ind would
result. Three days later, accompanied by the Princess, their three
daughters, and Her Royal Highness the Marchioness of Lorne, the Prince
of Wales visited the Guards' Industrial Home at Chelsea Barracks and
distributed the annual prizes.

On March 15th, not for the first time, he presided at the annual meeting
of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and spoke strongly of its
valuable and important work. Other speakers were the Dukes of Argyll and
Northumberland, Admiral Keppel and Lord C. Beresford. The Guilds of
London Institute was opened on June 25th and the speech made by the
Prince was more elaborate than usual. He was well supported by Lord
Carlingford and Mr. A. J. Mundella, M.P. An important and interesting
incident of this year was the action of the Prince of Wales in presiding
over a densely-crowded meeting in the Guild Hall, London, called to
celebrate the Jubilee of the abolition of slavery in British countries
and to consider the past and present work of the Anti-Slavery Society.
On the platform were many distinguished men in every sphere of the
national life and the speech of His Royal Highness was probably the
longest he had ever delivered. It was a succinct history of the
abolition of slavery in various countries and colonies and contained
many expressions of warm approval toward those who had worked to that
end--the extension of "the sacred principle of freedom." Sir Stafford
Northcote, Archbishop Benson of Canterbury, Mr. W. E. Forster, M.P.,
Cardinal Manning and others spoke, and it was afterwards announced by
the Lord Mayor that the Prince had consented to become Patron of the
British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society.

The unveiling of the statue of Charles Darwin in the Museum of Natural
History on June 9th, 1885, evoked a brief speech and a reference to "the
great Englishman who had exerted so vast an influence upon the progress
of branches of natural knowledge." On July 4th the Prince and Princess
attended the opening of the new building of the Birkbeck Institution in
London and the former spoke upon its objects and character. On July 5th
of the previous year he presided at the annual dinner in aid of the
Railway Guards' Friendly Society and referred in his speech to its
nature and valuable work. More than L3300 was subscribed, to which the
Royal chairman gave his usual contribution. The Convalescent Home at
Swanley was opened on July 13th 1885 and the Prince was accompanied by
his