The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-03 00:00:00

FRANCE.

PARIS, AUG. 2.
Nothing can be more liberal than the arrange-
ments made by the French Government for British
visitors to Cherbourg. The marine authorities have
received orders to permit members of Parliament,
the proprietors of yachts, and gentlemen belonging
to the important London journals, to occupy con-
venient places in order that they may be spectators
of the ceremonies to take place on the meeting of the
Sovereigns of England and France. lam assured
Earl Cowley has so arranged with the French
authorities as to secure these privileges. I am happy
to be able to report that the most cordial under-
standing exists between the Governments of England
and France concerning foreign officers generally, as
well as the courtesies growing out of the files at
Cherbourg.

The Ministers of Bavaria, Saxony, Hanover,
Baden, and Sardinia, have joined in freighting a
steamer at Havre to attend the fetes at Cherbourg ;
the Russian Minister, M. de Kisseleff, is to go alone.
M. de Hatzfeldt, the Prussian Minister, has not
recovered sufficiently from his indisposition to be
able to attend, and M. de Hubner, the Austrian
Ambassador, though invited, has not yet received
the instructions of his Court as to whether he is to
go or not. No one but the British Ambassador has
received an official invitation to Cherbourg.
The Continental journals confirm the intelligence
you have already received concerning the affairs
of Montenegro. An official despatch says :—" The
Sultan's Government having sent orders to remove
the Turkish troops from the Montenegrin frontier,
Prince Danilo on his part has withdrawn the troops
charged to defend it."
Imperial rescripts have been sent to the nobles of
the Governments of Orenbourg and Kalouga, in
Russia, granting them permission to form Emancipa-
tion Committees in those provinces.
The Duke de Rivas is about leaving Paris for
Madrid. His Excellency has taken leave of the
Emperor. I have been assured that both the Em-
peror and Empress expressed deep regret at his de-
parture.

Count de Cavour retured to Turin on the 31st
ult.

The Hanover Gazette gives the following on the
subject of the vote of the Germanic Diet :—" The
proceedings of the Diet, as regards the reply of
Denmark, threaten to take a very deplorable turn.
The commission for the affair of Holstein, which
had been united to the Executive Committee, was
charged to examine that reply and to present a
prompt report on it. These two bodies terminated
their labours on the 28th ult. Unfortunately, the
propositions of this report are such that the Envoy
of Hanover, who is a member of the united
body refused to sign the report, and demanded a
delay to draw up a different decision. Under
pretence of the urgency of the affair, the
committee refused to grant that delay, and on the
29th, presented to the Federal Assembly the opi-
nions of the majority of the committee without
making any mention of the views of the dissident
member. The Hanoverian Envoy, in the sitting of
the Diet, protested against the refusal of the delay,
and announced that his Government would appeal
to the co-Federate Governments. He also protested
against the proposition of the majority, according to
which the Danish Envoy was to form part of the
Executive Committee. The final settlement of this
difference is looked for with impatience. The Go-
vernments, it is to be hoped, will never adhere to the
conclusions of the majority, as, if they should do so,
the cause of the Duchies is lost for Germany and
gained by Denmark."
We learn by telegraph—
" NAPLES, lst.—The King has commuted the sentence
of death passed on the seven men in the Sapri affair; the
commutation for Nicotera and two others is the galleys for
life, and for the four others twenty-five years' imprisonment
in irons."

"BERNE, Ist.—The Federal Assembly has been dissolved,
and will again meet on the 10th January next."
Mr. Sams, of St. James's-street, yesterday, was
honoured by the Emperor with a reception at St.
Cloud. The object of Mr. Sam's visit to Paris was
that of placing before his Majesty the prospectus of
the Dramatic College, accompanied by a letter from
Mr. Webster, the chairman of the committee. The
Emperor received Mr. Sams most graciously and
was pleased to promise his support of an institution
towards which he expressed much sympathy.
PARIS BoußsE.—The market has been steady, and
the settlement has been effected on favourable con-
ditions. Threes, after having been done at 68fr
15c. improved to 68fr. 25c.; Mobilier varied from
620 fr. to 6301 r.; Austrian, 627 fr. 50c. to 630 fr. ;
Orleans, 1,267 fr. 50c. to 1,270 fr. ; Lyons, 767 fr,
50c. to 770 fr.; Southern, 515 fr. to 520 fr. ; Eastern,
648 fr. 75e. to 655 fr. • and Western, 595&. to 600 fr.
The following are the last quotations:—

Fr. Ct.
05 25

4 per Cents... .
Do. end of month
3 per Cent. 6B 25
Do. end of month 68 45
Bank Shares .... 3,100
Credit Mobilier.. 630
Do. account..... 626 75

Fr. Ct.
Credit Foncier 600
Belgian 4; —
Piedmontese 5 B9 50
Roman..... 00:4
Austrian 9l 50
Spanish Threes
Home Debt..

