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

The Prince of Wales then gave "Prosperity to the Royal Academy," stating that "the community at large took the greatest interest in that body of gentlemen, for to them we owe the elevated and cultivated taste with regard to painting and sculpture which now so widely prevailed in this country. The interests of the Royal Academy and of Art would, he felt sure, not suffer as long as they were confided to the care of Sir F. Grant, the distinguished President of that institution."

Sir F. Grant, in returning thanks, said the members of the Royal Academy were very glad to have it in their power to aid so excellent a charity, and that, in addition to the £500 which they had given last year to the orphanage in connection with it, they were ready to give on the present occasion a further donation of £1000. He begged, in conclusion, to propose "Prosperity to the other Art Societies." The toast was responded to by Mr. Clint, President of the Society of British Artists.

The Treasurer read a long list of subscriptions, amounting in all to £12,308, including a hundred guineas from the Royal Chairman.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS

May 8th, 1871

The annual festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was held at Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, on the 8th of May, 1871, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales presiding. The whole assembly in the hall was Masonic, the ladies being limited to the gallery of the Temple. The Prince wore, besides his Royal and military Orders, the insignia of a Past Grand Master of the English craft, and around him, in full Masonic "clothing," according to their rank in the craft, were many distinguished members.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, in proposing "The Queen," said: —

"The first toast which I have to give is the health of the patroness of our craft – Her Majesty the Queen, who has always identified herself so far with our Freemasonry as to extend her hand to all charities."

Sir Patrick Colquhoun, with the Grand Master's gavel, proposed the toast of "The Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family." He referred in feeling and touching terms to the loss lately sustained by the Prince and Princess, the death of an infant son on Good Friday, April 7, and he expressed the deep thankfulness of the brotherhood that the Princess was recovering her health.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, in responding for the toast, which had been received with loud applause, thanked the brethren, and said "it gave him the greatest pleasure to be there, surrounded by the brethren of the craft to which he was proud to belong. He assured them that it was a proud day indeed to him when he became a Mason, and he should always do his utmost to be a worthy brother among them. He expressed, too, on the part of the Princess, his personal thanks to Sir Patrick for his touching remarks, and his thanks to the brethren for their sympathy. He was glad to announce that the Princess was restored to her accustomed health, and in a short time would be among them. It might be fitting then to announce that the Princess had consented to be the patroness of the institution."

The toast of "Earl de Grey, the Grand Master," was then proposed by the Royal President, and Lord Clonmell proposed "The Past Grand Master, the Earl of Zetland." "The Deputy-Grand Master's Health" was proposed by Mr. C. Sykes, M.P., who dwelt upon the great zeal and ability the Earl of Carnarvon had shown in following Masonry.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, in proposing the toast of the evening, said, "in general he felt diffidence in asking for subscriptions for charities over which he sometimes presided, but he had not such a feeling on that occasion, when he looked round and saw on all sides the brethren of the craft, for he knew that one of the main principles inculcated in the minds of Freemasons was charity. He knew that the brethren composing the vast assemblage before him had come with one object, to support this excellent institution. A very full and able report had been drawn up, and therefore it was not necessary for him to address them at any length. He might say, however, that the institution was founded for the clothing, maintenance, and education of the daughters of decayed Freemasons, and it provided that the daughters of trustworthy Freemasons should not be left to the pangs of misery and ignorance. One important point was that it was supported entirely by voluntary contributions, and since its foundation in 1788 it had educated, clothed, and maintained nearly 1000 girls.

"It was specially interesting for him to be connected with that institution, as his grand-uncle, George IV., when Prince of Wales, was an earnest supporter of it, and was present at its foundation.

"It had been the great object of the committee to give the girls a good, sound, simple, and useful education – not what it had become the fashion to consider education, but an education without any 'padding.' In these days education was more thought of than it was fifty years ago, and, indeed, it was the great topic of the day. But before this time the Freemasons were among the first to set a good example, and having set this good example early, it was their duty to keep it up. The committee, in order to test the standard of education given in those schools, entered some of the names of pupils for the Cambridge Local Examinations, and, with very few exceptions, these girls so entered had passed the examinations with credit to themselves and to the institution. The institution was flourishing in every respect. During the past year 100 girls had been received into the institution, and as many had gone forth ready to take their place in the every-day life of men and women, well instructed in all the duties of the positions they would be called upon to fill. He urged that it had become necessary to build afresh, and as he had himself found that building could not be carried out for nothing, the subscriptions of the brethren were looked for to assist the committee."

The secretary read the list of subscriptions, which included 100 guineas from His Royal Highness the Prince, and 25 guineas from the Princess, and though forty lists were not given in the subscriptions already received amounted to £5000. On a later page will be found the record of another anniversary, when the Prince presided, and when the subscriptions were about £50,000.

