Speeches and Addresses of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales: 1863-1888 Part 5

"My Lord Mayor, my Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen,--It affords me very great pleasure to occupy the chair to-day, upon so interesting an occasion as the present. Among the many benevolent and charitable inst.i.tutions of this country there are, I think, few which demand our sympathy and support more, and in which we can feel more interest, than the National Life-boat Inst.i.tution. An inst.i.tution of this kind is an absolute necessity in a great maritime country like ours. It is wholly different in one respect from other inst.i.tutions, because although lives are to be saved, they can in those cases in which this society operates only be saved at the risk of the loss of other lives. I am happy to be able to congratulate the Inst.i.tution upon its high state of efficiency at the present moment, and upon the fact that by its means very nearly one thousand lives have been saved in the course of the past year.

"Lifeboats have been given by many benevolent individuals--some as thank-offerings from the friends of those whose lives have been saved, and others in memory of those who are unhappily no more. I am happy also to be able to say that lifeboats do not only exist upon our coast, but that our great example in this matter has been imitated by many foreign maritime countries, and they have chosen our inst.i.tution as the model for their own. I beg upon this occasion to tender, in the name of the Inst.i.tution, our warmest thanks for the kindness and courtesy of the Lord Mayor in allowing us to hold our meeting in this hall.

It is indeed a peculiarly fitting place in which to hold such a meeting, closely connected as the Inst.i.tution is with the City of London. Very nearly half a century ago the Inst.i.tution originated in this city. In 1850 the late Duke of Northumberland became its president. My lamented father was also a vice-patron, and took the warmest interest in its prosperity. I am happy to say the respected secretary, Mr. Lewis, occupied that position at that time, as, indeed, he had long before that time. He has held it ever since, and much of the success of the Inst.i.tution is owing to his long experience, and the energetic manner in which he has directed its working has raised the Inst.i.tution to its present high state of efficiency.

"I may say that there are 174 lifeboats afloat, and that in the course of the past year 33 have been called into existence, at a cost of no less than 17,000, the whole of which has been defrayed by benevolent individuals. Before concluding the brief remarks which I have addressed to you, however imperfectly, upon this occasion, I call upon you once more to offer your support to so excellent an Inst.i.tution. I am certain you must be convinced that it is one which is really a necessity for a great maritime nation like this. I congratulate you that it has arrived at so efficient a state, and I feel quite sure that you would be the last to wish it to decay from want of funds."

The Secretary having read the Report, and various speeches having been delivered, donations were announced to the amount of 1200. At the luncheon, which was afterwards given in the Long Parlour, the Prince hoped that the proceedings of that day would advance the prosperity of the Inst.i.tution, the benefits of which had only to be more widely known, to be more largely supported.

We may add that the receipts, as stated in last year's report (1887), were 56,970, and the expenditure 74,162. During the year 368 lives had been saved by the Society's boats, and ten vessels saved from destruction. Besides medals and other testimonials, 3345 had been granted in rewards. Since the formation of the Society it has voted as rewards 97 gold and 996 silver medals or clasps, 139 binocular gla.s.ses, 15 telescopes, and money to the amount of 96,700. These statistics are furnished by the present secretary, Mr. Charles Dibdin, a descendant of the Dibdin whose naval songs are known to all sailors. British seamen are always ready to risk their lives to save their fellow men, and there is never any difficulty found in manning the lifeboats, but it is necessary to have a permanent staff, and to keep up the stations, while those who volunteer to imperil their own lives ought to have reward, in order to help to provide for others dependent on them. The Prince again presided at the Annual Meeting in 1884.

SOCIETY OF ANCIENT BRITONS.

_March 1st, 1867._

A Welsh charitable inst.i.tution might claim the patronage of the Prince of Wales, from his t.i.tle, apart from the sympathy shown by him towards benevolent works amidst all cla.s.ses of the people. On St. David's Day, March 1st, 1867, the Prince presided at the 152nd anniversary festival of this ancient and useful charity, the origin of which dates back from the year 1715, shortly after the accession of George I.

Caroline, the Princess of Wales, was born on the 1st of March of that year; and as there were divisions and intrigues at the period, many influential Welshmen combined to show their loyal attachment to the House of Hanover.

