Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-30
BRITISH PRINCES.
THEIR BLUE BLOOD Is FREELY
SHED IN BATTLE.
THINGS THAT AMEz8 FOREIGNERS.
Correspondence Of the Dispatch.)

]
LON " October N-Britishers are
! somewhat surprised at the prominence
given by some Of the American papers
to the sons of well-known wealthy men
who enlisted to fight against Spain. Ac-
customed as they are here to the best
blood Of the land being represented in The
army I navy, and the most heroic
deeds O. and and sea battles being done
by scions Of noble houses, IT would be
more a matter OF surprise if aristocratic
names were absent from the roll Of The
killed than that they should be there.
/ well does Great Britain merit the
| sovereignty of the sea-" said a Spanish
admiral TO an officer Of her Majesty's
navy on seeing a future King Of England
doing duty as a petty officer in war
ship, when her princes Of the Royal
blood are content to learn their duty IN
the humble stations of her navy"
In the younger days Of the Duke Of
Saxe-Coburg- Gotha he served on boar
the Euryalus. When the ship touched
at a South African port, some native
chiefs wLo came aboard were surprised
10 see the Duke directing the swabbing
of decks. They watched with amaze
ment. and then. retiring dictated OF then
own accord a sort Of manifesto TO the
captain Of the Euryalus: up to ihis
time we had not ceased to be amazed a
the wonderful things we have witnessed.
which are beyond our comprehension.
But one thing we understandable reason
OF England's greatness, when the SON or
her great Queen becomes subject TO
subject, that he may learn wisdom, when
the sons of Englands chiefs and mobiles
leave the homes and wealth Of their ia
Tiers, and with their young Prince. en-
dure hardships and suferings IN order
that they may be wise, and become a de-
fence TO their country. When We behold
these things we see why the English are
a great and mighty nation. What we
have row learned shall be transmitted
to our wondering countrymen, and hand-
ed down to our children. who viii be
wiser than their fathers. and your mighty
Queen shall be their sovereign and ours
in all time coming"
Englishmen recall with pride other in
stances of a similar nature. The sailor
Prince, afterwards King William ",
whose praise Brtishers never tire Of sing
ing, was with Rodney's squadron, after
the relief of Gibraltar, when Spanish
Admiral came on board under a flag OF
truce. The Spanish Admiral was intro
duced 20 Prince William, and bowed be-
fore him with all the extreme Difference
that etiquette would have demanded had
the meeting taken place In the Presence
Chamber Of his Catholic Majesty himself.
Then the admirals began TO talk on mat
ters of business and the Royal youugster
forthwith left the cabin. He came back
again a little later on. word being passed
that the visitor wished TO leave, and en-
tering the cabin in his capacity as mid
shipman of the watch, saluted and re-
ported the barge ready alongside. The
Spanard gazed in wonder at the specta-
Gle of a Royal Prince making obeisance
to an ordinary naval officer, and could
scarcely be convinced that he had not
been the victim of a practical joke.
No difference is made In the British
navy between the treatment accorded
these Royal middies and that OF the boys
of more humble origin When the Prince
OF Wales first announced his intention Of
sending Prince George into the navy,
his Royal Highness said that, his
son having adopted the navy as
his calling, he should expect him as far !
as possible to take his chances of promo /
ton on the same footing as his brother /
officers, and TO gain experience in the |
service In the ordinary way. This proce- |
1ure has been followed throughout the /
Dukes career. Joining the navy IN 1873, |
he now takes his first command as a cap !
tain after % years service as q naval /
cadet and midshipman in the Bac- |
chante, then service as midshipman and |
lieutenant in the Dreadnought and
Alexandria, and later. service in COM
mand of torpedo-boat No. 70, Of the gum
boat Thrush, and Of the cruiser Me-
campus.
The history Of the British navy is full
Of gallant deeds done by sons Of royalty.
In the two successful battles OF the Sc
cond and third Dutch wars, fought of
LowestoR, on June 3, 1865, and off Sole
bay. on May 2Sth 1872. the English fleet
was under the direct command and lead
ership Of the Duke Of York.
Two grandsons Of King George III.
served in the Royal navy One was
Prince Edward. Duke Of York and AL
oany, King George Ills next immediate
brother, and the other Prince Henry
Frederick, Duke Of Cumberland. son Of
the Butcher" OF Culloden. OF these the
Duke OF York saw active service with the
channel fleet in the Seven Years war. be-
Ing present as midshpman with Lord
Howe at the capture of Cherbourg. in 1853.
and In the next year with Hawke in the
long blockade Of Brest. The Duke OF
York-nOte the title-only Just missed
taking part in the historic victory OF Out
boron Bay by the accident that his ebf,