Int Tourt.
THE close of the Easter bolydays has broken up the retirement of the Court at Windsor. The Queen and Prince Albert arrived at Bucking- ham Palace soon after five o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, in a car- riage and four, escorted by a party of Hussars The Princess Royal followed with her attendants in a separate carriage ; and three other car- riages and four conveyed the Royal suite. The Queen and Prince Albert were received at Buckingham Palace by the Lord Chamberlain and other officers of the Household.
The Dutchess of Kent left Windsor on the same day ; and arrived at her new residence, Clarence House, St. James's, soon after twelve o'clock.
The Queen held a Drawing-room on Thursday, at St. James's Palace. Her Majesty and Prince Albert arrived at St. James's a little before two o'clock, from Buckingham Palace, escorted by a party of the House- hold Troops. They were received by the Lord Chamberlain and the Lord Steward, by whom they were conducted to the Royal closet. The Dutchess of Kent and suite, and the Duke of Cambridge and suite, ar- rived shortly after. Before the drawing-room, the Queen according to annual custom, received a deputation from Christ's Hospital, headed by Alderman Thompson, and accompanied by forty boys, educated in King Charles the Second's Mathematical School. Drawings and charts by the boys were exhibited for the Royal approbation.
The Queen and Prince Albert and the rest of the Royal party then repaired to the Throne-room, and received the diplomatic circle ; and then the general reception commenced. The attendance was thin, and no name in the list of those presented challenges notice.
M. Dedel, the Netherlands Minister, took leave of the Queen on his departure for Holland.
The Queen and Prince Albert went yesterday to see the exhibition of the Society of Painters in Water-colours, in Pall Mall East.
On Wednesday, Prince Albert attended at the concert of Ancient Music in the Hanover Square Rooms. The Duke of Cambridge was present at the Italian Opera on Satur- day. On Monday, he visited the Dutchess of Gloucester, at Gloucester House ; and he went over the London Hospital in the course of the same day. On Wednesday, his Royal Highness, with the other Direc- tors of the Ancient Concerts, partook of a grand dinner which the Duke of Wellington gave at Apsley House ; and then the company re- paired to the concert at the Hanover Square Rooms; yesterday the Royal Duke visited the Queen, and then dined with the Dowager Lady De Clifford, in Carlton Place.
A dress is making in Bethnal Green for the Queen to wear at the ball in May, for the encouragement of the British silk-manufacture. The pattern is a rich white satin ground splendidly brocaded with gold, the brocade representing the oak-leaf with sprigs of the leaf interspersed, and the acorn attached. It will be a most costly piece of workmanship, as there is a large quantity of gold woven on the satin, which measures thirty yards. The machinery on which it is formed is upon a new principle ; and it takes a whole day to make three-quarters of a yard. The same pattern will be generally adopted by the lady-patronesses of the ball ; only that the gold is reserved for the leaves on the Royal dress alone. The weavers announce a new invention, which is to pro- duce portraits of the Duke of Wellington and the Queen Dowager, in black and white silk, so admirably done as to be scarcely distinguishable from a painting.
The new riding-school at Windsor Castle is nearly finished. Within the last few days, upwards of thirty waggon-loads of tannin have been laid down on the floor ; several more will be required for its comple- tion. Although the building has been for some time past in a fit state for the temporary use of the Queen, her Majesty did not take eques- trian exercise during the stay of the Court at Windsor.
We understand that there is some probability of the Queen Dowager taking Shugborough Hall, near Stafford, the seat of the Earl of Lichfield ; her Majesty's present temporary residence, Sudbury Hall, being found inconveniently small for her establishment and guests. Her Majesty and suite visited Shugborough on Tuesday last; and, we believe, ex- pressed herself mach pleased with the house, grounds, and situation.— Staffordshire Advertiser. Queen Adelaide has subscribed 20/. towards the erection of the new parish-church of Portsea, and 20/. towards the erection of a new church in Stokes Bay, near Gosport.
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