Laying Of The Foundation-Stone Of The New Edinburgh Infirmary By Bro. H.R.H. The Prince Of Wales.

he retiring-room ; and from the windows oi that apartment they -witnessed the progress of the procession , which was got into motion soon after their arrival . In accordance with previous arrangements , tbe first lodges to move were those at the foot of the list , who occupied the south side of George Street . At first there was a slight hitch , which resulted in a false start ; but about twenty minutes to two o ' clock the procosssiou got

¦ fairly under way , First marched the band of the Hussars , and aftter them the Masonic Lodges in inverted order , beginning ¦ with No . 503 and ending with Mother Kilwinning . Many lodges -had bands , and not a few had pipers , so that as the procession advanced there was no lack of marching music . AVhen the last of the lodges had defiled past the hall entrance , the Grand Lodge issued forth , and took up its appointed position in the

procession . The working tools to be used iu the approaching ceremonial were carried by operatives of the Lodge Journeymen , and in rear of the lodge was carried the Blue Blanket , guarded twelve halberdiers . Some further delay took place while the Grand Lodge was getting marshalled and the royal party conducted to their carriages . There was also a great deal of pushing and jostling as the crowd pressed forword to catch a limpse of the Prince aud Princessand the bayonets of the

g , Volunteers occasionally got into unpleasant proximity with the persons of the lieges . Fortunately , however , all went off without accident . AA hen the procession bad been completed by the accession of the Grand Lodge , it advanced in the following order : —

Hussar band . Mason Lodges in inverted order ; with bands and Pipers interspersed . Detachment of Hussars . The Grand Lodge . Detachment of Halberdiers escorting the Blue Blanket . Carriage and four containing The Prince of AVales ; G . M . Lord Dalhousie ; and

, D . G . M ., Lord Rosslyn . Carriage and four containing tbe Princess of AVales , Ladies AValden and Rosslyn , and Colonel Teesdale . The Commander of tbe forces with tbe Adjutant . General , and Aide de-Camp . Detachment of Hussars .

As the Royal party left tho hall , a salute was fired from the Castle . The procession advanced along George Street , round 4 he north side of St . Andrew Square , and thence by South Andrew Street , Princess' Street , the Mound , Bank Street , and George I A ' . Bridge , to tbe site of the new Infirmary in lauriston . The progress of the pageant was necessarily slow , and repeated stoppages occured , but to this the spectators had no objection , as it gave tliem the better

opportunities of feasting their eyes on what they had come to see The long succession of lodges , with their banners and decorations , afforded a most interesting display . It was past two o ' clock when the Hussars who formed the vanguard of the procession arrived at Lauriston and drew up iu line alongside the porch prepared for the reception of the Princess of AVales . For a great part of the forenoon the eastern half of Lauriston had worn an appearence suggestive of the

funereal rather than of the festive . Barricades erected at Forrest Road and Meadow AA'alk , and on the further sido of Heriot's Hospital gate , prevented the passage of all except those provided with tickets for the grand stand , and the official personages who , clad in solemn black , were making their way to their rendezvous at Heriot's Hospital . Save the bunting on the grand stand and AVatson ' s Hospital , and one or two

flags which floated drearily from the trees in tiie Heriot grounds , nothing in the way of decorations had been attempted in a quarter where , of all others , one might have looked for it . The monotony of the scene was unrelieved even by a single glimpse of sunshine , and the dull , grey sky above seemed quite in sympathy with tbe sombre aspect of the street below below . About midday a guard of honour of the 90 th Liht

g Infantry , with band and colours , took up their positions to await the arrival of the Masonic procession . Shortly afterwards the members of the various corporate bodies began to assemble at Heriot ' s Hospital , where they were marshalled by Mr . Macphorsoii , City Officer . The Lord Provost , Magistrates , and Town Council of Edinburgh — preceded by the Town Officers with their halberds — led the procession . They were

followed by Sheriff Davidson , Mr . M'Laren , M . P ., Mr . M'Lagan , M . P . ; Mr . C . P . ViUiers , M . P . ; and Mr . Macfie , M . P . ; and by the Senators of the College of Justice , represented by Lords Ardmillen and Jerviswoode . Then came the Provost and Magistrates of Leith and other towns who in their turn were succeeded by the Senatus Academicus of the University of Edinburgh , at the head of whom were the Lord Rector ( the Right Hon . tho Lord Justice Clerk ) and the Principalin their official robes .

