Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/248

 in his state carriage, drawn by four splendid greys and preceded by his trumpeters and twenty-four javelin men with halberds. Monday was ushered in with boisterous winds, a cloudy sky, and other indications of unpropitious weather, which fortunately for the thousands who crowded into the place from Yorkshire, Manchester, and intermediate localities, considerably improved as the day advanced. The ships in the harbour were draped with flags, and similar decorations floated from the windows of almost every house. A little after three o'clock in the afternoon the report of a signal gun announced that the royal squadron, consisting of the Victoria and Albert, the Black Eagle, the Fairy, the Garland, and the Undine, was in sight, and as the noble vessels steamed up the channel the North Euston Hotel and the Pier burst out into brilliant illuminations. As soon as the royal yacht, Victoria and Albert, had been safely moored to the quay opposite the triumphal arch, and the gangways adjusted, the High-sheriff, W. Gale, esq.; Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot, K.C.B.; Sir P. H. Fleetwood, bart.; Major-General Sir William Warre; John Wilson Patten, esq., M.P.; the Rev. St. Vincent Beechey, incumbent of Fleetwood; Henry Houldsworth, esq., chairman of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company; George Wilson, esq., deputy-chairman; and Thomas H. Higgin, esq., managing director of the Preston and Wyre district; presented their cards, and explained to Captain Beechey the several arrangements which had been made for Her Majesty's conveyance to London. Afterwards Sir P. H. Fleetwood, the Rev. St. Vincent Beechey, Frederick Kemp, and James Crombleholme, esqrs., of Fleetwood; and Daniel Elletson, esq., of Parrox Hall, were admitted to an interview with Lord Palmerston, who, on behalf of Her Majesty, received the subjoined address from the inhabitants of Fleetwood, printed in gold on white satin, and promised that it should be laid before the Queen:—

" ADDRESS OF THE, TO HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY THE QUEEN.

"May it Please your Majesty,

We, the Inhabitants of the Town of Fleetwood, in the county of Lancaster, desire to approach your Majesty on this auspicious occasion, with the most sincere