The Express.
London, England, 1866-09-05 00:00:00

THE COURT AT BALMORAL.

(From the Scotsman.)

Her Majesty, who seems to be in unusually good
health, takes daily drives at Balmoral. On Thursday her
Majesty, accompanied by the Princess Louise and Prince
Leopold, drove to Altnaguithassch, near Loch Muick,
where she took luncheon. After riding and walking about
the neighbourhood of Loch Muick her Majesty drove
down the new carriage road to Birkhall, and thence by
Abergeldie to Balmoral, which was reached shortly before
eight in the evening. The Prince of Wales
had another capital day's sport in the forest
on Thursday. In company with the Duke of
Edinburgh, his royal highness went out deer-
stalking round Lochnagar, and succeeded in bring-
ing down seven deer, which were afterwards shown to the
Princess and household in front of Abergeldie Castle by
torchlight. The Prince of Wales ham done much grouse
shooting. His royal highness last week had several well-
filledbags, principally in the Gairnshiel ithootings. The
same evening a grand ball was given at Abergelthe by the
Prince and Princess of Wales to the nubility and landed
proprietors in the neighbourhood. The dancing,
which consisted principally of reels and country
dances, was continued till about one o'clock, when
supper was given. After supper dancing was
again resumed, and continued till three o'clock, at
which hour the ball broke up. Friday being the day on
which the Prince and Princess Christian were expected to
reach Balmoral, her Majesty gave orders that a fitting re-
ception should be given to their royal highnesses. A
large arch, about thirty feet in height and proportionately
broad, was thrown up between the iron bridge at Balmoral,
which had a very pretty appearance. The groundwork of
the arch was relieved with borders of junipers and
heather in full bloom. An edging of lowan berries was
placed round the top of the arch ; and devices of roses
aided much in enlivening the appearance of the whole. A
large bouquet of flowers placed in a vase surmounted the
structure, while underneath were the worth " Welcome
to Balmoral," also formed of dowers and heather bleem.
The initials " C." and " II." were placed on the pillars
of the arch. Her Majesty, who took considerable interest
in its erection, was pleased to express her high approval
of the decorations. The tenantry on the three estates of
Balmoral, Abergeldie, and Birkhall were invited to attend;
and nearly three hundred ladies and gentlemen arrived
during the afternoon. Among those present were her Ma-
jesty's gamekeepers and gillies dressed in full Highland
costume. Six o'clock was the time at which the Prince
and Princess Christian were expected to arrive, and about
half-past five the tenants were placed in line on each side of
the road between theentrance gate and the arch—theganie-
keepers and gillies being stationed nearest the latter, and
headed by two of the royal pipers. Among those as-
sembled to welcome the Prince and Princess here were also his
ItoyalHighnessthe Duke of Edinburgh, General Peel, Mr.
Sahl, Dr. Jeuner, and Dr. Robertson, commissioner to
her Majesty. The pipers struck up lively tunes ; and, it
having oozed out that the royal party would he later than
at first expected, a few of the Highlanders started a reel
close beside the arch, to the evident gratification of the
Duke of Edinburgh and the assemblage. Prince and Princess
Christian reach, Perth shortly after eleven o'clock in
the forenoon. From this they posted, by Blair-
gewrie, with four horses, through the Spittal of Glen-
shee to Braemar. They were met on the way, a consi-
derable distance beyond Braemar, by her Majesty the
Queen and Princess Louise, who had left Balmoral
shortly after three o'clock to escort them. A cordial
greeting took place ; and their Royal Highnesses
Prince and Princess Christian took their places beside her
Majesty and Princess Louise, leaving their suite to come
behind. Braemar was reached a few minutes after six, and
Balmoral at a quarter past seven. On their arrival at
Balmoral-bridge the royal party were received by his
Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh and those with
him ; while Dr. Robertson delivered a short speech of
congratulation and welcome, to which Prince Chris-
tian replied. The carriage then proceeded at a
walking pace through the pleb, headed by the
two pipers playing a lively march, and followed by
the tenants in two long lines. At the entrance-
door they were waited on by Lord Charles Fitz-
roy. Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice, at-
tended by their governesses, arrived at ;the same
time, having driven half-way to Braemer to meet the royal
carriage. Arrived at the palace, the tenants gave the Prince
and Princess Christian half-a-dozen loud ringing cheers.
