Mudie - XXX.
VISIT OF THE ALLIED SOVEREIGNS TO ENGLAND. |
| ON the 6th of June 1814, the Emperor of Russia,
and the King of Prussia, with his two sons and their respective
suites, including many of their most distinguished generals, Marshal
Blucher, General Von Yorck, General Bulow, the Hetman Platoff,
Count Barclay de Tolly, &c. &c. embarked at Boulogne, on
board the Impregnable, the flag ship of the Duke of Clarence, by
whom they were landed the same evening at Dover. Early in the afternoon
of the following day, the two Sovereigns reached London in the
most private manner. The Emperor took up his residence with his
sister, the Duchess of Oldenburg, at the Pulteney Hotel in Piccadilly,
and the King of Prussia at Clarence House. On the 8th the former
held a levee, at the apartments of the Duke of Cumberland, prepared
for his reception, and which was attended by the Prince Regent,
the Duke of York, and a great number of persons of distinction.
The King of Prussia also held a levee which was similarly attended;
and in the evening, Her Majesty held a court at her palace, for
the purpose of receiving the illustrious strangers. |
| On the 9th a grand court was held at Carlton
House, and afterwards a chapter of the Order of the Garter, when
the King of Prussia, the Earl of Liverpool, and Viscount Castlereagh,
were admitted Knights of the Order. The following day the Monarchs
repaired to Ascot Heath to witness the races, which were also attended
by Her Majesty, the Prince Regent, and the Princesses. They afterwards
partook of an entertainment provided for them by the Queen at Frogmore.
To describe, however, all their movements, the places they visited,
the crowds that followed their footsteps, and the general hilarity
which pervaded the metropolis, would be foreign to the purpose
of this work. It shall only, therefore, be further observed, that
they visited Oxford, and the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, and that
on the 18th they went in state to Guildhall, to partake of a magnificent
entertainment prepared for them by the City of London. The grandeur
of this banquet surpassed all description. On the 22nd they proceeded
to Portsmouth, accompanied by His Royal Highness the Prince Regent,
where, after enjoying the novel spectacle of a naval review, they
embarked for the Continent. It would be impossible to describe
the enthusiastic eagerness of all classes to obtain a sight of
the illustrious strangers or the unbounded demonstrations of joy
with which they were every where received. The Emperor Alexander,
in particular, by his easy familiarity and frank condescension,
was extremely popular during his short abode. The King of Prussia,
habitually' reserved, and, it is said, his mind oppressed with
melancholy reflections on the disasters to which his family had
been exposed by the ferocious tyranny of Buonaparte, attracted
much less of public attention. |
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| DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL WHICH RECORD THIS EVENT. |
| Obverse. - Head of Britannia, classically exemplifying
her power by the Helmet and the noble animal upon it. |
| Reverse. - The visits of the Sovereigns of Russia and
Prussia to England is here told, by the arrival of the foreign ship
on its shores, where Neptune holds his chief sway. The universal peace
which has been just conquered by the Allies from France, is exemplified
by the Temple of Janus, and its closed doors. |
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