The Press.
London, England, 1854-05-06 00:00:00

court anb lastion.

HER MAJESTY on Monday, being the birthday of
Prince Arthur, gave a juvenile ball to a numerous
party, comprising the youthful members of many
noble and official persons, the foreign ministers, &c.
The royal children who were present at this fête
were the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the
Princess Alice, Prince Alfred, the Princess Helena,
the Princess Louisa, and Prince Arthur.
ON Wednesday the Queen held another levee. On
Wednesday her Majesty visited the Princess's
Theatre, and on Thursday the Covent-garden Italian

Opera.
THERE was a Privy Council on Monday afternoon
at Buckingham Palace.
DRAWING Rooms will be held by the Queen on the
11th and 20th instant. The latter is in celebration
of the royal birthday, and will be a "collar" day.
On Wednesday, June 9, there will be another
levee.
THE report that the late Mr. Holford had be-
queathed his vast property to the Prince of Wales is
now contradicted upon good authority.
THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN (the Marquis Of Breadal-
bane), by command of the Queen, has issued cards
to the circle usually honoured with Court invitations
for a grand concert of vocal and instrumental music
at Buckingham Palace on Monday next.

FRANCES COUNTESS WALDEGRAVE had a reunion
at her house in Carlton-gardens on Saturday. The
house has been entirely newly furnished, with great
taste and splendour. We hope, for the credit of
England, that the silk curtains are of home manu-
facture, especially the geranium-coloured draperies of
the ante-room : nothing can surpass the brilliancy
of their dye.
LADY CHARLOTTE EGERTON had a ball on Monday
at her house in Stratton-street.
THE COUNTESS OF 'WICKLOW gave a concert on
Wednesday evening. Lady Wicklow's programme
was, as usual, a model one in the extent of its range
as well as in the taste of its selection; but it was all
disarranged in consequence of the unexplained
absence of Mr. Sims Reeves.
Miss SIDNEY had a ball near Prince's-gate on
Wednesday. Prince's-gate is voted London now,
and people drive from the Cavendish-square concert
to the Prince's gate ball without the least complaint
or even comment. The ball was a very brilliant
one, and the cloak-room tent a most skilful an•ange-
ment.
THE BAL COSTUME at the French Embassy next
week is a prevailing subject of conversation. Her
Majesty and the Court do not go in fancy dresses.
THE COUNTESS GRANVILLE gave a soiree dansante
on Thursday evening at the family mansion in
Bruton-street. The circle was honoured with the
presence of her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Cambridge and the Princess Mary.
THE Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mrs. Glad.
stone gave on Wednesday their first assembly for
the season at the official residence in Downing-
street.

--
THE RIGHT HON. SIDNEY HERBERT gave a dinner
to the Cabinet Ministers on Wednesday evening at
his residence in Belgrave-square.
THE marriage of Lord Suffield and Miss Caroline
Baring, daughter of Mrs. and the late Mr. Henry
Baring, of Berkeley-square, was performed on Thurs-

day.
THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND
have returned to town after some months' sojourn in
Italy.
SIB. ROBERT PEEL AND MR. SAMSON, fellow-
passengers in the unfortunate Ercolano, arrived in
Paris early in the week. The hon. baronet has
since returned to London.

V ditiral ad tither 1.

ROYAL ACADEMY BANQUET.
THE Royal Academicians inaugurated their eighty-
sixth anniversary on Saturday by the customary
banquet given in the great room of their gallery in
Trafalgar-square. As usual also, the company invited
included, besides the Royal Academicians themselves,
and the more distinguished connoisseurs and patrons
01 art in England, a strong muster of political cele-
brities, including most of the ministers, and many of
the leading members of the Opposition. The subject
touched upon in the speeches after dinner accord-
ingly reflected the heterogeneous character of the com-
pany, diverging often from topics bearing any special
relation with art to the prosperity of the country,
the conduct of the war, and other questions of general
interest. Before dinner the rooms were thrown open
to the guests, many of whom availed themselves of
the opportunity of obtaining a cool and leisurely in-
spection of the chief works composing this year's ex
hibition. Late in the evening again the examinatio