The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-04-19
Departure Of the Baltic Fieet--A Stirring
Scene.

Portsmouth, England. Saturday night
One Of the most brilliant and imposin,
rpectacles that has fallen 70 the lot .
many Of the present generation to wit
hcss-the departure Of a powerful fee
on actual service-took place this day a
Portsmouth, in the presence Of her ma
jesty, his Royal Highnoss Prince Albert
the younger members Of the royal faml
iy, and many hundred thousands of he
royal aud dutiful subjects For the las
few days Portsmouth rescmbled a tow,
In siege. Every railway train, ever,
steamer, and every vehicle that has ar
rived, has made some addition to he,
overlooking population. The public
poured in, literally, in hundreds as earl,
as six o'clock in the morning, and the
first train was obliged to DO broken ur
into two or three separate trains, eaci
conveying some thousands. As each car
riage was drawn up to tho platform, il
WAS assailcd BY excited hundreds, and
many torn garments, and some personal
conflicts, marked the cugcrness of the
public TO see the feet at Spithead. AT
the Portsmouth terminus the scene was
If possible, still more exciting Long
lines Of omnibuses, Ays, cabriolets, and
other vehicles. wcro drawn up and taken
possession OF tho moment the trains ar.
rived those who could not find places
hung on behind or in front anyhow. while
the more energetic, in their heavy sault
repellants and overcoats, toiled manfully
under broiling sun and clouds of dust,
to the pier hoad. Here there was a scene
Of still further confusion and excitement.
The steamers and sailing vessels, as
fast as they wcro filed, moved off, and
thorc were no persons in attendance to
give any information to the irritated and
anxious holders of blue, white or yellow
tickets for the various steam packet com
panies, who had undertaken to charter
the holders. Some hundreds who had
paid los l5s., 20s. for thoir tickets new.
er had even chance of getting on board,
the supply of tickets so far exceeding the
capabilities Of the vessels that even cap
tains, indifferent as they generally are as
to overlooking hositated about taking
any more on board. 1t was decidedly a
great day for England in genera, but for
the Portsmouth boatmen in particular,
and we do not hesitate to say that sum
that would have purchased the boat out.
right was in many instances demanded
and paid when all other means of getting
to the feet failed
1t is needless to say Portsmouth was
in high feather at the vast addition to its
available resources, and the streets were
from an early hour thronged with visit
ors and naval and military men bands of
music paraded, troops marched past.
flags and banners waved from alnos ey.
cry window, boats were momentarily nut.
ting off to the feet, conveying men and
stores, aud if the Russian feet were in
the Chops of the Channel the great no.
7al arsenal of England could not have
exhibited more animation or enthusiasm.
THE sCENR.
BY tho time noon had passed, those
who were aware of her Majesty's punctu.
atty, and who understood that she would
visit the feet at midday, began 10 enter.
tain serious misgivings that tho Queen
would not come, and that the feet would
not sail. The steamers, loaded to the
waters edge, went through the feet, af.
foiding visitors ample opportunity to ad.
mlre the majestic proportions, the for.
mldable armament. the swarms of armed
men on deck and all the stern realities of
war, as contrasted with the pageant that
took place in these waters the previous
year; but while they were admiring the
grim ropose and massive size and ire.
mendous power Of these engines of mod.
ern warfare, light cloud of smoke is
seen in the distance and soon the prac.
ticed eyes of tho lookout men recognize
the Royal Squadron from Osborne. A
signal is run up to the mas t.head of the
flag ship and royal salute of twenty
one guns is Numbered forth from every
one OF the men.oiwar, all other sounds
being lost in the roar of artillery. and
the feet and intendant steamers being
envcloped in thick cloud Of smoke. |
When the cloud had cleared of, the lit. |
tie Fairy, with its royal freight was seen
rapidly cutting through the water and
approaching the flagship. At her fore
she carried the Admiralty flag, the First
Lord. Sir james Graham being on board.
at her main the royal standard, and at
her mizzen the Union Jack. She was
followed by the Elm, the Fire Queen
and the Black Eagle steamers, which
latter had distinguished party on board. |
and as soon as she ncared the feet the
yards were manned, and loud and enthu.
slastic cheering broke forth from the sea.
men. The Fairy then ran to lesward of
the feet and hove to, although the Gag.
ship, the Duke of Wellington, had a |
guard Of honor ready, and tho side.
stairs covered with scarlet cloth. in OK.
pectation that her Majesty would honor
the admiral with visit.
A signal was then made for tho ad. |
mirals and captains to como on board |
the Fairy, and the barges and gigs of the
men Of war were quickly manned, that
of Sir Charles Napier taking the lead
with the admiral in the stern sheets. |
The various steamers and pleasure boats
had by this time ueared the royal yacht,
forming dense circle around her. the
Atrato, from Southampton towering a.
bove all the others like man of war.
Her Majesty might now DO seen on
deck, with her family and attendants, to
receive the officers Of the feet. Sir
Charles Napier was presented by Sir |
James Graham, and received, what we
presume to be, few words of compli-
lnent and encouragement, il we may
judge by the many obcisances, and the
amila of sati sfacfian ON tho vatarania |