The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-06 00:00:00

THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN FAMILY.

Her Imperial Highness the Duchess Olga of Russia,
accompanied by her consort his Royal Highness the
Crown Prince of Wurtemberg, and attended by his Ex-
cellency the Russian Minister and the Baroness Brun-
now, and the ladies and gentlemen of their suite, paid a
visit to the New Houses of Parliament yesterday. The
illustrious visitors were conducted through the building
by Sir Charles Barry. After inspecting the interior of
the House of Lords and the House of Commons, the
Grand Duchess and her royal consort walked for some
time on the river terrace, and viewed with great appa-
rent interest the busy scene presented on the bosom of
old Father Thames.

During the absence of the Crown Prince at Chobham
on Thursday, the Grand Duchess visited the Tower of
London, and afterwards drove through several of the
principal thoroughfares of the City.
Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Marie (the
widowed Duchess of Leuchtenberg) is expected to arrive
at Chesham-house, the residence of the Russian Lega-
tion, to-day from Torquay.
Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Catherine
of Russia, consort of Duke George of Mecklenburgh-
Streiitz, and niece of the Emperor, is also expected to
arrive in London to-day from Ryde.

Their Imperial Highnesses the Grand Duchess Marie
and the Grand Duchess Catherine will be received by
Majesty the Queen at a Court to be held at Buckingham
Palace on Monday next.
It is understood that their Imperial Highnesses will
be present on the occasion of the grand review of the
fleet by her Majesty at Spithead on Thursday next.

THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO IRELAND. —lt is now all but
officially announced that Her Majesty will arrive at
Kingstown on the '29th inst., and remain for one week.
The necessary orders have been issued to prepare for
her reception.
PRIVY COUNCIL.—The Queen will hold a Privy Coun-
cil at Buckingham Palace on Monday next, the Bth inst.
DISCHARGE OF THE WITNESS COMMITTED TO NEW-
GATE.—On Thursday the witness committed by the
Clitheroe election committee to Newgate for prevarica-
tion was released by Mr. Poigndestre, the officer of the
Sergeant-at-Arms, from Netvgate, on payment of the re-
quired fees-141.
THE LONDON AND COUNTY BANK.—The London and
County Bank have issued a circular notifying a dividend
for the half-year at the rate of 6 per cent., payable on
the 15th inst. The balance sheet for the period shows
a profit of 19,6961., and as the dividend will absorb
only 11,1761., there is an unappropriated surplus of
8,520/.
TRIAL OF THE PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL COMPANY'S
NEW STEAM-SHIP.—The Vectis, built by T. and R.
White for the Peninsular and Oriental Company, to run
between Malta and Marseilles, was tried on Thursday
at the measured mile in Stokes Bay. The performances
were :—Average of first two runs, 15,038 knots ; second
do., 15,129 knots ; third do, 15,254 knots, or more than
17,12- statute miles per hour ! This exceeds anything
heretofore accomplished. The Valetta, the sister ship,
built by Messrs. Mare and Co., which has just made the
extraordinary passage of 47 hours from Malta to Mar-
seilles, having made 14,954 knots, the advantage is in
favour of the Vectis. At this great speed but little can
be the difference between two vessels of such extraor-
dinary speed, and we may safely say they are the two
fastest vessels afloat.
18TH ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT.—In addition to the
recent mortality in this distinguished corps, from the
effects of climate and arduous services in China and
India, including its commanding-officer, Colonel Coote,
whose death was announced a few days since, we under-
stand a dispatch has just been received at the Horse
Guards, from the Commander of the Forces at the
Mauritius, stating that Lieut. Lillie, son of Sir John
Lillie, late of the Grenadier Guards, had died there on
his passage home by the Lady Jocelyn screw steamer,
and was buried with military honours at Port Louis by
her Majesty's 85th Light Infantry.
ANOTHER STRIKE OF DOCK LABOURERS.—In conse-
quence of the refusal of the St. Katharine Dock Com-
pany to comply with the prayer of a memorial from the
extra labourers, asking for an advance from 2s. 6d. to
3s. per day of eight hours, and 6d. per hour for overtime,
the men struck yesterday morning at the gates, and re-
fused to do any more work at the old prices. The per-
manent labourers pursued their work as usual, and,
although the strike caused very considerable inconve-
nience, the business proceeded as usual, and immense
quantities of goods for exportation were received, and
goods imported were delivered in the course of the day.

.•
AMERICAN CLIPPER SHIPS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN
TRADE.—We announced a few days since that Messrs.
Baines and Co. of Liverpool had chartered the celebrated
clipper ship Sovereign of the Seas for a voyage to Aus-
tralia and back. Since then we have learnt that the
same firm have contracted with Mr. D. D. M'Kay, of
Boston, the builder of the Sovereign of the Seas, to build
them a first-class clipper for their Black-ball line of
Australian Packets, to be ready to succeed the clipper
ship Marco Polo. This will afford a very good oppor-
tunity for testing the sailing capabilities of the different
builds of clipper ships, as their first clipper to be dis-
patchedis the Sovereign of the Seas, built at Boston,
United States ; the second the Aerolite, built at Work-
ington ; the third the Marco Polo, built at St. John's,
New Brunswick ; and the fourth the new American
clipper to be built by Mr. M'Kay,