Page:King Edward VII, his life & reign; the record of a noble career 3.djvu/21



On his return to Buckingham Palace the Prince was much exhausted, from the excitement of the occasion and the exertion which he had undergone in his frequent acknowledgments of the cheering that had greeted him. Sir William Gull was in waiting to receive him. On the following day he was still suffering from fatigue, but he was able, in the afternoon, to receive a congratulatory address from the City Corporation. It is needless to say that no present resumption of public or private duties could be thought of, and, with a view to complete restoration, he and the Princess, on March 9, left London for the Continent. During their stay at the Hôtel Bristol, in Paris, they received visits from M. Thiers, President of the new French Republic, and from the Bourbon princes the Prince de Joinville, Duc d'Aumale, Due de Nemours, and Comte de Paris. The next journey was to Marseilles, Nice, Genoa, Florence, and Rome, at which last city they met the King of Denmark and his family. Visits were made to St. Peter's, the Forum, the Colosseum, and other notable sights. A meet of the Roman foxhounds was attended, and a long private audience at the Vatican was given by Pope Pius IX, who warmly congratulated the Prince on his recovery, and requested him to convey to the Queen his thanks for her constant proofs of sympathy for himself and her good feeling towards Vol. III