The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-13 00:00:00

The Rhine Bridge at Coblenz,

COBLENZ, May 10.
There have been grand doings here this last week
on the occasion of the opening the new bridge across
the Rhine, connecting the Cologne and Msyence
with the Nassau State line. The bridge itself is a
light and elegant structure of three iron arches
resting on stone piers, highly creditable to the taste
of the joint designers, Geheim-Rath Hartwig and
Bau-Rath Schwarz. In England, where the open•
ing of a railway bridge is of such common occur-
rence that the very mention of it is probably con-
fined to the columns of a local paper, it is difficult
to understand how such an event can be made
the occasion of a fete of such magnitude, to be
graced by such august presence ;—but they do things
differently in Prussia. The Queen arrived a week
ago. Coblenz is her favourite residence, and is
deeply indebted to her for varied acts of considerate
munificence. The beautiful gardens, extending
more than a mile along the banks of the Rhine,
and with which no other Rhenish town can com-
pete, originated in her liberality and taste. The
king arrived on Sunday night. Coblenz was illu-
minated in honour of the august arrival. To say
it was a spontaneous ebullition of loyalty would be
simply ridiculous. The good citizens were " in•
vited" by circular to light up their houses, and
everybody knows what an " invitation" means nu-
der a despotism. Many houses, however, owners
of which had nothing to dread from official
frowns, were conspicuous by their darkness. Of
course, in a town where every other inhabitant
is a functionary of some kind or other, and where
the illuminating power is a small tin saucer of fat
with a wick stuck into it, such a demonstration is
to be got up at any time at a few hours' notice,
especially where the Burgomaster is subservient to
the powers that be. On Monday the day's proceed-
ings were, of course, inaugurated by a grand parade,
in which every available soldier in the garrison
took part. The rain which had fallen all night
subsided at the right moment, and the whole affair
was very effective.

The Queen was present in an open carriage with
her daughter, the Grand Duchess of Baden, the
consort of the most liberal and therefore the most
popular of the smaller German sovereigns.
After the parade the event of the day was ac-
ccomplished in the usual way by the King and
Queen in person, accompanied by the Duke of
Nassau, who, as the proprietor of one of the lines
naw united, had a kind of vested interest in the
proceedings, but between whom and his powerful
neighbours there seemed to be no sort of cordiality
whatsoever.

After the ceremony there was a banquet. A very
unsightly pavilion had been erected on three enor-
mous barges moored together on the river immedi-
ately contiguous to the bridge, 500 guests were
invited, who did justice to the fare as only Germans
can. The landlord of the Giant Hotel was the pur-
veyor on the occasion, so nothing more need be said
in praise of the repast. Uniforms largely p2edomi-
nated, but not all military. To the inquiry, " Who
is that General with cocked hat and epaulettes ? "
the answer war, "He is an assessor." "That
Field Marshal ? "He is a Regierungsrath." " That
stout functionary resplendent in green and gold ?"
"He is Ober-Forstnaeister,' "And he, above all,
in enormous cocked hats trimmed with feathers and
gold, with rows of decorations on his breast, with
a coat bedizened with lace that it must be irksome
to carry ?" " He, good honest man, is 0 ber-Prasi-
dent of the Rhine province, who though dressed
like a generalissimo, is a civilian and a man of
peace."

At 4 o'clock there was a dinner at the Palace to
the creme de la creme; at 7 a reception to those not
creme de la creme ; and in order that the reception
might be as comprehensive as possible, the invita-
tions were issued by the Ober-Prasident. At 9
there was a display of fireworks, better than which
may be seen nightly at Cremorne, but Cremorne
lacks the background of Ehrenbreitstein, which
was lit up for the occasion with blue and red fire,
while a fiery shower fell from the entire length of
the new bridge.
Amid the general profusion the town, either nig-
gardly or forgetful, omitted to make the bridge of
boats, from whioh the spectacle was witnessed by a
great crowd, free to the public, the consequence of
which was some severe injuries in the crush inevi-
table at the toll-gates. This morning the King
leaves for Berlin; the crowded hotels will soon dis-
gorge themselves, and Coblenz will be left to its
garrison and the English tourists, who generally
make their appearance with the cuckoo.

PRESENTATION TO A CAPTAIN.—At the Sailors'
Home, Liverpool, yesterday, the chairman of the Local
Marine Board presented, on behalf the Portuguese Govern-
ment, an elegant tray of solid silver, bearing a suitable
engraved inscription, to Capt. F. 'Williams, of the screw
steamer Charente, for services rendered about 18 months
ago in towing a disabled Portuguese man-of-war to a place
of safety, and reporting the same at Lisbon.
THE HOP CROP IN SUSSEX.—Throughout the
various hop-growing districts in Sussex the mild rains that
have fallen during the past week, followed as they have
been by genial sunshine, have had a very beneficial influence
upon the hop plantations. In a few places the flea had made
its appearance, but the rain has served to clear the plant in
those places where it had been attacked. The bind shoots
out vigorously, and has a very healthy look. The work of
tying is now being actively pushed forward, and it may be
said that everywhere the hop-gardens have a most promis-
ing appearance.
[ADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Ointment.—Soundness
renewed.--Any indolent ulcer or chronic sore should im-
mediately have this excellent unguent applied to it in the
manner pointed out in its accompanying directions. For
thoroughly cleansing a diseased or broken skin, and for
rousing its poisoned vessels or depressed nerves to healthy
action, nothing can surpass Holloway's well-known
Ointment. It strikingly shows its power when applied to
the "old man's ulcer" which settles on the leg and often
becomes most intractable under the ordinary treatment,
though no case has yet withstood this cooling and healing
salve. The troublesome swellings preparatory to. most
ulcerations of the legs are likewise reduced by the diligent
applications of Holloway's unguent, by giving strength to
the w cekened circulation through the capillaries,