The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-09 00:00:00

HURSDAY EVENING,

NATIONAL GUARD OF FRANCE.
There is no doubt hut the late visit of the National
Guard to this country was induced by the purest, moat
honourable, and truly fraternal feelings, as such was
acknowledged by the entire press of this country, and
which it is our duty most warmly to cultivate. Every
one who assists in his individual capacity to stimulate
and maintain a loyal friendship between people of neigh-
bouring states does service to the cause of peace and
human happiness.
The late visits of the National Guard of France form
a brighter harbinger of an entente cordiale between the
two mightiest, but most sensitive and jealous, nations of
the earth, than all the protocols ever ,dictated by prac-
tised diplomacy. A few days prior to the visit
of the Guards, a circumstance occurred that pro-
bably had its effect in augmenting their numbers, and
of giving an irresistible impubie to the friendly feelings
which every one of them displayed. At Caen the chief
city of Normandy, a Fete de la Fraternite took place on a
Nsander scale than any save in the metropolis. The
ational Guard of Paris, wishing to show their grateful
recollection of the prompt aid given by the National
Gpard of Normandy on the occasion of the insurrection
in Tune last, determined to visit Csen, and present a
banner splendidly embroidered by the ladies of the offi-
cers. An invitation was sent from Caen, and accepted
by seven htmsdred gentjpmen of the Paris National Guard,
who arrived at Havre by the railroad, and these were
joined by five hundred more from the latter place, who
in two large steam boats, with their military bands, pro-
ceeded by sea to the former city. From the moment of
leaving the walls of ,Havre, the forts, quays, and houses
crowded with the whole population, the garrison drawn
out, and the cannon firing, a more joyous, truly trium-
phant procession was never seen, on a sea glittering be-
neath the sun of a glorious autumnal day.
The port of Caen, a work of twenty-five years labour,
was that day to be opened, and the steamers, bearing the
soldier-brothers in gay variety of uniform, glided be-
tween the banks of theheautiful river Orne, which re-
sembles the Thames from Kew to Richmond, hailed
throughout the whole distance, about ten miles, by crowds
of villagers and gentry, whose enthusiastic cheering of
their visitors, on this occasion of universally felt delight,
was indeed most heart stirring.
The new port Was proudly entered. The authorities
of the department, those of the city, the whole bench of
magistrates, judges in crimson and ermine, and barristers
in robes, the Bishop of Bayeux in his golden mitre, his
train borne, and all the emblems of his sacred office be-
fore him; all the clergy of the city and neighbourhood,
together, with the troops of the line in garrison, and the
National Guard of Caen, Bayeux, Lissieux, Honfleur,
Falaise, Vire, and other Norman towns, amounting to
five thousand men in full uniform, with their artillery,
were drawn up on either side of the quay to receive
their Parisian and Havre guests. The Bishop blessed
the new port in a speech, which was much cheered,
the guns fired, the people shouted, the Norman citizen-
warriors embraced their brother soldiers of the metro •
polio. A ball at - the town-hall, to whose attractions
Norman beauty contributed (upwards of two thousand
attending), crowned the first day so auspiciously begun.
The next day a review of the National Guards on the
Review Cours. which is flanked by banks, on which every
one could enjoy the spectacle, and by two of the most
beautiful avenues in France, more than eight thousand
troops passed, in 'review. Again, the Bishop and his
train of clergy joined 'the rejoicings of his affeetionate
flock, who warmly greeted him. The homage paid
to the Church was striking. Here were as-
sembled about a hundred thousand Republicans ;
