She ei'ourt.
LIFE at Court has been varied this week by change of scene and re- creations.
On Monday, the Queen and Prince Albert left Buckingham Palace for Windsor, in an open carriage and four, escorted by a party of Hussars, and followed by the Princess Royal and the Royal suite, in three carriages and four. The Royal party returned on Tuesday. The Queen gave the second state ball this season, at Buckingham Palace, on Thursday. An immense number of invitations were issued, including those to several Members of either party in both Houses of Parliament ; but the list of invitations gives no accurate account of those who were actually present. The attendance, however, was very numerous, amounting to several hundreds. The arrangements were the same as those for the last ball, with some additional magnificence of ornament. The Queen opened the ball after ten o'clock, with Prince George of Cambridge ; Prince Albert dancing in the same quadrille. Refreshments were served in the Green Drawing-room. The stream of arrivals continued till past twelve o'clock. The ball was followed by a supper. After supper dancing was resumed ; and the Queen and Prince Albert did not leave the state rooms until half-past two o'clock in the morning. On Wednesday, the Queen and Prince Albert were present at an evening-party given by the Queen Dowager, at Marlborough House. Among the guests, were the Dutchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge, Princess Augusta of Cambridge, and Prince George of Cambridge. Mademoiselle Rachel attended as a lioness to be stared at.
The Queen and Prince Albert visited the Italian Opera on Saturday and Tuesday ; and on Friday they went to see Rachel at the Queen's Theatre. On Tuesday also the Queen Dowager visited the Opera, accompanied by the Dutchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Cambridge. The Queen held a Court on Thursday. Her Majesty gave audiences to Count Bjornstjerna, the Swedish Minister, to take leave on a tem- porary absence ; to Baron de Hugel, to receive his credentials as Envoy Extraordinary from the King of Wurtemberg; and to the Marquis of Clanricarde. Their Excellencies were afterwards presented by Viscount Palmerston to Prince Albert.
The Queen held a Privy Council yesterday afternoon at Buckingham Palace. It was attended by Prince Albert. At the Council a new five-pound gold piece was submitted to her Majesty, and was approved of.
The Queen gave audience, on Monday, to Viscount Melbourne, and to Earl Grey, who delivered the riband and badge of the Order of the Bath worn by the late Earl of Durham; • on Thursday, to Viscount Melbourne ; on Friday, to the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Marquis of Normanby, Viscount Melbourne, and Lord Hill.
Viscount Melbourne left his official residence in Downing Street on Monday, and repaired to Windsor, on a visit to the Queen. He returned to town on Tuesday.
The Datchess of Kent, with her son and daughter-in-law, the Prince and Princess of Leiningen, arrived at Ostend, on the way to Brussels, soon after four o'clock on Friday. The Queen has sent 251. to be distributed among the boat's crew who rowed her to the steamer in which the Dutchess of Kent departed from Woolwich last week.
The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by Viscount Melbourne and several distinguished persons, attended the triennial celebration of Eton Montem on Tuesday ; arriving at the College at eleven o'clock in the morning. The party immediately entered the school cloisters, where a chair of state was placed for the Queen. The procession of the whole of the boys, who were attired in the most costly and sump- tuous dresses, "of every clime and nation," then took place. At the conclusion of this ceremony, her Majesty partook of a luncheon at the Provost's, and afterwards proceeded to Salt Hill. The usual ceremonies were gone through at the Mount ; and the Royal party then returned to the Castle, and thence to town. The amount of " salt " collected ex- ceeded 1,3001.
While the Court were staying at Windsor, the town was enlivened by rather a startling incident. About seven o'clock on Monday evening, a most alarming fire broke out in the third floor of the house of Mr. Layton, confectioner to the Queen, Thames Street, Windsor ; which at one time threatened destruction to the whole house and the surrounding neighbourhood. Detachments of the First Life Guards and the Sixtieth Rifles were on the spot shortly after ; and by the aid of the engines and a plentiful supply of water, the fire was got under before it had reached the drawing-room floor. The three upper stories were completely. gutted. The fire seems to have been caused by the ignition of a foul flue, communicating with a beam in the laundry. It occasioned a deplorable loss : an immense quan- tity of confectionery, jellies, ices, preserves, &c. prepared for the Royal Montem breakfast at Eton College, and for the parties given by the nobility and gentry of the neighbourhood to celebrate that festival, were wholly destroyed by the water pouring down upon them through the house in every direction. To console the loyal tradesman, how- ever, his fire furnished some amusement in high quarters : as soon as the news reached the Castle, the Queen and Prince Albert, attended by Lord Uxbridge, Colonel Wemyss, and several others of the Royal Household, proceeded across the quadrangle on the North Terrace, for the purpose of witnessing the conflagration ; but no view ofthe fire being obtained from this part of the Castle, the Royal party returned to the summit of the Round Tower, where they remained until all danger had ceased. Lord Melbourne and Major Keppel walked from the Castle into Thames Street, to observe the progress of the flames. Here the Premier was in some peril : his Lordship was sur- rounded by several of the swell mob; but the Police, who were on the look-out, prevented any depredations in that quarter. The fire was completely got under soon after eight o'clock. The house, furniture, and stock are insured in the Sun Fire-office.
Previous page
