The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-15
qBE GREAT WORKS AT CIfERB0URG. - QUEEN
YICIORfA'S VISIT

cterbourg OF which the following Is q summary
cteronrg which occupies public attention at this mo
ment is situated In the peninsula o. cotcnt'n Inc an
Iont Lower Normandy called from CousAnces us cap
G The Cotentin which formed part OF the possessions
J, william the Conqueror became English after the battle
!, Hastings Cierberat Count Of Cherbourg, dstin-
bed himself in that battle, and contributed power
y to the SUCCESS of the Nornais From the death OF
wllam in 1887 until the middle Of the fifteenth cen
INV Chertourg frequently taken by tho French and
t,ken by The English 1t finally taken by Charles
VII The lth of Angust, l45O after scigo NJ forty
NJ and has never since ceased to belong 70 France
Ious XIV finding that tho French coast on tho CHANNEL
10 the extent Of l25 leagues was unproydcd with port
al refuge for shipsowar determined 10 construct one
FINAL 10 Rochfol Ionon, and appointed committee
~ sreet a point Tho 18th of April, 1855, the commit
ie eportsl that would DO expcdient To improve the
mort OF Cheboug, and 10 construct bieakwster OF
d 400 yards ia length.
he command Of Louis XIV. He recommended La
Uoue as the most advantageous strategic point to
sud port Tor navy, but he admitted the merit
Of Cherbou,, and he prepared = plan for its defence
gnei by his hand which Is still preserved at the
Hotel do Vile Of that Nothing more, however,
WAS done until the year 1882 when the commercial port
was formed the quays built and two noles constructed
al the entrance to the canal Tic war Of liza inter
rupted the works. In 1858 Lord Howe landed at Cher
,ourg and dill not quit tho town until he had causcd
considerable damage. Louis XVI revived the question
in l776 but Vaubans preference for La Hogue found
many artsans who would perhaps have trufppad iah
"A NJ.
The patsans Of Chcfbourg found valuable ally IN Col
Du,nouea, commander of the town, who subsequently
became remarkable during the republic and on the "a
of July I779, royal ordinance commanded tho con-
srucon Of the forts ommet and OF the island iclee
The works Of Cherbourg excited attention both In
France and throughout Europe, and the King commits
stoned his brother, the Count Atois TO visit them
That Prince arrived at Cberbourg the 2zd OF May 1850,
and EXPRESSED his admiration OF all no saw. At the end
Of three DAYS he left for Versailles aud from the manner
in which he spoke of the works the King was induced to
visit the new maritime establishment. Louis XVI made
his solemn entry into Cherborg the I'D OF june, 1885,
and left the 26th of tho same month. The King ex-
amned the works in the harbor rs well as the de-
fences and the commercial port with great interest
During his stay at Chcrbourg he was we'll received by
the authorities and by the population anaoiiity
His simple manners and his solid information produced
the best effect. The partisans of La Hoguc, how
ever remained firm, and returned to the charge in
the year 1885. But they experienced an obstinate
resistance. note exists which was addressed to the
King the 23d of March, 1856, by NJ Pleve lie Policy,
In which the advantages possessed by Cherbourg are ex-
planned at great length Louis XVI would not abandon
Cherourg ind he took the wamest interest in the works
! until the conclusion of his power,
The plan carried out by subsequent governments
The national assembly voted funds for the continuation OF
the works in 1884, and again in 1852 From this period
tho works the reakwaer have been continued with
out nterr,lIon Tho breadth Of this stupendouB work
40 yards The break not extended in straight
line II is composed Of two branches of unequal length,
which form angle Of ITO degrees OF which tho open
Ing turned towards the south commission appoint
ed by NJ Decres Minister of Marine to Napoleon dc
carcd on the goth of April 1871 that there is anchorage
in the roads Of Cherbou for rs in sum
mer and II in winter
The inscription commemorative OF the opening OF the
works and the inauguration OF the Cherbourg basin is en-
grayed on plate upwards Of half ton weight and meas
urng nearly feet in len tn by nearly four in breadth
The inscription Is as follows
rhis basin, dccreed on the 18th of April 1903 by Ma
poleon, was begun tho 28th of June, 1886, and
was inauguraied the It'll Of August 1883 in presence
Of their Macstics Emperor Napoleon Ill and tho Empress
Eugenic his excellcncy Admiral Hancn being Minister
Of Marine
Amid all te tussyently joyous exhibitions Of popular
feeling that will greet the Emperor and Empress on theii
way there will not, think, be moro calculated to
add the enthusiasm Of the hour than humble altar
of turf, on which will be placed few flowers by the
hands of poor maiden in the obscure and distant ham
lot of Quintin The circumstances connected with the
erection Of this little altar are few and simple, and YET
well worthy Of being known II tell the tale as it was
told to me. :"
short time since young peasant girl in tho neigh
borhood Of Quintin who had just finished her education
at rural school, upon her return to her homo onnd he
family In great distress la consequence OF her BROTHER thu
sole support OF his parents having been compelled to be
come soldier. The young girl having heard, when a
school, great deal sid Of the kindness OF the Empress
determined to write to her Majesty explaining the sua
ton in which she and her parents were left In conse
quence Of the absence OF her brother, This thu
unassisted composition of the young girl with thu
address " A Madame Lterairio Pats conided to ths
post The young girl said not word Of what she has
dono to any one She regarded it secret between
herself and her Majesty and she WAS not surprised a
though every else in the village anlnzc to hea
from tho postmnn that he had letter sealed with the i'm
peral addressed to the young maiden This ette
written by her Maestys secretary and assured thu
little peasant girl that the wrong done TO her faml,
should be speedily repaired The letter followed IL
few days by the return Of the girls brother to his ma
tive village
The young soldier and his sister are about to erect
o1{u fft,rf audi twill, nlAtt ,u
altar both accompanied by the madens and young mel
Of their village will offer up their prayers the health
long life and happiness of the Empress she passes
her way from St. Brienne to Oman.
The only places in Brittany in which the English
collected in considerable numbers Oman and Sain
halo with its great suburb Saint Scrvan The vice
sui Of England ut Saint Mno has summoned meeting
be held this day at which will be prepared address
tho Emperor upon his arrival at Saint Malo
FINAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FEfEs
fFrom tho Liverpool limos, July 81
Final arrangements have beon made for the impcria
visit to Chcrbourg.
Queen Victoria will arrive there on tho 4h Of August
and the Emperor and Empress will make their entranc
into the town on tho evening, The first interview
between the sovcfigns Will take place the 5th
their Mnjcstlcs will pass the 9th IN tho roadstcad. o.
the It'll the Inauguration, bcnedicton and immersion
the dock Napoleon Ill will take place, and the sore,
liner Vile de Nantes, which has been built Of ii
slips, will be launched. The Emperor will give splcndi
dinner the persons attached to hs suite on board tn
Breagne Iineof battle ship, which will he tn
French flag ship.
The equestrian statue Of Napoleon will also be in
augurated at these S, The height Of the whole mass
from the metsl stand on which the legs the horse res
I<~k& 4 "a