The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-11-21
PRINCE OF wALEsIN!PoRrLAnp
Anecdotes and "reminiscences ~
His American Tour In 1860.
Charming Correspondence Be-
tween TWO Famous Rulers.


with interesting Renaissance, his visit to
Portland thiJty-one years ago. Portland
In fact, was the Omegs. as st. Johns, New.
foundland. was the Alpha of his,American
tour.
This memorable journey was prefaced
by the following correspondence between
the respective rulers of the two great ma
lions. President Buchanan and Queen
Victoria, each of which epistles Is model
of its kind:
To Her Majesty, Queen Victorio:
nave learned from the public journals, that
esty's North American dominions. Should it
be the intention of His Royal Highness to ex-
tend bis visit to the United States, need not
s ss RUS 9spP S Ma nSna Ss TO give MIN
You may be well assured that everywhere In
this country he Will be greeted by the American
g gratifsng to your Majesty In this they viii
manifest their deep sense Of your domestic vir-
tues, as well as their convittion of your merits
as wise, patriotic and constitutional sover-
eign.
Your Majesty's most obedient servant,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
This nice letter good Queen Victoria was
not long in answering. The following is
her reply, and charming letter 1t is. too,
so free from stilted formality, and SO heart
felt, courteous and almost naive in Its
charming simplicity:
Ny Good friend:
have been much gratifed at the feeling
which prompted you to write to me, inviting the
Prince Of Wales to come to Washington. He
intends to return from Canada through the
United States, and 1t will give him great pleas
ure to have an opportunity of testifying to you
In person that these feelings are fully recipro-
sed By him IN he win thus Be able the
tertaiDsfor the Chief Magistrate of a great and
powerful state and kindred nation.
The Prince of Wales will drop all royal state
on leaving my dominiOns, and travel under the
name of Lord Renffew, as he has done when
travelling on the continent of Europe.
The Prince Consort wishes to be kindly re.
remain ever your good friend,
VICTORIA r.
On the 23d day of July, 1860 the Prince
arrived at st. Johns, N. f. He was at
tended by somewhat numerous suite,
chief of whom was the Duke Of Newcastle
the leyel-headed nobleman whom Mother
Vic had given personal charge of her boy,
and who throughout his transatlantic
tovr performed his responsible part faith
fully and well. The reception of the royal
party In the various British Provinces, in
which they journeyed some weeks, was en-
thusiastic and brilliant. Everywhere the
Prince was greeted by crowds, and his
honest. agreeable manners, so wholly free
from snobbery, won the hearts of his pros
pectiye subjects at once. 1t was case of
love at first sight all round.
"Ah, it was big time, assure you,
when the Prince Of Wales came to Can
ada" remarked my good neighbor and
worthy fellow citizen in Bridgton, Mr.. d.
Draper, with whom was chatting the
other day, about the Princes visit. MIR.
Draper was at that time resident of
Waterloo, P. O., and is an ex-Canadian
officer of the government. Eyes, the ex-
element was tremendous, and one could
not hear himself Think for the cheering.
One could not help noticing how sharply
yet with what consummate tact the Duke of
Newcastle looked after the mild-faced,
good-natured looking lad of nineteen who
If he lives, is to become the ruler of one of
earth's greatest nations. The Prince,
though he must needs have enjoyed the
honor heaped upon him, was yet inclined
to get away from the maddiDg crowd, was
III AhNts Va q ACblhAB6 QlcPUctbiOns " ltluo
trate: one OF his fellow travellers from
England to this country was a sailor lad,
between whom and his Royal Highness
there sprung up a warm friendship. While
on shipb0ard the two friends-the one of
high, the other of low estate-were allowed
to meet on the level and have jolly good
time together, as young fellows will, but
his young friend were about to take stroll
over the city together. the Duke interfered
and vetoed the thing at once. This, how
ever, was the proper thing to do, as Brit
aims future monarch was too precious q
piece of property to run any risks upon, be-
In by due dignity. The Duke, 1t was un-
derstood was the real author of the nice
little speeches read by Albert Edward"
After making complete tour of the
Canadian cities, the Prince and suite
crossed the line into Uncle Sans territory,
first visiting Detroit, then Chicago, St.
Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburg. Altoona, Har-
risburg, Washington. Mt. Vernon. Rich
mond. Baltimore, Philadelphia. New York
City. West Point, Boston and Portland, in
all OF which places they were received with
dlstlnctlon and enthusiasm equalling, If
not exceeding the magnifcence and earn
estness OF their reception by the Canadian
people.
At Washington, the Prince was given q
public reception and banquet by President
Buchanan, each one of which was one al
the most brilliant events of its kind ever
witnessed in that city, and nothing was
omitted to render his stay agreeable.
The Princes visit to Mt. Vernon and the
Tomb OF Washington beside which he
planted tree, was an impressive, really
dramatic epis0de,-the great grandson OF
| George LII doing honor to the rebel leader
OF the enemies Of that royal ancestorl
| at West Point the Prince and suite, at
II hxyI nfnx.
given line military reception by the com
mandant and his cadets, etc.
But his visit to Bostonl If ever a mar
was put through by daylight" His Roya
Highness, while at Boston was that man
The first day he witnessed great political
procession; then received Ralph Farnham
the survivor Of Bunker Hill Castle; re.
tended children's musical entertainment
at the Boston Theatre; and then went to {
grand ball In the evening. Next day ne
visited Harvard College and examined al
the objects Of interest at that venerable
institution; then visited Mount Auburn
bunker BIZ, and Charleston navy yard;
| AND right here, before speaking Of thu
| Princes visit to Portland, a word abou
his very interesting interview with thu
| venerable Ralph Farnham. The Duke Of
Newcastle, who, with most of his suite
was present, asked the Revolutionary vet
era1, Il he knew BuTgoyne when be sur sur
t6ereF' The oId soldier them then remarked
chucklingly, that hearing so much said II
praise Of the Prince. he began 20 fear that
the people were all turning royalists. HI!
ana Mr.. Farnham's manner ELECTED mucf
laughter, In which the Prince fully Joined
Inc FRINGE then sent for pen and ink. an(
one man who had stood before British sol
alers IN l!76 In manner and with bear
Ing very different from that with which hi
nau received the Princes courteries, an(
excnange9 glances with the Mayors, Col
onels, ana guardsmen of the royal suite
teryiew with the greatest pleasure. remark
ingthat he wished to show the boy an(
his soldiers that he bore no anger for OLE
| times"
As the time drew near for the distin
guished party to reach Portland, expecta
Ion was on riptoe. and large crow WA
at the Boston g. Maine depot when th,
train arrived. Mayor Joseph Howard ant
a delegation of the city government were
| also there to receive them. and accompa
MED them in carriages to the h0tel-th,
Omitted States" IL 1 mistake not. Or
account of the shortness of his stay, the re
ception of the Prince was of an informa
character. Albeit Portland did herself
proud IN her hearty welcome to the .younl
neef, less than half O century before, ha(
menaced her safety, her very existanct
| even. And to the favored ones who haC
| the opportunity to gaze upon this famous
being they saw.
A simply but elegantly dressed young
| man, evidently about five feet, four inches
high; his eyes beautifully blue mild. funny
clear, and Jolly; nose well defined, not per.
iectly straight, but clean.cut and nronrj.