Page:King Edward VII, his life & reign; the record of a noble career 3.djvu/26

6 cession went through an avenue of Venetian masts with flags and crimson-covered stands bearing thousands of spectators, in- cluding many children of charity schools. At the entrance to the building was a guard of honour of the 2nd Grenadier Guards. The royal personages and high officials present included the Dukes of Edinburgh and Cambridge, the Marquis of Ripon (Lord President of the Council), and the Right Hon. W. E. Forster (Vice-president). The Princess of Wales, on reaching the dais, was presented with a bouquet by a pretty little girl, introduced by Mrs. Gladstone, wife of the Prime Minister. The Duke of Marlborough, Sir Richard and Lady Wallace, the Lord Mayor, and a chief of a North American Indian tribe were among the company. The proceedings included a special prayer read by the Bishop of London (Dr. Jackson), and here a slight mistake was made. The prelate, after concluding the special prayer, was beginning the Lord's Prayer, when the conductor of the choir of children, seeing the Bishop close his manuscript, gave the signal for the "Old Hundredth", and the tones of the petition were drowned in a burst of young voices and kettledrums. The Marquis of Ripon then presented an address, and a reply came from the Prince as he and the Princess stood in front of two superb chairs of state or thrones, from the Wallace collection, set upon the dais at the east end of the building. The Prince expressed his gratification at being able to represent the Queen on such an occasion, and the delight of the Princess and himself in encouraging the instruction and healthful amusement of the poor. The high compliment which he paid to Sir Richard Wallace was received with great enthusiasm, and then, amid loud cheering, he said: "I now on my part declare this museum open". An inspection of many of the pictures followed, and then the royal visitors departed to the sounds of loyal music and renewed cheering.
 * During July, the Prince and Princess, living at Marlborough

House, were engaged in the usual business and pleasure of the season in London, giving and attending parties, the former including a garden fete to about a thousand guests at Chiswick.