Her Majesty, Princess Louise, end Prince and Princess
Christian, waited at the door and graciously acknowledged
the cheering of the teuautry. The tenantry afterwards
retired, and partook of refreshments provided by her
Majesty for them. Fortunately, the day was particularly
Sue, and everything passed off well. On Saturday, her
Majesty the Queen, accompanied by Prince and Princess
Christian and Princess Beatrice, drove to Altnagnithasach.
near Loch Muick. They afterwards drove to Birkhall,
and thence by Knocks and Abergeldie to Balmoral,
which was reached between 7 and Bin the evening. The
royal party took tea at Altnaguisac. The same day the
Prince of Wales, accompanied by his Royal Highness the
Duke of Edinburgh, beat the woods of Abergeldie for
deer. One stag and four roes were brought down, and
afterwards shown at Abergeldie Castle. On Sunday
morning, the parish church of Cr:Able was crowded with
I strangers, the day being fine, and it being expected that
the Queen and royal family would be present. The Eelmo-
ral seat was occupied by her Majesty, their Royal High-
nesses Prince and Princess Christian, his Royal Highness
the Duke of Edinburgh, and her Royal Highness
Princess Louise. Immediately at the back of the Balmoral
pew were Lord Charles Fitzroy and Lady Churchill. In
the Abergeldie pew there were the Prince and Prattles' of
Wiles, the Hon. Mrs. Harding.. Major Teesdale, Same
Keppel, and the Hon. Mr. Crsrington, the latter being
lon a visit to the Prince of Wales at Abergeldie. In the
Corndavon and Invercauld pews there were Lord and Lady
Holmesdale, Sir E. and Lady Phihnore, tec.
Tuned!, of St. Andrews, officiated, preaching from John
ii., 10.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

SPEECH OF THE KING OF PRUSSIA TO
THE HANOVERIAN DEPUTATION.'
The following is the reply of the King of
Prussia to the Hanoverian deputation which
waited on his Majesty and asked him to preserve
the independence of the kingdom of Hanover.
They obtained the consent of the King to publish
his reply:
I see you here, with pleasure, gentlemen, and I cannot
view without esteem and satisfaction that the Germane
hold with fidelity so the dynasty by which *ay hen
been united for oenturiee, during which the fruits et it
reeiprecal attachment and devotion have been riNisisi.
I should have less esteem for Hanoverian if tissitisd sot
Ulm some step to prove to me that they ars attschod
to the royal house which is nearly nee.
