Speeches and Addresses of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales: 1863-1888 Part 22

INFANT ORPHAN ASYLUM, WANSTEAD.

_June 28th, 1878._

This inst.i.tution maintains and educates the orphans of persons once in prosperity, from earliest infancy till fourteen or fifteen years of age.

About 60 children are now (1888) annually elected. Nearly the whole of the income depends on voluntary contributions. Subscribers have votes, according to the amount of their subscriptions. There are now nearly 600 in the Asylum, which is open to children from all parts of the British dominions. The Asylum stands in beautifully wooded grounds, at Wanstead, on the outskirts of Epping Forest.

The Prince, accompanied by the Princess of Wales, presided at the anniversary festival, on June 28th, 1878. They drove to Wanstead, and were received at the Asylum by the Bishop of St. Albans, in whose diocese it is, and by the officers of the inst.i.tution. They were conducted to the Examination Room, where, Dagmar Mary Petersen, a little orphan girl, eight years old, daughter of a Dane, who settled in London as a commercial clerk, herself admitted just eighteen months ago by the loyalty of a lady of the Society of Friends, who wished thus to honour the Princess, commenced the proceedings with a pretty speech which she had got perfectly by heart and recited very clearly. In her childish voice she gave those a.s.sembled a distinct account of the asylum. "She had been told that it was the largest of the kind in England. When the boys, girls, officers, and servants are all there, 700 persons sleep in the building. The schools are in three divisions, senior, infants, and nursery children. In the two large senior schools there are about 400 boys and girls. They learn grammar, history, geography, arithmetic, French, music, and drawing, and the girls learn needlework besides. In the two infant schools they do not learn quite so much. In the nursery they learn just a very little and play a good deal. And being little children they learn about the Bible." The little girl who spoke this simple address presented a bouquet to the gracious Princess after the ceremony, and was kissed, praised, and otherwise gratified.

"G.o.d bless the Prince of Wales" was excellently sung at the conclusion of the speech; the children came up to the Princess and took their prizes from her hands; and marched out of the room, keeping time to lively music. The Royal party inspected the school-rooms, play-rooms, and dormitories, cheerful and well-ventilated halls; and the Princess carried toys to the children in the nursery.

The Prince of Wales took the chair at luncheon, supported by the Princess of Wales, and their suite, the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of Manchester, the Bishop of St. Albans and Hon. Mrs. Claughton, and a large a.s.sembly.

After grace the Prince of Wales rose and proposed "The Health of Her Majesty the Queen." The toast-master next announced a b.u.mper toast, and the Duke of Manchester gave "The Health of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and the Princess of Wales," "a toast which is never more heartily honoured than on these fortunately frequent occasions, when their Royal Highnesses patronize and encourage well-organized charitable inst.i.tutions, among which this was perhaps one of the best he knew."

The Prince of Wales said, in reply:--

"Ladies and Gentlemen,--On the part of the Princess and myself, we beg to return our warmest thanks to the n.o.ble duke for the kind way in which he has proposed this toast, and to you, ladies and gentlemen, for the cordial manner in which you have received it. It has afforded both the Princess and myself the greatest possible pleasure and the greatest possible gratification to come here to-day and to inaugurate the fifty-first anniversary of this excellent and commendable inst.i.tution. What we have seen ourselves, and what the most part of the company have witnessed on their own part, I think will do more than anything I can say to show you what an excellent inst.i.tution this is, and how worthy it is of support in every way. The manner in which the children sang, the discipline under which they are evidently kept, the clean and healthy appearance of all of them, is a matter of sincere congratulation to all those who take interest in this inst.i.tution or have the trouble of its management. I may say that there is one little girl who perfectly astonished us by the elocution which she possessed--well worthy of many a distinguished member of Parliament.

"It was highly interesting to the Princess, as well as to myself, to have been here to-day, the fortieth anniversary of the Queen's Coronation. The first stone of the building in which we are now was laid by my lamented father a few months before I was born; and I hold in my hand the mallet which was used by him on that occasion, and which has been sent to me by Sir Charles Reed, the chairman of the London School Board, whose father, Dr.

Andrew Reed, was, I understand, one of the promoters of this inst.i.tution, and always took the warmest interest in its welfare. This day seventeen years ago the Prince Consort visited this inst.i.tution, and this day exactly twelve years ago was the last time the Princess and I were here.

