The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-19 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

The mysterious silence is broken ! The oracle
has spoken ! Vaguely and unintelligibly it is
true, but still it has spoken. A great point has
thus been achieved. The " Rip Van Winkles,"
who, like an honourable gentleman of whom, were
it merely for the sake of " auld lang syne" and
the recollection of knightly services rendered of
yore to the popular cause, we should be unwilling
to speak harshly, and who " see no daily paper but
the Times," will have their faculties awakened, and
their attention excited to the progress of events.
They may not learn much from the columns of
the " only daily journal that they see," but there
will be quite sufficient to induce the great majority
to shake off the torpor, and inquire for themselves
into a subject of paramount importance and sur-
passing interest to every man who has the slightest
remnant of regard for the integrity of the British
Constitution. That is all that we require—a
strict and searching investigation into the real
state of the case—an investigation that will either
add confirmation to the sinister rumours so widely
circulated, or clearly and unequivocally acquit the
PRINCE CONSORT from the grave accusations pre-
ferred, and show how totally unfounded have been
the charge of intermeddling with and prying into
the diplomatic relations of this country with other
nations ; and—it may be from mere garrulity and
love of gossip—it may be for other less excusable
causes—revealing what should be State secrets to
parties who have made use of the information thus
acquired for purposes inconsistent with the honour,
the dignity, and the security of the United King-
dom. Should the inquiry have this latter result—
! should Prince ALBERT thereby regain the popularity
he has lost, none will rejoice more fervently and
sincerely than ourselves. We should, indeed, be
delighted to see the Consort of our most gracious
and well-beloved SOVERE/MAT resume the place in
the affections of her people which we are com-
pelled to acknowledge he no longer occupies. It
is vain to deny that there is a strong body of cir-
cumstantial evidence brought forward in support
of the charge, that establishes a prima facie case
against his Royal Highness, and they are not true
friends or faithful servants of the QUEEN who try
to deceive her MAJESTY as to the state of public
feeling, or who endeavour to persuade her that
the difficulty can be averted by attempting to
ignore the questions at issue, either by maintain-
ing a total and unbroken silence, or by pooh-
poohing the matter as unworthy of notice. It is
only those who have the best interests of her MA-
JESTY and the welfare of her people at heart who
venture to tell unpalatable truths, to speak of
things as they really are, and to promulgate the
voice of public opinion, in questions where no-
thing had previously been heard but the toadying
adulatious of fawning sycophants.
It is, then, the interest of Prince ALBERT,
above all others, to meet the charge manfully
and above hoard—to at once admit or to disa-
vow the proceedings that have been imputed.
We believe that if the latter course be
adopted, if an authorised denial be given of
the alleged interference, it will be satisfactory to
the community, and that the matter will be
dropped for ever, or at least until it be shown
beyond the possibility of doubt that his Royal
Highness has intruded himself into Councils in
which he has no right to participate. Silence
would, however, be fatal to the remnant of his
reputation. Far better that lie should admit his
conduct. Even in such a case, an expression of
regret for the past, and a promise of abstinence
for the future, might be sufficient to satisfy the
people. A bold vindication of his supposed rights,
as the "Marital head of the Sovereign," would
be wiser than silence—aye, though he imported
the illustrious MULOCK from Killiney, and ap-
pointed him an Attorney-General, to insist on the
despotic authority of the Prince, and the neces-
sity of all stiff-necked journalists bowing down
before the new idol that had been set up. A bold
assertion of the alleged privilege would be safer
and better than a sneaking and treacherous silence.
The Times, it will be seen, attempts to treat
the matter with contempt---to get rid of it by a
side wind, by creating phantoms yclept " Tom
FOOZLB of the Travellers," and " Sir MARMADUKE
CLODPOLE of the Carlton," and ridiculing the
assertion of the illustrious FOOZLE, that " every-
body believed it." If, however, FOOZLE said
so, Fooznu
was right. Everybody does be-
lieve it—even the writer who, using the
Leviathan 'Ls his mouthpiece, demands the
proofs, and asks, with a convulsive attempt at
a sneer, " Whether the QUEEN had turned
Queen's evidence !" Yes, that writer in a later
part of his lucubration says_c, No one presumes
that iu the confidence of married life the QuEEN
and her husband may not converse upon public
affairs !" Adding—" When the English nation
deliberately accept a foreign Prince as the Consort
of their QUZEN,
they must needs accept this con-
sequence—this inconvenience if they will !" Now,
this is a virtual admission that completely disposes
of the preceding attempt at laughing the case out
of court ; else why should we be told that "it is
a lesser inconvenience than would arise from the
adoption of any other course !" Let Prince
ALBERT, for whose good qu dities wo still enter-
tain profound respect—whom, as the Consort of
One very dear to the British people, we would !

WINDSOR, JAN. 18.
There was no addition to the Royal dinner party yes-
terday.
The Queen and Prince with the Princess Royal and
Princess Alice drove out in an open carriage yesterday.
