2-889-317 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The French President Quitting the Squadron at Cherbourg, 1850. Louis Napoléon attends a naval review off the coast of France. '...the Prince visited each line-of-battle ship in succession, and though each ship cheered a little, his reception was decidedly cool. The President minutely inspected every one of the fleet, and did not quit the last vessel, the Minerve, 54-gun frigate, until nearly seven o'clock...'. Cannons were fired to signal the end of the review: '...the lightning flashes of nearly 2000 pieces of ordnance crashed forth with a tremendous roar: short, sharp, and sudden were the bursts, enveloping each vessel in the wreathed smoke curling up to masts' heads, and only now and then dividing or clearing to allow the beautiful flag of the tri-colour to be seen...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1850.