Cbe Court.

THE town was taken somewhat by surprise on Saturday afternoon, by the announcement that tls: Queen had given birth to a Princess. For although the event was expected to occur shortly, the wise in such matters had set it down for some days later. The ringing of bells, however, which spread from spire to spire, strengthened the report as it ran front mouth to mouth ; and in a little while a royal salute front the Tower- guns confirmed it. In the evenittg, the thilowing official announce- ment was publisbed in a London Gazette Extraordinary-

"Bushing/tom Palace, 21st November 1840.—This afternoon, at ten minutes before two, the Queen was happily delivered of a Princess. His Royal High- ness Prince Albert, her Royal Highness the Dutchess of Kent, several Lords of tier Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, and the Ladies of her Majesty's Bedchamber, being present.

" This great and important news was immediately made known to the town, by the firing of the Tower guns; and the Privy Council being assembled as soon as possible thereupon, at the Council-Chamber, Whitehall, it was ordered, that a form of thanksgiving for the Queen's safe delivery of a Princess be pre- pared by his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, to be used in oft churches and chapels throughout England and Wales, and the town of Berwick-upon- Tweed, on Sunday the 29th of November, or the Sunday after the respective ministers shall receive the same.

"Her Majesty and the young Princess are, God be praised, both doing well."

The Court Circular contains the following official record of the cir- cumstances and observances NVitil which the event was ushered in-

" Her Majesty was taken unwell at an early hour on Saturday morning, and the medical gentleinen were in consequence summoned to Buckingham Palace.

" The Dutchess of Kent was sent for at half.past eight o'clock, by his 'loyal Highness Prince Albert. Iler Royal Highness immediately went to the Palace, and remained with her Majesty throughout the day, until six o'clock in the evening.

"Sir James Clarke left the Palace to give the requisite information to Vis- count :Melbourne. The noble Viscount and the Lord Chancellor arrived at the Palace bcfore ten o'clock. Summonses were sent to the principal Cabinet Ministers and the Great Officers of State in town ; and expresses were for- warded to the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord President of the Council, at his seat, Bowood Park, Wilts, and to the Earl of Clarendon, Lord Privy Seal, at Watford.

"Some of the Cabinet Ministers and Great Officers of State arrived before twelve o'clock : and between twelve and one o'clock the Archbishop of Canter- bury and the Bishop of London arrived at the Palace. " Her Majesty was safely delivered of a Princess, at ten minutes before two o'clock,p. am. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Albert and the Dittehess of Kent were in the room at the time; together with Sir James Clark, Dr. Lo cock, Dr. Ferguson, and Mr. Blagden, the medical attendants on her Majesty. "In rm adjoining room, the door being open, were the following Councillors : his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Bishop of London, the Lord High Chancellor, Viscount :Melbourne, First Lord of the Treasury, the Earl of Erroll, Lord Steward of the Household, Viscount Palmerston, Secre- tary of State for Foreign Affairs, Lord John Russell, Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the Earl of Albemarle, Master of the horse.

"In an ante-room were the Countess of Sandwich, Lady of the Bedchamber in Waiting, Lord Byron, Lord in Waiting, Colonel the Honourable Henry Cavendish (Clerk Marshal), Equerry in Waiting, Sir Frederick Stovin, Groom in Waiting, Colonel Wylde, Equerry to Prince Albert, and Captain Seymour, Groom in NVaiting on Prince Albert. "Time infant Princess having been brought intone room where the Ministers and Great 011ieers of State were assembled, their Lordships took their depar- ture from the Palace directly afterwards."

The daily papers do not seem to have been able to add much to the following less formal and more gossiping narrative, furnished by the Observer of Sunday— "'lime marriage of our gracious Queen, it will be recollected, took place on the 10th of February last ; and As I thin a month of that joyous epoch, so gratifying to the kingdom at large, it may be borne in mind that her Majesty ceased, by the adviee of her medical attendants, to take equestrian eeercise. This was an indication of a state of health which at once led to the conclusion that a nation's hopes' were in progress towards consuntmation, and those Lave now been most happily realized. Iler Majesty's principal medical attend- ants, Sir James Clarke and Dr. Charles Locock, were of late constant iu their attendance at Windsor Castle, and within the last fortnight were nmst anxious that her Majesty oilfield return to Buckingham Palace. This Fen:oval was effected on Friday week, when her Majesty arrived in town in ;`, health and excellent spirits. Almost every day since. up to Thursday. , her Majesty has taken an airing in a pony phaeton in the Parks, aceompanic cl by Prince Albert, and in the evening presided at her usual select dinner•parties. On Friday, her Majssty and Prince Albert walked in the garden of the Palace, and again did her Majesty take her seat at the dimmer-treble, and continued apparently in her usual health till eleven o'clock, when she retired to re.:s, no suspicion being then entertained of the near approach of those sufforings winch providentially have terminated in a manner so satisfactory to every branch of her august family, as well as to the delight of her loyal and devoted subjects. At two o'clock yesterday morning the tirg symptoms of uneasiness were indicated, and at four o'clock her Majesty with great liminess directed that her attendants should he summoned : among these was Mrs. Lilly, who, we have beard, was formerly nurse to the putehess of Sutherland, and whose experience at once forewarned her of the propriety of' immediately summoning her Majesty's professional advisers ; Sir James Clarke, Dr. Locock, Mr. It.

