Zbe Court.

A SECOND attempt on the life of the Queen filled the town, on Monday evening, with astonishment and indignation ; which augmented as the report spread from month to mouth. A little before six o'clock, the Queen was returning to Buckingham Palace, down Constitution Hill, in a barouche and four, with Prince Albert, when a man, who had be- fore been leaning against the wall of the Palace-garden, advanced close to the carriage, drew a pistol from his pocket, and fired at the Queen. He was so close to the carriage that the smoke from the pistol went into the face of Colonel Wylde, who rode by its side ' • Colonel Arbuthnot riding on the other. The Queen was untouched, and seemed at the moment unaware of her danger; but the assassin was observed by Prince Albert, who rose from his seat and pointed him out to one of the outriders. The servant dismounted ; but the man had already been seized. The carriage was going at a rapid rate ; and it at once pro- ceeded to the Palace. Count Mensdorff immediately went to the Dutchess of Kent, at Clarence House, to announce at once the Queen's danger and her safety ; and the Dateless returned with him to the Palace. On meeting the Queen, she was deeply affected, falling upon her neck with a flood of tears ; while the Queen endeavoured to reassure her with cheerful words and affectionate caresses. There was to have been an evening-party at the Palace, but it was put off: the usual dinner-party, however, took place.

The assassin had been watched for a short time before his attempt by Tounce, a Policeman ; who, seeing him present the pistol, rushed for- ward—though too late to prevent his firing—and seized him as he thrust the weapon back into his breast : a soldier of the Scots Fnsileer Guards also fastened upon him, and he was hurried to the Palace-lodge. Here he was searched ; and besides some trifles in his pockets, were found the pistol—a small and common one, the barrel still warm—some loose powder, and, according tiione account, a bullet. He was then taken in a cab to the Stationhouse in Gardiner's Lane, and thence in a very few minutes to the Home Office. At the Stationhouse, he was recognized by a person who had followed him, as John Francis, the son of a ma- chinist at Covent Garden Theatre.

A meeting of the Privy Council was hastily summoned at the Office. Prince Albert, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, and nearly fifty Privy Councillors assembled ; and there were in attendance, the Attorney-General, Mr. Maule, the Solicitor to the Treasury, Colonel Rowan, the Police Commissioner, and Mr. Hall, the Chief Magistrate at Bow Street. The examination of the prisoner was strictly private; and when it was over, he was lodged for the night in Tothill-fields Prison. According to the custom of the prison, he was stripped and carefully searched; but nothing of a suspicious character was found about him. His manner was cool and unconcerned, and he answered questions as to his name with perfect composure; but when he was asked if his father was a scene-shifter, he exclaimed in an indignant tone—" Scene-shifter ! no, he is stage-carpenter." Asked if he had money to purchase food, he replied with some bitterness, that he had none.

He was again brought up for examination before the Council on Tuesday ; and was finally committed to Newgate for trial at the next session of the Central Criminal Court, on a charge of " shooting at our Sovereign Lady Victoria the Queen, with a pistol loaded with powder and ball."

The examination of the second day was as private as before ; but some few facts are current as having been given in evidence. He was fully identified as the son of Mr. Francis, who has been em- ployed as a machinist at Covent Garden Theatre for twenty years. Some doubt had been expressed as to whether the pistol was actually fired ; but Mr. Fitzgerald, a gentleman who was within ten yards of the spot, swore that he distinctly heard the report; and Colonel Wylde and two gunsmiths gave evidence that the pistol must have been re- cently discharged. It is said that some person heard another man ex- claim after Francis had fired, " By —, he has not killed her, he has not hurt her, but only frightened her !"

The most important fact, however, which has been proved, was, that the same person presented a pistol at the Queen on Sunday. The de- tails of the evidence on that point are still obscure ; but it is reported, that as Mr. George Pearson, a youth of sixteen, was walking in St. James's Park, at two o'clock, he saw the Royal carriage, containing the Queen, Prince Albert, and the suite, returning from the Chapel Royal to the Palace ; and as they approached the little gate which leads from the drive into the Green Park, a young man, who was standing near him with his back to the rails, presented a pistol at the Queen's carriage, but drew it back again ; presently exclaiming, " I wish r had done it I " From agitation and inexperience, Pearson suffered the young man to depart without taking steps for his apprehension ; but after his return home, his elder brother, a " gentleman connected with the press," communicated with a Mr. Dousbery, the Secretary of the Cordwainers Benevolent Fund; who took him to Sir Peter Laurie, at his private house ; and Sir Peter Laurie at once wrote to the Honour- able Augustus Murray to tell him of the fact. Mr. Murray, however, had just sat down to dinner with the Queen, and he could not get the letter till bedtime : bat Mr. Donsbery saw him next morning, and he sent him to Sir James Graham. Between two and three o'clock he saw Sir James at the Home Office, in company with Mr. Murray and Colonel Rowan ; and he received for Messrs. Pearson the thanks of the Home Secretary for their discretion. Another report is, that a threatening letter was thrown into the carriage of the Qeeen on her return from the Chapel Royal. This probably arose from the observation of something unusual within the Palace throughout Monday, and the frequent com- munication with the Home Office. The Queen was made aware of the threatened danger, but she would not remain a prisoner in her own palace; nor yet would she allow the needless exposure of others to the peril which she braved, and therefore she did not permit her female at- tendants to accompany her in the usual drive.