yet, every one, military and civilian, vied with
each other in dutiful 'respect to an authority, amidst the
overthrow and disdain of all others, not of their own ap-
pointing. But the banquet was the grand feature. Under
four immense covered open booths sat down five thou-
sand men in the most perfect order, each guest having a
bottle of wine beside him. The spectators were kept
aloof by rails—there was no intrusion, no crowding. The
repast was of course cold, and the writer of this can test
to the excellence of the viands, the beef and mutton of
Normandy having merited renown. In the centre an or-
chestre monstre, similar to Jullien's, contained the bands of
the various regiments. The Prefect, the Mayor, the
General and Colonels gave and responded to the toasts,
and the ladies went round after dinner and collected
about a hundred and fifty pounds sterling for distribu-
tion to the poor, who had also the remains of the feast.
Even at this hour of festivity and triumph, amidst elation
of amour propre, the natural eonsequence of such a dis-
play of armed power, feelings were expressed towards
this country that deserve to be recorded. An English
gentleman, Mr. Lloyd, had accompanied the Havre
officers, a magistrate and late officer of Warwickshire
Yeoman Cavalry, which may not improperly be termed
a sort of English National Guard. He was invited to
the fete, pledged in terms of cordial good will, accom-
panied with wishes for sincerest amity between
England and France. The Colonel and officers
of the National Guard of Havre expressed the
noblest sentiments in regard to the maintenance
and improvement of the friendship between the two
nations, and took the opportunity of stating how much
his regiment was disappointed at the postponement of
their contemplated visit to Southampton, but that he
looked forward to visiting us in the spring, which Mr.
Lloyd suggested as the most favourable period for seeing
e 1
London. Under '' conviction that no opportunity
should be neglected for seizing every overture from
Frenchmen for improving a mutual, good understand.
ing, Mr. Lloyd '''wrote the following letter in French
to his entertainers, which appeared in the Caen news-
papers, and has been copied-into others—a sign of the
growing desire
,to inculcate amicable relations, when
courteously anti' Judiciously made. The manly and
truly-gratifying reply of.the colonel of the National
.Guerds will be read with interest. We trust he will
redeem his promise, and with his comrades visit us next
year. We assiire,hith a hearty welcome. The gentle-
manly deportment and intelligence exhibited by the
detachment who visited us last week have produced a
moat favourable impression.
AUX OFFICIERS ET OARDES NATIONAUX DES VILLES
iSAYRE ET DE CAEN.
Messieurs,—Le spectacle si noble et si imposant qui
vient d'avoir lieu m's fait Aprouver une profonde emotion.
C'est par la reunion des diverses classes dans un in-
teret commun que la societe est elle-meme maintenue.
Jo considers comme ue grand_honneur d'avoir assis,6
au Banquet Fraternel et de metre assis I la table de
quatre mills brave Gerdes Nationaux Francais. Les sea•
timents gduireux dont j'ai entendu I'expression out
touche mon cceur.
J'ai l'honneur de vivre sous le sceptre aimable d'une
souveraine descendue, en ligne directo, de votre grand
due Guillaume.
Du fond du cercueil oil it repose, dans la superbe ba-
silique qu'il a fait Ll*, digne monument de sa gloire,
l'ombre de ce grande homme a du tressaillir au bruit du
canon et au magnifique spectacle que Caen, citE si chore
I son cosur, vient de presenter.
Samedi, 14 Octobre, keit un jour I jamais memorable
dans vos annales! C'etait l'anniversaire de la bataille
&Hastings, qui donna le trtine d'Angleterre a Guil-
laume. Jamais, pent-e,re, depuis le 14 Octobre 1066,
les habitants de Caen n'ont vu Wire un plus beau jour,
jour de pacifique fraternitd.
J'ai assist 6 I beaucoup de revues, a de grandes Wes
