The Sun. — London, England, 1858-01-25 00:00:00

MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL. THIS DAY. The interesting event of the marriage of her Royal Highness Princess Victoria Princess Royal of England with Prince Frederick William of Prussia was celebrated this day at noon. It seems to some of us but tii( other day that the first judgment was passei on the first of the new generation of England's royal family. It was the decision of a great judge, in the official sense, and of a well-qualified one in the domestic sense. When the Queen's first-born was carried, at the age of one minute or so, into the next room, for the inspection of the chief Ministers of State, Lord Chancellor Cottenham pronounced - on her, "A fine little lady as ever I saw ;" and he bad - seen au unusual number in his own house. How very recent that anecdote appears to those who are accustomed to the passage of busy years ! Yet that " fine little lady" is to-day to leave the altar a wife. She then inaugurwed a happy do mestic period in a royal house, and to-day she is to inaugurate, we trust, another happy period in another royal house. ST. JAMES'S PARK. Early this morning, the scene in St. James's Park became one of great animation, and shortly after daylight great numbers of persons began to assemble for the purpose of securing the best places from which a sight of the interesting procession, in its progress from Buckingham Palace to the Chapel Royal could be obtained. About eight o'clock, a large body of policemen, from all divisions of the metropolitan force, under the direction of experienced officers, mustered on the mall, and shortly afterwards they were stationed in the different avenues leading to and in the park, for the purpose of keeping order and regularity. The line of road from palace to palace was kept by regiments of Life Guards, by which means a clear space was kept down the centre mall for the pas sage of the royal and illustrious party. At nine o'clock the area in front of Buckingham Palace was densely thronged with spectators, and from this hour up to the time of the departure of the royal cortege the crowd kept augmenting, the police having the greatest difficulty in carrying out the order for the prevention of confusion. The Commissionersof Police, to prevent accidentq, bad issued directions that no standings should be fixed in the park, and the constables placed in the different entrances had directions to prevent the admission of tables, planks, or benches, in order that the spectators on portable platforms might not obstruct with their lumber any part of the space between Buckingham Palace and the Royal Garden Gate in the Mall. But several adventurous Hiber ajar's, wishing to evade the vigilance of the police, slily dropped their benches over the railings of the Green-park and other places left unguarded, and the consequence was that a regular line of reckless platforms were erected at either side of the centre mall. Huedreds of per sons risked life and limb, mounted the crazy struc tures, and there remained for hours. Groups of men and boys ascended the trees which line the avenue, but on the aspiring individuals being noticed by the police they received such gentle hints from the custodians of the public peace, that they descended and joined the motley crowd, which by this time (half -past 10) had greatly increased. An hour more (half -past 11) and the scene pre sented was such as in all our experience we had never witnessedbefore. Solid masses of people kept pouring in from all parts, and each one seemed determined that no exertion on his or her part should be wanting to gratify their curiosity. The usual attendants on such scenes of bustle were present :in great numbers, and every moment some person was startled by a stentorian voice bawling out "The Marriage Percession, only a Penny." The 'venders of hot and strong peppermint lozenges also seemed to be driving a good trade, but the salesman whose stock was soonest exhausted was that of an individual who held in hand a bottle and shouted at the top of hts voice, " Who's for a drop of gin Y" The success of this spirited venturer induced others, who had the " ways and means" at com mand, to embark in the same enterprise, and in about an hour after gin was not the only spirit to be had in the park, but here and there quite a little party were to be observed round one of these unlicensed victuallers, keeping out the cold by drinking " Long life and happiness to the Royal couple," in bumpers as quick as one glass amongst six would allow. Passing onward, the next group to be met with Was occasioned by a number of big, hulking fellows bawling—certainly not singing—a dog gerel ditty about the Royal wedding, to the tune of the " King of the Cannibal Islands"—the refrain of which was, " When I get married on Monday." If those of our readers not present can imagine St. James's-park under the circumstances above described, they will form a pretty correct picture of the scene, without baying encountered the discomfort of being present. As the hourof twelve approached the excitement and the crowd increased, and at this time the whole of the park became a scene of danger. It appeared that orders had been given that the carriages of some of the nobility should, after setting down, drive into the park and there remain until the ceremony was over ; but the number of those attending had not been thought of, and the consequence was that in the midst of surging crowds carriages were driven until the time for closing the gates of the Chapel Royal arrived. A troop of the Royal Artillery was in the park for the purpose of firing a salute at the interesting Moment, as one of the gallant felows good huniouredly informed our reporter, "the two were made one." BUCKINGHAM PALACE. This morning her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent arrived early, and very shortly afterwards the bridesmaids were in attendance. The other members of the Royal Family also arrived early at the Palace, and were admitted to her Majesty's private apartment!. The Ladies of the Bed-chamber, the Maids of Honour, and the principal Officers of State hav ing arrived, took thsir places according to their rank in the suite of rooms and galleries leading from the royal apartments to the Grand Hall. The hour fixed for the departure of the royal party was twelve o'clock, and several hundreds of persons were admitted to the Grand Hall and por tions of the grand staircase to witness this pre liminary step in the grand ceremonial, by tickets from the Board of Green•cloth. About 10 o'clock elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen, in full Court costume, all of whom wore wedding favours, began to arrive—they were immediately conducted to the places allotted to them, where they had ex cellent positions for seeing the two illustrious per sonages whose marriage was about to take place. Shortly before twelve her Majesty, the Prince Consort, the Princess Royal, the other members of the Royal family, and the distinguished ♦isitors descended the staircase, and having entered their carriages proceeded to the Chapel Royal. As the Royal cortege emerged from the Palace gate it was received with loud cheers, which con tinued until it reached the entrance of St. James's Palace. the extraordinary change that had been made in so short a period of time, and with the chaste and beautiful decorations and appointments of the whole of the interior of the building, which ex ceeded her Majesty's expectations, although she had been informed by his Royal Highness the Prince Consort of their nature and extent after his visit the week previous. Many of the alterations that have been made in the state apartments are of a practical character, and though in the first in stance intended only to answer the temporary pur pose of the Royal marriage, they will be retained and made permanent, thereby greatly removing