remain so. There may be difficulties in
preserving foxes, but I feel sure that where there's a will
there's a way. For twenty-five years we have enjoyed hunting
with the West Norfolk Hunt--both the Princess and myself; and
our children have been brought up to follow that Hunt. I
sincerely hope that for many long years we may be able to
continue to do so. We have grateful memories of the mastership
of one whose loss we all regretted, the late Mr. Villebois, and
also of Mr. Hamond, then Mr. Fountaine, and next of the
gentlemen of the Committee who have of late ably carried on the
Hunt, whilst Mr. Fountaine was unfortunately away. Most
sincerely do I thank you again, in the name of the Princess and
myself, for the kind terms in which you have presented us with
this handsome and appropriate gift, and most sincerely do I wish
prosperity to the West Norfolk Foxhounds, which, I trust, may
long continue to exist in this county."

AT BLACKBURN.

_May 9th, 1888._

On the return from opening the Exhibition at Glasgow, it was arranged
that the Prince and Princess of Wales should visit Blackburn, for laying
the foundation-stone of the new Technical and Trades School in that
flourishing Lancashire town. The borough was in high festival, the more
so as it was the first time on record that it had been honoured with the
presence of royalty. At the entrance of the town, the Mayor and
Corporation met the Royal party, and conducted them to the marquee which
was to be the scene of the ceremony. Here the Prince was presented with
the freedom of the borough--being the first honorary freeman--and with
an address, to which he replied:--

"Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,--I can assure you that the Princess of
Wales and myself feel very great pleasure in accepting your
address, and we thank you warmly for the kind and cordial words
of welcome with which you have received us on the occasion of
our first visit to the important borough of Blackburn. We thank
you most sincerely for your congratulations on our Silver
Wedding, and we desire to take this opportunity of publicly
stating how infinitely we have been touched by the affectionate
tokens of attachment and regard which have universally been
shown towards us throughout the whole country on the occasion of
that event. We appreciate very highly your allusions to the
interest which we