254.
87 May, 1880
Eperun
Lir Dan Done Dennehy, H.C. M.G.
The Right Honorable
Sir Michael Sticks Beach,
Bt M.P.
Reporting that the Prince
was
"Consort's picture unveiled in the presence of his grandson Prince Jenry of Germany
1 Enclosure)
9533
PRINCE HEINRICH OF PRUSSIA AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
UNVEILING THE PORTRAIT OF THE PRINCE CONSORT.
On the 7th of May, His Excellency Governor Sir JOHN POPE HENNESSY, K.C.M.G., and Lady HENNESSY gave a State luncheon and an "At Home" in honour of His Royal Highness Prince HEINRICH of Prussia, who, with Baron Von SECRENDORFF, had been for some days on a visit at Government House. Later in the afternoon a large number of the community attended the "At Home" and were presented to the Prince..
The guests who had the honour of meeting the Prince at luncheon were:-Chief Justice Sir Jos and Lady SMALE, Colonel HALL, R.A., (Commanding H. M. Troops), and Mrs. HALL, Commodore SMITH, R.N., Commodore MCLEAN, I.G.N., Hon. Captain DENNISON, R.N., Captain KOESTER, L.G.N.. Captain SCHERING, L.G.N., Deputy Surgeon-General MACKINNON, C.B., Lieutenant-Colonel GEDDES and Mrs. GEDDES, Deputy Inspector-General and Mrs. BREEN, Hon. the Attorney General, Mr. E. L. O'MALLEY, Hon. M. S. TONNOCHY, Hon. NG CHOY, Major PAPILLON, R.E., Major HusKISSON, Major HALES (27th Inniskillings), Mr. KEMPERMANN (VICE-CONSUL for Germany), Dr. and Mrs. CLOUTH, Dr. and Mrs. EITEL, Mr. and Mrs. ANDRÉ, Mr. and Mrs. POESNECKER, and Messrs. H. HOPPIUS, C. V. CREAGH, WONG KWAN TONG, and Lieutenant R. C. C. Cox, A.D.C.
The guests being assembled in the drawing-room, His Royal Highness entered at 1.15 P.M., wearing the Grand Cross, Ribbon, and Star of the Black Eagle of Prussia. He was accompanied by Baron von Seckendorff and Captain McLean. At the same moment the Royal Standard of Prussia was hoisted over Government House and a Royal Salute was fired from the shore battery by the Royal Artillery and from the ships in harbour, the German men-of-war Prince Adalbert and Luise, and Her Majesty's ships Victor Emanuel, Comus, and Encounter. The guests having been presented to the Prince, His Royal Highness gave his arm to Lady HENNESSY, the Governor following with Lady SMALE and the whole of the guests filed into the dining-room. During the banquet the Band of the 27th Inniskillings played a selection of music; first German, with a prominent and pleasing intermixture of the popular Suabian melodies of the ancestral home of the Hohenzollerns, followed by some Scotch and Irish National airs. At the close of the entertainment, His Royal Highness rose and proposed in a clear and ringing voice, "Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland," the Band playing "God save the Queen." Immediately after the Governor proposed "His Majesty the Emperor of Germany," whereupon the Band played the national anthem of Germany. The Prince then rose, and all present proceeded to the drawing-room, where those assembled for the "At Home" were presented to His Royal Highness. The presentation lasted till nearly three P.M., when the Governor conducted the Prince to that part of the room where the picture of the Prince Consort was to be unveiled.
His Excellency then, addressing the Prince, spoke as follows:-May it please Your Royal High- ness, Ladies, and Gentlemen,-In this eastern limit of Queen VICTORIA's dominions, I am about to unveil the portrait of the greatest Statesman-Prince of our age. There is something not inappropriate in doing so in the presence of his grandson and within sight of the shores of China. The laws and literature of the venerable Empire, whose mountains we behold from this house, inculcate filial reve- rence and domestic affection. I well remember that in the House of Commons Mr. DISRAELI, in sup- porting a vote of condolence on the death of the Prince Consort, said that the Prince had discharged the highest public duties under the most difficult circumstances, and that he had elevated even the Throne of England by his domestic life. Next to the Queen herself, who was it that shared most in the happiness and in the cares of that domestic life? The Princess Royal of Great Britain and Ireland and Crown Princess of Prussia.-(Applause.) And hence it is, Sir, that your illustrious Mother is enshrined in the hearts of the people of England.--(Renowed applause.) Another British statesman great experience, Lord GRANVILLE, has recorded the fact, that, in all his life, whether official or pri-
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