The record-union., 1891-05-03
Special to the SUNDAY UNION.

LONDON, May 2.-The naval exhibition
on the Chelsea embankment was opened
to-day with great ceremony. The Prince
of Wales presided at the opening cere-
monies. He wore the uniform of an Adj
miral of the British Navy. The entire
passageway, one-eighth of mile long,
leading from the spot where the Prince Of
Wales declared the exhibition open, was
lined by celebrated naval and military
officers, to the rear of whom was a strong
force of blue jackets and marines, who
presented arms as the royal party passed.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were
escorted to the dais, after which the Arch
bishop of Canterbury came forward and
uttered prayer for the success of the
exhibition, the prosperity and peace of
the country and the health of the royal
family. The Prince of Wales then re-
piled to the address Of the officers of the
exhibition, after which the Princess of
Wales turned tiny switch in front of the
miniature model Of the Eddystone Light
house. There was flash from the top of
the lighthouse and the exhibition was
formally declared opened.
The model of the Eddystone lighthouse
is lighted by electricity to the extent of
half million candle power. The model
is built of framework of iron, covered
with American expanded wire, over
which cement is laid. The lower part is
used for an exhibit of the lighthouse and
signaling apparatus, while the top,
reached by elevators, affords a good OBJ
servatOry.
One of the most interesting features of
the exhibition is a full-sized model of
Nelson's famous flagship Victory, fur
nished throughout with guns and ac-
cOuterments Of Nelson's day
On the lake it is proposed to give each
day mimic naval battle between minia-
ture ironclad men-of-war, including tor
pedo attacks, submarine mining, fire
works, etc, in the arena. The sailors
will give exhibition drills, and the hand
ling OF naval machine guns will be shown.
The main exhibition building is di-
Vlded into nine galleries, each named
after some celebrated sailor, the rear con-
tanning interesting collections of old ma
val relics and relics of various Arctic eX-
petitions. and the art section contains the
finest collection of naval pictures ever
brought together. There are hundreds
of models of old and new warships, and
innumerable charts, ancient and modern.
hung on the walls Of the galleries. Ali
varieties of ordnance and ammunition of
all kinds are exhibited.
Among the naval curioSities that NAV
be seen in the exhibition are: Captain
Cooks Walstcoat; the WashStand used by
Nelson at sea; the figurehead of the
Shannon, carried on that ship during her
memorable encounter with the Chesa-
peake; the Duke of Edinburgh's curious
collection of silver ships; portion of the
mainmast of the Victory pierced by
shot at the battle Of Trafalgar, and many
other relics.
One gallery is devoted to trade exhibits
and exhibits from different naval char
tiles. Then there is another devoted to
models of vessels from the days of the
Great Harry down, with illustrations of
the boat-lowering and life-saving appara-
tus now in use; another is devoted to
ancient and modern ordnance including
the very latest quick-fring guns
The Camperdon gallery contains chiefly
dynamos and accomplishing machines
for working torpedos, and al immense
glass diving tank, and large collection
of iron and steel armor plates.
The profits of the exhibition will be
given to the various naval charities.