The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-14 00:00:00

COURT- CIRCULAR.

The Countess of Neuilly visited her Majesty yes
tercla.y. _
- -

ri
Clepntation from the most Hon. and Loyal Society
of Ancient Britons, consisting of Lord Dynevor. (presi-
dent), Lord Robert Grosvenor, Mr. C. A. Wood (trea-
surer), and Mr. H. Clutton (architect), had the honour
of an interview with Prince Albert yesterday, to submit
for her Majesty's approial 'le plan proposed for the new
buildings of the charity.
The King of Portugal and 'the Duke of, Oporto visited
the Polytechnic Institution, in Regent-street, on Mon-
day afternoon, and in the evening hr,noured the Olympic
Theatre with their presence. '.'esterday morning his
Majesty and his Royal Highness, attended by the 'llion
de Sarmento, Chevalier de -Keno, Colonel Feigns, Lord
de Tabley, and Colonel Wy'rde, paid a visit to the brewery
of Messrs: Truman, H'anbury, and Co., in Brick-lane,
Spitalfields.
Her Majesty an'Zt Prince Albert, accompanied by the
King of Portuc-at and the Duke of Oporto, left Bucking-
ham Palace
afternoon 'Ave minutes past four o'clock yesterday
:or Windsor Castle. The Queen and Prince
were ecraducted to their carriage by the Duke of We!-
Earl Spencer, the' Marquis of ,Breadalbane,
Lord Ernest Bruce, and Lord George Lennox.
Mr. Robert William Jearrad bad an interview with
Viscount Palmerston yesterday, on the subject of con-
sumption of smoke in furnaces generally, and submitted
drawings and descriptions of the successful application
of his patent to marine and other boilers. Mr. George
H. Geyelin had also an interview with the noble vis-
count, and submitted a fire grate for consuming smoke
—the principle consisting in revolving the grate after
each supply of fresh coals, so as to force the smoke to
pass through the ignited coals.
Mr. John Abel Smith had an interview with the Earl
of Aberdeen yesterday, at his official residence in Down-
ing-street.

—Earl Spencer bad an interview with the Chancellor of
the Exchequer yesterday. Sir Alexander Spearman had
also an interview with the right hon. gentleman at his
official residence in Dawning-street.
Lord John Russell attended at the Privy Council-
office yesterday, for the first time since his appointmeni,
as Lord President.
Sir George Grey transacted business yesterday at the
Colonial-office, as Secretary of State.

WINDSOR, TUESDAY.
The Queen and Prince Albert, with the Royal family,
and accompanied by the King of Portugal and his bro-
ther, the Duke of Oporto, arrived at the Castle about 5
o'clock this afternoon, from London.

ThE COURT.—Her Majesty and Prance Albet I accom-
panied by the youthful King of Portugal, who le:,
Buckingham Palace yesterday for Windsor Castle, wig
return to town on Friday next. The Queen and her
illustrious visitors will honour Ascot Races to-morfow
with their presence. when the Emperor of Russia's annual
gift will be superseded by the orig nal gold cup.
Ws Majesty the King of Port-agal, the Duke of Oporto,
and suite, accompanied by Lord de Tabley and the Hon.
Colonel Wylde, visited the brewery of Mesrs. Truman,
Hanbury, Buxton, and Co., yesterday, and were con-
ducted over the whole of the establishment by the part-
ners of the house. The royal party expressed them-
selves highly gratified with their visit.
The Duke of Devonshire is progressing as welt as can
be:expected. It was stated yesterday, in answer to in-
quiries, that he had passed a good night. Dr. Ferguson,
Mr. Nursey, and Mr. Condell, are in attendance on his
grace.

