The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-12 00:00:00

a number of beautiful children, each carrying
bouquets of choice flowers, awaited the return of
the bridal party. The bride's approach to the house
was heralded by a Royal salute from a battery of
guns, manned by an impromptu corps of artillery-
men, composed of young tradesmen of the neigh-
bourhood, and when the young couple alighted they
were affectionately greeted by the_assembled spec-

tators.
The company present at the ceremony continued
to set down in rapid succession up to one o'clock,
at which hour the Princesses Helena and Louise
arrived, having posted across from Windsor Castle.
The Princesses were received by the Count de Paris
and the Prince de Joinville, and conducted to the
drawing-room, where they offered their warm con-
gratulations to the newly-wedded pair.
'l he Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke of Cam-
bridge were the next arrivals. At half-past one
o'clock the approach of the Prince and Princess of
Wales was heralded by a Royal salute the band of
the 3d Surrey Militia playing a few bars of the Na-
tional Anthem. The illustrious guests were received
on alighting from their carriages by the Count de
Paris, the Prince de Joinville, and other members
of the Orleans family. The Count de Paris led the
Princess of Wales, and the Princess Mary was con-
ducted by the Prince de Joinville.
Their Royal Highnesses first paid their respects
to the Venerable Queen Marie Amelie, and then
offered their congratulations to the newly-wedded

pair.
Previously to the dejeuner the Duke de Chartres
mindful of the pleasant sympathies existing.
between his young bride and the neighbours
among whom she had been nurtured from cbil.d-
hood, took occasion to present her to the visitors
assembled in the vestibule. He said he thanked..
them with all his heart for the kindness they had.
shown to himself and his bride, and wished them
every happiness—a sentiment which old and young
very heartily acknowledged.
At two o'clock the illustrious guests set down to
breakfast. The bride and bridegroom led the way
from the drawing-room, the Prince of Wales fol-
lowing with the venerable Queen, who looked ex-
ceedingly well, and manifested a lively interest in
the festivities. The Count de Paris came next, lead-
ing the Princess of Wales, who never looked more
beautiful and interesting. Prince Alfred followed,
leading the Princess de Joinville, and then came the
Prince de Joinville with the Princess Helena, the
Duke of Cambridge with the Princess Louise, the
Duke d'Aumale with the Duchess of Cambridge, the
Duke de Mentpensier with the Princess Mary, Prince
Edward of Saxe Weimar with the Duchess Augustus
of Saxe Coburg, Prince Philip of Wurtemberg with
the Princess Marguerite of Coburg, and the Prince
of Leiningen with the Duchess d'Aumale, in the
order described. The other guests at the royal
table were the Princes Philip and Augustusof Wur-
temberg, and the ambassadors r nd ministers present

at the marriage.
The bride and bridegroom sat in the centre of the
table, faced by the Prince of Wales and Queen
Marie Amelie, and supported by the Princess de

Joinvilie.
Towards the close of the dejeuner the health of
the newly married pair was touchingly proposedby
the venerable Queen herself, who, with glass in
hand, arrested general attention by emphatically
calling upon her guests to respond to the toast, "A
la sante du Due et de la Duchesse de Chartres."
Tne illustrious party instantly responded to the
appeal, rising from their seats and greeting the
young couple with every mark of affectionate
esteem. _

vy
When the dejeuner was concluded, the Prince
and Princess of Wales, and other members of our
Royal family, took an affectionate leave of the Duke
and Duchess de Chartres, and presently afterwards
departed on their return to London.
At four o'clock the newly wedded Prince and
Princess bade farewell to their illustrious relatives
and left Claremont en route for Scotland.

Her Majesty this morning paid a visit to the
Exhibition building. tier Majoity had not seen it since
the autumn of 1861, when the ground was only roughly
_ .

