The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-26 00:00:00

INVESTITURE OF THE ORDER OF THE

BATE AT PARIS,

The Monitcur of yesterday publishes the fol-
, lowing :
"A most interesting ceremony took place yesterday
at the English Embassy. The Order of the Bath was
conferred upon a number of general and superior officers
of the French army, who, in the Eastern war, de-
served that high distinction, which can only be obtained,
according to the statutes of the Order, for eminent ser-
vices rendered to England.
" Generals Bosquetand Regnaud de St. Jean d'Angely
received the Grand Cross of the Order ; Generals Niel,
de Martimprey, Millinet, Dalesme were appointed
Knights Commanders ; Generals ETinasse, de Beville,
Clor, Maneque, and Colonels Comignan, de Rochebouet,

Reilies, and others were appointed Knights Companions.
" Conformably to the statutes, the members of the
Order present at Paris were assembled ; in addition to a
number of English General-officers, the three Grand
Crosses conferred by the Queen's own hand during her
visit at Paris—his Imperial Highness Prince Napoleon,
Marshal Vaillant, and Gen. Canrobert —were present
" At half-past 6 the ceremony took place with that pe-
culiar pomp attached to the ancient institutions of Eng-
land, which was heightened still more by the recollection
' of the recent great acts accomplished, and by the pre-
sence of so many illustrious personages, many of whose
wounds are not yet healed. All the members already
decorated wore the insignia of the Order.
" Lord Cowley, the English Ambassador, having his
Imperial Highness Prince Napoleon on his right, per-
formed the act of investiture under a dais surmounted
by the arms of the Queen of England, and wearing the
Grand Collar and Cloak of the Order.
" Having read the different letters patent of the Queen,
he handed the insignia to each of the new Knights, led
up to him by two introducers. His Excellency then
made a short speech, recalling the glorious titles the new
members of the Order had to the favour of the Queen
and to the gratitude of England. Lord Cowley expressed
the pleasure it would have afforded the Queen to have
performed the ceremony of investiture in person, and
concluded by wishing them, according to custom, a long
and prosperous life, which would enable them to enjoy
the honours conferred upon them.

"Immediately after the ceremony the banquet-hall
was thrown open ; places were arranged for all the
guests. His Imperial Highness sat opposite the Ambas-
sador, with Lady Cowley on his right hand. At dessert
the English Ambassador proposed the Health of the
Emperor of the French.'
"Prince Napoleon replied as follows :
" 'My Lord and Gentlemen,—l propose to you the
Health of her Majesty the Queen of England.' In the
name of say comrades of the army of the East, I thank
her Majesty for the high distinction which she has
deigned to confer upon us ; if, in our devotion to the
most just of causes, for which we have fought and
triumphed, we stood in need of an encouragement and a
recompence, we should find them in the striking proof of
the favour of an august Sovereign and of the gratitude
of a great people our ally. 'ln the name of the army to
the Queen of England !'
"Lord Cowley then proposed toasts to the French
army and navy, and Count Walewski proposed the
Health of the Army and Navy of England.'
" In conclusion, the English Ambassador proposed a
final toast as most opportune and important in the pre-
sent state of affairs—a toast to the speedy conclusion of
peace, to the legitimate hope which the new negotiations
gave to the allies, and in particular to the English people,
to sea finally a termination of the evils of war—evils,
(added his Excellency) the full extent of which the illus-
trious soldiers here present are able to appreciate, as they
were spectators and many of their glorious comrades
victims thereof.

" This fete, so complete, is another link between the
two armies and the two peoples ; it is of a nature, from
the recollections it will leave among eminent men who
have received such high marks of the favour of Queen
Victoria, to cement the alliance of the two great Western
Powers, upon which the future destiny of the civilised
world rests."