The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-07-24 00:00:00

VISIT OF THE DUKE OF DALMATIA TO

LIVERPOOL.

( From the Liverpool Albion.).

. We have, in another part of our paper, given an accoun,
of the visit of this illustrious individual, better known by the
title of Marshal Soult, to Manchester. On Saturday morn-
ing, at half-past six o'clock, the marshal and his suite, ac-
companied by Charles Lawrence, Esq., left the last-named
town for Liverpool, by a special train. At an early hour
the Mayor and a party of gentlemen were in attendance at
the Railway-station, in Lime-street, for the purpose of re-
ceiving and welcoming the distinguished foreigners to our
town. The journey from Manchester was accomplished in
fifty minutes, some luggage waggons having been on the line.
On his arrival, his excellency declined making use of the
carriage that had been provided for him, and tie and his train
proceeded on foot to the Adelphi. Notwithstanding the ear-
liness of the hour, a multitude of persons had assembled, who
repeatedly cheered the gallant veteran as he passed, and, by
their eagerness to catch a glimpse of him, occasionally re-
tarded his progress.
The party of visitors comprised the following distinguished
names :—Le hlarichal Soult, Duc de Dalmatie, &c. &c., Le
Marquis de Dalmatie, (his son,) Le Marquis de Morney,
(his son-in-law,) Charles Manby, Esq., (who acted as inter-
preter,)
Le Colonel Naudet, Le Chef d'Escradon de Tinan,
Le Marquis de Bassano, Le Duc de Vicenza, Le Compte de
Praslin, Le Compte de Tournon, M. de Francqueville,
Admiral Napier, Colonel Napier, Mr. Mackintosh.
It had been originally arranged that, after breakfast, the
marshal was to visit the markets. In conformity with his
own wish, however, after resting for a few minutes, he was
conducted by the Mayor to St. John's Market, accompanied
only by his son and one or two attendants, where, without
being generally recognised, he examined the place at his lei-
sure. The marshal, it is well known, speaks English but im-
perfectly, but his son converses in our language with consi-
derableflueney. It is said, that a gentleman in the market,
who discovered the quality of the vititors, expressed some
fear lest they should conceive an indifferent opinion of our
resources from the appearance of the stalls at that compara•
tively early hour. The Marquis of Dalmatia is said to have
replied, that he understood very good dinners were furnished
in Liverpool! The party having inspected every thing
worth notice, returned to the Adelphi, where they break-
fasted, and remained till about ten o'clock, when the duke
got into a •private carriage, and accompanied by his suite,
and followed by the mayor, several members of the council,
and other individuals, proceeded along Ranelagh-street,
Church-street, &c., to George's Pier, where he embarked on
board her Majesty's steam-boat Urgent. Commander Chap-
pell, R.N. received his excellency on board; and Lieutenant
Tudor, R.N. commanded the steamer. On his way the mul-
titude repeatedly manifested the kind feeling with which they
regarded him, and be frequently took off his hat in acknow-
ledgment. He was also loudly greeted at his embarkation.
'1 he Mayor had issued tickets of admission to the packet,
and eleven o'clock. was the hour fixed for her departure.
From the extreme anxiety, however, of Marshal Soult to
make the most of his time, and from the party being, from
the visit to St. John's Market, at the pier nearly an hour in
advance, the steamer, in deference to his wislics, was put in
motion at half-past ten o'clock. This was the cause of great
disappointment, and the time in advance thus gained had a
vexatious influence on every arrangement that had been
made throughout the whole day. The first consequence was
that a numerous party, including nearly the' whole of the
Town Council, who were not iu attendance when the steamer
started, were disappointed of the aquatic trip and of the
pleasure of meeting with the gallant veteran under extremely
favourable circumstances. Several individuals, amongst
whom were one or two members of our local legislature,
seemed to feel the disappointment very keenly-. As a majo-
rity, sufficient to form a council, was on the spot, it was wag-
gishly proposed, that a special council should be held, for the
purpose of considering upon what was best to be done under
the circumstances. This would, probably, have been carried
into effect at once, but the mover was reminded of two insur-
mountable difficulties, namely, that it was, in the first place,
impossible to constitute a council in the absence of the
Mayor, as his worship had not appointed any deputy; and,
secondly, that it was required by law, that, previously to
holding any special council, three clear days' notice should
be given ! he discussion, therefore, was general and not
special, several persons who are not members of the Council
taking part in it. Amongst the persons left behind were
some of those to whom the public look for intelligence, viz.
the gentlemen of the press„ and, of course, these felt, in a
spirit of disinterestedness for which the fraternity are pro-
verbial, less for themselves on the occasion than for the inha-
bitants of this enlightened community.
" Wo, wo for England, not a whit for me."

