The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-24 00:00:00

THE PRINCE OF WALES AT CAPE BRETON.

(From the Cape _Breton News.)
Whilst we Cape Bretonians had been talking
and writing of the expected visit of the Prince of
Wales to Nova Scotia and its sister colonies, few
ventured to hope that his Royal Highness would
land on our shores. There were some, however,
who did think it possible, from the early departure
of the squadron from Newfoundland, that Louis-
burg might receive a flying visit from the Prince.
Ere this, doubtless, throughout this island and
elsewhere, it has become known that the noble
harbour of Sydney, in Cape Breton, was honoured
with the presence of her Majesty's ships Hero
and Ariadne, two of the Prince of Wales's
Atlantic squadron, with its precious freight, the
Prince, on board the former, and that Cape Breton
was the first land in the province on which his
Royal Highness placed his foot. To lay before our
anxious and expectant readers some particulars of
the visit of the illustrious prince—of this royal per-
sonage, who so highly honoured our dear old island,
is this day our pleasing duty; and with feelings of
unbounded gratification, and grateful recollection
of the event—which it was our good fortune per-
sonally to witness throughout—we shall proceed to
detail, with all possible accuracy, the proceedings
connected with the reception of his Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales at the Sydney Mines.
To the astonishment of all, the squadron was seen
coming into the harbour at half-past nine last
Saturday morning. We were on the road be•
tween the North Bar and the Mines when we
first saw the ships, at that time rounding Low Point.
Correctly conjecturing them to be the Hero and
Ariadne, we hurried our steps, and reached the
mines just as those vessels came to, and cast anchor
off the Block-house at the entrance of the harbour.
It was then about half-past ten o'clock. At that
moment the workmen at the mines were all em-
ployed in their usual occupations—the greater pro-
portion at the depth of 100 fathoms below the sur-
face. Orders were immediately given to suspend
all the works, and to muster the " volunteers" as
quickly as possible. This was a work of difficult
accomplishment, as many of the men had to go more
than a mile after getting out of the pits to dress
and equip themselves. At the mines a lively scene
presented itself, which place bore all the appearance
of a town besieged by an invading force—if one
could in imagination have changed the joy and glad-
ness which beamed from every countenance around
into dismay and alarm which such a state of affairs
would have produced ; officers in their uniforms
passing hither and thither, and volunteers hasten-
ing towards the armoury for their Enfield rifles.
In the meantime, Richard Brown, Esq., the gallant
lieutenant-colonel of the Sydney Mines Volunteer
Corps, accompanied by Captains Bridge and Bar-
rington, had proceeded to the beach for the pur-
pose of going on board to receive his Royal High-
ness's orders. They were met at the beach
by Captain Orlebar, RN., the pilot of the
squadron, who came from the Duke of Newcastle
to say that the Prince had called specially for the
purpose of seeing the Sydney Mines Volunteers ;
and he would land with his suite at Indian Cove in
the course of half an hour ; and that he wished to see
as many of the Volunteers as could be got together
during his short stay—he wished to leave Sydney
in time to reach Louisburg before night, which place
the Prince was desirous of steaming past as near
as possible. Very shortly after, a beautiful barge
painted white, was seen to shove off from the Hero,
in the direction of the Cove. A pretty large con-
course of persons had now assembled at the point
selected for the landing of the Prince, As the barge
neared the shore we distinctly recognised the youth-
ful and royal visitor aboard, who was dressed in
plain clothes, and surrounded by five or six gentle-
men, similarly dressed. In the bow of the boat stood
two man•of--war sailors, supporting the royal
standard. The barge having touched the beach at
the landing-place at Indian Cove, Lieut.-Colonel
Brown had the honour and distinguished privilege of
meeting his Royal Highness and suite. Capt. G. H.
Seymour, of the Hero, and Capt. E. W. Vansittart,
of the Ariadne, landed at the same time. As the
volunteers had not yet reached the bridge, the
Prince and Mr. Brown remained standing at the
junction of the main road with the road to the land-
ing place for a few minutes. Shortly after about
half the volunteers, which had been got together,
came down to the bridge, on the upper side of
which they formed a guard of honour, and received
the Prince with presented arms ; after which they
were inspected by his Royal Highness, who walked
round the ranks, followed by the commanding
officer of the corps and his Royal Highness's suite.
During this time a pretty large gathering of people,
some on foot and some in waggons, lined the oppo-
site side of the bridge, and the .brow of the hill.
The Prince having expressed a strong wish to
visit the Indian wigwams at the North Bar, it was
arranged that the volunteers should, in the mean-
time, march to their usual parade ground at the
Mines, where it was hoped all the men would have
time to muster before the Prince returned from
the North Bar. The Prince and his suite were
driven to the Bar, accompanied by a host of officers
belonging to the Hero and Ariadne. Mr. Brown
was also one of the party.
Unfortunately nearly all the Indians were absent
attending their great annual festival at Chapel
Island, in the Bras d'Or Lake. There were only
three or four wigwams standing. The Prince
visited the one occupied by Mary Ann Gould and
another squaw. The inmates were surprised when
Mr Brown informed them that the Prince of Wales
had come to see them. One of the squaws said she
was very glad to see him, and caused much amuse-
ment to the Prince and suite when she added,
" Which is the Prince ? Is it the little un ?" The
party remained some time at the wigwams, making
inquiries, and some purchases of mocassins, the
only articles for sale.

From the wigwams the patty proceeded through
the Bar, where the ships at the wharves were gaily
decorated especially her Majesty's surveying
steamer Margaretha Stevenson, and the Royal
Mail steamer Merlin—and thence as far as Mr.
Peppitt's, By this time there were at least twenty
waggons collected. The horses generally were
admired. The apparently frail waggons, which,
if not all of American build, resemble in struc-
ture the imported article were also much no-
ticed, Altogether, we believe, the Prince enjoyed
the drive to the Bar and back amazingly. He
was cheered at various parts during his
pro
grass—but especially near Messrs. Archibald and
Co.'s shipyard, and the Mining Company's Wharves.
But we must not here forget to notice that the
y g
Prince of Wales and the Duke of Newcastle ex-
pressed their astonishment at seeing such a large
proportion
th through
uogfh pretty girls in ever rou as the the Bar. On arriving at thp . y
passed
drawn up at their usual parade,
the Prince and suite inspected - the
ly every(
em
Volunteers
ines,
where nearly