The year 1888 is the centenary of the Institution, which flourishes, at St. John's Hill, Battersea Rise. The girls are admitted at eight years of age, and maintained until sixteen. There are nearly 250 in the school. The annual revenue, from all sources, is about £15,500.

EARLSWOOD ASYLUM FESTIVAL

May 17th, 1871

In the summer of 1870 the foundation-stone of a new wing to the splendid edifice of the Earlswood Asylum for Idiots, had been laid by the Prince and Princess of Wales. The Prince further showed his interest in the institution by presiding at the anniversary festival, held at the London Tavern on the 17th of May, 1871. The Asylum, originally established at Highgate in 1847, was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1862. Her Majesty is patroness of the charity.

On the removal of the cloth the Prince gave the toast of "Her Majesty the Queen, as the Patroness of the Institution," which was received with every mark of respect, as was also that of "The Prince and Princess of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family," proposed by the Duke of Wellington.

His Royal Highness, in proposing the toast of "The Army, Navy, Militia, and Volunteers," expressed a hope that "the great name which the Army and Navy bore in English history would always remain unsullied in days to come. We were now at peace, thank God, but we might never know from one day to another what might occur, and, therefore, we ought always to be prepared."

Later in the evening, His Royal Highness, in proposing the toast of the evening: "Prosperity to the Earlswood Idiot Asylum," said, "he felt convinced there was no charity which had a greater demand on the public sympathy and support than it, appealing as it did on behalf of the idiot classes, afflicted by the will of Providence, and unable for the most part to help themselves. The institution was happily in a highly flourishing condition, to the great praise of those who had all along interested themselves in its prosperity. In 1853 his lamented father, who was always ready to assist the afflicted and needy, laid the foundation-stone of the present institution; in 1866 the Princess of Wales and himself interested themselves in a bazaar for raising funds for the erection of a new wing to the building, and in 1869 Her Royal Highness and himself inaugurated that new wing.

"It was a matter of satisfaction to his family and himself that they had connected themselves with an institution which aimed at so much practical good, and which was now in so flourishing a state. It was in 1847 that the late Dr. Reed brought the state of the idiot portion of the community under public notice; and from that time to this much had been done to ameliorate the condition of that most unfortunate class of our fellow creatures. Although the cases were comparatively rare in which cures had been made, still cures had been effected, and practical experience had shown that the mental state of those unfortunate beings was susceptible of manifest improvement by the exercise of care and attention well directed by intelligent and experienced persons. Many of them were taught music, and others some trade or handicraft, and in that way their hands and minds were occupied. There were cases in which patients so engaged had improved so much as to be able to return to their families, and afterwards to follow a trade which they had learnt in the institution. The Institution had been very highly praised by the Lunacy Commissioners, and he might remind the company that it was supported by voluntary contributions. This year, he believed, the contributions had exceeded those of any previous one, but an infirmary had become necessary, although no epidemic had hitherto occurred in the asylum; and as that would go far to exhaust the funds, he called upon the company to do their utmost to replenish them. His Royal Highness made a passing allusion, by way of example, to the fact that an anonymous benefactor had thrice contributed the sum of £1000 to the treasury of the institution, and in conclusion he earnestly appealed to the audience to do what in them lay towards the relief of that grievously afflicted class of their fellow creatures."

At the close of the festival Mr. William Nicholas, the secretary, announced that the subscriptions in the course of the evening amounted in all to £4197 odd, including a sum of 100 guineas, under initials, which left no doubt that it was a donation by His Royal Highness the Chairman.

HOMES FOR LITTLE BOYS

June 2nd, 1871

Among the many institutions for homeless and orphan boys, the Cottage Homes at Farningham are less heard of than some others which make more clamorous appeals to the public. But they have for many years been the scene of useful and beneficent work, and deserve larger support. At Farningham there are 300 little boys, homeless, and in danger of falling into evil ways, who are clothed, fed, educated, and taught some trade by which they can earn their own living. They are then provided with outfit, and placed in situations, where they are looked after as Old Boys. This is a charity which was certain to awaken the sympathy and receive the support of the Prince of Wales, when brought under his notice.

On the 2nd of June, 1871, His Royal Highness presided at a festival at the Freemasons' Hall for the benefit of the charity. He had already with the Princess of Wales visited the Homes at Farningham, and then laid the foundation-stone of the new buildings there. At the festival dinner, in giving the toast, "Prosperity to the Home for Little Boys," the following is the substance of what the Prince said: —

"The object of the promoters of this excellent charity had been to take from the highways of this vast Metropolis those unfortunate little beings who had been deprived of their parents, or who had no homes, and to clothe, feed, educate, and train them so that they might be enabled to go forth into the world with a knowledge of some trade, and qualified, when they left this admirable home, to earn their living, by being removed from the temptations to crime, incident to the state of destitution in which they were found. What could be more dreadful than to see from day to day those wretched miserable little children, who swarmed in our streets, who knew as little as we did how or where they could live, or who were their parents and natural protectors?