"I am sure there is but little more for me to say in commending so admirable an inst.i.tution to you, which has now existed for half a century, which maintains 600 children during the course of the year, and has educated and sent forth into the world as many as 3000 up to the present time. But a well-managed inst.i.tution like this, with the s.p.a.cious rooms which we have seen, will naturally convince you that it must cost a considerable sum, and I believe I am not incorrect in stating that it requires at least 18,000 a year to maintain this asylum. And as it is almost entirely supported by voluntary contributions I feel sure that all those present will do all they can to support this inst.i.tution, and to tell their friends when they go home how worthy it is of support. I have now, in conclusion, only to propose--a toast which I give most heartily--'Prosperity to the Infant Orphan Asylum.'"

The Prince of Wales then left the chair, resigning it to the Bishop of St. Albans, who gave the other usual toasts.

The secretary read a list of subscriptions. The Queen had sent her annual donation of 10 guineas; the Prince of Wales before leaving placed in the hands of the secretary a cheque for 100 guineas; the Duke of Edinburgh gave 10 guineas; H. S. C. (who had long been an anonymous benefactress), 100 guineas; country friends, 462. In all, about 1600.

This concluded the formal proceedings, but the summer weather tempted many of the visitors to prolong their stay in the pleasant gardens of the asylum.

THE TRAINING s.h.i.+P 'BRITANNIA.'

_July 24th, 1878._

In the autumn of 1877, the Prince of Wales went to Dartmouth, to place his sons, Prince Edward (as he was then usually called) and Prince George, on the training s.h.i.+p _Britannia_, under the care of Captain Fairfax, R.N. At the end of the summer term, in the following year, the Prince consented to preside at the distribution of prizes on the _Britannia_, and graciously announced that the successful pupils should receive their medals and books from the hands of the Princess of Wales.

The Mayor and Corporation of the ancient borough of Dartmouth took advantage of the occasion to give official welcome to the Royal visitors, and to present an address, which the Prince signified his readiness to receive on board the Royal yacht, _Osborne_. Thither the magistrates repaired in the forenoon. The picturesque estuary of the river Dart never had displayed so festive an appearance. The _Britannia_, and her attendant yacht the _Sirius_, the Royal yacht, the Admiralty yacht, which had brought the Lords of the Admiralty, several s.h.i.+ps of the Plymouth fleet, under Admiral Sir Thomas Symonds, besides a large flotilla of yachts, steam launches, and all sorts of boats, were covered with gay bunting, while flags floated from every point of the sh.o.r.e and the town.

The Town Clerk having read the Address from the ancient borough, which was first incorporated by a charter of Edward III., in 1342, and had figured in subsequent history, especially at the time of the Spanish Armada, the Prince, in reply, said:--

"On behalf of the Princess of Wales, as well as on my own behalf, I offer my sincere thanks to you for your address and for your cordial welcome to us on our visit to this ancient and beautiful town. The salubrity of the climate of Dartmouth and the excellence of your sanitary arrangements have long been known to me, and I can appeal to no better proof of my entire confidence in them than that afforded by the step I have taken in sending our two sons to be educated on board the _Britannia_.

I beg to a.s.sure you that with that step both the Princess and myself are perfectly satisfied. I trust you will continue to devote your attention as you have done in the past to the improvement of the sanitary arrangements of the town. I thank you again for the kind wishes you have expressed towards the Princess, myself, and our family."

The Prince also congratulated the Mayor, Sir Henry Seale, on the splendid effect of the illuminations of the previous evening.

Accompanied by the Munic.i.p.al authorities, and by the Duke of Connaught, Prince Louis of Battenberg, and a numerous retinue, the Prince and Princess then proceeded to the _Britannia_ for the distribution of the prizes. They were received by Mr. W. H. Smith, then First Lord of the Admiralty, and the other Lords; by the Commander-in-Chief of the Plymouth division of the Channel Fleet; and Captain Fairfax of the _Britannia_. Between 500 and 600 of the friends or relatives of the cadets, and other invited guests, among whom were Lord and Lady Charles Beresford, Sir Samuel and Lady Baker, were a.s.sembled on the quarter-deck, sheltered from the sun by a canopy of flags, surmounted by the flag of Denmark, and the white ensign of England.

The distribution of the prizes took place, a report on the state of the training having been previously read by Dr. Hirst, director of studies at the Greenwich Naval College, who had superintended the examination of the cadets.

