veral
ships of the Plymouth fleet, under Admiral Sir Thomas Symonds, besides a
large flotilla of yachts, steam launches, and all sorts of boats, were
covered with gay bunting, while flags floated from every point of the
shore and the town.

The Town Clerk having read the Address from the ancient borough, which
was first incorporated by a charter of Edward III., in 1342, and had
figured in subsequent history, especially at the time of the Spanish
Armada, the Prince, in reply, said:--

"On behalf of the Princess of Wales, as well as on my own
behalf, I offer my sincere thanks to you for your address and
for your cordial welcome to us on our visit to this ancient and
beautiful town. The salubrity of the climate of Dartmouth and
the excellence of your sanitary arrangements have long been
known to me, and I can appeal to no better proof of my entire
confidence in them than that afforded by the step I have taken
in sending our two sons to be educated on board the _Britannia_.
I beg to assure you that with that step both the Princess and
myself are perfectly satisfied. I trust you will continue to
devote your attention as you have done in the past to the
improvement of the sanitary arrangements of the town. I thank
you again for the kind wishes you have expressed towards the
Princess, myself, and our family."

The Prince also congratulated the Mayor, Sir Henry Seale, on the
splendid effect of the illuminations of the previous evening.
Accompanied by the Municipal authorities, and by the Duke of Connaught,
Prince Louis of Battenberg, and a numerous retinue, the Prince and
Princess then proceeded to the _Britannia_ for the distribution of the
prizes. They were received by Mr. W. H. Smith, then First Lord of the
Admiralty, and the other Lords; by the Commander-in-Chief of the
Plymouth division of the Channel Fleet; and Captain Fairfax of the
_Britannia_. Between 500 and 600 of the friends or relatives of the
cadets, and other invited guests, among whom were Lord and Lady Charles
Beresford, Sir Samuel and Lady Baker, were assembled on the
quarter-deck, sheltered from the sun by a canopy of flags, surmounted by
the flag of Denmark, and the white ensign of England.

The distribution of the prizes took place, a report on the state of the
training having been previously read by Dr. Hirst, director of studies
at the Greenwich Naval College, who had superintended the examinati