many of the loud and just complaints that hat . e lately been made against the inconvenience ex perienced, especially by ladies, on drawing-room and levee days at St. James's Palace. In this re spect a double object has been attained at a single cost, at all times a highly satisfactory circumstance to John Bull. The whole of the arrangements and decorations are as complete and perfect as possible, an opinion, we feel confident, the public will parti cipate in on inspection of the state apariment. and Chapel Royal during the time they will be thrown open to public view. But a few, if any, will, we think, be able to recognise the old palace under its new and greatly improved aspect. THE PALACE ENTRANCE. The Royal personages entered the palace by the garden opening on the Mall in St. James's Park, where a handsome corridor or covered way had been erected for the occasion about 70 feet in length, and covered with rich crimson hangings, relieved by yellow facings and cords. It is well It by win dows at the sides and top, and supported by 12 pillars, connected by festoons and laurels. The principal door has been widened, and its architrave covered with Christmas berries, ferns, and ever greens. The window of the Palace to the west had been converted into a door fur the accommodation of her Majesty's suite. This door and also the windows are decorated with plants. Along this covered corridor are seats, which were occupied principally by ladies in elegant attire. ' r Gent emen Duchs. Kent Gentlemen of Duchs.Camb. THE ALTAR. Lady Jocelyn Miss Macdonald Gentlemen ofl Dukeof Camb Miss Cavendish Gentlemen 01 Pmes.Mary Lady C. Copley Duchess of Wellington. Gentlemen of King of Belg Lady C. Barrington Marchioness of Rreadalb. Ditto. Lady of D whs. Kent Marchioness of Abercorn. Gentn. of Dk, of S. Coburg Doke of Norfolk. b itto. Lady of Dchs. Camb. Lady of Prncs. Mary The Suite of the Bridegroom H MI tt Doke of Wellington. Marquis of Abercorn Gentn. or Dk, of Brabant Earl of St. Germans. Gentn. of Ct. of Flanders Lady of Doh: of S. Cobari Gentlemen '1 the Bride Ditto Opening. PE LPIT. Countess of Bernstorff laentn of Pr iohenzollrn. Master of Buckhounds Prince's Lord Prince's Groom - Prince's Equerry Prince's Usher Lady of Pros of Prussia Countess of Mulgrave. Lord hancellor. Ditto Co Intess of Bessborough. Lo rd President. Pruss an Minister Count Redern oS L.) 1-e, Viscountess S dney. Lord Privy Seal Pr. Reuss, of Prus. Legatn. Ct. Br indhg. Bras. Legatri, V scountess Combermere Gold Stick. :Ring, PI ussiau Suite Ditto Treasurer Lady Ernest Bruce. Capt. Gentn.- at- Arms. Comptroller Privy Purse Queen's Lord RECEPTION OF HER MAJESTY AND THE OTHER ILLUSTRIOUS PERSONAGES. Lady Foley. Yeom. of the Guard Silver Stick. Near this entrance is the Ministers' room, iu which the Great Officers of State assembled to await the arrival of her M ijesty and the other illustrious personages imm dirtely connected with the ceremony. 0.1 their arrival the Queen was conducted to the Royal cl..set. The bride, with her father, the Prince Consort, and h- r uncle, his Majesty the King of the Belgians, was conducted to ihe Queen's retiring room, and the bridegroom to the presence chamber, where his Royal High ness's procession was formed, aod followed that of her Majes.y's, which was the first to enter the Chapel Royal. The route being down the centre of the Council Chamber, Throne Room, Presence Chamber, and Queen Anne's Drawing Room to the Chapel Royal, along which a broad strip of handsome crimson carpet was laid down, over which the Royal procession passed. Lady A. Paxet. 'IONS. Opening. Queen's Groom 7ning, THE ROBING ROOM. Passing into the hall, on the left, is the Royal Robing Room, used by her Mijesty, with a similar apartment on the opposite side of the hall for the lathes in waiting. THE BRIDE'S BOUDOIR. Ascending the staircase, on the right of the land ing is the bride's boudoir, an apartment of singular beauty, entirely refurnished and fitted up in ex quisite taste. The walls are of white and gold, with gigantic mirrors, rising from the floor to the ceiling, placed round the room, which contains an elegant console table, with toilette requisites. The ceiling is painted a delicate white, picked out with gold, in keeping with the elegant paper with which the walls are covered. To this apartment the Princess was conducted upon her arrival, and here her Royal Highness remained until summoned to lead the bridal procession. THE QUEEN'S BOUDOIR. Turning to the left, on reaching the top of the staircase, the Royal Bourdoir is entered. This was devoted to the use of her Majesty, and here the bridesmaids assembled to receive their illustrious charge. The walls are hung with paper of a hand some gold pattern on a white ground. The cornice is gilt. The curtains are white lace, and have very rich silk draperies—crimson, flowered vri th gold and bordered with crimson velvet and gold lace. The toilette table is covered with Honiton lace over rose coloured satin, festooned with silver cords, tassels, and fringe, with looking-glasses and rose coloured candles. The table is also adorned with a superb pincushion of white I ice, and some exquisite Limoges vases filled with flowers. The frames of the mirrors are carved and gilt. The furniture is covered with crimson silk damask. The door and panelling of the room are white and gold, and the floor is covered with a crimson carpet. This is a most elegant room, and one worthy of the august personage for whom it was fitted up. The most remarkable and novel feature in connectlon with it is its floral decorations, more espe cially at this season of the year. These decorations are due to the taste and energy of Lady Hall, who personally superntended the whole of them. Toe idea of introducing floral decorations origivated with her ladyship, and was at once caught at by the chief commissioner of Works, who sent f,r a large body of his Welsh retainers annually to decorate the seat of the right hon. baronet on festive occa sions. The whole reflects the highest credit upon her ladyship's skill and taste. THE THRONE ROOM. Leaving the Royal boudoir, the Throne Room is next entered, the neeleus for she assemblage of the illustrious foreign potentates and other distinguished personages. the guests of her Majesty ; an l here, and in the adjoining apartment, usually c tiled the Drawing Room, the bridal procession were mar shalled. The Throne Room and Queen Anne's Room have a miniature parterre of flowers on the mantel-piece, so contrived that they appeared to grow there, while delicate twining plants in diminitive festoons fringe the edge of the white marble. Each window ie filled with flowers the whole length of the state apartments as well as in the Armoury and the Tapestry Room. At the top of the great staircase the coup d'ceil is both striking and enchanting. The first object that meets the eye is the initial of V. A. and F. W., formed of white flowers upon a background of evergreens, plaited in so artful a manner as to compose a rich natural tapestry, the deep emerald tint of which admirably throws out in alto-relievo the initials of the royal bride and bridegroom. This entablature is supported and ornamented by real palm branches from Kew Gar dens, united by the colours of England and Prussia. Within the Throne Room is placed the table on which the attestation of the marriage was signed by her Majesty the Queen, his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, the foreign princes, and the dig nataries of the church officiating in the ceremony. The table has a cover of crimson velvet, and the sides are ornamented by draperies of the same ma terial, with cord and fringe of purple silk. On the occasion of the marriage of her Majesty the right-hand side of the Throne-room wis filled up with seats for privileged spectators ; but this was found to take up t.o much space, and materially inconvenienced those of the guests