The Queen and Prince Albert, on their return on Thursday week from the
Chateau d'Eu, were accompanied by the Prince de Joinville, who remained
to dine with the Royal party, and then returned in the evening on board
his yacht, for the coast of France. After a few days' repose, her
Majesty and the Prince started on another marine excursion. They sailed
from Brighton on Tuesday morning, passed Dover, and arrived off Deal
about three o'clock, where the Royal yacht anchored, in order to receive
the Duke of Wellington, who came from Walmer Castle, and dined with her
Majesty on board, a large number of vessels, gaily decked with flags, as
well as crowds on shore, giving animation to the scene. The Duke
remained with her Majesty and Prince Albert upwards of two hours, and
during the time he was on board, the wind, which throughout the day had
been blowing rather fresh from the northward and eastward, had
considerably increased, and her Majesty, upon the Duke's taking his
leave, evinced very great anxiety respecting the safe landing of his
Grace. Everybody who knows this coast is aware that when the wind is
blowing at all from the eastward that there is a very heavy surf on the
beach, and consequently great difficulty in landing. His Grace, however,
on thanking her Majesty for the concern she evinced on his account, made
light of the matter, and returned on board the _Ariel_, which brought
him as near the shore as possible; here he got into the barge and rowed
towards the beach. The swell was too great to admit of his landing at
the pier, from which he had started, and the boat was pulled towards the
naval yard, where the surf was not so great as at any other part of the
shore. Here the Duke landed, but not without a thorough drenching, for
no sooner had the bows of the boat touched the shore than a heavy sea
broke right over her stern, and completely saturated his Grace's
apparel. The Duke, upon landing, all wet as he was, immediately mounted
his horse, and rode off to Walmer Castle. A numerous assemblage of
persons had congregated on the beach when the Duke came on shore, and
loudly and enthusiastically cheered him.
At an early hour on Wednesday morning the squadron got their steam up,
and made preparations for taking their departure. The weather had
moderated, and the day was fine. About seven o'clock the Royal yacht got
under way, and stood out to sea, and was followed by the other steamers,
and also by the _Penelope_, which had been ordered to form one of the
Royal squadron.
About two o'clock on Wednesday the Royal yacht entered the port of
Ostend, taking the authorities somewhat by surprise, who did not expect
it quite so soon. The King and Queen of Belgium, and the official
personages of Ostend, were, however, on the pier to await the landing;
and the populace displayed the most lively enthusiasm. In the evening
there was a grand banquet at the Hotel de Ville, and Ostend was
brilliantly illuminated, in a style far surpassing ordinary occasions.
THE KING OF HANOVER.--A correspondent writes that his Majesty, while in
conversation with a noble friend, expressed the determination, should
Divine Providence spare him health, to visit this country again next
summer, and he purposed then to come earlier in the season.
VISIT OF THE REGENT OF SPAIN TO GREENWICH HOSPITAL.--On Wednesday, about
twelve o'clock, General Espartero paid a visit to the Royal Hospital at
Greenwich.
Sir Robert Peel arrived in town by the London and Birmingham Railway on
Saturday afternoon, from his seat, Drayton Manor, Staffordshire, and
immediately proceeded from the Euston-square terminus to the residence
of the Earl of Aberdeen, in Argyll street, to pay a visit to his
lordship. Soon, after the arrival of the Right Hon. Baronet, Sir James
Graham arrived in Argyll street from the Home office, and had an
interview with Sir Robert Peel.
Sir R. Peel left his colleagues at a quarter-past four o'clock for the
terminus at London bridge, and travelled by the London and Brighton
Railway to Brighton, to dine with her Majesty and Prince Albert,
remaining at the Pavilion, on a visit to her Majesty.