In the summer and autumn of 1860, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII), visited Canada and the United States.  The Canadian section of the tour took him from St John’s in Newfoundland to Windsor in Ontario, from where he crossed to Detroit for the start of the US leg of the tour.  His itinerary included Halifax, Quebec, Ottawa, where he laid the foundation stone for the Parliament buildings, Toronto and Hamilton.  Another of his duties came during his visit to Montreal, when he inaugurated the Victoria Bridge carrying the Grand Trunk Railway over the St Lawrence, an event for which a commemorative medal was struck.

The author was correspondent for the New York Herald throughout the Prince’s tour of both countries, and says in his preface that ‘as I personally saw more of the scenes therein depicted than any other individual, not of the royal suite, I feel myself entitled to speak…’  The account is based on the letters from him that were published in that publication during the tour.  At times he shows a caustic side to his commentary.