The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-15 00:00:00

International Festivities at Poole.

The example lately offered by tho naval service of France
and England in interchanging hospitalities has been fol-
lowed by communities essentially peaceful on both sides of
the Channel. The people of Poole and the people of Cher-
: bourg have paid mutual visits, and each has professed the
wannest friendship for the neighbouring nation. In thiS
instance there is, indeed, something beyond a general sen:
timent of goodwill, because it happens that a new line of
communication across the Channel, which has been opened
between the two ports, intimately affects the interests of
both. One is apt to think of Cherbourg only as a great naval
station formed with the view of checking, if not threaten-
ing, Portsmouth; lint it must be reniembered that besides
the military port there is also a commercial harbour' capable
of providing for the wants of a larger commerce than it
at present enjoys. Poole, which is exactly opposite to
Cherbourg-, also possesses, in the magnificent expanse of
water which forms its harbour, the means of accommodating
a vastly increasing trade. As almost every Frerich Channel
port froM Dunkirk to St. Malo is now in direct cornmuni-
cation with its nearest English neighbour, an attempt has
been made to establish a steam communication between
Poole and Cherbourg. For some months a fast steamer has
been running twice weekly between the two ports; and
it is said with encouraging results. Another very important
step' has also been taken in the employment of a steam
dredging machine to lessen or to remove the bar of sand at
the mouth of PooleflarbOur, which at present entirely pre-
vents the entrance of vessels drawing 15ft. water. It will,
then, be observed that in addition to national sentiments of
good will there is a mutuality of interests existing between
Poole and Cherbourg, which cannot fait to strengthen the
amicable relations existing between them. Soon after the
establishment of the steam service between the two
ports the municipality of Cherbourg, fully appreciating the
importance of the undertaking, invited-the corporation of
the borough of ::Poole to visit their town. The invitation
was cordially accepted,' the Visit was paid, and the English
guests were received with such generous hospitality 'that
it was immediatelrfelt a return visit was a necessary con-
sequence. The Mayor and corporation of the borough of
Poole accordingly invited the Municipal authorities of
Cherbourg to visit their town on Wednesday. It had,origi-
nally been intended that the return visit should have taken
plaee earlier in the season, but the overruling troubles of the
general election necessarily led to a postponement. It
seemed, however, that the interval of time had not been lost,
as advantage was taken to renovate the Town-hall, where
the French visitors were to be entertained at a splendid
banquet. This building, which externally presents few
architectural beauties, afforded a spacious and even elegant
dining-hall. It had been,- as we have said, entirely re-
decorated for the occasion, and a profusion of flags of
both nations were displayed upon the walls, while over the
mayor's seat were placed the busts of the Queen and of the
Emperor. Upon the space in front of the Town-hall a tem-
porary building was erected to serve as a reception-room,
and the arrangements and decorations of this apartment
were in excellent taste. The walls were hung with trico-
loured drapery, and between the double flight of steps
which form ordinarily the exterior entrance to the hall
from the street, but which were now included within the
reception-room, was arranged a beautiful collection of
ferns and evergreens, with
.a" trickling fountain in the
centre: The exterior of the building was also painted in the
three colours, and the front was illuminated by a tracery of
gas jets. The town itself, which usually presents a very
quiet and subdued aspect, was quite transformed. It would
not be; correct to say that all business was suspended, be-
cause everybody seemed to be more busily engaged than
usual;' but their energies and their industry were applied in
new directions. Many of the houses were decorated with
flowers or exhibited mottoes of welcome, and some half-
dozen triumphal arches were raised in the streets. As for
the display of flags, all that can be Said is that the wealth
of Poole in that article must be enormous. Shortly after 8
o'clock the steamer Albion was reported to be in sight, and
she soon entered the harbour, 'where she was boarded by
Mr. Wanhill and Mr. Rogers, who,
accompanied by Lord
G. Lennox, M.P., welcomed, on behalf of the corporation, the
visitors to the port of Poole. When'the vessel came along-
side the quay, a detachment of the Poole volunteer rifles,
who attended as a guard of honour, received the French
gentleman with a feu de joie, the report of which was al-
most drowned in the vociferous and enthusiastic cheering
of the crowds on the quays and in the vessels in port. The
Mayor of Poole and the other members of the CorporatiOn
then iveut on board, and the process of introduction having
been gone through, the guests were couveYe'd to the lodg-
ings which had boon provided for them.
At half-past 6 the'company, numbering upwards of 100,
assembled at the Guildhall. The Mayor of Poole (Mr. F.
Styring) presided, and the Mayor of Cherbourg was accom-
panied by about 30 members of the municipality and of the
Chamber of Commerce of that town. Mr. H. D. Seymour,
M.P., Mr. Floyer, M.P., and Sir E. Baker, and several of
the directors of the Somerset and Dorset Railway, and the
Mayors
the removal of Dorchester ende cloth
were also present.
Upon
The Mayor of PooLE prefaced the first toast by alluding
to the warm reception which he and his colleagues had met-
with in Cherbourg, and, in the name of his fellow townsmen,
expressed their gratification at this friendly visit from these
who had so hospitably entertained their rePresentatives.
This year, the jubilee of peace; Was a fitting time for'an
interchange of such visits, and.while he rejoiced to spaillei
war navies of the two countries eachilitg4tri
courtesies, he thought that those who were engaged in the
peaceful pursuits of commerce ought not to be behind hand