NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE incidents at the close of the British Queen's visit to France differed from the larger part of her stay, in being less public and formal, and in being reported apparently by those who are not so much at a distance. They do not on that account possess less political importance. The design of the reception given to Queen Victoria comprised more than was fully brought out in the reports of last week. There were the apparently unstudied relaxations of the Saturday,—a drive in the forest of St. Germains with its wood- land scenery and forester music, and some agreeable unrehearsed effects, such as the meeting of the Queen with her old singing- master Lablache ; then the elaborate entertainment at Versailles, vieing with those pageantries of Louis the Fourteenth and Lorenzo de' Medici which artists have endeavoured to immortalize. Such recreations, combining ease and luxury, have long been deemed a sure means of ingratiating favour ; and undoubtedly they might bring the powerful British Sovereign into closer union with her hosts, while enlarging her respect for the resources of the Emperor. For some reason, apparently unforeseen, Prince Serome had disappointed the Queen of her visit to the tomb of Napoleon "the Great " ; but this omission was repaired on Sunday, otherwise a day of rest; and on Monday, after the most affectionate of leavetakings between the ladies, Queen Victoria With her ecnift was conveyed in a state procession to the railroad, and only on regaining her native main bade farewell to the at- tendant Emperor in the friendliest of adieus. Certainly the astute ruler of France has spared no pains to rivet the alliance by many a pretty link, as well as the iron link of war.
