Page 44

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Title: Page 44

Full text: AUGUST, 1858 43 Sunday, 8th,—The Governor being expected here to day, a continual look out was kept by the inhabitants from the Blockhouse hill; in fact that locality was better attended than any place of worship in town; crowds were the whole day moving to and fro. The afternoon had far advanced, and the Governor not yet having arrived, it was presumed that he had not sailed from Shelburne; at 6 O'clock however the Steamer made her appear- ance coming round Rose head; she soon after fired a gun for a pilot, and at 7 O'clock she was safely anchored in the harbour. John Creighton Esq. proceeded on board and ascertained that the Governor, with his Lady would land tomorrow at 11 O'clock. The Steamer in which he sails is called the "Styx", a British Government Vessel, commanded by Captn. C. Vesey and is 1250 tons burthen. Monday, 9th,—This forenoon the weather looked dull and threatening rain; notwithstanding the threatening aspects of the weather, long before 11 O'clock persons may have been seen moving through the streets dressed in their best "bib and tucker", and soon after a general rising appeared to be taking place over the whole town. Soon after 11 O'clock a number of the principal inhabitants assembled at the house of the Gustos (John Heck- man Esqr.) for the purpose of proceeding to the wharf and receiving his Excellency in due form. The wharves were well sprinkled with persons of all sorts and sizes male and female, all anxiously awaiting to have a peep at the Governor. About 12 O'cock a boat was seen leaving the Steamer with a flag flying over the stern;—it was the Governor; on his landing he was welcomed by all the Gentlemen who had assembled there for that pur- pose; at the same moment that the Governor stepped on the wharf the first gun boomed from the Blockhouse hill, which firing continued untill 19 rounds were disposed of; meanwhile his Excellency and his Lady, escorted by Ladies and Gentlemen of the town, proceeded towards the Court House; having arrived there, the Address from the inhabitants of this town was read by the Revd. H. L. Owen Minister of the the Episcopal Church, and a suitable reply made by his Excellency. After preliminaries were gone through in the Court house, his Excellency and Lady, followed by Ladies and Gents, visited the Episcopal and Lutheran Churches, after which these distinguished visitors were escorted to the house of John Creighton Esq. (Queens Counsel). After the Levee in the Courthouse, it was announced that the Countess would hold a Drawing room at the residence of Mr. Creighton at 1 O'clock, accordingly at that hour numbers of town Ladies were to be seen moving towards the place appointed and were graciously received by her Ladyship. After the Drawing Room, the Earl and Countess accompanied by the Revd. Mr. Owen, the Sheriff (Mr. Kaulbach) and other gentlemen and Ladies, rode, in wagons, as far as Mahone Bay, after return- ing they partook of a lunch at Mr. Creighton's, and at 5 O'clock returned on board the Steamer. The Countess observing two newly built Gigs plying up and down the harbour, offered a Purse to the winner, provided these boats would run a race. It being agreed upon to accept the offer, her Ladyship named 6 O'clock as the hour for the race to take place. At the hour named the whole population were in commotion, crowds of persons,