The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-08 00:00:00

Opening of the Albert Infirmary a

Bishop's-Waltham.
Yesterday was quite a gala day in the little Ole
of Bishop's-Waltham, owing to the opening °f
gstes
Royal Albert Infirmary by their Royal Highile„is-• e,
Prince Arthur and Princesses Helena and I,°`—,
The approaches to Bishop's-Waltham and the Vigh
street were gay with all sorts of decoration, the tit
of the inhabitants developing itself in a perfect arrerj.
of triumphal arches, festoons, and mottoes. a,
greens and flowers were lavishly used in these o'4
meats, and the show of bunting was, for a C°llll
town, quite extraordinary. tiolY
The Royal Albert Infirmary (the fmm.9 bort
stone of which was laid by Prince Leopold a Sol
time since) is a red brick Gothic building, ere„ko,
on the downs near the town, which it overl°viue
Above the front entrance stands a noble stateo e
of the Prince Consort, executed in h
cotta by Mr. Blashfield, from designs by 31r* " T--4ate
His royal highness is represented clothed hi; the
robes and wearing the collar and badge elinar,
Garter, the right hand resting upon a small
decorated with the Queen's medallion, 011" i 'OO
is spread a plan and diagram of the E%'-
Building.
t°
The people of Bishop's Waltham are indebtednor
Mr. Arthur Helps, the Clerk of the CouDe'cor
the existence of the Albert Infirmary, whieb.oll
tains four wards, with nurses', matron's, oc°6lo,jete
surgeons' rooms, and all the necessary officeslrre:`teir
with the latest improvements. Mr. Robert urtiliidet
low, of Southampton, is the architect, the 13 The
being Mr. G. S. Brinton, of the same town' Jr.
statue of the Prince Consort is a gift fr°l9:thrice
Frederick Perkins, F.R.G.S., who has been lien
mayor of Southampton. The new infirmary 'W
finished will cost about £3,800. afld
Their Royal Highnesses Princesses Helena
Louise, by Lady Augusta Staniel,,,-dsor
C. Barrington, Colonel Ponsonby, &c., left
Castle a few minutes after ten o'clock, aegtere
ceeded to the Windsor Station of the Greatil,,e-theit
Railway, whence at 10.10 a.m. they tec'nutlr
departure in a special train, provided by tbe;hato.
Western Railway Company, for Bishop's VCr'„'ttir,
At Reading his Royal Highness Prince 70- Acl.
attended by Major Elphinstone, who had left ;go
dington by the 9.40 a.m. train, joined the pri°c—,,etl
in the state saloon, and the special then reslP-a
its journey, via Basingstoke, Winche4ster7
Bishopstoke, to Bishop's Waltham, where the r-'co.
party arrived at 12.3 p.m. The station was de
rated with evergreens, while its single platforni '
crowded with officials and spectators. A the
D royal
Deacon,
a e npa:tthye were—Mr. rwe
Among those who had assembled to receive
Coles, Weston, and Copeland ; a.
An
c B;
o/w.linr7Shetrhiffe mayor;
town council of Southampton ; the Rev. Dr. raeci,
shaw, sheriff's chaplin ; Major Lacey, Mr. The
nj
Mr. Critchlow, Mr. Brinton, &c. The mayor

corporation wore their official robes.
eci
by
The approaches to the station were throng try,
the inhabitants of the town and adjacent c°1111„; to
Great anxiety was manifested by the spectanso,
catch a glimpse of the youthful prince and Fri-JIG:a of
Outside the town was a cavalry escort eonir%cier
some 40 troops of the Hants Mounted Rifies'All:a in
the command of Colonel Bower, and being 'bjfficic
grey uniforms, with Garibaldi hats andOn
feathers, they presented a very military asPec;p•ii by
the royal party alighting, they were condilei; coat
Mr. Arthur Helps to an open carriage drawn' m' 00
horses, the pcstilioni wearing yellow jackets,' 30c1
their arrival, amid the cheers of the crow
6°"' dige,
merry peals from the church bells, the royal .a. DI
consisting of several carriages—that occur 00
the prince and princesses being escorted b-hi the
Mounted Rifles—proceeded rapidly through the
High-street. All the shops were closed, aneerea
thoroughfare crowded with holiday folk, h
315,
lustily as their royal highnesses, accompanied
Helps, drove through on their way to irern°-,ipco
the countryseat of that gentleman. Here the Poo,
and princesses took luncheon previous to the et to
mencement of the ceremonial, a quarter 10'.9i
the
o'clock having been fixed for the unveiling °

statue.
bed 43°
At the hour named the royal party vac iaecl.
site, when the cheering waslong and well-slistailvi-
The prince and princesses seemed much pleased
their reception, and bowed repeatedly to thB
standers. They then alighted, and, escorted b 9 -4,6
Helps, walked to within a short distance of ts
porch, and facing the statue, which was veiled 0'
the royal standard. The mayor and officials illy,
been introduced to their royal highnesset d'
Deacon, the town clerk of Southampton, read 0•3':ocl
dress which stated " that the statue of the groat the
good prince now inseparably connected witilver
Royal Infirmary is the gift of Mr. Alden-DO
kins, one of the.members of our corporation-4;o
poration always conspicuous in its admiration °' olc
distinguished part which the Prince Consort tel

,•
in the welfare of this great country." .'OO4l
The address having been presented and gOcliel esterreceived, the Right Rev. the Bishop of Will
read a prayer composed for the occasion. did
and
was the bishop had ceased, the royal
A
was drawn away from the front of the bud' of
the fine statue was revealed amid a 11°11'A—

trumpets. oi4
Their royal highnesses were then conducted ii the
the infirmary, and after closely examining 3-aiyei
various arrangements, they drove to the 01d -to $
barn, which had been very tastefully decoratenve
concert-room--it having been determined to
concert in aid of the funds of the infirmary'
was admirably executed under the guidance °I-gro'
Alexander Roland. Miss Helen Faneit
Theodore Martin) then read three scenee
spere's " Merchant of Venice." The collie' "6,161
was crowded to excess, and as the tickets wereoo
at high prices the funds of the new infirccen.,:eeP
have been greatly augmented by the 13113igeef
Escorted again by the troop of Mounted 'tiost
their royal highnesses drove back to the st 3 under
where the special train had been prepareclirtimerf
the supervision of Mr. Williams, and Mr. /Tl.nates
the divisional superintendent ; and at ten itil-theit
to five o'clock the prince and princesses w'tatoll
departure for Windsor, the mass of 0.13ec royal
cheering loudly as the train started. Theirneio
highnesses arrived at Windsor after a icer-Greo
about two hours viathe South-Western and
Western Railways.

• e%
ir
His Excellency the Austrian Ambassador lf t
petted to arrive at Chandos House towards the end :9;s s
month, to resume his diplomatic duties. The Conuilod
not expected to return till January. Both his etene,s-
-e
and Countess Apponyi are at the present tinie at -1"—.40,
stig
The Marquis of Bowmont has left Floors lip
on a
visit
to Viscount and Viscountess DuPPliu at
Pl 1)
Castle, Perttaire,