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THE marine excursion of the Queen and Prince Albert proved more ex- tended than was at first expected: it embraced Guernsey, a portion of the British dominions which had not been visited by an English Sovereign since the days of King John.
On Friday morning, the flotilla reached Devonport; and the Royal vi- Biters having transferred themselves to the Fairy, ascended the Lynher far enough to get a peep at Port Eliot, the seat of the Earl of SL Germans. The romantic banks of the Tamar were next explored; the Queen and Prince Albert landing at Cotele, an ancient mansion belonging to the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe. The Countess acted as cicerone; conducting her visitors over the various parts of the edifice, and recounting such historical incidents as were likely to interest them. On Saturday morning, Prince Albert proceeded to the hi:!.; a Dartmoor, to visit Prince Town, the old war-prisons, and the other property belonging to the Prince of Wales. On his return, the Queen and the Prince partook of luncheon with the Earl and Countess of Mount-Edgcumbe: and in the afternoon they took an excursion in the Fairy up the Tamar; visiting Sutton Pool harbour, the Mill Bay harbour, and going up the Plym as far as the Earl of Morley's seat at Saltram.
On Sunday, the squadron put to sea and steered for Guernsey. The appearance, about six o'clock in the afternoon, of the Royal standard floating from the Victoria and Albert, put the island into an instant flutter. The authorities were hastily summoned; the military were called out, and the population lined the shore. The Lieutenant-Governor, and other civil and military functionaries, repaired to the yacht to learn the Royal commands; and on their return his Excellency gratified the anxious islanders with the intimation that the Queen would land on the following morning and take a cursory view of the island. The night was devoted to preparation. The Royal Court met, and prepared a congratulatory address; old and young pulled flowers, and wove them into garlands and festoons; the militia was beat up; and a party of a hundred young ladies, belonging to the first families in the island, organized themselves into a band to give vocal welcome to the Queen, and to strew flowers in her path. A few minutes before nine o'clock on Monday morning, the landing took place, amidst much shout- ing; the lady band singing the national anthem, and an instrumental band playing an accompaniment. The Royal party and their attendants were accommodated in two carriages, and proceeded leisurely along the prin- cipal thoroughfares to the citadel; where the keys were offered to the Sovereign by the Lieutenant-Governor. The cortege and its numerous followers returned to the place of embarkation about half-past ten o'clock. Stepping on board the barge, the Royal party were quickly conveyed to the yacht; and in a few minutes the squadron was under weigh for the Isle of Wight; where it arrived early on Tuesday morning. The Prince of Wales and the Princess -Royal were of the party.
On Wednesday, Prince Albert, on the occasion of his birth-day, was serenaded by the band of the Seventy-fourth Highlanders. The Dutchess of Kent, who had arrived the day before, came at an early hour from Bar- ton to offer her congratulations.
A Privy Council was held at Osborne House on Thursday, at which the Queen's speech on closing the session of Parliament was agreed to. The Council was composed of Prince Albert, the Cabinet Ministers, and other members of the Government.
The Queen Dowager arrived yesterday at Marlborough House, from her visit to the Continent. She was accompanied. by the Princess of Prussia and Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar.
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