The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-01 00:00:00

The Queen's Visit to Wolverhampton.

WOLVERHA roN, Friday,

The Queen has received an enthusiastic welcome
here to-day. It is barely a week since her Majesty
consented to honour the town with a visit, on the
occasion of what is called " the inauguration" of the
statue of the Prince Consort. There was thus brief '
time for preparation, but the municipal authorities
and the townspeople together worked with a will,
and worked with little ceasing. They have been re-
warded by a great day in the local annals, a day
which, in spite of considerable difficulties and some
anxiety for the public convenience and safety, had
passed over so far with absolutely nothing to mar
the general rejoicing.
Shortly before 10 o'clock, the time appointed for
the departure of the Royal train from Windsor, her
Majesty, accompanied by the Princess Helena,
Prince Christian, the Princess Louise, and their
suite, arrived at the Great Western station, Lord
Derby being the Minister in attendance. Here they
were received by Sir Daniel Gooch, chairman of the
Great Western Railway, Capt. Balkeley, one of the
directors, and Mr. Grierson, the general manager of
the line, who accompanied the Royal party to and
from their destination. The locomotive in use was
" the Lord of the Isles," which was shown in the
Exhibition of 1851, and still does good service on
the Great Western. A brighter and more genial '
morning than that of to-day is not found in Nov.
" Queen's weather" used to be a hackneyed phrase
at most of the State visits paid by her Majesty ;
and it was noticed as of good omen that on this, the
first occasion of lateyears when the Queen has taken
part in any public ceremonial, her Majesty's usual
good fortune attended her. Avoiding Slough
.sta-
tion, by passing through what is known as " the
west curve," the Royal train passed rapidly through
Reading, Pangbourne, and Didcot, reached Oxford
(without stopping there) a few minutes after 11
o'clock, and only drew up at Banbury to take not
breath but water. This point was reached at
11 35, three minutes before time. At all the
other stations a few spectators were gathered,
who could have enjoyed but little satisfaction for
their trouble in going there. A speed of 50 miles
an hour does not assist either those in motion or
those at rest to identify features. From the train
a crowd looks like a shifting figure in a kaleidoscope ;
face and figure are alike blurred and indistinct. You
hear a shout, which seems to die away as soon as
heard ; and then you arein the open country, breath-
ing the fresh autumnal air and seeing the ploughman
stop his plough, and groups of labourers here and
there run to the hedge-side to give loyal greeting
as they may.
Banbury, 70 miles on the way, was the one
favoured place selected for rest, and here the station
was prettily decorated with flags and evergreens, and
the platform was thronged with people. A guard of
honour, of the local Rifle Volunteers, under the
command of Capt. Cobb, saluted her Majesty as the
train drew up, and the Lord high Steward of
Banbury (Lord Saye and Sele), Col. North, M.P.,
the Recorder of Bunbury (Mr. A. Staveley
the Mayor (Mx. Harrison), the Town Clerk (Mr.
Munton), and the members of the Town Council,
were among those upon the platform. No snore than
five minutes were allowed for the stay here, but
there was still time for the learned Recorder (who
wore his robes as Doctor of Civil Law) to read the.
following address :--