2-995-811 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Prince of Wales closing the last rivet of the Victoria Tubular Bridge over the St. Lawrence - from a sketch by our special artist in Canada, G. H. Andrews, 1860. 'The Prince, having laid the last stone of the gigantic pier, entered the car and proceeded through the bridge to perform the second part of this twofold ceremony...None could look down on this great river, and then look along the sides of the iron tube which tapered away at each end in the distance till it seemed a mere reed of metal, without feeling astounded not only how such a design was ever carried out, but how it could ever have been conceived as practicable. The formality of completing the bridge was now gone through. Four rivets had been left unfinished, and these were closed with iron bolts by two workmen. The last, a silver rivet, was clinched by the Prince himself...The Prince took the hammer. Mr. Hodges adjusted the silver knob; and, with some stout, sounding blows, the Prince finished the last rivet in the Victoria Bridge...Our Special Artist - the only person connected with the press who accompanied the Royal party at this closing ceremony - was allowed to stand by the side of the Prince, and every facility was given to him to take an accurate sketch'. From "Illustrated London News", 1860.