To the foregoing address the annexed reply was received from London in the course of a few days:—
“Whitehall, 25th September, 1847.
“Sir,—I am directed by the Secretary, Sir George Grey, to inform you, that the Loyal and Dutiful Address of the Inhabitants of Fleetwood, on the occasion of Her Majesty’s late visit, has been laid before the Queen, and that the same was very graciously received by Her Majesty.
“I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed)
“Dennis le Merchant.
“Rev. St. Vincent Beechey, Incumbent of Fleetwood.”
Early next morning the handsome saloon was occupied by the High-sheriff, the Under-sheriff, and a select number of gentlemen, and shortly after ten o’clock Her Majesty and the royal party proceeded from the yacht to the special train amid joyful acclamations which resounded from all parts of the shore. The moment Her Majesty set foot, for the first time, on her Duchy of Lancaster, the royal standard was lowered from the mast-head of the yacht, and instantly raised on the flag-staff at the custom-house of Fleetwood, where it received a salute of twenty-one guns. After another salute of a similar number of guns, as Her Majesty reached the end of the gallery, the royal party entered their saloon carriage, Mr., now Sir John, Hawskshaw, engineer to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, took his station on the engine, and the train moved slowly off, followed by the ringing cheers of at least ten thousand spectators.
It should be mentioned that a loyal address, written in Latin, from the students of the Northern Church of England School, at Rossall, arrived too late for presentation, and was afterwards forwarded to London.
In the month of July, 1847, Mr. Thomas Drummond, contractor, commenced the erection of the present Independent Chapel in West Street, and notwithstanding a serious delay through the destruction of the north gable and roof-framing by a heavy gale in September, the building was completed the same year. The edifice, which will contain about 600 persons, is a neat brick structure with side buttresses, and adorned with a castellated tower. Beneath the chapel are spacious school-rooms for boys and girls. The site was granted by Sir P. H. Fleetwood, and conveyed in trust for the use of the church and congregation.