The Express.
London, England, 1855-08-22 00:00:00

THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO PARIS.

INSPECTION OF THE EXI
BEAUX ARTS.
EIPILOK OITA MOUS, COMS'

PARIS. MONDAT RIMMING.
The bill of fare provided for her Majesty's enter-
tainment to-day was sufficiently varied at once for
the royal entertainment, and for the gratification of
the public curiosity, which had been sadly disap-
pointed by the protracted journey of Saturday. The
Parisians had on that day given themselves • general
holiday, sad were all in the streets at an early hour
prepared to shout their heartiest tiros for La Rein.
D'AngloGrre, but a sojourn of eight hours on a har-
vest day in the streets of Paris is so joke, and when,
after that, was to be added the closing in of night,
which prevented &tithing being distinguished but
the scarlet liveries of the royal footmen, it was not
wonderful that thtfebrile organisations of our neigh-
bours should be disagreeably excited, and that
much charactetistio grumbliog should transpire,
sad some ludicrous mistakes be made in
ellering the osatemary ovations. It is said,
tee instance, that her Majesty got credit for a
peculiar severity of countenance in consequence of
being mistaken for one of the ladies of her court,
and that the footmen aforesaid were very much
cheered at one point through being taken for two
very great offioers of the court. It is certainly a
pity that the inexorable tide should have inierfered
with her Majesty's usual punctuality on so important
an occasion, as the people here had made the most
laudable exertions to give her a suitable reception,
and to show their erase of the high compliment paid
to their hospitality. It woe remarked that the de-
oersted balconies, triumphal arches, and the various
other decorations were much more numerous and
splendid than had ever been seen before, and that an
extraordinary large proportion of them was erected
at private expense, and witbost any compulsion or
suggestion on the part of the government. The
same might be said of the illuminations in
the evening, which were so brilliant as
almeet to restore the good humour of the
crowd, although still, audible murmurs might be
heard on every side, very clearly indicative of
the chagrin of the gay Parisians at losing their
expected sight of their august visitor. It is to be
hoped that, previous to her Majesty's departure,
some ametsde hortorale may be thought of, as there
will then be no tide-tables required to regulate the
period of a promenade.
You have already been informed that Sunday was
strictly preserved to the royal and imperial circles as
a day of rest, the value of which could he fully appre-
ciated by all who had assisted, as the French say, at
the ceremonial of the day before; but here again
soma disappointment was created, for the chapel of
the embassy bad been newl carpeted for au expected
royal visit, and the whole English garrison of Paris
had been taken with a sudden religious fit, and had
determined to go to church to take a stare of homage
at their beloved sovereign. The reverend incumbent
had prepared an occasional sermon, in which the au-
spicious occasion was to be dwelt on with due em-
phasis, but at 10 o'clock in the morning be received a
note from Lotd Cowley, summoning him to St.
Cloud, to read sirvice in the Queen's private apart-
ments. As Dr. Hale bad au audience of but twenty-
four persons to hear him, it may be supposed that
there was hardly an opportunity for doing full justice
to his original intention. It is understood that it
possible her Majesty will attend service next Sunday
in the chapel of the embassy. I may here observe
that I have had an opportunity, through the courtesy
of Mr. Albano, architect to our Board of Works, of ,
seeing the improvements which have been made io
that once dilapidated edifice under his tasteful super-
intendence. A sufficiently gorgeous presence cham-
ber, in crimson and gold, has been prepared, and the
reception saloons have been beautifully mounted in
blue and silver. There is still room for further im-
provements • but until Mr. Williams, of Lambeth,
relaxer a little in hie stern Dodoes of economy, the
Ambsseade d'Aegleterre mast be contented with a
moderate amount of splendour. To show how much
necessity is the mother of invention, I cannot
refrain from, mentioning the ingenious expedient by

which Mr. Albano converted an old musty carpet
into a splendid new one, glowing as if fresh from the
loom* of Anbussoo. Plulosophicaliy concluding that
the grizzled appeeranee of the carpet was only super-
ficial, he bad it carefully clipped all over, and the
result is a splendid new carpet, hartnonieiug Wand-
lolly with the grand furniture which it supports. I
trust that the proprietors ot old Aubusson carpets
will be sufficiently grateful for being made acquelated
with this valuable discovery. • I
This morning wee devoted to an inspection of the
Exposition ot the Beaux Art*, and certainly it would
be difficult to find an exhibition more worthy of •
oval visit. Here are collected all the triumphs et
modem art from every school, gallery, and studio in
Dm, admirably arranged, lighted, and classilkiis
mailing in their mammal= a complete school of
eritisima for enrols who wished to become a connois-
seur. The two largest miles are devoted to French
art, in addition to which Horace Vernet and Ingres
have each a room to himself, besides which there is a
third room mainly devoted to a collection of the
works of De la Roche. The English have a large
gallery, containing many well known pictures,
amongst which those of Mulready and
Mil-
Isiis have obtained the greatest popularity
amongst the Parisians; the one for his ela-
borate finish, the other for the novelty and originality
of his mode of treatment. Meclise's correct sculptural
drawing is too much like their own to attract much
notice from the French, and they know too little of
the original 'ornery to eater into the rich sylvan
beauty of the English landscapes. The Flemings
have a large gallery, but these artists have all been
trained in France, so that one looks in vain for the
worthy summers ot Robens and Vandyke. Spain,
Sweden, and Norway have also galleries; and even
Brother Jonathan offers his mite to art in the slaps
of one war-piece of mediocre pretensions. The
however, of all this mass of form, and light, and
oolour, set in burnished gold. and hung with a tree
eye for position, is almost oppressive in its sae&
&mice, and must have been duly appreciated by oar
Sovereign sod her illustrious Consort, both of whom
are known to be no mean connoisseurs in the fine arta.
It was at first intended that the visit should be pri-
vete, and great exertions were required from your
correspondent to obtain the privilege of admis-
sion, but subiseqoently other councils prevailed, and the
general public were permitted to crowd round, sad
run after and chase the two most powerful Sovereigns
in the world, for the small charge of one franc for
each person. Indicatioos of the aporoachiog visit,
might be seen from the moment one entered the
Champs Elysees. The patrols of the Municipal
Guard I Cheval promenaded up and down, and the
new police were most numerously represented, and
folly employed in restraining within due bounds the
public curiosity. They (lid their spiriting admirably
and on the whole gently, if we except a wonderful
turn for oratory exhibited by each member of the
force, and which contrasted somewhat oddly with the
dry brevity of their London contemporaries. At the
entrance a handsome canopy in crimson velvet and
gold had been erected, and the whole of the espla-
eade was gaily decorated with oriflatunies and
trophies tyoeal of the English and French alli-
ance. The Imperial and Royal party arrived
punctually at eleven o'clock, and were received
at the entrance by Prince Napoleon, MM. De Mee-
coy (special commissioner foe the line arts), Lepiay,
Arles, Darrow, &a I did not observe any
member of the English coeunissice, except Mr. Went-
worth Dilke, who was not however guest is his
official capacity. The ladies at home will be glad to
leant that their Quoit won a charming white bow-