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

806

•
station, a deputation of pupils of l'Ecole Polytechnique,
whose parents had been killed under the walls of
Seb istopol, occupied a prominent position, and upon the
Emperor pointing them out, her Majesty appeared greatly
interested.
The spectacle which presented itself to her Majesty, as
she passed along the Boulevards, was one which it is im-
possible adequately to describe. The Voltigeurs de la
Garde and the Garde Nationale kept the line on each side ;
behind them were densely-packed masses of people, every
head uncovered ; every window of the yet unfinished
houses, and every balcony, was thronged with spectators—
the very roofs and chimney-tops were covered ; the bands
of the Guides and the Voltigeurs were playing our National
Anthem, while high over all were heard the loud hurrahs
and " Vive la Reine," " Viva l'Empereur," of the assembled
thousands. Everywhere the progress of her Majesty was
an ovation which more than repaid the enthusiastic wel-
come given to the Emperor on his visit to London.
On the Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle the third arrondisse-
ment had raised two tall masts, from which was suspended
a golden cord, ornamented with the flags of France,
England, Turkey, acid Sardinia. Four masts of a lesser
height supported shields on which were inscribed the
glorious words of " Alma," " Balaklava," " Bomarsund,"
and " Inkermann," Passing along the line was a most pic-
turesque decoration, consisting of columns and pillars
bearing allegorical statues and inscriptions in honour of
the Queen and of the Emperor. At the corner of the Rue
Richelieu two handsome columns had been erected by the
English residents—a fact which was announced in golden
letters upon a large band of fringed velvet. The Opera had
erected a most magnificent triumphal arch across the
Boulevards in the style of Louis XIV. The Opera
Comique had raised a column surrounded at its base with
exquisite flowers, and bearing a profusion of flags and
banners.
The army and the Garde Nationale vied with each other
in acclamations as the cortege passed. The whole of the
road, from the station to St. Cloud, was lined on the left
aide by the regular army, and upon the right by the Garde
Nationale; the whole length of the line being not less than
fourteen kilometres, or very nearly nine miles.
As the cortege approached the Place de la Concorde the
shades of evening had gathered thickly, and many of the
houses and public buildings were illuminated. The ap-
pearance of the Hotel du Ministre des Affaires Etrangers
and the Hall of the Legislative Assembly presented a mag-
nificent appearance, and the imperial carriages stopped a
few moments, at her Majesty's request, in order that she
might have an opportunity of enjoying the magnificent
sight. Passing along the Champs Elysies, the Arc du
Triomphe at the top of the hill became suddenly illumi-
nated, and by the time the imperial carriages had arrived
at the arch almost every building was illuminated; the
Palais de l'lndustrie with a large number of eagles in gas,
the Palace of the Elysee with a most magnificent display,
the whole of the public buildings in the I:ue de Rivoli, the
gardens of the Tuileries, and every public building in Paris.
At a quarter to nine o'clock the august party arrived at
St. Cloud, the arrival being announced by salutes from the
artillery stationed in the grounds. On alighting from her
carriage her Majesty was received at the foot of the stair-
case by the Empress and her Royal Highness the Princess
Mathilde, and the ladies and officers of the household of
the Empress, the marshals of the palace, and the ladies
and officers appointed to be in attendance on her Majesty
during her stay in Paris. There were also present the
great officers of the empire, M. Fould, the Minister of
State and the Minister of the Household of the Emperor,
and Count Walewski, the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Having reached the landing-place of the grand staircase,
the Emperor presented to her Majesty the Ministers, grand
officers, and officers of the household. At half-past nine
o'clock dinner was served in the grand gallery of Diana,
the chef d'ieuvre of the great painter Mignard. Their
Majesties returned to the grand apartments, where they
remained until eleven 0'c10ck.....

St. Cloud and Paris were brilliantly illuminated during
the whole of the evening.
The official Moniteur of the day thus referred to
the event:—

The presence in France of her Majesty the Queen of
England will afford to the inhabitants of Paris the occasion
of displaying their sentiments of affection and of respect
to the powerful ally of the Emperor, a sovereign whose
vast dominions comprise not less than two hundred millions
of loyal subjects. They will be in this respect the inter-
preters of the feelings of all the nation. Her Majesty the
Queen of England will find here a welcome not less cordial
and not less enthusiastic than that which the Emperor
and Empress received on the occasion of their recent visit
to London.

It will be certainly one of the most important facts of
the present epoch, so fruitful in great events, this visit to
Paris of the Queen of England under the reign of the Em-
peror Napoleon, this solemn consearation of an alliance
which common sufferings and victories are now cementing,
and it will tend still more to unite the mutual sympathies
of the two sovereigns.
What proof more brilliant of its friendship could Eng-
land give than to confide to France at the same time its
well-beloved sovereign, around whose throne all the virtues
shine, and the young prince who will succeed her?
France will respond worthily to this loyal confidence.
The welcome given to the Queen of Great Britain will
address itself also to her august consort, so closely asso-
ciated in her high destinies, and who, by the rare qualities
of his mind and by his noble character, has succeeded in
conciliating the esteem and affection of the English nation.
From the enthusiasm which manifests itself iu all
classes, from the great preparations which are being made
along the route which the august visitors will take, it is
easy to see that the population of Paris fully comprehend
the important bearings of this great event, which associates
itself heart and soul with the sentiments of the Emperor
towards his faithful ally, and the arrival of the Queen of

THE PRESS.

England at Paris will be a day of great rejoicing for all
France.

SUNDAY.
The illustrious guests of the Emperor at St. Cloud
did not appear in public, the day being devoted to
rest.
It was generally believed that her Majesty, the
Prince Consort, the Prince of Wales, and the Prin-
cess Royal, accompauied by the royal suite, would
have attended Divine service in the chapel of the
British Embassy. This arrangement was, however,
changed, and the Queen had Divine service per-
formed in one of the apartments of the palace at St.
Cloud. It was strictly private, no other persons
being in attendance except those immediately con-
nected with the royal suite. Dr. Hale, chaplain to
the British embassy, officiated.
Her Majesty and the Prince breakfasted at an early
hour with their Imperial Majesties, and shortly after-
wards enjoyed a drive in a pony-carriage through the
magnificent park of St. Cloud. In the afternoon the
Empress and her Majesty drove out again. The
Emperor and Prince Albert, attended by the Marquis
of Abercorn, Lord Alfred Paget, and the equerries of
his Majesty, accompanied the carriageon horseback.
The dinner was private, and in the evening there
was a concert of sacred music.
Crowds of people flocked to St. Cloud during the
day. There were a few showers of rain, but the
evening was remarkably fine.

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