The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-11-20

''The Prince has come !" was the first excla-
nation Of our readers yesterday as they opened
the HERALD to announce therefrom to the fam
ily circle at the breakfast table the special news
OF the day. The intelligence was received
at this Office at two o'clock in the morning,
through our special couriers from our steam
yacht Herald that the Russian frigate Svet-
lana, vita the Grand Duke Alexis on board,
at half-past eleven Saturday night had an
chored OF the lightship, outside the Hook,
call WELL" Through our superior vigilance
and activity, as In the case Of the decisive
coup fetas Of Louis Napoleon, and as in
numerous other cases, we had yesterday the
monopoly of this gratifying news Of the ar
rival Of the Prince, which was published ex-
clusively in the HERALD. From his heightened
passage apprehensions had arisen that some
serious disaster might, perhaps, have befallen
his ship in the stormy Gulf Stream, and con-
seqnently our good news, in allaying all
anxieties, was received with On unusual feel
ing Of qualification. The ship had only been
delayed by head winds and heavy seas, and
her officers and crew were delighted to hear
that the other vessels of the little imperial
fleet were in and awaiting her arrival The
first intimation that the flagship was below
was conveyed to the other Russian ships and
to our own feet through the exclusive report
OF the HERALD. Immediately all was rejoice
ing and hustle on board the several vessels,
as the news was passed from one to the other;
but 1t was not until noon that the Abreck
appeared in the bay and fired salute of ff-
teen guns, which was returned by the Severn.
An hour afterwards, while all eyes
were straining to penetrate the haze which
had hung upon the water oil the morning, the
tall spars of the imperial frigate came out of
the mist. AS she passed Sandy Hook she
fired q salute of twenty-one guns, with the
American flag flying at the main, and the
voice of her cannons was the signal for roar
Of artillery all over the bay, until the squadron
was shrouded in the thick white smoke of the
burnt powder. And so, amid the friendly
noise of the guns and the loud hurrahs Of
many lusty crews, the Russian flagship passed
astern of the Congress and dropped her
anchor.
A great deal of anxiety has been felt in
New York for several days past in regard to
our expected visitor. Now that he is safely
among us we may acknowledge that the
serious apprehension reported to be felt at st.
Petersburg by his august parents and by the
loyal people of Russia was shared in some de-
gree by Americans, although we were not
willing to admit even to ourselves that the
delay began to bear an alarming aspect The
weather had been unusually unfavorable
and heavy fogs had been known to pre-
vail. One Of the vessels Of the littls
feet had arrived in partially
disabled condition, and the officers and crew
Of the precious Svetlana were supposed to be
strangers to our coast. Our ladies in especial
had for many days studied the weather reports
with trepidation, and fair lips had no doubt in
the interval uttered many prayer for the
safety of the young Duke. There was some
thing in the youthfulness Of the royal lad, trav-
cling without parents or guardians, surround
ed only by rough tars on stormy sea, that
seemed to recall to sensitive minds those feel
iugs Of pensive sorrow with which, in years
gone BY, they had listened to the touching
story of the babes In the wood But now the
Prince is here, and 10 and behold our special
reporters who yesterday visited the ship that
has borne him safely to our shores bring us
the startling intelligence that the royal lad is
stout Swapping fellow, over six feet high,
with great broad shoulders, Herculean frame,
fair skin, light hair, straight nose and large
blue eyes; in short, worthy descendant of
Peter the Great. Had the libellous pictorials
done anything like justice to this youthful
Hercules, or had faithful description Of his
personal appearance been afforded to us at an
earlier day, we might probably have had less
fear for his safety and less sympathy with his
supposed sufferings. The Grand Duke is evil
IDENTIFY capable of taking care of himself.
The preparations on the water and the land
for the reception Of the young Prince on the
part of the national government, on the part
Of the citizens of this metropolis, and on the
part of the State of New York, as represented
in our National Guard, are appropriate to the
occasion For the details we refer the reader
to another part of this paper. Should the
weather be favorable To-day the spectacle on
the water from Sandy Hook to the Battery
will be excessively beautiful, and the military
procession from the Battery to Union square
will be very fine. Should the skies be very
stormy in the morning the whole pageant may
be postponed, as we hope it will be, in view
of the good impression desired in regard to
the Prince and his company, and in view Of
the advantages Of clear sky for the universal
holiday expected.
Having already familarized our reader 8
with the causes, the reasons and the interna-
tional advantages Of our ''happy accord"
with Russia from the birth OF our government