Page images
PDF
EPUB

Royal group, and whose obeisances to Her ive incident in that great historical event Majesty and the Emperor were most profound. which the inhabitants of Paris are now witOne or two other quadrilles were danced by nessing. Rifle shooting has been very much the company while the Royal visitors appear- neglected as a branch of military training in ed to admire the noble proportions of the salle, England, and even the men who have been the splendor of its chandeliers, and the beauty taught at Hythe have hitherto gone back to of its ceiling and decorations. The Emperor their regiments and resumed their ordinary then led the Queen through the crowded duties without being turned to account in rooms, followed by the other members of the making good marksmen of their comrades. Royal party and their suite, the company At Woolwich there are no facilities for the use making way as they passed, and receiving of great guns, and at Shoeburyness the estabtheir Majesties with the most respectful salu- lishment kept up is so small, and the place ittations, but without cries or exclamations. self so inaccessible, that the experiments made The whole suite of rooms of the Hotel de there from time to time are conducted under Ville were opened to the company, and lights, the greatest possible disadvantages. It is well mirrors, fountains, statues, and the choicest known that officers and soldiers belonging to flowers, disposed with exquisite taste, made our artillery force have been sent in considerthe scene one of the most dazzling in beauty able numbers to the East who have never fired and brilliancy that can possibly be conceived. a cannon in their lives, and, looking at the About 8,000 persons were present. Every preparatory system of training, the only wonofficial person appeared in the full uniform of der is that this arm of the service has succeeded his military, naval, or civil rank, and wore so well in the East. Here matters are very the stars or insignia of his orders. The ladies' different. The Emperor takes an enlightened toilettes were of singular beauty and richness, interest in the efficiency of the French artillery, and as there were diplomatists, attachés, and and before circumstances raised him to the military men from every country in Europe position which he now occupies wrote a work in full costume, the splendor of the scene was upon the subject, which, when there was no complete. Her Majesty wore a white silk object to be gained by flattery, was spoken of robe covered with lace and embroidered with with praise. Having now full power, he is the flowers of the geranium, a diadem of dia- not a man likely to neglect the opportunity monds, and a splendid diamond necklace. for developing to the utmost the mechanical She also wore the blue riband of the Order and scientific resources which in modern times of the Garter, which the Emperor also wore are the only available counterpoise to the force over his uniform. The Royal visitors, having of numbers in war. Therefore the visit to made the circuit of the rooms, left the Hotel Vincennes yesterday may fairly be regarded de Ville by the grand staircase, Her Majesty as almost a formal recognition of the importstaying to admire as she descended the taste- ance which the allied Powers attach to the ful preparations made to do her honor, and subject of rifle and artillery practice. On expressing to the Prefect the warm admira- their return, soon after mid-day, to the Tuiletion and delight which she had derived from ries, the Emperor and Prince found the Queen her visit. Their Majesties then took their already arrived there from St. Cloud, and after departure. The Queen and Prince Albert luncheon they all proceeded to visit the Exhibiwere attended by the Earl of Clarendon, the tion. They arrived at the grand entrance to Marquis of Breadalbane, General Grey, Colo- the Palace d'Industrie at half past 2 o'clock, nel Phipps, Lord Alfred Paget, Sir James and, as on Wednesday, though even with more Clark, etc., and by the Ladies in Waiting. pomp and ceremony, were received The Empress was unable to be present. Af alighting from their carriages by Prince Nater the Royal party had left, dancing was re-poleon, the members and officers of the Impesumed in various apartments, and continued rial Commission, the foreign commissioners, until daybreak. Ices and other refreshments and the jurors. The illustrious party were were most liberally provided, and the extreme first conducted to the sheds between the main heat made the demand for them very great, but nothing was wanting to render the fête worthy alike of the powerful Sovereigns in whose honor it was given and of the great city which thus splendidly entertained them.

