THE ROYAL VISIT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 140, 20 June 1901, Page 4

THE ROYAL VISIT.

THE SAILOR HUKCE.

"SKETCH OF HIS CAREER,

A free-spoken, happy-hearted, gallant lad," was the universal opinion of Sailor Prince George, the present Duke of Cornwall and York, after his tour of the world about 20 years ago. His Koyal Highness was born at Marlborough House in IH>5, 17 months after his Lr other " Eddie " (as he always called Lhe late Duke of Clarence). The two boy 8 were inteparable companions, and they were educated at home, and afterwards passed into Her Majesty's training ship Britannia, where they were I under the tuition of Mr Lawless, once a I well-known naval instructor. Under Mr Lawless the Princes studied the science and history books that bear on the naval service of the King, and were well drilled in modern languages. Much attention Was paid to their nautical training. They were taught to handle boats, and ac much of the art and mystery of sea--manship as was necessary to prepare them for entering a cruising ship of war. The two cadets spent two years on the Britannia, and, as they had to obey the discipline of the ship like the rest, their lives were not altogether strewn witn George, however, -found some compensttTon for the rigid discipline which a lad would consider oppressive in taking the opportunities provided for "larks " and thus tihrew a little more pleasantry into hi* life aboard ship The Princes had ao indulgences except that they were allowed a cabin to themselves. After two years' service . n the Britannia Prince George and his brother made their way into H.M.S._ Bacchante, a steam corvette, under the command of Lord Charles Scott, and here again they had to " rough it." They had no indulgences, and they gave themselves no air j of superiority. They did their duty in all weathers and at all hazards, like the other young ' ' reefers " on board. In January lbßo, Prince George waa promoted to be a midshipman, 'lhe two brothors next visited Madera, the Canaries, and Meute Video, Falkland Islands, Australia, China, returninhg to England by way of the Suez Canal, and Mediterranean, the Princes making a tour of Palestine en route.

Prince George was promoted to sublieutenant in 1884, and joined H.M.S. Canada, on the North American station, and in the following year |<ifter passing his examinations with great credit, he became a lieutenant.

While studying at the Naval College at Greenwich, Prince George, enjoyed no special privileges, except that he had a set of rooms to himself. "lt was a curious indicatioH of his nature," says one writer, "that his sole idea of decorating his rooms was to fill them with the photographs of his relations and comrades, to have photographs of those he loved— not hidden in an album, but prominently displayed, so that their eyes afld his met When he looked at them — was, and is, Prince George's special hobby." When he went to College he was found to be bright and intelligent, though not particularly well trained. It is said that he had to oe specially trained to make up for dehciencies, and his mother, the Princess, visited him very often to encourage him to be diligent. Attached successively to various ships, he was appointed in IbbG to H.M.S. Dreadnougnt, and afterwards to U.M.S. Alexandra, hagship of the Mediterranean Squadron, of which his uncle, the Duke ot Edinburgh, was then Commandor-m---ghief.

In 1889 he waa presented with his first command, that of torpedo boat IN 0. 79. for the period of the naval manoeuvres, and while in charge of this little craft he was able to afford very efficient help to a vessel in distress.

The sailor Prince qualified himself for the command of tier Majety's gunboat Thrush, in which he sailed with a stati of officers and a crew remarkable for being mostly all very young, like himself. He spent a year on the iNorth American stution, visiting Canada and Jamaica, where he opened the Exhibition. Prince George in all these voyages made himself extremely popular, asliore and aiioat. Prince lioerge was promoted to be commander upon his return to England iv ibiji, and while staying with his brother in Dublin in the same year he contracted a dangerous fever. ln the following year lie commissioned the secondclass cruiser Melampus, and took part 111 the naval manoeuvres. He was promoted captain in the Eoyal Navy in January, 1«93. His latest command was H.H.Jo. Crescent, and during tho commission in 1898 he visited many seaport towns of England and Ireland. lhe title of Duke of York was bestowed on Prince George in IH^J/, and he was also created Eari of Inverness and Baron Kil ar.mv.

An invitation to the Duke to visit

Australia was conveyed to him through the (Governor of Victoria in January, Jb94, but his Royal Highness was compelled to decline. In November of the same year he visited St. Petersburg to attend the Czar's funeral. In 1897 the

Duke and Duchess paid a visit to lroland where they were received with the utmost enthusiasm in all parts of the country. J ust before the death of the Duite of Clarence it was announced that he was engaged to the Princess May, daughter of the Duke and Duchess <*' Teck ' ih ® Duke of Clarence had not i( > n S beea dead wjeu it was rumoured that the Duke of York had a great attachment to fche i> 1 r J n ** cess, but had stood aside tor his elder

brother. The subsequent a n n °u ncein J ent that the Duke of York was engaged to the Princess, therefore, created no surprise. 'L'he marriage was cel^^ted on July oth, L 893, in the Chapel Koyal, St. James.' It was a brilliant cerem on y Ali the members of the Eoyal Fam ilv wer 6 present, together with the prese nt Czar, at that tune Czarewitch, and th e King and Queen of Denmark. A son a n d heir was born to the Duke and Duc^ss on June 23rd, lb9t, and was christened after the patron saints of the British Isles and his grandfather, Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David. The family now consists of three boys and a girl. Onthe accession of his father to the throne the Duke of York became also Duke of Cornwall. His Royal Highness holds the Grand Cross of the Sultan of Turkey, and the Grand Cross of the Orders of the Black and Bied Eagle of Germany. He is also Colonel of the Royal Sussex Hussars, Yeomanry Cavalry, and Colonel of the 3rd Artillery Volunteers. In 1894 he was elected an Elder Brother and Master of the Corporation of Trinity House, and is annually re-elected. He is also a Bencher of Lincoln's Inn, an LL.D. of Cambridge, and a Fellow of the I Royal Society.