Various proposals went round, and there was much humour
badinage on the occasion: so that, at length, the gloom and
vexation were dispelled before the hearty laughter that
greeted some of the sallies. One person proposed, that a
steamer should be chartered for the use of the detenus, who
would thus form a party independent of those who appeared
to have left them in the lurch; whilst another waggishly sug-
gested, that the companions of the brave marshal must hav e
had an Urgent necessity for their sudden and unexpected de-
parture.
Meanwhile, the steamer proceeded close under the piers,
in the direction of the north shore, for the purpose of giving
Marshal Soult and the other strangers an opportunity of in-
specting the magnificent seawall. Amongst the officers on
board the Urgent were Colonel Campbell, commander of her
Majesty's forces in this district, Commander Chappell, and
Lieutenant Townley. The Urgent was, in the absence of
Captain Emmerson, commanded by Lieutenant Tudor, who
wore his naval uniform. The vessel steamed some distance
along this side of the river. As she passed Messrs. Wilson's
ship-building yard, the workmen assembled at the river side
and greeted the company with three hearty cheers. After
this, the vessel crossed to the flock Fort, when she put about,
and ascended the river as far as the Brunswick Dock. As
she passed the various passages to the docks, vessels of all
nations were taking their departure. It was remarked, that,
amongst them, there was but one French vessel, which was
seen, just as the steamer was approaching the pier, putting
out of the George's !Dock, with the Tricolour flag flying.
This must have struck the marshal with a conviction of the
very trifling commercial intercourse that is carried on be-
tween the two nations. As the steamer passed up and down
the river, she allowed to the strangers a full view of the Mer-
sey. The forest of masts which the docks presented, from
the north to the extreme south end of the town, with the co-
lours of every nation streaming in the breeze, (for all the
shipping had hoisted their flags in compliment,) had an ex-
tremely beautiful appearance, and must have reminded the
brave old warrior of our indisputable maritime superiority.
The steamer returned to the pier a few minutes before twelve
o'clock. The voyage was, altogether, a delightful one. A
more brilliant day could not have been wished for, and the
direction of the wind was such that the whole atmosphere
over the town was clear and bright, the smoke being all
blown away in a south-easterly direction. The strangers
could not possibly have seen our noble river under a more fa-
vourable aspect; and they, one and all, expressed their high
gratification. Marshal Soult took his station on the starboard
quarter, the neighbourhood of which he did not quit during
the voyage. He took, in regular Oilier, the panoramic suc-
cession of scenes which the motion of the vessel brought un-
der his view. He conversed gaily and frequently with his
sou and suite, and other gentlemen who were fortunate
enough to get on board the vessel with him. He was repeat-
edly cheered from the pier, and vessels on the river; com-
pliments which he acknowledged with simple and unaffected
courtesy. On his landing, the crew of the Urgent gave him
three chews, and he was received with like gratulations by
a large and respectable concourse, who had there assembled
to receive him.