who took part in the ceremony. To obviate this, teats have been raised at the end of the waiting or crush ing room; and as the doors of the Throne-room were left open, the effect of some 20J elegantly-dressed young ladies in full costume added materially to the general effect. THE CHAPEL ROYAL. The taste and jugdment displayed in designino. and effecting the necessary alterations and embel lis hments for the celebration of the nuptials of the illustrious personages which took place this morn ing cannot be too highly commended. The whole of the magnificent decorations and excellent ar rangements which the confined limits of the Palace and Chapel R o y a l a d m itt e d of were finally com pleted oil S a t ur d ay , h av i ng prev i ou sly received the l c un qualified approval of her Majesty, the Prince wrllsort, and th e P r i nce an d P r i ncess of Prussia, 9 s pent a considerable time ou Friday iu the in -BPeeticla•Her Mi‘jeety appeared much pleased at HE SUN, LONDON, MOND A Y EVE NING, J ANUARY 25, IBSE. T~"~ The annexed list of distinguished personages present at the ceremony, accurately indicAtts the position each occupied in the Chapel. Bn.deLangen Prus. Leg atn. Cha lains of Le,,ation: Pruslan SuT•e Ditto Clerk Marshal Queen's Equerry Master of the Household Field Officer! Govrs. Mon. Mr. Phip.ps fon. Mrs. Grey Mon. Mrs. Wellesley Hon. Mrs. Biddulph Govrs, Hon. Miss Paget l+ovrs. Mr. Glover Page of Honour Page of Honour Garter King of Arms Lady Hall Lady Clark Slr B Hall drums and trumpets filed off. The Gentlemen-at- Arm , remaining outside the cilapel door, in the ante chapel, during the cereuony. The Yeomen of the Guard remaiced at the foot of the staircase, in the ante-chapel. Her Majesty was conducted to her chair of state and the Royal Family to the seats prepared for them on the Haut Pas. The bearerof the sword of state stood on the Queen's right hand, and the Mistress of the Robes near her Majesty. The several persons composing the procession were then conducted to the places ap• pointed for them in the choir. The Lord Chamberlain and the Vice-Chamberlain, preceded by the drums and trumpets, then returned to the Presence Chamber, and the Bridegroom's Procession having been there formed, moved to the Chapel Royal in the following order : . THE PROCESSION OF THE BRIDEGROOM. Drams and Trumpets. Sergeant Trumpeter. Master of the Ceremonies. The Biidegroom'e Gentleman of Honour, between Heralds. The Prussian Minister with the Members of his Legation. Vice-Chamberlain of Her Lord Chamberlain of Her Majesty's Household. Majesty's Household. THE BRIDEGROOM, Supported by his Father, his Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia. followed by the Attendants of their Royal Highnesses the Prince an i Grand Duke. On reaching the chapel the drams and trumpets filed off, outside the door, and the procession advancing, the Bridegroom was conducted to the seat prepared for him on the Haut Pas leading to the Altar. His sup porters occupied seats noon the Haut Pas near his R.iyal Highness. The officers of the Bridegroom stood in the nave of the chap,-1. The other gentlemen in attendance were conducted to seats. The Lord Chamberlain and Vice. Chamberlain, pre ceded, as before, by the drums and trumpets, again returned to the state apartments, to attend the Bride whose procession having been formed in the Royal Clo set moved to the chapel in the following order : THE PROCESSION OF THE BRIDE. Drums and Trumpets. Sergeant Trumpeters. _ Sir James CI irk Mr. c;ibbs Lieut. enwPll Door Separate tion of gold and silver threads is exceedlngly b, au tiful, anti the sheen is of the softest and most deli eat, character. British manufacture may be justly proud of having produced fabrics of such extreme beauty. Officers of Arms. Marquis of Abercorn, K.G., Groom of the Stole to His Royal Highness the Prince Consort. Officers of Arms. Vice-Chamberlain of hei• Lord Chamberlain of her Majesty's Household. Majesty's Household. THE BRIDE, Supported by her father, his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, and by His Majesty the King of the Belgians. The Train of her Royal Highness, borne by 8 unmarried Daughters of Dukes, Marquises, and Earls. The Lady Susan Pelham The Lady Cecilia Gordon Clinton. Lennox. The Lady Emma Stanley. The Lady Katherine Hamil- ton. The Lady Susan Murray. TheLadyConstanceTilliers. The Lady Victoria Noel. The Lady Cecilia Molyneux. Followed by The Lord of the Bedchamber, Groom of the Bedcham ber, and Equerry in Waiting, the Private Secretary, and Gentleman Uglier to his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, the Treasurer and Private Secretary to her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, and the gentlemen in attendance on his Majesty the King of the Belgians. On arriving at the Chapel the Bride was conducted to her seat in the Chapel, on the left side of the Haut Pas leading to the Altar, near her Majesty's chair of state, and his Royal Highness the Prince Consort and his Majesty the King of the Belgians were conducted to their seats on the Haut Pas, near the Bride. The Lord Chamberlain and Vice-Chamberlain stood near her Majesty. Pr r fulitiAio Chaplain to the Queen ; and the Rer. Dr. Sub-Dean of her Majeqy'e Chapels Royal. The Prince repeated the responses in an audible and distinct voice, and, having taken the ring from hiS - father, placed it on the bride's finger, after which his Grace pronounced the words of the.ser vice, " those whom God bath joined together, let no man put asunder." The other part of the ser vice was thbn gone through. 1 _ •The ceremony was most magnificently and im pressively performed, the choral responses being most beautifully and efficiently rendered by the profesiional gentlemen present, under the direction of Sir G. Smart, who presided at the organ. The ceremony occupied about thirty minutes, and the proceedings terminated. At the conclusion of the service Handel's Hallelujah chorus was sung, and Mendelssohn's Wedding March was played as the proces'ion left the chapel. The following Gentlemen in Ordinary of the Chapel Royal officiate.i in the choir :—Hessr=, T. Francis, W. Lmckey, J. Goss, G. W. Martin, Benson, R. Baruby, N. Smith, Foster, ➢lachin, Lawler, Thomas. White house, and Bennett: _ _ _ Sir G. Smart presided at the organ. assisted by Mr. Cooper. The chorister boys attended with their nasster, the Rev. T. Helm ,re. (I , jevn , ,r-clinatuire in the apartments of the yew-4g couple a 1 o'clecl.. At 7 o'clock a cour rill be held in the Ritter-Sral and iu the picture-gallery. (Cour signifies here - a reception of all and anY'Per sons who are entitled, by their birth or station, to be present at Court, festivities.) At 8 o'clock there is to be a Polonaise Ball in the White Saloon. 