Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-04-20 00:00:00

THE COURT

WINDSOR CASTLE, Monday.—The Queen and the Prince
Consort, with the Princess Alice, Prince Arthur, Prince
Leopold, the Princesses Helena, Louisa, and Beatrice,
attended by the Ladies and Gentlenxen in Waiting, arrived
in the Castle about half-past four o'clock

his afternoon

from Buckingham Palace.

A deputation in reference to the union of the Universities
and Colleges of Aberdeen had an interview with the Earl
of Derby at his official residence in Downing-street.
The Hon. John Kent, Commissioner for the Newfound-
land Fisheries, had an interview with the Earl of Car-
narvon at the Colonial-office.

DISCOVERY OF ANCIENT COIN ON THE PRINCE CON-
scarf s FARM.—A field, called the hospital field, belonging
to the Shaw-farm estate, in the possession of His Royal
Highness the Prince Consort, and abutting on the Long
Walk, has recently undergone the process of thorough
draining, the earth afterwards turned in, and the ground
rolled. Three boys were subsequently employed to collect
the loose stones, when on Friday last one of them picked up
something on the surface of the recently removed earth
which appeared to them to be a lump of lead, and they
were about to dispose of it as such, but upon further
investigation it proved to be a leaden cas

containing up-

wards of 150 pieces of silver coin, principally half-crowns,
of the reigns of Elizabeth, Tames 1., and Charles 1., most
of them being in admirable preservation. The boys divided
the coin among themselves, but on the discovery becoming
known to Mr. Tait, the steward of his Royal Highness,
the coins were collected and forwarded to her Majesty, and
the lads suitably rewarded.

VISIT OF PRINCE ALFRED, TO SnuusALE.m. —On the 22nd
ult. Prince Alfred and party paid a visit to the Mosque of
Omar, at the request of the Pacha, and although it was the
last day of the pilgrimage to Neby Moosa, when all the
fanatics of the country are assembled, and the mosque
enclosure was full of men, women, and children, not an
uncivil word was spoken to any one. On Friday, 23rd, a
lovely morning, the whole party set out for Hebron. First
the cawasses, then the Prince, the English Consul and his
lady, Major Cowell, &c., escorted by a body of infantry,
mounted as body guard, and last of all a party of irregular
horse for honour. It was a very pretty sight indeed. In
front were two of the cavalry drummers, fellows in the most
original costume, with conical felt caps, beating the little
kettle drums at their saddle bows with leathern straps,
making the valleys ring again. At Nar Elias, the Greeks
of the convent had laid down carpets and placed an
arm chair for the Prince, under the olive trees

where

there is a view on the right hand of Bethlehem, and on the
left of Jerusalem. The convent bell was rung famously, and
a crowd of Greek and Russian pilgrims were gathered to
see the Prince. But at Bethlehem his reception presented
a most wonderful and interesting sight. The whole popu-
lation, in their picturesque dresses, turned out to see and
welcome his Royal Highness, and his numerous cavalcade
rode through a crowd of eager people, men in their red and
white turbans, with holiday robes of scarlet cloth, women
and girls in dark blue and red, with gold coins on their
heads, and bracelets of gold and silver on their arms, on
every terrace and roof, and many a prayer of " God preserve
him to his mother," or " God lengthen his days," was
heard iu an audible voice by the bystanders in their verna-
cular Arabic. One man even ran forward and spread his
garments in the way, but the Prince, with delightful tact,
turned his horse aside so as to avoid treading on them. As
the party proceeded the mass of people followed, so that
when it reached the Church of the Nativity, the fine
open space in front of it was thronged. Here the party
were met by the Latin, Greek, and Armenian monks, bearing
huge lighted wax tapers. All the places of interest, in-
cluding the Grotto of the Nativity and the dwelling place of
Jerome, were visited. After resting, and accepting the
hospitality of the Latin superior, the party proceeded to
Urtas, supposed to be the site of Solomon's gardens, and now
the industrial farm belonging to the Jerusalem Agricultural
Association and to Mr. Meshullani, who resides on the spot.
On the hill side the Sheik and people of Urtas met the party,
and, with their long guns, fired a feu de joie, to the great
amusement of the royal party. Mr. Meshullam had the
Union Jack flying over his house, and had the honour of
entertaining the party at breakfast. The visitors were so
much pleased with the place and their reception that they
expressed their intention of returning thither on their way
back next day. Hence they went towards Solomon's Pools,
the goldfinches pouring forth their song from every branch
and thicket. These pools are splendid pieces of water, the
largest, as was observed by one of the party, capable of
accommodating two first-rates. At Hebron, the troops
were drawn out, and, after the colonel had paid his
respects, the party moved on —not to the town, hut west-
wards to the great oak, called Abraham's oak, where
tents were pitched in readiness. Presently a pack of jackals
began to cry among the vineyards, and their voices had
hardly ceased when the plaintive cry of the plover was heard,
and then came the barking of a fox, the hooting of an owl
with a voice like a bell, and all other sounds spc.
encampment. Next morning the party returned to Jeru-
salem by a different road, first visiting the unfinished build-
ing called Abraham's house, supposed to have been begun by
David before removing to Zion. The doorway is 176 feet
wide, and all of Jewish style of building. Shortly before
reaching Urtas a hare was started, and a brisk bat unsuc-
cessful chase ensued. At Urtas dinner had been prepared
by Mr. Meshullam, and the butter, honey, and Bethlehem
wine were mach approved. After dinner the line of march
was resumed, and Jerusalem re-entered after dark. Next
day the whole party attended divine service at the English
church on Mount Zion, where the bishop preached, and the
church was filled with pilgrims and strangers then sojourning
in Jerusalem—even some of the Tarkish guard ventured in. In
crossing the square of the castle opposite the church gateway
the guard turned out to salute, and on leaving the church
the Prince was received by a dense crowd, chiefly Armenian
pilgrims, desirous to see the Queen of England's son, and on
his way back honoured the bishop by returning his call.
On Monday, the 28th, his royal highness left Jerusalem for
the Dead Sea. As soon as the sun was risen, crowds
assembled to see him depart, and the terraces and domes of
the houses were covered with spectators. The troops lined
the street, and when his royal highness loft, the consulate
the castle guns fired a salute of 21 guns, and another when
he passed out of the St. Stephen's gate. At the Garden of
Gethsemane the heads of the Armenian and Greek churches
were waiting to take leave of the Prince, who proceeded
then to the Bend Sea, and thence by Bethel, to PATIP§Cari•

ial to an