whom were Mr. C. Wood, son of
Lord Halifax, Lord Cadogan, and Mr. F. Stanley, son of Lord Derby. With
Mr. Gibbs was now associated the Rev. Canon Tarver, who, on the
retirement of Mr. Gibbs in 1858, was appointed Director of Studies and
Chaplain. In this capacity he accompanied the Prince to Rome, Spain, and
Portugal, and afterwards went with him to Edinburgh, remaining with the
Prince till the autumn of 1859, when his education ceased to be
conducted at home.

Of the principal events of the year 1858 as regards the Prince, a most
interesting statement is given in a letter of his father to his old
friend Stockmar. It is dated Windsor Castle, April 2nd. "Yesterday the
Confirmation of the Prince of Wales went off with great solemnity, and I
hope with lasting impression on his mind. The previous day his
examination took place before the Archbishop and ourselves. Wellesley
(Dean of Windsor) prolonged it a full hour, and Bertie acquitted himself
_extremely well_. To-day we take the sacrament with him." In a
Memorandum by Her Majesty, it is said that the Prince Consort "had a
very strong feeling about the solemnity of this act, and did not like to
appear in company either the evening before or on the day on which he
took the sacrament; and he and the Queen almost always dined alone on
these occasions." With such habitual feelings about the solemnity of the
service, the "First Communion" of his eldest son must have deeply
touched his heart.

In the letter to Stockmar the Prince continues his statement about the
educational plans for his son. "Next week he is to make a run for
fourteen days to the South of Ireland, with Mr. Gibbs, Captain de Ros,
and Dr. Minter, for recreation. When he returns to London he is to take
up his residence at the White Lodge, in Richmond Park, so as to be away
from the world, and devote himself exclusively to study, and prepare for
a military examination. As companions for him we have appointed three
very distinguished young men, of from 23 to 26 years of age, who are to
occupy in monthly rotation a kind of equerry's place about him, and from
whose more intimate intercourse I anticipate no small benefit to
Bertie." These companions were Lord Valletort, eldest son of Lord
Mount-Edgecombe, Major Teesdale, R.A., of Kars celebrity, and Major
Loyd-Lindsay, V.C., of all of whom the Prince expresses to Stockmar his
high opinion. "Besides these three, only Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Tarver will
go with him to Rich