The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-24 00:00:00

THE QUEEN'S VISIT to BELGIUM.

ARRIVAL OF HER MAJESTY.
OSTEND, THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
After my dispatch was forwarded yesterday the
weather became so threatening that few imagined the
royal yacht would leave her snug quarters in Cowes-
roads to knock about in the boisterous waves of the
Channel. Night closed over Ostend in storm and
rain, and there were many who judged that her *Ma-
jesty would abandon her intention of coming over al-
together, as it was but natural to suppose the same
wild sort of work was going on at the other side of the
water. It was therefore with some surprise, not-
withstanding her Majesty's reputation for punctuality
and tenacity of purpose, that they heard the royal
squadron might be positively expected in harbour
before noon to-day. Any doubt they might have had
as to the accuracy of this information was speedily
dispelled by the preparations which were visible soon
after eight o'clock. Drums began to rattle away at
the rappel in all quarters, to collect the soldiery
from theirvarious billets, and about ten o'clock the
sight of three or four companies of the corps
cf elite marching along the quays, with some
half-dozen of " dry drums"—that is, without
any accompaniment—rolling away at the head of
the column, condensed the scattered numbers
of the crowd and brought them up to the
steam-boat jetty, where the men took up their posi-
tion forming two sides of a square, one of which was
at right angles to the river. Soon after the full
strains of a very fine brass band announced the ap-
proach of more troops, and a couple of companies of
the 7th Regiment of the Line wheeling round by the
Custom-house stockade, dressed into line so as to
form another side of the square, which was then com-
pleted by the jetty-trout, where the packets
lie, just opposite the Douane. These arrange-
ments were explained by the intimation that the
Royal squadron was actually in sight, and, on re-
pairing to the lighthouse embankment, and looking
away to the eastward, there, far down on the horizon,
could be discerned just one little trail of smoke
streaked across the sky. Sharp eight, aided by a good
glass and the elevation of the marine look-out post,
had already ascertained that these feint indications of
life on the waters proceeded from four steamers close
together, of which the foremost loomed like the royal
yacht. Acting upon the intelligence, the crowd
moved down along the dique, and there cettled
themselves into chairs and upon benches with
great composure to await the course of events,
clustered upon the Phare and on the jetties,
and scattered their masses on the sea-wall ;
every sort of " bring in near" was in requisition, from
the tiniest of lorgnettes to the longest of telescopes,
but as the vessels took time to rise on the horizon, the
greater part of the company devoted themselves to the
creature comforts which the restaurants and estaminets
supplied, and the whole line of coast was soon hazy
with tebaeco smoke. Looking seawards there was a
turbid ms=s of water heaving with a gentle undula-
tion from the effects of the recent wind, and dashing
over toe hithers and in among the bathing-boxes at
your feet in kreekers of yellovv-seep suck—near in
shore a solitary lazy old schuyt aaabbllingabout on the
swell, aed far cut and on the very horizon soil, floe
little black spo's with dark smoke wreaths above them.
A t either side was the sea wall covered •,eith hundreds
of brave Belgians, male and female, in all the taste-
ful eccentricities of an ad libitum sea-side attire.
S area of our excellent countrymen, half ashamed of
their incipient moustaches, and in a state of high im-
portance, and groups of booted genedarrens in yellow
lea•her and cocked hats, pigeon-hearted guides,
more aureate than Solomon in all his glorieg,
stray chasseurs, dapper infantrymen, and sombre
priests, trying to look as if they did not care
about such worldly matters. Behind you the inas,ive
ramparts faced with bright and verdant sward, rose
from the deep moat high around the town, so that
you could only see the church steeples or a few aspir-
ing old gables and house-tops shining painfully with
bright red tiles in the sun above them. Here and
there glanced the shako of an artilleryman above the
parapet, just putting one in mind that if there should
be a shot in that particular 32-pounder which was
trained there just astern of you, with its grim muzzle
peering out through the fresh grass like a tiger from a
jungle, the consequences would be excessively unplea
sans. And fLr beyond lay the b ire level country, sleep-
ing as it were beneath the blazing heat, and licking
up the canals that crept over its bosom into dirk
woods and d :zy oldtowns, till it was lost in the warm
fog which came up heavily from swamp and marais
beneath the fervent heat. In the streets some slight
aceassions were made to the decorations of flag and
floral emblems, and additional triumphal arches had
been hastily and lightly run up across the route from
the jetty to the royal residence. Every outer wall in
the neighbourhood displayed its banner; the glass:pen-
dants of the mural crowns in the streets made pleasant