The gallant marshal and his son, with one or two other
gentlemen, then stepped into the Mayor's carriage. Amid
the acclamations of the people, they drove to the Town-hall,
accompanied by a train of other carriages, containing the re-
mainder of the suite and several gentlemen of the body cor-
porate. At the 'Town hall the party partook of a handsome
luncheon which had been provided, though "the original
blunder," in commencing the tour of the town too soon,
rendered it somewhat hurried and incomplete. The Mayor
then conducted the strangers to the area of the Exchange,
and afterwards introduced the marshal to the Newsroom and
Underwriters'•room, in both of which places he was received
with cheers, loud and long continued. From the Exchange
the party proceeded to the Clarence Dock, where they went
on board the beautiful steamer Unicorn, and afterwards on
board the splendid steam vessel recently built by Sir John
Tobin, with both of which the strangers were highly gratified.
The party, having inspected the spacious quays, &c. returned
along Waterloo-road, and entered within the walls of the
Prince's Dock. There they went on board the fine American.
ship George Washington, commanded by Captain H. Hold-
redge. But here, again, the untoward deviation from the
first arrangements threw the gallant captain entirely out of
his reckoning, a circumstance of unfrequent occurrence with
so able a seaman. Still, as Burns says,
" Nae man can tether time an' tide."

The arrange;entsofthecommandeTweie completely upset;
for, be it known, he had provided a handsome collation, and
invited a party of influential gentlerr en to receive the gallant
marshal. The latter, however, arrived full three quarters of
an hour before the time expected, and the consequence was,
that the guests did not arrive till full three quarters of an
hour too late, Here, again, the veteran seem©d greatly de-
lighted with the economy and the beauty of the ship; and he
expressed to Captain Holdredge his gratification at being,
for once, under the flag of the United States
From the Prince's Dock the party proceeded to the New
Custom-house, which having viewed they crossed to the Rail-
way-station, in Wapping, where the marshal went within the
tunnel and examined the works. He was then conducted
to Air. Logan's chain-cable manufactory, in Stanhope-street,
where the stupendous works excited his admiration and asto-
nishment.

As his excellency had inspected the iron steam-vessel Rain-
bow, in London, he was desirous of visiting the works of M r.
John Laird, where she was built: as his time, however, was
so limited, and the arrangements made by the Mayor would
have been interfered with, he was reluctantly compelled to
give up his intended visit to Birkenhead.
The party, in their return, drove through the Cemetery,
passed the Mechanics' Institution and the Infirmary, and pro-
ceeded to the Adelphi, having been everywhere, when recog-
nised, greeted with cheers.
At seven o'clock the marshal and suite, in the Mayor's
state carriage, proceeded to the Town-hall, where a large
party were to dine. A great concourse of people had assem-
bled in front of the hall, and, when the veteran descended
from
he was again greeted with demonstrations
of
kindness, carriage.
with
which he appeared greatly gratified.
"Therp( , personal appearance of Marshal Soak," says the
e ‘• has been so often delineated, both by pen
0,01,
and pencil, that it seems almost unnecessary to allude to it.
Without any thing of the air distingue, he has a look of plain,
vigorous common sense and decision, which bespeaks the
man of thought and energy. Wounds have injured his lower
limbs, and age has grizzled his hair and furrowed his cheek,
but his appearance is still pleasing, his manner 'extremely so,
and his countenance weather-beaten as it is by thirty cam-
paigns, does not in the least degree belie the character for
as well as courage, which he ac-
gnired distinguished him, not less than
than
politicalero sii n m
generosity
h aeanbdiintegrity,
is
ia ttiieds
:hfrom
the mere soldier of fortune such as
Davoust or Massena. Of his foreign companions it is, of
course, unnecessary to say of persons in their high rank,
that there appearance is gentlemanly; but we may be excused
observing, that they possess, in all eminent degree, that sim-
ple, unpretending manner and quiet repose which English-
men are accustomed to connect in idea with the epithet
'gentlemanly.' Much curiosity was expressed to recognise
the' bearers of the now-historic names of Bassano and Vicenza,
the youthful inheritors of honours associated with the glories
of the ephermeral empire of Napoleon. The Marquis of
Dalmatia, who conversed freely and fluently in English, as,
indeed, did some of his friends, was also regarded with great
interest, principally from the very striking resemblance he
presents to those portraits of his father taken at an earlier
period of his life. His noble person, intelligent countenance,
and frank, and simple, and dignified bearing, are a perfect
antidote to those ideas of a French marquis which the vulgar
form, from the caricatures of obsolete farces, borrowed from
French original, meant to reform the subjects of the satire."