Speeches and Addresses of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales: 1863-1888 Part 31

The Chairman, in acknowledging the warmth with which the toast was honoured, alluded with pride to the position the College had in ten years won. He hoped they would place the crown upon their work by coming into union with the Victoria University at Manchester.

THE GORDON BOYS' HOME.

_January 12th, 1886._

After the sad tidings of the death of General Gordon at Khartoum had been confirmed, there was a universal desire to connect his name with some national memorial. Tributes of honour were paid to him by the leaders of both parties in Parliament, and a grant was voted for a public monument, in the form of a statue, which is now seen in Trafalgar Square. But a desire was felt for some other memorial, and after much consideration the most suitable was thought to be an inst.i.tution for training boys of the cla.s.s in whose welfare he took deep personal interest. This was the origin of the Gordon Boys' Home, first located at Fort Wallington, Fareham, and now having its permanent site at West End, Chobham.

From the time of the first suggestion of a memorial the Prince of Wales took the most active interest in the matter. He attended the early meetings of the committee formed to carry out the proposal, and moved the first resolution for a memorial at the Mansion House on May 30th, 1885. At that time the idea was to found a hospital at Port Said, but this scheme was not carried out. There seemed to be difficulty in agreeing about some fitter memorial, but the committee finally resolved on the establishment of the Boys' Home, and the War Office granted the use of Fort Wallington to commence the undertaking, for which the funds had to be provided by public subscription. In support of this fund the Prince of Wales summoned a meeting at Marlborough House on the 12th of January, 1886. At this meeting he said that "having had the honour of presiding at the meeting of the Gordon Memorial Committee in the summer of 1885, he thought it desirable, at the beginning of another year, to summon a meeting to hear what progress had been made." He told of the appointment of Major-General Tyndall, C.B., as commandant, and of his commencing the work with a few boys at Fort Wallington, the number gradually rising to fifty. The Prince called on Lord Napier of Magdala to say a few words in addition to the formal report which was read.

Lord Napier of Magdala, as Chairman of the Executive Committee, then presented the report of the progress made in the establishment of the Gordon Memorial Home. He said that on visiting the inst.i.tution a few days ago he found the boys on parade in a neat and appropriate uniform.

They looked clean, smart, and steady. The dormitories were like soldiers' barrack-rooms, in perfect order. The lavatories gave every facility for cleanliness. In the kitchen the boys all took a turn in cooking. In the workshops the pupil teachers were undergoing instruction in carpentry work. The school was well arranged and the teaching effective. In short, the progress of the inst.i.tution was remarkable, considering the short time it had been established, and this was due to the organization of General Higginson and the administration of General Tyndall and his staff. Nor had the necessity for amus.e.m.e.nt been left unprovided for. The work was done in the spirit of the great soldier and Christian whom the inst.i.tution commemorated, and the results were most gratifying.

The Prince of Wales said:--

"I feel sure it must be gratifying to all of us to hear the statements made by Lord Napier of Magdala of the satisfactory manner in which the Gordon Boys' Home is progressing. I may also say that all of us are indebted to the great energy which Generals Higginson and Tyndall have displayed."

His Royal Highness then called on General Higginson, who pointed out the special advantages to be obtained by the inst.i.tution, where the training would fit the boys for any calling which they might choose, if they do not go into the army. He said that "this was a national memorial to a great man. It would be more than pitiful if an inst.i.tution like this were allowed to languish or to be cramped in its development. That would lead the world to believe that Gordon's memory was forgotten. The one great object Gordon had was to help the distressed, and he could not imagine that when it was known what work was being done the inst.i.tution would fail for want of funds."

