A Masonic banquet was given at
Nottingham, Eng., on the 8th inst., on the occasion of the installation of the
Duke of
Newcastle as Grand
Master of Nottinghamshire.
After mentioning briefly his visit to
Canada with the
Prince, he said:
‘
After leaving that country he went to another, which, it was true, did not at present own the sceptre of
Great Britain, and therefore, throughout the many thousand miles through which he had traveled, there was not the same loyalty, because there was not the call for it in a country which was not subordinated to the Crown of
England; but there was an amount of respect, of attachment, of veneration and love for the
Queen of this country, which far transcended anything that could possibly have been expected.
[Cheers] It was a tribute on the part of the
American people; it was a demonstration of their veneration for female excellence, and it was also a proof of their deep and lasting attachment to the mother country.
He had no hesitation in saying that the feeling towards the
Queen of
Great Britain in the
United States of America could not be designated by any other word he knew of but a passion.
[Cheers.] He had the gratification in the
Lodge that morning of seeing a brother — he did not know whether he was in the room at that moment or not — who came from
America.
(It was here announced that the brother in question was present.) He (the
Duke) was delighted to find that he was there, and he should say nothing in his presence which he would not say even more strongly in his absence, when he stated that the impression made upon his mind by that journey was one which time could not efface.
He was referring now to the general powerful influence which the excellent
Queen of this country exercised over other nations, and more especially over those with whom we had a common origin; and he was certain they would not be wanting on the present occasion in that feeling which had been so generally exhibited elsewhere.
Having now referred briefly to the attachment exhibited towards her Majesty in the Colonies and in the
United States of America, he might notice the fact that a no less striking demonstration of affection was recently seen in the anxiety and alarm which he had been told prevailed in this country respecting the safety of his Royal Highness the
Prince of
Wales.
[Cheers.] From the manner in which that anxiety was displayed, her Majesty might be fully convinced of the ardent attachment of her people.
Nor was this less strikingly demonstrated when his Royal Highness reached these shores; for he met with a reception most enthusiastic in its nature at every railway station between
Plymouth and
Windsor.
In conclusion, he asked them to drink "Health to the
Queen, and Prosperity to the Craft," and to give the toast all the Masonic honors.
[Loud and protracted cheering.]
’
His Grace, in proposing "The Rest of the
Royal Family," said that it had been the lot of the
Prince of
Wales, at the age of nineteen, to render to his country a great and essential service.
Many a man born of a royal family has descended into the grave rendering to his fellow-men much less good service than has been rendered by this young prince.
Whatever may be the destiny which
Providence has reserved for him, it is a proud thing that he can reflect on this voyage across the
Atlantic.
He believed that nothing so much as that journey could have cemented the good feelings — he said cemented, mind, because he was convinced that they were previously entertained — which exist between the two countries on the opposite sides of the
Atlantic.
But not only is it desirable that the existence of those good feelings should be known; it is singularly fortunate that they have already been placed on record and propagated by the press.--[Cheers.] The feeling between the two countries just now is one of peace and good will, and woe be to us when the day shall come that peace is broken up. He would not say that peace is likely to be broken up, but he would say that it is less likely — that the likelihood of such an event has been greatly postponed by that which has taken place.--[Cheers.] This he could say of this extraordinary visit, that they witnessed in New York, and in every other city of the
United States, an amount of enthusiasm which was perfectly extraordinary from the moment at which they entered
Detroit till their departure from
Portland.
[Cheers] With one solitary exception, they met with nothing but enthusiasm; and, in fact, he did believe that the visit of the
Prince of
Wales to
America has done more to cement the good feeling between the two countries than could possibly have been effected by a quarter of a century of diplomacy.
The two great peoples on either side of the
Atlantic have disclosed those feelings of fraternity which they entertain towards each other. --[Cheers] His grace concluded by proposing "The health of the Rest of the
Royal Family," with which he coupled the name of his Royal Highness
the Prince Frederic William of
Prussia.
The toast was drank with great enthusiasm and the usual honors.
