idelity and
valour, I not only recognize emphatically your enrollment into our
national force but celebrate an act which proclaims and strengthens the
unity of the various parts of this vast Empire under the sway of our
common Sovereign." The fact that this address of the youthful Prince--he
was not eighteen--was probably revised and approved by the Prince
Consort and the Queen, illustrates how early his education in
Imperialism began, and how far in advance of public opinion the Queen
and her sagacious husband were.

Through the years that followed the Prince of Wales was never backward
in urging efficient military and naval protection for British
interests. Upon the question of the Navy two speeches, delivered in
1899, may be referred to as indicating the patriotic statesmanship of
the Heir of the Throne Speaking at the Middlesex Hospital banquet on
April 12th he said: "In this country it depends on our Navy and our Army
to uphold the honour and _prestige_ of our nation and to protect the
interests which have made it the vast empire it is. I rejoice to think
that Her Majesty's Government have thought fit to increase our Navy. I
realize by your applause how heartily you reciprocate what I have said,
and I believe that this feeling exists not only in this room but
throughout the length and breadth of Her Majesty's dominions. In
strengthening our Navy, God forbid that it should imply in any way that
we threatened other countries--just the reverse--for, in order to be at
peace, we must be strong. Therefore, the best policy is to strengthen
our first line of defence--the Navy. I hope the motto of which our
Volunteers are so proud may ever be retained by the Navy; that of
defence, not defiance." A little later, as President of the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution, he presided over a banquet in London on
May 1st. In proposing the toast of the Army and Navy he declared that
the country owed them much. "I am sure the desire of every Englishman is
to see both in a high state of efficiency and that he does not grudge
putting his hand in his pocket to maintain them, because he knows that
if he has a good fleet and a good army he is safe and the honour of the
Empire is safe."

An incident occurred on April 4th, 1900, which afforded abundant proof
of the popularity of the Prince of Wales and indicated the importance
his position had attained in the eyes of the world. He had been
travelling to Denmark accompanied by the Princes