The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-03-23 00:00:00

BIRTHDAY OF THE PRINCE IMPERIAL.

P

hardy as the majority of English boys of his age.
..nere in in his entire bearing a manly simplicity most
engaging, and immediately noticed by all who come
into contact with the Prince. Many of those who saw
him on 'Saturday for the first time since the siaidence
of the Imperial family in England declared that no
one who had known the Prince Imperial two years ago
would now be able to recognize him in the stalwart
youth they had come to congratulate on the attainment
of his sixteenth year.
Among the ladies and gentlemen who came f rum
London at an early hour to present their respects to
the Emperor, the Empress, and the Prince were Prince
Lucien Bonaparte, the Prince awl Princess de la
Moskowa, Due de Cainbaces, Comte and Comtesse
de la Poeze, M. and Madame Bartholoni, M. Bene-
detti, Comte Casablanca, Vicomte and Vicomtesse
Casabianca, M. LefUtre and son, Baron and Baroness
de Bourgoing, Madame alrld Mdlle. de Saulcy,
liL
Dollfus, Comte de Labloyere, Baron Lambert,
Baron H. Mario de Hale. Baron de NTontbrun, M.
Algonin, 111. Th4roulde, M. Benoit, Mrs. and Miss
Vaughan, Misses Hervey, Mrs. Jay (of Menden-
house) and Miss Tucker, Mr. Arthur Meyer, and
many others.
Shortly after 11 o'clock their Majesties and the Prince
Imperial, with their household suite, composed at
present as follows,—the Due de liwssano, Comte
Davilliers Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely, Conde
Clary, Marquis de Bassano, Baron Corvisart, M. Con-
nean fits, Madame Lebreton, and Mdlle. Lharrninat,
—and accompanied by all the ladies and gentlemen
who had arrived in the morning from London, set out
on foot from Camden-house to attend Divine service
at the Roman Catholic chapel at Chiselhurst, distant
about a quarter of a mile from Camden-house. Their
Majesties crossed Chiselbutst-common, respectfully
greeted by large numbers of persons assembled to see
them, and upon entering the chapel took their places
in chairs provided for them, immediately in front of
the altar. A high mass was then chanted, several
priests taking part in the impressive ceremonies, which
terminated with the Te Deem, the performance of the
entire mass occupying nearly an hour and a half. The
4 little chapel was charmingly decorated with
.owers, and was, of course, crowded in every part.
At the conclusion of Divine service the Imperial family
returned on foot to their residence, accompanied by
their friends, and again saluted with every demonstra-
tion of sympathy by a throng much more numerous
than had previously assembled. '
A simple reception was held immediately afterwards
by their Majesties and the young Prince, on the
spacious lawn in front of the principal favatle of
Camden house, each of those present receiving a kindly
Yessure of the hand, and a few courteous words from
Imperial fatuity. The Empress. who appears to
have in some degree recovered from the terrible mental
triais she has recently undergone, manifested, by her
winning vivacity and gracious manner, her lively ap-
preciation of the sentiment which had brought together
the ladies and gentlemen assembled around her ; and
the Prince Imperial made the best possible impression
upon all present by his manly, unassuming attitude,
and the beaming simile with which he received the
felicitations of his friends.

managed to save. It was a most fearful sight to see these
brave fellows, who had gone away to save a shipmate's life,
washed off the boat one by one and go down close to the ship
when they expected to reach her safely. They had left
ship at 7SO am. Myna now 12 o'clock, and they had
.en pulling bard against a gale of wind all that time They
did not pick up the man that fell overboard tint. We were
not able to pick up either of the cotters, as they were bottom
up and the sea was running too high; so we are minus a
nide of cutters."

pretty
flowers,

pres.
the '

tria.s

Saturday, March 16, 1872, was the birthday of him
who was ushered into existence sixteen years ago in a
splendid apartment of the Palace of the Tuileries amid
the booming of cannon and the sounds of national re-
joicing, as befitted the advent of a son and heir to the
Imperial throne of France. It will be remembered,
too, that the deliberations of a solemn conclave, re-
presenting all the Great Powers of Europe, assembled
n Paris to settle the conditions destined to end a tre-
mendous struggle which had been long raging in the
East between England, France, Turkey, and Ssz-
dinia on the one side, and Russia on the other, were
momentarily suspended, in order to gratify the desire
—the superstitious whim, some called it—of Napoleon
111. and his Imperial Consort that peace should be re-
stored on that day which gave France a future Sove-
reign.
Saturday was the second anniversary the Prince
Imperial has passed on English soil. He came a fugi-
tive to England a few days after the Revolution of
September 4, 1870, and, after a brief sojourn at
Hastings, took up his residence with the Empress
at Camden-house, Chiselhurst, where they were re-
joined by the Emperor only after the conclusion of
peace and his release from Wilhelmshohe. At the
date of his arrival in England the health of the
young Prince, which had never been very robust,
was rendered still more precarious in consequence
of the disastrous campaign of 170, and the repose and
quiet of his new place of residence, coupled with the
bracing English atmosphere, soon effected in his ph3 deal
appearance, as well as in all other essential respects, a
change truly marvellous. From a slight and somewhat
effeminate lad, be rapidly grew into a strong, healthy,
well conditioned youth, fond of outdoor sports and exer-
cises, an excellent horseman, and in allrespecta as ruddy

I lust
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-:SERVER. SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1871.