The New York herald., 1875-08-28
THE ROYAL VISIT TO INDIA.
PREPARATIONS AT PORTSMOUTH DooKYARD FOR
THE VOYAGE.

PREPARATIONS AT PORTSMOUTH DoCKYARD FOR
THE VOYAGE
correspondent of the London Standard, writing
from Portsmouth August in regard to the Prince OF
Wales visit to India, says:-
For some time past large staff of workmen have
been employed upon the Serapis, Indian troopship
cced for the conveyance of tho Prince of Wales to and
from India Considerable progress has been made but
though at the present time upwards of 400 men are
gagged upon the big whitehulled trooper, which now
lies alongside the southern jctty of the dockyard the
authorities have somewhat arduous task to complete
her ready for departure from this port early
in October The Prince and Princess of Wales,
who with their two eldest children, have
been a visit to tho Queen, at Osborne left
yesterday morning. crossing over to Portsmouth IN the
Alberta staff Commander Welch, and she neared her
destination royal salute of twenty guns fired
from the garrison saluting battery, which commands
the entrance TO the capacious harbor followed
by salvo of artillery from the Duke Of Wellington,
flagship of Admiral G. Elliot, Commander Chief
The Princess and her two with Miss Knoys took
their seats two-horse open carriage, while
the Prince OF Wales accompanied by Admiral Elliot,
went foot to the Scraps, the distance being only
a few hundred yards. The route was lined with
hundreds of workmcn, who were returning from
dinner when the royal yacht steamed alongside The
royal included Lords Ayleslord, Charles Beresford
and Clonmel General Probyn, Lady Alfred Churchill
and MISS Knollys The royal party entered the Scraps
by prov leading to the main deck, where they were
received by Captain the Hon. Henry Carr Glyn, c. h.
(who has been appointed to the command Of tho
Scraps) and the officers OF the ship. About quarter
of an hour was devoted to the main deck, on which
1ltcen cabins are up inc suite Oh his
Royal Hiehncss. Mr.. W. b. Robinson chief construc
tor of the dockyard was in attendance to afford tho
royal visitors any information that might be required
From the main deck the royal party assembled new
handsome TO the saloon the after part OF
the upper deck-a noble apartment, which has been
tended back to the stern windows and enlarged by the
removal of five of the aft cabins either side. The
saloon is undergoing rettting and re-
cnibcllishment, and two tables in the fore
part of the saloon were plans and drawings of the
proposed alterations and additions, which
carefully examined by the Prince Of Wales Specimens
or water bottles dccaners barometcrs, carpets,
tans &C. were submitted for the inspection of the
royal visitors. The ordinary saloon tables are to DO
replaced by which be so arranged as to accom-
modatc either twelve twentyour persons and this,
on special occasions will give place another OF horse
shoe shape which fewer than sixty be seated.
The saloon is to he fitted with six punkahs. the Hndoo
name for large revolving fans, which will in all proba
bity bc worked by punkah walahs. Some little time
was spent by His Royal Highness, accompanied by
Captain Glyn, in inspection OF his sleeping apart
ments which situate ether side of the saloon,
the inner bukheads of the cabins hitherto devoted TO
the officers of the ship having been displaced in order
provide the necessary accommodation The suite of
His Royal Hghness will have the whole OF the aft part
Of the deck appropriated to their use, and the
wants of the Prince and suite will find sleeping accom-
mediation the lower deck