The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-14 00:00:00

TllB VISIT OF THE EMPEROR OP TEE
FRENCH.

--T-~aa-~----

•
DOVER, APRIL 13.
The _Neptune, 120, Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Cod)-
, ra and 12 sail, forming the sque,iron charged
w ith the honour of receiving and saluting the Emperor
an d Empress of the French on their visit to England on
M onday next, anchored in Dover Reads this morning.
If the weather continues fine the fleet will probably re.
m. Lin at its present anchorage: The unusual spectacle
ati ;meted nuinbe:s of spectators to the piers and lan ling
Pl acca, and much curiosity is manifested on the part of
tb .e public to become acquainted with the programme of
ti- ie great event. It is considered probable that his Royal
B ighness Prince Albert, on learning the departure of the
L Operial Cortege from Boulogne, will go out in the Black
E agle or in the Vivid to meet it half way, returning
in company to Dover, when a grand salute from the
sk.ilas of war in the Roads and from the heights will
',ye/ come its approach to the shores of Britain. Their
:Ma jesties will afterwards land, and proceed to the Lord
"Warden Hotel, where they will partake of a dejeuner,
whi ah will be ready for them at 12 o'clock. 2 p.m. is the
hole' officially named at, which the special train convey-
ing the august party to 'Windsor will leave Dover,
but If the passage across the Channel be accomplished
witirout delay it is probable that the hour will be earlier.
The Lord Warden, from its close vicinity to the railway
statiOan (being 'immediately opposite), will be particn-
larlp convenient to the Royal party. Private carmiages
will; be dispensed with, as, after leaving the hotel,
their Majesties will merely have ,to cross the road, a
distance of a few yards only, and which will
he lined on either side by a guard of honour. A
•
prmate entrance, leading into the station, will then
conduct them to the train. The railway authorities are
making every exertion for the accommodation of the
.Emperor; Orders have been given for the interior of
the station .to be decorated, and the public will be ad-
mitted to the platform by tickets, which will be distri-
buted to persons of respectability on application. The
general manager and principal officers of the company
will receive their Majesties, and will conduct them to
the State carriage which has been prepared for them.
Mr. Hakes, the proprietor of the Lord Warden, ap-
pears determined that no effort shall be wanting on his
part to make the whole proceedings go off with the
greatest possible éclat. Flagstaffs are being erected at
the differei.t angles of the building, but at -the present
early stage of the- preparations it is impossible to
say what will be the general effect of the decorations.
In the interior of the building the State apartments
•and spacious coffee-room are being fitted up on a scale
of unusual splendour. Every one appears to be doing
his duty, excepting the town authorities. Ne prepara-
tions on their part have been even commenced,.and there
is not the slightest sign of any being intended. It is
difficult to account for this eatraoriinary neglect ; per-
haps their patiietiam as well as their purse was exhau.ted
by the French demonstration which took place here

some time back in aid of the Patriotic Fund,

On that

occasion the greatast possible fuFs was glade—the Town-
ball was decorated, ft igs and devices were exhibited on

every conceivable and inconceivable spot, aad ail in
honour of the French band and choristers from Calais

and St. Omer.

As might be expected, every train brings its pro-
portion of visitors, and by to-morrow hotel accom-
modation will become ditticult, and beds impracticable.
The weather was extremely thick from an early hour,
this morning, but it is now, 5 p.m., clearing up.
The Archbishop of CAnterbury will arrive at Dover
this evening, and will consecrate the new burial-ground
on Copt-hill to-morrow (Saturday). His Grace will pro-
bably remain until alter the arrival of the Emperor.

WINDSOR, FRIDAY.
The activity and anxiety displayed at the Castle to
complete the preparations for the reception of his Ina-
pedal Majesty the Emperor of the French and the
Empress Eugdaie are unabated. Each of the rooms
appropriated to the use of the illustrious visitors are
inspected daily by her Majesty the Queen and his Royal
Highness Prince Albert, who evince deep interest in the
progress of the workmen.

