THE EASTER TRIP TO PARIS. [From the Atlas, April 14.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume v, Issue 422, 18 August 1849, Page 4

THE EASTER TRIP TO PARIS. [From the Atlas, April 14.]

About 500 holiday makers from England, or pretty exclusively from London, have been promenading the streets of Paris during the past week. The visitors arrived in detachments, and v/ere furnished with, lodgings in various hotels, while previsions, guides, and some sightseeings, m,i*dditiou to the vast

number of gratuitous exhibitions, were included in their contract with the entrepreneur. The greatest good feeling has been manifesieu 1 by the French authorities, and people. Everything that could amuse or gratify iheir English visitants was provided, and the doors of all institutions and public edifices were thrown open. In the streets and restaurants the acts of fraternization were incessant, and a frequent • interchange of complimentary addresses and amicable toasts was carried on upon every possible occasion. On Tuesday, a considerable number of the excursion party visited the Hotel dcs Invalides for the purpose of seeing the tomb of the Emperor Napoleon. The exKing of Westphalia, governor of the hotel, on being apprised of their visit, ordered that every part of the establishment should be thrown open, and ordered a guard of honour to attend them. A grand soiree was given by the Prefect of the Seine at his official residence on Wednesday night, ,and passed off remarkably we'l. The company began to assemble about 9 o'clock. As soon as the English appeared in any number the band of the 2nd Legion of the National Guards struck up "God save the Queen," and, what has never yet occurred in France, the national anthem was followed by "Rule Britannia." Great indred must be the desire to please and cultivate the lasting friendship of England, when national prejudics is forgotten, and the air inspired by the maritime superiority of Old ( England, and which breathes defiance to those who dare to contest it, is played in the saloons of the first civic authority in Paris. About half-past nine o'clock the Marquis of Nor- | manb_> arrived. He was dressed in a plain I black suit, and wore the riband and star of the Bath. The refreshments were abundant and of the best quality ; and, for the convenience of strangers, a number of English waiters were employed. The Prefect did the honours with distinguished tact, and left nothing, undone to gratify his visitors. During the night the greatest cordiality, and the most earnest and enthusiastic feeling were evident on the part of the French to their visitors : and when language failed to express their feelings (as but few spoke English, and still fewer English French) expressive signs and motions conveyed what they mutually felt— Johu Bull expressed his feelings in his own peculiar way, and towards the end of the entertainment gave three hearty cheers for the Prefect, which made the roof ring again. A section of the visitors, who called themselves " Men of Westminster," waited on M. Lamartine to present an address they had brought with them, signed by a large number of the.ir fellow cifzens, complimenting him upon his " transcendant merits and heroic devotion to the sacred rights of freedom and humanity." M. Lamartineresponded in fitting terms to the address. A grand banquet was in preparation for a party of the English by the officers of the National Guards who visited London last I year. The festival was to take place on i Thursday evening in the Salle Valentino, Rue St. Honore. At Boulogne, where the main body are expected to return to-day (Saturday) a ball and banquet await them., Previously to the visit of the English to the Opera Comique on Wednesday evening, it was proposed that each should take with him to the theatre a large bouquet of camelias to thiowon'the stage as a tribute to the actresses. The proposition was however, abandoned on a prudent suggestion that 500 bouquets thrown on the stage would totally prevent the continuation of the performance.