r address and for
the cordial and loyal terms in which you have welcomed me here
to-day. I experience at all times sincere pleasure when
circumstances permit me to associate my name with any
undertaking tending to advance the welfare and convenience of
the community, and I accepted, therefore, with much satisfaction
your invitation to be present on this interesting occasion to
assist in the inauguration of a national work of such vast
importance. An enterprise of this nature is always deserving of
the warmest support and encouragement, as it not only completes
the railway system of the district, and thus provides constant
and easy means of communication between towns of such prominence
as Liverpool and Birkenhead, but it cannot fail also before long
to afford material benefit to the millions of hands in the
neighbouring industrial centres by aiding the more rapid
development of commercial intercourse. The heartiest
commendation should, therefore, be bestowed on all engaged in
the promotion of so great and worthy an object. I fervently
trust that well-merited success may be the result of your
labours, and that an ever-increasing prosperity may be your
reward for the difficulties which you have encountered, and
which have been mainly overcome by the admirable skill, the
indomitable patience, and the unceasing and unwearied energy
which have been displayed by all those who have contributed to
bring this work to a happy and a triumphant termination. Let me
convey to you, in conclusion, gentlemen, at the special request
of the Princess of Wales, the expression of her deep and
unfeigned regret at having been unavoidably prevented from
accompanying me here to-day. She begs me to assure you that
nothing but the imperative orders of the physicians would have
precluded her from sharing the gratification which I experience
at taking part in the proceedings which celebrate the
consummation of your most arduous task."

When the cheers which greeted the Prince's speech had subsided, the
Mayor of Birkenhead, Mr. John Laird, was introduced to His Royal
Highness, whom he asked to receive an address from the Corporation of
that town. The Recorder then read the address, which remarked--"The
communication between Birkenhead and Liverpool has hitherto been by a
ferry, one of the most ancient and important in the