The Express.
London, England, 1852-03-26 00:00:00

Zbe Court.

Tho Queen held a Chapter of the moat ancient
and moat noble Order of the Thistle, yesterday afternoon,
at Buckingham Palace. The Knights Brethren of the
Order were robed by Messrs. Hunter and Ede in their
green velvet mantles, and assembled in the Entree room.
The officers appeared with the chains and badges of their
respective offices, the Knights wearing their collars.
At three o'clock the Knights Brethren were called over
by the Secretary of the Order, when there appeared :—The
Earl of Aberdeen, the Marquis of Ailesbury, the Marquis
of Breadalbane, the Earl of t.amperdown. The officers of
the Order present were : Sir lAD Stewart Richardson,
Dart., Secretary; Frederic Peel Round Esq., Gentleman
Usher of the Green Red. Albert William Woods, Esq.
(Lancaster Herald), Deputy Secretary, was also present,
and assisted at the ceremony.
The Queen, accompanied by Prince Albert,was conducted
by the Lord Chamberlain to the chair of state in the
1 hrone or Chapter-room. Her Majeity and his royal
highness both wore the mantle and collar of the Thi.ffe.
The eovereign being seated, theknight. entered the Chap.
ter•room, attended by the °threes tat the order • and the
former having, by command of her Map-sty, taken scats at
the table, the Queen signified her pleasure respecting the
election of • knight of the Order of the Thistle.
The knights proceeded to the election, and the suffrages
were collected by the secretary (commencing with thejunior
knight), and by him presented to the Queen, wh. was
pleieed to declare that the Right lion. Alexander George
Lord Saltoun had loan duly elected a Knight of the M.st
Ancient and Moat Noble Order of the

Lord Sa!town was introduced between tho Marquis of
Breadelbane and the Earl of Cemlierdown, the me jimior
knigles present, preceded by the secretory (lwarin,: the
ensigns of the order on R velvet cushion) mid by the Gen-
tleman Usher of the Green ltd. The customary math was
administered by the secretary to the new knight of the
order. Lord SA men knelt near the Queen; and her Ma-
jesty, assisted by his Royal highness Prince Albert, the
Senior Knight of the Thistle, was *mast to piece the rib-
basil and jewel of the order over his lordship's left shoulder.
Kis lordship kissed the Queen's hand, and. 16111{f, passed
mood the table receiving the congratulations of the Knights
Brethren. The noble lord then retired Crum the threes-
ream.

The chapter being ended, the knights were, by coma and
of the Queen, again called over by the secretary, and. pith
the officers of the order, retired treat the presence of her
Maj.aity.
Alter the investiture, the Queen gave audience to Mon-
sieur Isturix, Envoy Extraordinary and Miniwer Plenipo-
tentiary from her most Catholic Majesty the Qua en of
Spain, on his return to England. His Excellency we in-
troduced by the Earl of Malmesburv, Cie Queen's principal
Secretary of State fur Foreign Aifairs, and conducted by
Colonel Cornwall, her Majesty's Assistant Matter of the
Ceremonies.
The lion. John Duncan Bligh, the Queen's Envoy Ex-
traordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the King of "
Hanover, had an audience of her Majesty on his return to
Hanover. Mr. Nigh was presented by the Earl of Moline,-
bury.
The court was attended by the Mistresa of the Rubes ; the
Countess of Meant Edgeumbe, Lady in Waiting ; the Lord
Steward, the Lord Chamberlain, the Master of the llorae, '
the Captain of the Hon. Corp of Gentlemen-at-Arms, the.
Captain of the Yeomen Guard ; the Marquis of Assglesey,
Gold Stick in Waiting ; the Treasurer of the I ouselaid,
the Vice-Chamberlain' the Comptroller of the Household ;
the Earl of Morton, Lord in Waiting; Lord Charge Len-
nox Lord in Waiting to Prince Alber"; the Groom of the
hobos; Captain the Hun. Js Denman (Royal Navy).;Groont"
in Waiting ; Colonel Wylae, Groom in Waiting to his
Royal highness; Col. al`Donall, Silver Stick in Waiting;
Col. H. Den•inek, Field Officer in Waiting; and the lion.
Alfred Crofton and Mr. George Cameron, Pages at Honour
in Waiting.
Being a Collar-day, the principal knights of the several
orders of knighthood wo. c their respective collars.
Tho Yeomen of the Guard were on duty in the Palace,
commanded by Captain Itellair's, the Exon in Wasting.
At her Majesty's levee, on Wedn. edgy, Mr. itonamy
Mansell Power was .iresentNl to the Queen, on his appoint-
ment as her Majesty's Consul at I'ariaba, by the Earl of
Molinesbury.
lice Majesty had a dinner parte on Wednesday at Buck-
inglium Palace. The company included her Loyal High-
ness tie Duchess of Cambridge and the Princes Mary,
the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Leastble, Count Kiel-
mansegge, the Marquis of Exeter, the Earl and Countess
of Jersey, the Lady in Waitin; to the Duch,. as of Cam-
bridge, Lord George Lennox, Lord and Lady Claud
11 stnilt4n, Lord Punsonby, and the Right Hon. Spencer
and Mrs. Walpole.