0n Wednesday the Prince and Princess of Prussia will give a grand dinner, after which there will be a gala performance at the Opera-house. On Thursday Prince Carl is to receive the mem bers of the R oya l Family at dinner, and in the evening there will be a rout giv,n by the Prince and Princess of Prussia. LITERA' Tt ceremony over, the procession of the bride and bridegroom returned to the state apartments in the undermentioned order : Officers of Arms. Gentlemen of Honour to the Bride and Bridegroom. The Master of the Ceremonies. The Prussian Minister, accompanied by the Members of his Legation. Groom of the Stole to his Royal Highness the Princess Consort. THE BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM. ,E.. The Edinburgh Review. Longman & Co. This " potent, grave, and reverend seignor" on the bench of critical judgment exhibits its usual amount of erudition and classical elegance. The engrossing topic—" Prospects of the Indian. Empire ;" a learned expatiation on 4 , mil man , s Hisrory of Latin Christianity;" a paper oil "Scottish University Reform ;" and a digest of "Lord 0 verstone on Metallic and Paper Currency," constitute somewhat heavy but able articles, which are delightfully relieved by discourses on "Tom Brown's Scliool Days," "Memoir. of Bossuet," and Hawker's "Literature of France." There is considerable truth in the following, taken from the remarks ou "Tom Brown's School Days" In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, the ambition to be a man of genius, and to decline what so many idle and vapouring minds consider the vulgar pursuits of tra,ling, fessional or social life, is a silly and not a very harmless fancy • but in the hundredth case the refusal to admit the claim is nothing less than a public crlamity ; for if it does not neutralise powers of incalcu lable importance to the happiness of mankind, it is only too likely to vad them into rebellion against the whole social fabric. * * s It would be hard to nuntion any weicbtier responsibility than that which is involved in the education of a peculiar boy. To treat the symp toms of what differs but little from disease as being symptoms of genius, is almost certain to produce an overweening vanity, fatal to the boy's future capacity for any of the taroers of life ; whilst, on the other hand, there are few more melancholy histories than those which record the tortures inflicted on youths whose genius was mistaken for disease. A mistake in the one direction may convert a lazy dreamy lad into an emas culate coxcomb. A mistake in the other may lash a Cowper or Shelley into melancholy madness. These are the exceptional cases, for which no general rule can be laid down. All that can be done is to recognise the faot, that sensibility often greatly needs vigorous cor rectives. What correctives are likely in any case to be vigorous is smatter of experiment ; but *bore there ia sufficient constitutional vigour in the subject, publie school life is often an admirable prescription." The Supporters of their Royal Highnesses on either side. The Train of the Bride, borne as before. The remainder of the Suite of his Royal Highness the Prince Consort. The Gentlemen in attendance on his Majesty the King of the Belgians, his Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia, and his Royal Highness the Grind Duke of Baden. Her Majesty's procession then followed to the presence chamber in the same order is which it entered the chapel. . . Her Majesty the Queen, Lis Royal Highness the Prince Consort, the Bride and Bridegroom, with the rest of the royal family, the royal guests, and the great officers of state, passed on to the throne room. The foreign Princes and guests who did not take part in the procession were conducted to the throne room by the Master of the Ceremonies. Finally, the dignitaries of the church having entered the throne room, the registry of the marriage was attested with the usual formalities. The remainder of the procession proceeded no further than the presence chamber. The knights of the several orders present at the solemnity wore their respective collars with white rosettek The Ambassadors, Foreign Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, and other visitors in the Chapel Royal ap peared iu full dress uniform. The ladies in full dress. After the ceremony had been concluded, her Majesty, the Royal Family, and the Prince and Princess of Prussia, and the members of the no bility who had received a special invitation, re turned to Buckingham Palace. THE WEDDING BREAKFAST. A wedding repast was prepared at Buckingham Palace, at which several of the illustrious partici pators in the previous ce.temony, the officers of ttJe household, and the Ministers of State were present. It is needless to say that the taste and ingenuity of the confectioners and table deckers were promi nently displayed at the festival—a splendid wed ding cake forming the chief object of attractio?i. After partaking of the sumptuous dejeuner, the Prince and Princess set out for Windsor, attended by the military, and on the road they were loudly greeted by the vast assemblage. The paper on the "Memoirs of Bossuet' 3 is full of interest ; but though painting in vivid colours the genius of the orator, it shows us a somewhat mournful contrast in the character of the man. It is remarked, in speaking of his " Oraisona Fun4bres," a class of compositions In which he stands unrivalled, that " the inspiration of the lyric poet, united with the deep voice of the histo rian, swells out in the noblest passages ; and the poetry of Eranc3, can hardly produce a page comparable to the diction of her greatest writer in prose." The characters who then were passing away from the stormy turmoils of courts and factions, gave ample scope for the elo quence of the orator, whether in their personal characteristics, the vicis-itudes of their lives, or the incidents attending their deathbeds. His first funeral oration was on Henrietta, the daughter, wife, and mother of kings; justly styled " la refine Malheureuse." His second " ()raison Funebre " strange to say, was for her daughter, another Henrietta, the wife of M. D'Orleans, brother of the Grand Monarque, who died of poison its the bloom of youth. And so on through a long cata logue of noble and illustrious names eminent for birth, valour, or misfortune, down to his last dis course on the great Conde, a worthy termination to his gorgeous " Oraisons." Those who prefer political retrospections to literary essays will find THE BRIDAL PRESENTS subject fur gratification in a paper on "The Adding ton and Pitt Administrations." The Quarterly Review. Murray, Albemarle-street. The "leader" in this number is on "The difficulties of Railway Engineering," and conveys a deal of attractive and edifying matter connected with the subject, from James Brindley's great canal schemes, to George Stephenson's greater achieve ment and victory over the swampy bog of Chat Moss. Thousands of us know little cf the toil and ingenuity which have been expended on the iron road along which we fly in thoughtless enjoyment of speed and comfort. It is, indeed, difficult to form an adequate idea of the immense quantity of earth, rock, and clay that has been picked, blasted, shovelled, and wheeled by English navvies during the last thirty years. "Of the 8,635 miles of rail way now constructed in Britain, about 70 miles pass through tunnels, and more than 50 miles over viaducts ; whilst of railway bridges there have been built some 30,000, or far more than all the bridges previously existing in England." An article on "The Historic) Peerage" traces out each title ever held by our lordly rulers from its earliest date to its extinction, or its present pos sessor. Those who are prone to investigate the ancient particulars of Rewards, Percys, and Tal bot., may get an agreeable reading from it. There is much of valuable philosophy and elevat ing sentiment in the paper which handles Rowell's Essay on the " Beneficent Distribution of the Sawa of Pain." We give a short marital : " Montaigne held cru-ltv to be the extreme of all vices ;it is also one of the commonest. Humanity seldom or ever shows itself in inferior dispositions, and where it exists is readily destroyed. No unnatural taste is so rapidly acquired as the taste for shedding blood. There are few who are ignorant of the oircumstanoe which occurred at the execution of Tbistlewood and his fellow conspirators for treason. A thrill of horror ran through the crowd when the first head was severed from its body, but so rapidly did the spectators become accustomed to the sight that on the executioner accident ally letting the third head drop, there was a shout of Ah 1 butter-fingered !' * * * * It is told of Henry IV. of France that he twice whipped his son, afterwards Louis XIII., with his own hand—the first time because he had taken such a dislike to a gentle man that his servile attendants could only appease hint by pretending to shoot with a pistol without ball the object of his aversion ; the sec)nd time for crushing the heal of a sparrow. Though