The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-08-04 00:00:00

THE BANQUET AT THE TOWN-HALL.

This grand entertainment took place in the evening,
the time fixed being eight o'clock, at which hour the
tables were completely filled ; and never did that building
present a more splendid array of rank, fashion, and local
wealth. The tables seemed absolutely to groan under the
profuse display of plate arranged upon them, the whole of
it of the most costly and elegant description, and some of
the principal pieces justly claiming to
.be ranked high as
works of artistic skill. It is estimated that these repre-
sented a value of not less than sixty to eighty thousand
pounds, a part of which had been procured from London
for the occasion, and a considerable portion the property
of our own Corporation. The tables were arranged across
the room, with the exception of that set apart for the
Mayor and his distinguished guests, which was placed
along that side of the room over which is the orchestra.
The dinner was provided by Mr. Lynn, and was of the
most profuse description, principally consisting of the
must recherche French - dishes, prepared by first-rate
London cooks, a number of whom had been in Liverpool
for several weeks for the occasion.

At twenty-five minutes to Nine o'Clock the Prince es-
corted by the Mayor, and principal guests, entered the
room and took his seat at the centre of the table, on the
right of the Mayor ; the high Sheriff of the County,
Standish Standish, Esq. occupying the left. On the right
of his Royal Highness was thellarquis of Abercorn, Lord
Morpeth, Col. Anson, Gen. Warre, and Sir T. Arbuth-
not, Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, Sir Howard Douglas,
Woo. Brown, Esq. M.P., and Thos. D. Thornely, Esq.,
M. P. On the left of the Mayor we noticed the
Rev. Rector Brooks, Lord Sandon, the Dean of Ches-
ter, Edward Cardwell, Esq. M.P., Earl Talbot, Lord
Geo. Lennox, the Recorder of Liverpoel. At the same
table we noticed also Viscount Ingestrie, Viscount Brack-
ley, Lord Wm. Poulett, Lord James O'Bryan, and W.
E. Gladstone, Esq. M.P.
The vice-chairmen were Sir Thomas Brancker, James
Aspinall, Esq., James Aikin, Esq., G. H. Lawrence,Esq.
John Shaw Leigh, Esq., J. El. Turner, Esq., H. Hornby.
Esq., .1. B. Moore, Esq., William Nicol, Esq.. Thomas
Sands, Esq., J. A. Tinne, Esq., R. S. Crook, Esq., Jas.
Lawrence, Esq.
Amongst the other guests we noticed Henry Lawrence,
Eeq., T. Carson, Esq , Dr. Reynolds. Thomas Todd, Esq,
Thomas Booth, Esq., R. Neilson, Esq., C. Horsfall,Esq.
A. Hodgson, Esq., John Laird, Esq., Charles Turner,
Esq.. Elias Arnaud, Esq., Wm. Brown, Esq., M.P.,
Charles Cbaltner, Esq., Capt. Haigh, T. Booth, Esq., F.
Heywood, Esq., T. Potter, Esq., T. B. Barclay. Esq.,
H. Earle, Esq', T. Bourne, Esq., T. Bolton, Esq. C. E.
Ewart, Esq. Thomas Thornely, Esq., M. P., Samuel
Holme, Esq., Col. Tempest, Captain Greig, John Shep-
pard, Esq., A. Smith, Esq . G. E. Harvey, Esq., Eyre
Evans, Esq., G. Sotbern, Esq., T. Chalmer, Eeq., J.
Plumpton, ESQ., E. Molyneux, Esq., J. Parker, Esq.,
T. P. Freme, Esq., T. Griffiths, Esq., T. Ripley, Esq.,
W. Atherton, Esq., G. Grant, Esq., T. Chilton, Esq., T.
Tobin, Esq., T. Glazebrook, Esq., Thomas Wilson,
Esq.,.. Bold, Esq., R. L. Carr, Esq., Col. Falkner, J.N.
Wood, Esq., A. Lace, Esq,, Robert Bents, Esq., James
Mellor, Esq., Thomas Moss, Esq., John Kilshaw, Esq.,
George Withers, Esq., Charles Shand, Esq.' V. Higgins,
Esq., W. Jackson, Eeq., G. Riding, Esq., R. Segar, Esq,
Christ. Bushell, Esq. C. Falkner, Esq. R. S. Crook, Esq.
Commissioner Lowudes, I'. B. Bushby, Esq., George
Green, Esq., Lewin Mozley, Esq., Charles loberteon,
Esq., Dr. Duncan, Sir John Tobin, J. Duncan, Esq., R.
V. Yates' Esq., William Dixon, Esq.,.. Swift. Esq., J.
J. Edwards, Esq., J. Fletcher, Esq., Pudsey Dawson,
