9 DECEMBER 1843, Page 2

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WE left Queen Victoria entering the grounds of Chatsworth, the Duke of Devonshire's seat in the Peak of Derbyshire, about two o'clock on Friday. At least 20,000 persons were collected in the grounds to wit

ness her arrival, 7,000 having come by railway from Sheffield. To give proper effect to the occasion, a company of the Artillery had been brought down from Woc4wich, under command of Major Jebb, with a battery of eight eighteen-pounders : they were placed round the Stand, an old tower on the heights, and a royal salute announced the arrival

of the Queen. After partaking of a sumptuous dejeuner in the saloon, her Majesty, Prince Albert, and the chief guests, walked through the orangery to the bastion at the West end of the mansion, and thence descended into the garden below. Here Prince Albert had an opportunity of displaying his acumen in conjugal botany

" It is well known that her Majesty, when Princess Victoria, in company with her august parent the Dutchess of Kent, visited Chatsworth eleven years since, in the month of October. On that occasion the Queen planted an acorn, which has since, under the fostering hand of Mr. Paxton, the botanist and head-gardener to his Grace, become a fine sapling oak. The Dutchess of Kent also planted at the same time a sycamore. The walk yesterday was ex

tended to this spot by the express wish of the Queen, and the two trees pointed out to the observation of the Prince Consort, without informing him actually which had been planted by the Queen. Four saplings of different kinds were then handed to the Prince, with a request that he would select one, and plant it near that which he supposed to have been the choice of the Queen. With out a moment's hesitation, the Prince selected an oak sapling, and planted it in a convenient spot near that which had sprung from an acorn set eleven years since by his Royal bride."

While the party were in the garden, arrived the Duke of Wellington ; with whom the Queen heartily shook bands. Dinner was served at half-past seven o'clock ; covers being laid for about fifty guests ; among whom were the Marquis and Marchioness of Normanby, the Dutchess of Buccleuch, Viscount and Viscountess Emlyn, Viscount Melbourne, Viscount 31orpeth and Lady Mary Howard, the Duke and Dutchess of Bedford, Lord Alvanley, Lord Beauvale, Lord Alfred Paget, the Honourable Charles Gore, Sir Augustus Clifford, and Lord Leveson, besides several members of the Cavendish family. Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston arrived subsequently.

After the dinner there was a grand ball, to which the gentry of the neighbourhood were invited ; the names of the Arkwright and Strutt families being conspicuous. The Queen opened the ball with the Duke of Devonshire; Prince Albert dancing with Lady Louisa Cavendish. The Queen subsequently danced with Lord Morpeth and Lord Leveson ; and in a waltz "her Majesty selected, most happily, her Royal Consort." The Queen retired to the supper-room at twelve o'clock ; to rest, at one.

Her Majesty and the Prince breakfasted, as usual, soon after eight °Via:444M Salhardan in their private apartment. About noon, several of the guests wenflo have a battue in the paddocks ; and soon after

wards, Prince Albert to survey the Duke's farm. Meanwhile, the Mayor of Sheffield. ved with addresses for the Queen and Prince ;

which he delivered to' he Earl of Jersey. At half-past two, the party went over in carriagea,do Haddon Hall, on the banks of the Wye, once the seat of the Verpoili, but now the Duke of Devonshire's property. The road home paatt through Bakewell and other villages ; thronged with loyal sightseers. At six, the party went to see the spacious conservatory, splendidly illuminated ; and ot night, after dinner, there was a most gorgeous display .of &reworks in the grounds " Precisely.stten minutes to ten o'clock, about 200 men were simultaneously employed in wetting Ruodan lights, and /amreviously placed in such posi tions about theigrounds as toatteet a bright • bt sapon every part of the cascade, which rolls down a height of about 3 yards on the garden-front of the mansion. The various fountains, and the magnificent jet d'eau throwing up a volume of water about fifteen feet square in the centre of the grand terrace, were also similarly illuminated. The Royal party then passed to the South front of the mansion. A signal-rocket was fired at twenty minutes past ten, and immediately answered by a salute from the battery stationed round the Stand or Hunting Tower, on the heights; the roar of which reverberated for several seconds from mountain to mountain over the Peak. At the same instant, from the summit of the cascade to the terrace overhanging the Derwent, on the Western front of the mansion, a distance of about three-quarters of a mile, coloured lights were ignited, which burnt with intense brilliancy for about one minute and a half; each displaying most minutely the beauties observable on every side, even to the marble statues between the trees, half a mile distant from the house. Green, crimson, and white succeeded each other, reflecting their respective tints on mountain, tree, and valley ; while the effect of the artistical addition to the aquatic portion of the scene may be more easily lima. glued than described. During the continuance of the illumination, the Artillery on the heights fired guns in fifteen-seconds time; and the whole was concluded by a royal salute in a volley, which appeared almost to shake the foundation of the mansion."