the just punishment he had received was small in comparison with the unje . t ri pels • hment he had inflicted, his mother objected to th is di‘ciplina of her son. Pray to God,' replird ill -treat y ' o th u a : t ITT, The y experience live, for o W f h t e h ll e k ls i n ue g taught him that cruelty seldom knows any distinctions, an d that he who gonehad will begins by crushing the heals of sparrows in sport would seneked.,i, dby,ireCting venom &gales: the very breasts he had u With many points of argument advanced in " This Future Management of our Indian Empire," we must beg leave to differ. Our estimation of the Sepoys is many degrees lower than that which the writer in the Quarterly expresses, and we fear our desire for vengeance is not so mercifully modified. The National Review. Chapman and Hall, Piccadilly. The opening article in this quarterly is on the most absorbing subject at this moment—viz., "The Principles of Indian Government." A deal of good sense and plausible elucidation relative to the terrible movements in the East are afforded, and we have perused the paper with infinitely more satisfaction than we do the average of discussions now put forth on the same theme. From all we hear and read we are inclined to think that India has been treated by us as a Pyrotechnic Ma nufactory on a large scale. We have derived from it boundless and brilliant con uscations of wealth, to dazzle and. enchant our gold-worshipping eyes ; but we neg lected to pay sufficient heed as to the security of the gunpowder which formed those bewildering delights, until an " awful explosion" and. "fright ful loss of life" awoke ua to the peroeption of our folly, and remorse for the consequences. The governing policy of England seems to have been curiously at fault of late, both as regards theoretical knowledge and practical science. An article on " George Saud" treats fully and impartially of the writings and influence of that greatly gifted woman ; and after a very able digest of her power and productions, the conclusion is given in these opinions : " View her from whatever side we may, and judge of her by whatever of her novels we may chance to light on, we shall always leave her with mingled feelings of admiration and regret. But if we look at her works u a whole, and read several of them in succession, her cha racter, we think, will rise in our estimation, although the works themselves lose interest by their prolixity, their want of plot, and their surfeiting fullness of vague theorising being thus forced on our notice. We catch through them glimpses of a woman with many faults— haste, rashness, morbid sentimentalism, and %proneness to indulge in a secondhand philosophy often caught up from men inferior to herself—but still in the main truth fol ; loving in a blind and capricious way what is good ; indignant at the sophistries sad the (mous of polished vice and conventional virtue. If in the midst of the display of her great intellectual gifts she sometimes startles us by moral errors, she never shooks us by moral depravity. The more we try her by a foreign standard, and the better we appreciate the circumstances under which she wrote, and the influences to which she was exposed, the more gently and sparingly we shall censure her." " The Czar Nicholas" has a somewhat lengthy and somewhat partial commentary ; and " T i to Monetary Crisis" is attempted to be explained n a more lucid style than we often meet. Other peP.eers of interesting and enligh tening tendency, r the number most acceptable to the library DI QUEEN ANNE'S ROOM. The first glimpse which the privibit;ed few ob tained of the Royal party was in Qlle9ll Anne's Room, at the eastern end of which, 12 rows of seats, rising one above another, are erected for the accommodation of ladies of the highest rank. This spat tment adjoins the Drawing Room, from which it is entered. The procession passed along th centre of the Throne Room and the Drawing Room, into Queen Anne's Room, divergi*g to the left as it approached the raised seats in this apartment, pass ing into the Tapestry Room, along one side of which four rows of seats for spectators are erected. THE ARMOURY. --- The small Armoury, which bristles with all kinds of weapons grouped in stars and trophies , i s a lso fitted up with seats for about 100, or rather less. From this chamber the procession passed out on to the Chapel Gallery, or grand staircase of the Pa lace, wheri the most ingenious arrangements were made for the convenience of more spectators, who, while enjoying the sight, themselves enhanced 'the beauty of the scene. This staircase has been superbly re-decorated, and at its foot, from the ground to the ceiling, rises a magnificent mirror. The Palace proper was now left, and the procession passed along a covered corridor, or rather a pavilion, which has been built up on the west side of the Flag or Colour Court, into THE COLOUR COURT. This is one of the greatest improvements of the Palace. It presents the same appearance of solidity as the Palace itself, and so com pletely has the delusion been kept up that you imagine you are walking through a series of inarbl.3 halls. Here accommodation is provided for about 500 personages. It is richly hung with crimson cloth, and the hangings decorated with fes toons of flowers. The glasses placed in the cor ridor, and which have so much improved that pa: t of the building, we:e accidentally discovered in one of the unused rooms, where they were placed when the old house of the Speaker of tie House of Commons was burnt down ; and it was thought that they might be made available instead of being left as useless lumber, THE BRIDESMAIDS. The bridesmaids to the Princess Royal are nearly of the same age as her royal highness, though none of th-m are as youthful ; her royal highness was 17 last November. The youngest of the bridesmaids, Lady Caroline Villiers, daughter of the Earl of Clarendon, was 17 on the 2d o f S e pt e mber last, and Lady Catherine riamilt on , d aug ht e r of the Marquis of Abercorn, was the same age on the 9th of June, in last year. The next most youthful of the bridesmaids is Lady Victoria Noel, who was 18 on the 30th of June. Lady Susan Clinton, daughter of the Duke of Newcastle, was of the same age on the 7th of April, 1857. Lady C ec ili a M o lyneux, daughter of Lord Sefton, attain e d h er 19th year on the 7th of November last ; and Lady Cecilia Len nox, daughter of the Duke of Richmond, was also nineteen on the 13th of last Ap r il. L a dy Susan Murray, daughter of the Earl of D unmore , arrived at, her 19th year on the 7th of last July ; and Lady Emma Stanley, daughter of the Earl of Derby, who has the honour of being the eldest of the fair group of ladies, was 22 on last Christmas Day. Of the bridesmaids, two were . born in th e same year as h e r Royal Highness, two in 1838, one in 1837, and oue in 1835. The dresses of the bridesmaid s are f rom a d es i gn furnished by the illustri .us bride herself. They con sist of a white glace petticoA, entirely covered by six deep tulle flounces,. over which falls a tunic tulie looped of up t u a u lle u , nu t, s i i m de me w d itu w a it b h u.u r q u u ch et es uf ,, trimmed with draperies pink roses and auciTehtil7. of the same materiel dress is an exquisit he he ether has been modeded u w f h t it u e ll h e :a w tl i i t e h r. ha T u i;e u b g n) s d l y ee i v s .e t s ri e e d in b o Y untain s of Baltnoral. lons rear!ers will be in er rttrimmedi:sttiecae to no ruches. wa tu; 4 'r.itt , yal Highness in her from part inagspwraiglkgaotahtehri r M La Aj ci; tY Adelaido Paget, br there were 12 Li.dy Sarah Villiers, Lady At the Francis Cooper, Lady hfary Augusta Grintone, Lady Eleanor Paget, L idy C. Gordon Lennox, Lady Elisabeth Georgina Howard, Lady Adelaide Hay, Lady Catherine Stauhope, Lady Jane Harriet Bouverie, and Lady Mary Howard. Every one of hi-r Majesty's brides maids have since