The Express.
London, England, 1847-03-27 00:00:00

linic Caen.

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The Queen held a chapter of the Most Noble Order
of the Garter yesterday afternoon at Buckingham Palace.
The knights companions of the order assembled at one o'clock
in the palace, and were robed in their mantles of purple
velvet by Mr. Hunter and Mr. Ede. The knights also
wore their splendid collars. Garter King of Arms called
over the names of the knights companions present in the
Green Drawing-room, and the knights and officers of the
order proceeded into the presence of the sovereign, in the
Throne or Chapter-room. The Queen, who wore the mantle
and collar of the order, was seated in the chair of state,
Prince Albert being by her side ; his royal highness also
wearing the mantle sod collar. The Duchess of Sutherland,
Mistress of the Robes, and the Countess of Gainoborough,
Lady in Waiting, were behind her Majesty. The Lord
Chamberlain stood on the right of the Queen, and the Lord
Steward on the opposite side. The knights companions
present were his R. H. Prince Albert, his R. H.
the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Wellington,
the Marquis of Anglesey, the Marquis of Exeter,
the Duke of Hamilton, the Marquis of Salisbury,
the Duke of Beaufort, Earl de Grey, and the Mar-
quis Camden. The officers of the order present were
the Bishop of Winchester, Prelate; the Bishop of Oxford,
Chancellor; Sir C. Young, Garter King of Arms • and Sir
A. Clifford, Bart., Gentleman Usher of the Black End. The
knights companions being seated, the Chancellor signified to
the Queen that the Hon. and Rev. 0. N. Grenville attended
at the door, and humbly prayed to be admitted to take the
oath of office as register of the moat noble Order of the
Garter, whereupon, by her Majesty's command, the regis-
ter, wearing his mantle, was introduced between Garter and
Black Rod, the former carrying, on a velvet cushion, the
gold chain and badge ; the register knelt on the left hand of
the Queen, and the oath of office was administered to him
by the Chancellor. The register was then invested by the
Sovereign with the gold chain and badge, and having
had the honour to kiss her Majesty's hand, retired to
his place at the bottom of the table. The Chan-
cellor signified to the chapter her Majesty's royal
will and pleasure that the vacant stall in the royal Chapel of
St. George at Windsor, should be filled, and as, by the sta-
tutes, nose but a knight can be elected, the most noble
Francis Duke of Bedford was introduced between Garter
and Black Rod The sword of state, born by Sir W. Mar-
tins, gentleman usher, was presented to the Queen by the
Lord Chamberlain ; and her Majesty wee graciously pleased
to confer the honour of knighthood upon the noble duke
therewith. His Grace, rising, kissed the sovereign's hand
and retired. The Knights Companions proceeded to the
election, and the suffrages having been collected by the
Chancellor, were presented by him to the Queen, who com-
manned him to declare that the moot noble Francis Duke of
Bedford had been duly elected a knight of the most noble
Order of the Garter. By the sovereign's command the
Duke of Bedford was received at the door of the Chapter-
room by the Marquis Camden and Earl de Grey,
the two junior knights companions present, and
was conducted between them to the Queen, pre-
ceded by Garter, (bearing the ensigns of the order
u • crimson velvet cushion,) and by Block Rod.
His Grace knelt wear the Soverign, and Garter King of
Arms on his knee presented the Garter, and her Majesty,
assisted by their RR. NH. Prince Albert and the Duke of
Cambridge, the two Senior Knights' Companions present,
buckled it on his Grace's left leg, the Chancellor pronouncing
the usual admonition. Garter King of Arms presented In
like manner the Riband and George, and her Majesty,
mended as before, put the Riband over his Grace's) left
snoulder, the Chancellor pronouncing the admonition. The
Noble Duke again kissed her Majesty's hand and peered
round the Chapter Table, receiving the congratulations of
each of the Knights Companions. His Grace then withdrew.
The Chapter being ended, Garter, by her Majesty's com-
mand, again called over the Knights Companions, who,
with the Officers of the Order, retired from the
presence of the Queen, with the usual reverence. A
guard of honour of the yeomen guard lined the grand
hull, under the command of the coon in waiting, Captain
Sadler. The Queen's guard of the Foot Guards, with the
band of the regiment, was on duty on the palace lawn during
the court.
H.K.H. Prince Albert presided, yesterday after-
noon, at a meeting of the commissioners for promoting and
encouraging the hoe arts in the rebuilding the palace of
Westminster. The meeting was held in the new palace.
The Prince arrived shortly before three o'clock, attended by
Col. Bouverie. The commissioner present were : the Earl
of Aherdeen, the Earl of Lincoln, Lord Ashburton, Lord
Colborne, Viscount Morpeth, Viscount Mahon. the Speaker
of the House of Commons, Sir R. Peel, Sir R. H. Inglis,
Mr. H. Hallam, Mr. Vivian, Mr. Wyse. The secretary,
Mr. Eastlake, was in attendance. Mr. Barry, the architect,
attended thecommissioners during their anspectionof portions
of the new building. The meeting broke up at six o'clock.
The Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal took
an airing yesterday in an open carriage and four. The Royal

