2-982-298 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Queen's Visit to Cherbourg - Piping Hands to Man Yards, 1858. One of the most exciting and agreeable sights that takes place on a vessel of war...When the boatswain pipes to man yards, the Jacks, all eager and willing to obtain the loftiest and most important position on the yards or shrouds, answer this call with the greatest alacrity...The following exciting scene occurred with the fleet at Spithead on the occasion of her Majesty's presence before her departure for Cherbourg: All at once the sailors could be seen swarming up the shrouds like bees, covering the rigging as they mounted higher and higher, climbing out along the yards till rows of men fringed every spar. There was a little pause till the Royal Albert gave the signal with the first gun, and then on the instant...the Royal salute ran along the line from ship to ship, darting from the tall massive sides of the men-of-war in broad red streaks of flame and clouds of smoke till the very air seemed to move and vibrate under the heavy concussions, and all save the upper spars of the fleet was hidden in the white clouds of powder smoke...the ships in the harbour manned yards, while another salvo thundered from the saluting-battery below the town. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.