A concert was performed during the illuminations.

On Sunday, the Queen and the other guests viewed the extensive arboretum, the botanical gardens and the kitchen-gardens ; and then went in carriages to a beautiful village, Edensor, three quarters of a mile from the house. Prince Albert walked thither on foot, accompanied by Lord Palmerston, Lord Normanby, and Mr. Anson. Returning homeward, the party visited the farm-yard, and saw a prize pig, weighing seventy stone. In the evening there was a concert of sacred music.

The Royal guests took .hcif leave on Monday morning, at nine o'clock. The Duke of Devonshire preceded them to the station at Chesterfield, and accompanied the Royal train as far as Derby ; where he bowed his final adieux from the platform of the station. The Queen and Prince Albert went on, by railway, to Nottingham; their journey marked by the usual attentions from railway officials, and the usual tokens of loyalty from the crowded spectators. At the Nottingham station, the illustrious tourists were received by the Earl of Scarborough, LordLieutenant, Lord Rancliffe, the Mayor of Nottingham, and other gentlemen; and, after a brief delay, proceeded in carriages to Belvoir, under an escort of Enniskillen Dragoons. The Duke of Rutland was stationed at the head of 200 of his tenantry, at Red Mile, three miles from Belvoir ; and thus he escorted his august guests to his castle; where they arrived at half-past one o'clock. Some time after, the Reverend Dr. Stanton presented to her Majesty the key of Stanton Tower ; a ceremony required by the tenure of the estate. A numerous party sat down to dinner at eight o'clock ; including the Queen Dowager, the Duke and Dutchess of Bedford, Lord and Lady Hardwicke, Lord and Lady Brownlow, Sir Robert and Lady Peel, the Duke of Wellington, Earl Howe, Lady Portman the Earl Of Jersey, General Wemyss, Lord Forester, the Earl of Wilton, Sir Frederick Trench, Earl Jermyn and Lady Catherine Jermyn, Mr. and Lady Emily Drummond, Mr. Wortley and Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley, the Marquis of Granby, Lord John Manners, and others of the Duke's relatives.

On Tuesday, there was a fox-hunt with the Belvoir hounds. Prince Albert, the Duke of Wellington, and several other noblemen joined the sport ; nearly the whole of the Melton Hunt was on the field; and the Queen and other ladies went to Croxton in carriages, to see the hounds throw off. Prince Albert's immediate attendants were the Duke of Wellington, the Marquis of Granby, the Earl of Wilton, Lord Forester' and Mr. Anson ; but the Duke only accompanied the huntingparty to Melton Spinney, and then returned to the Castle. The whole of the party returned about five o'clock. Before dinner, the Mayors of Leicester and Grantham presented addresses to the Queen and Prince Albert from their respective boroughs; and afterwards dined at the Royal table ; the Earl and Countess of Wilton also being among the new-come guests. In the evening, the Queen played at whist.

After the usual early breakfast, and a walk in the grounds on Wednesday, Prince Albert went out shooting with the Duke of grounds, and the Duke of Bedford ; and the Queen again drove out with a numerous cortege, to see the Belvoir hounds throw off. Both her Majesty and the Prince returned a little after two o'clock. Cards again at night.

The Royal visiters took their departure betimes on Thursday morning; leaving the Castle with the suite, as early as eight o'clock. The Duke of Rutland, and all the members of his family, escorted the parting guests as far as Waltham. The incidents of the journey were just like those of the previous route. Untold, therefore, be the triumphal arches and the evergreens ; the entry into Leicester, with its 7,000 school-children all in holyday attire, its adornment of " Gallowtree Gate," and the amenities of the Mayor and Magistrates ; the "admirable arrangements" on the Midland Counties Railway—on the Birmingham Railway ; the friendly reiContre with the Duke of Buckingham at Wolverton, with Lord Clarendon at Watford. Here the Royal pair and suite entered their own travelling-carriages and posted to Windsor; where they arrived some time after four o'clock, the people shouting and bells ringing a welcome home.

The Queen Dowager left Belvoir for Gopsal, on Thursday; the Duke of Wellington, for town ; and there was a general bustle of departure. Queen Adelaide returned to Whitley Court yesterday.