he first suggestion of a memorial the Prince of Wales
took the most active interest in the matter. He attended the early
meetings of the committee formed to carry out the proposal, and moved
the first resolution for a memorial at the Mansion House on May 30th,
1885. At that time the idea was to found a hospital at Port Said, but
this scheme was not carried out. There seemed to be difficulty in
agreeing about some fitter memorial, but the committee finally resolved
on the establishment of the Boys' Home, and the War Office granted the
use of Fort Wallington to commence the undertaking, for which the funds
had to be provided by public subscription. In support of this fund the
Prince of Wales summoned a meeting at Marlborough House on the 12th of
January, 1886. At this meeting he said that "having had the honour of
presiding at the meeting of the Gordon Memorial Committee in the summer
of 1885, he thought it desirable, at the beginning of another year, to
summon a meeting to hear what progress had been made." He told of the
appointment of Major-General Tyndall, C.B., as commandant, and of his
commencing the work with a few boys at Fort Wallington, the number
gradually rising to fifty. The Prince called on Lord Napier of Magdala
to say a few words in addition to the formal report which was read.

Lord Napier of Magdala, as Chairman of the Executive Committee, then
presented the report of the progress made in the establishment of the
Gordon Memorial Home. He said that on visiting the institution a few
days ago he found the boys on parade in a neat and appropriate uniform.
They looked clean, smart, and steady. The dormitories were like
soldiers' barrack-rooms, in perfect order. The lavatories gave every
facility for cleanliness. In the kitchen the boys all took a turn in
cooking. In the workshops the pupil teachers were undergoing instruction
in carpentry work. The school was well arranged and the teaching
effective. In short, the progress of the institution was remarkable,
considering the short time it had been established, and this was due to
the organization of General Higginson and the administration of General
Tyndall and his staff. Nor had the necessity for amusement been left
unprovided for. The work was done in the spirit of the great soldier and
Christian whom the institution commemorated, and the results were most
gratifying.

The Prince of Wales said:--

"I feel sure it must be gratifying to all of us to hear