Ina ark ea out. On ,rte uvea..ioi of her M.e.i.-.Bty's re-
cent visit to South Kensington, we believe she wa& anxious
co see the interior of the building, but the time did not
admit ot the visit, This morni. g, however, her Majesty
was able to see in all its vastness the structure, which
contained the Exhibition of 1862, in the success of which
the late Prince Consort took a deep interest.
Earl
The Lord President, the Lord Privy Sea 1,
Russell, the Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, and Mr. 1148'
after attending the Queen's Pris y Council, returned to Lon-
don by special train ot the Great Western Railway.
The Duke d'Acquavira has arrived at the ifinns-
wick, Jermyn-street.
Frances Anne Marchioness ot Londonderry en-
tertained at dinner on Wednesday, at Holder a ease
douse, his Excellency the Russian Ambassador, the Saixon
Minister, Count N esselrode, the Earl and Counteso of
Airlie, Lord and Lady William Powlett, Lord and Lady
Cremorne, Lord and Lady Rendlesham, Lord and Lady
Rokeby, Sir Hamilton and Lady Seymour, the Lion.
Francis and Mrs. Stonor, Lord Adolphus and Lady Susan
Vane Tempest, and Sir William Fraser.
The Earl and Countess of Bective entertained
on Tuesday evening, at their residence, 24, Grafton-street,
the Duke of St. Albans, the Marquis of Hartington,, the
Earl and Countess Jermyn, the Earl Annesley, Viscount
and Viscountess IngeAtre, Lord and Lady Newport, Lord
and Lady Rendlesham, Lord and Lady George Manners,
Mr. and Lady Virginia Sandars, and Mr. Hutchinson.
The Lady Mayoress has fixed Monday, the 29th
June, and Thursday, the 9th July, for balls at the Mansion
House.

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.—We are re.-
quested to publish the following official notification
the rifles issued by the National Rifle Association to the
competitors for the Queen's Prize have, it appears, been all
made short in the stock, I am directed by the council 10'
state that there will be no objection to the lengthening of
the stock, if required, provided it is done without injury to
the butt, and the regulation length is not exceeded.—By
order, EDMOND ST. JOHN MILDMAT.
THE FORTHCOMING CONSERVATIVE BANQUET.—
The committee-of management, of which Viscount Inges tre,
M.P., is the chairman, have held several meetings for the
organisation of the proceedings on Friday, the 26th inst.,.
when the dinner of the National Conservative Registration
Association will take place at Willis's-rooms—the Earl of
Shrewsbury and Talbot, C. 8., in the chair. The room wilt
be magnificently decorated, several noblemen and gentlemen:
having promised to send their collections of pate, gold and
silver vases, shields, cups, goblets, salvers, &c. Nearly 200
of the stewards are members either of the House of Lords
or of the House of Commons.

-.— -
THE GREAT SEA SERPENT AGAIN.—The csist-
ence of this extract' dinary object of curiosity, if
not also of terror, h.s received additional corroboration. ii,
the subjoined letter, which has been received in Liverpool
from one of the officers of the African mail ste• mer
Athenian ;—" Cape Palmas, May 16, 1863 —All doubts
may now be set at rest about the Great Sea Serpent. On.
the 6th of May the African Royal mail steamer Athenian,
on her passage from Teneriffe to Bathurst, fell in with one.
About 7 a.m. John Chapple, quarter,. aster, at the wheel,
saw something floating towards the ship. He called the=
attention of the Rev. Mr. Smith and another passenger who
were on deck at the time, to it. On nearing the steamer it
was discovered to be a huge snake, and about 100 feet long,
of a dark brown colour, head and tail out of water, the body
slightly under. On its head was something like a mane,
and the body was about the size of our mainmast."
HOP INTELLIGENCE.—Maidstone.—The hops ars
making rapid progress, the bine, with few ()seep-
tions, looking strong and healthy. Some hot sunny days
last week caused a decrease in the fly, and though there are
still some to be found in most grounds, the prospect at pre •
sent is promising. Canterbury.—The fly attacked our beat
plantations very heavily on Thursday week, but during
the past week the plant has recovered, the vermin having
left, and it is now making rapid strides, There is every
prospect of a erop, the bine having a very healthy appear-
ance. We have a few grounds, upon the light soils, with
a deficiency of bine, and no prospect of reaching the top of
the poles ; but stilt the leaf looks healthy where there is
any Line, and in some grounds the poles are already topped.
Worcester.—The bine looks very healthy, and although
we have some fly, yet it is not numerous enough to cause
any alarm.—South. Easteiw Gazette.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT BLAcKFRIAIts-BRIDGE.---
Yesterday the body of John Knight was washed
on shore at Rutland-wharf, Earl-street, Blackfriars. it
appears that the deceased, on the preceding evening, fell
from a coal-barge near Blackfriars steamboat pier, and not-
withstanding that several boats immediately put off to the
rescue, his body was not recovered until washed on shore.
Information has been forwarded to the coroner.
ARMOUR FOR PRESIDENT LINCOLN,--The
Tycoon of Japan has sent a coat of mail as a gift to
the President. Mr. Lincoln- has not yet donned the neW
suit, but when he does the reader can imagine Old Abe
dressed up with an umbrella-shaped helmet, made of steel
and copper, on his bead, copper visor over his face, sleeves
of .coppet chainwork on his arms, metallic breastplate, and
etwlnet work leggippo—,New York AURA