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THERE have been no great events at Buckingham Palace this week. The Queen held a Court on Tuesday ; at which All Effendi, the Am- bassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from the Sublime Porte, presented his credentials. His Excellency afterwards had an audience of Prince Albert.
The Royal circle has been joined by the King and Queen of the Bel- gians. They arrived at Woolwich, at ten o'clock on Monday night ; and were received by Viscount Sydney, Lord in Waiting on the Queen,
and Lord George Lennox, Lord in Waiting on Prince Albert; and were conveyed to Buckingham Palace in two of the Queen's carriages.
They have since paid a round of visits to the members of the Royal Family in town. But the Court has lost its five other Royal visiters, the Counts Mensdorf; who took their departure on Thursday morn- ing, embarking at Woolwich on the way to Brussels. The Dutchess of Kent went early to Buckingham Palace to breakfast with the Queen and her parting guests. The Queen and Prince Albert visited Mr. Dunn's Chinese collection • on Saturday : they were highly gratified. The Dutchess Kent visited the collection on Tuesday.
On Thursday, the Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the King and Queen of the Belgians, and followed by the suite, went, in
three carriages and four, to Queensberry Villa, at Richmond, to an entertainment given by the Duke and Dutchess of Buccleuch. The visiters began to arrive at half-past three o'clock. Among them were the Queen Dowager, the Dutchess of Kent, the Duke and Dutchess and Princess Augusta of Cambridge, the Duke and Dutchess and Hereditary Prince of Saxe Meiningen, Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, and a host of fashionable persons. At the entrance of the Lower Road a triumphal arch of flowering shrubs was erected ; the river near the villa was crowded with gaily-filled boats and barges ; and tents and marquees received the company for a Meaner h-la-fourchette. At seven o'clock there was a sumptuous banquet ; and in the evening a display of fire- works, and an illumination of the gardens. Sir George Smart con- ducted a band of madrigal-singers ; and several military bands per- formed at intervals. The party broke up at twelve o'clock.
Prince Albert received several addresses of congratulation on Satur- day; and the same addresses were presented to the Dutchess of Kent.
On Wednesday, his Royal Highness went, with the Counts Mensdorf and the Duke of Wellington, to visit Mr. Babbage's calculating- machine, in Dorset Street.
The Prince reviewed the Household Brigade, consisting of the first and third battalions of Grenadier Guards and the two battalions of Scots Fusilier Guards, in Hyde Park, on Thurstlay. The Duke of Cambridge, Prince George, the Duke of Wellington, Sir George Mur- ray, Sir Willoughby Gordon, and a numerous staff of general officers, were present. Several manoeuvres were performed with due skill and precision. Prince Albert and the Dutchess of Kent were present yesterday at the concert in the Queen's Theatre, for the benefit of the Hamburg subscription-fund. Sir William Ross has been painting portraits of the young Counts Mensdorf, for the Queen ; and Mr. Lucas, of their father.
The Queen Dowager and the Saxe Meiningen family left Marlbo- rough House on Saturday, for Bushy Park.
Monday was the anniversary of the Queen's accession to the Throne, and it was marked by the usual rejoicings. The bells of the different Metropolitan churches rang merry peals during the morning. At one o'clock the Park and Tower guns were fired, and in the evening her Majesty's tradesmen illuminated their houses.
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