At first the combination was probably prompted by political motives, but the Society soon took up practical work, and founded a school for the education of poor children of Welsh parents in London. The Scotch had already formed similar patriotic inst.i.tutions, and at a later period the Irish followed the example. On the present anniversary the Prince was supported by a distinguished company, including several of the most eminent and influential natives of the Princ.i.p.ality.

The Health of the Queen having been drunk with enthusiasm, that of the Prince and Princess of Wales was proposed by the Duke of Cambridge, who said that every one would agree with him in expressing the high sense which every body entertained of the admirable way in which His Royal Highness had supported not only the general interests of the country, but also those of individual societies. The Prince responded in a few hearty words, saying he would always be found ready to a.s.sist charitable objects, whether as an onlooker, or as a partic.i.p.ator in the proceedings, as he was that night. Having returned warm thanks for the reception given to the toast, and the good wishes expressed towards himself and the Princess of Wales, he then proposed the toast of the evening: "Prosperity to the Welsh Charity School, and Perpetuity to the Honourable and Loyal Society of Ancient Britons."

"I feel sure, Gentlemen, I shall not have to call upon you twice to respond most heartily to this toast. You all of you must know, perhaps far better than I can tell you, the history of this society; but at the same time it may be well that I should go back and give you a brief sketch of the society from its commencement. In 1715 it was founded on St. David's Day, which was the birthday of Caroline, Princess of Wales. My ancestor, George II., then Prince of Wales, became the first patron of the society. The Princess took great interest in the well-being of the society, independent of the fact of its having been founded in commemoration of her natal day. The school in those times was nothing more than a day school. It was found to be too small, and was removed to Clerkenwell, and there it flourished for some time. In 1771 it was removed to Gray's-inn Lane, and in 1818, at the death of the much lamented Princess Charlotte of Wales, whose loss the whole country most deeply felt, 50 additional children were, by means of a public subscription, sent to the school in remembrance of her name. The school continued to flourish, but it was thought advisable, if it could be effected, that the inst.i.tution should be removed into the country, in order, among other advantages, that the children might derive the benefit of the fresh air. Accordingly in 1854 the school was removed to Ashford, and on the 13th of July, 1857, my lamented father inaugurated and opened the school on its present site. I am happy to say that I accompanied him on that occasion, and from that time to this you will believe me when I a.s.sure you that I have felt the deepest interest in the prosperity of the school. It has frequently occurred on my journey from Windsor to London by the South-Western line for me to notice the school as I have pa.s.sed by it, but that circ.u.mstance alone would not be required to remind me of its claims. When the school was removed from London to the country considerable expense was incurred; so much so that it was rendered necessary to reduce the number of children from 200 to 150, but I am happy to be able to inform you that in the course of the last century and a half as many as 3000 Welsh children have been by means of this inst.i.tution clothed, fed, and educated, and afterwards sent forth into the world provided, to a certain extent, for their future career.

This must be a gratifying announcement, and brief and imperfect as the sketch may have been which I have now given you, still I trust I have said enough to call upon you most heartily to continue that support which in past years you have given on the occasion of these annual festivals. Gentlemen, I thank you for the kind manner in which you have been pleased to receive these remarks, and I beg to propose to you, in a b.u.mper, the toast of the evening."

Other toasts and speeches followed, and a most liberal collection was made for the Charity, which is now generally known under the name of "High School for Welsh Girls."

LONDON INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE.

_July 10th, 1867._

On the 10th of July, 1867, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales inaugurated this inst.i.tution, established under the auspices of the International Education Society. Some years previously a Committee, of which Mr. Cobden and M. Michael Chevalier were members, proposed the formation of an International College, having four princ.i.p.al establishments, in England, France, Germany, and Italy. The pupils were to pursue their studies at each branch in succession. It was to inaugurate the English branch of this inst.i.tution, at Spring Grove, under the direction of Dr. Leonard Schmitz, formerly Rector of the High School of Edinburgh, that they a.s.sembled this day.