Esq., 11 C. Chapman, Esq., illiam Shuttleworth,Esq.,
It. Harbord, Esq., John North, Esq., William Birkett,
Esq., Sir J. Walmsley, J. H. Turner, Esq., J. Branker,
Esq., J. B. Moore, Esq., W. Blundell, Esq., Harold
Littledale, Esq., P. F. Curry, Esq., D. Gibb, gsq., R.
S. Henderson, Esq., R. Rankin, Esq., R. B. Hill, Esq.,
James Aikin, Esq., Alfred King, Esq., C. W. Reade,
Esq., T. Robinson, Esq., Moon, Esq., George Holt,
Esq., R. S. Gair, Esq., James Lawrence, Esq., S. Stani-
forth, Esq., George Maxwell, Esq., John Wyberg, sen.,
Esq., John Franklin, Esq., D. Mather, Esq., J. C. Bold,
Esq., S. Thornely, Esq., John Priestley, Esq., Thomas
Weld Blundell, Esq.
His Royal Highness was in full dress, and wore round
his right knee the Order of the Garter, with the broad
blue ribbon of the order of the Golden Fleece across his
breast. Before taking his seat, two copies of the bill of
fare were placed before him, by one of the royal servants
from Buckingham Palace, two of whom waited upon him
during the repast; and after glancing at the decorative
band with which it was surrounded, he banded it back, to
be taken care of for the inspection of her Majesty. The
plates, knives, and forks placed before the Prince were of
solid gold, and very massy. The other guests dined from
solid silver. The Prince conversed freely during the
evening with the Mayor, and appeared highly delighted
with the scene and the entertainment provided for him.
We do not conceive that a recapitulation of the lengthy
bill of fare provided for the occasion would be very gene-
rally interesting to our readers. It will, perhaps, be suf-
ficient to say that it comprised every luxury which the art
of the cuisine could devise, and served up as it was in one
of the most magnificent rooms in the kingdom, blazing
with gold, and resplendent with the light thrown down
from the magnificent chandeliers • enlivened, too, with
music from a fine military band stationed in an adjoining
room, and the opened windows giving, along with the
refreshing evening breeze, the admiring cheers of thou-
sands of loyal subjects assembled in the area of the Ex-
change below—it was altogether such a scene and such an
occasion as the mightiest monarch in the universe might
well have been proud of.
In fact, it was a subject of remark amongst the dis-
tinguished guests at the royal table, that the Lord Mayor
of London ought to have been present on this occasion,
to see how in Liverpool we manage affairs connected with
gastronomy ; and that nothing in the metropolis had ever
approached the splendour and excellence of this truly royal
feast.
The repast having been concluded, and a splendid
desert placed on the tables, the Rev. Rector Brooks brick"
returned thanks, after which the Mayor rose and proposed
the first toast as follows
My Lords aed Gentlemen,—The health which I have
the honour to preyose, the health of Her Majesty, our

beloved Sovereign, has always been responded to most
fully and cordially within these walls ; but on no past fes-
tivities has occasion been presented equally calling forth
our heartfelt rejoicing and sympathy. This day, it is our
peculiar privilege to renew this tribute of affectionate loy-
alty in the presence of his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
the beloved consort of Her Majesty ; and whilst we con-
template with delight in our illustrious guest, and in his
exalted station, the bright example of a husband and pa-
rent, whilst we view him bound up with the future des-
tinies of our country, it is further our peculiar delight and
gratification to proclaim how largely he shares our best
affections, as we all have witnessed this day, and what by
possibility can be more acceptable to Her Majesty in ex-

be assured that her loyal subjects equally desire these
blessings for the Prince, the beloved consort of her own
bosom.