on

building and the Annexe appropriated to carriages and French agricultural machinery, which was rapidly surveyed. There a separation took place, the Emperor, the Queen, and the Princess Royal returning to the Palace, while Prince Albert and the Prince of PARIS, Saturday, Aug. 25. Wales remained behind to complete their exThe visit which the Emperor and Prince amination of this department, and also to visit Albert paid the Ecole de Tir at Vincennes the interesting collection in the Annexe. yesterday, and the practice which they wit- Their Majesties described the circuit of the nessed not only with the Minie but in artil- galleries, examining with great interest the lery also, form an interesting and even instruct- varied collections of industry which that por

tion of the Exhibition contains. The English | production of new substances, such as isinglass department, including the Indian Courts, the and porpoise leather, to which the Exhibition Australian display, and the stalls of our prin- of 1851 had first directed attention, and many cipal silversmiths and jewellers, was first visited, other points of interest, to which it is for the then Belgium, Austria, Prussia, the minor moment impossible to refer. The time at his German States, Sweden and Norway, Den- disposal for visiting the Annexe did not permark, Holland, Switzerland, Spain, and Por-mit the Prince to do much beyond passing tugal. The Queen paid particular attention, rapidly through it from end to end. Had he in the course of her tour, to M. Foucault's ap- been able to remain a little longer there paratus for showing the rotation of the Earth, he could not have failed to appreciate the exwhich was explained to her and the Princess treme importance of that wonderful collection, Royal by the inventor. Her Majesty also which really presents us with the materials for went carefully over the Lyons Gallery, and judging how far the principal nations of the made some purchases therein. After admiring continent are appealing to those mechanical the beautiful saloon and boudoir of the Em- agencies in relief of labor from which we have press, the exquisite products of the St. Etienne profited so largely as a people. looms, and the contributions from Sardinia, The review in the Champ de Mars, at half Tuscany, the Pontifical States, Tunis, Egypt, past 5 o'clock, differed only from that of ordiand Turkey, the illustrious party descended nary occasions in the presence of such unthe staircase immediately opposite to that by wonted and illustrious spectators. That conwhich they had reached the gallery, and sur-sideration gave, of course, an extraordinary veyed for a time the French exhibition on the interest to the display, for it cannot be reground floor. Here the buhl furniture, work-garded as otherwise than extraordinary that boxes, and toys attracted their attention, and the Queen and Royal family of England should with the latter especially Her Majesty ap- with the entire approbation of the English peared much amused. Before quitting the people see 50,000 Frenchmen march past Palace the Queen visited the United States them in arms, of all places in the world on the department, but the display of goods there Champ de Mars, and shouting "Vive l'Empeis not worthy of the American people, and de-reur!" to the nephew and heir of the Great cidedly inferior, both in interest and utility, to Napoleon. The advance of the Imperial and that from our own Canadian provinces. Let Royal cortége from the Pont Jena to the Ecole us return now to the Prince, whom we left in Militaire, with the troops drawn up, the cavthe agricultural implement shed, overhauling alry on the left, and the infantry on the right, the ponderous and clumsy-looking machinery so as to form a sort of grand military avenue with which the French farmer conducts his for them, was a wonderfully fine sight, as it business. His Royal Highness minutely ex- always must be, but when the cortège apamined many of these machines, and, though proached, and the Queen and Empress were roughly made compared with the same class seen seated with the Prince of Wales and of productions in England, there can be no Princess Royal opposite, and the Emperor and doubt that in the materials valuable sugges- Prince Albert on horseback at either side of tions are to be found amongst them. Our the carriage, one need not be surprised that neighbors appear to bestow great pains in the the mind of the spectator should seek and find manufacture of their millstones, a fact which in the scene thus presented to him a peculiar may in some degree account for the superior and extraordinary interest. The troops rent fineness of their flour. They show on this oc- the air with their acclamations as the Emperor casion a large number of portable steam-en- took his guests along their front, battalion after gines for agricultural purposes one of several battalion, and squadron upon squadron, to instriking facts which prove how closely they are spect them. During the defiling also, which treading on the heels of even our most im- commenced as soon as the inspection terminproved practice, and how necessary it is for us ated, and was witnessed by the Queen and never to think ourselves secure from competi- Empress from the principal balcony of the tion, or able to rest for a moment on our oars. Ecole Militaire, the shouts of each regiment In the Annexe his Royal Highness took a were equally enthusiastic, and there can be no rapid survey of some points which possess ex-doubt that if an army is ever permitted to treme interest, and among them the Canadian think or can do so-a matter certainly against collection, through which he was conducted by theory, though that is not always realized in Mr. Logan and Mr. Perry. His Royal practice-the French army hails the visit of Highness had pointed out to him the extraor- Queen Victoria with as much gratification as dinary specimens of cheapness combined with the inhabitants of Paris and the country at excellence in the manufacture of wood which large. It was observed as a minor point yesthat collection contains, the valuable nature terday that while the troops of the Garde Imof the woods for most useful purposes, the periale marched past in columns of companies splendid display of seeds and minerals, the only two deep, those of the line went by three

and Dr. Arnot were prevented by the urgent business of their juries from being present. Mr. Cole, C.B., General Commissioner; Mr. Redgrave, R. A., Special Commissioner; and Captain Fowke, R. E., were also present.

