The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-16 00:00:00

VISIT OF T.HE EMPEROR AND BMPBESS

OF TEE -F.REIVOH.

DOVER, SUNDAY EVENING.

The visitors at Dover to-day were very soon made
conscious of the near approach of some great event, by
the crowds assembled in the streets, the variety of militia
uniforms, giving to the chief of the Cinque Ports quit
the air of a continental town, and the signs of ceremonial
preparation actively going on in every quarter. Out in
the roads Sir Thomas Cochrane's noble fleet rode placidly
at anchor, the Great Neptune, the model of a line-of-
•battle ship, being proudly conspicuous, while several
steamers, including the Admiralty yacht, filled up the
marine picture. A great number of visitors have already
come over from France, and their general report is that
...9±S4Alais the excitement quite equals the ferment on this
side of the water. According to the various accounts,
the good people M the Pas de Calais gratefully acknow-
ledge the compliment paid to their Emperor, and not the
less freely that their port bas been selected for the em-
barkation of the imperial party. Boulogne had been .
originally spoken of, and the inhabitants of that pleasant
and half-English town are highly indignant at the change
of arrangement, which was not believed until yesterday,
when the arrival of twenty-seven immense fourzons,
filled with baggage. at Calais, put an end to all doubt
and speculation. During the two past days pleasure-
seekers have been perpetually pawing back wards and
forwards between the two ports; and every one on his or
her return bears testimony to the immense satisfaction
displayed by the French people at the approaching royal
meeting. Several notabilities have arrived, amongst
whom we noticed the Marquis of Londonderry, Marquis
of Ely, the Lords of the Admiralty, Lord and Lady
Calthorpe, Countess Kissileff, and a whole host of titled
personages, British and foreign, whose names
.we were
not able to ascertain. Sir Robert Peel arrived early,

and shortly after went on board the Black Eagle, al-
companied by his secretary, who unfortunately met with
an accident in getting on board. Having slipped his
foot, he would have fallen into the water but his fall was
arrested by the Herculean grasp of a jolly tar, who,
however, saved his life° at the expense of dislocating his
shoulder. The great centre of attraction is, of course,
the Lord Warden Hotel, Which is to be the Emperor's
resting place on his arrival, and where he is to be met
and welcomed to England by his Royal Highness Prince
Albert. It is at this moment quite besieged, not only by
applicants for accommodation, but by the inhabitants of
the town, anxious to get a glimpse of the imperial apart-
ments.

