The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-07 00:00:00

The Prince and Princess of Wales.

The Prince of Wales rode on horseback yesterday
afternoon, attended by Major Grey.
The Princess of Wales took a carriage drive, at-
tended by the Countess de Grey.
The Prince and Princess of Wales had a dinner
party in the evening. The company included—Earl
Cadogan, Earl of Clanwilliam, Earl and Countess
of Bessborough, Earl and Countess of Wilton,
Countess de Grey, Major-General Lord Henry
Percy, Vicountess Stratford de Redcliffe, Viscount
Chelsea, Lord Alfred Paget, Lord and Lady Foley,
Lord and Lady Chelmsford, Lord Dufferin, Vice-
Admiral Hon. Sir Henry Keppel, Hon. Fred. Byng,
Lieut.-General Hon. Sir James Scarlett, Lieut.-
General Knollys, and Major Grey.

THE HORTICULTURAL GARDENS.—The Queen
visitedthe Horticultural Gardens yesterdaymorning,
and inspected the new Orchid House, with which her
Majesty was much pleased, as well as with the general ap-
pearance of the Gardens. The South Court of the South
Kensington Museum, the decoration of which is nearly
complete, was afterwards inspected, and especially the
mosaic of Mr. Leighton's picture of Niccolo Pisano, just
executed by Dr. Salviati, and placed in one of the niches of•
the Court. Her Majesty expressed her satisfaction with
what she had seen, and also with the gallery which is
being prepared for the reception of the Itaffaelle cartoons.
•THE PRINCESS IMPERIAL OF BRAZIL.—This lady,
her husband the Count d'Eu, the Count and
Countess de Paris, the Baron and Baroness do Lages and
Senhor Lisboa visited Liverpool yesterday, from Man-
chester, under the escort of Admiral Grenfell,the Brazilian
Consul at Liverpool. They were met at the station by the
Mayor's carriage, and were received at the Town-hall by
his Worship. They took a short trip on the river, had
luncheon with Admiral Grenfell, inspected the Mersey
Steel and Iron Works, and returned to Manchester in the

evening.
We understand that the Albert Smith's Room of
the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, has been secured for a series
of "Mysterious Performances," and that they will cony
mence on Easter Monday.
OPENING OF MUSEUMS ON THE SUNDAY.—Yester-
day afternoon the delegates of the London trades'
societies, appointed to promote the opening of the national
museums and galleries on the Sunday afternoons, held A
conference with the metropolitan and ()tiler members of
Parliament, in the tea-room of the House of Commons, on
the question of obtaining a select committee of inquiry into
the desirability and practicability of the proposal. Dele-
..

gates were present from about 40 of the principal societies,
with a deputation from the National Sunday League. The
members of Parliament present were Messrs. Goscheu,
Ayrton, Locke, Co; Roebuck, Gregory, Sir John Shelley,
Sir John Trelawny, Sir R. Clifton, &c. Mr. R. M. Morrell,
the secretary, having stated the strong desire of the dele-
gates present, and of those they represented, to obtain the
opening of the museums and art exhibitions to the people
on the Sunday after morning service. Mr. Mickison,
hatter, Mr. M'Pherson, bootmaker, and other delegates,
spoke to the same effect. Several questions were asked of
the delegates by Mr. Ayrton, Mr. Goschen, Mr. Gregory,
and other members, most of whom expressed their sym-
pathy with the object of the deputation. Mr. Gregory sug-
gested that, as the present session would only be of short
duration and a new Parliament elected next year, it might
be better to let the question stand over until next session,
_ _

the delegates, in the meantime, organising a strong public
feeling in favour of their views. After some discussion the
suggestion of Mr. Gregory was adopted, and the conference
terminated with a vote of thanks to the members for their
attendance.

A SWEDISH MONITOR. —The Norhkoepings Of
Stockholm states that the launch has just been safely
effected in that port of the John Erikson, the first Swedish
monitor. She measures 205 feet long by 46 wide. The
side plating is five inches thick, and around the tower,
where the cannons are, it is 12 inches, as is also that which
protects the rudder. The vessel will be provided with si%
steam engines.

A WHITE LEOPARD.--The Hills (of Mussoorie)
has the following :—We had this morning the pleasure of
seeing a very rare,.and beautiful animal—the white leopard
of the snowy Himalayas. It was brought in by Mr. I'•
Wilson, the well-known shikari, and we believe he in'
tended to take it home as a present to the Zoological So-
ciety. Circumstances, we hear, have prevented his going,
and we hardly know whether most to sympathise with hira
in his disappointment, or with the Zoological Society for
not getting the animal.

NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.-011 ThUrS"
day afternoon a boat containing five young men who were
out on a rowing excursion was proceeding down the river,
when by some means the boat came athwart the piles of
the railway bridge now building near Allhallows-pier, and
was instantly upset, and her passengers immersed in the
water.. Several boats put off to render assistance, and the
five persons were fortunately rescued and conveyed to
public-house on shore in a very exhausted condition.
FATAL COLLISION.—SHIELDS, Thursday.—
fatal collision occurred off the Tyne last night. About V
o'clock a laden brig, the Hedley Vicars, of Shoreham, and
bound to that place, was proceeding on her voyage when
sho was met upon by the bar by the Berwick, scream
steamer, which was coming in from sea. The screw; un-
fortunately, came into collision with the brig, and being
under full steam, struck her a tremendous blow in the 1101
bow, cutting the vessel down to the water's edge. The
damage done by the blow was so extensive that the brig
immediately began to sink, and she went down in a veil
few minutes after the collision. The crew, with the excel);
tion of a lad, who was in the cabin, escaped. The boy 's"
taken down in the vessel and drowned.