The room known as the Queen's Closet has been fitted
up as the sleeping apartment of the Emperor. The de-
corations are of the most gorgeous description. :The
cornices, ceilings, and mouldings have been newly
gilt, and the doors and panels redecorated. The sofas,
couches, chairs, and other furniture of the room are
covered with green satin, the woodwork being all splen-
didly gilded. The state bed has just been completed,
and is expected to arrive from London to-day. The
design is most elegant-the curtains and hangings are
of crimson velvet. The coverlet is composed of green
satin, with the national emblems of the United King-
dom in the centre, most elaborately and beautifully em-
bossed in gold, and the borders similarly ornamented.
The sleeping apartment of the Empress Eugenie, which
is known as the CouncilCharuber, and adjoins the Queen's
closet, has been decorated in an equally gorgeous style.
The state bid has been re-decorated with green satin with
crimson embroidery. The furniture is; like that of
the Emperor's, green and gold. , The toilet is covered
with rich sky-blue satin, and surmounted by Honiton
lace of the best and most classical design. On the centre
of the table is placed an ovallooking-glass, richly carved
and festooned with Honiton lace. In the front is a
cushion, formed of green satin, with the letter " E"
embroidered in the centre.

The apartments for the personal attendants upon the
Emperor and Empress have also been splendidly fitted
up. The whole of the rooms have been furnished with
new carpets, and every appliance will be resorted to in
order that the visit may be rendered as magnificent as
it is undeniably welcome.
One point it is necessary to refer to, although touch-
ing upon tender ground. The most attractive of the
State apartments, it is well known is the " Waterloo
Chamber," in which may be seen all the Sovereigns,
warriors, and statesmen who contributed towards the
establishment of what wag then considered a lasting
peace, in the year 1815. There may be seen a full-
length and striking likeness of the late Alexander 1.,
Emperor of all the Russias, with Pius VII. by his side,
and Prince Sohwartzenburg smiling upon them from the
gallery above, precisely opposite to the stern features of
the late Duke of Wellington. With a display of gene-
rosity and good taste which has always been the distin-
guishing trait of her Majesty's rule, this room is hence-
forth to be called the Picture Gallery, the name of
" Waterloo " being erased from the conventional tradi-
tions of Windsor Castle,

The largest triumphal arch, in Castle-street, is being
erected by Mr. Titcomb, the enterprising builder of
Clewer, under the gratuitous superintendence of Mr.
Bedborougb, one of the borough magistrates. The de-
sign is one that will strike by its novelty, being almost
entirely architectural. The ornamental portion of it
consists of the national flag of the French, English, and
Turkish empires, accompanied by the Imperial Crown
and Eagle of France. There will be several appropriate
mottoes, and the whole will be brilliantly illuminated
with coloured lamps. The workmen have been engaged
night and day, and last night a gallery was erected on
the top of it sufficiently large to accommodate an orches-
tra of 200 musicians. •

The triumphal arch at the entrance from the Great
Western station, extending from the' houses of Mr.
Layton and Mr. Lamb, is in the course of construction
by Mr: Alderman Adam. The design is nut yet suffi-
ciently developed to give a satisfactory description.

The preparations for the reception of the Emperor
and Empress of the French, at Guildhall, will surpass
whatever has been attained in that building upon any
similar occasion. At the east end of the Hall will be
erected an Imperial dais, or throne, the whole of the fittings
by Messrs. Herring and Son, of Fleet-street, the City
upholsterers. The dais and steps thereto will be covered
with acarpeting of purple velvet, fringed with gold bullion,
and sprinkled with gold bees. Upon this will be' placed
two gorgeous chairs of state, in velvet and gold, the backs
of each displaying the cypher N, encircled with a wreath
of laurel beautifully embroidered in gold. Above n
noble canopy, also of purple velvet, decorated with
golden bees and gold fringe lined with elegant silver
tissue in relief. Upon this dais, or throne, th Emperor
of the French, and Empress, will receive the civic ad-
dress prior to the Freedom being presented to his Ma-
jesty. Around the western portion of the ball, nume-
rous seats, covered with crimson..cloth, will be erected
for ladies, and similar seats be placed for 1,200
persons at the exterior of the building in Guildhall-
yard, which will be also enclosed by a temporary build-
ing or pavilion covered with waterproof canvas, fitted up
by B. Edgington, of Duke-street, London-bridge. This
will be internally decorated with scarlet and white drape-
ries, flags, &c. A space of twenty feet in width is left
for the imperial cortege to pass through, and from thence
a covered way of canvas, supplied from the same esta-
blishment and similarly decorated, will extend to
Gresham-street, at which point the imperial visitors and
attendants will alight, and from thence to the entrance
of the building for the procession to walk upon, a crimson
carpet, as also at the rear of the hall, contiguous to the
architects' and town clerk's offices, and a canvas cover-
ing, eighty feet long, lined with scarlet and white dra-
pery, so as to form a refreshment room.