The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-02 00:00:00

DEPARTURE OF THE PRINCE AND
PRINCESS FREDERICK WILLIAM.

This morning the Prince and Princess Frederick Wil-
liam of Prussia took their departure for the home of the
former amidst the acclamations and fervent prayers for
their happiness of thousands of spectators, who bad con•
gregated along the line of procession and thronged the
windows of the houses to bid them adieu, and at the
same time express ,their love and admiration for the
eldest daughter of our Queen, whose many estimable
qualities, us a Queen, a wife, and a mother, have endeared
her to the hearts of the English people.
The separation of parents from pbildren, brothers
from sisters, relatives from relatives, and friends
Irons friends, when it " may be for years, and it
may be for ever," is at all times a painful and
trying ordeal for the respective individuals ; and
there can be no doubt that the same maternal feel-
ings exist in the breast of a Royal mother, and the same
devotion and love to a parent in the breast of a princess,
as in those of less illustrious personages. Without in-
vading the sanctity of private life, or laying open to the
public eye the conduct and feelings of every individual
clost ly connected by the strongest ties to the illustrious
pair who this day left our shores, we may state that
the separation has been keenly felt on both sides, and
with the recurrence of each eventful day since the con-
summation of the nuptials, and as tha period of depar-
ture drew nigh, the reality of the severance of one
beloved by all, has increased and added a bitterness to
the pang which this day has been inflicted on
the Royal circle by the necessities of State. There can
be no doubt when the day of departure arrived, and the
period of separation was counted by minutes, that it was
painfully and acutely felt by all. The love of home, the
associations of youth, and the remembrance of past
happiness could not fail to present themselves to the
mind of the illustrious Princess, blinded with the hope
that the support and comfort, the love and affection, she
relied on from him whom she had vowed to "love,
honour, aid obey," would compensate fur the loss she
was about to sustain, and procure for her a happy home
in the country of her adoption ; whilst -to the Royal
Family the reminiscences of the past and the anticipa-
tions for the future must have equally, if not more in-
tensely, occupied their minds. It was not, therefore,
surpri,ing that her Majesty should have put aside the
pomp and ceremony of State to give free vent to her
noble womanly and motherly feelings in bidding adieu to
her first-born, whose amiability of temper and disposi-
tion and corteous bearing has secured the love, the
affection, and the devoted attachment of all who have
come within the circle of her acquaintance—to one who,
like the delicate tendril, had clung to her for support,
and, when about to burst into bloom and beauty, to be
aken from her to be transplanted iu a foreign soil,
here to " blossom as the rose," and diffuse happiness

