The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-13 00:00:00

FRENCH DEMONSTRATION AT DOVER IN

AID OF THE PATRIOTIC FUND.

Thursday last (says the Dover Chronicle of this
day) was a slay to be remembered at Duer in connect:an
with one of the most interoting events, nationally con-
sidered, and the m: st intvresting of a local nature, that the
present alliance of England and France--so fruitful in
happy results—bas yet brought forth. On that day, u had
been previously announced, the splendid band of our close
neighbour on she opposite side of the Channel, the munici•
pality of Calais, and the gentlemen of the Choral Socit ty of
S. Omer, gave a grand musical demonstration, in the Town.
hall of this plav, in aid of the Patriotic Fund.
It was a striking illustration of the entente rordtafe ex-
isting between the two countries; and it acquired addi
tional interest tram the circumstance of the cit4ens of

Calais and Dover occupying towns IV MI to each other
than any other paces upon oppopita sides of the English
and French coasts.

At an early hour the French colours were hoisted in all
parts of the town. From the Town-ball and other pub-
lic buildings immense tri-colcura were flying; the shipping
in the harbour was gaily decorated with the flogs of
nations, the French precLantieetietc, while from private
houses in alm st every street might be seen the ensigns
of the two countries, with appropriate mottoes and de-
vices, including a large display of theinitial tt N," areothed
I with laurels. Lines of flags extended acroes many of the
streets; and as the day wore on many of tho shops wore
closed, for the Mayor had requested a suspension cf bull-
am, so that this red-letter day for the town of Dover
might be thoroughly observed by ali classes.
Shortly bet. re 11 o'clock the whole of the gentlemen of
the Band of Colitis, and of the Choral Seeley of St. Omer,
formed into procession in order to walk to the Guildhall,
where it was arranged that they should be met by the
mayor and corporation. The procession started, preceded
by two of the Calais Municipal Guards. ono beariug the
tscilard of England, aid the other the municipal nog of
Calais. The French Consul, acconsparde d by the Cal tail
of the Calais Band, and the President of the Choral S cis y,
ite., was followed by the bond of the Staffordshire Militia;
after which came the French band and the Choral Society.
Each band played alternately, and the procession was cur.
rounded by an immense concourse of people, which in-
creased as it proceeded. Arrived at the Guild-
hall, where the mayor, corporation, and the gentlemen of
the Patriotic Fund Committee, as well as the magistrates,
Captain Herrick, It N., the officers of the garrison, and
tome of the principal inhabitant?, were waiting to receive

them, they were whitened by the mayor 'in acknowledge
meat of the sympathy and kind foaling which bad prompted
their visit to Dover. The director of the Calais band Ti.
flied in a complimentary speech, congratulatory of the
alliance of the two armies.
The gre t feature of the occasion, the concert, was
looked forward to with much piety/re. By the erection
of a lam gallery it was computed that the Town ball
would be made to afford accommodation fur from 1,000
t) I,soo.pernms, and from the sale cf the tickets it was
concluded that quite that number would be present. Early
in the day it was stated that tickets were realising an
enormous premium ; and long before the hour for which
the concert was filed not a ticket was to be obtained for any
co nsideratico
The bout fixed for the commencement of the concert wa•
seven o'clock, hut long before this time had areived specta-
tors began to pour into the hell. The eta of Dover and
the neighbourhood assembled.
The execution of vocalists and

I Wag much

. .-
admired,-and their performance was frequently interrupted
by the plaudits of the audience. At the conclusion the
Mayor called on the audience f three cheers for the Em-
peror and Empress of the French, and the hall rueg with
loud acclamations. The feet by the whole strength of
the orchestral corps was rapturously applauded. It was
sung in English, and formed a grace ful close t 3 the kind
and laborious exertions of the gentlemen who haddevotel
their services to such a noble object. The band numbered
fifty-four performer', and the Chotal Society forty-fire.
Thus was concluded one of the most interesting events
which bas been witnessed in the town of Dover by the pre-
sent generation.