The Duke of Cambridge made a very earnest and generous appeal, and ended by telling the meeting that it was to the Prince of Wales that the success of the movement would be mainly due. "Gentlemen," said the Duke, "we have had great praise bestowed, and justly bestowed, upon my gallant friend Field-Marshal Lord Napier of Magdala and upon General Higginson, who have taken up this interesting charge; but allow me to remark that there is n.o.body to whom we owe so much as His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. I do not wish to flatter him, but I must say that when the Prince takes up a subject he always does so thoroughly and well. I do not think there has ever been a subject which he has taken up more feelingly and thoroughly than he has taken up this Gordon Memorial, and having done honour to those who have a.s.sisted in the way they have, I think we should do equal honour to His Royal Highness, and I therefore beg to move a vote of thanks to him for the kind and gracious manner in which he has taken up this subject and has presided at this and other meetings."

The Prince of Wales said:--

"After the kind and flattering remarks which have fallen from my ill.u.s.trious relative I regret to be under the painful necessity of calling him to order, but there is a motion which has not yet been put to the meeting. At the same time I thank him beforehand most sincerely for what he has been good enough to say. You all know the very great interest I take in this important matter, and I feel sure it is right we should bring before the public as much as possible the name of that great and distinguished officer and Englishman who is now no more. He is not forgotten, but as months and years go by so many important events come before the public that sometimes other matters naturally are considered more prominent, and even a name like General Gordon's might be forgotten for a time. I am inclined to think there is nothing that could perpetuate his memory in a more satisfactory form in regard to his own relations, and what they think he would have wished, than this boys' home. I cannot help thinking 'The Gordon Boys' Home' will be ever a.s.sociated with the name of General Charles Gordon.

"To obtain money is always a difficulty. I do not doubt the willingness of the public to give money, but their ability is not always so great, and I have a suggestion to make to you which may find favour in your eyes. If it is thought desirable that we should have a public dinner, I should be happy to take the chair. We could invite many to attend and give as much as they were able, and I have great hopes that in that way, and from speeches that may be made, the subject will be brought still more prominently before the public, and that we may do more good than by advertising." The resolution "That the Inst.i.tution cannot be developed without larger funds, and it is resolved that further effort be made to obtain them," was then put to the meeting by His Royal Highness and carried.

The Duke of Cambridge said: "Having made my speech, I will not repeat it. I admit I was out of order, but I now beg to move a vote of thanks to His Royal Highness for his kindness in presiding on this occasion."

The motion was seconded by the Duke of Norfolk.

The leading article in the _Times_ on the following day thus closed: "There are few benevolent inst.i.tutions which offer fairer promise of good results than the Gordon Boys' Home. But the care with which it has been organized and the special sphere which it seeks to fill enable us to press with greater confidence its peculiar claim to the support of the English public, founded upon the fact that it forms a national monument to the memory of a great Englishman. The heroism of General Gordon, his betrayal by those who utilized his rare personal qualities in the hour of their need, and the tragic end of a life of simple devotion to duty have been somewhat obscured by the ephemeral contests of the pa.s.sing hour. Looking back over the records of the last few months, we are almost reduced to the sad and savage mood of Hamlet--'then there's hope a great man's memory may outlive his life half a year.' But the memory of Gordon's life and death will be a point of light in the history of the Victorian age long after the strenuous trifling of our politicians has sunk into forgetfulness. In honouring this man of antique mould, this Englishman who in a somewhat tricky and small-minded age 'could do and dared not lie,' we shall far more honour ourselves; and in munificently endowing a work such as he loved to carry out the nation will find itself twice blessed."

The London office of the Gordon Boys' Home is at 20, c.o.c.kspur Street, within sight of the statue in Trafalgar Square.

OPENING OF THE MERSEY TUNNEL.

_January 20th, 1886._

For more than half a century, in fact ever since the opening of the first English railway, it has been the dream of engineers to obtain direct communication between Liverpool and Birkenhead, and the Welsh lines. The ferry-boat traffic had been enormous and ever increasing, but it little helped the transit of minerals and heavy goods. Even since the construction of the great Runcorn bridge the land route had been found long and troublesome. It was not till 1870 that parliamentary sanction could be obtained to make a direct route by tunnelling under the Mersey, but attempts to carry out the scheme were not then successful. At length, towards the close of 1879, an arrangement was made with Major Isaac, and from that time the work was unceasing, above 3000 men having been constantly employed. In 1886 the work was completed. The importance of the undertaking was recognized, and the Prince of Wales was invited to open "The Mersey Tunnel." The Princess of Wales was unable to be present, but on the 20th of January, 1886, the Prince, with his sons Prince Albert Victor and Prince George, came from Eaton Hall, where they were the guests of the Duke of Westminster.

