The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-21 00:00:00

other, the minority, refusing to have anything to do
with the decoration, as this progress of the Emperor
was declared by the Prefect of the Department to

have been undertaken with the intention of his Ala-

jcsty seeing his people face to face, of examining into
the condition of the province, of noting where im-

provements are required, or ameliorations demanded,
so that he may devise the means of adding to their
happiness, or increasing their comforts. The dissen-

tient?, therefore, have maintained that this progress
of the Emperor through Brittany is a matter solely
belonging to the French themselves—one with which
the English have nothing to do, and that they,therefore,

should take no part which might make them appear
as busybodies, intermeddling in the affairs of their
neighbours. Neither party, that I have as yet heard,

have referred to the authority of Cicero on such a

debateable point, although there is, as I think,
much sound common sense and practical wisdom in

the following words :

" Peregrini autem et incola officium est, nihil pro -
ter suum negotium agere, nihil de alio inquirere,
minime in aliena ease republica curiosum."
One thing is perfectly certain, that the motive
of the English of Dinan, in getting up this testimo-
nial was simply that of manifesting their respect for
the Emperor. Another is equally certain, that the
royal arms, but, above all, " the supporters" of the
royal arms, completely mystified the Breton pea-
santry. One of them asked me, as I passed by, what
was the name of that strange animal, " the unicorn ;"
and as the pronunciation of the name in French did
not tend much to his stock of knowledge, he then
asked the name of the other, and upon my telling
him, he repeated the words, and, pointing to the
crown on its head, said, " I know all about him, but
this is the first time I ever heard they wore crowns."

The unicorn was, however, the grand object of attrac.
tion with these simple people. Several English per

sons were asked if there really was such an

animal in England, and if there was, whether it was
tre,s mechant. Several remarked it was very like a
horse, but " the mane was not all right," and, others
" the horn was quite wrong." Curious and outre as

all was in the eyes of Frenchmen, still all, as the em-
blem of England, exhibited their respect for it—the
soldiers by presenting arms, and the men taking off
their hats as they passed it by.
Next to this English testimonial there was one
particularly deserving of remark. It was an inscrip-
tion, embedded in wreaths of tri-colors and flowers,
with these few words upon it, " Vive l'Empereur, le
Sauveur de la France." It was the expression of
a feeling so universally entertained, and which
has served to make of this visit to Brittany by the
Emperor one uninterrupted ovation of national re-
joicing and popular festivities. It is felt that the
duty which in similar times devolved upon a Caesar
to perform, have been already accomplished by Na-
poleon 111. in the six years of the Empire restored
through him to his country:—" Constituenda judicia,
revocanda fides; comprimenda libidines, propaganda
soboles, omnia qure dilapsa jam defluxerunt, severis
legibus vincienda sunt."
At a quarter to two o'clock the cheers of the mul-
titude outside the Port du Brest: announced the ar-
rival of the Emperor and Empress.
The rain, which had been falling from time to time
during the entire day, came down at this moment in
a perfect torrent, so that it was impossible for the
Emperor to take his place on the throne prepared
for him.

It was whilst seated in his carriage that the first ad-
dress was made to him. It was spoken by the Maire
who was, on this occasion, accompanied by all the
members of the corporation.
The rev. rector of St. Sauveur's parish addressed
his Majesty in the name of the clergy of Dinan ; and
then turning to her Majesty, the, Empress, declared
it was a great happiness to him to have it in his
power to tender to her Majesty an offering which he
was sure would be most welcome to her—it was a
small prayer-book which had belonged to his Ma-
jesty the Emperor when lie was a school-boy.
The Empress exhibited great satisfaction at this
offering being made to her, and showing the book to
the Emperor, he at once recognised it, and again the
Empress thanked the rector of St. Sauveur's for the
precious gift he bad bestowed upon her.
The third address was one to the Empress from
the ladies of Dinan. It was presented by a depu-
tation of fifteen young ladies, at the head of which
was Mademoiselle Dutertre, the daughter of a
Spanish lady married to a French gentleman, and
was spoken by her in the Spanish language. It was
made upon offering her Majesty two albums of
photographic views of Dinan, taken expressly for
this occasion. Her Majesty appeared to be greatly
pleased with the present, and especially with the
address spoken in her native tongue.
The next address was from the English residents
of Dinan. This address, the composition of the
English chaplain at Dinan, was handed to his
Majesty the Emperor by the . chairman of the
committee. Upon receiving the address the Emperor
inquired how many English residents there were in
Doran; and upon being informed there were be-
tween two and three hundred, he expressed his
thanks for the address, and laid it carefully on his
knee, as if it was his intention to read it on the first
opportunity.
The following is a copy of the address, which will,
I am sure, be read with interest :

"TO HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY NAPOLEON 111.

" Sire,—As subjects of your great ally, Victoria, Queen of
England, and as residents of your ancient town of Dinan,
we beg, loyally and respectfully, to express our deep delight,
in common with the congregated natives of Brittany, at the
imperial presence of your Majesty.
" We have welcomed, with unfeigned joy, the grand his-
toric feature of the time—the recent internationalities—the
warm, auspicious greetings at Cherbourg; and we doubt
not but the union there cemented between the two firAt
Powers of the earth will continue its blessed course, in
adding more and more to the common welfare of mankind
in extending the commerce, advancing the civilisation, and
promoting the Christianity of the world.
" We crave permission, Sire, to offer to the amiable Em-
press of the French, to the partner of your throne, to the
happy mother of your son, the imperial Prince, our English
tribute of every best and every earnest wish. And, oh !
may that illustrious lady, and her princely son, and your
imperial self, Sire, by the favour from on high, be long
spared to the brave, the great, the gifted people so wisely
governed by your Majesty.
• " Signed by the Committee.
" R. ROWED, Chairman.
" Rev. R. A. JULIAN, S.C.L., English Chaplain.
" WILLIAM HENRY KERR.
"A. GRANT, Lieut.-Col.
" LOGAN DOWNES.
" ROBERT MENZIES, Bart."

-----
Other complimentary addresses were then pre-
sented to his Majesty, and, amongst others, from
the religious communities of the town.
When all had been received the signal was given
forn ewg
his Majesty's journey. lie proceeded
slowly through the town, saluting the various
re i n
banners of the different communal deputations, and
at last reached the spot where the English testimonial
had been erected, and where the English residents
were ranged in the following order :—The children
occupied all the front seats, on the next seats were
the English ladies, and behind them the gentlemen
The moment the Emperor's carriage appeared there
was an universal cry from the English residents in
their own language of " God save your Majesty !"
and this was followed by an outburst of hearty
cheers and loud hnzzas, such as the English alone
know how to give.

Upon the Imperial carriage fronting the English
testimonial it was stopped by order of his Majesty, and
then Sir Robt. Menzies, Bart., a gentleman universally
respected by English and French, was personally in-
troduced to the Emperor by the Sous-Prefect. His
Majesty remained here in conversation with Sir R.
Menzies for at least five minutes, and then parted
from him, saying, in English, " He was much please"
with what the fellow-subjects of Sir Robert Menzies
had done, and he regretted that he could not stay
longer with them."

and so parted the Emperor Napoleon from Dimin