I am therefore obliged to in
detail the motives which really first
opinion, and after great inward pre-
serve the independence of my former Paled
me to adopt the resolution, now is praxes of execution,
and therefore irrevocable, of effecting annexations. ,When
I entered on my present position I declared that my in-
tentions relative to the safety of Prussia and of Germany
aimed at no other than moral conquests. People have
smiled at this language, and have even mocked greatly
at it, yet *van now I give you my strong assurance that
my aims in this respect have nevergonebeyond this,and that
if now, at the age of TO, I proceed to forcible conquests, I
do so only from the tome of circumstances, from the
increasing hostility of my pretended allies, and from my
duty towards Prussia, the guidanoe of which is entreated
to me. Already at the iiime of the formation of the Ger-
man Confederation, thtetates which feared that the moral
elevation of Prussia—recognisable even then—would be
dangerous to theroldatenance of their influence, tried to
effect that the federal territory of Prussia should remain
separated from the independent states. Since the forma-
tion of the Confedeneelon advantage has been taken of this
situation by accusations esnstantly renewed and supported
principally by the infittence of Austria, which purchased
German, French, and English journals to excite and keep
alive in those states perpetual disquietude with regard to
the encroachment and covetousness of Prussia, and to
oppose a continual resistance to the efforts which three
governments of Prussia have not ceased zealously to make,
while respecting the rights of all, to give unity to the
Confederation, and to inspire it with material and moral
elevation. These efforts were not fruitless. They led to an
attitude on the part of Hanover which was anything but
friendly to Prussia—an attitude which was not replaced by
more friendly relations than during the government of King
Ernest Angustus,but which, during politicalcomplicationsof
late years, has often become hostile without Prussia giving
the least pretext for such hostility. Such was the state
of things when my position in Holstein was attacked and
incessantly troubled by Austria to such a degree that
Prussia was unable to stand it any longer. However, be-
fore taking final measures we took steps—not, indeed, to
remove the danger by the conclusion of the convention of
Gastein, but to adjourn it, for during thecontinuance of the
traaty, we have seen fall off one by one the masks which
hitherto concealed the intention of Austria to commence
the struggle, which had been a long time menaced and con-
sidered more and more inevitable, with Prussia—the
struggle for the preponderant influence in Germany. This
influence is the vital element of Prussia, and not to accept
the contest to sustain it would have been to sacrifice her
existence. The Schleswig-Holstein question was thus thrown
into the back-ground. To sustain this great struggle two
bases were necessary. First, the conviction of tho justice
of Prusiiis's claims, which could alone make us hope for
the protection of the Almighty, and the gift of the
fortune of war placed in His hands ; secondly, the instru-
ment which was to be used in this contest—the Prussian
army. As to the worth of that instrument I had no
doubt, for all my life had been devoted to the development
of the Prussian army, and from my position I was
enabled to form a judgment of its capacity.
As to the justice of the claims of Prussia, it seemed to me
proved by this that without their accomplishment
P.-ussia could not last or have a prosperous develupment,
and then I resolved with my full heart on the decisive
contest, leaving the issue of it in the bands of God. The
results, the greatness of which I had not foreseen, and
which have been rarely, and I may say never equalled
in the history of a struggle between two powerful
states for their existence, and in so short a
time, are due to the visible interference of Providence,
without which even the most perfect army could not ob-
tain such results. The position of the government of your
country before and during the development of these events
is known to you, as also the vote of the 14th of June,
which had no foundation in federal law, where there can
only be a question of federal execution, an execution to
which I could not submit had it been resolved on,
Eut which would on the part of Hanover have shown
a less marked violation of the federal compact in a
sense hostile to Prussia. You know the fact of the
negotiations for neutrality—my invitation vainly repeated
to accede to the confederation of the north. On the night
of the 14th of June, the march of the Hanoverian army
with its king, the catastrophe of Eangenaalza,
in respect of which I du not, it is true,
place myself forward as a conqueror, but which
in its consequences had led to the annihilation of the
Hanoverian antsy. Even after the surprising successes
which have left me entire liberty of choice in the arrange-
ments to be adopted there was no necessity for either an
address or a deputation to make me understand the gravity
of the step which you desire to prevent. Still I thank
you once inure for having spoken frankly to lite.
I prefer to know the real state of things, for this will more
clearly indicate our relations for the future. A very
serious examination, most painful by reason of my
ties of relationship with the house of Hanover
has made me adopt the resolution of annexation as a
duty—that of indemnifying my Prussia for the heavy
sacrifices which she has made, and of thereby removing for
the future the probable return of the dangers which might
result from the hostile attitude of Hanover. I hope that
one day the mutual confidence established between us will
give you entire satisfaction.
Herr von Munchausen, a member of the deputa-
tion, said in reply :
If the decision of your Majesty is irrevocable, from this
day forward the most loyal Hanoverian has only to endea-
vour to transform into a hopeless resignation to the un-
avoidable decrees of Providence the irritation produced by
the proceedings which have been adopted in regard to our
country.