3-017-222 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The International Naval Festival at Portsmouth: the Mayor's Banquet to the officers of the French fleet, 1865. 'The decorations, which had been intrusted to Mr. Dillon, of London, were of a novel and effective style...[The banquet was held in] one of Edgington's tents, 138 ft. long and 36 ft. wide, floored over, and lined with crimson and white cloth, also decorated with flags and coloured lamps. At the upper end, behind the Mayor's chair, was a bust of the Emperor Napoleon, above a shield bearing the arms of the town of Portsmouth, with the Mayor's chain and badge. On his right hand were the Royal arms of Great Britain, supported by the standards of France, with the Imperial and British crowns. On his left hand were the arms of France, supported by the Royal standards of England and of the Prince of Wales'. From "Illustrated London News", 1865.