Laying The Foundation Stone Of Albert Bridge, Glasgow.

hermetically sealed , containing specimens of all the gold , silver ' and copper coins of the present reign . The Grand Secretary , in like manner , deposited a second glass bottle , containing copies of tho Glasgow newspapers , a copy of the Glasgow Directory of tbe current year , a copy of the Edinburgh Almanack , with Western Supplement ; a copy of abstracts of the Corporation aud other Trust accounts , the Bridge and Harbour Acts , and the City Chamberlain's annual report for 1 S 69 . Tho baud then

played - 'Great Light to Shine , " and the operatives having completed their part of the ceremony , his lordship laid the foundation with all the honours observed on such , occasions , pronouncing tho benediction ;— - "May the Great Architect of the Universe enable us successfully to carry on and finish the work of which we have now laid the foundation-stone , and every other undertaking which may tend to the advantage of the city of Glasgow audits neighbourhood , and may this bridgo be long preserved from peril and decay .

Three cheers were then given by the assemblage , and the band struct : up a lively air . The Substitute G . Master next delivered to the G . Master a cornucopia , the S . G . Wardens and J . G . Wardens silver vases , with wine and oil . The G . Master , having spread a sheaf of corn on the stone , poured out wine aud oil , coniformubly to ancient custom , saying .- "Praise be to the Lord immortal and eternal , who formed the heavens , hud the foundations of the

earth , and extended the waters beyond it ; who supports the pillars of nations , and maintains in order and harmony surrounding worlds . AVe implore thy aid , and may the continued blessings of an all-bounteous Providence be the lot of these our native

shores ; . and may the Almighty Ruler of events deign to direct the hand of our gracious Sovereign , so that she may pour down blessings upon her people ; and may her people , living under sago laws , in a free Government , ever fuel grateful for the blessings they enjoy . " At the conclusion of this prayer the brethren gave three cheers , while the band performed the Masons' Anthem . The Treasurer to the Bridgo Trust ( Mr . W West AVatson )

then presented to the Senior Master Build" !' , Bro . Jus . Donald , a purse of gold , saying that it was the pleasure of the G . Master that those who hud hewed the stones and those who had laid them , and nil who had assisted , should " rejoice in the light . "

Addressing the Lord Provost , The Earl of Dalhousie then said : I have now the satisfaction , xey lord , of informing you that the Grand Lodge , assisted by numerous Masons from this and other districts of the country , have succeeded in laying in its proper place the foundation stone of this bridge . Permit me , my lord , to congratulate you on the commencement of this great work during the period in which you hold office in this city . As I read in the records of the

Clyde , I find that in the year 1794 , or thereabouts , a plan was laid out tor a village to be called Hutchesoutown , and thereupon a bridge was commenced over the Clyde to communicate that said village with the city of Glasgow , but I presume that the gods of the Clyde , resenting the insufficiency of that work , washed it away . I trust , my Lord Provost , that here we shall have a more substantial erection . Willi the years that have occurred since that period the city of Glasgow lias indeed flourished

, and grown from being a small community in those days to be one of the most princely mercantile cities of which this country or the world can boast . My lord , 1 perceive that you contemplate in this erection changing the name of this bridge , that it will no longer be called as it formerly used to be designated , but that you intend to call it , Albert Bridge . Permit me , my lord , to c . ii'grati . ila . 0 you on this mode of paying a compliment

to the memory of mi- - - of the greatest and best men whom wc have ever seen in this country—and I can assure you , my lord , that this testimony to ! . s worth on the part of the magistrates and citizens of Glasgow will be one of the most acceptable acts which : hey could have done to our most gracious Sovereign the Queen . I shall make it my duty , my lord , to report to her Majesty the transactions of this day , and the name you have given

to what will , I am sure , be one of the greatest and one of the most ornamental and useful structures in the city of Glasgow . My lord , I would have said more upon this occasion , but I am unwilling to detain this company , considering the inauspicious stale of the weather . I will only conclude with the earnest hope and prayer that Glasgow may long continue to flourish , and that on the bosom of this noble river rich argosies may be floated to her warehouses , and that her merchant princes will in future , as they have in the past , ever be distinguished for their

eminence in commerce and for their generosity upon all occasions . The Lord Provost , after shaking hands with tho noble Earl , said : My Lord Dalhonsie , Most AVorshipful Grand Master , on the part of the magistrates and citizens of Glasgow , I return you most cordial thanks for tho great trouble you have , along with the Giand Lodge , taken on this occasion in coining so far to lay tho foundation stone of this bridgewhichI hope will

