Provincial.

able additions had been made during thc night and the morning to the decorations , most of the shop fronts and houses being ornamented Avith laurel and other evergreens , AA-hile strings of flags were suspended at frequent intervals across the principal thoroughfares , and at various parts of the road leading to the docks the Union Jack and other flags fluttered gaily in the breeze . As the morning advanced , tho roads leading into Falmouth , particularly that from Truro , became thronged with vehicles of all descriptions bringing numerous visitors from the latter toAA-n , Penzance , Helston , Redruth , Camborne , and the surrounding districts , and the streets of Falmouth became crowded to an extent such as the oldest inhabitant never before witnessed .

Shortly after tAvelve o ' clock , the various bodies AA-ho Avere to form the procession marched to the Moor , in order to take up the positions which they AA-ere respectively to occupy , and AA'here they Avere marshalled in regular order . The brethren of the Masonic Order , from the different Lodges , mustered in the Lodge room , at the Royal Hotel , at eleven o ' clock , where they marshalled in procession , and , preceded by a band of music , they inarched to tho Moor iu the following order : — TAVO Tylers AA ' ith drawn swords ; Deacons with Avahds ; the visiting

brethren not members of Lodges ; the Boscawen Lodge , ChaceAvater , No . 1000 ; Cornubian , Hayle , No . 059 ; Peace and Harmony , St . Austell , No . 72 S ; Phoenix , Truro , Up . 415 ; True and Faithful , Helston No . 400 ; Mount Sinai , Penzance , No . 142 ; Fortitude , Truro , No . 153 ; Love and Honour , Falmouth , No . 89 ; AA . Ms . of Lodges bearing tho vases of corn , Avine , and oil ; the Chaplain , Dr . Coopo : Past and Present Prov . Grand Officers ; Bro . R . Pearce , of Penzance , ' P . D . Prov . G . M ., acting Prov . G . M . The brethren wore their usual Masonic decorations

, and added in a marked degree to the general procession , about one hundred and tAA-enty members of the Craft being present . The Odd Fellows belonging to the lodges in Falmouth and the neighbourhood , marched to the ground in similar order , and took up their position , as did also the masters aud seamen belonging to the ships iu the port , the seamen of H . M . S . Russell , the men engaged in the shipAvright and other trades in Falmouth , thc men employed in Messrs . Freeman ' s quarries and the National and Sunday school children .

The mayors , aldermen , and councillors of Falmouth and Penryn , accompanied by their mace bearers AA'ith their maces , fohWed each other ; the corporation of Penryn , which had driven over during the forenoon in a carriage and four grey horses , took thc precedence . The Mayor of Truro , Air . E . Michell , was also present . Thc procession marched through the toAvn to thc site of the docks in the following order : — Fifeshire Artillery ; police ; Avorkmen ; band ; Odd Fellows ; schools ; officers and men of H . M . S . Russell ; baud ;

Freemasons ; corporations of Penryn and Falmouth ; representatives of other companies ; the Right Hon . Viscount Falmouth , directors , and staff ; shareholders and others . A number of sailors and fishermen had got up an exhibition after their OAVII taste . TAVO figures Avere grotesquely painted and dressed , Avith tridents iu their hands , to represent Father Neptune and his spouse . They were placed in a small cart , from the body of Avhich an eleA-ated canopy had been raised , and around this , as well as thc sides of the vehicle , Avas hung a profusion of laurel and seaweed , the former constituting rather an odd decoration for thc canopy of the monarch of the sea .

On passing the Custom House the procession AA"as joined by Lady Falmouth and party , who Avere greeted with loud cheers . Owing to its great length it moved sloAA-ly , and it was nearly two o ' clock before it reached the site of the docks . Here all the necessary preparations had been made for the ceremony . The foundation on which the stone was to rest had been dul y formed and levelled , a square cavity having been cut in thc centre for the reception of the coins and glass vase or bottle containing the scrolls of the company and the Freemasons , recording the

performance of the ceremony . Over this Avas suspended the foundation stone itself , a fine square Mock from the CarnscAV Granite Quarries . It AA'as evenly and finely cut , the front containing the following inscription , which Avill remain exposed Avhen thc docks are completed : — "Falmouth Docks , February 28 , 1 S 0 O . " The Avhole procession ou reaching the ground , with the exception of Lord Falmouth , the directors and shareholders of the company , the members of the corporation of Falmouth and Penryn , the brethren of

thc Masonic Order , and other visitors who were admitted b y ticket , deployed into a field immediately above the site of the docks . Amongst those Avho took up their stations around the stone Avere , Lord Falmouth and Mr . Samuel Gurney , M . P ., and Lady Falmouth and party . The Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . AV . J . Coope , offered up thc folloAvin" - prayer : — " Prevent us , O Lord , in all our doings with Thy most gracious favour , and further us Avith Thy continued help ; that in all our work begun , continued , and ended in Thee , Ave may glorify Thy Holy Name , and b

finally y Thy mercy , obtain everlasting life , through Jesus Christ our Lord . " The brethren responding , "Amen , so mote it be . " The P . D . l ' rov . Grand Master read the folloAving scroll : — " The foundation stone of these , thc Falmouth Docks , Avas laid on the t-Aventycighth day of February , A . L . 5 S 0 O , A . D . I 860 , in the tAveuty-tbird year of the reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria , ( in the unavoidable absence of the Bi ght AVorshipful Sir Charles Lemon , Baronet , of CareleAV , Provincial Grand Master , and Augustus Smith , Esquire , M . P ., of Tresco Abbey . Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Cormvall ) , by thc Very AVorshipful Richard Pearce , Past Deputy Grand Master of the province , assisted by the AVorshipful Reginald Rogers , of Canvinion ,

