The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-14 00:00:00

The Queen, accompanied by the Princess Feodore of
Hohenlohe-Langenburg, and attended by the Hon.
Matilda Paget, took a drive in a landau and four in the
afternoon. Lord Alfred Paget and Major-General the
Hon. C. Grey, were in attendance on horseback.
The Prince returned to Buckingham Palace at a quar-
ter past 3 o'clock from the opening of the new cattle
market.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the
Princess of Hohenlohe-Lan,genburg.
Her Majesty had a dinner party in the evening. The
company included her Royal Highness the Ducess of
Kent, her Serene Highness the Princess of Hohenlohe,
the American Minister, Mr. Buchanan, and Miss Lane,
the Marquis and Marchioness of Stafford, the Earl and
Countess of Clarendon, the Earl of Ellenborough, Lady
Anna Maria Dawson, Baroness de Speth, Viscount and
Viscountess Combermere, the Hon. Millard Fillmore,
Sir George Coupes, and Sir James Hudson.
Her Royal Highness the Hereditary Grand Duchess
of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz visited the Duchess of Kent.
The Countess de Neuilly, and the Duke and Duchess de
Nemour:, also paid a visit to the Royal Duchess, yester-
day, at her residence, Clarence House, St. James's.
Their Serene Highnesses the Princess of Holienlohe-
Langenburg, with the Princesses Adelaide and Feodore
of Hohenlohe, visited her Royal Highness the Duchess
of Gloucester, in the afternoon, at Gloucester House,
and also visited ber Royal Highness the Duchess of
Kent, at Clarence House, St. James's.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge,
the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz,
and the Princess Mary, yesterday honoured the Spanish
Fancy Fair, at Willie's Rooms, with a visit.
SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATER COLOURS.—His
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred
honoured the society svith an early visit this morning.
Their Royal Highnesses were accompanied by Mr.
Gibbs and Dr. Becker.
It is said that the Emperor of Austria will have an
interview with the King of Prussia in the course of a
few days, at Gallicia, where his Imperial Majesty goes
to inspect the 4th division of the Austrian army.
The Duke and Duchess of Richmond arrived in town,
on Tuesday, from Goodwood.
The Duke and Duchess of Roxburgh and Lady Susan
Tunes Kerr have arrived at the Clarendon, from Fleurs
Castle, N.B.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston entertained at
dinner, last evening, his Excellency the French Ambas-
sador, his Excellency the Austrian Minister and the
Countess Colloredo, his Excellency the Sardinian Minis-
ter, his Excellency the Portuguese Minister and the
Countess Lavradio, the Marquis and Marchioness of
Ely, the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury, Lord John
Russell, Lord and Lady Wodehouse, M. Charles Bau-
din' and Mrs. Craven.
Lady Thesiger gave a ball last night, at the family
mansion, in Bryanston-square. The reunion was attended
by more than 300 members of the aristocracy.
A letter from Kertch of the 28th ult., states that the
coal captured there has been sold by auction, and has
produced a sum of 100,0001. sterling, which is to be
divided among the troops.J
UNITED LAW CLERKS' SOCIETY.—The annual dinner
of this excellent institution took place yesterday at the
Freemasons' Tavern, when about 200 persons sat down
to an entertainment served in admirable style, and com-
prising all the delicacies of the season.
OXFORD, June 13.—The Earl of Derby, during the
approaching commemoration, will be a guest of the
Vice-Chancellor at Worcester College. His lordship,
with his countess, will arrive in Oxford on the afternoon
of Tuesday, and will dine with the Vice-Chancellor and
a select party.
The new regulations respecting the Inland Book Post,
which came into operation on Monday last, have been
already taken advantage of to an immense extent. The
privilege which they give of enclosing a number of publi-
cation:, in one parcel is a most valuable one.
CRIMINAL COURT.—John Williams, publisher, who
was indicted yesterday for obtaining by false pretences a
quantity of printed books, valued in the whole at nearly
3,0001., with intent to defraud Richard Allan Sprigg,
was found guilty and sentenced to 18 months' imprison-
ment, with hard labour.
WEST LONDON AND CRYSTAL PALACE AND WEST-
MINSTER Teessisius.--Mr. Cobbett reported from the
committee on this bill that the parties promoting it had
stated to the committee that it was not their intention to
proceed with the same.
THE FARMERS' CLUB.—The members of this club
dined together last evening, at the Thatched-house
Tavern. Mr. Octavius Morgan, M.P., presided. There
were present :—Viscount Galway, M. 13. Mr. Knatch-
bull, M.P., Sir Charles Morgan, M.P., M.P.,
Clifford,
Mr. Goddard, M.P., Mr. Hornley, Mr. Clive, Mr. Mil-
man, &c.
HORSES FOR THE CRlMEA.—Yesterday, Lord Cardi-
gan spent some time at Mr. Rea's extensive horse re-
pository in St. George's-road, and close to the Elephant
and Castle, in examining a number of horses purchased
for the use of the army, and intended ultimately for the
Crimea. During the peace, ;he maximum price for
horses for the army was 251., and though it is now 401.
there is a great difficulty in procuring the number re-
quired for our cavalry.
HEAT WITHOUT FUEL.—The problem of acquiring
heat without fuel appears to have been solved by the in-
vention of the machine of MM. Beaumont and Mayer,
with which, by means of friction alone, they can make
water boil. The machine, which may be seen at work
at their establishment on the Qsai Valmy, contains 400
litres of water, which is made to boil in two hours.
TEM IRON TRADE.-The improvement recently mani-
fested in this trade is fully maintained. Orders, at ex-
isting prices, have, we understand, within the last few
days been pressed upon makes, but with little success,
as they are not inclined to place more orders upon their
books than two or three weeks may enable them to exe-
cute. A considerable firm in Shropshire, a few days
since, declined an order which would have given several
weeks' employ proffered at existing prices. The late ad-
vance of ss. to 10s. per ton is consequently well sup-
ported, and purchasers are rather anxious to buy at that
price.—Wolverhampton Chronicle.
THE BOILER EXPLOSION AT MANCHESTER.—The in-
quest on the youth killed at the works of Mr. Ralph
Wood, at Manchester, on Friday last by a boiler explo-
sion, terminated last evening. In the course of the in-
quiry the safety-valve was produced, when the startling
fact became evident to all engaged in the investigation
that one part of it had been cast solid, which should
have contained an opening. In fact, it was so imper-
fect from the first that not a breath of steam could have
escaped. Under these circumstances, the jury found a
verdict of " Manslaughter against John Norbury, the
maker of the valve." Ralph Wood, the son of the
owner of the boiler, has died since the explosion of his
injuries.

