PRESENTATION OF A BIBLE AND CASKET TO H.R.H. PRINCE ALFRED.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 188, 7 March 1868, Page 3

PRESENTATION OF A BIBLE AND CASKET TO H.R.H. PRINCE ALFRED.

(Abridged from the Sydney Mail,

Feb. 8.)

One of the most interesting presentations that has yet been made to H.R.11. the Duke ot Edinburgh was that of a Bible and casket by the Sunday School children and their teachers, at Sydney, on the Ith February. The Mail says :

To make this present tho various schools assembled on Tuesday in the Domain, and were allotted a place within the enclosure, prepared on the occasion of the public landing of the Prince, when the public schools acquitted themselves creditably. Shortly after ten the children of the Sunday schools began to assemble, and for more than an hour there was a continuous stream of happy-faced children, with ilags and banners, in some instances accompanied by bands of music. At half-past eleven, the sloping ground which was covered in, was crowded with boys and girls, anxious to hail the son of the gracious Queen they had been taught to honour. There was not less than 12,000 er 13,000 children present, and there were upwards of 5000 visitors, who lined the carriage drive on both sides, from the gates of the Inner Domain to Government House. In Macquarie-street the balconies and stands were crowded with elegaUtly-dresscd persons, who seemed to take more than ordinary interest in the ceremony, and to watch with evident pleasure the groups of merry children who made their way to tho Domain, some in coaches and some on foot, but all with some decoration oi- badge indicative of their schools, or of the teachings of the book they were about to present to the Prince, and to whose inlluenccs their schools owed their origin. The casket was made by Mr Dean, of myall wood. It rests upon four claws of the emu, and has carved edges and mouldings. In the centre of the top is a group of six figures in frosted silver, representing Our Saviour blessing little children —an exquisitely finished piece of the goldsmith's art from the atelier of Messrs. Hardy Brothers, of Hunter-street. The base on which these figures rest is richly chased, representing grass, ferns, and wild dowers. In the front of the casket is a circular shield, of silver, burnished, on the convex face of which is engraved the following inscription: —" Presented to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, by the Protestant Sabbath School children of New South Wales, January, 18G8." The inscription plate is surrounded ■with an elaborate and tasteful arrangement (grouped wreathwise, and executed with frosted silver) of Australian ferns and flowers. In this miniature wreath arc to be seen the native honeysuckle, the waratah, the fronds of the cabbagetree palm, the New South Wales "Christmas tree" —showing its delicate pointed leaves and pendant star-like blossoms —the native rose, the native pear, and other specimens of the Flora of this portion of the continent of New Holland At each corner of the casket is a full-length aboriginal figure, of oxydiscd silver, standing in an easy attitude, amid, groups of Australian foliage. There are handles to the casket laterally, so skilfully designed and executed as materially to enhance the general effect of the casket, and at the same time to be strong and useful. They also are composed of silver, frosted and burnished, and ornamented with the opossum and a- large black' snake in oxydiscd silver. On the corresponding place, at the baclc, are the arms of the colony in bold relief, in burnished silver. This casket w r as made according to an original design by Mr T. Rowe, with a few alterations in the silver work only.

The Bible is not less beautiful than the casket. Things are changed as well as times. How different the book presented from those which in years gone by were chained to desks and pillars! It bad clasps and boards; but its clasps were of gold, and its boards of paper. The old Dutch Bibles with their brazen fastenings and Wooden covers, sometimes weighed as much as forty pounds ; but this would scarcely turn a scale with forty ounces. It was a 12mo. book, with marginal references, bound in crimson velvet ; bat all the antique about it was to be ■'bund in the " tooled " edges. It was

I lined inside with white watered silk, beautifully illuminated with blue and lake and gold. The corners have for their centre a waratah surrounded by feathery ferns and graceful scrolls. Tho clasp is of solid gold, bearing the coronet of the Duke. The following inscription is in letters of gold :—■ "Presented to H.R.H, tho Duke of Edinburgh by tho children of the Protestant Sabbath schools of New South Wales, January, 1808." It must not be forgotten that tho teachers were also subscribers to and promoters of this object. They directed the efforts of the children, and also by their pecuniary aid helped to procure a gift worthy tho acceptance of a prince.

Tho following address was read to His Royal Highness on tho occasion of the presontaion : To lI.RII. tho Duke of Edinburgh, K.G., &c, &c.

May it please your Royal Highness— We, the undersigned, in the name of the teachers and scholars of Sabbath schools belonging to the various Protestant Denominations of New South AVales, approach your Royal Highness with the profound respect due to your exalted station, and bid you a hearty welcome to our shores.

AVe rejoice in the opportunity thus afforded us of assuring your Royal Highness of the sentiments of loyalty and attachment universally entertained by the young, no less than the old, throughout ih.a colony towards the person and Government of her Most Gracious Majesty, your illustrious mother, together with the affectionate veneration in which all unite to cherish the memory of your late illustrious father, whose name as " Albert the Good," has become among us as a " household word."

We beg most humbly to request your Royal Highness to accept, as a small but sincere tribute from the Sabbath Schools represented by us, the accompanying copy of the Holy Bible enclosed in a casket of Now South Wales materials and workmanship. We feel persuaded that your Royal Highness will regard it as a pleasing indication of the spirit which pervades the rising generation of tho colony, that the children of our Sabbath Schools, in selecting their humble offering, should have instinctively turned to that book of books which has " Cod for its Author, Salvation for ils end, and Truth without any mixture of error for its matter."

That God may fulfil, in the experience of your Royal Highness, the

" exceeding great and precious promises" of His Holy Word ; that He may abundantly replenish you with His heavenly grace hero below, and at length crown you with life and glory everlasting, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, is the sincere desire and prayer of, May it please your Royal Highness, Tour Royal Highnoss's most dutiful and most obedient servants. The following is the reply of Prince Alfred:— I accept the gift which has to-day been presented to me with feelings of heartfelt gratitude, and I sincerely appreciate and thank you for the sentiments contained in the address that accompanies it. I receive this present not only as a token of goodwill to myself and affectionate loyalty to her Majesty, but I also recognise in it the assurance that these young children are being brought up in the fear of God and reverence for their

Queen. The allusion which you have made to

my dear father should remind us that it behoves us all—bolh young and old —to endeavor to be guided by the lofty principles of self-denial and love of duty which w r ere manifested in his life, which won for him the hearts of the English nation, and which, above all, are inculcated in that Book of Truth, which I have had so much pleasure in receiving this morning. (Signed) Alfred. To the Committee of the Teachers and Scholars of the various Protestant Dcnoinations of New South Wales other than tho Church of England.