John Francis, it appears, will be twenty years of age in November next : he is described as dark, good-looking, with rather a placid and agreeable countenance than otherwise ; about five feet five inches in height, stout, and well-proportioned ; and he was respectably dressed in a dark frock- eclat and dark checked trousers. He had lately lodged with Mr. Foster, a tailor in Great Tichfield Street ; and had worked as a journeyman- carpenter. On Monday week, however, he engaged a shop and parlour

in Mortimer Street, and set up as a tobacconist ; and the same night he robbed Elam, a fellow-lodger, of 51. 10s.; which he coolly returned to his landlord on being taxed with the robbery. The landlord told him never to return, and he had since lodged at a coffee-shop in Oxford Street ; the keeper of which reports that "he was accustomed to sit for

hours over a cup of coffee." His shop was closed in a few days ; the persons of whom he bought his wares seizing them again because he could not pay. The accounts as to his past life differ, some represent- ing him as more irregular in his courses than others, but no one seems to have suspected him of ferocity ; and searches at his lodgings and his father's house elicited nothing which would show that he had any poli- tical motives, or any confederates. A. vast concourse assembled before the gates of the Palace on Tues- day afternoon, in the expectation that the Queen would take her accus- tomed airing. At five-and-twenty minutes before five o'clock, the side- gates near Constitution Hill were thrown open, and the Royal car- riage—an open barouche and four—appeared, containing the Queen, Prince Albert, and the Duke of Saxe Meiningen. The postilions and outriders in front were all dressed in scarlet liveries. Following on horseback were Count Mensdorff and his four sons, Colonel Arbuthnot, and Colonel Wylde. One long loud shout of hurrahs, with waving of hats and handkerchiefs, saluted the Queen ; who, with Prince Albert, bowed and smiled. She looked calm and collected, though somewhat flushed ; but it was afterwards remarked that she looked pale, and not so well as on Saturday. Constitution Hill, Hyde Park Corner, the open space before the statue in Hyde Park, and the drive, were thronged with people, on foot, on horseback, and in carriages ; and the Queen's drive was a triumphal progress. In the evening, the Queen and Prince Albert went to the Italian Opera; where the audience, with tumultuous gratulations, called for the National Anthem ; bursting into cheers at almost every line. The Royal pair looked well, and repeatedly acknowledged the cheers of the audience.

On Monday evening, the members of the Royal Family sent to make inquiries as to the Queen's health ; a great number of distinguished per- sons called for a similar purpose ; and the Palace has daily been besieged by inquirers.

The Queen held a Levee on Wednesday, at St. James's Palace. Her Majesty and Prince Albert arrived from Buckingham Palace, accom- panied by the Counts Mensdorff, and attended by a numerous suite.

The Duke of Sussex, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince George, the Duke of Saxe Meiningen and the Hereditary Prince George, were pre- sent. The attendance at the levee was very great. Some addresses were presented, chiefly in congratulation of the Prince of Wales's birth. The joint address of the two Houses of Parliament was next brought up. The Queen being seated on the throne, Prince Albert stood by her, and the. Royal Family, the Ministers, and Officers of State, were ranged

on either side. The Lord Chamberlain introduced the Lord Chancellor followed by several Bishops and Peers, and the Speaker followed by a

great' number of the Commons. The address was read by the Lord Chancellor; the Queen returned a most gracious answer; and the depu- tation retired.

The Queen then held an Investiture of the Order of the Bath. There was a very full attendance of Knights in their robes. General Count Mensdorff was introduced, and, with the usual ceremonies, NV.IS invested by the Queen with the ensigns of a Knight Grand Cross.

After the investiture, the Queen and the Prince returned with the suite to Buckingham Palace. Sir Robert Peel had an audience of her Majesty on Thursday.

The Queen held a Court and Privy Council at Buckingham Palace yesterday. The Portuguese, Brazilian, Venezuelan, and Uruguay Ministers, had audiences. The Archbishop of Canterbury was ordered to prepare a form of thanksgiving for her Majesty's providential deli- verance from the late treasonable attempt. A proclamation was or- dered to issue for regulating the weight of the gold coin.

Lord Stuart de Rothesay, Lord Wharacliffe, Sir Robert Peel, and Sir James Graham, had audiences of the Queen.

The Queen and Prince Albert visited the Dutchess of Kent on Sa- turday; and in the evening they went to the Italian Opera ; whither, as is mentioned above, they went also on Tuesday. The Dutchess of Kent was again visited by the Queen on Monday ; and her Majesty inspected a bust of the Dutchess by Mr. Davis. On Thursday, her Majesty and Prince Albert took the Counts Mensdorff to see West- minster Abbey. The Duke and Dutchess of Saxe Meiningen and the Hereditary Prince, with the Dutchess of Saxe Weimar, visited the Queen on Satur- day; and on Tuesday, her Majesty received the Duke of Sussex, the Cambridge family, and the Dutchess of Gloucester.

The Saxe Meiningen and Mensdorff families have been busy in visiting and sight-seeing during the week.

Duke Bernard of Saxe Weimar and Prince Edward left town, on Saturday, for Southampton, on their way to Paris.

Tuesday's Gazette announced that the Queen has appointed the Dutchess of Norfolk and Viscountess Canning to be Ladies of the Bed- chamber, in the room of the Dowager Lady Lyttelton and the Countess of Dalhousie, who have resigned. Prince Albert, accompanied by Lord Portman, Lord Eliot, Colonel Anson, and Sir H. Wheatley, sat in the Court of Stannaries of Corn- wall, in Somerset House, on Monday at three o'clock, and gave judg- ment on an appeal from the Vice-Warden's Court, reversing the decree of the Court below. The Prince read the judgment from a paper. His Royal Highness has given 50/. to the Queen's Hospital at Bir- mingham ; and the Governors have requested him to become Patron of the institution.