Zbe Court.
THE Queen has led a more than usually quiet life at Windsor; taking, as the Court Circular tells us daily, her "accustomed" early walks with Prince Albert, and her father-in-law, the Duke of Saxe Coburg Gorha ; and riding in the afternoon.
On Thursday, the Royal three, with the Dutchess of Norfolk, drove to Clifden, the seat of Sir George Warrender, in a carriage and four ; followed by Maids of Honour in a pony phaeton, and the Equerries on horseback.
Prince Albert completed his twenty-third year yesterday. A series of entertainments celebrated the event at Windsor Castle. The Queen's private band serenaded the Prince at seven in the morning, with a Ger- man choral piece, " Now let all return thanks to God " ; and then the band of the Second Regiment of Life Guards performed a variety of compositions. At noon the troops of the garrison went through divers evolutions in the Home Park ; the Prince and his father being on the ground, the Queen at the drawingroom-window. About one o'clock the Queen Dowager arrived, and shortly after the Dutchess of Gloucester, to congratulate the Prince : they remained till three o'clock, partaking of a luncheon in the interval. There was a banquet in the evening ; covers being laid for thirty-five. Among the guests were the Dutchess of Kent, the Duke of Saxe Coburg Gotha, Sir James Graham, and Lord Charles Wellesley, the new Member for Southampton. The displays of plate and confectionery were very elaborate. At half-past nine, the Castle being magnificently illuminated with twenty-four immense stars on the turrets of the great tower, and devices of equal splendour in other parts of the edifice, there was an exhibition of fireworks on the top of the Round Tower, which lasted two hours. The inhabitants of Windsor were admitted into the Quadrangle to view the fireworks. The Royal town did not neglect its devoirs. The Corporation can- non was put in requisition, and many private pieces of artillery reechoed on the banks of the river. Prince Albert presented the Corpo- ration with a fine buck; which they loyally masticated at the Castle Inn. In the afternoon, there was a regatta, and at night a general illu- mination.
[In the Metropolis, the customary observances were not omitted. The church-bells rang ; clubs, Royal tradesmen, and the particularly loyal, illuminated ; and the streets were rather more crowded than they usually are with people looking at the different but not very various specimens of caligraphy in oil-lamps and gas—" P.
Sir Robert Peel was a visiter at the Castle on Sunday ; returning to town on Monday. Lord Melbourne and Lord and Lady Beauvale arrived on Monday, and staid till Thursday. Sir James Graham has also been visiting at the Castle.
The Queen gave an audience to Sir Robert Peel on Tuesday.
The Prince of Leiningen took his departure on Tuesday, from Frog- more Lodge, where he had been for some time on a visit to the Dutchess of Kent, and embarked for Antwerp. The Duke of Cambridge left Kew on Saturday, for Wynyard, the seat of the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry ; where his Royal Highness was received with magnificence. The Dutchess of Gloucester arrived at Bushy Park, from Bagshot Heath, on Wednesday, to visit the Queen Dowager.
Since the intrusion of Quested, measures have been taken at Windsor Castle to prevent the ingress of strangers. Police remain at the only entrance for strangers, from the time the porters leave it at night until they return to their duties in the morning ; and the greatest vigilance is ordered.
The Queen and Prince Albert, it is understood, depart for Scotland on Monday next ; and active preparations are in progress. The Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal will remain at the Castle, under the care of the Dowager Lady Lyttelton, until the return of the Queen ; whose absence is not expected to exceed a fortnight.
Special trains are ordered to be in readiness at an early hour to con- vey the Court from Slough to Paddington. Woolwich is in a ferment. So many persons are expected to crowd the dockyard, that orders have been issued to admit none but officers in full uniform. The centre building has been fresh painted ; the ground of the yard has been newly laid with fine gravel ; and it is to be covered with matting and green cloth.
The Royal George yacht has been fitted up to receive its illustrious freight— This beautiful model of a man-of-war vessel is undergoing a complete re- novation • and a number of hands are employed, without intermission, to have her finished for the reception of her Majesty. Dr. Reid, the inventor of the most improved mode of ventilation, was on board on Wednesday and Thursday, personally superintending the laying of pipes for the free ventilation of the vessel. The Royal bed has been removed to London, and a new one, expressly made for her Majesty, will be substituted. The interior of the state-cabin is superb, beautifully carved in the more prominent parts, and richly gilt. The following are some of the vessels which have been appointed to accompany the Royal George : the Pique, 36; Wolf, 18; Fearless steamer ; Shearwater steamer ; Salamander steamer ; Lightning steamer ; Black Eagle steamer. The Camperdown, 120, has been ordered from Sheerness to the Nore ; why, is not yet known.
The Lord Mayor has offered his escort through his territory as Conservator of the Thames ; but the offer has been graciously de- clined.
About forty horses, and a number of the Royal carriages, were em- barked at the Leith wharf on Thursday, with several Royal grooms, and lien Myer, the Queen's riding-master.
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