populaires;fi main je n'ai rien vu de comparable au mug-
ni
rque spectable qn'offraient, Samedi, les rives de l'Orue,
de ,s de Gerdes Nationaux, de troupes et d'une popu-
lation bo
innombrable. JaLiait's je n'oublierai l'enthousiasme
de notre r6_.eption, les cdamations, malls aux salves
de l'artillerie; Cote revue
plus de six ans votre immense prairie, oA
nuliPlie)eninmfies 6taient ranges en bataille;
ces vivats fratel-Ms:.• nce banquet si cordial auquel
je me iEliciterai •to
jours d'avoir mite. Certes, one
telle fate valait Bien'll quo rout vint expres d'Angleterre
pour en etre tiKnoin.
. Je ne suis pas etonne que la plus haute noblesse d'An-
gleterre 14olume.l'honneur de descendre d'aieux nor-
mands. Et ce n'est eat '
seulemerit par les armes que
J
ce 'peuple est ajamais calibre dana l'histoire ; it
n'excelle pas moins dams les beaux arts. Nous autres,
Anglais, nous sommes bieu forces d'en faire l'aveu.
Pour l'architecture, par exemple, nous sommes
de nos ancitrea CPailds; nous ne pouvons atteindre
la perfection 'lWrs modeles.
La salle de Westminster hit erigEe par un roi normand ;
it y a 800 ans; et, depuis, nous n'avons rien fait de corn •
parable. C'est nue oeuvre digne du fils du roi qui a fait
Eriger Saint Etienne et l'abbaye de Sainte Trinitt En
entrant dans ces monuments, en Aprouve cette muette
admiration, ce saisissement secret et solennel qui s'em pare
de tortes le facultea de l'atne, en presence d'une oeuvre
inspitio. La fleo,he de SL Pierre est, avec l'interieur de
de Saint Ouen de Rouen, la merveille de l'art catholique
et is rillisation Is plus parfaits de 'ldea chretienne par
l'architecture.
seals, east le deeir de tout Anglais;
Nous devons etre
des,habir
jants de Southampton i vous
et l'empressement
offrir une reception log" " T°l4 On tst pnQ preuve
suffi IFermi sante. •
!es dames qui s'itanins cteaiempreas et beaucoupespoury
vous
iegevoir, la belle Vicomtesse Palmerston,
es
d'autres dames de distilledon nt renduea South-
ampton dans cette
intent:l;i
etr
Lacontra
vtle rtlai tpDauss,
a empiLl4i d'aller On re ne toti tempss
dana tine gallica plus favorable, du bonheur do vont reces
volt; par exempts., au moils de mai prochain Londres
est le plus animik g,
Nous Snit:ldes heiireue. Om noire forme ide gouverne.-
mei* j avez clernierement ()bolsi la forms Repub-
ccaine. Jo desire sincirement qua l'ordre nouveau
puisse s'affermir, et quo vous goittiez la prosiecite dont
vous avez tant besoin et dont vous etes . dignes.
Comrueancienofficier detlta farLle nationale A.nglaise; je
veux parlor de notre n ba_ ire") Inbn indent est
plus tit' pod tout pie qui ctincertte la garde nationale de
**tte pays. 1113 me vous, nous Aurons de defendre les
d'ordre Diu lie principes de. lieerti et j et c'est avec bon-
heir
,que j'aprevOis que ces
sans
ofoFp*,l,t
votre ("noise.
Soyex-en hien coninniu ;.! rd,,rt 1 s pas de
er, pour lissuret l'ornre
.et nberte l'EufOPe,
11 fain Eitie his idea grandes nations, la France et l'An•
gleterre, soient amies.
C'est le sentiment de tout A. "..-'l4is
eSt le yam le Flux
cher de noire gracieuse souveraine.
,Venezglonc nous visitor Pannee prochaine, et vous en
tendrtz des milliers de voix bretonnes crier: Vivo la-
France!

Caen, 16 Octobre, Hotel Lagonelle,
F. LLOYD.
Place de la Liberte.

Garde Nationale du lievre._tat Major.
Havre, 26th October, 1848.
Monsieur,--Jai lu avec un vif interet la lettre adresie
aux Gerdes Nationales du Havre et de Caen qua vous
avez fait inserer dans le journal L'Ordre etla
Liberte,
dont vous me faisiez l'envoi par votre lettre au 21 de ce
mois.

J'applaudis, tent en mon nom' qu'au nom du corps
que j'ai l'bonneur de commander aux sentimens de noble
fraternit6 qui respirent dans vos paroles. Comme vous,
Monsieur' je pense quo l'Angleterre et la France, qui
occupent le premier rang parmi les nations eiviliseest
doivent pour le bunheur du genre humain, rester tout ours
sitintement unies en donnant au monde rumple 4