"It must be felt, then, to be the duty of every good Christian to endeavour to ameliorate the condition of that class of our fellow-creatures. He could speak from experience of the good that had been done by this charity, because he had, with the Princess, visited the institution. The asylum was erected about seven years ago near Tottenham, but as it was thought desirable to move further into the country, about 90 acres of ground were purchased near Farningham, in Kent, and the homes were established there. He then described the education received by the boys, their excellent schooling in such subjects as arithmetic and geography, besides the industrial training, which was a special feature of the institution. He found that they were taught to make clothes, boots, mats, &c.; there was a carpenters' shop and a painters' shop, and a paper-bag shop; they had a printing establishment, a laundry, a bakehouse, a garden, a farm, and there were means for teaching the pupils a great variety of other useful occupations, so that they might go forth good and honest young men, capable of gaining their own livelihood, instead of returning to those haunts of vice from which they had been snatched. The cost of the homes was about £9000 a year, but he was sorry to say the institution was still about £5000 in debt. Mentioning the munificent donation of £1000, which had recently been received from some anonymous benefactor, His Royal Highness concluded, amid prolonged cheers, by urging those present to contribute liberally, and to try to persuade others to support this excellent institution, and so to rescue as many as possible of the poor little suffering children of the country, who had neither father nor mother living, from wretchedness and crime."

A list of subscriptions and donations during the dinner was read, amounting to the sum of £3464, including £1000 obtained from friends by Mr. Robert Hanbury, then the President of the institution, and £150 from the Royal Chairman.

Besides the Cottage Homes at Farningham, there are Orphan Homes at Swanley, where 200 orphan or fatherless boys are maintained, and receive technical education in various arts and industries, to fit them for a working life.

THE ROYAL CALEDONIAN ASYLUM

June 28th, 1871

The 56th anniversary festival of this institution was held on the 28th of June, 1871, at the Freemasons' Tavern, under the presidency of the Prince of Wales, who wore the Highland costume, supported by Prince Arthur and the Duke of Cambridge. About 350 sat down to dinner, a large proportion being dressed in full Highland costume, among whom were the Duke of Buccleuch, K.G., President; the Duke of Richmond, K.G.; the Marquis of Lorne, M.P.; the Marquis of Huntly, the Earl of Fife, the Earl of Mar, and the Earl of March.

His Royal Highness the Chairman, in proposing the toast of "Her Majesty the Queen," alluded to the fact that Her Majesty was the patroness of this institution, in which she had always taken the warmest interest.

The Duke of Buccleuch proposed "The health of His Royal Highness the Chairman, the Princess of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family." Since the foundation of this institution in 1815 the Royal Family had always responded most generously to every appeal that had been made to them on its behalf, and he trusted that in consequence of the presence of His Royal Highness on that occasion the funds of the charity would be considerably increased. He reminded his audience that among his other titles His Royal Highness possessed that of the Duke of Rothesay.

The toast was received with Highland honours, followed by the breaking of the glasses from which it had been drunk. The Gaelic verses timing the cheers were recited by Mr. Donald Mackenzie.

His Royal Highness the Chairman "expressed his sincere thanks at the enthusiastic reception which had been given to the toast, and his gratification that it had been drunk with Highland honours. He was very sensible of the kindness of the feeling that had prompted the latter act, and he begged to be regarded on that occasion rather as the Duke of Rothesay than as the Prince of Wales. This excellent institution had been associated for so many years past with various members of his family that he was rejoiced to be able to be there that night to plead in its favour."

His Royal Highness in proposing "The Army, the Navy, and the Reserve Forces," took occasion to refer to the changes that were about to be effected in the organization of the army, and "expressed a hope that those changes, whatever they might be, would place the safety or the country upon a secure foundation, and would enable us to prove that the author of the well-known Battle of Dorking was a false prophet. The writer of that interesting production, however, deserved our thanks, inasmuch as he had pointed out to us the danger of being 'caught napping.' He begged to couple with the toast the name of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who had already acted as chairman of the festivals of the charity, of Sir A. Milne, and of Colonel Loyd Lindsay, who had given such an impetus to the Volunteer movement, and who had taken such an active part in promoting the fund for the relief of the sick and wounded during the late war."

