14 DECEMBER 1850, Page 2

At Court.

Sae Queen gave audiences on Tuesday to the Corporation of London, the City Lieutenancy, and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, who severally possess the constitutional privilege of access to her immediate presence; and received addresses adopted by them in reference to the Pa- pal measures for establishing a Romish hierarchy in this country.

The Corporation of London went to Windsor Castle in state procession. The Lord Mayor, fourteen Aldermen, and upwards of a hundred Common Councillors, met in the Guildhall at eight o'clock, and proceeded to Slough by a special train on the Great Western Railway; having sent down by the turnpike road about seventy carriages and two hundred horses, for use in the cavalcade from Slough to Windsor. The details of the City procession are too well known to need description. Its progress regulated the movements of the deputations from the Universi- ties; which were conveyed into Windsor itself by special trains up and down the Great Western Railway. The Oxonians assembled in the Town-hall ; the Cantabs found a refuge from the inclement foggy sky at the principal inn. The London Corporation entered the town and moved comfortably along in their vehicles to the Castle ; "the Universities humbly marched on foot, two and two " : the Heads of Houses, Proctors, Bedells, Fellows, and Tutors, trudged through the soft clay amidst a crowd of people, gazing with orderly wonder at the unusual scene. There was a decorous filing forth from the Town-hall and the inn ; but

the order of the procession soon "bee visible in the thick cloud of vapour which clung over hood, -go = d band, till they hung down in limp folds."

"As the sable mass moved slowly 1, relieved in its uniformity here and there by purple and scarlet gowns, or white or purple hoods and bachelors' sheepskins, the people now and then uttered a few cries in a subdued tone against the recent bull of Rome ; but their general demeanour was tranquil and orderly. When the procession arrived at the Castle, the fog, lifting a little, 4isooll'efecirtSdrorthe Guards drawn up in honour of the occasion, end the royal standard was visible from one of the turrets flagging lazily in the air. Pouring through the gates into the court-yard, the mingled pro- cession of Corporators and University men passed on to the entrance, through a guard of honour drawn up to receive them ; and were soon, to the annoy- ance of some of the exclusives of the body, mixed together in the hall. The Corporation had the advantage of a good bright rallying colour, however, and soon extricated their bright robes from the dark colours of the Uni- versities."

They were collected in a reception-room on the right of the stairs, and thence were led into the Queen's presence. Her Majesty, attired in simple mourning, was seated at the upper end of St. George's Hall, with her court around her. Lord John Russell and Sir George Grey were among the group on her right hand ; Ladies in Waiting stood at her left ; and Prince Albert presented the addresses.

The address of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen was read by Mr. Re- corder Stuart Wortley. It expressed especial gratitude to God for the chief blessings of the restoration of the Protestant faith, and the national vindication of civil and religious liberty, which the illustrious house of her Majesty was called to maintain and defend ; expressed indignation at the grievous insult by the Bishop of Rome; promised a loyal support of measures; and alluded with alarm to the introduction of Romish prin- ciples ant} practices by some clergymen. The Queen "listened with great attention to this address, and at several portions of it slightly in- clined her head, as if in token of assent." Her gracious answer singled out the reference to religious liberty, and made it the ground of a tribute to civic traditions, Answer to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen—"I receive with much satis- faction your loyal and affectionate address. I heartily concur with you in your grateful acknowledgments of the many blessings conferred upon this highly favoured nation, and in your attachment to the Protestant faith and to the great principles of civil and religious liberty, in the defence of

leech the city of London has ever beep That faith and those

rely on their I support-Wvpholding andmaintaining them against any principles madly det0 c of entry, that I confidently danger with they-may-he threatmied, froth whatever quarter. it may

proceed."

' -Tbesaddresswithe Cethrt sof =Common Cefameit';thelo read by the Re- corder, ranked among-the higheet of the :blessings Which we owe to Di- -vine irovideneci the estahlishment -of civil and:religious liberty, and: the preservation of the ;pure ■and•Scriptural worship of the Protestant „frith free from all foreigmclomicionor interference ; it referred to. the ex&tions ikthe Corporationda favour of.eqnal-civil sights without.referenite to. re- ligious distinctions ; it offered support inxepalling-the. encroachments of a foreign potentate ; and it expressed deep regret at the gradual inta-oduc- lion of unauthorizeethenowitiowe in the. Seaciptunil wOrehip and' lidnifitra- tions of the Protestant Church,. and the inculcation hy.some.of our clergy of.principles and:practices allied to those of 'Rome. Her Majesty's now

distantly referredto the. Tractarinn "alhutiorue '

Answer to the Common Councit—"1 sineerely, thank you for your re- newed assurances-of 'unaltered attachment to my -person and throne, and to the constitution ofthis country. Your tried and consistent advocacy of the equal enjoyment of civil rights by. all classes of your fellow-subjects entitles the expression of your sentiments on the present occasion to peculiar consi- deration. You may be assured of my. earnest-desire and firm determination, under God's blessing, to maintain unimpaired the religious liberty which is justly prized by the people of this country, and to uphold, as its surest safe- guard, thmpure and Scriptural wonihip, of the Protestant faith, which has long been happily established in this land.'

