The Press.
London, England, 1855-08-25 00:00:00

TUESDAY.

This day her Majesty, Prince Albert, and the
Prince of Wales paid a day visit to the palace and
grounds of Versailles. At the town of Versailles
considerable preparations bad been made to give a
cordial welcome to the royal visitors. Among other
matters, a very tasteful triumphal arch extended
across the road at the end of the Avenue St.
Cloud, near to the Gate de Picardie. Their Ma-
jesties and suites travelled in six carriages, and were
received at the palace by Count St. Marsault and
M. Remaly, the Mayor of Versailles. A long line of
troops, consisting of the 48th Infantry of the Line,
two regiments of Cuirassiers, and two regiments of
Carbineers, formed a complete line of troops through
the town and up to the palace.
Owing to a somewhat indistinct announcement in
the Moniteur as to the admission of the public on the
day of the visit of her Majesty to Versailles, there
was not so large an assemblage of persons present
as there would otherwise have been. The public
were, however, admitted, and not a few who were
there congratulated themselves highly on the excel-
lent opportunity which they had of seeing Queen
Victoria, and, what can scarcely be second in the
eyes of Parisians, " les grandee eaux." Their Ma•
jesties paid a short visit to the grand apartments of
Louis XIV. and the magnificent salons of the Musee
Historique, admiring many of the works of art and
grand pictures which they contained.
On leaving the palace their Majesties drove in the
gardens to witness the display of the fountains. The
grand basin of Neptune, with its lofty jets and
towering columns of water, its hoary Neptune and
his loved Amphitrite, its nymphs, its tritons, and its
dragons throwing forth their gaceful and varied jets
of water, was greatly admired. The basins of the
Pyramid, of the Dragon, of Apollo, the fountains of
the Salle du Bal and of the Colonnade, and the
smaller jets so well known to the public, were all
visited and duly praised. Leaving the fountains,
their Majesties proceeded to the Grand and Petit
Trainon, where lunch was provided for the royal
visitors in the room where Marie Antoinette as a
shepherdess, her husband, Louis XVI., as the bailiff,
and the Comte d'Artois as "le garde-chasse," were
wont, in days of yore, to unbend their minds from
the cares and burdens of State and royalty.
In the evening the state visit of her Majesty and
the Emperor to the Grand Opera contrasted greatly
with the comparatively quiet trip to the Palace of
Versailles. The whole line of the Boulevards was
illuminated, the streets were thronged, and once
more a grand ovation, as on the entry of her Majesty,
was paid to the august visitors. The whole distance
from the Champs Elysees to the hotel was one blaze
of light.
The entrance to the Opera was tastefully dressed
with crimson velvet and gold, and illuminated by
festoons of gas, which appeared to support the rich
drapery. At the top of the drapery there was an
enormous golden eagle with extended wings, and the
steps of the Opera had been converted into a garden
of the richest and choicest flowers. The grand
entrance was ornamented with orange-trees and vases
of flowers. In the midst of the fairy-like scene
which the grand entrance displayed figured the
beautiful gold candelabras with which the director
of the Opera preceded their Majesties, and con-
ducted them to the state-box. The staircase was
ornamented by rich tapestries, with garlands and
festoons of flowers, and mirrors on every side reflected
the enchanting beauty of the scene. Seats were
erected in the grand foyer, which were filled by
elegantly-dressed ladies.
in the Opera itself, the salle for the reception of
the royal visitors was fitted up with imperial
splendour and exquisite taste. The front was formed
of embroidered crimson velvet draped with golden
cords ; on the top in the centre was the imperial
eagle, and at each corner the arms of England and
France. Cent. Gerdes in full uniform formed a
guard of honour at each side of the imperial salle and
also at each side of the stage during the performance.
At about twenty minutes after eight o'clock the
illustrious visitors entered the theatre, and her Ma-
jesty entering the salle leaning on the arm of the
Emperor, and the Empress on that of Prince
Albert, was the signal for loud and continued
applause and " vives." Her Majesty and the Em-
- mrire white dresses, richly trimmed with lace.
the ribbon of SO Order of the
tare of diamonds. The Empress
iagniflcent tiara and suite of bril-
iperor was in the dress of a general
the ribbon of the Order of the
' lbert in the uniform of a field. m ar-