The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-17 00:00:00

FR ANCE.

EMBARKATION OF THE FRENCH EXPE-
DITIONARY ARMY FOR THE BALTIC.

CALAIS, Saturday Night.--The spectacle of a
gallant and well-equipped army of Frenchmen em-
barking at a port of France on board an English
fleet is as novel as it is grand.
For the first time virtually since the Crusades
the martial energies of the two great peoples of the
West are united iu an endeavour to effect in far-
off lands operations in which are profoundly con-
cerned the present and future interests, not merely
of Europe, but of all humanity. But even that
remote and imperfect parallel presents circum•
stances of prominent contrast to those which exist
now. Philip Augustus and Coeur de Lion were
actuated by mutual jealousies, distrusts, narrow
personal rivalry, selfish, separate objects, marring
the efforts of valour and the councils of sagacity.
Such misunderstandings are happily non-existent
now, when the forces of England and France are
strenuously and heartily combined in the same
cause,

Contemplating the scene of to-day, a spectator
would hardly fail to recal the time when this old
historic town witnessed a meeting of English and
French under circumstances very different—when
the pleadings of his heroic queen, and the resolute
remonstrances of his clergy, and appeals rising on
all sides to every feeling of knightly generosity,
scarcely prevailed on our renowned Edward to re-
frain from wreaking murderous vengeance on the
brave burghers whose noble defence of their strong-
hold cost him and his army so dear. Nor would
the thoughtful looker-on omit another reflection,
that at a later period—some three centuries since
—when amid profound humiliation and bitter
hatred on one side, and exultant triumph and
hatred not less intense on the other, the English,
perforce, surrendered the last and long held rem-
nant of their conquests in France, the town, so
much prized by a mistaken policy, and the loss of
which hurried to the grave the first Mary, who
said in her dying hour that if her body were opened
the word Calais would be found engraved on a
heart, of which softness was not the distinguishing
characteris sic.

Steam-boats and railways have transferred to
Boulogne much of the importance which formerly
belonged to Calais as the grand point of embarka-
tion and debarkation in the intercourse between
England and France. Forty years' ago, when oars
and stout canvas formed the sailor's only resource
against baffling head-winds, and more baffling
calms and currents, the difference of a few miles'
sea passages was a consideration of importance in
favour of Calais ; but the steam-packet cancelled
this advantage, and the rail deprived the old town
of nearly all the advantages of the " through"
London and Paris traffic which the steamer had
spared.

During the greater part of this week the streets
of the old borough have presented an aspect of live-
liness and bustle to which the inhabitants have

long been unaccustomed. A considerable con-
course of visitors have been attracted from Paris,
and the interior of France, as well as from the
English side of the Straits ; and the expectation
of the spirit-stirring event, about to take place, im-
parted an unusual air of gaiety to the port.
The English fleet, consisting of the Hannibal
(screw), 91, flag-ship of Commodore the Hon. F.
W. Grey; the St. Vincent, 102, Captain Mansel ;
the Algiers (screw) 91, Captain Talbot ; and the
Royal William, 120, with the following screw
frigates, Gladiator, Sphinx, Termagant, and Janus,
arrived in Calais roads on Wednesday and Thurs-
day, and took up their moorings within two miles
of the harbour, in positions appointed by Captain
Smithett, late of her Majesty's service, who has
just undertaken to assist in carrying out the opera-
tions of the present mail contract. Admiral Berke-
ley, on the part of the Lords of the Admiralty,
very wisely availed himself of the local experience
of Captain Smithett, and under their joint direc-
tions the anchorage of all the ships was arranged
in the most satisfactory manner.
As the public are aware, the present French expe-
dition to the Baltic is to consist of 10,000 men,with
an artillery force; as the utmost economy of space,
including the removal of all the guns from the lower
decks, could not enable the ships enumerated to
convey more than half that number, it be-
came necessary for the Admiralty to call into
requisition the services of a number of hired trans-
port-ships. These included the Prince, screw
steamer—a magnificent sister ship to the Himalaya,
and engaged to convey 1,400 men—and several
large sailing vessels, chiefly of the class of East
Indiamen—amongst which were the Belgravia,
the Herefordshire, the Fox, the Clifton, the Co-
lumbia, the Julia, and the Nimrod. The non-
arrival of these transports it was which had given
rise to an impression that the embarkation would
have to be deferred to the 20th instant ; but, on
the Emperor ascertaining, in an interview with
Commodore Grey, that the ships of war were all
in readiness to take on board their complements
of men, and that the transports might be expected
in a very few days, his Majesty thought there
was no reason why the troops should not go on
board at once, on which the commodore suggested
that the arms, baggage, &c., should be embarked
on the following day (Friday), and the men on the
next day (to-day). To this arrangement the Em-
peror at once assented, alluding good-humouredly
to the old British maritime superstition against
commencing the operations of a voyage on a Friday.
The Emperor arrived on Thursday evening from
ed even
B citedulo gna
dee ..wrleieeroef heins
thadudsiraessms troartehley tercioloipalsl had e
amongst our susceptible allies. His Majesty en-
tered the town, dressed en bourgeois, and pro-
ceeded to the " Hotel Dessin."
Shortly after the arrival of the Emperor, his
Majesty was waited upon by Commodore Grey and
the other captains of the English men-of-war. The
Emperor received all the officers in the most cordial
manner, and before they retired his Majesty ex-
pressed his intention of honouring the Commodore
with a visit, on board the flag-ship, on the follow-
ing day.