After inspecting the building and grounds, the visitors a.s.sembled at luncheon, the chair being occupied by Mr. Paulton, the treasurer of the College, having on his right the Prince of Wales, and on his left the Duc d'Aumale. The Prince de Joinville and the Comte de Paris were also among the guests. On the health of the Prince of Wales being proposed, he replied as follows:--

"Mr. Chairman, Ladies, and Gentlemen,--I beg to thank you for the kind manner in which you have drunk my health, and for the feeling and touching sympathy you have evinced for the Princess of Wales. I can a.s.sure you it gives me the greatest gratification to be present to-day to inaugurate this College under the auspices of the International Education Society. I sincerely trust that this propitious weather and the goodly company I see around me may be omens of the future of this inst.i.tution. The site of this College is all that can be desired, and I know that its management will be so administered as to fulfil to the utmost the antic.i.p.ations of its promoters.

There is now room for 80 pupils within its walls, and when the new wings are completed it will be capable of accommodating twice, probably treble, that number. There are, I understand, two sister inst.i.tutions abroad--one in Germany, and the other in France; and after the pupils have completed their studies here they can avail themselves of the advantages of these inst.i.tutions to perfect themselves in modern Continental languages.

"I am not going to discuss the relative claims on our attention of the living and dead languages; but I believe it to be most important that modern languages should form one of the princ.i.p.al subjects of study on grounds of practical utility. No persons were ever more deeply impressed with this fact than my late lamented father, and another man whose name is now celebrated through England, Richard Cobden. I have travelled a great deal on the Continent, and I am confident that I should have found my sojourn in these countries far less pleasant than it was if I had not possessed a considerable knowledge of the vernacular of the people.

"I thank you again sincerely for the manner in which you have drunk my health, and I shall convey to the Princess the deep sympathy you have evinced for her in her illness, the enthusiastic affection with which you have received her name, and your warm good wishes for her speedy restoration to health.

Before sitting down I beg to propose a toast, which I am sure you will receive with every demonstration of approbation. It is "Success to the London College of the International Education Society." With that toast I beg to couple the name of Dr.

Schmitz, whose pupil, I am proud to say, I once was while studying in the city of Edinburgh."

The toast having been received with great enthusiasm, Dr. Schmitz, in reply, said he had to thank His Royal Highness for the kindness of heart with which he had spoken of his humble name, and hoped that the College so happily inaugurated would have a prosperous issue. The distinctive feature of the inst.i.tution was that in it the study of modern languages and natural sciences were to be largely pursued. The dead languages, however, were not to be ignored. They protested only against the exclusive study of cla.s.sical literature. He had himself devoted his life to letters, but at the same time he fully recognized the claims of the modern continental tongues and the natural sciences, by which the civilization and progress of the world were unquestionably advanced.

Professor Huxley then proposed the "Health of the Committee of Management," coupling with it the name of the chairman. The Chairman having briefly replied, the meeting broke up, and the visitors dispersed throughout the grounds for promenade.

THE VICEROY OF EGYPT, ISMAIL PASHA, AT THE MANSION HOUSE.

_July 11th, 1867._

Among the many ill.u.s.trious rulers of foreign nations who have been entertained by the Lord Mayor of London, have been three Viceroys of Egypt. On the 11th of July, 1867, at a banquet at the Mansion House, a distinguished company a.s.sembled to meet his Highness the Viceroy, Ismail Pasha. Twenty-one years previously, the father, and on a subsequent occasion the brother of the Viceroy had been similarly honoured in the capital of the British Empire. The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Teck, Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, many of the amba.s.sadors of foreign powers, and the most eminent men of all shades of political opinion were among the company.

The reply of the Viceroy, to the toast, given by the Lord Mayor, was responded to in his native tongue, and interpreted by Nubar Pasha in French: "If Egypt had rendered services to England, chiefly in facilitating communication with India, his country was only acknowledging the debt due to this country for the benefits received in promoting the material and the moral progress of his people."

The next toast was the health of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the other members of the Royal Family, to which the Prince thus responded:--

"My Lord Mayor, your Royal Highnesses, my Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen, I beg to thank you most warmly and sincerely for the kind manner in which you, my Lord Mayor, have proposed my health and that of the Princess of Wales, and the other members of the Royal Family; and to thank the company here present for the way in which it has been received. I need not a.s.sure you, my Lord Mayor, that to have been invited here this evening has been a source of great pleasure to me. Under any circ.u.mstances I always feel it a great compliment to be invited to the hospitable board of the Lord Mayor and the Corporation of the city of London.

