Thirty miles of warships off the coast at Spithead represented part of England's greatness at sea on the 26th of June, and a right glorious sight it was—a fit embodiment of the sentiment which says. that "Britannia rules the waves." That, day it, was the Prince's turn to be the leading figure in a great function, his being' the Royal eye for which the splendid spectacle was prepared. The relegation of this duty to him' was not without its touch of pathos, weightier matters than ame esi it reminded all, that presently bs 7 would devolve on his shoulders when the Queen Mother would retire from. the active duties of State.
There was little time for reflections on the much talked of regency, however, inasmuch as our attention was fixed on the splendid display of naval strength which now lay before us on the surface, of the deep.
We were down early, and the morning broke beautiful and bright, The mimic theatre of naval warfare—a beautiful picture—spread itself out before us good weather. The ironclads lay in several long. columns, whilst flanking them was a splendid' fleet of mercantile ships. The flower of: the Cunard associated themselves with the P. &0O., White Star, the Cape, the British India, the Clan line, and a number of rival companies. France sent one of her fine Bisvre fleet. On both sides of us, far ahead senger liners in the Versailles of the
and far astern, we could only discern the masts or the funnels of a forest of men-of-war and peaceful traders. Off Ryde scores of dainty yachts and little steam launches began running about early in the day, At eight o'clock there spread from the flagship, right over the maritime field, a fanfare of bugles, and at the same moment overyiship "dressed" with bunting. The effect as the flags fluttered in th breeze which sprang up was pretty in the extreme, and a shout of loyalty went up as the band on board the flagship played a few bars of the National Anthem, The ships which appeared to attract the greatest share of admiration were the Terrible and the Powerful, but the entire Fleet was a theme of wonder.
The Prince of Wales appointed two o'clock for his inspection, and shortly before that hour the crews of the Fleet were. paraded.
They wore white ''Jumpers" with the blue striped collar, and lined the sides of the ships, standing sufficiently apart to just touch each other's shoulder with their extended arms.
His Royal Highness made his inspection inthe Victoria and Albert, the most stately of Her Majesty's personal yachts. She was decked from stern to stern with bunting. the Royal Standard fluttering from the main. The Prince was accompanied by several members of the Royal family, and wore the uniform of a Bricish Admiral.
The vessels in the procession had_on their decks a valuable freight. The Carthage and the Elgin carried the forei; visitors; the Enchantress had on board the members of the Admiralty; the Wildfire was entrusted with the Colonial Premiers; the Danube conveyed the House of Lords; whilst Her Majesty's faithful Commons were on board the giant Campania, The Heir Apparent was received with a Royal into, the same being taken up by divisions of the great Fleet, and in this way duplicated and prolonged. The Prince
eathusisom prevailed on bostd the wanons ugh wi, and the the ler eye lines
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.