The several regiments composing the two expe-
ditionary battalions, arrived in the neighbourhood
of Calais, from the camp at Boulogne, on Wednes-
day and Thursday. On Friday morning, the
Emperor made it his first duty to inspect the
troops. His Majesty, mounted on a beautiful
chesnut charger, accompanied by Marshal Vaillant,
Minister of War, General Baraguay d'Hilliers,
commanding officer of the expedition, and a bril-
liant staff, rode from his hotel to the encampment
of the battalion of Chasseurs de Vincennes. Having
inspected this division, the Emperor proceeded to
the encampment on the ramparts. His Majesty
was everywhere greeted with enthusiastic demonstra-
tions not only from the military, but also from the
numerous French and English spectators who were
present. Before leaving the encampment the Em-
peror conferred on the troops a substantial token of
hisregard, by directing that every sergeant should
receive a newly-struck five-franc piece, every
corporal a two-franc piece, and every private sol-
dier a franc. The Imperial progress back to the
Hotel Dessin was marked by equally vivid mani-
festations of popular attachment—the gaiety of the
scene being enhanced by the tasteful decorations
which were everywhere displayed from the private
houses and public buildings.
At half-past one o'clock the Emperor again left
his hotel, and entering one of the Imperial car-
riages, drove to the quay, alongside of which was
moored La Reine Hortense, his Majesty's private
steam yacht, on board of which, accompanied by
the members of his suite, the Emperor embarked
in order to pay his promised visit to the flag-ship.
After a short cruise outside the harbour, the Im-
perial yacht having neared the Hannibal, his
Majesty and attendants descended into the yacht's
barge, for the purpose of being rowed under the
flag-ship's lee ; but a stiff breeze prevailing, the
force of the current rendered this a somewhat diffi-
cult operation. Even with pulls " long and
strong" the rowers made but little way, and it
becan7 e necessary to invoke the aid of the Corse,
French revenue steam cutter, which presently took
the barge in tow, and, not without difficulty,
placed her alongside the Hannibal. Here prepara-
tions had been made for receiving the Emperor•
with the honours due to his position.
The midshipmen lined the gangway, and Com--;
modore Grey, with the other principal officers of
the ship, were in waiting.
The Emperor, whose personal activity is well
known, mounted on board with ease and prompt-
ness. Not so Marshal Valliant. Essaying to grasp
the gangway ropes, the swaying and heaving of the
boat became so violent that the gallant marshal
plumped fairly into the water, beneath the surface
of which he almost sunk. uch alarm was, of
course, excited. It was, however, only momentary.
Capt. Excelmans, commander of La Reine Hortense,
and a near relative of the celebrated soldier of the
empire, came immediately to the rescue, and, aided
by Mr. Somerville, a midshipman of the Hannibal,
who succeeded in grasping the marshal firmly by
the skirt of his coat, the latter was soon placed in
a position of safety, sustaining, it is to be hoped,
no damage beyond that of temporary inconvenience.
As the Emperor stepped on deck, an Imperial
salute thundered from the iron sides of every ship
in the squadron. His Majesty devoted an hour to
the inspection of the arrangements made for the

comfort and accommodation of his soldiers, and ex-
pressed his approval in warm and emphatic terms.
Continuing his tour of inspection, the Emperor
passed in review the other ships in the squadron,
and returned highly gratified with the true sailors'
welcome which he had received from the officers
and men of the squadron.
As the Imperial yacht again neared the shore,
the Emperor had the gratification of witnessing the
entrance into Calais roads of the Tilsit—a magnifi-
cent new three decker, launched only a few months
since at Cherbourg, and which had arrived to bear
her part in the conveyance of the artillery belong-
ing to the expedition. This ship was attended by
the steam corvette La Place.
During Friday, the troops marched down from
their respective encampments to the quay side,
where, according to previous arrangements, they
deposited their arms and accoutrements in boxes,
which were at once conveyed on board the ships of
war by small vessels engaged for that service. Large
quantities of ammunition and powder were also em-
barked by the same means.

