NEVER in the memory of man have there been at Newquay, Cornwall, such "red-letter" days as the 8th and 9th June, 1909, when T.R.H. the Prince and Princess of Wales—travelling as Duke and Duchess of Cornwall—paid a visit to this part of the Duchy. For weeks past the local authorities, and indeed all the inhabitants of the "Urban District," had been making preparations and special arrangements for the great event, in order that nothing might be wanting to show their Royal landlord and his beloved Princess their apprecia- tion of his first visit to their • lovely neighbourhood. When the Royal party arrived at Newquay they found the whole population out to render them homage, and bunting was shown wherever a flag or a banneret could be placed. The day of days however was Wednesday, the 9th June, which had been specially selected by the Duke and Duchess as the one on which they would pay a visit to the Life-boat station and witness the launch of the boat down its somewhat remarkable slipway, remind- ing many of the visitors of a "water chute." When the morning arrived— which followed a night of fireworks and huge bonfire on the Headland—every- body was agog betimes, and all con- nected with the Local Branch of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITU- TION were particularly active in making final arrangements and putting finishing touches to the boat, her gear and her house. Special trains were run from Penzance and other places, and the neighbouring villages simply poured in their denizens. The time arranged for the function was 12.30, but long before then there was a dense mass of joyous people assembled, all bent on giving the heartiest of receptions to the Royal visitors. Colonel Hill, the Chief Con- stable of the County, had sent a large company of stalwart police to assist, and the youngest company of the " Territorials" in Cornwall was repre- sented by more than half their comple- ment, with their band. In addition to which the Chairman of the Branch (Lieut. H. Thompson, R.N.) had brought down a picked body of H.M. Coast- guard, always ready to give a helping hand to the Life-boat and her work.

Besides all these there were about20 representatives of the Press from London and the county, cinematograph machinists, photographers, etc. Colonel FitzRoy Clayton (now Sir Fitz- Roy Clayton), the popular Chairman of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, accompanied by Sir John Cameron Lamb, C.B., C.M.G., the Deputy-Chairman, had travelled spe- cially down from London to do honour to the occasion, and there were also in attendance Mr. Charles Dibdin, the Secretary of the Institution, Commander St. Vincent Nepean, M.V.O., R.K, the Chief Inspector of Life-boats, and Lieut.

Edward D. Drury, R.N.R., the In- spector of the District. Fortunately, the weather was propitious, the sun was not too hot, and the northerly wind, which kept off rain, was not too strong.

At 12.15 precisely the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall left the Headland Hotel, where they were residing, accom- panied by Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Colonel the Hon. Sir William Carring- ton, Lady Mary Forbes-Trefusis and Mr. Peacock, and were met by Colonel MtzRoy Clayton, who drew special attention to the team of eight magnifi- cent horses harnessed and decorated, awaiting orders to haul up the Life-boat at the conclusion of the exercise. The horses 'had been specially lent by Mr. Stephens, a member of the Local Committee, who, together with the Chief Inspector of Life-boats, was pre- sented to T.R.H. by Colonel Clayton.

The little procession then proceeded on foot to the Life-boat station, about ten minutes' walk. At the side door of the Boat-house it stopped, in order that Colonel Clayton might present to the Royal visitors the Deputy-Chairman of the Institution, the Secretary, the Chair- man of the Local Committee (Lieut.

H. Thompson, R.N.), the indefatigable Honorary Secretary (Mr. H. A. Hawkey), and the Inspector of Life-boats of the District. On entering the Boat-house everything there was very critically exa- mined, and the Duke at once mounted the ladder and boarded the Life-boat, remarking that although he was the President of the Institution he had never before been in one of the Life- boats. He much gratified the coxswains by questioning them and the District Inspector as to details, and the Duchess also climbed the ladder, so that she might see thoroughly the inside of the boat and the gear. The Royal party next witnessed the launch of the Life-boat, fully manned, down the slipway, which is quite celebrated on that part of the coast, and after remaining for a con- siderable time examining matters of detail and showing the greatest interest in the equipment of the station, they left, stating that they had been much pleased with everything they had seen. On their departure their Royal Highnesses were cheered to the echo by the loyal and gratified crowds. The Duke, whose kind consideration is so well known to all, generously sent 16Z. to the coxswains and crew as a memento of the visit of himself and the Duchess—a visit which will never be forgotten in the locality..