The Press.
London, England, 1854-04-22 00:00:00

FRANCE.

The English military visitors lingered on in Paris
for several days after that which had been originally
indicated for their departure. The interval was
occupied in various fetes and shows, some of a mili-
tary but more of a merely holiday character, in
which the Parisian public appears to have taken
great interest, while the Emperor Napoleon dis-
played a sincere desire to perform the duties of friend
and host. On last Saturday afternoon his Majesty,
accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge, went to
Joinville-le-Pont to witness some experiments with a
newly-invented pontooning apparatus. AM. Janvier
is the contriver, and his bridge of boats was thrown
aercss the river Marne. The bridge is some twenty-
five yards long, composed of forty-five boats made
fast to one another, and formed of very slight wood-
work, covered with waterproof cloth. Its appearance
VMS so extremely light that people fancied it unequal
to the weight it was destined to sustain; but any
doubt on this point was completely set at rest when,
without any visible oscillation, or the most trifling
accident, it bore a battalion of infantry-chssseurs, a
squadron of cavalry, and a battery of artillery con-
sisting of twelve guns completely equipped. As the
troops passed over in succession they shouted "Five
l'Empereur I" with an enthusiasm which spread to
the crowds who lined the banks of the river. After
the passage, the Emperor and his party minutely
examined all the details of the construction of the
bndge, and made many inquiries on the subject of
the inventor.
On Monday the Duke of Cambridge and his party
visited the picture galleries at the Louvre, and after-
wards dined with M. Drouyn d'Lbuys, the French
Minister for Foreign Affairs. In the evening they
went to the Elysee, where a grand ball and concert
had been prepared entirely in their honour. The
descriptions given of this fete are wonderfully gor-
geous. 200,000 f. are stated to have been spent solely
in fitting up the temporary ball-room. The guests
comprised the Ministers of State, the foreign ambas-
sadots, and the principal nobility—English, French,
and foreign—then in Paris. The view of the t,arden
from the ball-room on the ground floor, the lofty
illuminated trees in the distance forming an immense
amphitheatre, with a grotto in the centre, composed
of pink and green Chinese lights, presented a coup-
tteeil of which none but an eyewitness could form an
idea, whilst the varied groups tended not a little to
enhance the scene. Of the palace itself, the apart-
ments, all newly restored and gilt with profusion, the
furniture of the most splendid description, with the
various decorations, together with the brilliancy of
the scene, illuminated by thousands of wax tapers
from the splendid candelabras in every direction,
together with the brilliancy of the various military
costumes, and the variety and elegance of the dresses
of the fair sex, must have given his Royal Highness
and the visitors who accompanied bim an idea that
they were present at a " housewarming " unequalled
in the annals of France, so celebrated for its national
fites. Their Majesties retired about one o'clock,
after which the remainder of the company began to
retire gradually, but it was not until daylight began
to dawn that the whole of the company had left.
Dancing, which at the commencement had been
almost an "impossibility," was kept up with spirit to
the last.

367

Lord Raglan, Lord De Ros, and their staffs left
Paris on Tuesday by the Lyons Railway for Mar-
seilles. The Duke of Cambridge, with the rest of
the officers, remained for another day,but finally left
on Wednesday—nut, however, for the seat of war,
but for another capital, the route being changed at the
last moment. Marseilles had been appointed for
the port of departure. Telegraphic messages were
even transmitted to the authorities there to expect
the arrival of his Royal Highness on the 18th, and
had made preparations accordingly. A grand
banquet was projected and a state box at the theatre
magnificently fitted up in the hope that the Prince
would honour it with his presence. But it was
labour in vain. The Duke of Cambridge selected
Trieste for embarkation, finding, it is said, that the
alteration would occasion a loss of only a day or two
in the time of arriving in the East, while it allowed
him to pass through Vienna at the moment when
the fifes attending the marriage of the Emperor of
Austria were in course of celebration. lie accord
iegly quitted Paris on Wednesday, and had reached
Strasbourg by Thursday morning, on his way to the
Austrian capital.
This visit to Vienna was attributed in Paris to
political motives, and even occasioned a considerable
rise on the Bourse, as it was supposed to show the
leaning of the Austrian Emperor to the Western
alliance, and to offer the means of further strength-
ening that inclination.
The ratifications of an offensive and defensive
treaty with England were exchanged in Paris on
Suuoay. This treaty consists of five articles. It
has reference solely to the Turkish question, and
makes no allusion to any further eventualities which
may arise in eonsequence of the war which has now
broken out.
The Austrian Ambassador at l'aris has left for
Vienna, to be present at the marriage of the Em-
peror : he will be absent ten days.
Prince Napoleon left Toulon on the 17th in the
Rolland for the East.
The Memorial of Amiens affirms that a sixth
squadron is about to be added to all the French
cavalry regiments, which will make an addition to
that force of sixty squadrons.
Niue companies of the Ist Regiment of Marines,
amounting to about OW men, embarked at Brest on
the 11th in different ships of the Baltic squadron.
The companies from the 2nd Regiment, destined to
complete the expeditionary corps, had arrived, as well
as three batteries of artillery eighteen guns strong,
from L'Orient. It was not known when this squadron
would set sail.
The l'urenne, 00-gun ship, was launched on Mon-
nay last at Rochefort.