dinner party yesterday at Buckingham Palace ineladed the
Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs. Howley, the Duchess of
Sutherland, the Ccrantew Granville, and the Right flog, Sir
J. Graham.

INCREASE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY.—We have
again the gratificati,in to announce the approach of an event
calculated to increase the domestic happiness of our sovereign
and the prince consort. The Morning Port, whose calcu-
lations respecting such interesting events are seldom erro.
neous, names August mat as the auspicious moath.
Yesterday was the birthday of H.R.H. Prince
George.
Their RIZ.HH. the Duke and Duchess of Cam-
bridge and the Princess Mary dined •ith H.R.H. the
Duchess of Gloucester, at Gloucester House, last evening.

A deputation from the Mauritius Association had
an interview with Earl Grey yesterday at the Colonial-othee.
The following members of the new bishoprics commission
yesterday attended • meeting in Whitehall-place; The
Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord John Russell, the Bishops
of London, Durham, Winchester, Chester, and Lincoln, and
Sir G. Grey. The Chairman of the Excise had an interview
with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday. Lord J.
Stuart had also an interview • ith the Right Hon. Baronet.
Lord Rowden had an interview with the Earl of Clarendon
on Thursday at the Board of Trade.
The Marquis of Itinsdowr.e was better yesterday.
The Marquis of Sligo leg Terrance's Hotel yesterday for ,1
Ireland.

RELIEF OF THE HIGHLANDERS.—The arum of
3301. has been remitted to Edinburgh for the relief of the
Highlanders, as the proceeds of a private fancy bazaar, held'
at Stratheden House, by Lady Stratheden and Campbell,
with the assistance of her friends.
DEATH OF SIR HENRY ROBERT CARDEN, BART.—
Accounts have been received in town of the demise of the
above gallant baronet, whose dissolution took place a few
days since at Templemore House, county Tipperary, Ireland.
He was second son of Sir John Carden, who raised the 30th
regiment of Light Dragoons, which regiment was reduced'
at the peace of Amiens. He served in that regiment under
the command of his father during the several campaigns in
the Peninsula under the Duke of Wellington, and also
shared the glories of Waterloo. lie retired from the army
shortly after the general peace. On the death of his brother,
Sir Arthur, in March, 182'2, be succeeded to the Karonetey.
The deceased was born Bth Feb., 1789, and in March, 1818,
he married Louisa, only child of Mr. Frederick Thompson,
of the city of Dublin, by whom he leaves issue four sons and
three daughters. Hu eldest son, John Craven Carden, who
succeeds to the baronetc_y, is a captain in the Bth Hunan.
DEATH OF THE HON. SIR EDWARD VAYASOUR,
Bentz—We have to record the sudden death, near Dijon. in
Buz sandy, of the above hon. baronet, who was ►t the time
on his way to Rome. The melancholy event took place on
the 15th inst. The deceased baronet was second son of
Charles, 16th Lord Stourton, and uncle of the present peer.
lie was born 6th May, 1786, and married sth August, 1813.
Marcia Bridget, only daughter of Mr. James Lane Fox, and
by her ladyship, who died in 1826, he had a family of Rye
sons and three daughters. In 1826 be inherited the ancient
family estate of his kinsman, Sir Thos. Vavaaour, Bart., of
Haalewood, Yorkshire, and thereupon took by eitin manual
the name of Vavasour, in lieu of his patronymic. In 1828
he was created a baronet. He was a knight of the Order of
St. John of Jerusalem, and a deputy-lieutenant of York-
shire. Tile deceased baronet is succeeded by his eldest eon
Edward, born Jan. 17, 1815.

(From last night's Gazette.)
DRAWING Room.—Notice is given in last night's
Gazette that her Majesty will hold a drawing room this day.
The regulations respecting the presentations, and the setting
down and taking up of the company in their carriages, arc
precisely the same as those issued on former occasions.
FOREIGN-OFFICE, MARCH 23.—The Queen has
approved of Mr. 8. Solomon, u Consul at St. Helena far
her Majesty the Queen of Spain.