The mover and seconder of each address, and some other members of the deputation, were presented to her Majesty; and the civic bodies with- drew to the Waterloo Hall, to do justice to the sumptuous luncheon which is a customary finale to such ceremonial occasions. The City Lieutenancy presented an address having no especially mark- ed feature ; and received a reply of general tenour.

Answer- to the City Lieutenancy— Your renewed assurances on the pre- sent occasion of devoted loyalty and affection to my person and government are highly-gratifying .to me. It will continue to be, as it has -ever been, my earnest endeavour, in the exercise of the power and authority intrusted to me, as the supreme governor of this realm, to maintain the independsece and uphold the constitutional liberties of my people against all aggress hand encroachment."

The deputation from Oxford now entered, with the Duke of Welling- ton at its head, in his full costume as Chancellor ' • Sir Robert Inglis closely attending him. The Duke was in good health and spirits, and read the address of his University "in his peculiar energetic manner." It especially asserted the Queen's supremacy in all spiritual, ecclesiasti- cal, and temporal things ; professed faithful adherence to the principles, doctrine, and discipline of our Reformed Church ; and offered assurances of earnest endeavour to train up thb academical youth " in faithful at-'- tachment to the truths of holy Scripture, as set forth in the Articles and formularies." The reply especially referred to the important educational responsibilities of the University. Answer to Oxford University—"I accept with much satisfaction the renew- ed proof afforded by your addressof your attachment and loyalty to my person and government, and ofyour steadfast adherence to the principles of the constl- tution. It has ever been, and ever will continue to be, my endeavour to pro- mote the efficiency and maintain the purity of our Reformed Church, the su- preme government of -which, under God, is by law confided to me ; and it is highly gratifying to me to be assured of your faithful adherence to its prin- ciples, doctrine, and discipline. While I cordially concur in the wish that all classes of my subjects should enjoy the free exercise of their religion, you may rely on my determination to uphold shire the rights of my crown and

independence ndependence of my people against all aggressions and encroachments of any foreign power. Your earnest endeavour, in the discharge of_your im- portant duties, to train up the youth intrusted to your care in faithful attach- ment to the truths of holy Scripture, cannot fail, under God's blessing, to have a powerful effect in strengthening the defences of our Protestant faith, and in preserving inviolate the privileges which are justly dear to the people of this country." Presentations having been made, and the Oxford deputation having re- tired to the Waterloo Hall, Prince Albert sought the Cambridge deputa- tion, and led it into the Royal presence ; and, as Chancellor of Cambridge University, read the address. It especially repelled foreign interference, asserted the Pope's claim of territorial jurisdiction, and prayed measures for securing to the people their ancient rights and liberties. The reply echoed this exclusively laical tone. Answer to Cambridge University—" I thank you for your loyal and duti- ful address. I fully participate in your expression of gratitude to Almighty God for the blessings which He has been pleased to bestow upon this country ; and I rejoice in the proofs which have been given of the zealous and undi- minished attachment of the English people to the principles asserted at the Reformation. While it is my earnest wish that complete freedom of con- science should be enjoyed by all classes of my subjects, it is my constant aim to uphold the just privileges and extend the usefulness of the Church esta- blished by law in this country, and to secure to my people the full possession of their ancient rights and liberties." As the Cambridge deputation withdrew the Queen dismissed her cour- tiers. In the Waterloo Hall, amidst the relaxations of luncheon it was remarked that her Majesty had looked very well, though somewhat flushed. Lord John Russell was said to have given a keen scrutiny to the University deputations while the answers were being read ; otherwise his demeanour seemed, to closely scanning critics, somewhat pensive. A coincidence did not escape amusing comment—from the two ends of the Waterloo Hall, portraits of Cardinal Gonsalvi and Pope Pius the Seventh smiled benignantly on the crowd of antagonistic Protestants.

The Queen held a Court and Privy Council on Thursday afternoon. At the Court were presented—M. Tricoupi, as Minister Plenipotentiary from the King of Greece ; Mr. Shell, to take leave on his Tuscan mission ; and Viscount Ponsonby. The Duke of Richmond presented a petition from the hop-growers for a delay in levying the unpaid duty of 1848 till the subject shall have been brought before Parliament at its meeting ; and several addresses against Papal aggression. At the Council, the final prorogation of Parliament was ordered. The announced dramatic entertainments at Windsor Castle by Mr. Charles Sean's selected company commenced on Thursday evening, with the performance of King Henry the Fourth; Mr. Kean playing the part of Hotspur, and Mr. Bartley that of Falstaff, greatly to the satisfaction-of her Majesty, and an audience of some hundred favoured guests.