f Wales paid their first visit to Birmingham on
the 3rd of November, 1874. When the Mayor and Corporation of the midland
capital heard of the intended visit, they resolved to give their Royal
Highnesses a right loyal and hearty reception. Those who remember, or
have read of the early visits of the Queen and of the Prince Consort to
the town, will not be surprised at the enthusiasm with which the Prince
and Princess of Wales were welcomed on this occasion. Prince Albert came
to Birmingham for the first time in 1844. He was a guest of Sir Robert
Peel at Tamworth, and expressed a wish, as he was so near, to see the
place so famous in various arts and industries. But the town was at that
time as famous for its political independence, to use the mildest term.
In fact it was regarded as the centre and seat of democratic radicalism,
and the turbulence of Chartist times was yet fresh in remembrance. Fears
were entertained that Prince Albert might have a cool if not hostile
reception. The result proved how groundless were these suspicions. The
young Prince was welcomed with the utmost enthusiasm, not only as the
husband of the Queen, but on account of his own moral and intellectual
excellence. He was there again in 1849, to inspect the exhibition of
arts and manufactures held in Bingley Hall; and a third time in 1855 to
lay the foundation stone of the Midland Institute. In 1858 the Queen
herself came to open the public Park and Hall at Aston. Nor was this the
only visit. Few places in her dominions have been more favoured, and
nowhere has there been shown more devoted loyalty.

The advanced radicalism of Birmingham was not less marked at the time of
the Prince of Wales's visit, and the Mayor of that year, Mr. Joseph
Chamberlain, had the reputation of holding not merely democratic but
republican views. All this made the more marked the cordial reception of
the Royal visitors, both by the authorities of the town, and by the
masses of the people. The words of the _Times_ of November 4th, in its
record of the visit are worthy of being recalled, especially in what it
said of the Mayor: "Whatever Mr. Chamberlain's views may be, his
speeches of yesterday appear to us to have been admirably worthy of the
occasion, and to have done the highest credit to himself. We have heard
and chronicled a great many Mayors' speeches, but we do not know that we
ever heard or chronicled speeches made before Royal personages by
Mayors, whether they were