r-quired for themselves the like good offices of bridesinaidg. The whole of them are married, and with oi,e excels ion (Lady Eleanor Paget) all are living. One of them is now ,% widow, viz., Lady Francis Couper, now the Dnw-ger ViscAiiitess Jocelyn. One of the blidvsinAids, L,oly Catherine Stanhope, has ben twice marri-d, her first husband being Lord Dalmenv, and the second and present one, L - :rd Harry Vane and one L tidy Caroline Lennox, daughter of the Duke of Richmond, is. a sccorri wife of the Earl of Bes ' borough. Tele lady in the sinter of Lady Cecili4 Lennox, one of the bridesmaids of-the Princess( . Royal. Two of the Queen's bridesmaids were mar ried in the same year as her Majesty. Lady Mary Grimstone, daughter of the Earl of Yerulam, became Viscountess Folkestone on the 3d Oct., and is now the mother of 13 children ; and Lady Elizabeth Howard, daughter of the Earl of C trlisle, was married to the Hon. and Rev. Francis Grey. Of the bridesmaids who attended her Majesty ten were younger than the royal bride. Her Majesty was born the 24th May, 1819, and was in hsr 21st year when married. Lady Catherine Stanhope was younger by a week only, and Lady Caroline Lennox by a few days ; she was born on the 18th June of the same year. Lady Franees Couper (Dowager Viscountess Jocelyn), Lady Mary Grimstone (Viscountess Folkestone), and Lady Eleanor Paget (Lady Sandford Graham) were in their twentieth years, Lady Adelaide Hay (Vis countess Campden) was in her nineteenth year, Lady Mary Howard, daughter of the late Duke of Norfolk (Lady Foley), was but eighteen, and Lady Sarah Villiers, daughter of the Earl of Jersey, now the Princess Esterhazy, w as of the same age. Lady Ad e l a id e Paget, daughter of the Marquis of Angksea, now Viscountess Maidstone, who was seventeen. Th e b ridesma id s o lder than her Majesty were Lady Jane Bouveri • e, now the Hon. Mrs. Ellice, who was about six we eks the senior of i her Majesty, and Lad Elizabeth Howard, now the Hon. M rs . Grey, who y was three years older than the royal bride. The Princess Royal might have selected for her bride-maids some noble daughters of the ladies who, e in 1840, attended at the marriage of her Majesty, and thus Aablinhed as a branch of the peerage, the honour of hereditary bridesmaids. THE P ROCESSION TO THE CHAPEL ROY AL, 74ajristy'i procession ha'.ing bon marshalled in the Throne-morn by Gr.rter, Principal King of Arms, rnoviql through the state apartments, down the state staircase, to the Chapel Royal, in the following order : REEL MAJESTY'S PROCESSION. Drums and Trumpets. Sergeant Trumpeter. Kght Mrshal Heralds and Pursui a vants . of Arms. Equerry in Waiting to the Queen. Clerk Marshal. Comptroller of the Honsehold. Treasurer of the Household. Keeper of the Privy Purse. Groom in Waiting to the Lord in Waiting to the Queen. Queen. The Lord Steward. Lord Privy Seal. L ,r.l Pr esident of the Council. Two Serge:mts- Lord High Two S , r4o Olt , " at-Ar ms. Chancellor. at-Arms. Senior Gentleman Usher Quarterly Waiter. Gentleman Usher Garter, Principal Gentleman Usher Daily Writer King of A rms, of the and to the carrying his Black Rod S word of State. Sceptre bearing his Rod. The Earl Marshal, bearing his baton. Her Royal Highness Princess Mary of Camb r i dge, Lady Geraldine trai n b orne by Lady Arabella S ac k ville West, an d attended by M a j or Home His Royal attended Highness byghnoee eos rsl t ao tlnhtie h ei Ins neeDukehuacCharles o Duchess s C ambridge, fToyfSomerset ,whi tt. Cambridge, her train b orne by Her tr a i n b orne by dao:al Highnes s th e Duchess of Kent, L a H t a t di ended by B aron Knesebeck. Her Herß ao Royal Lady Anna Maria Dawson, and attended by Colonel Sir George Cooper, Bart. The Vice Cham- The Sword of State, The Lord Cham berlain. borne by berlain. Viscount Palmerston, K.G , First Lord o f th e Treasury: His Royal Highness His Roy Wales. Hihness th e Prince Alfred. the Prince of THE QUEEN, His Royal Highness ...... leading His Royal Highness Prince Leopold. Prince Arthur. Her Majesty's Train borne by the Groom of the Robes and Two Pages of Honour. Fier Her Her Royal Highness Royal Highness Royal Highness Princess Louisa. Princess Alice. Princess Helena. The Master of the Horse. The Mistress of the Robes. The Lady of the Bedchamber in Waiting. Two Maids of Honour in Waiting. Bedchamber Woman in Waiting. The Lady Superintendent. Captain of the Yeomen Gold Stick. Captain of the of the Guard. Gentlemen-at-Arms. Master of the Buckhounds. Master of the Household. Silver Stick in Waiting. Field Officer in Brigade Waiting. and Prince Alfred. Six Gentlemeu-at-A rms. Tutors to their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales Six Yeomen of the Guard to close the Procession. On arriving at the entrance to the chapel the THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY. The fortunate holders of tickets for the State apartments and corridors, began to assemble at a very early hour. The Cabinet Ministers, their ladies, and those of the nobility who had seats re served for them in the interior of the Chapel Royal, began to assemble about half-past ten. Amongst the early arrivals were Lady Combermere, Lord Campbell and the Baroness Strathecien, the Right Hon. M. T. Baines, M.P., and Lady, the Mar chioness of Clanricarde, Sir B. Hall, M.P., and Lady Hall, Sir Charles and Lady Mary Wood, Lord and Lady Stanley of Alderley, Lady Ernest Bruce, the Duchess of Inverness, Lady Hard wicke, Lord and Lady Ebury, Lady Elizabeth York, Lord and Lady Monck, the Duke of Suther land, Lady Agnes Duff, Countess Cowper, Lady A. Paget, Countess Bessborough, Countess Mulgrave, Lady Lyndhurst, Countess Desart, Lord and Lady Panmure, Right Hon. Vernon Smith, M.P., Lady Foley, Sir F. Smith, M.P., Sir George and Lady Grey, Lady Alfred Paget, Lord John and Lady Russell, Mr. Secretary Labouchere, M.P., in the the uniform of the Brethren of the Trinity Board, the Bishop of London, the Duke of Atholl, in a Highland dress, Duchess of Atholl, Duchess of Buccleuch, Countess Forbes, Viscountess Sydney, Duke and Duchess of Richmond, Lord Derby, Duke of Newcastle, Earl and Countess of Claren don, Sir George and Lady Lewis, Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, Marquis of Lansdowne, Duke of Argyle, Lady Granville, the Bishop of Oxford, &c. Have been of a munificence worthy the occasion and the recipient. Among them is one which for some days past has attracted the aristocracy in large numbers-to the establishment of Mr. West, in St. James's street. This is a gorgeous dressing case, intended as a wedding present for the Prin cess-Royal by her Royal Highness the Ducht as of Kent, an inspecion of which has been permitted during the brief period between its completion and presentation. Apart from the interest attending the occasion, the manufacture of an article at once so tasteful and so sumptuous, might well excite attentions. The dressing-case itself partakes rather more of those elaborate jewel chests wherein Venetian artificers of old were wont to display their cunning device than anordivary box or case in which the requisites of the drissingtable are usually heaped together. Th.) material is of ebony with silver gilt mountings, the ornaments consisting of an elegant "V" surinou , ted by th 4 royal crown of England. The interior fittings are of crimson velvet, form ing a rich corrrast with the various requisites and elegancies—the jewels of the toilette—which they encase. All of these are au designed as to be ex quisitely ornamental. Tee brushes are of the purest ivory; the combs of the finest tortoiseshell, mounted in gold ; the bottles are of opal glass ; and all the other articles are of silver gilded, and studded with coral berries, a contrast at once novel and excellent in effect. Upon all these the letter " V" and the roy tl crown are exquisitely chased. As a specimen of English manufacture this dressing . case is one of which