2-982-336 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Her Majesty leaving Cherbourg, 1858. Queen Victoria returns to England on the Royal Yacht. '...a farewell visit was paid by the Emperor and Empress; and subsequently from the deck of the Bretagne their Majesties waved a succession of adieux. The Royal squadron moved off in two lines. As soon as the heavy ships had got fairly away from their anchorage, the Royal yacht steamed away between the two lines of ships and frigates, and shot ahead of them out of the harbour. As the Victoria and Albert passed along the ships, the crews on the rigging gave hearty cheers such as English sailors love to give. On the topmost truck of the main fore and mizen masts of the Renown a sailor was perched; and each of these, with reckless energy, waved a union-jack in one hand and his hat in the other, and shouted and cheered as though he were secure on the solid earth. Her Majesty, from her own yacht, and the Emperor, from on board the Bretagne, watched with much interest the movements of these daring fellows...there was another tremendous salute from the ships and all the forts, and the English squadron gave a parting salute to the Emperor. Directly the ships were in the offing, the wind being favourable, they set full sail, and were soon lost to view'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.