On his arrival at Birkenhead the Prince was escorted to a das, and an address was read by Mr. Knight, the secretary, on behalf of the chairman. Mr. Cecil Raikes, M.P., and the directors, engineers, contractors, and officers of "The Mersey Railway Company." In reply His Royal Highness said:--

"Mr. Raikes and Gentlemen,--I thank you for your address and for the cordial and loyal terms in which you have welcomed me here to-day. I experience at all times sincere pleasure when circ.u.mstances permit me to a.s.sociate my name with any undertaking tending to advance the welfare and convenience of the community, and I accepted, therefore, with much satisfaction your invitation to be present on this interesting occasion to a.s.sist in the inauguration of a national work of such vast importance. An enterprise of this nature is always deserving of the warmest support and encouragement, as it not only completes the railway system of the district, and thus provides constant and easy means of communication between towns of such prominence as Liverpool and Birkenhead, but it cannot fail also before long to afford material benefit to the millions of hands in the neighbouring industrial centres by aiding the more rapid development of commercial intercourse. The heartiest commendation should, therefore, be bestowed on all engaged in the promotion of so great and worthy an object. I fervently trust that well-merited success may be the result of your labours, and that an ever-increasing prosperity may be your reward for the difficulties which you have encountered, and which have been mainly overcome by the admirable skill, the indomitable patience, and the unceasing and unwearied energy which have been displayed by all those who have contributed to bring this work to a happy and a triumphant termination. Let me convey to you, in conclusion, gentlemen, at the special request of the Princess of Wales, the expression of her deep and unfeigned regret at having been unavoidably prevented from accompanying me here to-day. She begs me to a.s.sure you that nothing but the imperative orders of the physicians would have precluded her from sharing the gratification which I experience at taking part in the proceedings which celebrate the consummation of your most arduous task."

When the cheers which greeted the Prince's speech had subsided, the Mayor of Birkenhead, Mr. John Laird, was introduced to His Royal Highness, whom he asked to receive an address from the Corporation of that town. The Recorder then read the address, which remarked--"The communication between Birkenhead and Liverpool has. .h.i.therto been by a ferry, one of the most ancient and important in the kingdom, first established at a very early period, and conferred by King Edward III., in the year 1332, on the Prior and Convent of Birkenhead. It is a happy coincidence that your Royal Highness should be present to open this new connecting link between the county from which your Royal Highness derives the t.i.tle of Earl of Chester and the Royal Duchy of Lancaster."

His Royal Highness made an appropriate reply, in which he said:--

"Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,--It has given me, I a.s.sure you, unfeigned pleasure to have been able to comply with your request to receive an address from the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the borough of Birkenhead, and I am confident that though you may be one of the youngest of the corporate bodies, you equal the oldest in loyalty and in devotion to the Queen and the Royal Family. The completion of the work which I am about to declare open will mark an important era in the history of this district, for it will not only afford an improved line of communication between two towns of so much consequence and increasing prosperity as Birkenhead and Liverpool, but it will likewise supply the means of easy and ready access to the princ.i.p.ality of Wales, with its places of picturesque beauty and interest, and its numerous health resorts. The utility of the undertaking cannot therefore be over-estimated."

The Royal party then re-entered the train, and after inspecting the works at the station the train entered the tunnel, and in four minutes reached the James Street Station on the Liverpool side. They were raised to the street level by a hydraulic lift, and the Prince being conducted to a das in the waiting hall, said, "I declare this station opened."

