The Express.
London, England, 1865-07-18 00:00:00

VISIT OF THE FRENCH FLEET TO

PLYMOUTH.

(nom out emu'. col

(nor 01111 SPECIAL

PLYMOUTH, MONDAY.
The tranquillity of Sunday has been all at once
succeeded by perhaps the greatest bustle and
excitement that has ever been seen in Plymouth.
The western public are, there is no doubt, pouring
in from all quarters, whilst sash successive London
train is heavily laden with metropolitan visitors.
The hotel accommodation of Plymouth has always
been considerable, and this year it is further
strengthened by the opening of an immense pile of
rather singular architecture close to the railway
station, one of those leviathan houses which
owe their existence to the principle of
limited liability, but all is found insuf-
ficient, and people are seriously talking of
pitching an encampment on the Hoe after the
Aldershot manner, and sending out flying columns
of superfluous visaors. It may appear to be " gild-
ing refined gold" to say a word about the beauties
of Plymouth and its vicinity, or he picturesque
appropriateness for any great holiday gathering.
But as to the thou of visitors who, since
their arrival, have been " doing " the various
"lions," everything seemed novel as well as charm-
ing, it may not be amiss to say. a word or two
about matters which seem to dehgbt everybody.
As people at Moscow ask on their first arrival for
the Kremlin, and at Rome for St. Peter's, so at
Plymouth the first inquiry of every visitor is for
the Hoe, which is without question the finest
public promenade in Europe. It has probably
never been so crowded before, nor ever was the
centre of so many objects of interest. Yesterday
afternoon crowds gathered there to look at the great
war ships, end catch a glimpse of the stately man-
sion, "bosomed in thick trees," which the Earl of
Mount Edgecumbe has placed at the disposal
of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,
during his Royal Highness's visit. They could not
see the prince, but they could see the "Mount" all
over green, with the foliage of this exceptionally '
fine summer, and stile foot "puke's island," about
which a man of genius has, with a touch of his pen,
made the world curious. Drake's Island has a
wonderful local traditional history, but is now prin-
cipally remarkable for baths and batteries,
both objects which, it is expected, will
Interest our foreign visitors. Then there
are the ships of war. I have already
mentioned the strangers, but they have
got fitting company, in the smart Prince Consort
and the great Achilles of our own iron-clad fleet.
The Achilles looks rather singular, having recently
been deprived of one of her four masts, which I
am informed caused her to roll heavily ; but her
singularity has this advantage, that it enables
nautical connoisseurs at once to detect the British
ship and bestow their discriminating praise in the
proper direction. The British tar pervades
the town in every street, but none of
the Frenchmen have as yet come on
shore. Jack would no doubt give him a hospitable
reception, and any quantity of grog, but it is found
that as a general rule he has not sufficient facility
in expressing himself in a foreign language to ex-
plain his views of the entente eordiale, and his
opinion of the comparative merits of the two ser-
vices in a manner that would be quite clear and
satisfactory to the strangers. The French crews
therefore stick to their ships, but the officers
are to be grandly entertained this week, when
no doubt the two questions will be venti-
lated in the proper and gracious manner.
But with respect to the insular Jack, I may observe
in panting that he mainly in his present depart-
ment affords one more illustration of the saying
that the times change and we change with the
times. In the Channel fleet he has frequent oppor-
tunity for going on shore, and is paid his wages as
"compo money" at abort dates. For this reason
the man has funds sufficient for one of the
" bursts " of the olden times, and, besides,
has taken to savings banks and even in
some cases, to co-operative associations. He is
known to be not so rich, but more prudent than
formerly, and, accordingly, the harpies do not dog
his footsteps when be comes on shore. I pass
groups of sailors at every corner, but they are as
steady and quiet as marines, and go about in the
most orderly manner. I have heard, too, that they
have taken to politics, and that there are regular
parties of whip and tories on board each ship of
the Channel fieet. An amusing story is in circulation
here about Admiral Dune, "Old Jerry,"as theimen
reverently call him, in connexion with the general
election. It appears that the Edgar being out on a
cruise, pending certain borough contesta, a very
warm discussion took place in her forecastle re-
specting the merits of the various naval candidates.
The men divided themselves into whigs and tories,
