The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-21 00:00:00

The Prince

Aberdeen.

ABERDEEN, Thursday Evening.
This afternoon the Prince of Wales presided at the
inauguration of a fine marble statue of the Queen.
The town for the time may be said to have kept
holiday. After 12 o'clock all business was at an
end in the banks and chief mercantile offices,
while, in compliance with the request of the Lord
Provost and magistrates, shops were closed from
noon till 4 o'clock. From the railway station at
Guild-street, all along the route of the procession,
to the corner of St. Nicholas-street, where the
statue stands, the streets and windows were filled
with a dense crowd. Flags and streamers were
plentifully displayed along the route, and the har-
bour presented a very grand effect, the vessels being
decorated with their colours and ensigns. Barriers,
to prevent the crowd encroaching too closely upon
the procession, were erected on each side of the
streets, the city and county police occupying posi-
tions where the crush was likely to be greatest. The
Artillery and Rifle Volunteers, under Colonels Gor-
don and Erskine, and with the Highland depot at
present quartered in the town, commanded by Col.
Gordon, and the men of the Royal Naval Reserve,
were posted along the line of route. One hundred
and fifty officers and men of the 72d Highlanders,
from Edinburgh Castle, were also in attendance, by
order of the Duke of Cambridge. The arrangements
made by the authorities, civil and military,were very
complete, and conduced much to the comfort and
success of the day's proceedings. During the forenoon
a good deal of rain fell, bat after 1 o'clock the wea-
ther cleared up and it remained quitefair. The situa-
tion chosen for the statue is one of the most conspi-
cuous in the city ; indeed, the only fear is that the
position is too public for the safety of so fine a work.
It stands at the corner of St. Nicholas-street, right
opposite the top of Market-street, and within two
hundred yards of the Post-office, having for a back-
ground the Town and County Bank. The sub-
scriptions to procure the statue were collected im-
mediately after the inauguration of the statue of
the Prince Consort by her Majesty in October,
1863. A thousand pounds was soon obtained, not
a few of the subscribers being working men. Baron
Marochetti's statue of the Prince Consort was, it
may be remembered, of metal, and represents his
late Royal Highness seated in a chair in the dress
c.l a field-marshal. The work unveiled to-day has
a far more effective appearance, the artist, Mr.
Aleiander Brodie, a local sculptor, has represented •
the Queen standing, bearing the sceptre in her right
hand, while with the other hand she clasps the folds
-of her tartan plaid. The drapery is skilfully
managed. The figure of her Majesty stands Bft. 6in.
in height, is cut from a block of Sicilian marble,
and is placed on a richly polished pedestal over ten
feet in height. At the back of the statue runs an
ornamental raiLng, while in front are three lamps.
The inauguration proceedings proper began at half-
past 12 o'clock, at which hour the Lord Provost,
magistrates, and Town Council, with the Principal
and Professors of the University, and other gentle-
men who were to join in the procession that was to
convey the Prince of Wales to the scene of unveil-

ing, assembled in the Town-hall. Thence they
drove to the Deeside Railway-station in Guild-street.
Hue a large company of ladies and gentlemen were
in waiting, admission to the station being obtained
by ticket. The Prince was to arrive at half-past
one o'clock, but it was 12 minutes to two before the
train reached the station. During the interval the
attention of the spectators was in a great measure
centred in Lord Derby, who, having just arrived
from the south, on his way to Balmoral, unex-
pectedly found himself one of the reception party.
Among the party in waiting to receive the Prince
were Sir Alexander Anderson, Lord Provost of the
city, the magistrates and members of the Town

Council, the Earl of Kintore, lord-lieutenant of
the county, Sir James Burnett, lord-lieutenant of
Kincardineshire, Mr. Dyce Nicol, Sheriff
Jamieson, Sheriff-substitute Thomson, Principal
Campbell and the Professors of the University ; Mr.
William Leslie, chairman of the committee of sub-
scribers to the statue, with several of the leading
members of the committee ; Convener Berry and the
members of the Incorporated Trades ; the Commis-
sioners of Police; Mr. Brodie and Mr. Ellis, the
sculptor and architect of the statue, &c. The arrival
of the Royal carriage was the signal for a hearty
round of cheers. The Prince, who was dressed in
Highland costume, on alighting acknowledged the
compliment by frequently bowing to the spectators.
His Royal Highness was accompanied by General
Knollys, Colonel Keppel, and Dr. Robertson, her
Majesty's Commissioner at Balmoral. Some dis-
appointment was evidently felt that the Prince was
not accompanied by the Princess.

