The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-06 00:00:00

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tiffnrt, Amw-,- Ortular

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Jan. 5.

The Queen and Princess Helena, attended by the
Dowager Countess of Mount-Edgcumbe and Col.
Ponsonby, drove out yesterday.
Princess Louise also went out driving.
Earl de Grey and Ripon arrived at Osborne, and
had the honour of dining with her Majesty.

The Prince and Princess of Wales at
lkLam.
HOLKHAM, Jan. 5.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the
Earl of Leicester, with the noble earl's guests at
Holkham, have been out shooting to-day in Teb-
bett's Wood, and have met with abundant sport.
The head of game bagged on Tuesday amounted to
2,190, of which number 1,020 were pheasants. The
weather since. Tuesday has been favourable, a rapid
thaw setting in on that day, since which it has been
comparatively speaking mild ; and her Royal High-
ness the Princess of Wales with the Countess of
Leicester and other ladies have been able to enjoy
several drives in the extensive park.
Yesterday his Royal Highness and party were out
wild-fowl shooting over the extensive marshes,
which have been reclaimed from the sea by the
present earl and his predecessor, and enjoyed a
capital day's, sport.

The Princess Mary of Cambridge and the
Royal Marriage Act.

A writer in a contemporary says :—Paragraphs have
appeared about a very, improbable story (now, I see, con-
tradicted by authority), that Princess Mary of Cambridge
has been privately married to Lord Hood, in defiance of
the Royal Marriage Act. As I have found nine persons
out of ten to have quite a mistaken idea of this Royal
Marriage Act, and to suppose that it is an act forbidding
the marriage of the Royal Family with members of other
than royal or reigning houses, I will venture to inform
your readers what its provisions are. The act is 12 George
111. c. 11, and its provisions are briefly as follows :—First,
that no descendant of George 11. (other than the issue of
princesses married into foreign families) may marry with-
out consent of the reigning Sovereign ; but, secondly, if
any such person, being above the age of 25 years, shall
persist in his or her determination to marry, notwithstand-
ing such consent shall be withheld, then he or she shall,
after giving a year's due notice, be at liberty to marry,
unless both Houses of Parliament shall expressly declare
their disapprobation of such marriage. A third clause
enacts the penalties of a pramunire on all solemnising or
assisting at a marriage prohibited by the act. The act has
no reference whatever to any distinction between mar-
riages with members of royal or reigning houses and others.
Now, as the Princess Mary is about 25 years old, and
it is perfectly certain that the two Houses of Parliament
would not concur in declaring their disapprobation of a
marriage between her and an English nobleman of high
character and position, it would have been a most unne-
cessary step (had she been bent on the marriage) to con-
tract it in a way which would make it void, and her
children illegitimate, and would further expose all con-
cerned in it to severe penalties, when, by a year's notice,
it might be effected legally, and, doubtless, with the ap-
probation and hearty good wishes of the bulk of the
nation.

I think that when the provisions of this act (so much
found fault with) are stated, it will be allowed that it in-
flicts no severe hardship on members of the Royal Family.
When they are under 25, it does, indeed, provide that the
reigning Sovereign shall have an absolute veto on their
marriages, thus, in a manner, lengthening their minorities
for this purpose by four years ; but after that age, unless
Queen, Lords, and Commons all concur in forbidding the
banns, which would certainly never be done unless the pro-
posed marriage were so objectionable that all society would
cry out against it, they are, subject to the year's notice, aS
free to marry as any other porson.

His Excellency the Spanish Minister and Madame
Comyns have left town for Strawberry Hill, Twiekenhav,
on a visit to Frances Countess Waldegrave and the Eight
Hon. Chichester Fortescue, M.P.

His Excellency the Marquis d'Azeglio left the
Italian Legatiou yesterday to join the party visiting Frances
Countess Waldegrave and the Eight Hon. Chichester Far-
tescue, M.P., at Strawberry Hill.

The Earl of Derby has quite regained his strength
after his:recent severe attack of gout. The noble earl and
countoes will receive u large,pArty of friends at Knowsley
next week.

The Earl de Grey returned to town yesterday
from a visit to her Majesty at Osborne.

The Right Hon. Thomas Milner Gibson, M.P./
will arrive in town this afternon from Theberton House,
his seat in Suffolk.
The Right Hon. Sir William and Lady Hayter
have left South-hill Park for Rome and Naples.
It is stated in naval circles that Rear-Admiral
the Hon. J. R. Drummond, C. 8., one of the Lords of the
Admiralty, is about to relinquish his present appointment,
in order to succeed Rear-Admiral Sir Lewis T. Jones;
K.C.8., as the flag-officer in command at Cork.