the whip backing their man energetically, but the
tories being no whit behind hand, and the result was
that words came to fisticuffs, making such a noise
as to bring the admiral on deck to see what was
the matter. Whigs and tones were equally
anxious to explain that their mutual pum-
melling had been exchanged in a strictly
parliamentary and Pickwickian sense, but
the admiral cut the discussion short by order-
ing to " pipe to quarters with powder," that is to
say, to act as if an enemy's ship was coming into
range ; and thus the poor whip and tories got a
job which was quire as absorbing, although perhaps
not quite so pleasant, as political discussions in the
forecastle. Perhaps the incident may be of some
use as a precedent for the new parliament, or rather
its Speaker. There may be occaaiou when the
power of "piping to quarters with powder" might
enable that high functionary to cut abort an incon-
venient and too vehement discussion.
The show commenced this morning under the
most favourable circumstances. The encampment
is pitched on one of those pleasant eminences with
which Plymouth abounds, and "stretches many •
rood " over the green sward. It is divided into two
sets of "blocks," and the first thing that struck me
on entering was that quite as much space was
allotted to agricultural machinery as to agricultural
live stock. Whether this fact is to be taken as a
sign of the times, as en indication that steam and
machinery are to take the land entirely in hand as
well as everything else, I do not pre-
sume to say ; but the fact is there, the machinery
predominates, and the reader may draw his
own conclusions. The spot upon which the show
is arranged presents a pleasant contrast to the in-
door shows to which we are accustomed in London.
It is an extensive slope facing the sea, and the vi-
sitors, when tired of lookingatthecatttle orsttracted
by the salutes which are being perpetually fired,
can turn their eyes seawards, watch the iron-cads
Yesterday morning, Archbishop Manning laid as they turn into the harbour, and speculate upon
the foundation atone of a new church for the Carmelite their nationality. The cattle, placed as they are in
crier at Konsingtro. The church will be as imposing
balding, the site bring at the
etaa of two evade. It canvas sheds, open at theissles, look supremely
will measure, when fioiehed, 120 fet in leogth, 70 feet comfortable and happy, and become so playful
wide, and the same in bright. The building has bees de. when turned out fsr the inspection of
'ivied by Mr. Welty Purdy, and will be built priscipelly the judges, that the latter are obliged
of brick, with red Mansheid, WhithY, and Caen Mc" to form their opinions at • respectful ais-
dreesiogn Lance, and without all that pinching and poking
FMB AT WALWORTN.—Last night, about hall- which excite the indignation of the uninitiated in
pwat ll o'clock, a fire broke out upon the promisee, No. 15,
wei.erth_feed. i. the eensette.e. pm.* s kb. town. The animals are pronounced to be a splendid
mouser, a portion of the premises bang let off as • photo. collection, especially the Devon who who here, on their
graphic saloon. The firs was find discovered in the lower own ground, defy competition. They are of all
part of the premises, and such was the rapidity of the sizes, bulls, cow*, and the whole family of bovine
flames that in the brief sparse of tea =BIM* the house, jorto, uveniles. The bulls are models of symmetry and
three storeys in height, was on fire from the basement to
f but the ladies are deemed to be rather fleshy
the root. fie. 1 ergioes were soots urn the spot, but
some time elapsed before they could obtain • sufficient sup- for the maternal function. They are all covered and
ply et water to commence operstioss, sad by that time the wrapped up as if they were machines, and seem to
hoses, No. 15, was completely gutted, sod the *We stock be objects of the greatest care and reverence
sad furniture destroyed. The efforts of the Grams were to their "'andante. The first prise in this class
therefor* directed to the BISIOOMMOD of the adjoining is
won by the royal farm. General Hood has the
houses, the Black Priem Tavern
se the one side, soda
hater's shop ea the other. In thi they fortunately see. pleasure of telegraphing to "Cumberland-lodge,
ended, and with the ereeptios of some slight damage, the Windsor' Berkshire," that tbe beautiful heifer
ravages of the fire were cosssed to the promisee in *hick it (Red) " Rose of Denmark," is pronounced by cow-
originated. By half-put 12n'cl°4 the fire n'" mmPI.MI7 potent judges to be the Devon IIMOUSUS Dsvous.
subdued. The cause of the Sr. le supposed to have sawn
from a defect or leakage in theism piping in the shop. The And the general can also inform his Berkshire
friends that he takes the second prise for heifer
parties, it is stated, are uninsured.

