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Tim circle at Buckingham Palace has again lost its principal guest ; who, however, did not fail to improve his brief stay with right royat rapidity of motion.
The Emperor of Russia wait at half-past ten o'clock on Saturday morning, attended by Baron Brunow, to the Senior United Service Club. He had desired to he received without parade, simply as a mem- ber; and only eighteen gentlemen were present. He looked over the rooms ; and thence he proceeded to the new Houses of Parliament ; where he was met by Prince Albert. Mr. Barry was in attendance ; and the Prince and the architect explained the building, its design and purposes, to the visiter. The Prince returned to the Palace, as he came, on horseback, attended by Sir Edward Bowater. The Emperor paid a visit to the Dutchess of Buccleuch ; and regained the Palace at noon. Soon afterwards, his Majesty gave audience to the Duke of Wellington ; who wore a Russian costume, with the insignia of the Garter and of the Golden Fleece.
At a quarter past one o'clock, Prince Albert, the Emperor of Russia, and the King of Saxony, left Buckingham Palace, in an open carriage and four, to he present at a fete given by the Duke of Devonshire at Chiswick. The three suites followed in fire other carriages and four ; the servants and outriders in scarlet liveries ; and a detachment of Lancers escorted the party. At five minutes to two o'clock, the Lancers dashed into the avenue ; but the pace was then slackened ; the mul- titude of spectators being thus afforded a good opportunity of viewing the illustrious foreigners. The Luke of Devonshire received his visiters at the grand entrance ; as they alighted, the bands in the grounds struck up a national air of Russia, and the Russian standard was hoisted. The Emperor embraced the Duke with great cordiality. The Dutchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge, Mademoiselle d'Este, the Duke of Wellington, and many Diplomatic personages, were among the guests ; who numbered seven or eight hundred distinguished nobles and gentlemen. After partaking of a splendid dejeuner ii la fourchette, Prince Albert and his illustrious companions left the grounds, at a quarter past four o'clock : at parting, the Emperor again embraced the Duke, and shook him warmly by the hand. The return to the Palace was made by five o'clock. In the evening, the Queen, Prince Albert, the Emperor Nicholas, and the King of Saxony went to the Italian Opera ; the several suites occu- pying seven carriages. On Sunday, the Emperor attended Divine service at the Russian Chapel in Welbeck Street. His Majesty and his suite were in full re- gimentals. After the service, the Emperor repaired to the Embassy ; and, having exchanged the military for a civil dress, he paid farewell visits to Sir Robert Peel and the Dowager Countess of Pembroke : he went back to the Embassy for a parting visit to Baroness Brunow and her youthful daughter ; and then to the Palace ; where the Duke of Devonshire had audience of his Majesty. Having partaken of a dejeuner, the Emperor took his leave, at five: o'clock. The Queen, the Princess Royal, and the Prince of Wales, came with the guest as far as the grand entrance-hall, "and took a final leave of his Majesty only when he had already entered the carriage." Some say that at parting the Emperor "salnted"—meaning kissed— Queen Victoria. Prince Albert rode in the same carriage with the Em- peror; who was attended by the Earl of Haddington, the Earl of Aber- deen, Sir George Cockburn, Mr. Sidney Herbert, the Honourable Mr. Corrie, and all the members of the Russian suite ; the whole party occu- pying six royal carriages. They proceeded at a rapid pace to Wool- wich ; where a royal salute was fired on their arrival. The Earl of Hard- wicke and the authorities of the Dockyard were already in attendauce; and a bevy of distinguished ladies, including the Baroness Brunow and the Countess of Pembroke, were present to take a last farewell. While the luggage was shipped and other preparations were made, the Empe- ror viewed the Dockyard and the works. More leave-taking with the ladies and the officers of the Embassy ; and the Royal voyager went on board the Black Eagle steamer. Here Prince Albert took leave ; and the parting "was of the most cordial and affectionate character. Among the officers of the steamer, was Mr. William Peel, Sir Robert's son, who was lately mentioned in Parliament in so handsome a manner by Sir Charles Napier ; he took rank as First Lieutenant. The Emperor stood on deck, and waved his last adieus to the ladies, as the steamer passed rapidly down the river. Baron Brunow accompanied his Im- perial Master as far as Gravesend ; leaving the Black Eagle to pursue. its voyage.
The King of Saxony also has been busy. His Majesty gave an au- dience on Saturday morning, at Buckingham Palace, to the Bishop of Norwich and a deputation from the Linntean Society ; of which the King permitted his name to be enrolled as an honorary member. At noon the- King held a levee, in the Library, for the reception of the Diplomatic Corps. Oa Sunday, he attended Divine service in the Bavarian chapel. The subsequent days have been passed in a perpetual round of sight- seeing and visiting : his Majesty must have seen all the " lions " of the Metropolis. Besides morning-calle, he has partaken of a dejeuner with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and dined with the Earl and Countess of Wilton, and with the Earl of Aberdeen. On Thursday, his expe- dition extended to Richmond Park, and the Botanical Gardens at Kew. The Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge entertained the tourist ; and the Dutchess drove him over to see the Duke of Northumberland at Siorx House. Afterwards, the King visited Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence, at Ealing Park, and surveyed their beautiful grounds.
The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the King of Saxony, went to the Italian Opera on Tuesday.
Her Majesty gave audience to Sir Robert Peel on Saturday. Prince Albert presided at the distribution of prizes by the Society of Arts on Monday ; and on Tuesday laid the foundation-stone of the Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Chest, in the Fulham Road.
The Queen, attended by her Lady in Waiting, the Countess of Gains- borough, left Buckingham Palace for Claremont, in an open carriage and four, escorted by a party of Lancers, at ten o'clock yesterday morn- ing. The suite followed in two other carriages. Prince Albert and the King of Saxony left the Palace soon after, for Hampton Court, followed by two other carriages; and having surveyed the Hampton Palace and grounds, they joined the Queen at Claremont.
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