The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-30 00:00:00

QUEEN VICTORIA AT BOULOGNE.

The following letter from Boulogne gives some
details of Queen Victoria's arrival there, subse-
quent proceedings, and final departure :--
" Immediately on the train arriving at five 'Mi-
nutes past five, the Queen stepped from the Royal
carriage on to the platform, waited to see the
Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal step on
the platform, when, taking the Emperor's arm she
bowed to the authorities, walked through the sale
d'atteute to her carriage, into which she was fol-
lowed by the Princess Royal, the Prince of Wales,
And the Marchioness of Ely. &short delay now
took place, whilst Prince Albert, the Emperor, and
their suites mounted their horses, as also by an acci-
dent to one of the Cent. Gardes, whose horse fell on
the pavement and threw his rider, who, very com-
placently delayed the party while the dirt was
brushed from his garments. This interval was
eagerly
enjoyed by the ladies to satiate their cu-
riosity in having a full view of the Queen and the
Royal party. Her Majesty, looked remarkably
well ; the Emperor and Prince Albert with Mar-
shal Baraguay Colonel Fleury, &c.,
rode at the side and after the Queen's carriage ;
the road from the station to the hotel was densely
thronged by the populace, rich and poor, the
whole way be garnished by troops of the Line and
Lancers. The cannon thundered its welcome ; the
soldiers, as the numerous carriages passed, closed
in and foll Owed the cortege, the crowds in two
streams poured after them, and in a few minutes a
most animating sight presented itself in upwards
of 30,000 troops from Honvault, Wimereux, Am-
bleteuse and Equihen being drawn up in a long
parallelogram on the sands extending from the
eastern jetty to the end of the Imperial road where
it mounts the cliff. The crowds formed a back
ground on the sands and in the road and covered
the sides of the high cliffs, lining for a mile the
whole of the top.
" Her Majesty did not remain long in the hotel,
but entering her carriage with the Marchioness of
Ely, and escorted by the Emperor, the Prince, and
their billiant staff hastened to the sands, passed
slowly along the whole line, and honoured with
her presence the distribution of Crosses and Medals
to several officers and soldiers whom the Emperor
decorated. After this interesting ceremony, the
carriage removed to a favourable position, the Em-
peror and Prince Albert a little to the right of the
Queen, when the whole of the troops, massed in
battalions, marched in quick time passed the
Imperial party. This part of the ceremony
occupied upwards of an hour, at the conclu-
sion, the whole cortege drove to the Camp at
Flonvault, where her Majesty inspected several
nuts, a trial was made of some rockets, and the
Imperial party returned to dinner a little before
eight. Forty covers were laid for the Imperial and
Royal party in the large dining-room, which was
brilliantly lighted up. A dinner for 70 was served
in another part of the hotel. At night the town
was illuminated. At half-past sten the Victoria
and Albert entered the harbour. She was at last
alongside the quay, and shortly after the Imperial
carriages drove down, and the Queen embarked.
At this moment the harbour of Boulogne wore
more the aspect of the last scene of a pantomime
than a real pageant. There were, as the Imperial
party reached the quay, nine or ten steamers in the
harbour preparing to depart for Folkestone, Dover,
London, and to attend upon her Majesty. On the
other side of the harbour were the yachts and two
Folkestone steamers. The smoke from the
steamers and from the cannon, which poured forth
their stentorian adieu, hung heavily over the
harbour, or lazily and slowly rolled seaward.
At the same moment from the Royal yachts,
steamers, yachts, and along the western Jetty rose
up a bright flame which put an extinguisher on
the moon's beams ; the sailors of the Royal yacht,
in their bright white vests, burnt an intense
whitish blue light, which showed admirably
the whole outline of the Royal steamer. From
all the other vessels rose green, blue, purple, and
I scarlet lights, which, casting their colours on the
clouds of smoke, gave them a most enchanting ap-
pearance, which was received with cheers. Loud
cheers rent the air, still the Royal yacht moved
not ; every body was surprised ; the imperial and
Royal friends were loth to part, ten days' intimacy
had wound the chain of friendship and unity toge-
ther too hard to be severed, they would not part
yet, the Emperor resolved to depart with her Ma-
jesty and enjoy fora couple of hours on the sea the
delicious freshness of the night. I was given this
reason, though for ourselves we should say it was
the last touch of the pencil to the attentions of the
week, the last act o French politeness. The yacht
left the harbour ; 101 cannon were fired from the
heights, the vessels in the offing returned the
salute ; and when the clouds of smoke had rolled
away, they were discovered to be illuminated,
every yard displaying its line of light, and rockets
shooting their train of fires from every vessel. The
steamer that accompanied the Royal Yacht to bring
back the Emperor did not return till two in the
morning, till when, many continued to circulate
through the town and enjoy the delicious cool air,
and the authorities to receive his Majesty remained
on the place Danou. Thus terminated the Queen's
visit to France, a visit, we trust, to be long re-
membered with blessings by the inhabitants of both
countries."