THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO GERMANY.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 113, 19 November 1858, Page 4

THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO GERMANY.

On the morning of the 10th August her Majesty and his Royal Highness the Prince Consort embarked from Gravesend on board the royal yacht, on their visit to their daughter and Prince Frederick William of Prussia.

Although it was understood that her Majesty was to be received at Gravesend privately, nothing could entirely suppress the decorative loyalty of the inhabitants, and so it broke forth in such a display of ciphers, banners, wreaths, and garlands as must have given her Majesty a good idea of what the town would do if ever she came in state.

The route to the pier was densely thronged, and her Majesty was everywhere received with the usual demonstrations of welcome. At the pier, in deference to what is generally understood to be the wish of her Majesty when within walls, there was only one great cheer given on her alighting outside. After that, and while inside the pier, the greeting was strictly limited to waving hats and handkerchiefs and profound obeisances. Her Majesty was received by the troops with the usual royal honours as she alighted.

The town council of Gravesend had prepared an address for the Queen, but it was arranged that it should not be read, and that the Queen should make no reply. The proceeding, therefore, was a singular one. When the Queen was about to embark,., the Town Clerk stepped forward and presented the document to.her. Majesty; the Queen gave it to Lord Malmesbury, and the ceremony was over. It contained three short paragraphs. In the first the Qq.eJjn was thanked for choosing to embark at Gravesend; in the second, the town council reminded the monarch that they were glad of showing their loyalty when Prince Frederick William and his spouse were there too; and, lastly, the document spoke of the happiness and comfort of the Queen's daughter. Her Majesty went at once on board the royal yacht under a salute from Tilbury Fort. A graceful souvenir was now handed to her—-an offering to the Princess Frederick William from a number of young ladies who had strewed flowers under the young bride's feet on the occasion of her departure from Gravesend. This consisted of a sheet of vellum, on which was exquisitely painted a large true-lover's knot, with the mottoes "England's fairest rose, may every happiness attend thee," and, in German, "We trust our treasure to thee with the greatest confidence." This was enclosed in a beautiful wreath of roses entwined with the Prussian corn-flower, the fillets which bound them together being inscribed with the names of the young ladies who presented it. The whole was richly framed and enclosed in a large morocco case, mounted and enriched with chased silver. There was some doubt as to whether her Majesty could be asked to take charge of this to her daughter, but whatever doubts existed were set at rest the instant the case came on board. Her Majesty examined it with evident gratification, showed it to the Prince Consort, and then took charge of it herself by locking the case and putting,the key in her pocket.

All was ready by 10 o'clock, and at that hour, amid the most deafening cheers, the Victoria and Albert moved from the pier, and began to fly down the river at her usual pace. The Minister of England at Brussels, Lord Howard de Walden, and the gentlemen of his legation, went to Antwerp on the afternoon of the 10th of August to receive her Majesty, and the members of the Prussian legation did the same. The Queen, the Prince, and their suites, landed the next morning, and proceeded by railway to Malines, where they found the King of the Belgians and the Duke and Duchess de Brabant with the principal dignitaries of the Belgian Court waiting to receive them. The Queen and Prince, accompanied by. the king and the duke and duchess, and attended by the English and Prussian legations, proceeded at once to Verviers. Here the King of the Belgians and the Duke and Duchess of Brabant took leave of her Majesty, and returned to Brussels. A crowd, which had assembled at the station, greeted the arrival of the train, with loud acclamations '

At half-past 1 o'clock the royal train reached Aixla-Chapelle, where her Majesty was received by the' Prince of Prussia. The train reached Dusseldorf at 4 o'clock. The endeavours which were made to secure for her Majesty as quiet a journey as possible failed at Dusseldorf, as completely as elsewhere. The citizens of Dusseldorf had assembled in large numbers, mostly in full dress, to pay their respects to her Majesty.

As soon as she entered the : - carriage, the people: broke oat into lusty- cheers, to which was added a peal from all the church bells in the city,'besides the thunder of artillery. The two rifle societies of the city lined the road, to the bridge over the Rhine. Right and left of the bridge lay barges adorned with flowers, and containing bands of music, which struck up the "National Anthem" while her Majesty passed the bridge, the barges all keeping pace with the carriage. The oetroigate of the city had been transformed into a triumphal arch, bearing the arms of England, Scotland, and Ireland. An enormous crowd, which kept up the cheering, filled the streets of the town through which the carriage had to pass.

In the evening there was a general illumination of the town. The large alley of trees which leads to it, in particular those illuminated with red, blue, and green lights, looked magnificent. Her Majesty then entered a carriage, and went through the town. The royal party remained at Dusseldorf for the night. The Queen and Prince Consort arrived at Potsdam at 10 o'clock on the evening of the 12th August. On the whole way from Dusseldorf to Potsdam the railway stations were adorned with flagsand garlands ; and the welcome of an immense crowd at the Potsdam station was as enthusiastic as could possibly be conceived.