The Press.
London, England, 1858-07-24 00:00:00

THE PRESS, JULY 24, 1858.

tout and Pstion.

It is now definitely arranged that her Majesty is to
be. accompanied, on the occasion of her visit to the
imperial dockyard and arsenal of Cherbourg, by such
of her " faithful Commons" as may find it conve-
nient to undertake the voyage. A committee of
members has been formed to make the necessary ar
rangements, and it is proposed that the legislative
wisdom should assemble at Southampton on the
evening of the 3rd of August, when a vessel belong-
ing to the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Packet
Company will be in readiness to convey it to the
French coast. The committee, having a disagreeable
recollection of the scant accommodation provided for
members of the House of Commons on the occasion
of the memorable review at Spithead, two years
since, resolved to charter a vessel on their own ac•
count, and thus he entirely independent of the Ad-
miralty. An application was consequently made to
the Peninsular and Oriental Company for the use of
one of their magnificent fleet of passenger steamers,
and the company in the handsomest manner not only
promised a vessel, but declined to accept any remu-
neration whatever for the hire of it. The only charge,
therefore, which hon. members will be expected
to defray is that for maintenance during the trip,
which is to extend over three days at the least. The
majority of members having left town, it is not pro-
bable that more than 200 excursionists will avail
themselves of the invitation ; but from these may be
gleaned the elements of a pleasant party. As at
present proposed, members are to find their way to
Southampton on the evening of the 3rd of August,
where dinner will be provided on their arrival. The
party will sleep on board that night, and the vessel
will sail at an early hour in the morning, returning
from Cherbourg on the following Friday evening.
Captain Ciosset, the Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms, is
intrusted with the preparations, and has sent a cir-
cular, of which the following is a copy, to all the
members of the house now in town :

House of Commons, July 17, 1858.
Sir,—The committee for superintending the arrange-
ments for the visit of members of the House of Commons
to Cherbourg have requested me to inform you that a ticket
of admission wilt he issued to you on Wednesday or Thurs-
day next, on application at my room between twelve and
one o'clock, on receipt of a cheque for 51. This amount
is considered by the committee as probably sufficient to
cover all expenses from the time of arriving on board until
leaving the ship. Should the expenses incurred not amount
to 51. per head the surplus will be returned to you, and the
committee will consider themselves claimants for any extra
expenses, which, however, are not anticipated.
It is proposed that the party shall assemble on board at
Southampton on the afternoon of Tuesday, the 3rd of
August, on which day dinner will he ready at eight o'clock ;
the party will sleep on board, and the ship will leave early
in the morning of the 4th August, remaining at Cherbourg
until Friday evening.
Should I not receive your application for a ticket by
Tburad iy next, the committee will consider themselves at
liberty to dispose of your place to any other member. The
admission strictly limited to members of the house.

A few berths will be reserved fJr servants, and any mem-
ber desiring to take his servant will be srpplied with a
ticket at .21. 10s. each.—Your very obedient servant,
R. A GossEr, Deputy Sergeant•at-Arms.
This circular is, of course, based upon the assump-
tion that Parliament will be prorogued on, at all
events, not later than the morning of the 3rd of
August. The probability, however, is that the pro-
rogation will take place on Monday, the 2nd.