deep. The men looked exceedingly smart with themselves and all the world, except, perand well up in their discipline, nor with the haps, Lord Cowley, by being presented to constant drain which the war in the East im- Prince Albert. His Royal Highness received poses does the Emperor appear at all in want them at St. Cloud, and made the interview of good, well-trained soldiers. General Can- more agreeable and flattering to each by his robert appeared among the brilliant escort own Exhibition experiences. which accompanied Her Majesty, and as often The Colonial Commissioners presented to as he was recognized received a hearty cheer. the Prince were Mr. M'Arthur, representing The weather, which looked very threatening New South Wales, and the secretary, Mr. during the progress of the review, fortunately Bousfield; Mr. Logan, Special Commissioner, continued fair until it had terminated. But Messrs. Maitland and Sterry Hunt, representthen the rain descended in torrents, and it was ing Canada; Mr. Holmes, representing Britin the midst of a thunderstorm that the Em-ish Guiana. peror took his guests to the Hospital of the The British jurors present were Sir John Invalides, there to visit the tomb of the First Burgoyne, G.C.B., Sir Joseph Olliffe, Messrs. Napoleon. Well might nature show signs of Alderman Carter, Crampton, C.E., Warren de elemental agitation while such an act of hom-la Rue, Fairbairn, C.E., George Rennie, Proage to the ashes of the mighty dead was in fessor Wheatstone, Professor Willis, Mr. Digby progress! After dining en famille at the Tuil- Wyatt, and Mr. J. Webb, Mr. Locke, M.P., eries, the Imperial and Royal party went to the Opera Comique, where they appeared with less state, but were received with quite as much enthusiasm as on Tuesday at the Grand Opera. So terminated the programme of Friday's proceedings, a day in some measure To most of these gentlemen his Royal devoted to the interests of peace, but with Highness addressed questions calculated to which the pomp and circumstance of military elicit what they thought most worthy of special display were also skilfully blended, and wherein mention in their respective departments. Mr. those who study the rationale of such precon- M'Arthur was too modest to tell the Prince a certed events may find much food for curious fact which is creating a great sensation here, reflection. It would not be difficult to show viz.-that Australia exhibits wines of extrathe consummate tact with which the programme ordinary excellence, Tokay especially, being of the Queen's visit from beginning to end has been arranged; but if any proof of it be sought more decisive than another it will be obtained in the gradually culminating effect which the Emperor has managed to give his reception of her, and of this perhaps the best illustration is the review in the Champ de Mars, following a quiet morning at the Exhibition, and itself followed by one of those graceful acts which, at the will of those who interpret it, may be construed either as regret for the past or as a tribute to departed greatness independently of all other considerations.

Sunday Morning.

We now come to Saturday's programme of festivities, and find them even more artistic, splendid, and successful than any that had preceded them-more conclusive in the evidence which they afford of the extreme care with which every detail connected with this memorable visit has been thought out, and of the taste and judgment with which the whole affair has been conducted.

finer than the best produced in Hungary. Otherwise the commissioners and jurors were frank enough. Mr. Logan told his Royal Highness that Canada had experienced incalculable benefit from the Exhibition of 1851. He may rest satisfied that her present display in Paris, so practical and complete of its kind, will not be less advantageous to her. The Prince seemed very desirous to hear of some new and cheap fibre for the manufacture of paper, and on this point the Commissioner for British Guiana expressed his confidence that an ample supply of a material such as would answer the purpose most satisfactorily could be drawn from his colony.

But we are diverging once more into the subject of industry, instead of asking the reader to accompany us in imagination to Versailles and pass a too short night there amid splendors such as few of those who witnessed them can ever hope to see approached. Talk, indeed, of enchanted palaces and fairy halls and illuminated gardens, and all the decorative adjuncts with which the fancy teems when its A quiet visit to St. Germains, with its fine love of the wonderful is highly excited. But scenery of forest, river, and chateau, began the what idea can they give you, or any true desday, and fitly prepared his Royal guests for cription of anything short of having been prethat wondrous spectacle which the Emperor sent yourself, as to what Versailles was last had prepared in their honor at Versailles. Our night? You must go back to the feelings English jurors and commissioners had also which you had when still a child-to the time early in the morning been put into good humor when the imagination and the senses were so