music, and peals of fine toned bells from orthodox steeples
rang out cherily, albeit in honourofa Protestant Q Leen.
All thepoints from which aviewcould be obtained of the
harbour and of the landing-place were fully ccett-
piA. In a word, Ostend gentle end simple, inhabi-
tant and stranger, made universal holiday in honour
of the friendly Sovereign who was so rapidly ap-
proaching their shore. Another half-hour and the
little squadron could be discerned with the naked
eye—a few minutes more, and to a practised vision
the identities of each vessel established themselves.
There came the Royal yacht in the van, throwing
the spray in sheets from her bows, and moving on
with steady stateliness to port, behind, the grace-
ful little Fairy rolling her gilded sides in the
water, which was whisked up into foam by her
screw, and shaking her slender reeds of masts to
and fro as if in play ; then the Vivid—worthy of
her name—checked to quarter speed, and dancing
along like a curbed sea-horse. After her the Admi-
ralty yacht, the Black Eagle, which is certainly not
a sea eagle, and, nearly hull down in the distance,
the Stromboli, vomiting out as much smoke as its
insular namesake in a vain attempt to join her com-
panions.
In this order the ships swept on, and about half-
past eleven o'clock the Royal yacht dashed up the
narrow entrance between the two piers, which lead to
the harbours (it being then just at the top of high
water), the Royal standard at the main—the Admi-
ralty flag at the fore—and with the lead going
from the chains. As she rounded the light-
house a spurt of flame flashed from out of
the grass rampart, and the thuncLr of the
first gun of a royal salute echoed through every
street in Oitend. The crowd on the piers took off their
bets and waved handkerchiefs as the yacht pasted,
hut so far as my ears could judge there was no cheer-
ing. The water not being very ileep, the engices
were " sloweJ," and she proceeded with diminished
speed on to the place of debarkation. Her Msjrsty
was on the quarter-deck NN ith Prince Albert and four
of the royal children, and returned the mute saliva-
tion% of the people with curtsies. At the Custom-
-horse the troops got under arms at the first gun from
the battery, and kept the square in front of the land-
ing-place clear for the reception of the Queen. In-
side the square were King Leopold (dressed in the
uniform of a Belgian General), Major Connt
Moerkerke, General Goblet, and the members of
his staff', and the bands of the regiments on
duty. Before the echoes of the last gun of the
salute had died away, the yacht had nearly arrived at
her moorings by the jetty. She was piloted by Mr.
Smithett, R.N.., Commander of the Vivid, and was so
admirably managed, that in a few moments she was
abreast or, and nearly parallel with the jetty. The
space reserved for her was but little more than her
own length, notwithstanding which she was hauled
alongside in a marvellously short space of time, and
made fast so as to allow of a gangway being run from
the shore astern of the paddle-box. Her Majesty and
Prince Albert, who had left the quarter-deck, and
mounted up to the paddle-box platform, with the
Prince of Wales, his brother, the Princess Royal,
and the Princess Alice, soon atter the yacht en-
tered the harbour, seemed in high epirits, and
looked as if they enjoyed the scene amazingly ; just
at this moment a heavy drizzling shower begin to
fall which made the shelter of the platform canopy
very acceptable. In attendance on her Majesty were
Lady Canning and Miss Dawson, Colonel Phipps and
Sir James Clark, M.D , the latter en route to Brus-
sels, where the Queen of the Belgians is stated to be
detained by the delicate state of her health ; and on
the platform was Sir F. T. Bering, First Lord of the
Admiralty, who was a passenger on board the yacht,
having returned from his visit to Cherbourg. Her
Majesty was dressed in plain silk mourning. Prince
Albert wore a black froekcoat and trousers, and the
young Princes were attired as sailors—little black
glazed hats, round jackets, and wide pantaloons.
As the yacht hauled up alongside, at twelve o'clock,
the Queen and suite descended to the quarter-deck,
and the King of the Belgians stepped up the gang-
way and welcomed his Royal guest with great
warmth. Toe interview was like that
which takes
place between old friends. The King shook bands
and was shake n bands with most cordially. He
took particular notice of the children, who looked in
good but not in robust health, and the whole party
were soon engaged in animated and apparently in
happy conversation. Meanwhile the bands had been
- "God save the Queen," till they were all out
and an interval of about half an hour
any movement was made which
the ietentiona of the Queen.
the English Consul, wont on
'as graciously received by her Ma-
' members of the King's staff, but no
the Chore. At 1 o'clock five of the
drove into the square in obedience to
the yacht, and soon afterwards King
ncovered head, led her Majesty along
im the deck, and hand* d her into the
principal equipage. The crowd cheersd vigorously
soon as they perceived the Queen ; every h q was
off, and as Prince Albert followed with the Royal
children, the cheering was renewed, the troops closing

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