around her.
The morning was intensely cold, the sky was lowering
and heavy, and the whole effect was one of depression
and sadness, in harmony with the thoughts of thousands
at one so young being torn, by the requirements of state
policy, from her happy home ere she ripened into woman-
hood. But as the decree had gone forth and the fiat
had been sealed, the inhabitants of the metropolis con-
gregated in thousands at an early hour, to cheer her,
at the outset of life's arduous and difficult journey.
Punctual at 12 o'clock, amidst a heavy fall of snow,
fit emblem of purity, the Royal c )rtege emerged from
Buckingham Palace, escorted by a detachment of Horse
Guards. In the first open carriage (to gratify the
people and to return with greater ease and freedom
their salutations), rode her Royal Highness, the Prin.
cess on theriright hand side of her husband ; his Royal
Highness the Prince Consort and the Prince of Wales
sitting opposite. The Princess wore a grey travelling cloak
and dark blue velvet bonnet and veil, with white feathers.
Her swoollen eyes, suffused cheeks, and flushed coun.
tenacce told plainly the cost of the separation to that
young and hitherto joyous and affectionate heart,
presenting a marked contrast to that of the Prince
Consort, who evidently felt proud of the alliance with a
Prussian house, an honour highly coveted by the small
German States.
In the second carriage rode Prince Alfred, the Duke
of Cambridge, and two of the ladies of her Royal High-
Leases suite. Then followed four other carriages all
open, conteining his Royal Highnesses suite, Lord
Alfred Paget, and seeeral gentleman of her Majesty's
household.
On the Royal cortege coming from the Palace, a loud
and hearty shout of acclamation rent the air which con-
tinued as the procession advanced, accompanied with
the waving of bats and handkerchiefs, which was cour-
teously acknowledged by the Royal personages.
At the cornsr of the garden of Stafford House the
Duchess of Sutherland and various members of her
Grace's family, despite the inclemency of the weather,
were waiting on a platform. erected expressly for the
occasion to bid adieu to their Royal Highnesses. As
the carriage turned the corner to enter Cleveland-row,
the. Princess Royal caught sight of the party, heartily
bowed, and waved her handkerchief most affectionately,
turning as the carriage moved on and returning the
salutations till the Duchess was out of sight, evidently
much pleased with this marked attention from an old
friend, and probably surprised at meeting on the route
co familear a face.
Tue buoy Legate to clesc:nd faster and faster as the
cortege moved on, but the pace at which they travelled
wiatinued, notwithstanding, at the slow and even tenour
with which it started, and her Royal Highness braved
the cold and the driving snow to gatify the assembled
thousands, an act of condescension and kindness on her
part at the expense of her comfort, which the delighted
concourse highly appreciated and testified by their loud
and continued cheers.
The procession passed through Pall-mall, the Strand,
Fleet•strei:gt,virLuadligaamte.a-street,
Churchyard,fide, through Cannon
street, K
High-street, Borough, and Dover-road, to the Brick•
layer's.arens-Station in the Kent-road.
The Lord Mayor met the procession at Temple-bar,
and conducted it to the railway station. His lordship
accompanied the Royal couple to Gravesend, and was
present at their departure.
At the station the Royya, lapnadrtythweerperirnecciepivaeldobfaycitahles
Chairman and Directors of, twhheoSowutehreEahsitgehrnlyßcaoimlwpaliy.
°Cie:lnn:lee:l2Tb' withtt hh ee illustriousS etheeretalira line,
personages for the admirable
arrangements they had made for the conveyance of the
Royal Party at Gravesend. All being in readiness they
left the station amidst loud and enthusiastic cheers,
waving of handkerchiefs, &c., of the persons who had
been favoured with seats erected near the departure

numbers of
torfaipneersoounlds hbaedgoctoans.
g r egd
platform.
On the
wherever
r railway lgway
glimpse l i
mit shot along with its illustrious occupants.
a te
Shortly after iwo o'clock the arrival of the train was
signalled. On its drawing up to the platform their
Royal highnesses were received by Viscount
Sydney, as
Lord Lieutenant of the county, and colonel of the Wept
Kent Yeomanry Cavalry,'the Cobham troop of which
regiment, under their captain, the Earl of Daroley, were
on duty. Tne guard of honour consisted of 100 men of
the East Kent Militia, lelth their band and colours ;
600 men from Chatham, and a draught from Woolwich
kept the line.
The procession to conduct _the illustrious personages
to the pier was then formed, and proceeded down
Windmill-street, along King-street and Milton-road,
and down Harmer-atreet, to the Terrace-pier, a distance
of about half a mile, in the progress of which their Royal
Highnesses were received with the same enthusiasm as
greeted them in their progrese through the metropolis,
with the addition of several vollies known as the
Kentish fire."
A triumphal arch was erected in Windmill-street, and
another at the entrance to the Terrace-pier, each of
which were prettily and appropriately decorated.
On reaching the pier the royal visitors alighted, and
proceeded on foot to the place of embarkation. At the
entrance of the structure the mayor and corporation were
assembled, and an address was presented to Prince
Frederick William, which he graciously accepted. A
very pretty sight was here afforded ; seats were erected
on each side filled by hundreds of the fair maids and
matrons of Kent, and lining the pathway over which the
royal visitors proceeded, were stationed on either side
25 young ladies, who strewed flowers at the feet of the
illustrious personages as they passed.
Salutes were fired from Tilbury Fort and by the
Town battery at New Tavern Fert, as their Royal
highnesses embarked and eped their way t)wards the
channel, a ith the hearty prayer and good wishes of the
assembled thousands for their future happinces.
In the evening a public ball will be given, and in
addition to a general illumination, there will be fire-
works and an enormous bonfire on if the
weather will permit.
It is a singular circuinstanco that the first snow we
have bad this winter fell on the day of ller Royal
Highness's depar tare.

We aro requested by General Changarnier to state
that as the decree which ex led several French Generall.
has not been repealed it id not at present his intenticn
to return to France.