"_The health of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and may
- and preserve her," was then drunk, with nine

God bi

times nine

The National Anthem was then given by the glee-
singers, the whole of the company joining in the chorus.
The MAYOR speedily afterwards rose and said,—My
Lords and Gentlemen, let us drink the health of her Ma-
jesty the Queen Dowager. (Cheers•)
The MAYOR, in a short time, rose again, and said,

entlemen—

be boil

gratification of proposing the health of our royal and
illustrious guest, Prince Albert, whose benevolent pur-
pose and condescension will render this day ever memo-
rable in the annals of Liverpool. The sense which the
town entertains of this distinguished honor, I think—l
trust—his Royal Highness in no equivocal language has
read in the animated rejoicing of ten thousand and the

voices of tens and tens of thousands that have this day
hailed his presence. Interests are mutual—interest for
the welfare of the people beget interest for the Prince ;
and I need not tell you how completely his Royal H
identifies himself with the institutions of the co,-
zealously he gives the influence of his exalted station to
promote scince, to encourage the fine arts, which have

'ghness

❑try, how

felt the revising effects of his cultivatei taste and judg-
ment, and above all how readily he cornea forward to pa-
tronise the worthiest and noblest objects, especially those
of the humbler classes. a gratifying proof of which is wit-
nessed on this occasion. When the Albert Dock was

commenced, and in name dedicated to his Royal High-
ness, we had not exoected a Royal inauguration, we bad

not imsgined Her Majesty's yacht, the royal standard at
the main and Prince Albert himself on deck, entering the
dock midst unbounded joyful acclamations, and that the
first use of the Albert warehouses would be to accommo-
date thirteen thousand delighted spectators to witness the
scene. In conclusion permit me to remind you that the
object of his Royal Highness in this visit is not alone to
gratify the desire, however lauclab!e, of a loyal people to
behold the Royal Consort of a beloved sover
alone to encourage and add lustre to commerci

characte

elevate th
men ; that our brave tars—

Whose march is on the mountain wave—

nose home is on the deep,

when the perils of ocean are past, may find a haven in
which to be secure from the greater perils of shore. This
is a great purpose for which his Royal Highness has come,
and I propose " Health, Prosperity, and Happiness to
His Royal Highness Prince Albert."
His ROYAL HIGHNESS, who was greeted with the
loudest acclamations when he rose, said,—l thank you
for the kind manner in which you have received the toast.
I am very glad to have this opportunity of expressing to
you bow sincerely gratified I feel at the very kind recep-
tion you have given me in this town. It was always a
cherished wish of mine to visit this seat of commerce, and
all I have seen to-day has exceeded my anticipation. If
my visit here will assist an object of charity, refl4ct cre-
dit on your liberality, I shall be happy. lam glad to find
you wishing to promote the comfort of those who, by
their toil and labour, and exposing themselves to many
dangers, are contributing to that prosperity which I have
this day seen. (Tremendous cheers.) I have now to

vool."

(Drunk with three times three, and cheers.)

Almost immediately after the Prince had sat down, a
letter was handed to him from the Queen, which had just
arrived by the express train from London. The length of

note paper

'rinee read

carefu

and placed it in the left breast pocket of his coat, and im-
mediately rose and returned to the lodgings. His rising
was the signal of departure for the whale of the company.
At a quarter to twelve o'clock the banquet was over and
the room cleared.