Ferguson, and Mr. It. Blagden, were instantly sent for, and were quickly on the spot. No doubt now existed that her Majesty was in labour, although certainly some days sooner than had been anticipated, as the impression was that she would IIRVC remained convalescent till early in December. Such preparations as the suddenness of the emergency would permit, were made without delay ; and by command of Prince Albert, whose conduct was dis- tinguished by the most affectionate solieitude, combined with firmness, the Honourable W. Murray, the Comptroller of the Household, roused the inmates of the Palace, and special messengers were despatched to her Royal Highness the Dutchess of Kent, tine Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Melbourne, Lord Palmerston, Lord Errol; Lord Albemarle, Lord John Russell, and other Privy Councillors, whose con- stitutional duty it was to be present at the birth of an heir to the throne. * •

" As the day advanced time Palace was kept in perfect quietness, while all noise from without, from the passing of bands or otherwise, was interdicted. From those who had the best means of information, AVC learn that her Majesty evinced a firmness and composure almost incredible—at intervals exhibiting a cheerfulness and patient submission to her stiffening:, in all respects consistent with the well-known attributes of her chianti ter. " The near approach of that interesting moment which was to give to these realms an heir to the throne, at last arrived, tied precisely at ten minutes befiwe two o'clock Mrs. Lilly entered the room where the Privy .Couucillors were assembled, with the ' Young Stranger,' a. beautiful plump and healthful Princess, wrapped in flannel, in her arms. She Ivas attended by Sir James Clarke, who announced the fact of its being a female. Iler Royal highness wits hir a moment laid upon the table, for the olpervation of the assembled authorities ; but the luud tones in which she indicated lwr displeasure at such arm exposure, while they proved the sound- ness of her lungs and the maturity of her frame, rendered it advisable that she should be returned to her chamber to receive her first attire. His Royal Highness Plince Albert having received the congratulation of all present, con- veyed the gratif ing intelligence that her Majesty was, in all respects, as well as could he expected, and 'the officials ' retired to spread the happy news throughout the metropolis, and to prepare to meet in Whitehall, whither the Privy Coum711 were forthwith summoned to meet at four o'clock, to give the usual directions fir announcing to the nation, as well as to tbreign states, an event of such duel, and gratifying importance. Messengers were immediately despatehed to every branch of the royal family in town ; and soon after three o'clock, the following bulletin was exhibited at the principal entrance of the Palace-

' Buckingham Puhttm, '21st November 1840.

Time Queen was safely delivered of a Princess this afternoon, at ten minutes before two o'clock. Her Majesty and the royal infant are doing well. JAMES CLARKE, M.D., CHARLES LOCOCK, M.D., ROBERT FEL GUSON, R. BLAG DEN.' " The Dutchess of Gloucester and the Princess Sophia visited the Palace during the day, to make personal inquiries ; and the Duke of Cambridge had an interview to cougrwillate Prince Albert. The Duke of Sussex sent to the Palace more than once in the course of Saturday ; but he was prevented from attending in person byindisposition.

At four o'clock, the Privy Council assembled at Whitehall, and sat for half an hour ; Prince Albert being present.

In the course of the afternoon, such 'manifestations were made of public rojoicing as the suddenness of the occasion permitted. The bells of the parish-churches in the vicinity of the Royal Palaces were soon set ringing ; and at the Theatres, in the evening, the companies sang the national anthem. At most of the club•lionses the health of the royal mother and infant was drunk with empressentent. The Benchers of the Middle Temple broke through a technical form, (Saturday being the closing day of their "grand week,") in order to present each mess of four with an extra bottle at dinner; and in Gray's Inn, the Benchers distributed claret in the Hall, to drink the health of the Queen and Prince Albert and the infant.

On Sunday morning, the Court physicians announced that time Queen had passed " an excellent night," and that both mother and child were "going on favourably in every respect."

Monday's bulletin announced " the Queen has passed a good night, and her Majesty is going on favourably. The infant Princess is well." The bulletin of' Tuesday was—" 'f he Queen has slept perfectly, well. Her Majesty has nut had a single unfavourable symptom. The infant Princess continues well." That of Weduesday—" 'Ile Queen has had a good night, and coutiaues to go on fat ourably. The infant Princess is well." Thursday's was to the same effect—" The Queen has slept well. Her Majesty and the infant Princess are going on most satisfac- torily." Yesterday's was snore laconic—" Iler Majesty and the Prin- cess are both going on perfectly well."

The Dutchess of Kent has been daily at the Palace ; lunching and dining with Prince Albert. All the members of the Royal Family have been frequent in their inquiries ; and the doors of Buckingham Palace have swarmed with callers to inquire after her Majesty and pay their respects to Prince Albert. The names of the noblemen and gentlemen are entered in Prince Albert's book, and those of the ladies in the Queen's book. Numbers of distinguished persons have arrived from the country during the week, for the purpose of having their names entered in the books.

Tuesday's Gazette contained the form of thanksgiving prepared by the Archbishop of Canterbury, for her Majesty's safe delivery, to be used in the churches and chapels in England and Wales to-morrow the 29th.

We are informed by the Standard, that on Sunday, " The servants of the Royal Household were furnished with a bountiful supply of candle and cake to celebrate the birth of the Princess Royal. The old mitten of giving candle to the public on the birth of' a Prinee or Prin- cess, we understand, is not to be observed cal the present occasion."

The same authority adds—•' It is t.o.nerally supposed that the Prui- CeSs will receive the names of her ugust mother--:11exandrina Victoria ; and that the christening, which will be on a maguificent Seale or SpICIRIOUr, will take place within a inentli." The rejoicings on the safe delivery of the Queen ha vi been general throughout ills country. Many ;Albiie meetings have been held to ad- dress the Queen and Prince A lbert. The Metropolis scents to be the most backward in its outward demonstretions ofjoy.