, , be as enduring as you have described . It is undoubtedly true that this city bus risen tip iu such a short time from such a village as you have described , lying far apart from its neighbour on the south side of the river , until wo see it now a groat community of more than half a million of souls , and rich argosies even now bear valuable cargoes to our city . On behalf of tho magistrates and community , I beg most cordially to thank

you , aud to ask you to bear with you this memento of the occasion of your visit . The Lord Provost here handed to the Earl of Dalhousie the trowel used on the occasion , which was silver gilt , finely chased , and very elegant . On the handle was the Earl coronet , while on ono side of the spade were his lordship's and on the other the city arms , and along with the latter the following inscription : — " Presented to the Right Holm , the Earl Dalhousie , K . T ., G . CS ., P . O ., Baron Ramsay , Baron Panmure ,

Keeper ot the Privy Seal of Scotland , Lord-Lieutenant of Forfarshire , by the Trustees of the Bridges over the Clyde at Glasgow , on the occasion of his officiating as Grand Master Mason of Scotland in laying the foundation stone of the Albert Bridge , Glasgow . Friday , 3 d June , 1870 . " The Earl of Dalhousie : I thank you sincerely for this most memeinto of the work which has taken place to-day . I shall report to my brethren of the Grand Lodge the kind reception

you have given us here . It gives us always the greatest pleasure to assist in undertakings of this kind ; and for myself , I shall preserve among the muniments of my family this splendid token of your liberality . Three cheers for her Majesty the Queen was then proposed by Lord DnHiousie , and enthusiastically responded to . The band played "Rule Britannia , " and after three cheers for the Lord Provost and magistratesproposed by Lord Dalhousieaud

, , "three cheers for tho Earl of Dalhousie , " proposed from the crowd , the proceedings terminated . The Lord Provost , magistrates , councillors , and trustees , and other civic bodies then returned to the City Buildings , Wilsonstreet , preceded by the Grand Lodge . The Grand Lodgo was closed in the Burgh Court Hall , the other lodges returning to their respective places of meeting .

At live o clock in the afternoon the Lord Provost , magistrates and council met in the west or reception-room of the Corporation Galleries , for the purpose of presenting the Earl of Dalhousie with the freedom of the city . About six o ' clock , upwards of 130 gentlemen , comprising the Sheriff and Sheriff-Substitutes , members of the Town Council , and other public bodies in tho city , sat down to dinner , by the invitation of the Lord Provost and the Bridge Trustees , in the

Centre Hull of the Corporation Galleries . The Hon . the Lord Provost occupied the chair , and was supported on the rig ht , by the Earl of Dalhousie , Captain Gordon , R . N ., Capt . Colt , Rev . Dr . G . S . Burns , Sir James Campbell ( Sti-aeiithro ) , Sir Peter Coats ( Paisley ) , and ex-Provost Blackie ; and on the left b y Sheriff Bell , Lord Rosehill , Col . Gordon , Col . Moore , Rev . Donald Mucleo . l , Sir James Lumsden , and ex-Provost Clouston . Bailie AA m . Millar and John Mitchell officiated us croupiers . Grace having been said by the Rev . Dr . Bums , the company partook of a sumptuous dinner , purveyed by Messrs . Ferguson and Forrester , after which tho Rev . Donald Maclcod returned thanks .

The . Lord Provost , in proposing the toast of the evening , said , ' It is under very special and peculiar circumstances that we have now the pleasure of entertaining the Earl of Dalhousie and the members of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . I am sure that tho whole city of Glasgow desired to give these gentlemen a most hearty wolcome , and I am quite sure also that , but for the unpropitious weather of the day , the sight along the route of the procession would have been such us probably not one of these

gentlemen , or perhaps any of us—except upon one oceesion that might he mentioned—had ever witnessed in this city before . Notwithstanding , however , the very unpropitious character of the weather , I would venture to say that something like three or four hundred thousand citi / . ens of Glasgow turned out upon the occasion which bus drawn these gentlemen to Glasgow at our request . The founding of a bridge like that in which we have been engaged to-day is an event of no ordinary moment .