The Duke Of Edinburgh At Devonport.

In this order the procession made Us way at a rapid pace to the Orphan Asylum , through George Street , St . Aubyn Street , up Fore Street , through the barrier gate , along the Stoke Road , and up Trafalgar Place . All along the line of route there was a large crowd of people , more

particularly in St . Aubyn Street and Fore Street , and his Highness met with a very cordial reception , the ladies at the windows being especially demonstrative . By the time that the procession reached the asylum an immense crowd had assembled , and when the Duke

drove up to the doors of the asylum he was received with a hearty outburst of cheering . In the immediate neighbourhood of the asylum there was much decoration . The grand stand , capable of holding nearly three thousand persons , was draped with flags , and approaches to it were enlivened with Venetian masts . The

scaffold poles remaining around the unfinished wings were called into requisition , and made to carry a score or two of the flags lent by the Dockyard authorities , and were manned like the yards of a man-of-war by a number of training ships , who cheered lustily at the proper

time . The front of the asylum was very nicely decorated , the principal features being two large scrolls , running the length of the building , one on red ground bearing the words , "The Fatherless , their Redeemer is mighty and will plead their Cause , " and below , on blue ground ,

" For the Soldiers and Sailors' Orphans from every part of the World . " Over the entrance was the word " Welcome , " and the hall and the principal rooms of the Asylum were made to look their best with flags , and plants , . x : c . The memorial stone to be placed by his Royal

Highness was in the left wing , and in front of it was erected a large platform supporting a canopy , from the top of which floated the British and Russian standards . The shields of Great Britain and Russia were also prominent in the decorations . The platform was laid

with scarlet cloth , the sides being ornamented with evergreens , plants , & c , from Mount Edgcumbe and other gardens . Mr . Fouracre , Stonehouse , assisted in the decorations . The excellent arrangements carried out allowed all on the grand stand to witness the ceremony .

People began to assemble at the Asylum earl )* , and by shortly after noon there was not a place vacant to the general subscribers . The scene was a very pretty one , and what with the ladies ' toilets and the full-dress uniforms of the very large number of naval and military officers

present , there was no lack of colour and the picturesque . Seeking shelter from ( l ying showers , welcoming the bands of the Royal Marines and the 6 oth Rifles , and watching the large gathering of the officers of the army , navy , and reserve forces

served to while away the time of waiting . Members of the committee—Captain Edye , Mr . G . Churcher , Mr . C . Leigh , and Mr . J . H . Jefferd , and Rev . G . E . Carwithen were busy enough up to the last moment , and the memorial stone was receiving the solicitous care of Mr . T .

Jenkin , of Devonport , and Mr . Greenwood , the Clerk of the Works . The brethren who had charge of the arrangements of the Freemasons ' platform were Bro . Jew , 10 5 , Bro . Gover , 70 , Bro . Trevena , 159 , Bro . AVestcott , 70 , Bro . J . Way , 106 , Bro . Skelton , 1247 , Bro . Hawkings

, 70 , and Bro . Bird , 70 . Mr . Metham received great assistance from the Dockyard authorities , Captain Heneage , R . N ., Captain Wilson , R . N ., Captain Hamilton , R . N ., and Mr . Churcher , of the Victualling Yard . All was the picture of readiness when the Duke arrived . Distant

cheering was thc first indication of his approach , and in a few minutes—during which the military band played the English and Russian national airs , and " Rule Britannia , " and the people kept cheering right lustily—H . R . H . appeared on the platform in plain dress , surrounded with a most

distinguished company . In a prominent place in the grand stand were the orphans ( in their neat white and blue dresses ) and choir , and led by Mr . P . B . Clemens , and accompanied by his son on the harmonium , they sang " God save the Queen , " but the effect was nearly drowned by the cheering that was kept up by the crowd .

The Duke Of Edinburgh At Devonport.

Amongst the ladies on the platform were Lady Keppel , Mrs . Smyth , Mrs . Metham , the Hon . Mrs . Fremantle , Mrs . Howard , Miss F . Howard , ¦ fee , and representatives of the ladies' committee . To enumerate the gentlemen would be to give nearly the whole of the officers in garrison , port ,

aud Government establishments . Suffice it to say that the company was the most distinguished and brilliant that has assembled in Devonport for many a long year . When all were assembled on the platform , Mr . Metham , acting as Master of the C sremonies ,

called upon the Bishop to open the proceedings . Dr . Temple , complying , offered up the following prayers ;—" Prevent us , 0 Lord , in all our doings , with Thy most gracious favour , and furthur us with Thy continued help , that in all our works ,

begun , continued , and ended in Thee , we may glorify Thy Holy Name , and finally , by Thy mercy , obtain everlasting life , through Jesus Christ our Lord . Amen . " Almighty and most merciful God , the Father of the fatherless , to whom the helpless flee for

succour , and the destitute for protection , we beseech Thee to give Thy blessing to the work which we begin this day on behalf of the orphan children of our soldiers and seamen . In Thy name it is done . To Thy service it is offered . Take it , 0 Lord , as Thine own , and

make us Thy instruments to fulfil Thy kindness , and as long as the walls of this school shall stand , let happy hearts herein learn Thy ways , and loving voices sing Thy glory , and orphan souls be comforted and cherished with Thy care , through Jesus Christ our Lord . Amen . "

Admiral Sir Henry Keppel then presented H . R . H . with an address , beautifully illuminated on vellum , and the Duke handed it to Air . Metham , with a request that he would read it . The hon . sec . in a clear voice , and with much expression , read as follows : —