At a very early hour this morning the troops
were astir, breaking up their encampment and pre-
paring to go on board. General Baraguay d'Hil-
hers came down to the quay before eight o'clock,
and conversed for some time with Captain Lefebre,
R.N., of her Majesty's steamer Dasher, to whom
the arrangements for embarking the troops, by
means of a fleet of steamers, had been entrusted.
Among the vessels employed on this service were
the Garland and Tiolet, belonging to the mail
packet service ; the Princess Clementine and the
Princess Helena, of the South-Eastern and Conti-
nental steam fleet ; the Faun and the Passe-partout,
French mail boats ; the Cocyte and the Corse,
French steam-corvettes ; and the following vessels
belonging to her Britannic Majesty :—the Fearless,
the Wildfire, the Lizard, the Adder, the Sprightly,
the Fire Queen, the Avon, the Dasher, the Luci-
fer, and the Echo and the Douro steam-tug. This
large fleet of steam-ships had been engaged, with
the object of precluding delay and confusion, and
of effecting the embarkation in one comprehensive
movement.

Owing to the tide not answering until mid-day,
it was nearly 11 o'clock before the actual embarka-
tion commenced. The cheerful and agile manner
in which the men stepped on board exhibited to
great advantage that buoyancy of character by
which our allies are distinguished.
The force is divided into two brigades, under the
respective commands of General Hugues and Gene-
ral Gresy. The first brigade consists of the 12th
battalion of Chasseurs 4 pied, the 2d Regiment of
Light Infantry, and the 3d Regiment of the line.
The second brigade is composed of the 48th and
51st Regiment of the line, each regiment number-
ing nearly 2,060 men. _

-One circumstance connected with the order of
march observed to-day may be worthy notice, now
that the different systems pursued by the English
and French armies are likely to be practically test-
ed ; the men carry their own tents. On striking
camp, each man took his section of the canvas
which had composed his shelter for the night.
Each tent is adapted for the accommodation of six
men, and is divided into six sections, of which each
man carries one. Including this additional weight,
each kit weighs rather under 401bs.
It was half an hour past noon before the Lizard
—the leading vessel—steamed out of harbour, her
deck crowded with a thronging mass of animated
and hopeful countenances. In consequence of ar-
rangements made to prevent confusion during the
embarkation, the pier heads were not so crowded
as might have been expected. The comparative
absence of " demonstration" occasioned by this
restriction was amply made up by the perfect up-
roar of cheering and acclamation which proceeded
from the troops themselves as the successive vessels
steamed towards the war ships.
The process of embarking the troops, and finally
transferring them to their respective ships, occupied
the whole of the afternoon, and was conducted
throughout without the slightest accident.
Admiral Berkeley and Captain Milne, Lords of
the Admiralty, were present, and more than once
made the circuit of the fleet in the Ondine mail
packet ship, which had been retained for the espe-
cial service of the Commodore. These officers,
after the discharge of their duties, returned to
Dover, in her Majesty's steam packet Vivid, on
board of which was Lady Graham, wife of the First
Lord of the Admiralty.
It is fully expected that the fleet will have sailed
within a few hours.

In addition to the Tilsit, the following French
ships will accompany the English squadron :—The
St. Louis, towed by Asmodee ; Syrene, by Labo-
rieux ; Cleopatre, by Goeland ; and. the Fulton to
take the horses of the staff.

Lord Ashley, son and heir of the Earl of Shaftes-
bury, is a passenger in the Hannibal, on his way
to the Baltic to join the James Watt. This youth-
ful nobleman had arrived only three days ago from
the Mediterranean, when, at his own request, ho
was again appointed to active service. The Earl
of Shatesbury came down from London this morn-
ing to take leave of his gallant son, and returned
to town this evening.

The Moniteur of yesterday morning contatiz.--..-
decree granting an extraordinary credit of
55,405,000 f. to the Imperial Minister of Marine,
for the purpose of increasing the naval armaments
of France. The budget of this Minister for 1854
is thus raised to 174,286,000 f., which is, however,
only 16,000,000 f. more than 1847.
Several of the persons arrested in Paris, on the
12th and 13th inst., on the supposition that they
intended to make a demonstration on the anniver-
sary of the taking of the Bastille, have been set at
liberty.
The preparations for the fete of the 15th of
August will be very brilliant. They have already
commenced. The new Imperial Guard will be
reviewed on that day for the first time.