7 FEBRUARY 1857, Page 7

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AT a Privy Council, held at Windsor Castle on Monday, the Royal Speech for the meeting of Parliament was settled and approved by the Queen in Council. Her Majesty appointed the Sheriffs of Counties for the ensuing year. Sir Alexander Cockburn was sworn of the Privy Council, and took his seat. The Duke of Newcastle took the oaths as Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire.

At a Court, held afterwards, Lord Castlerosse kissed hands on his appointment as Comptroller of the Household ; and received his wand of office from her Majesty.

General Barnard had audience' and delivered up the insignia of tho Order of the Bath worn by his late uncle, Sir Andrew Barnard. Earl Granville, Lord Panmure, Sir Charles Wood, and Mr. M. T. Baines, had audience.

The fourth dramatic performance took place on Thursday ; the selected play being Shakspere's Richard II."

Among the guests at Windsor Castle have been—the Princes and the Princess Feodoro of Hohenlehe-Langenburgh, the Princess Victoria Gauromma of Coorg, Sir Houston Stewart, Lord Palmerston, Sir Benjamin Hall, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Newcastle, the Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury, Lord and Lady Stanley of Alderley, and Mr. Pemberton Leigh,