The Sun.
London, England, 1831-07-19 00:00:00

ARRIVAL OF KING LEOPOLD AT

OSTEND.

(From the Times Exprese.)
OSTEND, JULY 17.

-King Leopold left Calais this morning at six o'clock, to
proceed by Gravelines and Dunkirk to this place. His
suite consisted of six cirriages, containing his Aide-de-
Camp, Sir H. Seton, General BeDistal, and the five Belgic
Deputies, together with his domestic servants. A mes-
senger had been sent on the day before to order horses at
Gravelines and Dunkirk, and to apprise his subjects on
the Belgian side of the frontiers of his speedy arrival. So
early RS five or six o'clock the inhabitants of the French
towns had hung out their tri-coloured flags, in compliment
to the ally of their Sovereign.

The reasons why the Ring of the Belgians preferred
landing at Calais in preference to Ostend were two-fold.
In the first place, as it was gratifying to his feelings, and
perhaps to those of his subjects, to give an opportunity
for the cordial regard with which the French Government
views his accession to a throne which it was supposed to
look upon with jealousy, when filled by any other than a
Frenchman. In the second place, by landing at Ostend,
after a longer voyage, he would have been less able to ap-
pear fur the first time with advantage before his new sub-
jects, and moreover would have had a smaller acquaint-
ance with his dominions before he retched his capital.
He arrived at Dunkirk this morning at nine o'clock,
and alighted at the Hotel de Flandre, where he received
the officers of the National Guard and of the garrison,
the civil officers of the department, and the members of
the judicial tribunal. His Majesty was welcomed with
enthusiasm, and was an object of great interest during the
lour and a half of his stay in that city, which will now
b.: so near the frontier of his own dominions.
In proceeding from Dunkirk to Ostend, there are two
roads to .7urnes, the first town in the former kingdom of
the Netherlands, and of the present of Belgium,
one by the sea coast, which can only be passed at certain
times of the tide, and the other by the side of the canal
which connects Dunkirk with Bruges, which is not good,
but is at all times safe. His Majesty was enabled to take
the former by the state of the tide, and in this way reached
the confines of his dominions, about four leagues, or ten
milts, to the north-east of Dunkirk, by the sands where
the limits of the two states are marked by a solitary cus-
tom- house.

The peasantry had collected in crowds from the neigh •
bonrhood, and appeared in their holiday costume. Along
the linea of cottages in the first villages, and along all the
streets in the small town of Fumes, there appeared to have
grown up a line of verdnre. This line appearing on both
side', was variegated at intervals with triumphal arches
and civic crowns. We never witnessed joy so strong or
so generally distributed.
At the beautiful and elegant little town of Fumes, the
first town of the Belgic provinces on the north coast, his
Mijesty arrived about twelve o'clock, The Colonel of
the National Guard, M. Olivier (we believe), received
the King to a breakfast provided by the municipality.
His Mjesty remained till half-past one along with the
official persons who had received him on the frontier,.

At that hour he left France for Ostend, passing by
Ghistel, on account of the goodness of the road, though
by a more tedious way than by Nieupnrt. Nothing could
exceed the enthusiasm with which he was greeted along
the whole line from Fumes to Ostend. I refer to the fol-
lowing statement for the particulars :
OSTEND, SUNDAY, JULY 17.