quick that nothing seemed impossible to you-pany, who you find are all in uniform, moving when it was not too difficult to put "a girdle about in a flood of light poured down upon round the earth" or to perform any one of them from thousands of waxlights. Imagine "delicate Ariel's" proffered feats. The age the effect. The windows are all open, the of fresh and young belief in wonders is nearly night comes in refreshingly, and you turn to worn out, or only lives in the cold forms which look out upon the terrace, when, behold, you severe science and calculating hard-headed find its verge of ballustrade illuminated with discovery prescribe. But what is wanted here colored lamps which have converted it into an is the confiding credulousness of nursery days, arcade of variegated splendor, in which three an unquestioning spirit that will think we tell sets of arches with terminal crowns over them our story only too plainly, and be angry with form the most conspicuous objects. The founus because we try to be simple. Some 10 tain basins in the foreground have undergone miles from Paris, to the westward, stands the the same process of decoration, and their sur Palace of Versailles, a building of great ex- faces tremble under the murmuring flash of tent, surrounded by a terraced garden in the gas jets like lakes of molten silver or gold. Italian style, with fountains and statues spread- Arab chiefs move about with the slow, solemn ing coolness and beauty outside, and long gait which they appear to have borrowed from ranges of saloons and halls within, the walls of their own camels, admiring the wonderful which are either hung with historical paintings spectacle within the palace and outside. Sudor decorated with marble and gilding and mir- denly, towards the south, a gun is heard, the rors and tapestry. A lovely autumn night has bands in the great mirrored ballroom play set in, and the moon is shining pensively in a " God Save the Queen," and a movement sky which is not altogether free from clouds, among the crowd shows the fireworks have and yet not overcast. As you approach this commenced. On the further verge of a fine home of the Sovereigns of France, wherein in sheet of water, with the shadows of the Park times gone by so many wonderful persons have behind to bring out its effects and the thunder lived and so many strange and great scenes of the cannon countenancing authoritatively taken place, you find the long avenues lighted the streams of soaring rockets, the pyrotechnic up, and the architectural outlines of the build- display takes place. We know nothing about ing itself indicated by lines of gas illumination. the management of such things in England, There is a block up of carriages at the entrance nor does Cremorne or Vauxhall give any, the to the courtyard, all filled with men in Court faintest, conception of the refined splendor dresses, and women so beautiful, so covered with which they are conducted on this occasion. with jewels that they flash out upon you A double bouquet, the first springing from a through the dark, and whose light robes carefully held up to prevent crushing, make them look like so many Venuses emerging from the foam of the sea. Presently a sergent de ville and your own dexterity get you through, and you are soon passing through anterooms filled with stately porters and footmen who stand up as you pass by and don't laugh, but look very grave indeed at the horrible absurdities of the uniform which you have borrowed from some costumier for the occasion. A staircase brings you to the floor on which the State apartments in splendid success set forth upon their emblazoned walls the historical glories of France. But before you enter these you must give up the precious green ticket which you have persecuted everybody for several days to obtain, and only got at last as a favor never to be repaid, except by prostrating yourself before the donor for the rest of your days. You forget all that, in what you now have to see. The retinue of servants disappears, and the Cent Gardes in full costume, varied occasionally by a Sapeur Pompier, occupy a series of chambers through which you pass in grand procession. Standing in pairs at the entrance to each salle they look upon you with magnificent coldness as you pass. But at length you leave the bulk of them behind, and join the rest of the com

transparency of Windsor Castle, and the last, still more magnificent, from ships of war, brings the fireworks to a close, and causes the ball to open with everybody in a frenzy of admiration. Then the Emperor, wearing the Riband of the Garter, takes the Queen into the circle prepared for her, and Prince Albert leads as his partner the Princess Mathilde, and Prince Napoleon the Princess Royal, and the Prince of Wales and Prince Adalbert of Bavaria join in the stately quadrille, which is danced while grave Ministers of State, like Lord Clarendon, and Count Walewski, and Lord Cowley, and soldiers like Canrobert, and Vaillant, and the Arab chiefs, already alluded to, some in white bournous, some in red, look solemnly on at a spectacle such as few of those who witnessed it can ever hope to see repeated. Waltzes and quadrilles followed each other three or four times. Among the Imperial and Royal guests Her Majesty the Empress looks gayly on, a perfect Queen of the Revels, though not sharing in them before general dancing commenced. It was midnight when the Emperor took Her Majesty and the rest of the Court to a banquet, which was magnificently served in the Theatre of the Palace.

