The accounts of President Bonaparte's progress to the North-west con-
duct him as far as Lisieux. At Evrewr he received an invitation from Berney to turn aside and compliment that place with a visit, and was so pleased with its hearty tone that he acceded : he was received in a gra- tifying manner. At Liaieux the reception was similar to that encoun- tered at Evreux, a demonstration of respect for his office : "Vivo le Pre- sident!" contested for predominance over " Vive la Republique I "—and carried the day.
are significant. At a reception in the morning, the Council-Gene Late reports give us the proceedings at Caen on the 4th instant. 20 the President exchanged compliments ; he expressing a wish that all the departments gave him as cordial a support The clergy addressed him thus- " The Bishop of Bayeux and his clergy are delighted to express to you their very sincere good wishes, in gratitude for all you have done to pro- mote the welfare of the country. Should Heaven be pleased to listen to
our prayers, Monseigneur, religion and Ranee will sew bless your govern- ment."
The President replied-
" A perfect understanding between the religious and civil powers will con- tribute much to the consolidation of order and of authority. I-thank-you, Monseigneur, for the kind wishes which you express to me • and I doubt not that, with your good prayers, and those of your clergy, they will be lis- tened to on high." M. Thomine Desmazures, in presenting the members of the Municipal Council, pointed out certain improvements which would be of service to Caen, and assuring him of the affection which the inhabitants of the town bore to his person. The President replied- " I shall examine with care all the questions that may interest this fine country, and I shall endeavour to give to these great interests a satisfactory solution. I thank you for the good wishes which you express to me in the name of the representatives of the town of Caen.',
To the National Guard he addressed a compliment on their maintenance of order when it was threatened ; intimating a flattering knowledge of their conduct. At a banquet in the evening he said-
" That which is greeted with acclamations in me is the representative of order and of better prospects in the future. When I traverse your populations, headed by men who merit your approbation and your con- fidence, I am happy to hear it said, Our bad days are past ; we are ex- pecting better ones. So, when everywhere prosperity appears to revive, that man would be deeply culpable who should attempt to check its progress by changing what exists at present, however imperfect it may be. In like Manner, if stormy days were again to appear, and if the people de- sired to impose a new burden on the chief of the Government,. that chief in his turn would be exceedingly culpable to desert that high mission. (Loud *larks of assent.) But let us not anticipate the future. let us at present endeavour to regulate the affair s of the country ; let each of us perform his duty. Heaven will do the rest." (Long-continued applause.)
At the ball in honour of the President four thousand persons were present.
It was understood in Paris, yesterday, that the Minister of Marine had received a telegraphic description of the President's arrival at Cherbourg amidst manifestations of "indescribable enthusiasm." The town was crowded to excess, and the number of English visiters was very great—no fewer than forty English yachts entered the harbour in one day. Several of the owners had received invitations from the captains of the French ships of war • as had also Sir Charles Napier, Admiral Cochrane, and the other British naval officers who accompanied them. Great cordiality existed between the British and French naval officers.
Louis Napoleon has been interchanging impressive courtesies with the Spanish dictator, General Narvaez : sending him a sword of the Empe- ror's, he received in return a veritable sword once wielded by Cortez, whom General Narvaez claims as an ancestor.
A low mass for the repose of the soul of the ex-King Louis Philippe was performed in the chapel of the Tuileries on Thursday. Among the persons present were General Changarnier, M. Guizot, and M. Duchatel. At the same hour a mass for the same object was performed at the church of Neuilly ; it was attended by a full congregation.
Previous page
