The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-22 00:00:00

MAILS FOR AUSTRALIA.

GENERAL POST-OFFICE, Dee., 1854.—The Peninsular
and Oriental Steam Navigation Company having repre-
sented that, owing in part to several of their vessels
having been required by her Majesty's Government for
the exigencies of the war, they are unable to provide a
steamer for the conveyance from Singapore to Australia
of the mails which should be despatched from London on
the 4th and 9th of next month, the Postmaster-General
has made a contract with the owners of the sailing ves-
sel Lightning, for the conveyance of the mails of
January next, round the Cape of Good Hope.
The Lightning is appointed to sail from Liverpool
on the sth January next, and all letters and newspapers
for New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and
Van Diemen's Land, posted in London up to the even-
ing of the 4th January, or posted or received in Liver-
pool up to the morning of the sth January, and not ad-
dressed to be sent by any other vessel will be forwarded
by the Lightning.
The packet rates of postage will be chargeable upon
letters, but newspapers will not be liable to any postage.
Those postmasters whose instructions direct them to
forward letters to Liverpool by cross post, will send in
the same manner, on the present occasion, letters posted
at their offices addressed to Australia.-

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, Dzo. 21

The royal dinner party, yesterday, included her Royal
Highness the Duchess of Kent, the Marquis of Lans-
downe, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Lady in Waiting to
the Duchess of Kent, Baroness de Speth, Major-General
and Mrs. Bentinck, and Colonel and Mrs. Craufurd.
Her Majesty was unable to leave the Castle, this
morning, owing to the unfavourable weather.
The Earl of Aberdeen has returned to London.

THE ROYAL Bourrrv.—Her Majesty's royal bounties
to aged poor were distributed in the past week, and on
Monday and Tuesday last, at the Almonry-office,
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Whitehall, under the direction of the Lord Bishop of
Yeoman of the Almonry in Ordinary. reptarry. 'Tani CI
CABINET COUNCIL.—A Cabinet Council was held yes-
terday afternoon at the Foreign-office. The Ministers
present were, the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord John Russell,
the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the
Duke of Argyll, Viscount Palmerston, the Earl of Cla-
rendon, Sir George Grey, trio Duke of Newcastle, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir James Graham, Sir
Charles Wood, Earl Granville, the 'Right Hon. Sidney
Herbert, and Sir William Molesworth. The Council
sat one hour and a half.
The Commissioners for the Reduction of the National
Debt held a meeting yesterday, at the official residence of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Downing-street.
Present—the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Governor
of the Bank of England, and the Deputy-Governor.
Sir Alex-ander Spearman, Secretary and Comptroller-
General to the Commissioners, attended.
A deputation of gentlemen interested in the drainage
of the Thames marshes, consisting of Sir Culling E;trd-
ley, Bart., Mr. MgGregor, M.P., Mr. Renshaw, Mr.
Bower, and the Rev. William Acworth, Vicar of Plum-
stead, transacted business at the Home-office, yesterday.
A deputation from the borough of Stockport, consist-
ing of Messrs. James Kershaw and J. B. Smith, mem-
bers for the borough, the Mayor of Stockport, Mr. Al-
derman Orme, Mr. Alderman Williamson, Mr. Councillor
Hampson, and the Town Clerk of Stockport, transacted
business, yesterday, at the Home-effice, on the subject
of the removal of the bead-quarters of the 2d Regiment
of the Cheshire Militia from Stockport to Chester.
His Serene Highness Prince Victor of Hohenlohe
left London, on Wednesday night, for Germany.
kinnon, M.P., in Hyde-park-place.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster, and
the Ladies Grosvenor, passed through London, on
Wednesday, en route from Eaton Hall, near Chester, to
Motcombe House, Dorset.
The Marquis of Lansdowne arrived in town, yester-
day, from Windsor Castle, to attend the Cabinet Council.
The Earl of Aberdeen returned to London, yesterday,
from a visit to the Queen.
The Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury leave town,
to-day, for St. Giles's, their seat in Dorsetshire, where
they intend to pass the recess.
The Countess Frances Waldegrave and Mr. Harcourt,
M.P., have left Carleton-gardens for Nuneham-park,
where a distinguished circle are about to assemble for
the holidays.
Viscount and Viscountess Mahon and family have
arrived in town from Italy. The noble viscount and her
ladyship leave town, to-day, for Chevening, the seat of
Earl Stanhope, near Sevenoaks.
Azimullak Khan has left Edwards' private hotel, in
George-street, for Brighton.
LONDON SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.—The grand
oratorio, Messiah, was performed in Exeter Hall last
evening, in a most admirable manner. The solo singer
were the Misses Wells, Mrs. Endersohn, Mr. Marshall,s
Mr. Lawler, and Mr. Augustus Braham.
THE NEW ROYAL STEAM YACHT.—By comrea.nd of her
Majesty, the new Royal steam yacht now nearly ready
for launching at Pembroke is to be named the Victoria
and Albert, and the present Victoria and Albert is to
have her name changed to The Osborne.