3-082-977 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Opening of the Baltic Canal: departure of Mr. Gladstone from Tilbury on board the "Tantallon Castle", 1895. 'A decided éclat has been given by the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone to the large party of guests who, at the invitation of Sir Donald Currie, went on board the Tantallon Castle to witness the opening of the Baltic Canal. A man who has been Prime Minister cannot voluntarily divest himself of the importance which attaches to all he afterwards says and does. Accordingly it was not surprising that great interest has been taken by our Continental neighbours in the progress of the Tantallon Castle and in its most distinguished passenger. Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone proceeded direct from their Hawarden home to the steamship lying at Tilbury, and slept on board prior to the arrival of the other guests of hospitable Sir Donald Currie. These latter came on board on the morning of June 12, and included Lord Welby, Sir Algernon West, Sir Joseph Pease, Bart., M.P., Sir William Ingram, Bart., M.P., Mr. George Armitstead, Sir George Newnes, Bart., M.P., Mr. H. W. Lucy, and many others well known in politics and literature. By four o'clock on June 13 the steamer arrived in the Elbe, and thereafter the visitors went to Hamburg'. From "Illustrated London News", 1895.