the British artizan may be justly proud. As the designer and mnnufaettawr, Mr. West hasalrea,dy received every po-sible testi mony of the appreciation of his labour by persons of good taste, and numerous orders from royal and and illustrious foreign personages who have visited his boutique during the present week, among whom ought to be specially mentioned the Crown Princess of Prussia. THE ROYAL RECEPTION IN PRUSSIA. The official programme of the ceremonial to be observed, on the arrival of the Rayal couple in Berlin, is as follows :—On Saturday, February 6, their Royal Highnesses will be received at the Potsdam station of the railroad, at half-past two o'clock, by the Royal Princes, Generals von Gro ben and von Willisen, the Commandant of Potsdam, von Bonin, his Majesty's Chamberlains, the Burgermeister and Direotor of the Police of Pots dam. The procession will be opened by a picket of Hussars of the Guard, followed t y the Marshal of the Household, Major von Heinz, and the Princess's Chamberlain, Count Perponcher, in a carriage and pair ; his Majesty's Chamberlains ; Count Redern, Generals von Schreckenstein and von Moltke in a carriage and pair ; a pang of the Gerdes du Corps with their band ; a Royal carriage and six, containing the newly ! married couple and the Mistress of the House hold, Countess Perponeher ; a company of the Garde du Corps ; a carriage and pair, with the Princess's ladies in waioug ; a similar car riage with the Prince's ailjut Intl, and be closed by a picket of Lancers of the Guard. The Corn mandaut of Potsdam will ride on the right side trf the carriage containiug the bridal couple, and the officer in command of the squadron of Garde du Corps on duty will ride on the left. As so m as the procession begins to move 24 guns will be fired. At the marble steps leading into the St Adtschloss the newly-married couple will be received by the high officers of the Court, and led into the marble saloon where the Royal Family will be waiting to receive them. The offieers of the garrison anti the various municipal authorities of Potsdam will be presented in the Marble Saloon, but the ladies entitled to claim this privilege will be presented in the Bronze Chamber. At 4 o'clock the Royal Family will dine iu private. On the following day, being • Sunday, the Court will remain at Potsdam, and attend Divine service in the Garrison Kirche. Dinner in private. On Monday morning, Feb. 8, the newly-married couple will arrive at Bellevue Palace, in the neigh bourhood of this place, after paying a visit to the King and Queen at Charlottenburg. The procession thence will be opened about 1 o'clock by a picket of Dragoons of the Guards, the Marshal of the Household and the Chamberlain, in a carriage and six ; the King's Chamberlains in a carriage and six • Count Redern, Generals von Schreckenstein and von Moltke, in a carriage and six ; a company of the Gardes du Corps with the ir band ; the state carriage and eight horses, with the young couple and the Mistress of the Household ; a company of Gardes du Corps ; the Princess's ladies, in a carriage and six ; the Prince's adjutants, also in a carriage and six ; with a picket of Dragoons of the Guard bringing up the rear. Outside of the Brandeu burger Thor the Prince and Princess will be their Commander p w a h s e s n ing on t c h e rou li g ls h id t e he t g h a e te g 2 at 4 eh guns te will y will receive an address of welcome from the Oberburgermeister and the rnuncipal authoriti es of the city. After passing along the U n t er d en Linden and arriving This day, with gladsome voice an d heart, We praise Thy name , 0 Lord, w ho art obyy the Royal P r i nces at the foot of the a l Schlo ss the nouvcax mugs will be Of all good things the giver ! a r e t e t e l i r v e e R d For England's first - born Hop e we p ra y Be near her now, and ever King of Kings, Lord: of Lords, grand stair case and conducted into the White Saloon, which has lately been beautifully redeto- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, rated, and here they w w i _ill th be received by the Royal Hear us, while we kneel before Thee ! This finished, the marriage ceremonial com- Princesses. They balluarrgtrnentsof Chamber, King F i rede en rick Pr lo.ceteodththerßouragnhdtehne menced, about quarter to one, by the Archbishop of tulations of the K • receiving the welcome and congra- Canterbury. The marriage ceremony then commenced, and was nights of the Order of the Black Eagle, the Generals of the performed by his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, State,the Presidents Army, the Ministers of of the two Houses of the Diet, assisted by the Lord Bishop of London, Dean of her and the Cabinets-racthe of his Majesty the King. At I.Viajrsty'e Chapels Roya l ; the Bishop o f O xford, Lord st 4 o'clock there is to be a state di nner in the White of Cheer, Clerk of th e Hi g h Almoner ; the Bishop Saloon ; the remainder of the evening to be passed Windsor, Closet ; the lion. and Very Rev, the Dean of Wi in O private. n Tuesday, February 9, there will be a The Chapel Royal presented a most brilliant appearance. The varied hues of the costumes of the elegantly-dressed ladies, their diamonds, jewels, and plumes, together with the gorgeous uniforms of the Cabinet Ministers and others pre- sent, the Knights of the different orders with their collars and white satin rosettes, and the various orders and decorations worn by the noble possessors, presented a scene of the most dazzling and gorgeous description. The seats in the gallery and the body of the chapel were divided off with a thin iron rail covered with crimson cloth. Twenty inches was the space allowed for each person, but this was far too cramped for the amplitude of the ladies' dresses It was with difficulty they could get into their seats, and crush was the order of the day. When seated, the crinoline extended on each side over the knees of the Cabinet ministers, and, were it not for the glittering of their uniforms and orders, their presence could scarcely have been recognised. Shortly before 12 o'clock, the movements of the officials indicated the approach of some illustrious personage. Almost immediately the organ pealed forth, and the Princess of Prussia (her train borne by two ladies), and her suite entered the chapel and proceeded to the seat reserved fur her, on the haut pas. Her Royal Highness looked extremely well. At 12 o'clock the booming of the park guns were faintly heard within the walls of the chapel, the prelude to her Majesty's arrival and as the time advanced the interest manifested in the proceedings began to increase. At 20 minutes past 12 a fl )urish of drums and trumpets announced Her M ►jesty's arrival, and as she entered the Chapel the bawd placed in the gallery played a march from the oratorio of Handel. The whole of the illustrious and noble personages receiving her Majesty standing. Ten minutes after, the distant sound of the flourish of trumpets announced the arrival of his Royal Highness, the bridegroom, who entered the chapel, the band playing another march, the com pany still standing. On arriving at the altar he knelt down and a few seconds after took his appointed place on the left band side in front of the Prince and Princess of Prussia. He was dressed in a Prussian uniform, and wore the order of the Black Eagle. *As the time for the approach of the Princess Royal drew near, the interest manifested became instense. The strains of the band in the Chi►pel Royal had scarcely died away, when the faint and distant sound of the flourish of drums and trumpets, announcing the approach of the Princess Royal was heard, the Royal bridegroom eagerly watching her ap pearance. She was received in the same man ner as her Majesty and the Prince. On reaching the altar the Prince knelt down and kissed her hand. Her Royal Highness, whose appearance is very juvenile, appeared much affected and deeply impressed