After the distribution, the Prince of Wales, standing on the deck in the uniform of a captain of the Royal Naval Reserve, said:--

"My Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen,--Permit me to express to you the great pleasure it has given the Princess to present the cadets who are about to leave the _Britannia_ the prizes which they have so successfully won, and to express to you on my own part as well as on that of the Princess the very great pleasure it has given us to be here to witness and take part in these interesting proceedings. From Dr. Hirst we heard a most interesting and exhaustive speech regarding the studies of the cadets and their merits. I can only wish those who are about to leave the _Britannia_, and who have now fairly entered that n.o.ble service for which they have been trained, all possible success. Let me hope that the tuition they have received here will not be thrown away upon them, and that they may all emulate those bright examples to be found in English history and of which every naval officer must be proud. To those cadets who still remain on board this s.h.i.+p I can only recommend strict a.s.siduity to their studies and strict obedience to discipline, and all of them to try to pa.s.s out of the _Britannia_ as highly as they can, remembering, above all, that saying which one of our greatest admirals has handed down to posterity--'England expects every man will do his duty.' A personal interest which the Princess and myself take in this s.h.i.+p and the confidence we have of its being an excellent practical school for boys have been testified by the fact that we have sent our two sons among you to be educated. For myself, my only hope and trust is that they may do credit to the s.h.i.+p and to their country."

Mr. W. H. Smith, M.P., First Lord of the Admiralty, thanked their Royal Highnesses for their welcome presence, and called upon the cadets to give three cheers for the Prince and Princess of Wales. The cheers were prolonged to three times three, caught up in row-boats around, and echoed by the high banks of the Dart. The chief captains of the cadets, who are mainly responsible for discipline and occupy a place of honour in the s.h.i.+p's mess-room on the main deck, were presented to the Prince and Princess, and the proceedings came to an end. Captain and Mrs.

Fairfax had the honour of entertaining the Royal personages and a select party at luncheon. Later in the day the Prince of Wales paid a visit to Captain Zirzow, on the German Imperial frigate _Niobe_, and drank a gla.s.s of wine to the health of the Emperor of Germany. Captain Zirzow telegraphed at once to the Emperor that the Prince of Wales had called a health to him.

When the Prince and Princess arrived at Dartmouth on Tuesday they were rowed to the _Britannia_, one of their sons steering and the other pulling the second bow oar. They left the s.h.i.+p in a boat rowed by full-grown sailors, and with their two sons, who were going home for their holidays, sitting in the stern sheets. From the _Britannia_ to the landing-place, which was brightly draped with crimson cloth, hawsers were stretched and thus a clear lane was kept among the crowd of craft for the pa.s.sage of the Royal boat. Tho cadets of the _Britannia_ sat in their blue coats with tossed oars, and cheers were raised by those on the boats, yachts, the many little steam launches, and the sh.o.r.e. Little girls threw flowers before the Princess as she stepped upon the landing stage. A special train was waiting to meet the ordinary mail from Penzance and Plymouth.

So ended a visit which formed an interesting incident in the family life of the Prince, and the events of which will long be remembered in South Devon.

CABDRIVERS' BENEVOLENT a.s.sOCIATION.

_May 5th, 1879._

The objects of the Cabdrivers Benevolent a.s.sociation are: 1, to give annuities of 20 a year; 2, to grant small loans; 3, to give temporary a.s.sistance in cases of urgent distress; 4, to a.s.sist the widows and orphans of cabmen. This is an inst.i.tution the benefits of which are so obvious, and for the help of a cla.s.s of men so hard-worked, so uncertainly paid, and so useful to the public, that we are not surprised at the readiness with which the Prince of Wales a.s.sented to preside at one of its annual festivals, and at the hearty earnestness in which he made an appeal on its behalf. It was at the festival dinner on the 5th of May, 1879. On coming to the toast of the evening His Royal Highness said:--

"There is, I think, no cla.s.s of our fellow-countrymen that deserve more of our consideration than the cabdrivers of this great city, and it has already been truly expressed to you that one cannot think without pity of those poor men sitting on their cabs in the cold east winds with which we are, alas! so well acquainted, and in the rain and snow which have been our lot now for so many months.

"They are as a rule, I believe, a cla.s.s honest, persevering, and industrious. For them I have to plead to-night, and for this excellent inst.i.tution, which has for the last nine years rendered to them such great benefits.

