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W . Williams , A . B . ; " I was goin' aloft , Sir , by the mate ' s orders , which he'll bear me out in wot I say , when Jack says to me , ' You , you call yourself smart ; you ought to ' ave stayed at ' omerockin ' cradles , insteado' goin'to sea , ' andlaid

arope's-end across me asl was goin' up . Andso says I , Jack , you know that ' s very wrong , a aggervatin' of me so , and then a hittin' of me , I shall ' ave to go aft and report you With that , Sir , he 'it me again , and 'is foot slipped , and he fell against the bulwarks , and hurt hisself . "

The Dnke of Edinburgh ' s visit to Manila had been long announced , and orders had come from Spain to receive him with the most gorgeous disregard of expense . Not long before , proposals had appeared in some of the Madrid journals , advocating his nomination for the vacant throne ,

which was condescendingly kept warm just then by Serrano . The Governor-General announced a State ball and a review . He had re-decorated his country house , but the earthquake shook it to pieces , and the mansion of the Count Aviles—a private gentleman , was fitted up instead ,

for the Royal visitor . Tho Town Council built no end of colonnades and triumphal arches , the British residents undertook to give a " dignity ball , " where all the ladies should appear in native costume , a gorgeous kiosk was erected over the landing-stairs , and the old bamboo barges

lying clustered in the river were , with the aid of paint , canvas and tin tubing , converted into the likeness of brand new gunboats , with wooden guns , funnels and all complete . The largest British firm there was Card and Co ., managed by my friend Roper , with whom I ( and my dog )

frequently breakfasted . I cannot omit my dog , for he was a known character . He was a Skye terrier , and it was so difficult to tell his head from his tail , that he was called " Mops . " The Consular Office faced that of Card and Co ., but a river lay between—only to be crossed

by a near ferry , or by a bridge half a mile off . Mops , being addicted to begging at meal times , especially for devilled turkey — a regular breakfast dish — became a nuisance , and I tried to leave him behind . He was , however , so accustomed to follow me everywhere , even on

board of ships , that he could not be made to comprehend a necessity for his absence . Accordingly , though left carefully at home , ho would watch till I was out of sight , go to the ferry , bark , and be taken across by the obedient

ferryman , who made a joke ot it , and called him " Senor Moppns . " When this Avas discovered and prevented , he made his way round by the bridge , and still came in time for devilled Turkey bones . At last he had to be chained

up . Roper had just come from Hong Kong , and had witnessed the departure for homo of Admiral Sir Henry Keppell , probnbly the most popular man in our navy ; on which occasion the Duke of Edinburgh collected the

commanders of all H . M . s ships then in the harbour , and with them , as their stroke-oar , rowed the veteran off to his steamer , homeward-bonnd . The frontage of Card and Co . was very large along the river , and I was curious to learn what kind of decoration would be attempted , as all the

river frontage was oxpected to be streaming with bunting . All applauded Roper ' s design , when , on the morning of the Duke ' s arrival—the whole lower story of Card and Co . was masked with crimson tammy—relieved only by a sentence in gigantic white letters — " BRAVO , STROKEOAR ! "

Two days before the arrival , deputations came flocking in from the towns of the island , composed of their principal men or " little governors , " open-mouthed at the wonders of the great city—Manila—and yet struggling with the sense of their own importance .

Not very imposing was the appearance of these provincial magnates ; Their dress would make my readers laugh—a tall black silk hat ( such as is worn in Europe ) , over their copper countenances and shaggy black locks , patent leather

spring-side boots , a silver headed cane and—what think you ?—a spotlessly starched white shirt , worn outside their black trousers , with a black cloth jacket over that . This is the official costume by law established , for the native swells of the Philippines under Spanish rule .

