The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-29 00:00:00

The Training Ship Worcester.

The announcement that his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales intended to preside yesterday, at
the annual distribution of the prizes to the cadets
of the Worcester, attracted a large number of the
friends of the boys to Erith, off which harbour the
ship lays, and caused an unusual amount of interest
in the neighbourhood. The railway station at Erith
was gaily decorated with festoons of flowers and ever-
greens, and in the route leading to the pier, flags dis-
playing the word " Welcome" were suspended
from archways formed of evergreens, and also from
several private houses in the town. His: royal
highness arrived at Erith by a special train, which
left Charing-cross at half-past eleven, accompanied
by the Duke of Sutherland, Viscount Hamilton, and
Major-General Knollys. On alighting at the sta-
tion, his Royal Highness was enthusiastically re-
ceived by the large assemblage which congregated
in the vicinity, and immediately proceeded to the
Worcester, where he was met by the commander,
Captain Whitby, and Mr. Green, and conducted
through the several compartments of the ship. The
distribution of prizes was subsequently commenced,
Lord A. Paget being voted to the chair, which he
occupied on a platform on the upper deck. His
lordship said that although he had not pursued na-
vigation as a profession, he took a lively interest in
the mercantile marine, and was delighted to find his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales present on that
occasion to perform the important task of distri-
buting the prizes to the lads who had been found
deserving of reward. He•urged the boys to attend
to the duties of the profession in which they had
been instructed, and said they should be stimulated
in their efforts by a knowledge of the fact that the
Worcester received the patronage of some of the
most eminent shipowners in the world, and in whose
service officers realised as much as £l,OOO a year.
Mr. W. M. Bullivant, the honorary secretary, then
read the annual report, which stated that last Mid-
summer the total number of boys entered on board
was 176, out of which number 82 had left for sea,
thus leaving 94 on board. This Midsummer the
total number of boys entered on board since the
commencement of the institution had reached 251,
out of which number 121 had left for sea, thus
leaving 130 on board. The general conduct
of the boys had been equally satisfactory throughout
the past year. The report, in reference to the gene-
ral and naval education of the boys, was of a most
satisfactory character. His Royal Highness then
distributed the prizes to those boys who had been
recommended as entitled to that distinction.

Mr. BULLIVANT said that 22 boys were leaving
the ship for appointment granted to them by ship-
owners free of cost. Mr. H. Green had kindly
granted cadetships in his employ, free of cost, to
Richard Louis Dalziel Gompertz and Herbert Els-
dale Inskip. The following shipowners had also
granted appointments in their employ to the boys
leaving the Worcester this half-year, who had passed
their two years on board, and held Worcester Board
of Trade certificates :—Mr. George Marshall, two
appointments ; Messrs. Smith, Fleming, and Co.,
two ; Messrs. Finlay, Campbell, and Co., six ;
Messrs. Gilmour, Rankin, Strang, and Co., two ;
Mr. W. Phillipps, two ; Captain John J. Milbank,
of ship Shun Lee, three ; Messrs. Lidgett and Sons,
three. Mr. Bullivant said that Mr. Gompertz had
received prizes worth £l7O.

His ROYAL HIGHNESS then said—My lords, ladies,
and gentlemen, it has given me great satisfaction to
be here on this occasion. The report which you have
heard read leaves me but few words to say ; but
(addressing the boys) allow me, lads, to congratulate
you on the high state of efficiency in which you are,
and on the large number of prizes which have been
awarded to you to-day. In former years it was
thought that the sailor need not receive any edu-
cation, but I think we have improved since those
days, and it has been found desirable to give a
sound naval and good general education to those
intended for the sea. I had great pleasure in walk-
ing over the ship, and I was particularly struck
with its extreme cleanliness, which Capt. Whitby
told me was the result of the labour of the boys
themselves. I heartily wish you success, boys, in
the career which you have entered, and I shall
always be very happy on any occasion to show the
sympathy and interest which perhaps you may think
I have evinced on this occasion. (Cheers.)
Mr. GREEN, in a brief speech, thanked his Royal
Highness and Lord Alfred Paget for their presence
on the occasion.

His Royal Highness then took his departure,
having previously received a hearty cheer from the
boys, to whom he graciously acknowledged the com-
pliment.

Mr. Chambers, the deputy chairman of the com-
mittee of management, awarded the certificates to
the boys who had been provided with appointments,
and to each of whom a Bible was also presented.
About 180 police, of the A and R divisions, under
the direction of Superintendents \\Talker and Whit-
more, attended to keep the line from the station to
the pier:for the Royal party.