PLYMOUTH, Jinx 17.
This grand stronghold and protection of our
western shore presents on this splendid morning •
strange aspect such as it never showed before, and
never could have been imagined possible. The
Freuch colours float on the Hoe, the highest point
of the land, where the old citadel of Charles IL,
now strengthened into a most formidable fortress,
guards the entrance from the Sound to the oommer-
cial side of Plymouth, and three French ships lie
anchored within the fortified line which the
breakwater traces across the magnificent anchor-
age of the Sound, which leads up to the
Hamoare, where lies all the wealth of
national military and •naval stores under
the watchful eye of the Admiralty at Mount Wise,
and the guardehip of the admiraL The big guns
are blazing away from the admiral's ship, the Im-
pregnable, the huge hull and mute of which are
seen, far to the right, over Stonehonse and Devon-
port, sad the citadel close on our left is thundering
in clouds of white smoke ; while from the largest of
the French ships—a two-decker iron-clad of 52
guns--oonies the answering thunder with • sharp-
ness and rapidity that seems to tell of the vigour
and activity of the crew. The Achilles, lying near,
but towards the west end of the breakwater,
soon takes up the firing with a slow and heavy
booming, compared with the French two-decker,
and an Austrian frigate joins. Thus the whole
some looks for the moment like a battle ; but we
soon see it is only a complimentary affair by the
foreground of the picture, for here steams pom-
pously along past the men-of-war, and through the
crowd of pleasure boats and yachts, the long
slender Admiralty yacht. with her light-painted
raking masts and funnels, and the golden anchor
on a crimson flag at the main. When the yacht
first came in sight many thought it must be
the royal yacht with the Prince of Wales ; in-
deed as she neared it was still thought to be the Os-
borne, until those who counted the number of guns
fired as 19, and not 21, settled the point. The
Prince is not expected to arrive before to-morrow,
when the great preparations made for his landing
and reception at the shore below Mount Adgcumbe
will be complete, and the scene will no doubt be
one of the most brilliant character.
Should this superb weather hold, with the deli-
cious south-west wind now blowing, the sight will
be one of great beauty. Nothing can well be con-
sidered more imposing, and at the same
time more picturesque in its beauty, than
the view from the Hoe across the Sound out
to the breakwater and to seaward. As a great
naval position it is wonderfully formed, naturally
by the land which stretches on each side of the
large bay, called the Sound ; on the east to •
point finished off by the Mewstone, which is sepa-
rate from the promontory fortified by Straddon
forts; on the west by the beautiful wooded hill
and parklike grounds of Mount Edgoumbe, high
above which is seen another and stronger fort,
called Tregantbe, while almost in the centre lies
the strong island fortress of St. Nicholas or Drake's
Island, from Sir Francis Drake, who did great
things in his day for Plymouth. The breakwater
is now converted into an immense fortress, by a
large central battery and two flanking works, one
' at each extremity. The high ground of Stone-
house has also been strongly fortified as the position
for the marines, and Drake's Island is now almost
one huge casemated fort. The citadel is itself an
enormous work, besides the guns on the ramparts
having:the whole of the face of the rook on which it
stands traversed by terraces, with platforms
mounted with heavy guns, 68-pounders, and the
old Armstrong breech-loader 112-pounder.
Our French visitors, then, will be able to see for
themselves what probably they knew quite as well
before, that Plymouth is a strong place from the
Sound, which is its sea face, and as to the land
defences, they extend in a more or less completed
state from the one point opposite the breakwater to
the other by a circuit of outposts ranging over au
aro of several miles inland, with • radius of about
four miles. The works on some of these forts have
been suspended for some weeks past, in conse-
quence of a strike amongst the workmen.
The English and French ships lie just inside the
breakwater, io what is called the man-o'-war's
anchoring ground, in the following order : the
Achilles, to the extreme west ; next to her the
Prince Consort ; then comes the Royal Sovereign,
4, turret ship, which looks absolutely insignifi-
cant and more like a dredging barge than anything
else, especially in contrast with its French neigh-
bour, the Magenta, 52, which looks as dale could
with a concentrated broadside from her two
tiers of guns, poured down upon the deck of the
turret-ship, completely annibiLtte her. Close by
the Magenta float the Flandre, 38 guns, and the
gunboat L'ArieL Abreast of the French ships is
the Constance frigate, newly out of dock here, and
just commissioned—a wooden ship. To the ex-
treme east of the line lies the Austrian frigate, a
well-looking ship encugb, but, if we judge by her
firing, rather slackly handled. These are all the
ships at present in the Sound, but it is expected
the Scorpion, one of the famous Mersey rams, •
turret-ship of four guns, commanded by Captain
Commerell, will come down from Hamoaze, where
she now lies, and a fine Turkish frigate, armed all
over, the thiman Ghazee, built by Messrs. Napier,
is expected to arrive to-day or to-morrow.
No arrangements have yet been me/le known as
to any cruising of the French and English ships
in company; probably this awaits the arrival of the
Prince of Wales, but it is understood that those
who are interested in naval matters, as well as
the officers of the army and navy, will have
the opportunity of going on board the French
ships. We shall thus be enabled to un-
derstand more accurately the details con-
nected with the armament of the ships,
and the other interesting points in reference to the
system of armour-plating and general arrangements
adopted in the French service. The Magenta, seen
through the glssa, shows her huge projecting bows
as a remarkable feature ; and as to size she looks
—what she is in fact—a ship-of-the-line, and not
a frigate. The necessity for closing this at an
early hour prevents the possibility of visiting the
ships to-day, and the account which I hope to be
able to give of them must therefore be deferred till
to-morrow.
The banquet to the French officers given by the
Mayor on Saturday appears to have given great
satisfaction, but unfortunately there is no report to
be had of the speeches.