The Press.
London, England, 1855-04-21 00:00:00

THE WEEK.

THI expectancy on which we dwelt two or three weeks back is rapidly
giving place to action. The visit of the Emperor Louis NAPOLEON will
long be remembered—not only for its owu sake, but as marking a
turning-point in the eventful siege of Sebastopol, and in the Con
ference now sitting at Vienna to determine the great question of peace
or war.

The visit has kept the metropolis in continued excitement luring
the week. For the time telegraphic messages from Vienna and
Kamiesch have excited little interest in comparison with presence of
the Emperor and Empress. Their entry into the metropolis took our
public by surprise. Stories had been circulated for some days pre-
viously of the precautions that had been taken. The Emperor's car-
riage, it was said, had been lined with iron—and when his Majesty,
with the Empress, were seen in the lovely afternoon of Monday, seated
in an open barouch, advancing, at a slow place, and affording to the
multitudes which lined the way from the Bricklayer's Arms Station to
that at Paddington, a full view of their persons, the surprise of the
spectators was hardly inferior to their gratification. The Imperial
carriage was escorted by a squadron of Life Guards; beyond
this there was no state, though the flags at different parts of the
route, and the good-humoured crowds assembled, gave a holiday
aspect to the scene. The Empress has not, we think, been seen to
more advantage than on this occasion. The fair, pure, open face,
wore in the midst of the turbulent rejoicing an aspect of delightful
serenity, and enchanted the people by its noble grace. The procession
to the city on Thursday was less stately than was anticipated. The
carriage was closed, the Emperor sat back, and the pace was brisk.
The tumid, clumsy speech of the Corporation was replied to by
the Emperor with his wonted felicity of expression, usually tinged
by a kind of poetic imagery and phrase which, though not common,
seem natural to him. This was particularly remarkable at the close
of his reply, when he spoke of "the imposing spectacle which England
" presents, where Virtue on the Throne directs the destinies of a
" country under the empire of a liberty without danger to its
" grandeur." Of the reception of the Imperial guests in the streets
different accounts will be given according to the stations at which
spectators happened to be. It was not at any point under our obser-
vation enthusiastic, but it was invariably respectful, and at times
hearty. The reporters have, unfortunately, fallen into such a habit
of exaggeration, and have always so much frantic cheering and
enthusiasm made to order, that there is really no believing a word
they say.
The grand reception was at the Italian Opera, on Thursday. The
house was decorated in a novel style. White draperies, ornamented
with gold, covered the fronts of the whole five tiers of boxes ; the
drapery fell from a broad edging of fluted satin with gold border.
The white was relieved by festoons of artificial flowers, and satin
panels divided the drapery into compartments answering to the front
of each box—the panels laced with gold, having a crimson wreath
encircling the letters V. N. E., or A., placed alternately. With the
splendidly-decorated Royal box in the centre, and the gay dresses
and gleaming jewels of the ladies, the whole scene more resembled
a tableau by Watteau, than any spectacle ever previously presented
in our capital.
The Queen, with her Imperial guests, arrived shortly before ten.
As they entered the box, curiosity seemed the predominant feeling.
Their reception was loyal, but certainly not tumultuous, nor was the
applause which followed the " Partant and " God save the Queen"
unusual. The contrast between our Queen and the Empress as
they stood in front of the box was singular. The Queen is stout, and
somewhat tanned by exposure. She was dressed in blue, without
pretension to style, and might from her appearance, if we except her
crown of brilliants, have seemed a happy wife and mother from any
English home ; but the Empress was a I- gure, as regards• dress, that
could only have come the hands of a Parisian modiste of the most
exquisite taste} A white dress, flounced to the waist, trimmed with
Marabout feathers, was set out in a wide circle, like the hooped petti-
coats of the last century. On her neck she wore a necklace composed
of large emeriilds, in elegant setting, and most tastefully disposed,
and this lofty brow was
,crowned with a superb circlet of brilliants.
The figure once seen was never to be forgotten ; yet, for an English
taste, the dress was perhaps too elaborate—at least it appeared so in
contrast to that of the Queen. The Emperor sat on the right hand of
the box, next to him was the Queen—the Empress sat next, with
Prince Albert on her left. Conversation was kept up during the whole
. of the performance, and the Empress looked smiling and animated.
. Four of the youthful Princes and Princesses occupied the private box
of her Majesty.
The sight for those without was almost equal to that for those
within. The line of way from Waterloo-bridge to St. James'satreet
was magnificently illuminated. The display in Pall mall was dazzling
—the brilliancy seeming positively superior to the unclouded noon of
a summer's sky. The streets were densely thronged, and exhibited
all the signs of a great festive occasion. Such a display would be
Fuited to the pride of glorious victory, or still better to the pomp of
I.lmions peace ; yet on that night of the 20th of April who could tell
what scene was faintly lighted by the crescent moon before Sebastopol ?
Had the assault then taken place? if so, who were the victors in the
bloody strife, and how many thousands lay, never more to rise, on the
b..ttle ground!
Yesterday, the visit to the Crystal Palace, and the Queen's Grand
State Ball in the evening, splendidly commemorated the birthday of

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