VIIR Court.
THE Court has again returned to town, after the Easter sojourn at Windsor ; where the fine weather enabled her Majesty and her guests to indulge in the usual walks and drives. Visits of a day or two were spent at the Castle by Count Bjornstjerna, the Swedish Minister, Gene- ral Stjernerona, on a special mission from King Oscar ; the Earl of Aberdeen, Sir Robert Peel, and Count Loewenstein.
The King and Queen of the Belgians, and the Prince of Leiningen, drove over to Bushy Park on Saturday, to visit the Queen Dowager ; and then proceeded to Claremont, where the King remained ; the Queen and Prince returning to the Castle.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Queen of the Belgians and the Prince of Leiningen, the Royal infants, add the suite, came to town on Tuesday. The party travelled from Slough to Padding- ton by the Great Western Railway, and were guarded by the usual es- corts: they arrived at half-past four o'clock, having performed the jour- ney in an hour. The King of the Belgians arrived in the evening from Claremont.
Earlier in the day, the Dutchess of Kent arrived at Clarence House from Frogniore ; and in the afternoon, her Royal Highness received a visit from the Prince of Leiningen. Her Royal Highness visited the Dutchess of Gloucester on Wednesday. Yesterday, the Dutchess par took of a di.jeuner at Buckingham Palace, and subsequently received visits from Prince Albert, the King and Queen of the Belgians, the Queen Dowager, the Dutchess of Gloucester, and the Dutchess of Cambridge. Her Royal Highness dines at the Palace daily.
The Queen held a Court and Privy Council, at Buckingham Palace. on Wednesday. It was attended by Prince Albert, and most of the Ministers. Sir Frederidk Pollock, and Mr. John Hope, Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland, were sworn of the Privy Council, and took the oaths and their seats. The Earl of Lonsdale took the oaths as Lord- Lieutenant of Cumberland and Westmoreland. Her Majesty gave audiences to Sir Robert Peel and the Earl of Aberdeen.
The second Drawing-room of the season was held, at St. James's Pal tee, on Thursday. The Queen and Prince Albert arrived from
Buckingham Palace, in the usual state, at two o'clock. The King of the Belgians, the Dutchess of Kent, and the Prince of Leiningen, were present. The attendance was not numerous. After the ceremony, the Queen and Prince Albert returned to Buckingham Palace.
Prince Albert presided at a meeting of the Fine Arts Commission, yesterday. In the course of the day, accompanied by the Prince of Leiningen, he went to the exhibition of the British Institution; and with the King and Queen of the Belgians and the Prince of Leiuingen, to the new Water-Colour Exhibition.
General Tom Thumb, in a full-dress court suit, exhibited at the Pa- lace yesterday.
The Queen Dowager left Bushy Park, for Marlborough House, on Saturday. Her Majesty was visited by the Dutchess of Gloucester on
Sunday and Tuesday ; and visited the Dutchess and the Princess Sophia on Monday. On Tuesday, "General Tom Thumb" attended at Marl- borough House; when the Dutchess of Gloucester and the Dutchess of Cambridge were present : the Royal hostess gave the little man a gold watch. Queen Adelaide went to the Italian Opera on Tuesday ; to the Concert of Ancient Music on Wednesday.
The Dutchess of Cambridge went to Drury Lane Theatre on Satur- day.
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