The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-14 00:00:00

The Town Council of Leeds have had before them
various details of the preparations for the Prince of Wales's
visit on the 19th inst. The regret felt at the inability of
the Princess of Wales to accompany his Royal Highness
was freely expressed, and it led to an inquiry whether
something could not be done to induce one or more of the
Queen's daughters to supply the place of the Princess of
Wales. The Mayor said he was not in a position to
answer the question. He was in London on the previous
day, but he knew nothing more than any other member of
the Council. He was not aware that any invitations had been
sent to either of the Princesses, unless one had emanated
from the executive of the Fine Arts Exhibition. He had
not seen any of those gentlemen since Monday morning,
when it was first known that the Princess of Wales was
not coming, and it was not in his power to give any infor-
mation. A week ago it was decided to be not expedient
that the mayor should proclaim a general holiday on the
19th inst. On Thursday that matter was reconsidered,
inasmuch as the Tuesday's market next week had been
officially postpone.] already. Mr. Linsley, a councillor,
said there was a general desire that the tradesmen should
close their shops on Tuesday next, and it was felt that it there could be no such expression of
loyalty as was intended. All the shopkeepers were them-
selves hoping that such would be the case, but they wanted
a proclamation from the Mayor to guarantee that there
would be a general holiday. The Mayor said he wished to
consult the wishes of the town in all that he did, and if
the council thought there should be a general holiday, he
would announce one. The council unanimously voted
that the Mayor should take that step. It was suggested
by Alderman George that there should be a slight altera-
tion in the route of the procession_ to the Exhibition ;
but the Mayor said it would be breaking faith with
the public to agree to do so, and a strong reason why
•to should not be deviated from was that it
had been communicated to- caTeral,lCnollys. It was
agreed that the spacious flight of steps at the principal
entrance to the Town Hall be barricaded on the opening -
day, and the right of admission to that enclosed space be -
distributed among the members of the corporation. Mr.
Harrison, a "councillors, asked if it was contemplated to
invite the Sunday Schools of the town and neighbourhood
to assemble in the area in front of the Town Hall and
sing " Good Bless the Prince of Wales" as the Royal
cavalcade passed cn its way to the Exhibition. The
Mayor said the subject had not yet been discussed at all
by those having charge of the arrangements, but be would
take care inunediately to lay it before them. Temple-
newsam, a fine mansion standing on a noble elevation
to the eastward of Leeds, will receive the Prince of
Wales as its guest during his forthcoming visit to York-
shire. It is the property of Mr. Hugo C. Meynell Ingram,
who has made costly preparations in anticipation that
the Princess would also be a visitor, and has invited a
large circle of the aristocracy to accompany the Prince to
the Leeds Exhibition. Templenewsam is the " Temple- .
stowe" which was the scene of some of the-principal events
related in Sir Walter Scott's " Ivanhoe." From 1181 to
1311 it was a preceptory of the Knights Templars, but
the old hall was taken down by Sir A. Ingram, who built
the present stately house on the site. The noble families
of Lennox, Irvine, and Hertford have from time to time
been the owners of the place. The Prince of Wales on
Monday will travel from London by the Midland Railway,
and alight at Woodlesford, a station in a rural district
which is nearest to his destination for that day.
It is probable that on Tuesday Leeds will be
overrun with visitors, should there be " Queen's
weather." The Midland, the Great Northern, the
London and North-Western, Lancashire and Yorkshire,
and North-Eastern Companies, all intend to run
special and excursion trains on that day. In the streets,
of Leeds through which the Royal cortege will pass barri-
cades are forthwith td be erected, and wherever space is
available temporary balconies will be put up by specu-
lators, whose charges are likely to be reasonable. Win-
dows of the houses flanking and overlooking the Exhibi-
tion building have been let, it is said, at from five to seven
guineas each, but the contracts were made before it was
known that the Princess was not coming.