Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-07-04
TETE OF THE PRINCE DE JOIN.
VILE ON BOARD THE HER.
CITlEg

Hu'crtscr, gives u luit account Of tht
Prince dc Joinvillc's fetc, on board tn,
French ship Hercules in this harbor OF
the 2lst ult. and Of his passage from
New York with the invited guests, il
thesStcamer Cleopatra. After describ.
ing the passage from New-York to thi.
place, which, with more than sever
hundred ladies' and gentlemen, he say.
:'was the most uncomfortable ever en-.
dured by human beings, though every
thing possible was done, from the
Prince to the captain and the lowest OF
The deck hands-nay by the passengers
themselves-to render it otherwise -
the Colonel goes OH as follows
Al half past six A. M. we were nj the
wharf in Newport-and such a scramblinc
on shore was never seen in that place since
the landing Of the army Of Count Rocl,am-
beau, in the days of the revolution. Every
hotel aud boarding house was occupied as
quick as speed would aliow---ali eagcr foI
breakfast, and rooms to make their toilettes
for the day. The Rhode Island papers hav.
ing been recently loud in their praises Of tho
tautog--a marine animal said to abound in
Newport, known in New York as the black
fsh,-the call was universal for a tautog
breakfast. Very few, however, were forth
coming-the fishes Of those waters having
probubly read the newspapers, and heard OF
the expected invasion from New York, and
therefore wisely kept themselves ont Of the
way. Suffice it to say, that the historian was
oil nnlsg 10 hta,s. III. l.
gill of stray tautog, and the toll Of a porgy,
down hill. This is libellous.l
But enough of the miseries OF the morning,
and now for the pleasures of the day, which
were sufficiently manifold to compensate for
all. Eleven o'clock was the hour appointed
for re- c-embarkation on board the Cleopatra, to
board the Hercules. The sun wns carcering
proudly through cloudless sky; cool
breeze swept over the waters; and never
did the charming bay of Narragansett, with
ITS rocky shores and verdant islands, repose
in greater beauty-bearing upon its bosom,
in stately majesty, L'flercule, with her thou
sand crew and her hundred guns-tho COR
vcite Favorte and the Alexandra East In
diaman, all decorated with flags and banners,
and streamers of every hue and device com
pretended in the wide range ofnautical taste
and the excmplific of national blazonry
and glory. At the topmast Of the Hercules
noated the stars and stripes of our own coun-
try, while among the other floating escutch
cons, was the broad and ancient banner Of
the city of Nicw Amsterdam am-representing
black beaver and q drsgon---or something
worse--upon plain white ground. II was
gorgeous spectacle, as all who beheld will
testify.
From the steamer the guests Of the Prince,
including numerous additions from Newport,
and few from parts more distant, were
transferred on board the Hercules in the
bnrgcs Of the ship and corvette, without &c.
cdent, and with such celebrity that all were
on board before one o'clock. The most
ample and tasteful preparations had been
made for tho reception Of the company-the
internal decorations wing with the beauty
and magnlicencc Of the external. A finer
crew, officers and men, we never beheld, and
nobler ship Of hundred guns, floats not in
any service. Having been presented to the
commander, the first hour was occupied in
surveying the ship above, between and be-
low decks. Everything exhibited the utmost
neatncss and order, and the greatest exact
ness OF discipline, while the crew, compris-
ing nine hundred active, middle eged men,
all of a size, appeared TO he the happiest set
of fellows that ever trod the deck of man.
of.war.
The Prince wns all attention to his guests,
and all others Of his comrades ond suite, su-
periors and interiors in the commission, were
emulous Of his example to please. The
actual rank Of the Prince is that Of licutcn-
ant, the duties Of which station he performs,
of course, in the same spirit Of subordination
as though not Of royal blood. Among the
curiosities on board Of the ship to say moth.
ing Of the parrots. the monkeys, and the
aviary, were lion of three years old, and
young grisiy bcar--dwelling together in close
proximity, while both were hail fellows with
the sailors. We saw one of them carrying
the lion about the main deck in his arms, as
shcphcrdess would carry a pct lamb.
After the examination began the dance,
which was led off by the Prince, but which,
in SO large q company, was Of course partici-
patcd in by but comparatively few. The
spacious deck afforded ample room for se-
veral sets of cotillions, and, though keeping
at II respectful distance, we could not avoid
observing the fact that there was more grace
ful aud beautiful wultzing than ought ever to
be INDUCED in any country, or OH any occa-
sion. But il must be borne in mind that the
pageant was French. Nevertheless, we must
ever, and on all occasions, bear our testimony
against the lascvious waltz, however bcauti-
fiIl and fascinating in the eyes Of the fash
ionnblc world.
Al three o'clock, n dcjeuer a Ia Iourchettc,
as beautiful and rare IN its excellence as
princcly munficence conld provide, and as
various in its dishes and tasteful in its ar
rangcmcnts rs Dcmonico could devise, was
partakcn. Tables for the ladies were spread
in the spacious cabin Of the ships command
or, and in the yet more spacious state, ward
or drawing room, or whatever it is called,
(alas that we have no sailor near us to lend
n helping hand in the present emergency j
between decks. From the number, variety
and excellence Of favor Of the dishes, II
seemed as though the art of French cookery
could no father 60, while the choicest wines
Of France and the Rhine-the sparkling
champognc--the blood-rcd juce of Bnrgun-
iy, and the sweet Rhenish--flowed as from
eXhaustlcss fountains.
Ample justice having been done to those
rich provisions, the dance was rcncwed--hn'
speedily gave way to a more NOBLE and soul
stirring spcctacle--ihe representation OF
naval engagement. Oh that the author ol
Peter Simple was near by, or our ancient
friend Cooper good naturcd enough to stcF
Int n