The arrangements made for the press, we believe, were
intended to provide fully for their convenience and com-
fort. A ticket was sent to every newspaper for the ad-
mission of a reporter to the Townhall during the pre-
sentation of the address and during the banquet. The
place provided for them at the latter (the orchestra) af-
forded an excellent coup d'ceuil of the whole scene; but
the hearing was bad, the only speakers, the Mayor and
his Royal Highness being immediately below. Per-
haps, however, the unexpectedly crowded state of the
room itself prevented any better arrangements being
made. We are. sure that neither his worship the Mayor,

nor the Committee, would have willingly thrown in the I
way of the gentlemen of the press any inconvenience,
much less offered any slight, to impede them in the per-
formance of their arduous duties.
We have also to offer our thanks to the directors of the
London and North Western (late Grand Junction) Rail-
way for a voluntarily offered admission to the station, to
witness the arrival and departure of the Prince; and to
the Committee of the Sailors' Home, for the facilities for
recording every proceeding connected with that establish-
ment. Considering the vast amount of labour which all
these functionaries must have had to undergo in making
their arrangements, it reflects high credit upon them that
so little has been left to complain of on the occasion.

It may not be uninteresting to a portion of our readers,
who have not enjoyed an opportunity of closely observing
his Royal Highness, if we describe briefly here his per-
sonal appearance and general demeanour. In person the
Prince is above the middle size, his figure full erect and
well developed although scarcely so stout as he is gene-
rally represented in the portraits of him hitherto published.
His chest is fine, his head well proportioned, and his fore-
head massive. The expression of his features is mild and
his smile full of expression and amiability. This expres-
sion, by the bye, we have never seen painted completely
to the life. His manner is easy and polished ; and his
whole appearance eminently graceful and gentlemanly.
His dress, in particular, is faultless, although perhaps a
little more in the German style than is pleasing to every
taste. His hair is cut tolerably close, which imparts to
to his face a juvenile roundness and fleshiness which it
might not otherwise appear to possess. When saluting
the various groups of people whom he met, or entering a
room, his bow has a slight constraint and stiffness, which
in part, perhaps, might be accounted for from the fatigue
which he must have undergone during his visit. Upon
the whole the impression which his name and appearance
are calculated to make is eminently pleasing.
The demonstration at Seacombe was almost unbounded.
From an early hour in the morning, cannons, which had
been previously planted on the green by M' ssrs. Parry,
were constantly booming, and on the departure of the
Prince in the Fairy, they fired a royal salute, and also on
the return of the squadron the same manifestation of

loyalty was exhibited ; and here we may be permitted to
r'mark, that the whole of the Seacombe boats burned
coke on the occasion, in compliance with the wishes of
the authorities, which we should have been glad to have
seen carried out by all the other steam-packet companies.

Aug. 4, 1846.

A party of police on foot, band in uniform

. .
Re2habites, with seshes, aprons, and rosettes, six abreast.
Flag—" Sobriety brings peace and domestic comfort ;"
also the banners of the various tents, the beautiful em.-
blems of the order, &c. 4111

Band.
Order of Druids.
Six abreast.

la orderly of

Gen. Sir Thomas Ward, accompanied by an
the 4th Light Dragoons, rode down the line of procession
Caledonian Rechabites,
Dressed in plaids, with a banner inscribed with the Scot-
tish arms, and the motto, " Nemo impune lacessit."
Excellent Brass Band.
Modern Druids—Lodge 199,
Six abreast, with beautiful banners, royal standards, and
all the emblems of the order.

Modern Druids.
Large Royal Standard
Band.
Tilers with drawn sword

The beautiful

and numberless ett.blern

Odd-Pel'ow

.ge Royal Standard

Brags Band

wn, carried on a cushion

,embers

blue sashes and rosettes, six abreas

Flag with Britannia ; on the reverse, the Cornucop

Banner, with picture of her Majesty.
Ditto with the Royal Arms.
Pair of Scotch bagpipe.,,, by a lad in a Highland drc
The Flag—with the Arms of the Order. on the obv,
fir-• " Sans Chancel

the c

aley Arms, with the me
Two other lot

ge banners

The Coopers.
Beautiful emblematic banner ; on the r,
the Queen."
The Coopers' Arms

Two union jacks
Band.

Two automaton figures of Coopers plying their vocat
dard.

ditto, small S

Three union. jacks, e

Block Makers

Large banner of the arms of the order surmot

crest of the Liverpool arms.
Two wheels, union jacks, standard, &c.
Boiler makers, workers in iron, &c.
Representations of boilers hoisted on poles.
"The Fairy" yacht, surmounted by a crown.
Banner, w►th portrait of Thos. Duncombe.
Two locomotives and model of an iron steam-boat
Hammers and other emblems.
Band.

