ear Court.
THE Queen's Birthday was celebrated on Thursday, by a Drawing- room at St. James's Palace, the most splendid that has been held for many years. The company began to arrive at one o'clock ; and in the course of two hours the entire suite of state apartments was crowded. The Knights of the various Orders wore their collars. The Foreign Ambassadors, the Lord Chancellor, the Muster of the Rolls, and the Speaker of the House of Commons, came with their respective suites. The Dutchess of Kent, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge, and the Princess Augusta, were each attended by mem. bers of their household. The Queen received a deputation of the Archbishops and Bishops, with a congratulatory address, read by the Archbishop of Canterbury ; to which her Majesty returned a gracious answer. She received the generul company on the throne ; on the left of which stood the members of the Royal Family, and on the right the lords and ladies of the Royal Household. Some foreign diplomatists were presented, and the general company were then introduced. The list of presentations fills several columns of the daily papers. The Queen's dress is described as of " white satin, with rid bullion fringe, the body ornamented with u splendid diamond stomacher, and blonde train of white tabinet, richly brocaded in gold, with a bend. some embroidered gold border, and lined with white satin. The dress of English and the train of Irish manufacture. Headdress, feather, diamonds, and lappets." Her Majesty's diminutive feet were, as usual, the object of much envy and universal admiration : her satin slippers are vouched to have been so very small, that it is considered quite im. possible that any other lady at the drawing-room could put them en! The ladies' dresses generally were of a magnificence and costlineti that never have been surpassed. Nine columns of the double.sheeted Morning Post of Friday are occupied with descriptions of the most splendid ; among which we find those worn by the beautiful Countess of Chesterfield, the Dutchess of Roxburgh, the Countess of Camper. down, Lady Lucy Clive, the Honourable Mrs. Anson, Mrs. Lane Fox, and Miss Burdett Coutts.
Grand dinners were given in the evening by the chief Cabinet Ministers snd many of the nobility. Most of the club-houses and public buildings were tastefully illuminated. The shops of theQueds tradesmen " by appointment," and of others who were desirous of exhi- biting an equal degree of loyalty, were lighted with variegated lamps, or more brilliant gas, in sundry devices. The illumination, however, was by no means general.
Last night, the Queen gave a concert at Buckingham Palace. The grand saloon and the entire suite of state apartments, except the Throne• room, were lighted up on the occasion. The company was my num!. rous. The performers were the favourite singers from the Italia Opera, and the music chiefly from Donizetti.
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