'Ube (Sena
LIFE at Court was comparatively quiet after the grand fete of last week, until the holding of a Drawing-room on Thursday, to celebrate by anti- cipation the Queen's birthday. The Queen and Prince Albert, attended by the suite, arrived in state at St. James's Palace, and were ushered by the Great Officers of the Household to the Royal closet, where the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishops were admitted to present an address of congratulation. The Dutchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Cambridge, the Dutchess, Prince George, and Princess Augusta, the Lord Chancellor and the Judges, and the Speaker, came in state ; and the Duke of Sussex, the Dutchess of Kent, Duke Bernard and Dutchess Ida of Saxe Weimar, were present. The Queen and her consort re- paired to the Throne-room to receive the company. The attendance was more numerous than at any Drawing-room for a long time past ; the dresses of the ladies being remarkable for magnificence. The Court Circular also tells us that the Duke of Sussex wore a splendid new uni- form as Governor of the Round Tower in Windsor Castle, the three Chief Justices of the Common Law Courts wore their collars for the first time at the drawing-room, and the Life Guards that formed the guard of honour were in their new helmets.
The Queen gave an audience to Lord Hilton Saturday.
The Queen and Prince Albert diversified the daily rides, on Saturday, by riding over to Chiswick, at half-past eleven in the morning. They went in.an open carriage and four, attended only by Lady Portman and the Honourable Miss Paget in the carriage, and by Colonel Arbuthnot and Colonel Wylde, Equerries in Waiting, on horseback. After in- specting the Horticultural Gardens, the Queen and Prince proceeded to the Duke of Devonshire's residence, and partook of a Meaner; re- turning to the Palace soon after three. On Sunday, the Duke of Sussex visited her Majesty. A concert of vocal music was given at Buckingham Palace last night; to which a numerous circle were invited. The singers were'Mesdames Persiani, Frezzolini, and Moltini, Signori Mario, Lablache, and Roneoni. Refreshments were served to the company in the tent of Tippoo Sultan.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, as Director of the Ancient Concerts, entertained the Dutchess of Kent and the Duke and Dutchess of Cam- bridge at dinner on Wednesday.
The Duke of Cambridge went to pay a visit to the Military College at Sandhurst on Monday, returning to, town on Wednesday.
The usual rejoicings marked the celebration of the Queen's birthday on Thursday. Bells ushered in the morn. Prince Albert inspected the Household troops in St. James's Park ; accompanied by the Duke of Wellington, Prince George of Cambridge, Lord Hill, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, Sir Willoughby Gordon, Sir Henry Hardinge, and Sir James Macdonald. The principal Ministers gave full-dress dinners • and the Duke of Wellington a magnificent ball at A psley House, at which seve- ral of the Royal Family and eight hundred persons were present. In the evening, the theatres, the club-houses, and other public buildings, were illuminated ; and several loyal tradesmen and some sojourners of the West end testified their joy in the like manner. Of all the jewellery displayed at the fancy ball last week, the only loss recorded is that of one gem from Prince Albert's girdle. The Court Circular authoritatively announces that the Queen and Prince Albert will be present at the approaching ball in the Italian Opera-house, for the benefit of the Spitalfields weavers : the Queen and the ladies of her suite will not wear the dresses of the fancy ball at the Palace, but others of Spitalfields manufacture. The Queen Dowager has sent a "further donation " of 5001. to the Incorporated Society for Building, Enlarging, and Repairing Churches and Chapels; the Dutchess of Gloucester 1001., and the Duke of North- umberland an additional sum of 500/. The Queen Dowager has also forwarded 1591. to Brighton, to be distributed among its local charities.
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