On Thursday last a notice from the Burgomaster and
other authorities of this town was published, to inform
the inhabitants that this afternoon the newly-elected King
of the Belgians would arrive in Ostend, on his way to
Brussels. They were invited to make preparations for
his reception, and they have made them with a hearty
geod-will.
Outside the gates two or three pine trees were arranged,
through which the royal cortege was to pas•, and the
streets, not the principal ones alone, but all the streets,
were lined with trees bound together with festoons of
flowers and evergreens, from which were hung garlands
of flowers, &cc., crowns of various &Mg, and other decora-
tions. Flags of every description were displayed from the
windows, or suspended over the streets. From the
country the people thronged hither from an early hour ;
the hotels were filled to an overflow; and Ostend pre-
sented, during the day, the liveliest bustle of satisfaction
and joy, for the King was coming to honour it with his
presence. The trade of this town having received an in-
crease in consequence of the revolution, the basin is filled
with ships of different nations, and the sailors joined with
delight in the general festivity, by decorating their vessels
with appropriate flags. At five o'clock, the garrison and
the civic guard marched outside the gate, called now the
King's gate, preceding the burgomaster and the civic
authorities and guilds. They took their station on an emi-
nence, within a short distance of the gate, and were soon
"joined by hundreds of all classes. A sort of marquee was
erected for the reception of the burgomaster and authorities.
From the outward ramparts, the view extends fur a long
distance on the road towards Furnes,and thousand, gazed on
'every speck that appeared in the perspective. At length
an express arrived and presented a let'er to the bur-
gomaster, and the buzz soon circulated, " He's coming."
The Royal cortege then came in sight, and cheers were
'heard approaching. It consisted of several carriages,
escorted by a troop of cavalry, and was hailed with loud
cheers as it stopped for a few minutes opposite the mar-
quee ; and, preceded by the garrison and the civic guard,
it slowly entered the town. At each of the gates the
crowd rushed before the open carriage in which the King
was seated, and endeavoured to take away the horses, but
it was out until after repeated attempts that he gave his
consent.

The bet's of the churches rang a merry peal, and the
‘a
cannon on the ramparts fired a lute of 101 guns, neither
of which were heard in the stree' from ro.tth e deafening ap-
plause of the crowd. The King, uhno ic)ol.ed in excel-
lent health and spirits, stood up in t hewchaircrhiage, and bowed
and waved his hat repeatedly,
people in the highest degree.
of the cathedral, the clergy in canonical Ind, frout
came out of the church, having a crucifix at theiree9'
head ; upon which the King descended front his ea •
and, uncovered, approached to meet them. The crowd
e
passing gratified•
soon throngei around them, and cheered the King loudly;
who, after having addressed a few words to the chief cler-
gyman, bowed and withdrew to the carriage. The civic
guard was drawn up in line before the burgomaster's house,
and with much labour kept off the dense crowd, through
which the cortege passed very slowly.
Ge alight* at the burgomaster's residence, the King

eceival the deputations of the civil and military bathe',
tnd by his grace and affability gained their warmest at-
t tchment. A deputation of the clergy, having the Bishop
,f Ghent at their head, also presented their homage, and
-eceived from his Majesty the strongest assurance of his
!etermination to uphold the liberty of conscience for all,
,nd to maintain the respect for the religion of the majority
•f his subjects.
Every person who had inscribed his name in the morning
,n a list for presentation, had the honour of an audience,
old all declared their enthusiasm in favour of their new
nd affable Monarch.

Leopold then set out on foot, and, followe l by a brilliant
•t.iff, and by at least half the population of this town, to
xamine the sluices and the wooden pier in the harbour,
vhich he traversed and observed with attention. He next
,xamined a beautiful Belgian merchant-vessel near the
;uay. the sailors and the crowd applauding; with all their
'night. Leopold, who thanked them with great good
humour, chatted familiarly with the head engineer, and
•vith the officers of his suite as he walked through the
trects leading to the Town-house, and through which the
ortege had not driven on his entry. The windows were
thronged with ladies waving handkerchiefs, and the shouts
.f the people proved, as a Belgian observed, that the
seople of Ostend were a kind-hearted race, who loved
justice and kindness, and who hoped to receive both at the
hands of their new Monarch.

At half-past seven o'clock Leopold again entered the I
Burgomaster's house, and sat down to dinner, at which the
principal persons of the town and of the province were in.
vited. The Bishop of Ghent, attended by several of
pis distinguished brethren, were also present. This even-
ing there is a general illumination, and the bells are ringing
in honour of the Royal guest.
His Majesty proceeds to-morrow morning at eight
p'elock to Bruges, where he breakfasts with M. de Meu-
linacre, the Governor of the province, and after a delay of
.ponie hours he will go to spend to-morrow night at Ghent.
A. brilliant reception awaits him in both these places.