Banners inscribed,

Union is strength,"
Mounted Dragoon

Stonemasons

Flags—" Knowledge is power.
" We'll brithers be for a' that.
Brass band.

Shipwrights.
Flag—Representation of the preservation of King

Charles

Numerous ensigns.
Boatbuilders.
with several beautiful flags and ensigns, one surmounted
by a boat, gaily rigged with ribbon.

Banner—'

"Success to the Shipwrights."
Queen."
Several union jacks, &c.
Joliffe's band.

`God save the

A splendid royal standard, inscribed " God, our Queen,
and our Country."
Magnificent model of a steam-vessel.
Flag, with representation of Prince Albert, in military
uniform. The Queen on the obverse.
Large model of a vessel fully rigged.
Splendid banner, crest of Liverpool Arms, Neptune, &c
Banner—" Britain's Bulwark."
Splendid banner, portrait of the Du
always be a Wellington to guard of

` May there
" 1„-A ~

Two orderlies of the Light Dr:goons,Wiil;:i;t:WWSWords.
Splendid banner, " Success to the Pilot that weathered

the storm.'

The Pilots

Aug. 4, 1846.

Tailing of the lower platform fronting Hanover-street and
Paradise-street. A portion of them, however, seeing a
few vacant places at the end of the opposite platform,
commenced scaling the barriers to occupy them, and very
shortly we should have had tha whole locality in confu-
sion but for the interference of Captain Evans, acting
conservator of the Mersey, who ran to the aid of the po-
lice, who were ejecting the intruders, vi et armis, and ad-
dressing them in a humourous speeh, or rather a series of
speeches, got the vast mass who were crushing in, to keep
their places, and to substitute good humoured cheers for
unruly disturbance. The gallant captain stuck to his
post and preserved perfect order until the conclusion of
She proceedings.
Amongst those who gathered earliest round the stone
were Thomas Sands, Esq., ex-Mayor, the Rev. Dr.
Raffles, John Tomkinson, Esq., Thomas Chalmers, sur-
geon, the Rev. Mr. James, and others. Finally there
were within the area, previous to the arrival of the proces-
sion, Earl Talbot, Lord Ingestrie and Lady Ingestrie,
whose magnificent beauty attracted every eve ; James
Aikin, Esq., the Chairman of the Sailors Home Com-
mittee, John Nelson Wood, Esq., Captain Evans, Robert
Duckworth, Esq., John Tomkinson, Esq., Samuel
Holme, Esq., John Holmes, Esq., Rev. Mr. Davis, John
Cropper, Esq., of Everton, I. P. Younghusband, Esq.,
George Kendal, Esq., 'William Birkett, Esq., Jos. Frank-
lin, Esq.. surveyor, &e. Amongst the clergy was the
Rev. II ugh M'Neile, whose presence on the occasion, and
his kindly and unassuming manner to all around him,
rendered him most welcome amongst the friends of the
Sailors' Home, of which he was one of the original friends
and promoters. The immensely long procession, after
passing through about four miles of street, and encounter-
ing delays from the crowded state of the streets, arrived
at the site about five minutes before three o'clock. When
his Royal Highness arrived at the site of the foundation,
he was loudly and repeatedly cheered, the military bands
in the distance playing national airs of welcome, in which
the assembled multitude joined, the national anthem, &c.,
being partially sung by thousands.
We now propose to give a brief account of the Principal
architectural features, and the dimensions of the nroposed
,building. The site selected for the Sailors' Home, is
bounded on the south by Hanover-street, on the east by
Paradise-street, and the north by a passage leading from
Canning-place to Paradise-street. The main front will
face the Post-office. The extreme length of the building
is 170 feet; the front to the Post-office 95 feet, while that
to Paradise-street, the land being irregular in shape, is
'53 feet. The style of architecture is purely English, be-
ing that adopted in the reigns of James and Elizabeth,
and from its exceedingly light appearance, its numerous
windows, and ornamented pinnacles, it will form a pleas-
ing contrast with the heavy buildings of the vicinity. At
each angle of the building there is a square tower, with
an extremely neat ogee-shaped; roof, which is surmounted
by a gilt ball and pinnacle, the effect of which is admirable.
The elevation of the towers is considerably greater than
the rest of the building, being 104 feet in height. The
west front bas three curvilinear gables, which are beau-
tifully shaped, the side ones having pinnacles from the
rise and at the top, while the centre one is surmounted by
a vessel rigged with a spar, with cross-trees, stays, &c.,
which kins, in an admirable characteristic man-
ner, the flag pole of the institution. The gables
on each front project nine inches, and are at
the top ornamented, supporting brackets, caryatida,
scollop shells, &c., are most tastefully and usefully intro-
duced. In this lant is the main entrance, which in
point of elegance of design, boldness, and adaptation of
characteristic detail is unequalled by anything our town
can boast of. At each side is a three-quarter Doric
column, cut in the Elizabethan style, heaned by boldly
projecting mouldings, reaching to the second story. The
door-way is arched, and in the upper part is a well adap-
ted ovel fan-light; surmounting the mouldings of the
door-way is a Liver in the centre of a circle formed of a
coil of rope, which, with numerous purchase blocks, flags,
and other emblematic ornaments, completes this beautiful
design.