, , Mr . E . S . Gorden , M . P ., Chancellor ' s Assessor , accompanied tha University authorities . The other bodies represented were the Faculty of Advocates , the Societies of AVritors to tbe Signet and Solicitors before the Supreme Courts , the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons , the Royal Scottish Academy , with the President , Sir George Harvey ; the Merchant Company , with their Master , Mr . T . J . Boyd ; the Foreign Consul ; and the

Edinburgh and Leith Chambers of Commerce . The Building Committee , the Managers , and the Medical Staff of the Infirmary , closed the procession , which reached the grand stand just before the approach of the Freemasons . The members of the bodies above mentioned , to the number of three or four hundred , were accommodated with seats in the galleries on the right and left of the box appropriated to the Princess of AVales . As soon as tho Masonic Lodges had reached Lauriston they were marched to the main entrance , and throngh the grounds of

AVatson ' s Hospital , till the leading files arrived at the foundation stone . Then tho long column of Masons opened out , formed line on each side of tbe road—the line extending nearly to the High Street—and allowed the Grand Lodge to come to tbe front with all the paraphernalia necessary for the ceremony . The carriage occupied by the Prince of AVales passed the entrance designed for the Princess , and stopped at the entrance gate , the band of the Hussars meanwhile playing the National Anthem .

Tho Prince descended from his carriage amid the cheers and salutes of the spectators , and took his place in the Masonic ranks , along with Lord Dalhousie , Lord Rosslyn , and the officers in attendance . With this illustrious addition to its numbers , the Grand Lodge continued its inarch through the grounds , and took up its position on a platform beside the foundation-stone . Before this , however , the carriage of the Princess of Wales had drawn up outside the grand stand . The band struck up the

Danish National Anthem , aud the cheers which had hailed the Prince were renewed with , if possible , greater enthusiasm than before , and were re-echoed by the multitudes who crowded round the barricades and swarmed upon tho platform in tbe immediate vicinity . Her Royal Hig hness bowed her acknowledgments as she left the carriage . She was received by the Lord Provost and the managers of the Infirmary , and with her attendants was immediately conducted to the box specially fitted up for her use .

THE CEREMONY AT THE EOUKDATION-STONE . Ample provision for the accommodation of spectators had been made round the spot where the foundation-stone was to be laid . Three large galleries were devoted to the general public ; two smaller galleries were set apart for the Magistrates and Town Councillors , the Professors of the University , the members of various public bodies , and gentlemen who had received special

invitations ; aud a small raised platform , with a retiring room adjoining , was provided for the Princess of AVales . On the south side of the enclosure an archway was erected ; and a considerable space of ground , between the foundation-stone and the galleries , was kept clear for those who were to take part in the ceremony . The decorations of the pavillion was pleasing and effectivewithout being lavishAn entrance porchwhich was

, , , extemporised at Lauviston Place , was draped with crimson cloth , and surmounted by a crown . Passing within tho porch , the waiting-room was reached . The interior of this apartment was lined with pink and white calico , aud tho floor was laid with crimson drugget . The platform , intended for the Princess of AAliles was elegantly draped : and at the top of the box two shields were placed , bearing the royal arms of England and

Denmark , together with a crown on a crimson velvet cushion , backed by a Prince of AVales feather in bold relief , and a trophy of Sags . A handsome gilt chair , covered in silk , was provided for the use of the Princess . Round the eaves of the galleries there ran a cornice of blue , from which depended a valance of crimson cloth . The supports of the roof were draped with crimson , and carried festoons of evergreens . Numerous flags were placed here and there upon the roof ; and in the central space facing the Princess ' s gallery was a Prince of AVales