What were our countrymen abont , whilst all others , from Governor to Coolie , were moving heaven and earth to get everything mapped out and ship-shape for the great arrival ? They were engaged in a task which was doubtless dear to

the hearts of Englishmen before Magna Charta ; without which any public event , from a coronation to the superannuation of a beadle , would seem tame and spiritless ; which makes every bosom swell with pride in our glorious

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constitution and the sacred rights of freedom—need I say ? —they were preparing an address . At dusk on the 19 th the Galatea swung to anchor in the

bay in front of the city . Here I cannot do better than translate from the flowing periods of the diary of Don Manuel Carbonado y Zarracondegni , the captain of the Port , as follows : —

" Upon the placid surface of the dark water , catching one glistening stream of moonlight through the shrouds , with symmetrical limbs in ghostly relief against the neutral tinted sky , stood the Galatea . I say stood advisedly , that alone expresses the effect of tall masts towering over

massive hull . A focus of subordinated forces , an embodiment of method and discipline , a sublimation of ORDER , she incorporates the soul of British principle , the key to British success . Within that hive , right aft , in a moderate sized cabin , were four persons , one dressed in naval uniform ,

examining a chart , two sipping coffee , and the other writing at an escritoire . Around the walls hung a series of exquisitely tinted portraits of the royal family of England . " A knock sounded , a valet announced , at the instance of an officer , the Captain of the Port , and I was ushered

into the presence of the Prince . He turned from his chart , and inquired various details concerning the port and bay , referring to his sailing directions , asking questions as to the entrance , the lights , the shoals , the tides , the

monsoons , and similar topics interesting to seamen . He signified that he would not land that night , and that he wished not to be received with the honours of his rank , but simply as the Captain of a ship . "

Thus far the Port Captain . Of my own part , I can conscientiously assure the public , from opportunities of seeing the Duke in command of his own vessel , that he is a thorough going practical seaman , whatever other officers in similar commands may happen to be , and I anticipate

great good to our service from his forthcoming command of an ironclad ( as the papers inform us ) in the Mediterranean squadron . Of course , he made jokes about the

Liberals then in office at the Admiralty , like all other naval men , and declared they would grumble sorely over the expenditure of powder which he incurred during his stay , in answering salutes , & c .

Whilst Don Manuel was on board the Galatea , at the palace on shore there was a grand palaver . There were assembled the Governor-General , the Admiral , tho Commander-in-Chief , the Chief Justice , the Mayor or Civil

Governor , the British Consul for the Philippines , and myself . There the details of the landing were arranged , and the requisite orders issued . Being intimate with all , and the official interpreter being absent , my services as a translator were in requisition till a late hour .

At seven next morning the Consul and I , in full fig , repaired on board . We were ushered into the Duke ' s saloon , and being thereto invited , joined his breakfast , which was just begun . We found , besides the Duke , his two Equerries , Lieutenant Haig , and the Hon .

Eliot Yorke ( now M . P . for Cambridgeshire ) , with H . R . H . ' s artist-companion—the talented M . Chevalier . I had determined beforehand to stock my cigar case with choice weeds—in case an opportunity should occur of supplying

a want acceptably ; but , of course , I had forgotten it when the time came , and ignominiously accepted one instead—smoking" being considered , to my delight , as healthy a pastime in the Duke ' s saloon as it was on shore .

Now the minutest details of doings at a distant port , introduced into any other narrative would pass unchallenged ; but I am prepared in this instance to be called " priggish " or " impertinent" in chronicling the small beer of a Royal Highness . I can only answer that

I follow a fashion set by no end of distinguished specials , which is found to pay , i . e . to tickle the British reader ; and that , as I chronicle the literal truth , and now run no risk of being dismissed by the F . O ., I don't see why the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE should not reap the benefit ,

especially as a curious Masonic incident crops up in this connection . Besides , it has not fallen to many others' lot , as to mine , to see a good deal of one Prince , and to be the friend and comrade of another , why then should I not gratify the curiosity of those less favoured , if those in

question be not maligned ? I have been frank enough , as readers of my sketches will remember , as to my experiences upon the " diggings , " whilst associating with the roughest specimens of humanity , and feel that I have the right to be equally so with respect to my observation of others , even though at the top of the tree . Having , during