" May it please your Royal Highness , ' •We , the Committee of the Royal Female Orphan Asylum , in the name of the subscribers and life governors , cordially welcome the presence of your Royal Flighness among us . We request that you will do us the honour to place

this Memorial Stone , which is intended to commemorate the enlargement of this Asylum , by which one hundred more destitute orphans of ourbravesailors and soldiers will be rescued from want , ignorance and vice . ' •We are confident that the visit of your Royal

Highness will be followed by permanent benefit to the deserving , but hitherto neglected class for whom we are labouring . The warm sympathy thus shown for the orphans of your humblest companions in arms , will , we believe , awaken

the nation to the sense ofa sacred duty too long neglected , and lead them to resolve that the orphans of those who lose their lives in the defence of their country , shall ever afterwards be cared for and protected with more than common solicitude .

" We recognize with more than usual pleasure a partial acknowledgment of this claim in the fact that the first inmates of these new wings will be fifty children maintained by the Admiralty as trustee of the Greenwich Fund . Asking

no exclusive privilege for this Institution we eagerly look forward to the time when this principle shall be extended , and there shall not be a single garrison or seaport town without an Asylum for those who , in right of their fathers ' services , deserve so well of their country .

"With pndewerecord that Her Most Gracious Majesty , at its foundation gave to the Asylum the powerful aid of her patronage , and with your late lamented father , ' the Prince Consort , frequently contributed to the funds . "We cannot conclude without expressing to

your Royal Highness our congratulations on your felicitious marriage , and we pray that God will bestow on yourself and your illustrious Consort , health and happiness , with all spiritual and earthly blessings . "

His Royal Highness , in replying to the address , said : —Gentlemen , —I thank you for the welcome to Devonport which you have offered to me in the name of the life governors and subscribers to the Royal British Female Orphan

The Duke Of Edinburgh At Devonport.

Asylum , and beg you to believe how gladly I comply with your request that I . should lay the memorial stone which is to commemorate its extension , and enable it to receive so large an additional number of inmates . I do , indeed , most heartily join with you iu your desire for

the prosperity of this institution , whose aims and objects are so eminently deserving of the support and encouragement , not only of those belonging to the two services , but of all in the country at large who wish well to men who risk their lives for it , whether before the fire of the

enemy , or under the influence of an unhealthy climate . No one , surely , who will reeflct how the dying moments of a soldier or sailor may be embittered by cruel anxiety for the fate of his children , but must sympathize with the efforts of those whose endeavour is to rescue the

little ones from want , ignorance and misery . All honour to the men who have devoted themselves to this noble work . I thank you sincerely for your congratulations upon my marriage , and I can assure you that the Duchess of Edinburgh warmly unites with me in the hope that under

God ' s blessing this admirable asylum , which has already been productive of so much good , may continue to prosper , and that you may be enabled to extend still further the range of your most benevolent and patriotic exertions . —( Loud cheers . )

The Mayor of Devonport ( Mr . A . Norman ) , the architect of the building , presented the Duke with the work-tools—the trowel , the mallet and the level—and with these he placed the memorial stone , and then declared it to be well and truly laid . The stone was ^ a large block

of Portland stone , just under one of the windows , and bearing the following inscription : — " This stone was placed by H . R . H . the Duke of Edinburgh , K . G ., K . T ., to commemmorate the erection of the wings of this Asylum , October 7 th , i-74 . " Simultaneously with the

placing of this stone , a stone in the western wing was unveiled ; it was inscribed : — " For the destitute female orphans of sailors , soldiers and royal marines ; patroness , the Queen . " The silver trowel which was used in the ceremony was selected by the committee , from the

production of Mr . T . Partridge , manufacturing jeweller of Kingsbridge . Its design was very artistic , the ornamentation being in full accord with the legitimate use of the trowel—a point rarely studied by the designers , but fully carried out in this case . The handle was of ivory , carved with oak leaves . The silver blade was

ornamented with a bright diaper arrangement of geometrical scrolls on a shaded ground , the centre shield being very tastefully engraved with the following inscription : — " Presented to Captain H . R . H . the Duke of Edinburgh , on the occasion of his placing the memorial stone of the

new wings of the IJoyal British Female Orphan Asylum , at Devonport , Wednesday , October 7 th , 1874 . " The trowel after use was enclosed in a morocco case , lined with navy blue , velvet and satin , trowel and case doing great credit to to the producer .

An interesting ceremony , masonic in character , followed the placing of the stone by Royal hands . Mr . Metham , advancing to the memorial stone , poured upon it a cornucopia of corn , saying , I pour corn on this stone , the emblem

of plenty and reproduction . May plenty ever prevail within these walls , and may the orphans of our soldiers and sailors be protected from want and misery for evermore . May the lessons aud principles taught here to these children , and their fellows , ever reproduce in them ,

intellectual , moral , and religious life , not only for the present , but for the future . —( Loud cheers ) . Sir Frederick Martin Williams , Bart , M . P ., next poured oil out of a silver flagon , on the stone , saying , I pour oil on this stone , the emblem of prosperity , of joy , and of happiness ,

and may this Institution never be destitute of either . —( Loud cheers ) . Admiral the Hon . Sir Henry Keppel , G . C . B ., finally poured wine on the stone , saying , I pour wine on this stone , the emblem of gladness , and I am sure you will be glad when you meet Mr , Metham . —( Loud cheers . )