Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/249



expression of our devoted loyalty and attachment to your Majesty, of our deep respect and esteem for your Majesty's august Consort, for his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and the other members of the Royal Family.

"We beg to assure your Majesty that it is with feelings of the liveliest gratitude that we hail this Royal visit to our humble shores, now for the first time pressed by the foot of Sovereignty.

"We rejoice to think that it has fallen to our happy lot to be the first to welcome the Queen of England to her own Royal Patrimony in the Duchy of Lancaster.

"We hasten to lay at your Majesty's feet the dutiful allegiance of the inhabitants of the youngest Town and Port in all your Majesty's dominions, which dates its existence from the very year in which your Majesty first ascended the Throne of these realms; and which, from the barren and uninhabited sands of the Fylde of Lancashire, has already obtained some importance for its town of 3,000 inhabitants, its Watering-place, Harbour, and Railway, together with its College for the sons of clergymen and other gentlemen.

"We sincerely trust, that the natural facilities and local arrangements of this Port may be found such as shall conduce to the safety, comfort, and convenience of your Majesty in your royal progress. And we beseech your Majesty to receive our united and solemn assurance, that whatever progress our Harbour and Town may make in wealth and importance, it shall ever be our firmest determination and most earnest prayer, that we may never cease to boast of a loyal population, entertaining the same feeling of devoted duty and attachment to your Majesty and the Royal Family, which we experience at this moment, and which the grateful remembrance of this Royal visit must ever tend to keep alive in our bosoms.

"Signed on behalf of the Inhabitants,

", M.A.,

"Incumbent of Fleetwood."

To the foregoing address the annexed reply was received from London in the course of a few days:—

"Whitehall, 25th September, 1847.

",—I am directed by the Secretary, Sir George Grey, to inform you, that the Loyal and Dutiful Address of the Inhabitants of Fleetwood, on the occasion of Her Majesty's late visit, has been laid before the Queen, and that the same was very graciously received by Her Majesty.

"I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,

(Signed)

".

"Rev. St. Vincent Beechey, Incumbent of Fleetwood."

Early next morning the handsome saloon was occupied by the High-sheriff, the Under-sheriff, and a select number of gentlemen, and shortly after ten o'clock Her Majesty and the royal party proceeded from the yacht to the special train amid joyful acclamations which resounded from all parts of the shore. The moment Her Majesty set foot, for the first time, on her Duchy of