At the Hanover-street front there are five breaks or
projections, the tops of which are ornamented with shields,
bearing severally " The Liver," " The rampant Lion of
Scotland," " St. George and the Dragon," " the Harp of
Ireland, and Anchor, and Trident." Along the whole of
the top will be an open ballustrade, and the top will be so
arrange.l as to form a promenade. At the Paradise-street
end there will be three shops, over which will be the
superintendent's apartments, the e :trance to which will
be from the passage leading to the Post-office.
The internal as well as the external portions of the
building are purely Elizabethan. In the centre of the
building, communicating with the entrance, is a grand
ball, lighted from the roof, and surrounded by galleries
connected with the various floors. The general hall
will be heated by two enormous, stoves. On the basement
story, there are stewards' rooms, kitchens, pantries,
bakehouse, milkhouse, beer-cellar, and eight sailors'
chest rooms; there is also a storing room. Throughout
the whole building there will be hoists by which chests,
dinners, &c., may be sent momentarily to every apart-
ment. On the next floor (the first) there will be a savings'
bank, shipping office, registering room, paying rooms,
school room, cemmittec rooms, singing rooms, &c. There
is an apartment appropriated as a dining room. At the
extreme end of the hall, which is of a triangular form, is
the staircase leading from the basement to the upper sto-
ries, the dormitories, &c. The pillasters of the hall will be
of light open iron work, bearing a resemblance of rope's.
The pallisading that runs round the galleries is equally cha-
racteristic, and reflects no little credit on the adaptive
taste of the able architect. The principal dining room will
be directly over the entrance hall • it will be eighty-nine
feet long and thirty feet wide. Above this are the lecture
and reading rooms, which are upwards of sixteen feet in
height; but as the dormitories are not required that
height, that story is divided, without giving any unseemly
appearance to the building—the windows erossitr, the
floor by pannelling. There are separate apartments and
accommodation for 340 persons, fitted with wash-stands,
&c., the water for which is supplied from tanks on the
tops of the towers. The waste water will be carried to a
reservoir beneath the basement story, which will be
Cleared out every twelve hours by the admission of the
tide. The cost of the construction is estimated, we be-
lieve, under £25,000.
" The immediate objects of the institution shall be to
provide for the seamen frequenting the port of Liverpool,
board, lodging, and medical attendance, at a moderate
• .