Colonel Bouverie and Colonel Wylde attended on horse-
back.
Prince Albert went out shooting this morning.
Viscountess Canning has succeeded Viscountess Jocelyn
as Lady in Waiting to her Majesty, and Lieut.-General
Sir F. Stovin, Major• General Berkeley Drummond, as
Groom in Waiting.
The following have received invitations, and are ex-
pected this afternoon :—The French Ambassador and
and Countess Walewski, the Duke of Newcastle, the
Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster, and Lady
Agnes Grosvenor, the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury,
the Earl and Countess Delawarr, and Lady Arabella
West, Viscount Canning, Lord Ernest Bruce, the Right
Hon. Sidney and Mrs. Herbert, the Right Hon. Spencer
And Mrs. Walpole, and Major-General Wetherall.
The Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Fanny Howard
and Sir George Couper, arrived at her residence, Clarence
House,. St. James's, yesterday morning, from Frogmore.
In the afternoon her Royal Highness visited the Duchess
of Gloucester at Gloucester House, Piccadilly, and after-
wards returned to Frogmore.

A deputation of the Royal Geographical Society, con-
sisting of Sir Charles Fellows, Vice-President, Colone
Everest, Mr. E. Osborne Smith, Mr. Arrowsmith, Mr
Kent, Capt. Hart, Dr. Hodgkin, and the Secretary,
Dr. Norton Shaw, had an interview with his Grace the
Duke of Newcastle, at the Colonial Office yesterday, on
the subject of the North Australian expedition, proposed
to government by the society.
Sir Charles Napier had an interview with the Earl of
Aberdeen yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-
street.
A deputation from the Severn Valley Railway com-
pany, consisting of Mr. Thorp (chairman), the Hon.
Col. Forester, M.P., Mr. Toogood (solicitor), and Mr.
C. E. Reed (secretary), had an interview with the Right
Hon. E. Cardwell and Lord Stanley of Alderley,yester-
day, at the Board of Trade. n•
Major-General Sir Henry Pynn transacted business
at the Foreign-office, on the subject of the long standing
claims of the British officers that served in the Portu-
guese army during the Peninsular war.
The Royal Commission for inquiring into the State
of the Corporation of the City of London held a meeting
yesterday and on Tuesday, at the Privy Council-office,
Downing-street. The Commissioners present were the
Right Hon. H. Labouchere, the Right Hon. Sir J.
Patteson, and G. Cornewall Lewis, Esq.
Despatches were received at the Colonial-office yes-
terday from the Governors of West Australia and Hong
Kong.
THE FRENCH MAILS.-•A deputation, consisting of the
chairman (Mr. Norbury) and two other members of
the Stock Exchange Committee, waited on Colonel
Maberly, at the Post-office, yesterday morning, to re-
present to him the great inconvenience arising from
the delay in the delivery of the letters from France,
which, arriving before nine o'clock at the Post-office,
are frequently not delivered in the City before three
o'clock. Colonel Maberly, who received the deputa-
tion with great courtesy, admitted at once the grievance
of which they complained—explained to them that this
detention at the Post-office had arisen from the non-
arrival of the mid-day country letters—but informed
them that, the Treasury having lately added an in-
crease to their numerical force, he fully expected the
delay would now be remedied.

Viscount Palmerston arrived in town yesterday, from
his seat, Broadlands, Hants.
Lord and Lady John Russell entertained at dinner,
yesterday, in Chesham-place, the Lord Chancellor and
Lady Cranworth, his Excellency the American Minister,
the Lord Chief Justice of England, and the Baroness
Stratheden, Mr. and Mrs. H. Baring, Mr. Charles
Greville, and Mr. Fonblanque. In the evening her
ladyship received a select circle of the corps diplomatique
and aristocracy at present in town.
Lord and Lady Cosmo Russell are expected to leave
town for Woburn Abbey at the end of the next week, on
a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Bedford. The noble
lord and her ladyship entertained at dinner, on Saturday
last, at their residence in Chester-square, Lord and Lady
John Russell, Mr. and Lady Georgiana Romilly, Lady
Rachel Russell, Major Bentinck, &c.
Sir Charles and Lady Mary Wood gave a dinner on
Tuesday evening, at their residence, in Chesham-place,
to the following distinguished persons :—The Duke. and
Duchess of Argyll, Viscount and Viscountess Hardinge,
Sir Charles and Lady Trevelyan, Mr. and Mrs. Hayter,
Sir T. Redington, Hon. A. Willoughby, Mr. M‘Leod,
Mr. and Mrs. H. Baring, and Mr. E. Lascelles. The
right hon. gentleman and her ladyship had another select
dinner party last evening.
