The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-26 00:00:00

ADMIRAL FARRAGUT AND THE KING AND

QUEEN OP THE BELGIANS.

The King and Queen of the Belgians left Lacken
on Monday for Ostend, to visit the United States
ships Franklin and Ticonderoga, the arrival of
which in that port we have already announced.
Their Majesties arrived at Ostend at ten. The
King first reviewed the 7th Regiment, which was
drawn up opposite the station, after which the
Royal party proceeded in State carriages to the
pier, where the mail steamer Louise Marie was
moored, with Royal standard flying from the mast
head. The King aril Qaeen had been received with
great enthusiasm, and salvoes of artillery were fired
on embarking. The weather had up to that been
menacing, and low, dark clouds had formed a dense
canopy overhead. The Royal steamer hal scarcely
left the shore when the storm burst and the rain
fell in torrents, quite shutting oat from view every-
thing around the vessel. Tae American ships were
at anchor at about six miles from Ostend, aa 1 on
the steamer arriving near the flag of Admiral Farra-
gut, which was flying at the mainmast of the
Franklin, was lowered and replaced by the Belgian
standard, while salutes were fired from the vessel
and the Ticonderoga. Efforts were then male t)
bring the steamer alongside of the Franklin for the
)yal party to go on board, but the sea was now
so rough that after two failures the attempt was
abandoned, and the Franklin's boats, each manned
by an officer and 15 men, were lowered to tranship
the passengers of the Louise Marie. The King
and Queen took their seats in the first, but the
rain was still falling heavily, and the boats danced
in such an agitated measure that the trip looked far
from inviting, and some of the guests hesitated to
follow the example of their Majesties. The passage
was, however, made without accident, and on their
Majesties stepping on board the Franklin the guns
fired, the band struck up the Bra.bagonne, and the
seamen manned the yards and raised loud cheers.
The King and Qaeen first took a few moments'
rest in the state cabin, after which, accompanied by
the admiral, they visited the vessel in all its details.
The other guests, and the members of the press who
had been graciously permitted to join the party, re-
ceived the most courteous attention from the officers,
and as many of the last named were able to speak
French their explanations were listened to with great
ir
and, among
interest. The visit throughout the vessel having
the gave to his visitors
tbheeenspteeertmaienl
spectacle
different manoeuvres, t
others, beating to quarters, the working of the
guns, clearing the deck for action, manning the
pumps for a fire on board, and firing at a flag
fixed on a buoy at a distance of three-quarters of a
mile. The precision of aim was excellent, every
shot striking within a few yards of the point, and
in one instance the flag staff was cut in two. The
rain had in the meantime ceased, the clouds had
cleared away, and a magnificent sun shone forth,
compensating the visitors for the discomfort of
the morning. While these proceedings had been
going on, a splendid breakfast had been prepared
in the saloon ; as, however, the size of the room did
not afford accommodation for all the guests, the
King, Queen, and ladies first descended, the honours
of the table being done by the admiral and Mrs.
Farragut ; afterwards, a second repast, over
which Mr. Sanford presided, was served to
the gentlemen. A large number of steamers had
arrived from the shore with spectators and plied
around the Franklin. Many of the excursionists
who had accompanied their Majesties had also
visited the Ticonderoga. The King, before leaving,
examined with great attention the immense plat-
form gun, weighing 16 tons, on board the Franklin,
and also passed in review the marines ou board.
At four o'clock their Majesties took leave of the
admiral, expressing the great pleasure they had de-
rived from their visit, and returned on board the
Louise Marie. Their departure was marked by a
salute of 21 guns, and as the Belgian vessel passed
the Franklin the Belgian National Anthem was
again played, and the yards manned. The King
and Queen landed at Ostend at five, and at once
left by rail, arriving at Lacken at seven.