Provincial Grand Secretary , Henry Rusden , tho AVorshipful Master of the Lodge of Love and Honour , No . S 9 , Falmouth , aud other Provincial Grand Officers and Masters , and brethren of several Lodges in Conrwall , in the presence of the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Falmouth , & c . " The folloAving scroll , AA'hich had been prepared on the part of thc company , Avas next read : — " Falmouth Docks . This foundation stone Avas laid by thc Right Hon . Evelyn Viscount Falmouth , aided by the Ancient Order of thc

Fraternity of Freemasons , on thc 2 Sth day of February , 1 S 60 . Thc names of the directors follovA'cd . " [ Official seal of the company ] . These , AA'ith one of each of the different descriptions of thc current coins of the realm , AA'ere then placed in a glass bottle or vase , Avhich was hermetically sealed and deposited in the cavity under tho stoue cut for its reception , over which a sheet of lead was then placed . This and the entire space under the stone was then covered Avith cement ; after AA'hich Mr . Abernethythc engineer in chief , presented the silver troivel to thc

, P . D . Prov . Grand Master , Avho spread a portion of the cement over tho surface of the loAver foundation stone . He then returned the troAvel to Mr . Abernethy , Avho handed it to Lord Falmouth , and his lordship also spread a portion of the cement . The stone was then lowered steadily into its place , when the P . D . Prov . Grand Master applied the level , square aud plumb , Avhich ho received from some of the brethren present , and pronouncing that all Avas correct , gave the stone three distinct knocks Avith the mallet provided for the purpose . He then handed the

plumb , level , square and mallet to Mr . Abernethy , saying , I present you with these tools to enable you to perform the great work Avith Avhich your name is IIOAV associated . A plan of thc docks Avas then handed to the P . D . Prov . G . M ., Avho , having approved of it , returned it to tho official of tho company -who had produced it . The P . D . ProA-. G . M . then receiving the cornucopia , containing fine AA'heatfrom Bro . AA . R . Ellispoured it upon tho stone ; the goblet of

, , wine from Bro . Maxwell , of Penzance , and the vase of oil from Bro . T . Solomon , of Truro , also poured them on the stone . Tho oblation having been made , The acting Gui'LAiN offered the folloAving supplication : — May thc Almighty , the God and Great Arclutect of thc universe ,

grant a blessing on this foundation stone Avhich wo have now laid , ami by his presence , enable us to trace this in every other work AA"hich maybe undertaken for the benefit of this toivn and port . May he protect the workmen from accident , and long preserve the structure from inj ury and decay . May he grant to us all the needful supply of the corn of nourishment , tho AA-ine of refreshment , and the oil of joy . Amen , so mote it be . Oh Lord , prosper thou our Avork—yea , prosper thou our baudiAA'ork , and teach us at all times , aud in all places to build up in the

beauty of holiness , the temple of our souls , AA'hich thou bast given us to turn to all good works , till Ave arrive at that glorious mansion iu the sky AA'here all things are perfect , and there is no more labour , but peace and happiness for ever and ever . The brethren responding , Amen , so mote it be . 'The P . D . Pitov . GRAND MASTER—I call on you-my brethren of all thc Lodges , to folloAv mc iu giving the Masonic honours , and after AA-C have done that , I am sure we shall bo quite ready to join in the cheers

which all present doubtless feel desirous of giving . This call was promptly and cordially responded to , every Mason present joining in the grand " three times three . " At the termination of these , an equal number of rounds of enthusiastic cheers burst from the entire assembly . 'The P . D . PKOA ' . GRAND MASTER , after the applause had subsided , said—I declare the stone , the foundation of the Falmouth Docks , to be duly and trul } ' laid , and may the Great Architect of the universe prosper the undertaking . The brethren responding— " Amen . So mote it be . "

Lord FALMOUTH then got upon the top of the stone and AA-as received Avith loud cheers ; and after declaring the foundation stone of the Falmouth Docks and "Prince of AA ales" Breakwater duly laid , said—It seems but yesterday we Avere holding our meetings for the purpose of establishing these docks , which then had appeared only in the shape of a movement in the right direction , but AA-hich UOAV , I am happy to say , arc fast approaching towards the more substantial form of an accomp lished fact . ( Cheers ) . I am sure every one present must feel thc

most lively satisfaction at the inauguration of an undertaking AA'hich may bo looked upon as the commencement of a IIOAV era , not only for Falmouth , but for the county also , inasmuch as upon this foundation stone AVC shall lie building up a great commercial emporium for our toAvn , and shall bo giving to our county that position Avhich nature has marked out for it as the shortest and safest thoroughfare to almost every habitable part of the globe . ( Cheers ) . It has been remarked by those AVIIO arc generally able to foresee changes of the kind , that thc

improvements iu navigation brought about by the application of steam , have so completely revolutionized our ideas as to the merits of the respective harbours of our coast , that sooner or later , probably , only those ports AA'hich are nearest to the points of communication will bo preferred both by merchants and travellers as the places of embarkation and disembarkation ; and many of j ou UOAV present may live to see the day Avheu some of those flourishing toAvns to thc eastward of us , with their extensive docks now so successfully superseding Falmouth , will be looked upon as old fashioned relics of a bygone day , and will have to give AA-ay to the rapidly increasing enterprise , spirit , and intelligence