CO Court.
Their Majesties came to town on Wednesday ; they arrived at St. James's Palace about one o'clock. At two, the King held a Levee After the Levee, his Majesty held a Privy Council; at which the petition of the Earl of Dundonald, for restoration to his rank in the Navy, was discussed and allowed. The Court Circular does not, of course, explain or even hint at the grounds on which this decision was come to; but it necessarily presupposes the injustice if not illegality of his Lordship's degradation. There is no ad misericordiam appeal in the court of honour.
In the evening of Wednesday, their Majesties dined with the Duchess of Kent at Kensington Palace. On Thursday, hes Majesty held a Drawing-room. The day was wet and miserable, and ill suited for the exhibition of plumes and silks. Previous to the Drawing-room, Count Orloff had an audience of leave. The Duke and Duchess of Cumberland, the Duke of Gloucester, and the Duchess of Kent came in state, attended by their respective suites. The Duke of Sussex is described as indisposed at Kensington Palace ; he was not present, either at the Levee, the Drawing-room, or at the Duchess of Kent's dinner.
In the evening, the King gave a grand dinner to the Knights of the Order of the Garter. The decorations and arrangements of the banquet were in all respects similar to those observed at the dinner given to the Knights of the Bath. The following are the names of the noble per- sons present— The Dukes of Cumberland and Gloucester, the Earl of Westmoreland, the Marquis Camden, the Duke of Rutland. the Duke of Beaufort, the Earl of Lonsdale, the Duke or Newcastle, the Duke of Wellington. Earl Bathurst, the Duke of Northumberland, the Marquis of Bath. the Duke or Dorset. the Duke of Devonshire, the Marquis of Exeter. the Duke of Richmond, the Duke of Bedford, Earl Grey. The Knights wore the collar, star, and garter belonging to the order.
Yesterday, their Majesties paid their promised visit to Greenwich; taking Woolwich in their way,—for they visited the farther point first. It had been generally expected that they would be present at the launch of the Vernon, and the numbers that assembled to witness the launch were chiefly attracted by that expectation. It was also asserted that they would proceed by water from Somerset House; and as the weep- ing weather seemed to forbid a water excursion, the public had quietly made up their minds to the indefinite postponement of the projected visit. There were few persons, in consequence, collected to hail their Majesties' presence either at Woolwich or Greenwich, except those immediately connected with the garrison and dockyards. At eleven o'clock, the Royal cavalcade left St. James's; and proceeded by West- minster Bridge, across Blackheath, to Woolwich; where it arrived a. few minutes before twelve. Their Majesties were escorted over the dockyard at Woolwich by Sir James Graham and Captain Elliot. Raving inspected the yard, the Royal party proceeded to the boats, whiclrivere in ireitinf to-tieway them to Greenwich. The King was rowed to. Greenwich in one of the open barges,—that all his good sub- jects, who by that Mime crowded the river, might have free opportunity of beholding their Sovereign. Fortunately the day, though lowering, did not rain ; and their Majesties were not exposed to any inconve- nience in consequence of this considerate act of courtesy. The boats arrived at Greenwich at two o'clock ; and in a few minutes after, the hoisting of the Royal standard in the centre of the great square announced that the King had entered the Hospital. After partaking of a &frillier a la fourchette with the brave old Governor, the King in- spected the Painted Room, as it is called ; and afterwards entered the grand square ; where the children of the Asylum and the pensioners were drawn up. Their Majesties left the Hospital at five o'clock, amidst the cheers and blessings of its inmates, and of the people assembled at the gates. They arrived at St. James's Palace about six.
In the evening, the King gave a grand dinner to the Governor and Directors of the East India Ccimpany ; on which occasion some of the many splendid ornaments that decked Tippoo Saib's throne, captured at Seriagapatam in 1799, were displayed. The huma, the most splendid of the whole, shone conspicuous. It was presented to George the Third by General Sir David Baird, and is almost entirely composed of precious stones. The banquet was served in the Ball-room.
Previous page