"But this evening we have been invited here to do honour to a guest, and that guest the Viceroy of Egypt. As the Lord Mayor has very truly remarked, England and Egypt, though far distant from one another, though very different from one another in religion and in habits, are countries which have been, and will continue to be, closely allied to one another. We have every reason to be grateful to the Viceroy and to his Government for the means he has afforded us of visiting that country, and for the great hospitality that he has shown to us on all occasions.

I myself received distinguished marks of kindness under the rule of his brother, the late Viceroy, in 1862. Nothing could exceed the kindness and courtesy with which I was treated, and the facilities with which I was enabled to visit that most interesting country. We are also indebted to the Viceroy and the Egyptian Government for the great facilities he has afforded our troops in their transit to India.

"Egypt, as has been remarked, is a country that is fast improving in every way. Manufactures are rising on all sides--especially the manufacture of cotton. I myself visited a very important sugar manufactory, and it was interesting to find that there were English, French, and German workmen employed in that manufactory.

"I do not wish, my Lord Mayor, to take up more of your time this evening, knowing that there are other toasts to be proposed. I will, therefore, conclude by again thanking you once more for the honour you have done me in drinking my health, and for the very kind expressions you have used towards the Princess of Wales. I know I only express her feelings when I say that she has been deeply touched by that universal good feeling and sympathy which has been shown to her during her long and painful illness. Thank G.o.d she has now nearly recovered, and I trust that in a month's time she will be able to leave London and enjoy the benefits of fresh air."

FESTIVAL OF ST. PATRICK.

_March 17th, 1868._

On various occasions, the Prince of Wales has shown on Irish soil, his sympathy with the people of the Sister Isle, and has been always welcomed with warm and loyal feeling by the ma.s.s of the population. He has given practical proof of his good feeling for the Irish nation by being a patron and supporter of the Benevolent Society of St. Patrick, in the schools of which the children of poor Irish parents residing in the Metropolis receive education and other benefits.

The annual festival has long been well attended and supported, but never before was there so great and brilliant a gathering as when the Prince of Wales, on the 17th of March, 1868, presided at the dinner, at Willis's Rooms. Among the company were the Archbishop of Armagh, the Bishop of Derry, and many members of the House of Lords, and of the House of Commons, connected with Ireland, with other distinguished persons of all cla.s.ses interested in the charity. The London Irish Volunteers formed a guard of honour in front of the building, and the Prince on entering, and taking his place as president, was greeted with enthusiastic cheers.

The usual loyal toasts having been given, and responded to by the Prince, with warm appreciation of the good-will, especially directed towards the Princess of Wales, on her health being proposed by the Archbishop of Armagh, the Prince proposed "The Army and Navy, the Militia and the Volunteers," saying some suitable words as to each branch of the united services.

The Earl of Longford briefly replied for the Army. Mr. Corry, in responding for the Navy, said he believed that St. Patrick had never been so far south as that fine harbour which was "_statio bene fida carinis_." Complaints had been made from time to time that the Government had not availed themselves of the facilities which Cork harbour afforded for dockyard accommodation, but after the works at Haulbowline were completed, he hoped that the people of Cork would see that the Admiralty had no desire to do any injustice to Ireland in respect of the navy. He was glad to announce to the company that on the occasion of the forthcoming visit of the Prince of Wales to Dublin a division of the armour-clad vessels of the Channel fleet would be sent to the Bay of Dublin, where, weather permitting, the s.h.i.+ps of the division would anchor and remain during the time His Royal Highness was to stay in Ireland.

Captain M. J. O'Connell, in returning thanks for the Volunteers, remarked that in the London Irish there never had been any political or polemical disputes.

At this stage of the proceedings there occurred a scene thoroughly "racy of the soil" of which most of the n.o.blemen and gentlemen present were natives. The children of the schools were brought into the room, and "St. Patrick's Day" having been struck up by the band, the boys and girls proceeded to make the circuit of the tables. The national air of Ireland told alike on the benefactors and the recipients of the charity.

The children looked with glistening eyes on the company, and the latter, as the young ones pa.s.sed by, loaded them with fruit and cakes to such an extent that before the juvenile procession had made its exit from the apartment the tables had been cleared of the entire dessert, which was a very liberal one. The boys and girls raised a loud cheer as they left the room, and the entire company, including the ill.u.s.trious President, appeared all the happier for having made the festival the means of so unusual a treat for the little sons and daughters of poor Irish parents struggling for their living in London.