The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-08-25 00:00:00

THE ROYAL FAMILY OF OUDE

Sorrismarrox, Friday Evening,—The Rajah of Surat'
and several Indian vassals and grandees, have visited
this town to pay their respects to the Princes of Oude.
The Queen of Oade and her ladies occupy the suite of
apartments on the first floor of the Royal York Hotel,
the rooms being situated close to the balcony. Two of
the rooms—the Queen residing in the lower—have bow
windows. Her Majesty is surrounded by screens, so
that if the door is opened she may not be seen; Last
night the crowd outside the hotel called for the princes
to appear, but access to the balcony could only be
obtained through her Majesty's apartment, and the
Queen had the greatest difficulty in retiring from the
apartment unobserved. The feat was effected at last by
drapery being held around her by the Eunuchs. The
window blinds of the ladies' apartments are kept down
during the whole of the day and night, and the Eunuchs
guard the doora of the apartments. Occasionally, when
the guardian's attention is withdrawn, female curiosity
is excited, the window blind is slightly and timidly
drawn aside, and a sight is then obtained from the
street of the houris of the Lucknow or Fyzabad.
harem. The complexion of these beauties is exceed-
ingly dark, the'hair jet black, and the face remarkably
round and small. Mr. Andrews, the Mayor of
Southampton, was introduced to the Queen of Oude
by Major Bird. The Major mentioned his name outside
the carriage, whereupon her Majesty put her hand
through the blind and his worship shook hands with her.
The transfer of the full Court of a Hindoo nation from
the region of the Himalayan mountains to Southampton
has caused the utmost amazement and curiosity to the
inhabitants here, and a crowd is always around the
hotel. At every window of the building men rolled
apparently in Cachmere shawls, are to be seen leaning
out, or smoking, or performing ablutions. The coffee
room is given up to the inferior castes, who are kept
busily employed. The bar is one of the cooking rooms.
Inside the inner doorway sit the upper servants, the
gold sticks" of the palace, smoking, chatting, and
purchasing goods. Natives are going over the town
purchasing fruit, poultry, and clothing. Nearly all the
party carry the most portable of their treasures and
money on their persons, which give to some a very pic-
turesque and to others a very grotesque appearance. It
is uncertain how long the party will stay in Southamp.
ton. Pamphlets are about to be published, making
known the complaint of the Court of Oude against the
East India Company.

MAILLARD'S PATENT MECHANICAL AND MAGNETIC
COMPASS.—The Gazette of Friday contains an announce-
ment of this new invention, for the use of ships and other
purposes. We have been favoured with an inspection of
this novel and very simple instrument. It consists, of an
ordinary compass needle, which works on a pivot, similar to
those at present in use. Above this needle, which is highly
magnetised, a second needle is placed. This is a plain stee
bar, and is ;,laced on a vertical shaft, and moves or
alters its po ition, with the lower needle, or magnet, and,
by a very simple mechanical arrangement, is made to
indicate the movements of the ship or magnet, with a degree
of accuracy never before attained, by means of a hand or
pointer, like that of a watch. The card over which this
hand runs is fixed, and goes with the ship ; and, being first
brought to point to the true north, the two needles are
then brought to the true north also, and the instant the latter
are allowed to go, they will give the actual variation of the
compass. This may be done in pert previous to sailing,
and may be repeated at sea whenever any doubt exists as to
the accuracy of this or any other compass. The principle
on which the inventor proceeds is, to make the common
magnet work the mechanical portion of his compass, and
once he has ascertained the exact change which has taken
place in the ship's course, which can be done under
any circumstances, he leaves his needles to them-
selves, while he gives the mariner the means of
ascertaining their deviation at any moment. No change
can, in fact, take place in the ship's course, or in the
position of the needles, without its being instantly detected
by the man at the wheel. This is all we can say at present
in justice to the inventor ; and, as a compass on the princi-
ple above described is nearly ready for exhibition, at the
Exchange News Room, we need only direct attention to its
appearance, and leave practical men to judge for themselves
of its real merits. In our future notices we shall go more
fully into the subject, and give all the information, which
will enable those at a distance to understand the exact
nature of an instrument so much required at this particular
moment, when iron ships are coming into such general
favour.