The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-24 00:00:00

DEATH OF SIR ARCHIBALD ALMON.

We learn with regret, though without surprise,
that Sir Archibald Alison died last night at Glasgow. His
condflioft for some tiny reeiously precluded all hope of
recovery.

The deceased baronet was born at the parsonage house
of Henley, in Shropshire, in 1792, his father being a clergy-
man and author of " Essays on Taste.' The deceased
studied at the University of Edinburgh under Pro-
/neon Dugald Stewart, Playfair, ani Leslie, and
other celebrated men of the day ; and he carried
off the highest prizes in the mathematics and
Greek. He became a member of the Scotch bar in
P 414, and in the succeeding eight years travelled much
on the Continent. In 1834 he was appointed Sheriff of
the county of Lanark, one of the highest judicial otiose in
Scotland. Shortly before this he published two works,
which became standard ones on Scotch law, one being
" The Principles of the Criminal Law," and the other
" The Practice of the Criminal Law." At that period
he was already engaged in preparing his " History
of Modern Europe from the commencement of the French
Revolution to the Battle of Waterloo "—a work which
is exceedingly voluminous and full of details that could
not have been collected without remarkable industry, but
which is marred by at. excess of comment and reflection
often causing weariness to the reader, so that the abridg-
ment isnowgenerally preferred to the formidable whole. In
1845 the deceased was elected Lord Rector of
Marischal College, Aberdeen ; in 18.51 he was
chosen to 511 the same position in the 1112i-
vanity of Glasgow. In 1832 the Earl of Derby. being
at the head of the government, conferred upon him a
baronetcy, and in the following year the University of
Oxford awarded to the deceased baronet, now in the ,enith
of his fame as an historian, the degree of D.C.L.
The great effort of the deceased's life, his history of
Europe from the tint French Revolution, has been con-
tinued up to a later period, the design of the author
being to extend it up to the accession of Napoleon
111. to the throne. A portion of this supplementary his-
tory was long since presented to the public. The literary
labours of the deceased included "The Life of the Duke of
Marlborough," and the " Principles of Population ;" and he
also found time to devote himself to a biography of Lord
Castlereagh, and published extensively on the vexed cur-
rency question, in which he deemed himself an autho-
rity.
In politics the deceased was throughout life a tory of
the old school, being apparently quite unaffected by the
fact that he was almost always the representative of a losing
cause. His predilections and prejudices are constantly
exhibited in his "History of Europe." As an author he was
wanting in force and impression, and in that artistic use
of materials which is necessary to command the attention
of the mass of readers. In industry, however, and in the
painstaking investigation of facts, he has had few equals.
He is succeeded in the title by !damn Colonel Alison, com-
mander of the 72nd Highlanders, who served with distinc-
tion under Lord Clyde during the Indian mutiny.

We are authorised to state that her Royal High-
ness the Princess Louis of Hesse (Princess Alice
of Great Britain and Ireland) will hold drawing-
rooms on the Queen's behalf at St. James's Palace
on Saturdays, June the Bth and State con-
certi; will take place at Buckingham Palace on
Wednesday, the 12th, and Morday, the 17th of
June ; and two state balls will be given at the
same Palace later in the season.

" The Prince of Wales," writes a Paris e.irre-
spondent, "marked his stay in Paris by nue of those act
of kindness which are never forgotten. His old French
master, IL Bresseur, whom he has never failed to visit
whenever he passed through Paris, told him that his great
ambition was to possess the ribbon of the Legion d'Hon-
neur, but that be had not sufficient interest to make his
claims known to those in power. The Prince laid his case
at ones before the Emperor, and said that he did not ask
for the distinction merely because he had been his master,
but because he bad so honourably maintained his nation-
ality for many years in a difficult public position in Eng-
land. Needless to remark that N. Brasseur received the
decoration on the evening of the day the Prince had asked
for it."

The Princess Mary and Prince Tock, attended
by Lady Elizabeth Adeline, Mr. Adeline, and party,
honoured the Prince of Wales's Theatre with their pre-
sence last evening.

The Duke of Cambridge boa engaged to dine
with the Austrian Ambassador and the Countess Apponyi
on Mond►y, the 3rd proximo, at the Austrian Embassy.

