The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-22 00:00:00

K.G., K.T., &C.

"May it please your Royal Highness,—We, the Mayor,
Aldermen, and Burgesses of Liverpool, beg to offer to your
Royal Highness a most cordial welcome on the occasion of
your second visit to our ancient and loyal borough.
" We gladly avail ourselves of the opportunity to congra-
tulate your Royal Highness upon having devoted yourself
to the active duties of a branch of her Majesty's service in-
timately connected with those maritime interests open
which the welfare of this community depends. Your presence
this day at the annual distribution of prizes on board the
school frigate CoLway will add the great weight of your
personal example to the efforts of those who are labouring
to train the youths therein admitted for the honourable
profession for which they are destined, while to these latter
it will be afresh stimulus to exert themselves in upholding
the credit of an institution which has already in a special
manner received the sanction and approval of Her Most
Gracious Majesty the Queen. We beg to express our
grateful acknowledgment of the consideration shown by
your Royal Highness in consenting to lay the foundation
the
stone of the proposed new infirmary for the benefit of
children of the poor of this town, and to assure you that
we shall ever retain a lively recollection of your readiness
to promote the success of one of our most useful and in-
teresting. charities.
" We regard this second visit of your Royal Highness to
our borough as an indication that the interest at all times
manifested by Her Most Gracious Majesty in the welfare of
her people is shared by your Royal Highness, and we beg
to assure you that this consideration will not fail to
strengthen those feelings of loyal attachment which are
entertained by all classes of our townsmen towards Her
Majesty's throne and family.
"Given under the Corporate Common Seal of the Borough
of Liverpool, on the 21st day of Jine, in the year of our
Lord 1866."
His ROYAL HIGHNESS replied as follows :—Mr.
Mayor and Gentlemen,—l return you my most sin-
cere thanks for the address which you have presented
to me, as well as for the cordial welcome you have
given to me upon this my second visit to your im-
portant and loyal borough. lam also glad to have
this opportunity of visiting the school frigate Con-
way for the purpose of distributing the prizes to the
successful competitors ; and if my presence can tend
in any way to encourage those who labour to train,
as well as those who are taught, my visit will not
have been in vain, more especially as the school is
under the sanction and approval of our gacious Queen.
I shall also have much pleasure in assisting to lay the
foundation stone of the infirmory for the, benefit of
the poor of this great town, as I know no more useful
charity than that of attending to and endeavouring
to relieve the necessities of the suffering poor in
sickness and distress. It will be my pleasing
duty to convey to the Queen the expressions of
loyalty to the Throne and attachment to her per-
son and family conveyed in your address, which you
state are shared by all classes of her subjects in this
grand, thriving, and moss important town.
This ceremony concluded, his Royal Highness
next proceeded to the Prince's Landing-stage for
the purpose of proceeding to the school frigate Con-
way to distribute the prizes to the successful pupils.
He was received by a guard of honour from the
Royal Naval Reserve, and with loud cheers by an
immense concourse of spectators. Unfortunately
the weather was, as usual on such occasions, wet.
His Royal Highness and a select party embarked on
board the Woodside saloon steamer.

At 10 o'clock one of the Rock Ferry saloon
steamers left for the Conway, and was crowded with
visitors. The Conway was beautifully decorated,
the whole of the upper deck having been roofed in
with gaily-coloured flags. There were also numer-
ous trophies. On each side of the platform ter-
raced seats had been raised for the accommodation
of the lady visitors, and here the beauty and fashion
of Liverpool certainly presented a very brilliant ap-
pearance. The space 'immediately in front of the
platform was reserved for the pupils, and the re-
mainder of the deck space to the general visitors.
Shortly after 11 o'clock a Royal salute from Her
Majesty's ship Donegal announced the approach of
the Royal party.
As his Royal Highness stepped on board the Con-