This spacious establishment, the
.property of the
Soutl--Eastern Railway Company, has been entirely re-
modell ed and fitted up for the occasion. Immediately on,
Mr. Hake 'a return from Windsor, where he was sum-
moned to receive the commands of his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, he commissioned Mr. Chaffin, of Oxford-
street, and, although the time (from Wednesday morn-
ing to Saturday morning) was extremely limited, the
latter has succeeded in producing a magnificently fur-
nished suite of apartments.
As everything connected with the imperial visit is
looked for with great interest, the following detaili of
the interior arrangements of the hotel will no doubt be
acceptable.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert's bedroom is on
the right hand of the great western corridor, next the
nhgrandi!ed in mahoganystaircas and v
staircase, and is massively.
ivveely. and
hhanrdessosnmiegl-yrofoumr-
adjoining is furnished en suite, the principal feattire in
these rooms being the substantial quality of the
articles, and the gdod taste exhibited in their style
and arrangement. The whole suite of rooms right and
left of the western corridor from his Royal High-
ne+s's apartments to the sea front of the hotel,
are appropriated to the different members of the suite.
The three grand state rooms overlooking the sea, and
forming the whole front of the hotel on that side, have
been entirely refurnished with a suite of richly-carved
walnut, inlaid with ruarqueterie, and mounted with or-
molu ; the-chairs, settees, lounges, and centre pieces
being all of novel and tasteful designs, and covered with
the richest crimson satin, trimmed with gold. The
first room entering from his royal highness's side of the
establishment is appropriated to his royal highness's own
use, and is fitted as an elegant drawing-room. Next to
it is the centre room of the suite, which is fitted as a
saloon, and beyond is the drawing-room appropriated to
the Eniperoi and Empress of the French, and which is
in every respect identical with that of his royal highness
with the exception of the Prince of Wale's plume, which
in his royal highness's apartment is placed over the
giraudole between the windows. The tables is these
rooms are of various elegant shapes—the writing tables
especially, which are covered with crimson Morocco
leather, elaborately yet chastely gilt ; while the greatest
care has been taken to match everything, even to the
blotting books, which are identical with the tops of the
various tables on which they they lie. The rich velvet
sofa, Axminster carpets, and table covers are also exact
matches, and the lace curtains are of the richest em-
broidery. These three rooms are so arranged that the
sliding doors, being drawn together, each is a complete
and detached chamber in itself. Next to the state rooms,
on the right side of the east corridor, is thei'dressing-
s superbly b
additionl y furnished solife d
theen
Looitme
wofiththethEe mstparteess,rowomhi.,c,
with
toilet, which is shaped and covered with crimson satin
overlaid with lace , the flounce being of pure Mechlin,
the mirrors are richly gilt and elaborately carved. Next
in order is the Emperor's dressing-room, which is fur-
nished with every requisite, and is also en suite,the forni-
his
ture being of fine carved walnuts with crimson satin
coverings trimmed with gold.
r to
All the apartments on this side right and left
ioat f
ed the
corridor beyond the dressing rooms are approp
the suite in attendance on their Majesties. The large
apartments right and left of the grand staircase on this
floor are appropriated to the Grand Master of the Em-
press's Household, the ladies of honour in attendance,
and to Lord Cowley.
The coffee room on the ground floor, a large and
handsome saloon, has been appropriated to the deouner,
and fitted with a raised dais, on which their Majesties
and his royal highness will receive the address bf the
corporate body. The floral decorations here, as else-
where, are abundant and tasteful, and i effect great credit
on Mr. Epps, from whose various establishments at
Ashford, Maidstone, &c., the flowers and shrubs have
been forwarded, the whole being arranged under his own
personal superintendence.
It will be seen by the above description that all gioper
pains have been taken for the worthy reception of our
illustrious visitors. The railway station has been most
tastefully decorated, under the direction of Mr. Way, the
station-master, being quite covered with festoons of
laurels, trophies of various flags, and the gay tricolor in
every possible form of application. A large gallery has
been boarded off, from which such of the inhabitants as
have been able to procure tickets will obtain a very tran-
sitory sight of the royal party as it passe' to the car-
riages. The Lords of the Admiralty applied to-day for
a passage to town in the train d'honneur, but as yet
have not received a favourable answer to their application.
The Emperor and Empress are expected to arrive at
about half-past eleven, and, as soon as they have re-
freshed themselves, will be waited on, in the grand
saloon, by the Mayor and Corporation, who propose
presenting a suitable address. _
-Every preparation is being made to give effect to the
visit of the Emperor of the French and his amiable con-
sort. - The friendly feeling that exists between the two
most powerful nations .upon earth cannot be too much
appreciated. In honour of such auspicious occasion, the
commander-in-chief of the port of Portsmouth has taken
up a position off Dover, to do honour to the visit of our
gallant ally. Sir Thomas Cochrane, with his flag at the
fore of the Neptune, has placed the squadron under his
direction, moored in two lines; consisting of the fol-
owing British ships of war. The outer line from
aorth:east :
Orion
Neptune l2O
Calcutta 7B
Powerful , 84

Screw.
Flag.

The inner division—
Odin l6 , Paddle.
Centaur
Pylades
Pbcenix
Cruizer
Screw.
Hairier
Screw.
Falcon
Ariel
Screw.
The above ships are moored so as to allow the Empe-
ror of the French to pass between the two lines, and to
receive salutes therefrom prior to his landing.
The Sealark, Rolla, Fire Queen, Vivid, and Sprightly
take up intermediate positions.
The Queen and Sprightly have rendered important
service to-day, in assisting the ships' boats to recover
their respeeyive shir. There has been a heavy sea m
the whole day, and but for the assistance thus renderer`
many a boat- must have drifted out to sea. The lan,
folks bavo been equally busy to give a hearty welconl,
to the best Monarch that ever commanded the desti
ales of France.
i SpglB,od aid pglit/Pl9ll UAW with hod and soul in