54 Voyage of the Novara. 



the staff to a ceremonial banquet, the saloon in which dinner 

 was served being elegantly decorated with the flags of the 

 various German states, between which were excellent like- 

 nesses of the Emperor and Empress. Upwards of seventy 

 guests sat down to a sumptuous ' repast, after which free flow 

 was given to the expression of the warmest wishes for father- 

 land and the German nation. 



While these festivities were going on, the English mails 

 brought the intelligence of the birth of an heir to the 

 throne! So signal a cause for thankfulness on the part of 

 Austria was duly observed at the uttermost ends of the 

 earth, and on 27th November the thunder of the Novara s 

 cannon announced the glad tidings to the colonies of the 

 southern coasts of Australia ! Salutes of 21 guns were fired 

 at morning, noon, and sunset, while on board our ship, which 

 was decorated with all her colours, a solemn Te Deum was 

 sung, after which the crew were mustered on parade. The 

 English ships of war also " dressed," and returned our salute 

 by one of a similar number of guns. On the 30th there was 

 a ball on board, to which 400 guests were invited, many of 

 the elite being overlooked through sheer want of space or 

 accommodation ! 



The hospitality extended to the Austrian officers was not 

 however confined to these public receptions, when they were 

 thoroughly "lionized" during their stay, but also included a 

 constant round of invitations among private circles, among 

 which, without making invidious selections, where we can 



