thy of the vast
wealth and importance of the city of Manchester. It gives us
great satisfaction to be able to promote and encourage all
charitable works and institutions designed for the social and
educational improvement of the community. We thank you for your
good wishes for the welfare of ourselves and our children, and
we hope that prosperity and happiness may ever attend on the
labours of the loyal and industrious inhabitants of this great
city."

The route of the procession from the Town Hall to the Exhibition was a
very long one, being chosen by the Prince in preference to a shorter one
submitted to him, on the ground that he would rather afford pleasure to
a larger number of people than see the finer edifices on the shorter
route. In the Palm House of the gardens luncheon was served, and then
the opening ceremony took place in the nave of the building, in the
position known as the Music Room. Mr. Halle's orchestra was in front of
the organ, and the National Anthem was performed with fine effect, the
vocal rendering being also given by Madame Albani and the full chorus.
The Bishop of Manchester offered prayer, and the choir sang the Old
Hundredth Psalm. To the address read by Sir Joseph Lee, the Prince
replied:--

"I receive with great satisfaction your address on the opening
of this large and instructive Exhibition. On behalf of Her
Majesty I declare it open from this day. The illustrations
which you have collected on engineering and chemical industry,
and the products of manufacture and useful toil, afford ample
testimony to the skill and ingenuity and steady perseverance of
the inhabitants of this district, and prove how justly they hold
a high and an honourable place in the industrial ranks of the
Empire. The collection of natural products and manufactures of
Ireland, and the gratifying display of English works of art, add
much to the interest and value of this Exhibition, in which I
recognise a worthy mark of your desire to do honour to an
occasion so auspicious as the celebration of the fiftieth year
of Her Majesty's reign. The Princess and I desire to thank you
heartily for your good wishes on our behalf, and for the cordial
welcome which you have given us."

The Prince, in the name of the Queen, declared the Exhibition open. A
fanfare of trumpets was then given and a _feu de joie_ fired. The
proceedings cl