The Life of King Edward VII: with a sketch of the career of King George VHopkins, J. Castell (John Castell)
History
The Life of King Edward VII: with a sketch of the career of King George V
Hopkins, J. Castell (John Castell)
Edward VII, King of Great Britain, 1841-1910
On the following morning--October 12th--the Royal review took place on
the Exhibition grounds. It was unquestionably the most brilliant and
effective military spectacle ever seen in Canada. Nearly eleven thousand
men were mustered under command of Major-General O'Grady-Haly. Before
the review commenced His Royal Highness presented the South African
medals to a number of the soldiers and the V.C. to Major H. C. Z.
Cockburn. To the latter also was given a sword of honour on behalf of
the City Council. Colours were presented to the Royal Canadian Regiment
of Infantry and the Royal Canadian Dragoons in the name of the King and
as a mark of appreciation for their services in the war. The march past
then took place. There were said to be twenty-five thousand people on
the grounds and the streets and approaches were lined with many other
thousands. In the afternoon the Duke and Duchess visited the Bishop
Strachan School and the Duke planted a tree in Queen's Park and reviewed
the Fire Brigade. Then came the state visit to Toronto University, the
presentation of an address by the Chancellor, Sir William Meredith, and
the bestowal of the honorary degree of LL. D.
In the evening a Reception was held in the Parliament Buildings when
two thousand people shook hands, amid brilliant surroundings, with the
Heir to the Throne and his wife. Prior to this a very large state dinner
had been held in the halls of the same building with His Excellency the
Governor-General as host. The city was again most brilliantly
illuminated and filled with waiting throngs anxious to see and cheer the
Royal visitors. Early in the following morning they left Toronto for a
rapid trip through Western Ontario. As the Royal train rushed through
the populous centres, or quiet villages of this rich section of the
country, every railway station was crowded with cheering people anxious
for a sight of their future Sovereign and his Consort. At Brampton a
short stop was made, and a mass of beautiful roses, carried by eight
children, was presented to the Duchess from the well-known rosaries of
the town. At Guelph a platform had been erected near the station, and
here two thousand school children sang patriotic songs. At Berlin there
was another chorus and another exquisite bouquet of flowers for the
Duchess. There was a great crowd of people at this point, and the
children carried branches of maple leaves, as well as flags, which they
waved while the singing was going on and the presentations were being
made by Mayor Bowlby. The City of Stratford had a gaily decorated
station, eight thousand cheering citizens and children singing "The
Maple Leaf." An arch had been erected festooned with evergreens and
flowers. The visit to London was a matter of more formality and length.
The city was packed with people from outlying points, and the reception
to the Royal couple as they drove through decorated streets to the
Victoria Park was most enthusiastic. There an address was proffered by
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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