220 RECEPTION BY THE QUEEN AND PRINCE. 
On Wednesday, December 15, 1852, two days 
before he quitted England for Pitcairn, Mr. Nobbs 
embarked at Portsmouth, on board the yacht 
Fairy, and proceeded by appointment to Osborne 
House, where he was received by Colonel the 
Hon. (1 Grey, and after a short time was pre- 
sented to Prince Albert. His Royal Highness 
asked many questions as to the island, and 
appeared much pleased with the answers given, i 
Mr. Nobbs having, towards the conclusion 
of this interview, humbly begged to be allowed 
to pay his duty; in person to the Queen, and it 
having appeared that her Majesty had ex- 
pressed her readiness to receive him, the Prince 
was pleased to present him to her Majesty. 
The reception was highly gratifying to his feel- 
ings as a dutiful subject ) and the representative 
of the truly loyal community of Pitcairn, The 
Queen, who was most gracious and condescend- 
ing in her demeanour towards him, was pleased 
to present him with her portrait. Portraits of 
Prince Albert and the Royal Children were 
added. These highly-treasured gifts having 
been consigned at Valparaiso to the care of 
Captain Morshead, of H.M.S. Dido, were safely 
landed at Pitcairn; and, on the 3d of the follow- 
ing November, were exhibited to the Islanders. 
Their devoted loyalty on the receipt of the pic- 
ture of the Queen was most striking. 
Mr. Nobbs having been placed by the Society 
for the Propagation of the Gospel on its lists of 
Missionaries, with a salary of 50?. per annum, 
sailed on the 17th December, 1852, from South- 
ampton, in the Royal Mail steam-ship La Plata. 
