The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-07 00:00:00

the Court•

WIND- BOR CASTES, Ann &
The Queen, accompanied by the Princess Lei-
Mogen, drove in the grounds this morning.
Prineme Louise and Prince Leopold also went out
driving.

A oommittee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honour-
able Privy Council met yesterday in the Connell Chamber,
Whitehall, upon the subject of small pea in sheep,
Present—the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers, the Right Hon.
W. Cowper. Mr. Helps (Clerk of the Council), and Mr.
Hareaoi, (the Deputy Clerk), attended.
Despatches were received yesterday at tha Colonial-
aloe from the Governors of Malta and Canada.

Her Majesty the Queen, with the members of
the royal family, attended by the ladies and gentlemen of
the court, is expected, asoording to the most recent ar-
rangements, to leave Windsor Castle on or about Thursday
nest for Osborne, in the Isle of Wight. The London and
South Western Railway will furnish the special train, the
arrangements for which will be under the control of Mr.
J. Grierson, general manager of the Great Western, and
Mr. W. Godson, traffic manager of the South Western

Railway. Altar7a few weeks' Jay at Osborne, her Majesty
will return to Windsor, and then make a spring trip to

His Excellency the Ambassador of France is
about to give • series of dinner parties at Albert-gate Rowe.
The first is fixed for the 9/1 inst.
His Excellency the Prussian Ambassador and
the Countess Bernstorff have left Prussia Same for
Brighton.
Sir Roderick Murchison, as President of the
Geographical Society, will give an evening party to the
members of the society on the 14th inst. at Willis's Booms.
The Earl and Countess Russell and family have
returned to their residence in Cheeham-place from Pem-
broke Lodge, Richmond Park.
The Earl of Derby is greatly improved in health,
and will, it is thought, be able to resume his duties in the
Rouse of Lords on the resumption of business next week.
The marriage of Rear-Admiral Eden (one of the
' Lords of the Admiralty) with Mies Fanny °mills will
take place this month.
Mrs. W. E. Gladstone has issued invitations for
an assembly on Wednesday, the 18th inst., at the family
residence on Carlton Rouse-terrace.

We (Dublin Evening Mail) understand that Lord
Athlumnsy is to be raised to the British peerage by the
title of Baron Meredith.

Mr. H. Fenwick (says the Sunderland Herald) is
at present staying at Torquay, and is gradually improving
in health and strength.
Captain Edward A. Inglefield will, we (Army and
Navy Graeae) believe, supersede Captain George 0. Willis,
C. 8., in the command of her Majesty's ship Primo. Con-
Dort, and Captain Willis will take command of her Mr
jesty's ship Indus, steam reserve, at Devonport, vine Ed-
mem:tone.
The Army and Navy Gazette states that orders
have been sent from the Admiralty to the Mediterranean
for the immediate return of Rear-Admiral Yelverton to
England. This officer is directed to make the beet of his
way to Plymouth in his flagship Caledonia. It is expected
that Admiral Yelverton is about to take the command of
the Channel squadron.
Nauman is to be the next of the Sacred Harmonic
Society's oratorios.
The first of the New Philharmonic concerts will
take place on the 18th.
Mr. Ella's meetings of the Musical Union are ad-
vertised to commence on the 10th, with Herr Auer as
leader of the quartette.
The Atheneum believes that the second volume
of the " History of Julius Caesar," by the Emperor
Napoleon 111., may be expected in the latter part of the
present month. It will be devoted to the history of Caesar's
wars in Gaul, which is understood to have been for many
year. a favourite subject with the Emperor, and it will be
rendered more valuable by the extensive excavations and
explorations of all kinds which have been made on the
sites of Caesar's exploits by the orders of the Emperor. The
latter is said to have plaid great personal attention to this
volume in its progress through the press, which accounts
for the delay in its publication. It will be illustrated with
numerous maps and plans.
" What has become of the Cattle Plague Com-
mission?" asks the Gardener? Caroni*. "It is to be
feared (or hoped, may we not rather say?) that the disease
will have dwindled and disappeared before their third
report shall have appeared, which is to reflect upon us all
the light that men of science have thrown upon the sub-
iect "
Mr. C. J. Mare, who commenced building the
Northumberland, but left it while the work was in pro-
gress, says he should hare successfully floated her at the
first attempt. His reason for making this assertion is
based on the following ground :—He had intended to
launch with the usual inclination ; this would have given
her a sufficient (and in no way dangerous) velocity until
arrested by the water, end yet the way on her would have
been sufficient to carry her Into midstream.
Galignani says :—" The English ball given last
night (Thursday) at the Grand Hotel was of a most mag-
nificent description, not fewer than 1,000 periodss being
present, and the display of beauty and fashion exceeding
all that had been seen on former occasions. The company
at this great annual fete is becoming each year more and
more cosmopolitan, and the foreign element het night—
particulerly of the American. and Freneh—nearly equalled
in number the natives of Great Britain. The Prime Royal
of Denmark was among the persons present and expressed
himself in flattering terms on the splendid ormcdWal
which the bell-room afforded. Dancing commenced about
10, Strauss bringing out some new music expressly for the
fete. From that hour until hall-past 4in the morning,
waltzes, quadrille., and polkas followed each other in us?
tiring succession."
Prince Napoleon was present the other day at
an experiment of the torpillt frlminalite which took plias
at Toulon at his 'request. The torpille was tried mania
the stern of the Vauban, the only portion of that vessel
mat above water. The effect of the explosion was that
gill whole mass of timber was instantly seattered sad
almost pulverised. A most amusing incident is reported
to have proved remunerative to groups cif fiabetinen
watching the experiment. After each explesini shoals ci
Ask revs to the surface, and were so paralysed by the shoe!
11113 they allowed the axe to sash Assn in hundred&