Sir Wm. C. Ross, R.A., had the honour of taxing the
first sitting for a miniature of the Princess Louisa, by com-
mand of her Majesty, yesterday.
Her Majesty had a dinner party yesterday at Bucking-
ham Palace. The company included the Duchess of Kent,
the Duke and Duchess of Atholl, the Archbishop of York,
and the lion. Mrs Musgrave, Monsieur and Madame Tri-
eoupi, the Earl and Countess of Clarendon, the Lady-in-
Waiting to the Duchess of Kent, the Baroness de tpeth,
the Earl and Countess of Harrowby, Viscount Newport, Sir
ltobt. Inglis, and Colonel Wykle.

The Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Fanny Howard
and Baroness du Speth, arrived at Clarence-house, St.
James's, 3 rsterday afternoon, from Frogwore.
The (Wont University Commission had a meeting yes-
terday. at the official residence of the First Lord of the
Treamary, in Downing•street. Present—The Bishop of
Norwich, the Dean of Carlisle, the Master of Pembroke,
the Rev. Liddell, J. L. Dampier, Esq., the Rev.
Professor Powell, the Rev. G. If. S. Johnson, and tho
Rev. A. P. Stanley (secretary).
Mr. John Campbell had an interview with Mr. Secretary
Walpole yesterday, at the Home-office.
Mr. Rinks had an interview with Sir John Pakington at
the Colonial-office yesterday.
A meeting of the Finance Committee of the Royal Com-
mission fur the Exhibition of 18.51, was held yesterday at
the Palace of Westminster. Present—Sir W. Cabin (in
the chair), the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, Sir Alex-
ander Spearman, Mr. T. Baring. hI.P., Mr. T. F. Gibson,
and Mr. Bowring (secretary). Mr. Cole and Mr. Carpenter
were present.
Mr. Wilson Patten had en interview with the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, at his official residence in Downing-
street, yesterday.
A deputation on the subject of the Worcester and Ilere-
ford Railway, consisting of Admiral Berkeley, M.P., Sir
Wm. Codrington, M.P., Mr. Henry Thomas ope,
Mr. William Hodgson Barrow, M.P., Mr. Iligford Burr,
high sheriff of Berkshire, Messrs. E. L. Kendal and W.
Partridge, merchants of Gloucester, and Mr. Castro, par-
liamentary agent, had au interview with the Right Hon.
J. W. Henley and Lord Colchester yesterday at the Board
of Trade.
A deputation on the subject of the Dorchester and Exeter
Railway, including Lord Barrington, Mr. Russell, Mr.
Buller, and Mr. Brunel, bad an interview with the Right
Hon. J. W. Henley yesterday, at the railway department
of the Board of Trade.
A deputation, consisting of Mr. Vulliamy, Mr. F. Adams,
Mr. George Harker, Mr. S. E. Atkins, and Mr. Mastcrman,
M.P., had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer yesterday.
Sir Thomas Fremantle had an interview with the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer yesterday ; Mr. freely had also an
interview with the right hon. gentleman.