THE BOOK OF THE ROYAL 



Tnil !nlll I'Fil hlcii 



Couuoil-room, at tlie top of the steps leading to the Garden, 

 the Band of the Volunteer Engineers played one verse of " God 

 save the Queen," the Eoyal party pausing on the landing during 

 the time. The same Band then played the " Cobourg March " 

 as the Eoycil party jDassed on until it reached the Second 

 Terrace, when the Band on the West Terrace took up the 

 March, and the procession moved up the centre avenue to the 

 Conservatory. Here the procession halted in a space kept clear 

 l)y police ; the Eoyal party ascended the steps, and Dr. Lindley, 

 the Secretary of the Society, read an address, briefly glancing 

 over the past history of the Society, and its improved condition 

 under His Royal Highness's auspices, and congratulating him 

 on the success which had attended the undertakmg. To tins 

 His Eoyal Highness the Prince Consort made the following 

 gracious reply, viz. : — 



"I thank you for the Address which you have just presented 

 to me. 



" While you have expressed your deep regret at being 

 deprived, on this occasion, of the presence of the Queen, I am 

 enabled and empowered to assure you that Her Majesty, on 

 her part, also sincerely regrets her inability to mark by her 

 presence the interest she takes m your proceedmgs, and her 

 desire for your success. 



" You have addressed me in my double capacity of President 

 of your Society, and also of the Eoyal Commissioners of 1851. 

 In either of these capacities, I cannot but be gratified by the 

 scene now before me. 



"Having shared, to some extent, in your labours and 

 anxieties, I am happy to be aide to congratulate you on what 



PiiliiiBi^^ 



