The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-22 00:00:00

The Prince of Wales and the Belgian

Visit.

Yesterday afternoon his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales, as president of the Central Belgian
Reception Committee, presided at a crowded gene-
ral meeting held at Willis's-rooms, King-street, St.
James's, for the purpose of receiving a report as to
the progress of the fund and the organisation for
the reception of the Belgians on their arrival next
month in England. The Prince of Wales, who was
accompanied by the Belgian minister, M. Van de
Weyer, entered the room about 2.30 p.m., and was
at once installed in the post of president by Colonel
Loyd Lindsay, who also accompanied his Royal

ighness.
Mr. COCKCRAFT having retyl the minutes of the

previous meeting,
llis Royal Highness the PRESIDENT, who, on
rising, was received with applause, said—ln open-
ing the proceedings of to-day, I beg to say that I
have great pleasure in coming here to take the chair.
When I heard it was settled that the Belgian volun-
teers would be invited to this country, I, by the de-
sire of Col. Lindsay, with great pleasure accepted
the post of president, or rather honorary president,
for, having many other duties to perform, I natu-
rally did not want to accept the post of president
without being able to perform the duty of that post
regularly. I may say, however, that I shall be
always happy to reader any assistance in my power.
(Hear.) After the enthusiastic reception of the
English volunteers by his Majesty the King of Bel-
gium, and the Belgian volunteers and people, I am
sure we shall return the compliment by inviting
them here this year, and I am confident that all the
arrangements will be such as to give them great
pleasure. There is a concert, a ball, and also a
luncheon by the Lord Mayor ; and I have the plea-
sure to state that our government has decided on
sending a troopship, so as to bring over those mem-
bers of the Belgian volunteers who intend coming
entirely free of expense. _

The PRINCE, having read the list of prizes to be
offered to the Belgians, said the money promis ed
amounted to £5,500, of which 0,300 had been re-
ceived, leaving £2,200 still to be received. llis
Royal Highness resumed his seat amidst loud ap-
plause.

M. VAN DE WEYER, Belgian Minister, then said
—Your Royal Highness and Gentlemen,-1 was
perfectly convinced beforehand that the measures
that would be taken by this committee would be
such that my countrymen will return home agree-.
ably convinced of the friendly feeling with which
they will have been received. I know this
country so well that I have not had a doubt
on the subject. Since your royal highness has come
forward, I am equally convinced that that act of
condescension on the part of your royal highness
will be deeply felt and gratefully received in Bel-
gium. (Cheers.)
Colonel LOYD LINDSAY said that since the last
time he met the committee matters had transpired
which it was his duty to report. He had paid a
visit to Brussels, and had the honour of seeing
his Majesty the King, who expressed himself in
those kind terms that he always used towards
the English people—(cheers)—and said it would
give him great pleasure to be among his country-
men over here, but the duties of his Parliament,
which opened on July 1, and his army, which en-
camped in the same month, would render it ex-
tremely difficult for him to come. He, however, did
not wish it to be understood that he would not
come. (Cheers.) He would use every endeavour to
be present. He (Col. Lindsay) was then called on
to receive deputations from many of the principal
towns in Belgium, and to them he detailed all the
proceedings of the committee, telling them what
was prepared for them—that they would be expected
on the 11th of July—that her Majesty's Minis-
ter, the First Lord of the Admiralty, had kindly
consented to send one of her Majesty's finest
transports to fetch the Belgians from a place 22
miles below Antwerp, and convey them to Graves-
end; that the journey would occupy 12 hours,
and that during the whole of that period they
would l.e entertained at the cost of a grant from
the Treasury. (Cheers.) The transport would
arrive at Gravesend about noon, where they would
be met by the Woolwich Company, who had very
handsomely undertaken, at a nominal charge
(to satisfy the shareholders) to land their force at
Westminster. On the following day (the 12th)
the City authorities would entertain the entire
force at a banquet at the Guildhall. By permission
of her Majesty the Queen they would subsequently
visit Windsor Castle and other places of public in-
terest. They would also be invited to a grand ball
and concert at the Agricultural-hall. He had not
been able to ascertain as yet the exact number of
visitors they might expect. The great embarrass-
ment the committee had to contend with was to
select the entertainments from the large number
offered. They had no doubt seen by the daily
papers that the Duke of Devonshire had invited
the Belgians to Chatsworth. The distance to there
was something like 200 miles, and as it would
be utterly impossible to perform the journey
there and back in one day, the invitation had
to be declined. The naval review, which every
man who was aware of the naval greatness of
England would wish the Belgians to have an
opportunity of seeing, could not be included in
the programme, as he understood from the Admi-
ralty that there was some doubt as to its taking
place at the time mentioned, and the day had there-
fore been appropriated to something else. There
were invitations from Woolwich—from his own
corps— from the First Surrey Rifle Volunteers,
and from the 'rower Hamlets ; but they could
not be accepted. The authorities of the South
Kensington Museum had kindly consented to give
a fete at the Museum on the 17th, 18th, or 19th
of July, whichever day suited the committee. In
conclusion, Colonel Lindsay stated that amongst
others he had sent invitations to visit England to
the following : the officers of the King's house-
hold ; Ministers and their secretaries, general as
well as private ; burgomasters of the principal
towns ; heads of the naval department ; officers
of the Belgian regular army ; commander of the
Dutch contingent who was at Brussels ; command-
ing officer of the French Guard; general com-
manding the French Municipal Guard, and the
captains of the steamers that conveyed the British
volunteers. (Cheers.) He had omitted to state
before that the Thames Boat Clubs had liberally
offered to get up a grand fete on the day the Bel-
gians went to Richmond. (Cheers.)
M. VAN DE WEYER said that although he had no
right to express an opinion, be begged his royal
highness's permission to say that having listened
attentively to the statement of Colonel Lindsay, he
felt that the arrangements were such as would im-
press his countrymen with the great hospitality of
the English people. (Cheers.)
An offer was made on behalf of the mayors of
York and Leeds to entertain the Belgians, and
defray the expenses of transit. A vote of thanks
was passed for the offer, which, however, was
declined.
In answer to a question,
Colonel LINDSAY said the council of the Tir Na-
tional had been invited to England.
On the motion of Colonel LINDSAY, a vote of
thanks was passed to the Prince of Wales, who
then retired amidst applause.
Colonel LINDSAY took the chair during the tran-
saction of the remainder of the business. After a
lengthened debate,an executive committee consisting
of 15 members (inclusive of the present executive) was
appointed to control the expenditure of the money,
and report to the general committee. Five mem-
bers to form a quorum. The following are the
names of the gentlemen elected to make up the
number of 15 :—Colonel M‘Leod, Lord Bury, the
Duke of Grafton, Colonel Gregory, Lord Paulet,
Colonel Warde, Sir Benjamin Phillips, the Earl of
Londesborough, the Duke of Manchester, and Mr.
Graves, M.P.
The election of this committee concluded the busi-
ness of the meeting.

The Marquis of Exeter (the Captain of the Hon.
Corps of Geutlemeu-at-:.kruvi) awl the Earl of Shrewsbury
and Talbot dined with the lion. Corps of Gentlemen-at
Arms at their mess in St. James's Palaee last evening.