- EXTENSION OF THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH TO SOMER-
SET HOUSE.—This morning workmen were engaged in
laying down a line of wires from the Strand to the Vic-
tualti•og Department of the Admiralty, Somerset House.
By th,s the office will be p!aced in direct communication
with the great naval arsena.s at Pembroke, Plymouth,
Portsmouth, Deal, Chatham' and from the last men-
tioned yard with Sheerness by means of numeral flags.
Such a system is particularly required at the present
time, as considerable delay will be avoided in sending
orders for supplies of provisions and medical and sur-
gical stores to ships fitting oct, and for conveyance to
those vessels forming the Baltic, North Sea, and Black
Sea fleets, besides reducing the labour of the messengers.
SEARCH FOR COAL NEAR G.SELONG.—By private letters
received by the last Overland Australian Mail brought
to Staithampton by the Shnla last Saturday, intelli-
gence has reached home that a Mrs. Thomas, formerly
of Lyndhurst, Hants, is digging for coal about five
miles from Geelong ; she has dug 300 feet deep and
expended 3,0001., and come across several seams of
soal, but no:i thick enough to pay for working. She
has been offered 23,0001. for her coal pit, which she has
refused, as she is in expectation of coming across a seam
that will realise a handsome fortune.
THE PRIC,] GoLD.—The quotation of gold at Paris
is about 4 pc' mille discount (according to the last tariff),
which, at the English Mint price of 31. 17s. 10d1. per oz.
for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25.07 ; and the
exchange at Paris on London at short being 25.02:F, it
follows that gold is abo;:t 0.18 p:e cent. deaJe7.• in Paris
than in London. By adviccs from Hamburg the price
of gold is 4211 per mark, which, at the Engli,:h Mint
price of 3/. 17s. 10&d. per oz. for standard gold, gives an
exchange of 13.3 k ;an the exchange at Hamburg on
London at short being 13.41, it follows that gold is 0.53
per cent. dearer in London than in Hamburg.
Cou.-.52 OF EX.OHANGA.—The course of exchange at
New 17G-:1.7. on Loudon for bills at 60 days' sight is 1091
ler cent., and, the par of exchange between England
and .A.rne-:-Cll, being 109 23-40 per cent., it follows that
the exchange is nominallly 0.17 per cent. in favour of
England ; and, ai:tor malting allowance for chargis of
transport and difference of interest, the prcsest rate
leaves a trifling profit on t:ie import..tion of gold from
the United States.

QUEEN'S COLLEGE, B:RMINGFIAM.—The Dean of the
Faculty has received a communicann from the Horse '1
Guards, in reply to a memorial from the council of the
college, to the effect "that the General Commanding.in-
Chief has granted to that body the privilege of recom-
mending gentlemen for apnolntrnent to the medical de.
partment of the army." The council is also in esane-
nication on the same subject with the Hon. the East
india. Company.
THE QUEEN'S BILTHDAY IN CANADA.—The
holiday of England was celebret.A with great spir't in
Montreal., and throughout the provinces generally.
Captain Atkins, of the Ottowa, the fine steamer of Vie
Liverpool and Canadian line, fired a royal salute of 21
guns*. The steamer was gaily dressed, the stars and
stripes floating at the foremast, and the American, C.,-
nadian, and English ensigns, side Iv side, betokening
the good feeling toward each other which now animates
the people of the different countries thus represent-A.
VICTORIA BRIDGE, THE LARGEST TN T3E WORLD, AT
MONTREAL.—Among the events which future makers of
almanacks wilt have to place to appropriate days, tat
which took p'ace on the 24th ult., will, doubtless, meet •
attention. We mean the first act in the construction of
the Victoria Bridge—consummated on the birthday of
the illustrious lady after whom the bridge has been named.
Operations to be conducted tithe water require as a preli-
minarytemporaryconstructions, which will enclose a cer-
tain space, and the walls being made impervious to water,
pumps are worked, and thus the area for the masonry
is lest clear. On Wednesday evening, the first of the:.e
dams for the bridge was towed to the appointed place
and there securely moored, and thus the first step has
been taken in, perhaps, the greatest monument ot engi-
neering skill which the world has ever seen. Of these
coffer dams, four or five more are a'ready made, and
wiil be immediately set in position. They are in theM.
selves, works on which a great amount of labour has
been bestowed, and promise to answer the purpose for
which they are intended in every way. We have, there-
fore, to congratulate our citizens, now that the opera-
tions
for the hlidge have fully commenced, and it re.
quires only a few summers to pass for us 'to witness its
c°riltliei:;.ol, and a proud day will it be for. Montreal
when the isret train passes over the Victoria Bridge.— I
Montreal Trangript.