RAIL'S
Cash.

urleans .
Northern
New ditto
Lyons & Mediterranean
New ditto
Geneva ...

-AYS.

-Fr. Ct. Account—Fr. et.
,270 .. 1,270 --
918 75 .. 918 75
772 50
772 50

.. 58'2 50

...'

768 75

38:3 50

Midi
Western . 6OO .. 600 ---
Eastern
Grand Central — -- . • _ --

Sardinian ...
Austrian ....

••
415 - 412 50
..... 630 - 630 ---

DISTRIBUTION OF THE VICTORIA CROSS BY.
HER MAJESTY.

PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY NIGHT.
The distribution of the Victoria Cross, which took place
place yesterday efternoon, on Southsea•common, was an
event of no ordinary interest, and to the inabitants of the
locality it was a great patriotic festivity, numbers being
attracted from the surrounding districts to witness the pro-
ceedings. The troops began to assemble on the common
about half-past three o'clock, and formed into two brigades,
the first commanded by Lieut.-Col. Cole, of the 15th Regi-
ment, and the second by Col. Hurdle, C. 8., of the Royal Ma-
rines Light Infantry. There was in all about 4,000 infantry, a
very respectable gathering considering the large drafts that
have recently gone out to India, and including, besides, some
companies of Royal Artillery, the 15th Regiment of the line,
and five regiments of militia. The officers and colours were
drawn up iu front of the lice of continuous columns await-
ing the arrival of her Majesty. For the accommodation of
the Queen an elevated dais, suitably decorated, was erected
in front of the brigades, and in the rear of the platform
was a royal pavilion or tent for her Majesty and the royal
party. Enclosures were set apart for the officers of the
garrison and their friends, among whom were of course a
arge number of ladies. These enclosures flanked each

ide of the platform erected for the sovereign; while a
line of sentries, extending a considerable distance in front o
the enclosures formed a square, in the centre of which wells
stationed the brigades. The general public thronged the
space immediately beyond, and obtained no very distinct
view of the ceremony itself. A grand stand was provided
for the use of those who chose to pay for an elevated posi-
tion, but the situation was more favourable for a couP
&ail than for minute inspection.

The esplanade was gaily decorated with party-colcured
flags, and here also were erected a number of small plat-
forms, the property of enterprising speculators in the
gratification of public curiosity.

The Queen landed at the stairs in the dockyard under
royal salutes shortly after four o'clock, the crews of the
vessels in harbour manning yards and cheering lustily
during the royal approach and disembarkation, and the
ships themselves being dressed in their gayest colours
Her Majesty proceeded at once to Southsea-common.. She
was saluted in passing opposite the fleet at Spithead by
the magnificent screw vessels at anchor, and similar
homage was paid by the garrison battery. The royal
carriage entered the ground by the eastern enclosure,
and stopped for two or three minutes alongside the dais,
while her Majesty gazed on the beautiful scene before her,
the principal feature of which was the gallant band whose
deeds were the occasion of the ceremony. On the right
of her Majesty was his Royal Highness the Prince Con-
sort on horseback, in the uniform of a field-marshal; oe
the left was his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge.
In the carriage with the Queen were the Princess Alice and
the Princess Helena, and a lady in waiting. There was e
numerous and brilliant staff. At a signal from her Majesty
the royal cortege proceeded to tha eastern extremity of the
two brigades, and traversed the whole front from end to end at
a slow walking pace. It then returned amid the cheers of
he multitude to the dais appointed fur the. ceremony of dis-
tribution, which her Majesty Immediately ascended, ac-
companied by the two royal Princesses, the Prince Consort,
and the Duke of Cambridge, and by Gen. Peel, her Ma
jesty standing in front. The officers and men selected to
receive the Victoria Cross were then ordered to advance,
which they did successively, and each in turn had the grati-
fication of having the cross fastened on his breast by Os
hand of the Queen herself—an honour which seemed to bays
a rather dazzling and bewildering effect on some of thew, 9°
was shown by a forgetfulness of the military salute, and 8
certain amount of bashfulness in retiring.
After the crosses had been presented, the troops marched
past her Majesty in open columns, in quick time, tha
bands of the several regiments playing as they approacue.,
the Queen. The troops afterwards formed in brigades er,
he ground which they occupied on her Majesty:s
and the presentation of arms, &c., and the playing of 0:
National Anthem by all the bands simultaneously, all
flounced the termination of this interesting ceremony. h
It was remarked by every one who was fortunate enoi!g_
to have a good view of the Queen's face as she was preparing
to depart, that it beamed with smiles of satisfaction. the
The royal party left about half-past five o'clock, amid 1."
affectionate plaudits of a vast assembly.