In accordance with a unanimous resolution of
the Town Council to confer the freedom of the city
upon the Prince, Sir Alexander Anderson addressed
him as follows

" May it please your Royal Highness, —I have the honour,
as chief magistrate of Aberdeen, to present to you my col-
leagues, the magistrates and Town Council, who are in
attendance, to assure your Royal Highness of the warm wel-
come of the citizens, of the high gratification with which
your visit is received by every class of the community, of
the universal affection entertained for you, and that they
warmly share in the high hopes of your futuro entertained
throughout the British nation. I have it in charge, also,
from the Town Council, to express their unanimous wish
that your Royal Highness will be graciously pleased to accept
the freedom of this ancient city as the highest mark of re-
spect in their power to bestow. With the permission of your
Royal Highness, the Town Clerk will read the diploma."
Mr. Angus, Town Clerk, here read the diploma
in the following terms :
" Quad bonum, faustuni, felix, fortunatum sit :
" Aberdonim, XII. Kal. Oct.

"Anno millesimo octingentosimo sexagesirno soxto,

" Proafectus, Caiterique Magistratus et Commune Concilium

" Civitatis Aberdonensis,
"Principem Celsissimum,
" ALBERTITM EDVARD UM,
" Vallia3 Principem,
" Quo tempore
"Aberdonian urbem primum visebat,
"Ut amorem et fidem
"In Principem spei florentissimm,
"Non solum huic civitati,
"Verum etiam toti genti Britannicte
"Tam merito carman,
" Testarentur,
"Civitate donarunt.

"In cujus rei testimonium bocce Diploma.,
" Sigillo Publico et Scribm Commune
"Chirographo muniendum curarunt.
. "JUNIUS ANGUS,
Scrib. Comm."
The diploma, when it had been read, was fastened
by a riband of the Highland cap of the Prince.
The Provost, then proceeding, said,—

"The manner in which this diploma is handed to your
Royal Highness is in accordance with time-honoured usage.
I now have the honour to welcome your Royal Highness
as the youngest burgess of bon accord, in memory of your
illustrious father, and to a long list of honourable names
standing on the roll. (Cheers.)
The Prince then said :
"My Lord Provost and Gentlemen—l thank you for the
honour you have conferred on me by presenting me with
the freedom of tho ancient city of Aberdeen. I thank you
also for the welcome I have received to-day. I shall not
easily forget the kindness you have shown me on this oc-
casion. (Cheers.)
This ceremony over, no time was lost by the
gentlemen of the reception party, the Prince and
suite, in making their way to the carriages in wait-
ing. The procession then started from the railway
station in the annexed order :
Body of Police.
Military Escort.
The Convener, and Master of Hospital of the Incorporated
Trades.
The Principal and Professors of 'the University.
Mr. Brodie and Mr. Ellis.
;The Sub-Comrnittesiof Subscribers.
The Lord Lieutenant, the Sheriffs, Convener, and Member
of Parliament for the County.
The Lord Provost,
Magistrates, and Town Council.
The Suite iu Attendance on his Royal Highness.
Members of the Royal Family.
EIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES.
Military Escort.

All along the route the Prince received a hearty
welcome from the crowd, and he frequently acknow-
ledged the demonstrations made from the streets
and windows. The procession halted at the Royal
Hotel (Robertson's), which is only separated from
the statue by the breadth of Union-street. In front
of the hotel a balcony was erected, from which the
ceremony of unveiling the statue was to take place.
fie entered the hotel and appeared on the balcony,