Lord Charles Wellesley, M.P., has left town for
Conholt Park, Andover, Hants, where her Ladyship
and youthful family are staying. The Noble Lord and
family will take possession of the Duke of Wellington's
mansion in Upper Belgrave-street, which was purchased
by the late Duke on the occasion of the marriage of the
present Duke with the daughter of the Marquis of
Tweeddale, shortly after the return of their Graces from
their continental tour, when the establishment of the
Noble Master of the Horse will be removed to Apsley
House, which will then be complete in its embellish-
ments and improvements.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Breadalbane, who
have been entertaining a succession of visitants at Tay-
mouth Castle, Perthshire, are expected to arrive at
Breadalbane House, Park-lane, at the close of the ensuing
week, from Scotland. The Noble Marquis, who has
suffered from rather indifferent health, will, we under-
stand, if sufficiently well, attend the Privy Council, fixed
for Monday, the 30th instant, as one of the Great
Officers of State, when the Royal Speech on opening the
session of Parliament will be arranged.
The Marquis of Westminster left Grosvenor House
yesterday, on a visit to the Queen, at Windsor Castle,
where the Marchioness and Lady Agnes Grosvenor
arrived earlier in the day from Motcombe House,
Dorset. The noble Marquis and Marchioness, who are
honoured with an invitation until Saturday, and a dis-
tinguished circle, will, it is expectel, be present at the
dramatic performance this evening at the Royal theatre,
in the Rubens Room.
The Marchioness Dowager of Downshire has arrived
in Grosvenor-street from visiting the Hon. Colonel and
Lady Mary Hood, at Cumberland Lodge.
We are gratified at having it in our power to give a
formal and explicit contradiction to the report un-
wittingly copied into our columns of the 17th inst., from
the Morning Post of that date (Tuesday), to the effect
that Lord Londonderry was then labouring under severe
indisposition. The friends of the noble Marquis will be
rejoiced to learn that there were no grounds whatever for
any such announcement.
BARON BRUNOW. Several English had German
papers have published a biography of Baron Brunow,
from which, it appears, that he has been on trial for bad
management of the Crown's interests in the war in
Turkey, in 1823. Count Orloff saved him in considera-
tion of his diplomatical talents. But a convict could
not remain at the Court of St. James's ; and if he does not
take his passport, we must send it to him.—Morning
Advertiser.
WEDNESDAY EVENING CONCERTS.—The concert of
last night was composed of similar varieties to those
which have of late been selected. The artistes were,
however, of a superior class. Madame Amedei headed
the list as usual, and sang Marcadante's grand scene
"Se in'abbandoni" with her accustomed excellence of
style, besides Rossini's well-known aria, "Una voce
poco fa," to the volatilities of which she rendered ample
justice. Mrs. Frodsham (late Mrs. Alexander Newton),
on the other hand, essayed the brilliant song of Mo-
zart's " Gli angui d'inferno," and touched its perilous
altitudes with such skill as to earn a general encore.
Miss Messent, Madame F. Lablache/ Mr. Augustus
Brehm, Mr. Lawler, Miss Rebecca Isaacs, and other
able singers, were also in attendances but charging
themselves only with well-known pieces. Miss Ellen
Day, the very clever pianist, played the Concert Stack,
of Weber, with commendable skill. A solo on the
trombone, by Signor Cioffi, was also among the inci-
dents of the programme. The selection embraced all
schools of music, and consequently all classes of taste
were propitiated. The attendance was considerable.
GREAT DUCFIY MINE.—A meeting of shareholders in
the Great Duchy Mine, situated in Devonshire, was held
yesterday, when it was stated that the working of the
mine was originally promoted for the production of
silver lead ; that the works had been prosecuted to a
considerable extent, presented very favourable appear-
ances, and were now " producing some good saving
work." The committee of management further re-
ported :—" In addition to these gratifying facts, your
committee have the pleasure to announce to you the ex-
istence of gold in both the gossan and quartz ; in the
gossan, in the ratio of 1 oz. 14 dwts. 9 3-5 grs. to the
ton ; and in the quartz, in the ratio of 1 oz. 2 dwts. 11
grs. to the ton, as shown by two experiments made in
the course of last week, by Mr. Parkes, of Walbrook,
in the presence of some of the committee and several
gentlemen connected with the London press. Your
committee are informed that 3 dwts. of gold to the ton
would pay all the working expenses ; and, therefore,
with such an amount of gold as is now proved to exist
throughout the lode, a very large profit must be realised,
as the quantity of gossan and quartz amounts to many
thousand tons. Your committee are, nevertheless,
desirous of impressing upon you that your main object
should be to develope the riches of the mine thoroughly,
and that this can only be done by sinking the engine-
shaft as rapidly as possible, and intersecting the lode at
a depth of 45 fathoms. That one object should not be
lost sight of for a moment ; for however dazzling may
bo the prospects held out by the discovery of the more
precious metal, your committee sincerely believe that
those prospects will be far surpassed by the actual yield
of lead at a proper depth from the surface." In order,
therefore, to erect a larger steam-engine, and procure
the eecessary machinery for extracting the gold, it was
Proposed to issue '2,000 shares out of those as yet un-
allotted, at 2/. each, leaving the remainder to be issued
at some future period at such premium as may then be
determined on. The report was adopted, and the re-
commendations of the committee agreed to.