The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-17 00:00:00

THE VISIT OF THE EMPEROR

AND

EMPRESS OF FRANCE.

GREAT PREPARATIONS IN THE CITY.

LATEST PARTICULARS --(THIS LAY).

This morning at an early hoUr upwards of 300 me-
chanics, decorators, and labourers were most actively
engaged in the interior of Guildhall and the court-yard
facing the ancient building, in completing the extensive
preparations for the reception of the Emperor of the
French on Thursday next, at the grand banquet which
is to be given by the Lord Mayor and Corporation of
the City of London.

The large area in front of the Hall has been com-
pletely covered in, and seats for the accommodation of
2,000 persons have been constructed, the access to which
will be by tickets, issued by the City authorities. The
demand for seats this morning, at the Lord Mayor's
residence and court, has been immense.
At a meeting of the churchwardens, overseers, &c.,
this morning, in the vestry-room of St. Lawrence Jury,
Gresham-street, arrangements were made for the erec-
tion of seats for 300 persons in the churchyard adjoining
Guildhall Police-court. •A large number of the City
police were in attendance to keep back the crowds of
persons assembled to catch a glance of the unusual pre-
parations for the reception of the Imperial visitors.
Large placards were posted on the walls of the Guild-
hall and the adjacent buildings, with the words, " Eng-
lishmen, give a hearty welcome to the Ally of our
Queen." Massive barriers were being erected along the
pavement on either side of King-street to Ch,N3side,
and a triumphal arch will be constructed at the entrance
of Guildhall-yard, by the corner of Gresham-street,
which will be gaily decorated with banners, flags, and
various allegorical illuminations in gas. The interior of
the extensive awning will be brilliantly lighted up and
decorated magnificently.

The whole of the thoroughfares leading to Guildhall
will be stopped and guarded by detachments of military
and the City police, assisted by the City of London

Militia.

The inhabitants of King-street, Gresham-street,
Guildhall-buildings, Church-pas Page, Cheapside, and
along the whole line of route through which the Em-
peror will pass, were this morning having seats erected
at the windows and upon the roofs of the houses, and in
every position where a glance of the procession can be
obtained.

The houses will be illuminated in the evening, and

other preparations are in progress.
The interior of Cuildhall will be most elaborately and
magnificently deCorated, and when completed will pre-
sent an extraordinary and brilliant appearance. .

ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL COM-
MITTEE.

The Committee reassembled this morning, in Commit-
tee-room No. 17 of the House of Commons. Mr. Roe-
buck in the chair.

Mr. Maxwell, the barrister, one of the commissioners
sent out to inquire into the medical comforts of the
troops, was recalled, and underwent a long examination
as to the state of affairs while he was there. He said
that the hospitals were in 41 most wretched state ; that
there was a great deficiency of medicines and medical
comfoits, which he attributed to the requisitions of the
surgeons being unattended to. Dr.,Half was the highest
medical authority out there, and he presumed he was
responsible. !At the same time he did not with to draw
inferences against any particular individuals. The sur-
geons and officers had instructions not to give any
information on the subject of hospital management. Re
was not gazetted.as a commissioner, nor did he report
himself when he went,out. Ile received no special in-
structions, all his duties having been very generally
described. '

On this point the Committee cleared the robin,' and
remained a long time in deliberation.
The Chairman (on the readmission of the public) said
the committee would like to see Mr. Maxwell's commis-
sion and any instructions he might have recei.red.
Colonel Horsford, of the Ist Battalion Rifle Brigade,
said the troops were
_badly off for clothing.• The warm
clothing for the men arrived about the end of November,
but it was not distributed until some time afterwards,
on account of the difficulty of transport. His regiment
when he went out consisted of 960 men, but by the end
of January the effective strength was reduced to 180.
He did not think the troops were completely supplied
with warm clothing when he left the East towards the
close of January. He bad no doubt that the sickness
which prevailed amongst the men was mainly attributable
to hard work and the weather. He had no complaints
to make in reference to the Commissariat department of
his regiment. He was never in want of ammunition.
The men suffered c msiderably from want of medicine.
Sir C. Trevelyan was next called. He said be
had been fifteen years in the commissariat, having
been during that time assistant-secretary to the Trea-
sury. He proceeded to give a statement of the prepara-
tions which were made for the Commissariat department
on the breaking out of the war.