midnight
And the firemen , by shouting it as heartily as the rest , robbed the epigram of all its sting . But the best of it , my dear Prince , was still to come . For at half-past eight -LRB- that being the time of low water -RRB- a salvage corps assembled and managed to drag the engine ashore by means of stout tackle hitched round the granite pedestal that stands on Freethy 's Quay to commemorate the visit of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert , who landed there on the 8th of September , 1846 . The guise-dancers paraded it through the streets until midnight , when they gave it over to the carollers , who fed it with buckets ; and as the poor machine was but little damaged , brisk jets of water were made to salute the citizens ' windows simultaneously with the season 's holy songs . I , who have a habit of sleeping with my window open , received an icy shower-bath with the opening verse of `` Christians , awake ! Salute the Happy Morn ... '' On Saturday next the Brigade assembles for a Grand Salvage Banquet in the Town Hall . There will be speeches .