French, and Colonel Crookenden highly delighted the French officers by singing 
French Canadian songs to them. 
Major Brady has been on a week’s leave to Tangier Biver, 60 miles east of 
Halifax, and found it, like most rivers in Nova Scotia, much over-netted. Never¬ 
theless he hooked six salmon, killing four and losing two. The largest was 13 lbs. 
One fish was on for one and a quarter hours. 
No. 3 Company Western (Major Brady’s) has bought a whaler which has been 
named the Valkyrie. Her dimensions are: length over all, 34 feet; length on 
water-line, 27 feet; beam, 8feet 9 inches. She is schooner rigged with brown 
sails, and is a very trim looking craft. She was built for the Chicago Exhibition 
by a man at Tancook, N.S., who subsequently was unable to send her there on 
account of the expense. Lieuts. Marsh and Artliy sailed her round from Tancook 
Island to Halifax Harbour, a distance of 50 miles, and had rather a hard time of 
it, as they were becalmed off Sambro Island, and ran short of water. The trip 
took 36 hours, including a night in Pennant Harbour. On Saturday, 8th July, 
the Valkyrie won the Hesslein Cup, in the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron 
Paces, Lieut. Marsh being skipper and the other hands all R.A. Officers. 
On 21st June, the Annual Horse and Pony Races were held. The only R.A. 
Officer riding was Captain O. H. Alexander, who rode a winning mount on one of 
his own ponies, “ Galfred.” 
The news of the disaster to H.M.S. Victoria was received at Halifax through 
the public Press, on Friday, 23rd June, the day after it occurred. An officer was 
sent on board the French flag-ship next morning to ask that the Officers R.A. 
and R.E. might be excused from dining on board as arranged, and almost simul¬ 
taneously the French Admiral sent his A.-D.-C. to the R.A. Park to express his 
sympathy, and request that he and his officers might be allowed to cancel their 
engagement to dine at the R.A. and R.E. Mess. 
The Royal Wedding-day, on 6th July, was not observed at Halifax, except by 
the Navy and Military dressing ships and signal station, and firing salutes. Lieut. 
Macgowan, who was very intimate with the Duke of York when he was out here 
in command of the Thrush , sent H.R.PI. a cablegram of congratulation, and next 
morning received the reply : “ Our warmest thanks—George.” 
WOOLWICH. 
This year the gaieties of the season seem to have been crowded into the month 
of Juiv. 
Owing to the disastrous loss of H.M.S. Victoria , the June ball was postponed 
until 7th July. It was then most successfully brought off and, judging from 
the attendance, is as popular as ever ; had there been a few more dancing men 
the demands on those who did dance would, perhaps, have been a little lighter. 
On Tuesday, 4th July, General Lord Roberts was entertained at dinner at the 
R.A. Mess. 
About 125 officers were present, and the seating capacity of the Mess was 
tested to its limit. 
The enthusiasm evoked by the toast of his health could hardly be restrained 
when, in his reply, Lord Roberts referred in kindly terms one by one to the 
various Royal Artillerymen who had served with or under him in India. 
Besides the toast of the evening, the healths of Sir W. Stirling and Sir A. 
Noble were drunk on their receiving the honour of Knight Commandership of 
the Bath in the last Birthday Gazette : in replying, Sir W. Stirling alluded very 
gracefully to the love and confidence in Lord Roberts felt by all ranks of his 
Battery, F/A Royal Horse Artillery, when serving in Afghanistan. 