THE LATE PRINCESS ANN CZARTORYSIKA.—YeS-
terday a solemn funeral service for the repose of
the soul of the Princess Ann Czartoryska (widow of the
late Prince Adam Czartoryski), who died on the 24th nit'
at Montpelier in France, was performed at St. Peter's
Italian :Church, Saffron-hill, Hatton-garden, by the Rev'
L. Tezdzewski, and attended by a considerable number of
the Polish refugees. The deceased, born Princess Sapieha,
was 64 years of age, and no less distinguished than her
illustrious husband for many private and pttblic virtues,
which were exhibited most conspicuously during the long
period of her exile, entirely devoted to the alleviation of
the sufferings of her distressed countrymen, and the edtl-
cation of their children. Her loss is deeply felt both in the
emigration and throughout the whole of Poland.
A DERBY MAN GAROTTED IN LONDON.-00
Wednesday week Mr George Womersley, of Abbey`
street, Derby, formerly a hatter in the Market-place, was
on a visit to his daughter in London, and about six o'cloel'
on Wednesday evening was going along Holford-street,
Globe-road, Mile-end, when a man ran with his head
against Mr Woraersley's stomach and knocked him down'
The man twice begged his pardon, and said he was sorri
for what he had done, but instead of helping him up he
held him down, and directly afterwards four or five other
men rushed up, knelt upon him, and commenced rifling
his pockets, taking from him a Geneva watch, two knives►
and a bunch,of keys. The pocket containing his mora
they missed. Mr Womersley, who was very much injuredt.
was afterwards brought to Derby, and we regret to state
lies in a very precarious state, Dr. Taylor, his medical
adviser, being of opinion yesterday (Thursday) that he
would sink under the brutal treatment he had received,'
Mr. Hilton, head-constable of Derby, has forwarded all
particulars of the case to the police authorities in London'
OPERATIVE COACHMAKERS' EXHIBITION.—The
artisans of the above trade have met with the most
hearty response from the. employers and others who take
an interest in the improvement of carriages. AlreadY
large sum has been contributed for the purpose of no
exhibition, which will take place in the month of Februail'
The Society of Arts will, with the Worshipful Company
of Coachmakers, gave special medals for objects 01
improvement ; and the Marquis of Lansdowne has offered
a special prize for an improved step. There is no doubt of e'
complete success, as the artisans readily come forward with
many improvements to encourage the movement; and the
Space Committee are now energetically engaged to make
the most of the limited space in the hall, so generousli
placed at their disposal by the Worshipful Company of the
City of London.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT A THEATRE.—An accidCl
at the Standard Theatre on Dec. 29 formed tllO
subject of a coroner's inquest last night. A Mrs. Haniutlx
Harris, aged 47, had been to the theatre, and was leaving,
about a quarter-past 11 o'clock, by the box entrance, when
she slipped in descending the steps, but her dress cauglA
in the rails, and she was thrown backwards with grey
violence. The blow to the head caused fracture of the
skull and other injuries, from the effect of which she died'
It was stated that the staircase in question was admirably
adapted for its purpose, and that the affair was purely acci-
dental. The jury, therefore, found a verdict in accordance'
THE LATE MURDER ON SAFFRON-HILL.—The
report of the condition of Alfred Rebbeck, the pot'
man at the Golden Anchor, Saffron-hill, who was so bra"
tally stabbed by the Italian on.the night of Monday, Dee'
26, is to the effect that he is progressing favourably undefi
the care of Mr. de Meric, one of the surgeons to the Rog
Free Hospital, Gray's-inn-road, under whose care Rebbec4
has been since the melancholy occurrence. It is Mr. de
Merle's opinion that the unfortunate sufferer will ulti-
mately do-well, notwithstanding that severe injury of tlac/
right lung,.with inflammation of its covering, were results
of the wound. Mr. de Meric has been unremitting in 10
attention on Rebbeck since his admission to the hospital.
CRYSTAL PALACE.—Notwithstanding the o3l'
favourable state of the afternoon yesterday upward°
of 4,500 persons were present to witness the holiday amuse;
ments. The interior of the palace warmed and fighte
presented a marked contrast to the weather outside. irb
amusements will be continued this day as usual. Dll,
morrow (Saturday) they will be specially arranged for
afterndon's amusements,' and promenade for juveo
visitors.