The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-29 00:00:00

FRENCH STEAM-FRIGATE LA IiEINE HORTENSE.

" We, the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the an-
cient and loyal borough of Southampton, be,7 leave to offer
to yon and the officers of the steam-ship La Reine Hor-
tense, under your command, our cordial welcome to the
shores of England, and to express to you the gratification
we experience on your arrival in our port, and our hearty
goodwill and sympathy in the errand of mercy in which
your visit is concerned. We gladly avail ourselves of this
opportunity t• express the good feeling of the corporation
and inhabitants of Southampton (and in which the Bri-
tish nation heartily concur) towards his Imperial Ma-
jesty the Emperor of the French, as well as to-
wards the French nation and people ; and we ear-
nestly hope that the alliance which now exists between
France and England may tend to cement the feelings
of mutual respect and esteem which should unite two
of the most powerful and enlightened nations of Europe.
While wo should rejoice to find that wars ware less fre-
quent, and tkat peace had become the common desire of
all nations, we acknowledge with pride and gratitude the
gallantry and courage with which the brave navy and army
of France, in conjunction with the navy and army of our
most gracious Queen, have been Jed forth to victory, have
upheld the national character of both countries, and de-
fended the rights and liberties of Europe ; and we fer-
vently pray that, with the blessing of Divine Providence,
the arduous struggle in which the two nations aro now en-
gaged against the unjust aggression of the Emperor of
Russia may speedily be brought to a successful termi-
nation.

" Given under our common seal at Southampton, the
28th day of December, 1854."
The following is the reply to this address :
" Mr. Mayor of Southampton—l received with great
pleasure the manifestations of national sympathy with
which, in the name of your fellow-citizens, you have
honoured me towards the navy, army, and the Govern-
ment of my country.
" My officers join with me in the thanks which are due
to you as well as to the members of the municipality of
your town.
" No one in France can be indifferent to such noble
sentiments as those of England. Our Emperor knows how
to appreciate them, and the heart of all France has the
same feeling as hii.
" In future, therefore, we shall all have the same sym-
pathy for you. Wo arc happy and proud at •the intimate
alliance between the two nations. No intrigue can de-
stroy it. For the honour of humanity and the triumph of
civilisation, we will victoriously repel the barbarous Mus-
covite.
__

" Accept, Mr. Mayor, with the a;surance of these senti-
ments, that of my highest estesm.
" The Commander of La Reine Hortense,
" EXCELMANS."

The French steamer La Reine Hortenve is awaiting
the loading at Southampton cf several ships with wooden
huts for the French troops i❑ the Crimea, one of which
he is to accompany and assist by towing, when neces-
sary. The ships to be loaded are the Sumroo, Saladin,
and Swiftsure, but, as the houses come down very
slowly, thci first-named snip has not yet received her
complement. Who has caused this great delay it is im-
possible to say.

THE FRlncal SOLDIERS AT GLOCESTER.—GIocester,
Wednesday.—The little band of French soldiers, under
the command of Lieutenant Leshville, who have
been here superintending and learning to erect the
wooden houses for the French army, left Glocester, to-
day, accompanied to the last with demonstrations of cor-
dial sympathy on the part of the inhabitants of Gloces-
ter. It being known that they would take their depar-
ture from Glocester to-day, some two or three thousand
people assembled to give them a hearty valediction. At
about 11 o'clock the band of the South Glocester Militia
having assembled at the head-quarters of the French
(the King's Head Hotel), escorted them to the railway
stati.m. They were headed by their commnuding officer
with drawn sword, and the men marched with fixed
bayonets, the band playing " The British Grenadier "
and " Partant pour la Syria." Oa their arrival at the
station the mei faced about to their escort of citizens,
and, "God save the Queen " being phiyed by the bind,
they presented arms, after which there was a general
shaking of hands, and the citizens gave their visitors
three hearty cheers on their departure.

ARRIVAL OF THE ADELAIDE AT
PLYMOUTH.

PLYMOUTH, Thursday Evening. The hired steam
transport Adelaide, Captain Young, from Portsmouth,
arrived at Plymouth on Wednesday evening, and is ap-
pointed to sail this (Thursday) night for Baiaklava.
She embarked at Deptford and Greenhithe 44 large
guns, ordnance stores, clothing, and provisions for the
land forces, ammunition for the fleet, and 4t guns, shot,
shell, and ammunition, for the Ottoman Government ;
at Portsmouth debt.cascramnat a for the 19th, 38th, and 88th
Regiments and 2d Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (in all
six officers and 315 men) ; and at Plymouth a detach-
ment of the 34th Regiment, consisting of 120 privates,
three serjeants, and seven officers—viz., Major Kelly,
Lieutenants Campbell, Boyce, Jordan, Ensign Alto, and
Surgeons Dwyer and Worthington.
The screw steam-sloop Malw:ca left Plymouth under
steam and canvass this day, at noon, with troops and a
mail for the Crimea.