12 Dec 1863
Page 1
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This newspaper page contains 13 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Evening Herald
Location
London, Middlesex, United Kingdom
Date
Dec 12, 1863
Page
1
The Queen walked and drove in the grounds this morning. Princess Helens, attended by Baroneus Dobeneck, took a carriage drive. Princess Hohenlohe Lauenbourg honored Mr. G. Kobelrwein with a last sitting for her full length portrait.
Yesterday the Queen and Princess Helena attended the St George's Chapel service. The Queen and Princess wore deep mourning and were seen in the Royal closet. The Crown Prince and Princess of Prussia also attended prayers. Dr Elvey presided at the organ and ministries were led by canon and deans.
The Prince and Princess of Wales hosted the Crown Prince and Princess of Prussia at Frogmore House last night. Attendees included Sir Thomas and Lady Biddulph and Colonel Keppel. The Prince hunted with the hounds this morning, then returned to Frogmore House while the Princess drove in the Frogmore grounds today.
The Sacred Harmonic Society staged the first of two Christmas Messiah performances at Exeter Hall drawing a huge crowd. Sims Reeves led a stellar solo roster with Parepa Sainton Dolby Patey and Renwick, delivering majestic, refined singing, while the chorus and orchestra impressed though not flawless. Also noted were social and ecclesiastical arrivals and Convocation news surrounding clergy elections and bishopric appointments in the church hierarchy.
Obituary chronicling the life of the Earl of Elgin, tracing his public service from Britain to Jamaica Canada and China Japan and finally India as Governor General. It notes his reform efforts his role in the emancipation era and the diplomacy with China and Japan and his eventual appointment to India and the cotton crisis context.
The article praises Lord Elgin for his colonial service, noting his support of financial reformers like Wilson Laing and Trevelyan. It credits him with mastering administrative routine and maintaining dedication despite scarce home life, earning a respected place in British imperial history.
The Daily News published a so called Constitution of the Southern Independence Association received from Mr. Beresford Hope. Names listed include A J Beresford Hope W S Lindsay John Laird and others. Letters from Henry Horze and others deny involvement and accuse the paper of forgery and misrepresentation.
A list condemning prize fighting citing social decay, law defiance, public disorder, and moral harm. It argues upper-class encouragement, concealment of venues, violent injuries, family disruption, and recent deaths demand a halt, urging strengthened policing and a ban on brutal bouts.
A detailed report of yesterday’s long range target trial off Shoeburyness describes a raft target carrying a Warrior iron plate section at 1000 yards. Trials used 600 and 300 pounder Armstrong rifles with steel shots and bursting shells, noting elevation disputes, charging times, and early misses before a hit. The event exposed practice theory gaps and highlighted safety and technical issues for naval guns and armor. The Admiralty presence was limited. Sir William Armstrong and Ordnance committees evaluated results amid public observation.
The article details naval officers and appointments, the Breech loading test plan for large guns, and commentary on American breech designs. It lists ship movements including Tamar to Plymouth and Corfu, Wasp trial of speed, and Resistance sailing to Lisbon, with orders to hire artisans at Portsmouth Dockyard and a launch of the Mino taur armoured screw steam frigate at Blackwall.
The Metropolitan Board of Works held its weekly meeting with J Thwaites in the chair. The deputation from St James's Westminster urged inquiry into the engineer’s ties to Furness’s contract for the northern Thames embankment and potentially readvertising for tenders. the board defended its procedure and rejected Furness’s tender. A draft Thames embankment bill discussed land purchase near Stangate for St Thomas’s Hospital, and the bill was eventually received by a 21 vote majority.
A. Naturalist from Margate reports swallows still present in England despite frost from Dec 10. They were numerous at Margate until Dec 29 when frost appeared, then reappeared on Jan 8 and 9 with mild weather. The writer notes this is unusual as migration is usually by Oct 20.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat and will give judgment on the Moderation appeal from the High Court of Admiralty. An Admiralty Court appeal from the Hawthorne and Polonaise began. Separately, Royal College of Surgeons of England fellowship examinations were reported as completed with several new fellows and fellows admitted ad personam.
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