The Press.
London, England, 1854-06-10 00:00:00

Court ad t astion.

HER MAJESTY on Wednesday evening honoured
the Marquis and Marchioness of Breadalbane with
her presence at a grand ball given in Breadalbane-
house. A magnificent new ball-room, which had
been actively preparing and sumptuously decorating
for several months, was opened on the occasion. An
immense number of the fashionable world were pre.
sent at this fete. The Queen opened the ball by
dancing in the first quadrille with the ho,.t, Prince
Albert being vis-a-vis with the Countess Walewski.
Later in the evening her Majesty danced again with
the French Ambassador for partner. The King of
Portugal, with his brother, the Duke of Oporto, was
among the royal guests at this ball. The Duchess
of Kent was absent from indisposition.
Ox Monday the Queen visited the Philharmonic
Concert, and on Tuesday the Italian Opera. On
Thursday there was a Privy Council at Buckingham
Palace, followed by a Court, at which the Marquis of
Anglesey had an audience, in order to deliver to her
Majesty the insignia of the Garter worn by the late
marquis.
THE KING OF PORTUGAL, Who arrived on Satur-
day last, has mingled in all the Court ceremonies
and festivities during the week, and on Tuesday ac-
companied Prince Atbert to Eton to witness the per-
formances incidental to the annual " Speech Day "
at that college. On Monday his Majesty visited the
Sydenham Crystal Palace.
A CABINET COUNCIL was held at the Foreign-office
on Saturday last.
LORD HOWDEN, British Envoy at the Court of
Madrid, has arrived in Paris, en route for London.
Mr. Otway, the chargé d'affaires, will perform the
diplomatic duties in Madrid during his lordship's
absence. It is rumoured that Lord Howden will not
return to Spain, an important command in the East
having been tendered for his acceptance.
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE underwent a slight
stroke of paralysis towards the close of last week. His
grace has since been recovering, and is stated to be
progressing towards recovery. Her Majesty has been
among the numerous inquirers at Devonshire house
during his indisposition.
THE DUKE of PORTLAND, after a long and severe
indisposition, is now convalescent.
THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND
and suite have arrived at Milan, from a tour in the
Austrian Italian States, en route to England.
CHEVALIER BUNSEN'S SON, the Rev. H. G. Bun-
sen, M.A., Vicar of Lilleshall, Shropshire, and do-
mestic chaplain to the Duke of Sutherland, has been
appointed "Lecture Secretary" for the Church Mis-
sionary Society in the diocese of Lichfield.
THE EARL OF CLARENDON gave a grand dinner
yesterday evening, and her ladyship afterwards had
an assembly. His lordship will give a cabinet dinner
on Wednesday neat.
PIPER-MAJOR Ross, of the 42nd Highlanders, who
carried off the prize at the Northern Meeting last
year, is to be the new royal piper, vice Mackay, de-
, ceased. Ross gets his discharge from the regiment,
and commences immediately his duties at the palace.
THE EX-QUEEN OF THE FRENCH, accompanied by
the Prince de Joinville, arrived at Dover on Thurs-
day in the mail-packet from Ostend. The ez•Queen
proceeded to London yesterday morning.
AN EXTREMELY BRILLIANT ENTERTAINMENT Was
given at Washington on the 24th ult. in honour of
the anniversary of the birth of her Majesty. Lord
Elgin, all the foreign Ministers, the President, Ca-
binet, and nearly the entire Congress of the United
States, were present in honour of the occasion.
ON Saturday evening Colonel Stanhope presided
at a banquet of theiGrenadier Guards at, the Loudon
Tavern.