112 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
honored with a national salute of 21 rounds; this compliment was acknowledged by the Cossack firing the same number of guns from her broadside, on board of which the banner of France was floating to the breeze. His Excellency Governor Dundas and Lady visited the Pomona during the afternoon, when salutes of 15 rounds each, were exchanged between the ship and saluting battery on shore.
The visit of the Prince of Wales to the Province excited a great deal of interest, not only to P. E. Islanders but in the neighboring Provinces as well, for on the 8th several steamers and other vessels arrived in port from Pictou. Cape Breton, Shediac and Richibucto, having hundreds of excursionists on board, whose object was to witness the landing of His Royal Highness and the reception given to him in Charlottetown. The Volunteers from the rural districts turned out in goodly numbers to assist in bidding the Royal guest a hearty welcome, and the city was thronged by all classes to do him honor.
Early on the morning of the 9th, Volunteers in uniform, and crowds of spectators were seen on the principal streets. The war-ships and other vessels in port were profusely decorated, adding greatly to the appearance of the decorations of the city.
About It o’clock the booming of artillery at Fort Edward, proclaimed the squadron bearing the Royal visitor to be approaching the harbor. There was hurrying to and fro; those whose duty it was to receive the Prince assembled on Queen’s Wharf where His Highness was to disembark. From the landing stage a walk nicely carpeted reached to a carriage in waiting, on each side of which the gnard of honor was posted. The guard comprised the detachment of the 62nd under Captain Wilkinson, and the Prince of Wales Rifles under Captain Lea. The formation of which was, ranks facing inward, while the officers and colors took post in the interval with the band in the rear. The Volunteer Companies, not told off for other duty, flanked the guard of honor in the same order up Queen Street. Major Davies, with his troop of cavalry, was posted at the foot of the street.
The civil societies taking part in the demonstration were: The St. Andrew’s Society, dressed in plaid scarfs of the various Highland Clans, carrying a banner on which was emblazoned the Rampant Lion of Scotland ; next the Sons of Temperance,