Prolonged cheering greeted the announcement, which was continued throughout the route as the Princes drove to the Town Hall. In the Council-chamber an address was read by the Town Clerk from the Corporation, to which the Prince replied, acknowledging cordially the welcome given to him, and the kind references to his family, adding:--

"You rightly observe that I am deeply interested in every movement that is calculated to tend to the advantage and well-being of the people of this country, and it is a great satisfaction to me to think that my name will be a.s.sociated with the memorable enterprise which by completing a connecting link in our railway system supplies a want that has been long felt in this part of the kingdom."

At the luncheon afterwards given in the ball-room, where about 250 guests had been invited, responding to the toast of his health, the Prince said that he had received, since his arrival in Liverpool, a telegram from the Princess, regretting her absence, and saying how deeply she was interested in the purpose of his visit. He also expressed his thanks for the reference to his sons, who were much gratified by the opportunity of visiting this great town.

"I have been engaged to-day, Mr. Mayor, on an interesting and important work, which I feel convinced will be a very great benefit, not only to the town of Liverpool, but to the vast commercial resources of this and surrounding towns. The difficulties in making a subterranean or subaqueous railway are only too clear. You have hitherto had means of taking pa.s.sengers and goods over the river by steam ferries. I am aware that this right has existed a long time--I believe as far back as the 11th century. But it is a remarkable fact that in the last year you conveyed across the Mersey, from Birkenhead to Liverpool, on the steam ferries 26,000,000 pa.s.sengers, and 750,000 tons of goods.

You may say, such being the case, why do you require to have this tunnel, and to have your railway to connect Liverpool and Birkenhead? The answer is that you have to encounter storms, you have to encounter fogs, and you have to encounter ice. Both your pa.s.sengers and your goods are very frequently imperilled.

Therefore, a great engineering scheme of this kind, which will be a very great boon, is one deserving of encouragement. Not only will it benefit the commerce of the north-west of England, but it will also open up a railway system to Wales and that beautiful picturesque country with all its health-giving resorts. Great praise is due to Major Isaac for the indefatigable manner in which he has carried out this work and has found the capital, and we have also to recognize the indomitable energies of Mr. Brunlees and Mr. Fox, the engineers, and I must not forget to mention the name of Mr. Waddell, the contractor. At the head of this company we find my right hon.

friend, Mr. Cecil Raikes, who has had a long experience in railways. Before sitting down, as I know there is no time for long speeches, I wish most cordially to drink 'Prosperity to the Mersey Railway,' which I am sure you will drink most heartily, and to connect with the toast the name of its chairman, Mr.

Cecil Raikes."

Mr. Raikes, in responding, said he held it as a most happy omen for that great undertaking whose completion they celebrated, that the heir to the throne should have come there to take part in completing an enterprise which would, he believed, be reckoned as one of the most important and interesting of Her Majesty's reign. His Royal Highness had been good enough to refer especially to the connection which was now to be established between Liverpool and his princ.i.p.ality of Wales. As a resident in that princ.i.p.ality he could a.s.sure His Royal Highness that the expression of interest would be cordially appreciated and treasured by the people of Wales.

The Prince of Wales said:--

"Ladies and Gentlemen,--Although the toast list is closed, I have the permission of the Mayor to propose one more toast, and I feel sure it is one which will recommend itself to you all, as it is the health of the chairman of this entertainment, the Mayor. You are aware of the Mayor's great popularity, and his deserved popularity; for have you not re-elected him for a second term of office as your Mayor? I feel that it is difficult to praise him in his presence, but at the same time he will forgive me if I say that I know how the inhabitants of Liverpool have been grateful to him for the great kindness, generosity, and philanthropy he lately evinced at Christmas, when he gave that well-known and popular Lancas.h.i.+re dish, the hotchpotch, to the poor inhabitants of your town. That kindness will not be forgotten by them, and it will be gratifying to him to know the good he did and the pleasure he gave on that occasion. As for myself, this is not my first visit to Liverpool, and I hope by no means it may be my last. I have always been received here with the greatest kindness, and I have always looked back to my different visits with the greatest pleasure and satisfaction.

