Ebe court.
WHAT with the arrival of visiters at Windsor, the journey to town to be present at the prorogation of Parliament, and the ceremony itself, the proceedings of the Court have been varied and imposing.
On Monday, the circle at the Castle was joined by the Prince de Joinville and the Duke d' Aumale. They arrived at Woolwich, at nine o'clock on Monday morning, in the French war-steamer Pluton ; landed under a royal salute ; and were received by the authorities with the usual honours. They proceeded to town, to the residence of the French Embassy, where they remained some time : thence they went by a special train to Slough, and reached Windsor Castle between four and five on Monday evening. The royal visiters were received at Henry the Eighth's gateway with military honours, by a battalion of the Coldstream Guards. On the same evening, the Prince de Joinville and the Duke d'Aumale took an airing with the Queen and Prince Albert, through the Long Walk to Virginia Water. The royal party paid a visit to St. George's Chapel on Tuesday. Next morning the Princes took their departure for town.
Among the visiters at the Castle have been—Sir Robert Peel, who arrived on Sunday, departed on Monday, and returned again on Tuesday with the Duke of Wellington, for a day ; the Earl of Aberdeen, who staid from Monday to Tuesday ; Viscount Hawarden, Sir Henry Wheatley, and M. le Comte de Rohan Chabot.
On Wednesday the Queen and Prince Albert, with their suite, came by the Great Western Railway to Paddington ; where the Queen and Prince entered a carriage and four, and, escorted by a party of Dragoons, proceeded to Buckingham Palace ; arriving about half-past three o'clock. The Queen held a Court and Privy Council at four o'clock. The Council was attended by Prince Albert and most of the Ministers. The Queen's Speech on proroguing Parliament was arranged ; and a seal for the island of Hong-kong, executed by Mr. Wy on, was approved of. The Queen gave audiences to the Chevalier Aranjo Riheira, on a special mission from the Emperor of Brazil ; Mr. :gorier, to take leave on his return as Minister Plenipotentiary to Switzerland ; Earl Cathcart, to deliver the insignia of the Thistle worn by his late father ; the Judge- Advocate-General, to submit the proceedings of some Courts-martial ; Captain Harris, late Ambassador to the Court of Shoa, in Southern Abyssinia, (the Captain brought a mule from the Royal stud and other presents for the Queen); to the Lord President, the Dttke of Welling- ton, Sir James Graham, Sir Robert Peel, and Lord Stanley. Her Majesty went in state to prorogue Parliament on Thursday. The procession from Buckingham Palace consisted of five carriages, each drawn by six horses, conveying the officers of the Household and the suite, and a sixth carriage, drawn by eight cream-coloured horses, for the Queen and Prince Albert ; with footmen and Yeomen of the Guard walking by the carriages, and an escort of Life Guards. Her Majesty and the Prince were conducted from the state apartments by the Great Officers of State; the Mistress of the Robes and the Master of the Horse also entering the principal carriage. At twenty minutes to two, the procession issued from the marble arch ; the band of the Royal Horse Guards striking up the National Anthem, responded to by the cheers of the people. The procession returned to Bucking.. ham Palace at a quarter past three o'clock; and the Queen was re- ceived on alighting by the Lord Chamberlain, the Master of the Horse, and the Vice-Chamberlain.
About an hour afterwards, her Majesty and Prince Albert proceeded in a carriage and four, followed by the suite in two other carriages, and escorted by Dragoons, to Paddington, and thence by the Great Western Railway to Slough ; arriving at Windsor Castle at half-past five o'clock.
`The Prince de Joinville and the Duke d'Aumale returned to Pad- dington from Windsor at eight o'clock on Wednesday morning ; and repaired to the French Embassy. In the course of the day, they went to see St. Paul's Cathedral ; to visit the Dutchess of Gloucester, and Prince George ; and finally, to Buckingham Palace, where their Royal Highnesses took leave of the Queen, and returned to the French Em- bassy. In the evening they dined with the French Chargé d'Affaires. About nine o'clock on Thursday morning, the Princes went down the river in a small steamer ; breakfasted on board the Pluton ; landed, and inspected Woolwich Dockyard and Arsenal, the authorities being in attendance and rendering honours due ; and redmbarked at three o'clock, for Havre.
The King of Hanover visited the Dutchess of Gloucester on Saturday, received a visit from Prince George, and left town for Kew ; whither the Dutchess of Gloucester followed, on a visit to his Majesty. The King gave a diuner-party on Sunday ; the company including the Dutchess of Gloucester, Prince George, Earl Stanhope, and other noble persons. The King and Dutchess both came to town on Wednesday. The French Princes visited the King; who dined with Viscount Low- ther in the evening ; the Dutchess of Gloucester being of the party. His Majesty received a visit from S. Aranjo Ribeira on Thursday, and returned to Kew ; where he was again joined by the Dutchess of Gloucester.
The Court Circular announces that the Queen is to give a splendid entertainment at Virginia Water today, to celebrate Prince Albert's twenty-fourth birthday.
The Queen and Prince and the infants leave the Castle on Monday, on a marine excursion. The Court Circular says that they will pro- bably not be absent more than ten days or a fortnight. The Morning Post states that " The Queen, it is now said, is to laud near Dieppe, and proceed to the Chateau d'Eu ; and it is even added that her Majesty, travelling incognita, will then go on to Paris and Versailles, accompanied by King Lous Philippe."
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