The Press.
London, England, 1854-04-29 00:00:00

tout arai lastiou.

HER MAJESTY arrived in town from Windsor on
Monday last, and held the second drawing-room of
the season at St. James's Palace on Thursday. All
the foreign ministers were present, and the following
presentations to her Majesty took place in the diplo-
matic circle
By the French Ambassadress,—Madame d'Ox-
holme, wife of the Danish Minister at this Court;
Mrs. Thomas, wife of General J. A. Thomas, of New
York, United States Commissioner.
By the Greek Minister,—M. Cherilaus Tricoupi,
son of the Minister and Attaché to the Greek Lega-
tion.
By the Austrian Minister,—Le Comte de Wimp-
ffen, Enseigne de Yaisseau au service de sa Majesty
Imperial.
Her Majesty wore a train of lilac and silver moire
antique silk, trimmed with white tulle and silver
stars. The petticoat was white crape, with two
flounces, and was trimmed with silver and silver and
crape ribbons. The headdress was a diadem of
emeralds and diamonds, and feathers.
ON Tuesday, being the birthday of the Princess
Alice, the Duchess of Kent paid a visit of congratula-
tion to the Queen and Prince Consort. Her Majesty
afterwards visited the Duchess of Gloucester, whose
birthday it also was. In the evening the Queen and
Prince Albert visited the Haymarket Theatre.
ON Wednesday, the day of national humiliation,
her Majesty attended divine service at the private
chapel in Buckingham Palace.
THERE is to be a juvenile party at the Palace on
Monday next, and on Wednesday the Queen holds a
levee.
HER MAJESTY'S BIRTHDAY Will be celebrated this
year on Saturday, the 20th of May, by a drawing-
room, and by numerous state banquets in honour of
the occasion given by the principal Ministers of the
Crown and the chief o cers of her Majesty's house-
hold.
THE QUEEN held a Privy Council on Monday after
noon. The Hon. John Duncan Bligh, Envoy Extra-
ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the King of
Hanover, was presented by the Earl of Clarendon,
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and took leave
of the Queen on returning to Hanover.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER had adinner
party on Tuesday evening at his official residence in
Downing-street.
Mas. GLADSTONE has issued cards for evening
parties on the 3d and 10th proximo.
THE DUKE OF BEAUFORT has arrived in Berkeley•
square from Badminton Park. The noble and gallant
duke retains the rank of aide-de-camp to the General
Commanding in Chief, Lord Hardinge.
THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND and
suite have arrived in Paris, en route from Genoa, to
London and Sion-house for the season.
THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF WELLINGTON have ar-
rived in Belgrave-street from Italy, where their
graces have been passing the winter. The duke re-
sumed his duties as Master of the Horse on Thursday
at her Majesty's second drawing-room.
THROUGH THE LIBERALITY OF PRINCE ALBERT,
whose example in contributing 2001. towards the ex-
tension of the electric telegraph to Aberdeen has been
followed by the merchants and manufacturers of the
city, there is now a certainty that the wires will be
erected in the course of the present summer. The
directors of the Dee-side Railway Company are to
have the telegraph extended to Banchory, and, as the
distance thence to Balmoral is only about thirty
miles, it is intended to lay a wire to the palace there,
so that the Court may be in immediate commumca-

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THE PRESS.

tion with London. The new palace at Balmoral is
now pretty well advanced, but, though a part of it
will he finished this slimmer, the Royal Family will
not occupy it until the summer of 1855.
THE occurrence of a terrible catastrophe is reported
from Turin. The steamer Ercolana had foundered
from a collision off Villa Franca. Among the passengers
lost were 15 English—Mr. T. Halsey, M.P., with his
wife and youngest son, Mr. Knight and family of
five, Mr. Josep h Hayes and family of three, Mr. Charles
Sanson, and Sir Robert Peel's servant. Sir R. Peel
himself was on board, and escaped, it is said, almost by
amiracle. Four other English passengers were saved
—Mr. Edward Downley, Mr George Wilkinson, Mr.
Edward Knight, and Mr. Charles Boston.

THE ROYAL Victoria and Albert steam-yacht has
been ordered round from Portsmouth to Woolwich, for
the accommodation of the Queen and the Royal
Family on the occasion of the launch of the Royal
Albert screw steam-ship, on the 13th of May next.
Tickets will be issued to the number of upwards of
5,000 for ladies, exclusively of the nobility and gentry
who will be accommodated with seats in the booths
on the sides of the vessel.
HER MAJESTY PAID THE CRYSTAL PALACE AT
SYDENHAM an unexpected visit on Tuesday after-
noon, just as the weekly board were breaking up,
and when, fortunately, the whole of the directors
were in attendance to escort the royal party over the
building and grounds. The Queen was accompanied
by Prince Albert and four of the royal children—the
Prince of Wales, Princess Royal, Princess Alice, and
Prince Alfred. Sir J. Paxton had the honour of ex
plaining to her Mikjesty the progress of the works ;
and Mr. Belshaw, the superintendent, conducted the
royal visitors over the whole of the palace and gar
dens. Her Majesty paused for a few minutes at the
end of the nave, now cleared of all unsightly lum-
ber, and seemed particularly struck with its extent
and proportions. The royal party then went through
the narrow courts, which her Majesty minutely
examined, asking several questions as she went
along of the various heads of departments. A pro-
longed inspection was given to the Ninevite Palace,
which is now nearly finished, under the superinten-
dence of Mr. Layard and Dr. Ferguson ; and Prince
Albert spoke in very complimentary terms of the re•
sults of the joint labours of both those gentlemen.
After this examination her Majesty and party pro-
ceeded through the grounds, and visited the extinct
animal models of Mr. W. Hawkins, in which the
Queen is understood to take a considerable interest.
The Queen on departing expressed to Sir Joseph
Paxton her satisfaction at the progress of the works,
and the general appearance of the building, and was
pleased to accept two large photographs, an interior
and exterior view of the l'alace, which Mr. De la
Motto had been successful in taking during the
recent sunny weather.