The ball at Versailles may be considered in some respects as the drop-scene of this Royal

visit, for to-day is a dies non, and to-morrow in the sky, and the sun shown down upon the Her Majesty returns to England. The public ceremony of the departure with a fervor of will therefore be able to judge of the finished brilliancy which left no portion of the general skill with which the fetes of the memorable effect undeveloped. As on the occasion of week which have just closed has been brought to so splendid a climax.

BOULOGNE, Monday Night.

Her Majesty's arrival, the line of procession was kept by a military force, the troops of the National Guard, according to custom, holding the right side, and those of the regular army THE Queen's visit to France and the Em- the left. The Garde de Paris and the Serperor Napoleon will have terminated before gens de ville co-operated at all important the following hastily written details of its clos- points, and the best order and arrangements ing scenes are in print. She embarks to-night prevailed. The Emperor and his guests left at 11 o'clock on board the Royal yacht, and St. Cloud for the Tuileries before ten o'clock, by 1 o'clock it is expected that she will be on and thence, at half-past eleven, proceeded in her way to Osborne. Thus has been happily carriages to the terminus of the Strasbourg concluded an event the magnitude of which it Railway. The route followed was that by the is impossible to exaggerate, which has been Rue Castiglione, the Place Vendôme, and the achieved without a single drawback, and upon Rue de la Paix, into the Boulevards, and along all the details connected with which not only them to the station. The ceremonial observed the illustrious personages most directly con- was of a much more formal character than that cerned, but the populations of two countries of the entry into Paris. The cortège, which was the most powerful and civilized in the world, marshalled with the greatest care to produce a have every reason to congratulate themselves. splendid scenic effect, proceeded at a footFrom the spectacle of such accord between pace for the whole distance traversed; and Sovereigns who, being independent of each the Imperial carriage conveying His Majesty, other, yet are proud to show their mutual the Queen, Prince Albert, and the Princess friendship, the happiest auguries for the future Royal - a magnificent equipage in all its apmay fairly be gathered. Those who are thus pointments-was drawn by eight horses, each united by the bonds of personal intimacy will of which had a running groom leading him by know how to guard the strength which it man- a gilded bridle. On either side rode Marshal ifestly gives, and study to guard against dis- Magnan and General Loewenstein. Another turbing an alliance which, begun on the carriage with six horses, and nearly as splengrounds of interest and policy, has now receiv- did, conveyed the Prince of Wales, Prince Naed an enthusiastic confirmation from the in-poleon, and two ladies. The suite followed, in habitants both of Paris and London. It can five other carriages; end, in front and behind, no longer be doubted that the two nations have there was an escort of Guides. A few Cent large sympathies in common, powerful enough Gardes led the way, and behind them were to control all adverse influences, and to afford the Officiers d'Ordonnance. It was altogether the best guarantees for the safety of Europe. a most stately and imposing procession; and The Queen's visit has partaken even more the spectacle which the Boulevards presented, than the Emperor's of a public character, and, as it slowly swept through them—the drums great as was the enthusiasm with which he was beating and the trumpets sounding a flourish, welcomed in our metropolis, it was at least equalled, if not surpassed, by the feeling which has greeted Her Majesty from all clas- was indescribably fine. The arrival at the ses of Parisians. This was convincingly de- station was signalled to all Paris by a double monstrated to-day by the immense numbers salute fired in honor of the Queen, and then in which they turned out along the route of for the Emperor. There, both outside and the procession to witness her departure. A within, decorations even more effective and week's stay, during which she has constantly splendid than on the occasion of Her Majesty's been seen driving in the streets, had in no arrival had been prepared. The initials "V. sensible degree diminished the interest which her presence excited, and it must be among the highest consolations of Royalty for the cares which it involves to know that even among foreigners, who only know by repute the virtues which adorn our Sovereign, so much respect and homage are voluntarily accorded to her. It would really seem as if every thing had conspired to make this visit all that could be desired, for even the weather has been favorable to a degree that could hardly be hoped for. To-day there was not a cloud

the troops presenting arms, and the vast multitude on the trottoirs shouting " Vive la Reine!"

A." interlaced in white flowers on a fresh bank of green leaves, closed in the end of the permanent way, the balconies were hung with velvet, the roof with streamers, and on the platform were assembled, within the gay range of elegantly-dressed ladies which bound it, a distinguished assemblage of official personages, who had come to take leave of Her Majesty or to see her safely on her way. Among these were M. de Baroche, M. de Persigny, Lord Cowley, and the Attachés of the Embassy; Count Walewski; M. Pietri, Prefect of Police;

« PreviousContinue »