of our great metro-
polis, with its almost Imperial dimensions in num-
bers and extent, is so materially benefited. The out-
lying approaches were very fairly ornamented by
flags and banners, but on turning down Leman-street,
High-street, Whitechapel, which leads direct to the
Sailors' Home, the spectators for the first time
became aware of the excitement and the intense
interest which the anticipation of the Prince's
visit had created. Most of the shops were
shut. The windows of the houses on each side were
filled with ladies ; the sidepaths crowded by less
fortunate sightseers, and the pathway from side to
side made brilliant by flags and banners over-
head, and which, even in such sunshine as is
permitted to lighten up Whitechapel, imparted
vitality, raciness, and enjoyment to the scene,
such as we imagine
has rarely been experienced
in the district: As you neared the Homo itself,
the display of bunting became " thick as leaves
in Vallambrosa ;" and on the new front of the
building itself there was a perfect efflorescence
of the " flags of all nations" from top to bottom.
The tops of the houses, mills, and factories were
crowded, as well as the windows : and the waiting
crowds, by their patience and good behaviour, in
presence of the hope deferred that maketh the heart
sick, might have converted even some of the sturdiest
opponents of the extension of the suffrage into the
belief that after all the English working man is not
the revolutionary animal—the bogie--which some
" Liberal" M.P.'s hold up, in terrorem, to the other
classes of society.

About half-past 2 a guard of honour, formed by the
Hon. Artillery Company, preceded by their band,
took uptheir position in front of the Home, and were
joined by the men of the Royal Naval Reserve from
her Majesty's ship President, with their band, the
latter of which enlivened by various performances
the long interval which intervened between the time
appointed for the arrival of hie Royal *Highness and
the actual fact. Three o'clock was the hour named,
but it was not until 20 minutes to 4 that the guard
of honour " dressed," and prepared to salute the
Prince, with their band playing the National Anthem
as he drove up to the main entrance in a close car-
riage, amid loud cheers, which must certainly have
been engendered by faith, not sight, as the only in-
.dications of Royalty were the scarlet liveries on the
front and the back of the carriage. We venture to
his Royal Highness on
on such a bright day
an open carriage and
tsahus
egsge e s t
occasionst o
yesterday, th ethatehd
absence
its,
se especiallyer snce
of
of
the want of punctuality are calculated—slight as these
things may be in themselves—to seriously detract
from the popularity which his Royal Highness de-
serves from
fdischarges th
ronitherainste multifarious and genial spirit in
which he ltifarious duties which
devolve upon him in consequence of the persistent
manner in which the Queen holds aloft from the
discharge of these duties. Meanwhile, the addi-
tion to the Home, which is in the front of the old
building, and which has a really handsome archi-
tectural elevation to Dock-street, became more and
more crowded, by ladies especially; who filled the