The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-27 00:00:00

ARRIVAL OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE

DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

Her Majesty's frigate Galatea, under the command of
Captain his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh,
arrived at Spithead on Friday morning. The vessel was
sighted shortly after eleven o'clock, and the first intelli-
gence was received by telegram, from Hurst Castle, 'soon
afterwards. The arrival was earlier than was antici-
pated, and the result was that many of the arrangements
which were made with the view of presenting an address

to his Royal Highness on behalf of the mayor and
corporation of the borough of Portsmouth were
hastily formed, and to some extent incomplete.
So uncertain were the authorities as to the arrival of the
duke, that the mayor left for London on Friday morning
without the remotest idea that the occasion would arise
for presenting the address in his absence. When the
Galatea was sighted the ex-mayor (Mr. Alderman
Emanuel) at once took upon himself the initiative, in
order that the borough might be properly and efficiently

represented on the duke's arrival. The object of the
corporation was communicated to the port-admiral, and
upon the arrival of the Galatea a message was signalled to
his Royal Highness intimating that there was a desire to
present an address to him upon his coming ashore. A
reply was received to the effect that his Royal Highness
would be pleased to receive the deputation, and the mem-
bers of the corporation at once received a sudden notice
to assemble at the Guildhall at two o'clock. Arriving in
the harbour, his Royal Highness entered his gig, and
with an entire absence of ostentatious display proceeded
towards the landing-place in the dockyard, prepara-
tory to reporting himself to the commander-in-chief.
There were but comparatively few visitors—a fact
which is attributable to the unexpected arrival—but
these included several distinguished officers of both ser-
vices and some of the Rite of the neighbourhood, by whom
general expressions of gratification were expressed
at his Royal Highness's safe and speedy return to
England. Accompanied by the Hon. Mr. Yorke and an
assistant paymaster, the Duke of Edinburgh proceedre
towards the admiral's house amidst continued expressions
of attachment on the part of the assembled visitors,
which were graciously acknowledged by his Royal High-
ness ; and considerable interest was occasioned whenever
the duke recognised some one with whom he had beer
previously acquainted. Upon such occasions his Royal
Highness would stop in the most friendly manner
imaginable, and express an anxious inquiry as to their
health and welfare. The appearance of his Royal
Highness favourably impressed all who saw him. He is
robust, somewhat sunburnt, and outAardly betrays no
ill-effect from the recent dastardly attempt upon his

life. His Royal Highness, too, has grown since he left
England, and resembles somewhat the general appearance
of the Prince of Wales, although somewhat taller. The
members of the Portsmouth corporation arrived at the
dockyard about half-past two, and at once proceeded
towards the official residence of the port-admiral, into the
drawing-room of which they were introduced to await the
pleasure of his Royal Highness. Upon the arrival of
the members of the corporation having been commu-
nicated to his Royal Highness, who was then in an
adjoining room, he at once proceeded to receive them,
and was accompanied by the port-admiral. After a
brief pause, Mr. Alderman Emanuel, as the ex-mayor
of the borough, came forward, and, in a few well-chosen
and appropriate remarks, addressed his Royal Highness
preparatory to the presentation of the address.
Mr. Alderman Hellard then proceeded to read the
address, to which his Royal Highness listened with
evident interest, betraying at intervals a slight feeling of
emotion. The address, which was neatly illuminated, was
as follows : --

" TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS ALFRED ERNEST ALBERT,
DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

" May it please your Royal Highness,—We, the mayor,
aldermen, and burgesses of the borough of Portsmouth,
desire to avail ourselves of the earliest opportunity offered
of your Royal Highness's return to England, to offer our
heartfelt congratulations on your Royal Highness's provi-
dential preservation from the atrocious and criminal
attempt recently made upon the life of your Royal High-
_

ness and at the same time to express the warm sympathy
which, in common with7all loyal subjects, we feeltowards
her Most Gracious Majesty in her anxious solicitude at the
imminent peril in which your Royal Highness's life has
been placed. We request your Royal Highness to accept
our assurance of the deep interest we take in your Royal
Highness's personal welfare, andof our sincere attachment
to all the members of your illustrious house ; and earnestly
trust that your Royal Highness may be blessed with
health and happiness, and long live to be an ornament to
the distinguished branch of her Majesty's service which
has been adopted by your Royal Highness."
His Royal Highness briefly thanked the deputation
_ _

'or the kind welcome they had given him on his return

home, saying that it would afford him the greatest
pleasure in conveying the address to 'Windsor, and com•
municating to her Majesty the kind way in which he had

been received.

His Royal Highness then retired, and, proceeding to
the landing, entered his gig, and, on board the Sprightly,
proceeded to his ship. At five p.m. he landed again, and
proceeded to Windsor by the 6.30 p.m. train.
At twenty-six minutes past eight in the evening, the
train bearing the Duke of Edinburgh to London arrives
at the Victoria Station. His Royal Highness hae
travelled express from Portsmouth to Three Bridges, and
there joined the ordinary train. His reception was some-
thing more than enthusiastic. The Prince of Wales.
attended by Colonel Keppel and Lieutenant-Colonel
Knollys, had been waiting some time at the station,
and almost before the train stopped at the plat
form the duke alighted, and the two brother)
were clasped in one another's arms. The immense
crowd which, in spite of all the efforts of
the police, had been gathering for an hour or more, and
which had not shewn itself unmoved by this affecting
scene, then pressed forward, and it required all the exer-
tions of the constables to prevent the people from carrying
his Royal Highness to his carriage. The use of force oz
the part of the police was, of course, out of the questiol
on such an occasion ; but by dint of persuasion and good
i
humoured remonstrance, the duke was enabled to elbovi
his way through the throngs, whose cheers were heard
at the station long after the carriage containing the
two happiest brothers in England had passed out of sight.
The duke arrived at Windsor Castle at 10.45 p.m.
There was an immense crowd at the Great Western'
station, which cheered tremendously, and followed the
duke's carriage to the palace. The Castle and church
bells pealed merrily. The duke was received at the station
by the mayor, Messrs. Devereux, Jones, and Cantrell, and
the vicar of Windsor.