The fact that 100 years ago this town numbered only 40,000 people, and now, with its suburbs, numbers close upon 700,000, speaks for its prosperity. Most cordially do I propose this toast, Mr. Mayor, and most sincerely do I wish long life to you, and prosperity to your town."

The Mayor briefly replied, and the proceedings terminated; the Prince and his sons drove in an open carriage to the station, great crowds in the streets cheering them, and returned to London.

INSt.i.tUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.

_March 27th, 1886._

Not for the first, nor the second time, the Prince of Wales was entertained at the Annual Dinner of the Inst.i.tution of Civil Engineers, on the 27th of March, 1886. The banquet was held on this occasion in the hall of Lincoln's Inn, the use of which was kindly granted by the Benchers. The Prince was accompanied by Prince Albert Victor and the Duke of Cambridge. A very large company of distinguished men in various walks of life, as well as the leading engineers of the day, were present, about two hundred in all.

The President, Sir Frederick Bramwell (the President of the British a.s.sociation at Bath in 1888), in giving the usual loyal toasts, took occasion to mention that of the Royal guests, two, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, were honorary members of the Inst.i.tution of Civil Engineers, and he hoped that the third would before long be added to the list.

In responding to the toast of "The Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family," after expressing his grateful thanks, the Prince said:--

"In coming here this evening among you I feel that I am not a stranger, as you have paid me the high compliment of enrolling me as an honorary member of your Inst.i.tution. At the same time I consider it a high privilege, and I may say a high honour, to dine here at this your annual banquet, as I am sure no one will gainsay me when I a.s.sert that an Inst.i.tution like this is one of the most important in this country, and one for which we have the highest respect. I do not know what we should do without the civil engineers. How could we cross rivers? How could we go under them? Where would be the roads? Where would be the railways? And, perhaps, most important of all, where would be those great works of sanitation, which are of such vital concern to all countries and to all towns? For all these things are left in your hands.

"Some years have elapsed since I last had the pleasure of dining here, and in the interval I well know that civil engineers have not been idle. I may just mention a few works which have come under my own observation, not only in this country but in India, works which have been carried out by civil engineers, though all may not, perhaps, be members of this Inst.i.tution. The first that occurs to me is the new Eddystone Lighthouse, of which I myself had the pleasure to a.s.sist in placing the first stone. Then there are those great works which will be handed down to posterity and of which civil engineers will ever be proud--I refer to the Mersey and Severn Tunnels. The former work I had the great pleasure of opening two months ago. Then comes the Forth Bridge, not yet completed; I visited the works two years ago, and I hope in two, or at most three years we may see the great bridge in working order. While referring to these great works, which will always remain mementoes of the ability of the civil engineers of our time, I must not forget to allude to a more distant evidence of engineering skill--viz., the Alexandra Bridge in India, which was built over the River Chenab, and which I had the good fortune to open now ten years ago.

"I might speak for a long time if I detailed all the important works constructed by civil engineers that I have seen, and especially if I were to mention also a string of ill.u.s.trious names familiar to every one. But I shall abstain from doing so now, first because, as you hear, my voice is not very good, and in the second place because it has been agreed upon that there are not to be any very long speeches. It is my satisfaction now before sitting down to propose a toast which I am sure will be most gratefully and sympathetically received by the company, and that is 'The Health of your President, Sir Frederick Bramwell.'

I cannot allude to him in the manner I should like, or enumerate all the distinguished services which he has rendered to his country; but one thing I will venture to say, and that is that his name will always be honourably connected with the advancement of technical education. The interest he has taken in that great subject, and the labour he has bestowed on it, have gained for him the high honour, conferred by his Sovereign, of the order of knighthood, and I am sure he will still continue to devote his time and energies to a measure which is of the greatest importance to this country. For myself I may say that I also owe him a deep debt of grat.i.tude for the services he has rendered as chairman of the executive committee of the recent Inventions Exhibition. I have now the great pleasure of proposing the toast of 'Prosperity to the Inst.i.tution of Civil Engineers,' coupled with the name of your President Sir Frederick Bramwell."