and encourage town to nusoana their hard-earned wages ;
to promote their moral, intellectual, and professional im-
provement; and to afford them the opportunity of re-
ceiving 'religious instruction. A reading-room, library,
and savings' bank shall be attached to thOnstitution, and
with the view of securing to the able and well-conducted
seaman a rate of wages proportionate to his merits, a
registry of character shall be kept. Among the ulterior
objects in contemplation are schools for sea apprentices,
and the sons of seamen, with special regard to the case of
children who have lost one or both their parents."
The Prince was conducted to the site by Mr. Atkin.
Considerable delay here tonk place, the trowel not having
been as.yet brought up. In succession, however, came
Mr. Aikin's son with the trowel, the freemasons, com-
mittee, &c., who had been beyond their time.
All preliminaries having been arranged, L. N. Stark ie,
Esq., the Grand Master of the Freemasons, performed
the ceremonies usual on such ocoasions. Mr. Cunning-
ham, the architect, then presented the Prince with a
series of the plan of the erection. Mr. Tyrer, the trea-
surer, presented the vase with the coins, Mr. Tomlinson,
hon. secretary, the vase with the newsparers, and Mr.
Cotesworth the plate covering the orifice in the stone.
Mr. AIJUN, the Chairman of the Committee, then said :
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS—As Chair-
roan of the Committee of the Liverpool Sailors' Home,
it is my duty to express to your Royal Highness, our
grateful acknowledgments and thanks for your kind-
ness and condescension in consenting to lay the first
stone of the building to be erected on this site.
Your Royal Highness is already aware that the great ob-
ject of the establishmen is to benefit the seamen frequent-
ing our port, to improve their condition and theircharacter,
and to rescue them from perils of the shore, often more
dangerous than those to which they are exposed at sea.
That this object will be effected by the means proposed, is
no longer a question of doubt, The business of the Sailors'
Home has already commenced, and is now in active opera-
tion. During the last fifteen mouths, in premises hired
for the purpase. The characters of 6000 seamen have
been registered, and 5000 have been shipped on voyages,
and in vessels of their own selection. The wages of a still
greater number have there being paid, and a safe deposit
for their money has been provided. The savings' bank,
in addition to the bank of deposit, forms an important
part of our plan, and the success of this arrangement al-
ready presects a fare pto-pect of inducing those improved
habits which arise out of a feeling of prudence and inde-
pendence. In no place is such an Establishment more
needed than in this great port, and although we regrr
that it has been so long delayed, we AnA --• • "
the know'' that -- '

we have now received the most zeal.
ous support from all classes of the community. Our be-
loved Sovereign has been graciously pleased to become
the patroness of this institution, and for the management
of its affairs, we on the committee combined with the
rincipal shipowners of the port, the valuab'•- "al aid

,
of several who have themselves experienced theractict various
and arduous duties of a sailor's life. Under such aus-
pices, we are confident that when this building shall be
completed, we shall realise our most sanguine pxpectat-
ions, and that the Liverpool Sailors' Home will prove not
unworthy the patronage of her Majesty, & of the support
and countenance of your Royal Highness. Allow me
moat respectfully and most sincerely to congratulate your
Royal Highness, for having endeared yourself to the
people of this nation, by associating your illustrious name
with institutions formed for religious, scientific, and phil-
anthropic pnrposes ; by these means securing the triumphs
of peace and the blessings of chi istianity : and for having
this day added to your well deserved popularity. It now
only remains for me to perform the pleasing duty of pre-
senting to your Royal Highness tbts trowel, for the pur-
pose of enabling your Royal Highness to lay the first atone
of our Liverpool Sailors'. Home.
Mr. AIKIN then presented the trowel to the Prince.
His ROYAL HlotrivEssi replied as follows:—"I return
You my best thanks for this loyal address. which gives a
most gratifying account of the state of this institution and
its future prospects. I join with you in fervent prayer
that the relisation of its praiseworthy object, towards
Which this town has shown such liberality, may be further
ensured by the solemn act we are about to perform, and
in which it has given me the greatest pleasure that you
should have invited me to take a part."
His Royal Highness then deposited the several articles
in their places, and the stone was lowered amidst the
loudest acclamations of the assembled multitude.
" Rule Britannia" was sung by the party of gleesingers,
the band and whole of the company joining in the chorus.
The Rev. Jonathan Brooks, senior rector, then deli-
vered the following prayer :-
44 0 Almighty and everliving God, of whose only gift it
vometh that thy faithful people do unto thee any true and
laudable service, we humbly beseech thee to accept the
prayers which we offer to thy Divine Majesty for the suc-