Illustrated book with blue cloth cover, gilt stamped decorations on front and spinenon-fictionIn 1867, Prince Alfred, Queen Victoria's second son, commissioned the Galatea for a voyage around the world which would include the first royal visit to Australia. Stopping along the way in Rio de Janeiro and Cape Town, Alfred was received with great ceremony at each port of call. These visits provided the ship's chaplain John Milner (1822-97) and the artist Oswald Brierly (1817-94) with ample material for this chronicle, published in 1869, which gives background details of each region alongside scenes from the tour, enhanced by illustrations based on Brierly's sketches. The authors drew on various recollections and writings, including a letter from Alfred to his brother describing an elephant hunt in South Africa. The tour was abruptly curtailed in Sydney when a Fenian sympathiser attempted to assassinate the prince, an act which boosted support for the British royal family. More »hrh prince alfred duke of edinburgh, voyages around the world, australia - description - travel 1860's, south africa - description - travel -1860's

Illustrated book with dustjacket. Book has a blue cloth binding with title, author and publisher's name stamped in gilt on spine. Dustjacket has an orange and black print of the assassination attempt on Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh in Sydney 1868. Title and author's name overprinted in white on front and spinenon-fictionIn July, 1867, the Australian colonies were electrified by the news that they were to be visited by royalty. Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, second son of Queen Victoria and commander of H.M.S. Galatea, was en route from Europe. He landed in South Australia on a blazing November day, and he was welcomed with an exuberant Colonial loyalty which, as one of his equerries sniffly remarked "seemed ignorant of protocol." During his visits to South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, and Queensland, the Prince was swept along on a tide of frenzied enthusiasm. Each State tried to outdo the others in the splendour of its receptions and the garishness of its decorations. In Melbourne, a Free Banquet in honour of the Prince turned into a drunken fiasco. On the goldfields, he lunched down a mine and "helped himself rather liberally from a selection of nuggets. He was cheered by convicts in Tasmania, wrangled over by Queensland politicians and bombarded with bouquets, Declarations of Loyalty, and innumerable speeches. Surrounded by city fathers, Bishops, brass bands, fireworks and uproarious multitudes, he went from one triumph to another. Finally, he was shot in Sydney, and his recovery was accompanied by even more passionate demonstrations of loyalty. These were inflamed by revulsion against the would-be assassin, who was hurried to the gallows as the Prince sailed for home. His departure closed a colourful chapter in Australian history, of which the author writes with humour and gustohrh prince alfred duke of edinburgh, australia - description - travel 1860's, south africa - description - travel -1860's, voyages around the world