way the band struck up " See the Conquering Hero
comes," and the " Sailor Prince" was received by
the boys with a ringing cheer. His Royal High-
ness was accompanied by his suite and a numerous
party.
The MAYOR of Liverpool (Mr. John Farnworth)
presided. He said that many years ago, like other
shipowners of the port, he had heard with regret the
imputations which had been cast upon the mercan-
tile marine of this country, as he feared, in many
respects, with very great reason. He was glad to say
that of late years this country had witnessed a very
great improvement. He deemed this institution to
be of the utmost importance in continuing and I:),rpe_
tuatin g this improvement. Unless the pupils preserved
a character without reproach they would find all
their skill without avail. He was glad, therefore,
to see thatan important prized for good conductwas
annually awarded. (Cheers.)
The SECRETARY (Mr. Charles Aspinall) then read
a report from Mr. H. W. Jeans, F.R.A.S., Exa-
mining Mathematical Master at the Royal Naval
College. This report stated that he bad examined
the cadets of the Conway. The questions put to
the boys were similar to those given to the sub-
lieutenants and second masters of the Royal Naval
College. This was a severe ordeal for such youth-
ful students, and it was therefore with particular
pleasure that hewas able to say that they had passed
a most favourable examination, and had obtained
of
an unusual number marks,ctiA second report from
pra
Mr. Norman Macleod,
elExaminer to the
Local Marine Beard, who had x
in practical seamanship,
Was most ined the boys
favourable. He
bore particular testimony to the ability of the coin-
wander, Capt. Manic.
His Royal Highness then proceeded to distribute
the prizes. Wm. Prettyman received the n
_
prize for exemplary conduct, and 11. S. P.
IN iblett
the Duke of Somerset's nomination to a naval cadet-
ship, and the Queen's second prize, a binocular glass
and £35. A large number of prizes for proficiency
in nautical and general education were also awarded.
The recipients were welcomed with much applause.
Mr. S. R. GREAVES, then moved a vote of
thanks to hisßoyal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh
for his great kindness in delivering the prizes on this
occasion. There was no one who could reflect more
honour upon this institution than their royal guest,
who was known in both the naval and mercantile
services as the " Sailor Prince." (Cheers.) He
was sure there was nothing in the brilliant career
which awaited him that would have a more favour-

able or lasting place in his remembrance than the
proceedings of that day. (Cheers.)
Mr. JAMES BEAZLEY, chairman of the School
Committee, seconded the motion, which was carried
with ringing cheers, the audience rising en masse.
His ROYAL HIGHNESS, in responding, said—U, as
Mr. Greaves bas said, and as Mr. Beazley has re-
peated, it has caused you any gratification for me
to come here to-day, I can only tell you that it has
given me thelliveliest pleasure to take a part on this
occasion. (Cheers.) It must be a great satisfac-
tion to all who take so great an interest, and have
rendered so much support, to this institution to see
how the seed sown has yielded such an ample har-
vest. (Cheers.) The benefits of this school are
evident in the improvement which may be seen
throughout the mercantile marine of this port, and
through it the whole merchant service of this coun-
try., for where is there a port into which the ships
of Liverpool do not go ? I can only repeat that I
congratulate the members of the committee and the
school in general upon the success of their institu-
tion, and assure them that I shall never cease to
take the liveliest interest in the institution. (Loud
applause.)
Addresses were also delivered by Mr. LAIRD,
M.P., who proposed a vote of thanks to the Lords
of the Admiralty for their special and continued in-
terest in the institution, and Captain WARD, chair-
man of the Mercantile Marine Ser %rice Association,
who seconded the motion.
Admiral Sir F. GRAY responded.

Addresses were also delivered by the Duke of
SUTHERLAND, the Earl of CAITHNESS, and Earl
HARDWICKE, who addressed himself specially to the
boys.
Admiral DACRES said that if the boys would
maintain positions either in the Royal or the mer-
cantile navy, they must do so by dint of undeviat-
ing truth and a never-flinching sense of duty. With
that they would get independence, without which
they could never have self-respect or happiness.
Mr. J. A. TOBIN proposed a vote of thanks to the
donors of prizes, and a vote of thanks to the Mayor
concluded the proceedings.
With a parting cheer from the boys, the Prince
and party then left for her Majesty's ship Done-
gal, to lunch with Captain Paynter, who, in
proposing " The Health of the Duke of Edinburgh,"
said he was an honour to their noble service. He
had fairly won his way to his present rank of post-
captain, and had passed honestly and by hard work
most creditable examinations. He was not only a
thorough sailor and officer, but one of the best edu-
cated in the service. The Admiralty had, in his
opinion, acted most judiciously in making the Duke
a post captain, passing over the grade ofteoa
ceotmtmharnee-
der, as it enabled their Royal guest
years as lieutenant, and thus thoroughly learn all
the various duties of a naval officer. He, therefore,
called upon the company to give the 'Duke three
cheers as one of the Royal family, and three extra
cheers as a post captain in the Royal navy.
The toast was drunk with three times three.
The DUKE thanked them for their double cheers
most sincerely, especially for those given to him as
a post captain. He especially also congratulated
himself that he had been enabled to pass through
every grade of the noble service and to win his way
up as any other officer would. (Cheers.) So long as
he was connected with the navy he trusted that he
would always serve with credit to himself and credit
to his country. (Cheers.)
On leaving the Donegal the yards were manned,
and a royal salute was, fired from the Donegal and
from the Royal Cunard steamer Cuba.
The Royal party, accompanied by the members
of the Mersey Board, then proceeded to the Birken-
head northern entrances, passing through the Hun-
dred-feet lock to a floating stage in the middle of
the intermediate dock, where the Prince formally
opened the dock and the northern entrances by
breaking a bottle of wine. The ceremony was wit-
nessed by an immense concourse on the surrounding
quays. Having received an address from the chair-
man of the Board,
His Royal HIGHNESS replied as follows :—lt has
afforded me the greatest satisfaction to be present
here to-day for the purpose of opening this impor:

ant portion of the works of the Mersey Docks and

Barbour Board, and I sincerely hope that your an-
ticipations of success will be fully realised. I don't
know which most to admire—the stupendous nature
of the design or the elaborate and beautiful work,
which does such infinite credit to the engineers and
artisans who have been employed in constructing
it, now so happily accomplished. Under this sur-
prising energy it is not to be wondered at that the
commerce of Liverpool should increase, and that her
merchant princes should be enabled to send their
ships to all parts of the world. It will be, lam
sure, a source of great satisfaction to the Queen to
find that you ascribe in a great degree the increase
of the commerce of Liverpool to the benign influence
of her Majesty's peaceful reign, connecting it at the
same time with the personal interest which was
taken in the prosperity of the town by my revered
father. I can only hope to follow his bright ex-
ample, and shall always entertain a lively remem-
brance of the kind reception I have experienced at
the hands of all classes of her Majesty's subjects in
this magnificent town. _ _

His Royal Highness then opened the 50ft. gates
by pressing on a small lever which brought the
hydraulic power into play. The handle of the lever
was afterwards presented to him in the form of an
elegantly jewelled paper-knife.
After passing through the great float the Duke
returned to Liverpool, and dined with the Mayor at
the Town-hall in the evening. To-day his Royal
Highness attends the regatta of the Royal Mersey
Yacht Club.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The Virago, paddlewLeel sloop, 1,059 tons, 220

horse power, having had her hull and decks altered
and repaired, was yesterday floated into the large
basin from No. 1 dock in Sheerness dockyard, where
she will be completed as quickly as possible for
commission.

The Gladiator, 6, paddlewheel steam frigate

1,210 tons, 430 horse power, Captain Elphinstone
D'O. D'A. Aplin, has arrived at Sheerness, and is
undergoing repairs in consequence of a collision she
sustained with the coaling hulk in the river Medway,
whereby a portion of her starboard paddlebox was
carried away.
The Ruby, gunboat, 60 horse power, tender to
H.M.S. Dauntless, at Hull, has been repaired in
Sheerness dockyard, and will shortly be again ready
for her station.

The Pigeon, gunboat, 60 horse power, was yester-
day taken out of No. 3 dock, in Sheerness dock-
yard, where she has been fitting for sea, into the
large basin. She has been commissioned, and will
probably start in a few days.
The Lord Warden, 20, screw armour-plated ship,
4,080 tons, recently arrived at Sheerness from
Chatham, is lying in the harbour awaiting further
orders. It has not yet been decided whether the
ship shall be fitted out at Sheerness or taken round
to Portsmouth. It was thought desirable to
ocom-
plete her at Sheerness,buttothtaekedhraeurginhtto
f the basin, water,
although amply sufficient
is not sufficient, it is feared, when the rest of her
er.armour-plated sloop,
T fittingshe haveitese
Research,
4,her
sedreeewp
1,253 tons, 200-horse power, Commander R. A. E.
extensive alterations to her
Scott, which has recently hull,
nand unadefregwoisnligghstormee-
pairs to her machinery, was brought down from
Chatham dockyard to Sheerness on Wednesday
evening, and yesterday morning was taken to the
measured mile off Maplin Sands for the
of her machinery. The ship
George W. Preedy, C. 8., ,of the Sheerness Steam
Reserve official trial
Reserve ; Mr. W. Williamson, inspector
was
of
fC
ma-
chinery chinery afloat, and Mr. Eames, chief engineer,from
Chatham dockyard, were likewise present. Six runs
were made on the measured mile, giving an average
speed of 9.083 knots per hour, with a maximum of
79, and a inininium of 77 revolutions of the engines
per minute. The load on the safety valve was 24i1b.,
the pressure of steam in the boilers 14.661 b., and
the vacuum in the condensers 24in. Two runs were
likewise made with half-boiler power, giving an
average of 7.517 knots per hour. The engines
stopped from the time of moving the telegraph in
7sec., started ahead in ssec., and astern in 16see.