with the solemnity of the scene, and on arriving at the altar, took up the position assigned to her, when the following chorale was sung : - - • THE FLORAL DECO RAT. ;ranee The fl iral decorations are of a n.itUtr refined and various that they require especial notice, to give an idea of the wonderful effect produced by the productions of nature even in the inclement month of January. Right and left of the archway of the State entrance has suddenly arisen a ver ant screen of Portugal laurel and bay trees, which appear in fine r-ltef against the scarlet and purple drapery, by which this opening is adorned, whilst the whole length of the outside appears to be a wood of evergreens. A boss of evergreens and flowers at the highest point is adorned in the centre with a magnificent knot of the united colours of England—red, white, and blue—and Prussia—black and white—in compliment to the royal bridegroom, Prince Frederick William. On entering this covered way, beautiful garlands of the most luxuriant evergreens, and of very large dimensions, with handsome pendants formed of tendrils of ivy, are hung from pillar to pillar throughout the whole length. The garlands are formed with a double twist of laurustinus in flower, alternated with golden furze, the centre coil being made of holly, covered with berries. Over each column the garlands are united by bridal knots of white satin and silver, with streamers of the colours of England and Prussia. A second row of garlands of the same description ornaments the opposite side, and the door by which her Majesty entered appeared as if sat in a frame of the most exquisite einibination of flowers, leaves, and berries. Tile windows on both sides of the covered way have a similar framework, as well as the new doors for the royal suite, on each side of her Majesty's entrance, although of course less gor geomily decorated than the d , orway through which the Queen pa , sed, and over which is an arch formed of real palm branches. The bannister of the royd staircase, by which the Queen ascended to her re tiring room, is intertwined with 614 delicate foliage of a rare creeping plant inio which is interwoven roses and camellias. THE INTERIOR OF THE CHAPEL ROYAL. The Chapel-Royal has been completely re molelled and beautified. Tue large pews have ben i emovel, and seats erected in their Att,ad ris ing one above the other, so as to afford accom modation to the largest possible number. In addi tion to this, two substantial galleries have been erected on the same elevation as the royal pew, giving increased accomm ,elation to a , aeut 200 per sons. These galleries are constructed of polished oak, harm inising with the rest of the Chapel, re hayed wi h meiall:ous , the royal arms of England and Prussia. Time embrasure opposite the org,n has been carried out shout 10 feet for the accom modation of the orchestra, which comprised the principal artists and vocalists of English celebrity] as well as the elite of the boys of Westminster Alll3l , and St. Paul's. The wind tws at he bick of the altar have been l.,wered six feet, and filed up with stained glass. The ben -ficial effect of this change was apparent. at a g lance, and was evidently appreciated by those present. It has entirely re -moved the sombre line which formerly pervaded the chapel and became one of its great attractions. 0 This is one of the alterations it is stated will be permanent, from its being a decidedly beneficial improvement. Tue Riiyal pew over the entrauce porch, has been draped with curtains and fittings of crimson velvet and gold, and set apart for the accomm ,dation of the corps diplomatique, more than thirty of whom were pre emit on the occasion. In front of where the communion rails stood a haut-pas has been raised, extending down the church as far as the reading desk, for the accom modation of the Royal relatives of the high con tracting parties, the bridesmaids and others in immediate attendance. The haut pus and centre aisle have both been covered in "bishop's blue," and to this, along with the slender columns of the same colour that support the gallery, much of the cheerful aspect which has been attained is to be attributed. The hangings and draperies are of crimson velvet, looped with rich silk lace of the same colour, and the chairs of state and tabarets on which the royal visitors were accommodated are of the same colour, with the addition of much gilding and bullion decorations. The calved oakwork of the galleries has been greatly relieved witha cornice of gilding in keeping with the crown and shield, bearing the royal cypher and the emhlaz muments of Engiand and Prussia fixed to the spaudrils of the arches supporting the galleries, bringing out the chaste oak carvings with great effect. The railings in frolt of the royal pew are elaborately gilded, a lding much to the beauty and charm of the scene. On the floor the three rows of seats on each side are covered with crimson velvet, richly trimm , d with silk fringe of the same c.dour, and are r gu larly divided into compartments, paged with a proper reg a rd to the prevailing fashion in ladies , costume. The drapery which surmounts the altar is of the richest crimson velvet, bordered with deep g old lace and frin g e. Th e altar is covered with the same material. The railing has been richly gilded, and the some rich blue colour which has been so ex sively used in the decorations throughout the p dace has been added in suck a manner as to bring out the whole altar with great effect, the rich coloured velvet of the hangings forming an admirable back ground. On the left of the altar seats were placed and occupied by her Majesty, on her left were the Princesses Alice, lit-dews, and Louisa, and en the right of the Queen were ti• Princes Arthur and Leopold. Thu Prince of \Vales occupied a place reserved for him more immediately in front, and Prince Alfred was seated amongst the illustrious friends and supporters of the bridegroom, on the right. 8.. s Royal Hightless the Prince Consort' and the King ef B lgians oocupieti seats in the front of the altar, in the centre of time haut-pas, and the Prince and Pi incess of Prussia ou the right . immediately behind the brideg r oom. The seats occupied by all the royal personages in time haut pas were exactly alike, bein g e l egan t se tt ees o f white, and cove red with crimson velv e t, an d richly embroidered with gold. The chair of state of her Majesty his be en manufactured ex p ress l y f or th e occasion, and is a very elegant modern piece of furniture, in the shape of au easy low chair, being covered with the same material as the other, and surmounted with a richly-worked gilded orown. The communion plate has been newly burnished, and looks as if it were perfectly now, instead of having been in use iu the time of Henry VIII., Charles 1., Anne, and George I. Some additional ornaments have been added to the chapel, in the shape of the arms of Henry VIII. placed under the royal pew, and the royal initials at the top of the different columns. The effect of the new galleries being found to be so completely in keeping with the general character of the chapel, it has also been determined to retain them. THE BRIDAL DRESSES. Her Majesty, with her usual good taste, and desire to promote the interests of British manufac ture, has selected fabrics of Sp italfields pr o d uc ti on. Her Majesty wore a rich m oire anti que of a deli- Cate " mauve," or the colour of the early bl oom o f the " mallow." It is mo re delicate and chaste in its hue thßn even the peac h. The dr e s s i s s h o t with silver thre ids woven in the material. The rain is of ricti Lyons velvet, of the same colour as the robe. The Princess Royal wore a dress of white moire antique, shot with threads of the p ures t gold ; and the one in which the Princess will make her entry into Berlin will be a white poult de soie, with stripes of siilver. The effect of this introdue.