The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-04 00:00:00

WAY INTELLIGENCE:

OPENING OF THE LINE FROM PARIS TO
CALAIS AND DUNKIRK.
The inauguration of the remaining principal branch
of the Great Northern Railroad of France, namely, from
Lille to Calais, took place on Saturday.
A special train left Paris at six o'clock on Friday
evening and reached Lille at half-past twelve. The
train started from Calais at twenty minutes
past eight yesterday morning, and reached the terminus
at (St. Pierre lez Calais, a mile and three-quarters from
this city, at half-past twelve o'clock, nearly two hours
later than the time anticipated. The delay seemed una-
voidable. It was caused by the necessity for caution on
the newly-formed road, on which, for a considerable dis-
tance, there is yet only a single line of rails laid down,
and partly from the necessity for renewing the supply
of water at a point where the machinery for that pur-
pose was not complete. Moreover, at Bailleul, at Haze-
brouck, and at St. Omer respectively, the progress of the
train was also suspended for some time to admit of an
exchange of compliments between the authorities of those
places and the administration of the railroad, repre-
sented by Baron James Do Rothschild.
On arriving at the terminus near Calais, we found
assembled a large body of troops and of National Guards;
the authorities of the city of Calais, deputations from
many of the neighoouring towns and districts, and even
from Dover, and, above all, on an elevated estrade,
covered with scarlet cloth, the clergy in considerable
numbers, having at their head the venerable and re-
spected Cardinal Latour D'Auvergne, Archbishop of
Arras. The population of Calais and of the country for
many leagues round were present.
After some military salutes the real business of the
Inauguration of the railroad commenced by a blessing
pronounced by the Cardinal Archbishop. This over,
his Eminence, a man of 80 years of age, read in a firm
and sonorous voice an address to his flock, in which ho
alluded to the progress of science, and its immediate
benefit to Calais, as developed especially in the railroad
then before them. Salutes and cheers followed. The
Cardinal then entered his carriage,: and, leading the
way, returned to Calais.
Then commenced the march on foot in a broiling sun
of the immense majority of those present, the dozen om-
nibuses in attendance having been kindly forestalled—
they call it here " reserved"—for the administration
and the special friends and favourites of the magistracy
of Calais. Onlarriving in the city we found the princi-
pal any many collateral streets festooned with flowers
and evergreens. The church bells were ringing merrily,
and muskets were momentarily discharged. There was
no cheering, but everybody looked gay and happy, and
with good reason, for this event is perhaps the only one
that could rescue Calais from the misery and desertion
under which it has suffered for a quarter of a century.
At three o'clock a very interesting object presented
itself. The whole of the Grand Place was laid out with
tables, on which dinner was served for the National
Guards, a portion of the troops of all arms, and of the
bourgeoise of Calais. The repast was frugal except in
respect of wine. They wound up the evening in the
cafes and at a grand ball, in which the absence of female
partners was the theme of their regrets.
About four o'clock the dinner of ceremony took place
at " the Establishment," where the Mayor of Calais,
who had at his right and left the Prefect of the Depart-
ment, the Ministers of Justice and Public Works (MM.
Marie and Recurt), took the chair. The Barons James,
Lionel, (Sir) Anthony, and Gustavo de Rothschild;
MM. Cormenin, Gamier Pag4s, Pagnerre, and other
members of the National Assembly; General Bois le
Comte, and—lost in the crowd—the deputation from
Dover, specially invited, but
.for whom no particular
in
places at the table had been dicated. The dinner
over, speaking on a small scale commenced, and pro-
duced some very awkward incidents.
Long previously it might be gathered from the con-
versation on all sides that, like their brethren of Paris,
the bourgeoise of Calais were discontented with the revo-
lution that had taken place, and consequently with the
Republic. It did not appear that in Calais, any more
than in Paris, this dissatisfaction had its foundation in
affection or attachment for any of the "Pretenders" of
whom one hears so much, but purely and simply be-
cause the change had produced for them not only no
advantage, but loss of trade, customers, and lodgers.
This feeling became particularly manifest when the
Profit, in a speech considered to be full of indiscretions,
expressed a hope, and indeed predicted—that the Re-
public would heal the sores (plaies) caused by tho mo-
narchies. A rather general burst of disapprobation
followed. He essayed " Vice la Republique," and was
responded to by " Vice la France." The din and
confusion that ensued were considerable. Ulti-
mately, however, the company separated, but not with
those pleasureable feelings which the occasion ought to
have suggested.
To-day further rejoicings are in progress, the details
of which would have no interest for you. The Republic
may thrive and prosper, but there is one thing that
seems certain, namely, that their city will be benefited
by the opening of the shortest and pleasantest and most
direct line of communication with Belgium and Germany
that has ever yet been established. Whether it will
take much from the Boulogne route to Paris is another
question, which will depend a good deal on increased '
speed, as it is not at present contemplated that the jour-
ney between Calais and the French capital shall be per-
formed in less than between ten and twelve hours.
The directors of the Northern Railroad and their
guests resumed the excursion at eight o'clock this morn-
ing, and proceeded to Dunkirk.
The weather has been throughout superb.