TIIE KING, it will be seen, enjoyed the sports at Ascot when the weather was favourable.
The Hindsor Express says, that since the King's arrival at the Royal Lodge, he " has been riding on an average at least six hours a day." His Majesty en. joys excellent health.
The King's Palace, St. James's, is to be lighted with gas instead of oil-lamps. Some of the gas-pipes have been laid down in the Palace.
MINISTERIAL DINNER.—The annual Ministerial " fish dinner took place on Saturday, at the Crown and Sceptre Tavern, Greenwich. There were about fifty gentlemen present, including Ministers, and some of the leading friends in both Houses. The following circumstances are recorded in the Morning Chronicle as having characterized the entertainment. 1st. Mr. Peel, as Chairman, in proposing the health of the Duke of Wellington, made some "appropriate comments upon the course of politics pursued by the noble Duke, and declared that no course could be more admirably adapted to the condition of the empire. 2d. The Chairman, in proposing the health of the Lord Chancellor, became sportive at the expense of the learned lord. "It happened, (says the Chronicle) that the Fox fish dinner was given at tile Ship Tavern, on the same day, at which the admirers of that statesman are in the habit of dining, and there were assembled there Lords Holland, Say and Sele, Grey, Durham, Grosvenor, and several other noblemen. The Lord Chancellor, by mistake, betook himself to the Ship, instead of the Crown and Sceptre, and to the astonishment of all, walked into the presence of the Whig Lords, who, although they had no notice of his approach, very warmly welcomed him. The Lord Chancellor, upon finding such a number of faces, with which lie had an unfavourable political acquaintance, began to suspect that lie had got into the wrong box, and made the necessary inquiry. It is said he started upon hearing the name of Fox' mentioned, and taking his hat, departed with all possible speed to the Crown and Sceptre, where he was received with greater warmth the moment he mentioned his disaster. Mr. Peel thought that the visit of the Lord Chancellor to the Ship was rather ominous. Tile newspapers, if they got hold of it, would put fifty constructions upon it. No doubt some of the ingenious writers would draw inferences from it favourable to the political views of their friends ; and it certainly was as good a foundation for political conjecture as some reports were." 3d. No such mischance befel the Premier ; but his abstemiousness may be useful as an example. The Chronicle saith—" The Duke of Wellington spoke little, ate little, and drank less."
Lord Strangford arrived in London on Wednesday from his special mission to the court of Don Pedro.
The Duke of Clarence presided on Thursday at the annual dinner of the Corporation of the Trinity House, Tower-hill. Tile Duke of Wellington and other Cabinet Ministers, together with a large party of noblemen and gentlemen, were present. TIIE 'NAMES TUNNEL—The Duchess of Clarence, in company with other Royal and fashionable personages, visited the Thames Tunnel on Monday. A meeting of the proprietors was held on Tuesday, to consider a new offer for completing this undertaking. Mr. Vignoles had proposed to complete the works in a manner equally substantial, and not a little cheaper than the original plan proposed by Mr. Brunch. The principal feature of Mr. Vignules' proposition was, an undertaking to perform the remaining part of the excavation and brickwork, to the opening at the other side, at a cost not exceeding at most 250/. per yard, and give a security for the performance of the contract by an advance of 5000/. of work, and security by bonds for 10,000/., and a reserve of 10 per cent. from all payments for work done, till the whole be completed. The question involved in the proposition, it was admitted, came to be—whether Mr. 13runell was or was not the proper person to be intrusted with the completion of the work ? One or two of the proprietors indulged in "much personal allusion and recrimination" against Mr. Brunel', with the intention to show that he had been negligent and extravagant" in the management. The imputations were repelled by other speakers ; and ultimately it was agreed, by the votes of 35 to 23, to wait till it was seen whether Government would not advance Money to complete what might be considered a national work.
There is a speculation on foot for constructing a bridge over the Thames midway between the Hammersmith and Putney Bridges.
Howneuaroaaa BREARFAST.—The anniversary breakfast of the Horticultural Society was given on Saturday last. The exceedingly unfavourable weather de. stroyed the anticipated pleasures of the visitOrs; but at least they were not starved on this occasion. The Morning Chronick records this feat of one of them,-.... that he devoured "a whole pie, a dish of veal and ham, another of lobster salad, another of jelly, and so many strawberries, that we dare not pretend to calculate the quantity." The show of fruit was beautiful.
FOREIGN Reetieees.—The proceeds of the Bazaar at the Hanover-square Room; by the Ladies Patronesses, for the benefit of the unfortunate Italians and Spaniards, amounted, clear of all expenses, to 1924/. 9s.
LONDON BRIDGE AMON:HRS.—The new Act of Parliament was laid before the Common Council yesterday, by the Remembrancer ; after which, Mr. Jones, Mr. Alderman Wood, Mr. Alderman Waithman, Mr.Tickner, and Sir P. Laurie cone mented on the opposition made to the bill in the House of Lords. Mr. Galloway presented a petition from Mr. Jeffrey, of Cheapside, praying that his plan for throwing an arch over Thames-street might be referred to the consideration of the Bridge Committee. Mr. Jeffrey, in support of his petition, stated that he conceived the erection of an iron arch between the abutment of the new London. bridge and the north side of Thames-street, preferable to the erection of a stone arch on the same place, as it would cost less money and create less obstruction to traffic. The petition was referred to the Bridge Committee.
The deer in Hyde Park are dying in great numbers; and the mortality is as cribed to their eating oranges, supplied too liberally by the visitors, and bits of leather, picked from the street-sweepings with which the Park is manured.
The inhabitants of Northwich have presented Lord Eldon with a large Cheshir cheese, in testimony of their esteem for "his public conduct, talents, integrity, and undeviating support of the best principles of the British Constitution." Sir Thomas Lethbridge has been called upon, by a numerous body of freeholders of Somersetshire, to resign his seat in Parliament, for his conduct on the Catholic question.
General Miller, who had a large share in effecting the independence of South America, has again quitted his native county (Kent) to embark for the Southern Continent of the New World.—Kent Herald.
In the miniature department of the present exhibition at Somerset-house, is one represented to be a " Portrait of the late William Corder, Esq., painted from recollection."
George Sparrow, one of the Cato Street conspirators, who escaped to America, died there lately, in a poor-house.
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