Speeches and Addresses of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales: 1863-1888Edward VII, King of Great Britain
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Speeches and Addresses of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales: 1863-1888
Edward VII, King of Great Britain
Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1837-1901
The anniversary festival of the Scottish Corporation is always held on
the 30th of November, St. Andrew's day. In 1869 His Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales presided at the dinner. The guests at this festival are
mostly Scottish, and a large muster of Highland Chiefs and Lowland
Lairds, as well as prosperous Scotchmen of London, supported the Royal
chairman upon this occasion. Prince Christian and other distinguished
visitors were also present. Many of the stewards wore the garb of old
Gaul, and the tartans, scarves, flags, and decorations made the Hall of
the Freemasons' Tavern assume a national appearance. The "bagpipes" were
also in honourable use, the Prince being conducted to the chair to the
tune of the Highland laddie, played by the Queen's piper, the Prince's
first piper, and the piper of the Royal Caledonian Asylum. The Prince
had previously been received by a guard of honour of the London
Artillery, whose band played the National Anthem, while the band of the
London Scottish Volunteers performed a selection of Scotch music during
the dinner. The three pipers also, at intervals, paraded the hall, and
regaled the guests with their stirring strains.
The health of the Queen was drunk with enthusiasm, specially as the
patroness of the Scottish Hospital. To the toast of "the Princess of
Wales and the rest of the Royal Family," proposed by the Duke of
Roxburghe, the Prince responded, and then gave: "The Army, Navy,
Militia, and Volunteers," referring in his speech to the Kinloch
Bequest, which provides pensions for about 400 disabled soldiers and
sailors. A Scotch vocalist, Mr. Maclagan, sang "Scots wha hae wi'
Wallace bled." Then the Prince rose to give the toast of "Prosperity to
the Scottish Hospital":--
"Your Royal Highness, my Lords, and Gentlemen,--I have now to
give you the toast of the evening: 'Prosperity to the Scottish
Hospital.' I feel assured that it is a toast which the numerous
assembly I see before me will drink in bumpers. As you know, the
Queen is patroness of this hospital; she has been so for
thirty-seven years, and she has contributed to its funds between
£3000 and £4000. At twenty different anniversaries the late King
William, as Duke of Clarence, presided. The Duke of Kent, the
Duke of Sussex, and the Duke of Cambridge also presided at
various anniversaries, and contributed largely to the funds of
the hospital.
"The hospital, as no doubt most of you know, was originally
founded in the reign of James I. Its first charter was given to
it by Charles II., in 1665, and a second charter of
incorporation was granted by the same Monarch, in 1676,
containing more extended privileges. It became necessary,
however, to enable the corporation to extend its relief, to
obtain a new charter, which was granted by King George I., in
1715.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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