The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-02 00:00:00

INSPECTION OF THE FIRST LIFE-GUARDS

BY HIM MAJESTY.

The distinguished and highly disciplined regi-
ment of the First Life Guards, under the command
at Colonel D. C. F. de Roe, now stationed at the
Cavalry Barracks, Windsor, was inspected on Saturday
morning last by her Majesty the Queen, who arrived
at the barracks shortly after 11 o'clock in an open
pony carriage with attendants in plain liveries, accom-
panied by their Royal Highnesses the Prisons Helena,
Princess Louise, end Prince Arthur. and attended by
Major-General F. H. Seymour, C. 8., and Colonel Pon-
sonby on horseback, as equerries in waiting. In a
second carriage were lady Waterpark, the lady-in-
waiting, and the Hon. Lucy Kerr, maid of ho-
nour. Major Elphinstone was also on horseback, in
attendance on Prince Arthur. The regiment having been
drawn up in line received her Majesty with the royal
salute, the band playing the National Anthem. The
Queen weed along the front and rear ranks, with Colonel
de Roe walking by the side of her carriage. Afterwards
her Majesty and royal party alighted from their carriages,
and were conducted by the colonel and Mr. Luard, the
engineering officer superintending the new building, to a
wing of the soldiers' quarters, the improvements of which
were commenced last year, and are now completed.
After inspecting another building her Majesty returned
to the square and witnessed a post practice, whioh was cle-
verly performed by a squad of non-commissioned officers
and men in the horse parade, and before taking her depar-
ture her Majesty expressed to the commanding officer, the
Hon. D. C. F. de Roe, her great satisfaction at what she
had witnessed. As her Majesty was leaving the square
the regiment again presented arms, and the band played
the National Anthem

AUTOGRAPH LETTER OP THE QUEEN TO
MR PEABODY.

The following letter has been written by the
Queen to Mr. Peabody :
" Windsor Castle, March 28, 1866.

" The Queen hears that Mr. Peabody intends shortly to
return to America, and she would be sorry that he should
leave England without being assured by herself how deeply
she appreciates the noble act of more than princely muni-
ficence by which he has sought to relieve the yenta of the
poorer clam of her subjects residing in London.
" It is an act, as the Queen believes, wholly without pa-
rallel, and which will carry its best reward in the con-
sciousness of having contributed so largely to the assist-
' once of those who can little help themselves.
_ .

" The Queen would not, however, have been satisfied
without giving Mr. Peabody some public mark of her sense
of his munificence, and she would gladly have conferred
upon him either a baronetcy or the Grand Cross of the
Order of the Bath, but that she understands Mr. Pea-
body to feel h,imself debarred from accepting such dis-
filmdom'.

" It only remains, therefore, for the Qneen to give Mr.
Peabody this assurance of her personal feelings, which she
would further wish to mark by asking him to accept a
miniature portrait of herself, which she will desire to have
painted for him, and which, when finished, can either be
sent to him to America or given to him on the return
which, she rejoices to hear, he meditates to the country
that owes him so much."

We are authorised to state that her Royal High-
ness the Princess of Wales will, on behalf of the
Queen, hold Drawing-rooms at St. James's Palace
on Wednesday, May 23, and on Saturday, June 9.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will also
on her Majesty's behalf hold Levees at St. James's
Palace on Wednesday, May 2 ; on Saturday, May
12 ; and on Wednesday, June 6.

-
THE KING or THE BELGIANB.—WO (Post) un-
derstand that the King of the Belgians will arrive in
London this evening in order to attend the funeral of the
Queen of the French.
. . . .

The Duchess (Dowager) of Sutherland has con-
siderably recovered her health, and will, in the course of a
few days, go to Cliveden, her seat in Buckinghamshire.
The Countess of Ellesmere, who is at present
staying at Bridgwater House, is slowly recovering from
her recent severe indisposition.
The Countess of Desert has left her residence in
Eatou-square for Redgrave Hall, Suffolk.
Viscount and Viscountess Sydney left Cleveland-
square on Saturday on a visit to the Earl and Countess of
Sandwich at Hinchinbroke, Hants. _ _

Lord and Lady Edward Clinton left town on
Saturday on a visit to the Countess Frances Waldegrave
and the Right Hon. Chichester Fortesene, M.P., at
Strawberry-MIL

The Hon. Mr. and Mn.s Edward Russell have
left town on a visit to the Countess Frances Wsldegrave
and the Right Hon. Chichester Fortescue, MS., at Straw-
berry-hill.
Lady Charlotte Schreiber has issued invitations
for a ball at Lanham House on Wednesday, the 18th inst.
Sir Norman and Lady Macdonald Lockhart and
/asses Macdonald Lockhart have left Farranoe's Hotel for
their town residence in Lowndes-square.

- -
Mrs. Henry Barnard Hankey's ball will take
plaoe an April 18, at 38, Lowndas-square.
THE Manor OF LONDOII.—The Bishop of London
was by no Ines:ono well yeeterday (Saturday) Awning, but
the report in the afternoon was of a more favourable
character. His lordship's condition, at one period far
more grave and perilous than many supposed, fo ~bMs the
possibility of ramming his diocesan labours for some saa-
siderable time.—Sunday Gazae.

H-----
aavnt or THS Sraassa.—The Speaker of the
House of Commons makes but little program towards con-
valescence, and resent amounts are not of the mod smearing
character. The right hon. gentleman's medical advisers
looked forward to marked improvement from complete
rest and seaside sojourn during the Easter noses, but they
have not been able to emotion his removal from London,
and the only exercise allowed him is either in a bath chair
on the river terrace, or en hour's daily drive in a does
carriage. It is feared, notwithstanding the Speaker's
a sty to resume his duties, and the annoyance be expo
ricoed -
at having been kept so king from the inewles of the
House by an unfote accident and its effect as his eau.
✓titution, that Mr. Dodson's services as Deputy Speaker
must be again called into requisition after the 1041111111 MI.
Wag of parliament —Sunday Goselit