"The objects of this Cabdrivers' Benevolent a.s.sociation are, as you are aware, threefold--first, to give annuities at the rate of 12 each to aged cabdrivers or to those who from infirmity are unable to earn their living; secondly, to grant loans without interest to members requiring such aid, and to give temporary a.s.sistance to those who may be in distress through unavoidable causes; and, thirdly, to give legal a.s.sistance to members who may be unjustly summoned to the police courts. It is hardly possible to conceive that any benevolent inst.i.tution of this kind is more deserving of support, not only by the large a.s.sembly who are gathered here, but by the inhabitants generally of our great Metropolis. There are a thousand cabmen who are members of this a.s.sociation, and they pay 5_s._ a year. Pensions of 12 are granted now to old and indigent cabdrivers, but it is our great wish to augment that sum to 16" (now 20). "The system of loans seems to have answered admirably in every respect; 600 has been granted to the members without interest, and these loans have, I understand, been always most regularly and most punctually repaid. Two hundred and thirty-three cabmen or their families have been a.s.sisted by this society in various years since its formation, and its existing capital is more than 3000; but this we hope to augment still further.

"One statement I may make which may be of interest to those present here this evening. I mentioned that as a cla.s.s the cabmen are thoroughly honest. As a proof of that I have statistics here before me which state that last year there were between 16,000 and 17,000 articles left in cabs, amounting in value to about 20,000, which have been punctually returned. I believe, at least it is the popular belief, that there is only one article a cabman never returns, and this is an umbrella, and I think that is, we may consider, quite fair. A gentleman having an umbrella may not want a cab, but without an umbrella he will be compelled to take a cab if the rain comes on!

"There are now between 11,000 and 12,000 cabmen, and the amount of the expense in cab fares comes to a most colossal sum, something between 4,000,000 and 5,000,000 sterling. With regard to the remark I made as to the honesty of cabmen, it may perhaps be not out of place if I mention an anecdote which was told me to-day. A gentleman drove in a cab to a shop, left the cab, and entered the shop. On coming out of the shop, he was not in so quiet a frame of mind as when he entered it; it was evident to the pa.s.sers-by that he was dissatisfied with the shopman; he left the shop and went away. The shopman threw a case into the cab. The gentleman had forgotten it. But the cabman immediately drove to Scotland Yard and delivered the case, which was found to contain jewellery worth 2300. This will give you some idea of the honesty of these men, for whom we are endeavouring to do much. Some considerable good was done only four years ago by a philanthropic and n.o.ble lord whose name is known to you, who started cabmen's shelters. There are now twenty of these, and they shelter 2000 cabmen, doing much to alleviate the discomfort of the men, who sit so many hours of the night suffering from the inclemency of the seasons.

"When I see this large a.s.semblage I feel I shall not call in vain, and I call upon you to augment the capital which already exists. With this toast I have great pleasure in a.s.sociating one who is treasurer of the a.s.sociation, Lord Richard Grosvenor (now Lord Stalbridge), member of a family well known in works of charity and philanthropy. I thank you for the kind way in which you have listened to my imperfect remarks, and now I must ask you to drink with enthusiasm 'Success to the Cabdrivers'

Benevolent a.s.sociation!'"

It is pleasant to find from the latest published report that the Inst.i.tution, which the Prince of Wales so warmly commended, is in a prosperous condition. The annuities have been raised to 20, and there are 40 annuitants now on the books. The receipts in 1887 were 2191, and the funded property was 10,000. Temporary relief was given to upwards of 200 cabmen. Upwards of 1200 members contribute 5_s._ annually, but this is a small proportion of the whole number of cabdrivers, more of whom ought to be persuaded to join as members, as they alone receive the benefits of the a.s.sociation. The applicants for loans, on the prescribed terms, were 89. The cabmen have been fortunate in the chairmen at the festivals and annual general meetings. The Prince of Wales is patron of the a.s.sociation. The honorary secretary is G. Stormont Murphy, Esq., and the office is at 15, Soho Square.

THE PRINCESS HELENA COLLEGE.

_May 23rd, 1880._

The Prince of Wales presided at Willis's Rooms at a dinner in aid of the funds of the Princess Helena College, on the 23rd of May, 1880.

After the customary proceedings and toasts of the evening, and speeches by the Duke of Cambridge and Lord Sydney, the Prince rose and proposed the toast of "Prosperity to the Princess Helena College." He said:--