His Royal Highness in proposing the toast of the evening, "Prosperity to the Royal Caledonian Asylum," referred to "the objects of the institution which is for supporting and educating the children of soldiers, sailors, and marines, natives of Scotland, who have died or been disabled in the service of their country, and of indigent Scotch parents resident in London. The charity had been founded in 1815, a memorable year for this country, and from that time until his death his lamented grandfather had presided over its interests. For his own part he could only express the satisfaction he felt at being connected with an institution which had received the patronage of Royalty for so long a period. On the occasion when his grandfather had presided at one of the festivals of the institution a large sum of money was subscribed for its support, and he trusted on that occasion its funds would be considerably increased, so as to enable the thirty vacancies to be filled up, in addition to providing board, lodging, clothing, and education for the 110 boys and girls now received within the building. The children were given a thoroughly sound education, and many of those who had been brought up in the establishment had subsequently distinguished themselves in the Army, the Navy, and the Law. This charity, which was entirely supported by voluntary contributions, was the only one in London intended solely for the children of Scotch parents, and, therefore, he called upon all Scotchmen to contribute liberally in aid of its funds. It conferred much happiness upon our soldiers and sailors that they were able to feel assured that in the event of their death in action their children would be brought up in decency and comfort, and that they would not be allowed to fall victims to want and sin."

The toast was drunk with three times three. His Royal Highness the Chairman then briefly proposed "The Health of his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, the President of the Institution," to which his Grace responded.

The donations announced amounted to about £2000.

During the course of the evening, the children, headed by their pipers, marched round the room.

DUBLIN AGRICULTURAL SHOW

August 1st, 1871

The Royal Agricultural Society, of which the Prince of Wales is President, held its annual meeting at Dublin in 1871. The occasion was taken for a royal visit to Ireland. The Prince of Wales was accompanied by the Princess Louise, the Marquis of Lorne, and his young brother, Prince Arthur, better known in after years as the Duke of Connaught. Of all the Royal family, this son of the Queen has special relation to Ireland. One of his names he bears after the great Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, an Irishman; another of his names is after an Irish saint, and he sits in the House of Lords by an Irish title. Born in May 1850, Arthur Patrick was only a little past coming of age at this time.

The warm-hearted Irish people gave the royal Princes a truly cordial welcome. On arriving at Dublin, there was not merely official display, but the popular reception was not only friendly but enthusiastic. Flags waved everywhere, and as it was late in the evening, the city was illuminated, and Cead mille failthe shone out in conspicuous brilliancy. From a few knots of Fenians there were heard slight sounds of hissing, but any hostile feeling was overborne by the general rejoicing.

When the train from Kingstown arrived at Westland Row Terminus, the Lord Mayor and Corporation met the Royal visitors, and the Town Clerk read an address to which the Prince made an appropriate reply.

On the next day, August 1st, the royal visitors, having witnessed a cricket match in College Park, and had luncheon with the officers of the Grenadier Guards, went to the Show-yard in the afternoon. The Prince of Wales proceeded to the Council-room, and signed the minutes of the last meeting, in the capacity of President of the Council. The inspection of the horses, cattle, and sheep was then made. Among the awards, made by the judges of the Show in the forenoon, was a prize for the best pen of shearling ewes, exhibited by His Royal Highness.

The annual banquet was given in the evening at the Exhibition Palace. It was a brilliant and successful affair. About 450 guests were present, and the galleries were thronged with ladies. When the Prince entered and took his place at the head of the table there was tumultuous applause. After dinner the Prince rose and said: —

"My Lords and Gentlemen, – The first toast which I have the honour of proposing to you this evening is one which I am sure will be heartily received by you. It is 'The Health of Her Majesty the Queen.' In proposing this toast I am convinced that the Queen has a part in the best wishes of the Irish people. Although, unfortunately, some time has elapsed since she has been over in Ireland, still I hope the day will yet come when she may again come over. I am also convinced that the reception she has met on former occasions she will meet with again. I will not add more, but ask you to drink the health of Her Majesty the Queen."

The toast was drunk with loyal fervour. After a short interval the Prince of Wales again rose and said: —

"My Lords and Gentlemen, – I have some slight difficulty in proposing the next toast, because it relates to members of my own family; still, as it is on the list before me, I propose 'The Health of the rest of the Royal Family.' I am sure that it has been the wish of my brothers not to be useless appendages of the State, but to do all they can to serve their country. My brother, the Duke of Edinburgh, as you are aware, has for some time past been in the Royal Navy, and has had the advantage of seeing many countries, and I may say of twice sailing round the world. On my left is my brother who is serving in the Army, and who responds to this toast. I trust that he has also a bright career before him. He has some slight claim upon you, gentlemen, as he bears the name of Patrick. Without saying more, I beg you to drink the health of the rest of the Royal Family, coupled with the name of Prince Arthur."

His Royal highness Prince Arthur, on rising to respond to the toast, was received with loud cheers, renewed during the short but effective and well delivered speech, in which he referred to a former visit to Ireland, when he was received with much kindness and cordiality. "That visit was certainly but a short one, but it was long enough to enable me to see a good deal of the country, and to inspire in me a lasting interest in all that concerns the welfare of Ireland."