controlling influence apart altogether from his constitutional rights and powers. VARIOUS CEREMONIES AND INCIDENTS On May 24th, His Majesty helped to make the welcome home to Sir Alfred Milner splendid and impressive and worthy of the statesman who had toiled amidst personal danger and depressive surroundings, public disasters and continuous misrepresentation, to maintain British rights and justice in South Africa. The High Commissioner was received at the station by Lord Salisbury, Mr. Chamberlain, Lord Roberts, Lord Lansdowne, Mr. Balfour and many others. Thence he was driven to Buckingham Palace and received by the King in a prolonged and private audience. The honour of a peerage was conferred upon him and on the following day Lord Milner was entertained at a large luncheon given by the Colonial Secretary and Mrs. Chamberlain and attended by the most eminent public men of the Metropolis--outside of the Liberal party ranks. On the same day the King presented colours to the Third Scots Guards. On June 13th a most imposing ceremony was held by His Majesty on the Horse Guards Parade when thirty-two hundred officers and men from South Africa were presented with war medals by the King amid scenes which had not been duplicated since the memorable function when the late Queen Victoria and the Crimean soldiers had been the central figures. The Royal platform was covered with crimson cloth and in its centre was spread a beautiful Persian silk carpet above which a canopy of crimson and gold, supported on silver poles, had been erected. Around the platform was a bewildering display of splendid uniforms and, after the arrival of the King and Queen Alexandra, accompanied by Princess Victoria, the distribution of the medals lasted over two hours--Major-General Sir Henry Trotter handing them to His Majesty who, in turn, presented them to the officer or soldier as he filed past. The first recipients were Lord Roberts, Lord Milner and Sir Ian Hamilton. A most brilliant and successful function concluded with cheers and the National Anthem. [Illustration: THE RIGHT HON. HERBERT HENRY ASQUITH. K.C., D.C.L., M.P. Prime Minister of Great Britain and Ireland at the time of King Edward's Death] [Illustration: THE MOST REVD. DR. RANDALL T. DAVIDSON, P.C., G.C.V.O. Ninety-fourth Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of England under King Edward, 1903-10.] [Illustration: THE RIGHT HON. SIR WILFRID LAURIER, P.C., G.C.M.G., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada during King Edward's Reign] [Illustration: THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL GREY, P.C., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O. The King's Representative in Canada, 1904-10]