The New York herald., 1878-11-23
HER ROYAL CAPTAIN AT WORK.
A Brief Chat with the Duke
Of Edinburgh.
ANXIOUS TO RETURN HOME
Magnificent Preparations to Receive the
New Governor General
[By TELEGRAPH To THE HERALD. !

and their ladies from the interior of the Dominion
arc craning their necks toward the which tosses
hther the Marquis of orne and the Princess Louise.
another member of the royal family of Great Britain
is behaving himself quietly in the harbor captain OF
one of the vessels of the fleet i refer to Prince
Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh. captain of the Black
Prince vessel among the finest of the British navy.
She is the twin Of the famous Warrior and nearly two
thousand tons larger than the Bellerophon. flagship
of Vice Admiral Ingefeld. Long. sable and splen
didly appointed in all respects. she sits in the
water like yacht. She is. of course a
ship armor plated has iron deck and carries
twentyeght guns. Her tonnage. gross. is 9ls7. and
her engines 6.lo) horse power. She commits
stoned at Devonport July %. 1875. and the officers
and of Her Majcstys ship Sultan. telegraphed
You last night. were turned to her at Malta on
May of the present year.
A BLACK PRINCE.
This afternoon / visited her and was fortunately
enabled by the kindness of the Duke Of Edinburgh.
to break through the oppressive restraint which
separates him from strangers. The ship was in
the of renovation. Sailors hurry
ing to and fro. cleansing being done on
every deck. Away up the rigging and along the
yards sailors running. and the officers on the
bridge hailed by the quartermaster and
sponded in turn My card taken by the first quarter
master to Lieutenant Harry r Hughes Hallett, of tho
ship. resulted in invitation to the bridge. where
explained my errand.
Certainly" said the Lieutenant, who bore tho
mssivc to the Duke in his cabin at the stern Of tho
Black Prince. and in few moments he reappeared
saying. Wont you walk in?'
WITH PRINCE ALFRED.
walked in accordingly. and found myself with His
Royal Highness Prince Alfred in his cabin. On tho
instant impressed with his cordial and pleasant
AZ. A~k;n~
which he has long been subjected in the English
press. He was seated at his desk. very busy-there
could be no mistake about that-and conae-
quently his look and tone he took my
hand which he did right cordially wers
indices Of his natural disposition He suddenly
from his task and his face instead of lowering wore
a smile. Far from forbdding the demeanor was
almost shy. As he asked me to take seat he added
question about my arrival and welfare.
1T was only to pay my respects" said I. that !
ventured to come on board so unceremoniously.''
"Quite right" said the Prince. I'm sure I'm glad
to welcome you"
Some years ago." said cit was my happy for
tune to meet your brother and travel with him from
here to Quebec
'.Ah. indeed. said the Duke. II believe he did pay
the Canadians a visit
Eyes. and was accompanied by Colonel Elphin.
stone'
Il have heard of him." responded the Duke. "as
very excellent gentleman
Thence the conversation-the Duke throwing down
his pen-nowed into the line Of naval matters alto
gether. Il was here" he continued many years
ago. That midshipman." and. rising ha
crossed the cabin and pointed to picture Of the
British ship of war st. George. Later still came
over in another vessel" and the Duke sgnifed still
another picture of a ship in storm the opposite
side Of the cabin.
80, these seas are no strangers TO you." re-
marked
mo- said the Prince. laughing. and with look
that seemed to signify that he wished they
s.It IL true though" said /. 'is it not TINT the
Black Prince is ordered back after the reception Of
the Governor General r.
"Ycs."
ASKING DIFFICULT QUESTION.
''And may ask" continued, whether the com.
miseration that is bestowed upon Your Royal High
ness is wasted not in respect to the ship.
good deal is said about her length her old fashion,
and so FORTH compared with the class of British
iron clads-your companion here. the Bellerophon,
for instance-and say that 1t is too bad that
royal prince should be consigned TO iron vessel that
is likely TO break in two in ugly weather" In say.
ing all this merely echoing what has been said
in the London Times and by speakers in the British
Parliament since 1874
Bat Prince Alfred only smiled II think the shir
il safe enough" said he: .'she may not be storm
proof but che has behaved finely so far
ycnturing next to remind the Prince Of the pros
pcct OF his reaching home. I was impressed with the
really modest cordal way in which he spoke of hia
Duchess and his children.
"You know" he said. in the lowest tone, lcanina
against chair and dropping his eyelashcs. that l
have some children In the posture in which he
then stood. with one hand the back OF
his chair and the other hanging by his side.
got the best view and idea Of him. quarter
master who appeared inopportunely. was dismissed
by the quctcst look and then the Prince. raising his
eyes waited courteously TO say good evening. His
height is just above Ave feet eight His figure iSnot
slender, rather muscular, but graceful. His
bearing is not only unpretcntious. IL Is almost
bashfu His whole appearance denotes .
habit of constant wish and attention to
duty the reputation of which he bears throughout
the acet When at length spoke of the pleasurc he
must certainly anticipate meeting his royal sister.
who is coming the sarmatian, he responded with
bow and word or two in perfect keeping with the
tone Of his unassumng aud gracious courtesy TO .
wcll-introduccd stranger. and retired without any
fault TO find with his reception.
CORRECTING ERRONEOUS IMPRESSION.
Lieutenant Hactt. to whose quarters was next
asked 10 repair gave account of the Black Prince
aud her captain which varies greatly from the un-
popular one which somehow became current while
the Duke Of Edinburgh with the feet in tho
Mediterranean.
"why." said tho Lieutenant, II don't know how
tho idea Of the Captains unpopularity ever got
abroad He il certainly Of the best officers in the
service. He attends most carefully 10 his duty"
And in other ways the Lieutenant and officers who
have been associated with the Duke of Edinburgh
have confirmed the pleasant passing impression
which received from him during the brief interview
described this afternoon.
LONDON ALDERMEN.