The Earl of Derby will gives full-dreaa banquet
to-morrow, to a party of 40 peers, at his lordship's official
residence in Downing-street, in celebration of her Majesty's
birthday. After the dinner the Countess of Derby will
receive a large company.

The Earl and Countess of Cardigan have left
town for Deene, in consequence of the sudden death of his
lordship's sister, the Countess of Chichester. The latter
while dining with her daughter and son-in-law, the Earl
and Counters. of Darnley, at their house in Hill-street, on
Tuesday last, felt suddenly unwell, and soon became in-
sensible. Medical assistance was quickly obtained, but the
attack was at once pronounced to be one of apoplexy of
the worst kind. 'and it terminated fatally about 10 o'clock
on Wednesday evening.

Sir Roundoll and Lady Laura Palmer entertained
at dinner on Wednesday evening, at their residence in
Portland-place, Lady Elizabeth Waldegrave, Hon. Mrs.
Bonham-Carter, Sir Philip and Lady Pauncefort Duu-
combo and Miss Buncombe, Hon. Gleoree Broderick, the
Rev. G. H. Palmer, Mr. and Mrs. Wyvill, Mr. Ilbert, Mr.
C. S. Roundell, and Mr. R. C. Palmer.

The Duke and Ducheaa of Wellington (the Mis-
tress of the Robes) will give a banquet and small evening
party In honour of her Majesty's birthday, to-morrow, :it
Apaley House.

The state apartments of Windsor Castle, the
model farm at Frogmore, and the royal gardens will be
opened to the public on and after Monday nest, on the
usual days, viz., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

A seaman fell off the royal mainyard of H.M.S.
Dellerophon into the sea in Portland Roads, a few days
since. Lieutenant James, an officer on board the ship was
shocked so suddenly at the sight of the man falling, and
being &filleted with heart disease, that he died within a
few minutes after the accident had happened. The sailor
was picked up out of the sea without having vustained
any injury.

According to tho Levant Herald, at a council of
the Turkish Cabinet, held on the 14th inst., the title to
be granted to the Pacha of Egypt was at length definitely
settled. Wu highness is to be called " Khedeve," which
is regarded as the Arabic equivalent of " King." The fir-
man conferring this title, it is remarked, " also states the
other concessions made at the same time with a compre-
hensive looseness that leaves the sovereign power of the
Pasha practically without limit. Short of refusing to
pay tribute, he may now do virtually what he likes with
Egypt."
T z PRINCESS OF W A LEs.—The increasing Reverity
of the weather has made the past week a trying one, even
for those who cannot be considered invalids. Her royal
highness has not escaped an attack of cold and sore-throat,
a discomfort from which few persons have been exempt, bat
which in her case was not particularly severe, and was
unattended by rheumatism. With the exception of this
' passing ailment, the condition of the patient has continued
satisfactory. Nothing has occurred to interrupt the pro-
' cent of repair which tho affected joint is undergoing. The
limb is necessarily still confined in a splint, kept in en
extended poeition, and suspended in a cradle. No attempt
at bending the knee has been made, and, indeed, the
joint is still so sensitive, and susceptible of pain upon the
slightest hint of motion that its preservation in a state of
abeolute rent would be instinctive even if it were not made
compulsory. There is nothing unsual in the case, which is
similar in character to a score cue may see daily in the
metropolitan hospitals. Her royal highness is in the
ordinary condition of a person who has had extremely
acute inflammation of all the textures of the knee joint.
including its cartilages, and the time has not yet arrived
at which any attempt at movement can be tritely made.—
Lancet.

THE SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM. —Last even-
ing the Council of the Society of Arta held a conversacione
at the South Kensington Museum. It was numerously
and fashionably attended, and the visitors who thronged
the rooms all appeared to take ;Teat interest in the various
objects of art and science which were provided for their
inspection and amusement. The specious rooms, which
were all thrown open. presented a novel and striking ep-
ee, crowded as they were by gaily dressed people.
rirtle educational department, which served as a tee•
room, the band of the Royal Horse Guards enlivened the
visitors with some capital music. In the north court,
which was densely crowded throughout the evening, the
Scot. Rather Guards played a well chosen and brilliant
selection of mock. The visitors began to disperse about
n o'clock.