ARMY BAKERS FOR THE CRIMEA.—Some of the jour-
neyman bakers, who, it may be remembered, were a
short time ago, sent out from this country to Ba,laklava
to manufacture bread for the troops, having proved not
sufficiently competent for the duties required of them,
it has been determined to replace the unwilling or in-
efficient by other English workmen. Accordingly at an
early hour yesterday the Commissariat office in West-
minster was besieged by numerous applicants, 53 of
whom were engaged—viz., 3 foremen, 30 first-class jour-
neymen, and 20 second-class, the whole of whom will
receive liberal wages, and b 3 found in stores. Mr.
Amos, a master baker, is to act as superintendent of the
detachment, which will be despatched forthwith to the
Crimea.

Messy. T. and W. Smith, the eminent ship-builders
at St. Peter's, on the river Tyne, are engaged fitting up
an iron vessel, which has been purchased from them by
the Ordnance department, as a floating factory for the
Black Sea, to assist the regimental service in the Crimea.
It will be provided with steam-engines, lathes, and a
cupola, and will be accompanied by experienced work-
men from the Tyne. The vessel is of 600-tons burthen,
is provided with the screw, and had been destined for
the coal trade, until purchased by the Government.
STATE OF TRADE.--In the lace trade matters remain
in statu quo—and transactions are of the most limited
description. Hosiery on the other hand continues to
improve with the weather, and the favourable prospects
of the principal crops. There is more doing this week,
and better prices obtained all round. The advance on
cotton is maintained ; it is now from ls. 6d. to 2s. a
bundle dearer ; and the spinners and agents very firm—
the latter hoping now to realise those profits which they
were obliged to forego whilst prices were low. Wool is
also id. a lb. dearer, attributable to a scarcity of British,
which is in demand ; and silk also is rather dearer. All
these causes combined have led to a partial concession of
the relative advance on goods, the whole of which the
manufacturers hope shortly to obtain, because trade is
good both for shipping and home. The only adverse
markets are those of EaLt and West Indies ; whilst those
of Australia, Canada, North and South America ; and
Home are in a very favourable condition.—Nottingleam-
shire Guardian.

MESSRS. STRAHAN AND CO'S. BANKRUPTCY.—The
choice of ass'gnees and the proving of debts under the
estate of Messrs. Strahan and Co. in the Court of Bank-
ruptcy are fixed fur Monday, the 25th of June. The
e^tire proceedings of the case and the ultimate judgment
of the Court will be watched with much interest, the
facts connected with it, as far as they are at present
known, being wholly inexplicable on the plea of sudden
and unforeseen misfortune. Great complaints are also
made of the hank having continued its payments through-
out the whole of Saturday last, the allegation being that
its insolvency had been clearly shown by statements,
made up on the previous evening. In this way, it
is said, a considerable portion of such cash assets
as remained available were paid away to persons
who had happened to hear the current rumours of
the probable suspension, to the prejudice of the general
body of creditors. On this, however, as well as other
points, reserve must be exercised until the partners shall
have had opportunities of explanation. Meanwhile, it
is believed that the original estimate of 350,0001., as the
amount of the liabilities of the banking-house, will prove
correct. Those of the partnership connection of Halford
and Co., navy agents, have not yet been stated, but
they are likely to he considerable, as it is reported that
the firm have no less than 3,000 accounts open, on
which sums are due to persons in the navy or their
families. In relation to the advances on certain shares
of the Lucca and Pistoja Railway, which are understood
to have been among the causes of the embarrassrient
of the bank, some mystery prevails. Several months
back the holders of shares in this line were required to
exchange their original shares for new ones, and some
of the Eiglish proprietors, after having sent in their old
shares, were unable to obtain those which should have

been delivered to them in substitution. Upon inquiry
it was then stated to have been ascertained that the

shares they had thus parted with had actually been de-
posited
with Messrs. Strahan as security for loars. Ulti-
mately, by taking prompt measures, the claimants ob-
tained restitution, and Messrs. Straban probably found
themselves compelled to accept in lieu of them the unse-
cured promissory notes of the persons Whom they had
thus imprudently trusted.