The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-26 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, MARCH 25.
There was no addition to the royal dinner party yes-
terday._ - .... .

The Queen and Prince attended an early service this
morning in the private chapel of the Castle, and took the
sacrament of the holy communion.
The Duchess of Kent, the Princess Royal, the Princess
Alice, and the Princess Adelaide of Hohenloe, with the
ladies and gentlemen of the Court, also the domestic
household, attended the usual morning service.
The Hon. and Rev. Gerald Wellesley officiated at both
services.

Dispatches from the Governors of Bermuda and Gib-
raltar were received yesterday at the Colonial-office.
Dispatches were sent last evening from the Colonial-
office for the Governor of Canada.

MR. BURFORD'S PANORAMA OF GRANADA
AND THE ALHAMBRA.

This year Mr. Burford has given us as his Easter
novelty a fine panorama of the city of Grenada and the
neighbouring country, painted with all his knowledge of
this branch of the art, in which he is so indisputably
master. There is no city of modern Europe, Venice
perhaps excepted, about which linger such romantic and
spirit-stirring associations as are connected with Granada,
the last stronghold of the Moorish power in Spain. Its
chronicles, in all its various mutations of fortune,
form the most romantic chapters of Spain's history,
while Washington Irving, our own Bulwer, and Lock-
hart have done for it what mightier masters of fiction
have done for the " sea-girt city"—secured it an indem-
nity for Time's ravages, and veiled its present decay
by the memory of past glory. It is for this
reason, doubtless, that the mind invariably asso-
ciates Granada with the mention of the Moorish
power in Spain, though Seville and 'Cordova display in-
finitely greater and more important traces of their so-
journ. Wkatever they did for Granada was confined to
the palace of their kings, the famous Alhambra ; the
other attractions of this most beautiful city were the
work of nature. Instead, therefore, of confining him-
self to a representation of the Alhambra, with all its
fairy-like architecture, its Hall of Lions, its numberless
fountains playing beneath the perfumed shade of orange
groves, Mr. Burford has wisely chosen a point of view
from which is visible the whole magnificence and beauty
of the surrounding scenery. Standing on an eminence
behind the Generalife Palace, the spectator casts his
eyes immediately over the spur of the Sierra Nevada,
on which the Alhambra, is built. The long belt
of battlements forming the outward boundary of
the fortress, may be readily traced following the
sinuosities of the rock ; several of the square
towers still remain perfect, though the major part are
in ruins, having been destroyed by the French
before they left, and are lost in the luxuriant growth of
the fig trees, vines, and aloes. Within the inclosure the
palace of the Moorish sovereigns, the most perfect and
beautiful specimen of Arabian architecture extant in
Europe, the several red towers, especially the huge
mass of Comares, each remarkable in history or romance,
the vast unfinished palace of Charles V., the parish
church of Santa Maria, and the Franciscan convent, are
all prominently conspicuous. At the foot of the hill of
the Alhambra, and on the sides of the two adjoining
hills, is seen the city, the squares, principal streets, and
public buildings of which may be as easily traced
as on a map ; the cathedral, the ancient convents and
churches, and numerous minerets rising conspicuously
above the vast masses of brown roofs, form striking fea-
tures, and contrast pleasantly with the numberless little
gardens and orangeries in the open courts below, and
the flower-decked terraces on many of the roofs above.
Outside and around the city stretches forth, until lost in
the hazy distance, the beautiful and fertile Vega, covered
with luxurious plantations, yellow corn fields, And lovely
gardens. The dark tints of the orange groves, and the
sombre cool hues of the olive plantations contrasting
with the vivid colouring of the ripening crops, and the
bright light green of the mulberry, apricot, almond, and
other fruit trees, give to the landscape a richness and
variety of colouring we have seldom seen equalled,
while a few palm trees here and there, raising their
graceful heads, mingle well with the foliage below.
Through this, in a thousand graceful meanders,
flow the Xenil and the Darro, fed by a mul-
titude of little rills, which seem like a silver
threads spread over the beautiful plain we have just
described. Rising round the plain, and skirting it on
all sides, are spread vast and picturesque ranges of moun-
tains, which tower up in various forms and features,
many more or less crowned with diadems of eternal snow.
Directly opposite the spectator, looking over the Alham-
bra, is the little hill of Padul, where Boabdil El Chico,
the last of the Moorish kings, turned to take a last fare-
well of the city from which he had been expelled by the
arms of Ferdinand and Isabella. The spot, as most of
our readers well know, is still called the last sigh of the
Moor. To the right, at the foot of the mountains, is the
Soto de Roma, the Spanish estate of the Duke of Wel-
lington. Looking on this lovely picture whiCh Mr. Bur-
ford.has spread before us—viewing the sweet succession
of city and grove, tower, minaret, and alcove, marked
out in all the mellow lustre of an evening sun, the fer-
tile Vega stretching forth lovingly with its silver stream-
lets and many-hued foliage to embrace the favoured city,
while round all rise the grand and majestic circlet of
mountains which seem, as in a fairy tale, to bar out all
access of war and destruction to the happy valley
—one can easily understand the obstinate and hope-
less tenacity with which the Moors clung to this
beautiful country, even against the united force of
Castile and Arragon, and we cease to wonder that
now, in another country, they still remember it
in their prayers, and devoutly hope at some future
day to be again masters of the possessions of their fore-
fathers. As we remarked in commencing, this pano-
rama is exquisitely painted, and as a work of art, is
creditable to all concerned. It is of somewhat complex
origin, having been painted by " Mr. Robert Burford,
assisted by Mr. H. C. Selous, from drawings taken by
B. Uwins, Esq., kindly assisted by Lady Louisa Teni-
son "—but the combination of talent has certainly
produced a very satisfactory result. As it is one of the
roost beautiful, so, we doubt not, it will be one of the
most successful of Mr. Burford's panoramas.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—The paragraph in our
paper of yesterday relating to her Majesty's Theatre is,
we are informed, incorrect. It is true that Mr. Gye has
been in negotiation with certain parties, but it would
seem that notice was given to him that they had not the
power to grant a lease, and that any such arrangement
would be nugatory.—Times.

APSLEY-HOUSE.—This mansion was finally closed to
public visitors this day. The original concession to the
general desire to view the chief home of the illustrious
departed extended only to the end of January, but on
the continued and earnest applications for tickets of ad-
mission being represented by Mr. Mitchell to the Duke
of Wellington, his grace most liberally enlarged the
period to the present date. It is very gratifying to add,
with his grace's sanction, that although many thousands
of persons have been admitted, and although all classes
were impartially included, under the able management
of Mr. Mitchell, the duke has in no instance been led
to regret his liberality by any misconduct or indecorum
on the part of the visitors.
DESTRUCTION OP A ROYAL RESIDENCE.—A most de-
structive fire took place on Wednesday, at Rose Cottage,
near Dawlish, Devon. This splendid seat was for some
time the residence of Queen Caroline, who was much
struck with its delightful situation. At the time of the
fire it was in the occupation of Miss Strickland. The
whole building was destroyed, and very little of the fur-
niture was saved. The stables being detached escaped.
The property was partially insured, but not to its full
xtent.

REGISTRY or SEAMEN.—A communication has been
received by the Commissioners of Customs from Mr.
Farrer, secretary to the Naval Department of the Board
of Trade, stating that it appears to their Lordships to
be desirable that the fines on seamen for not taking due
care of their register tickets, or not giving a satisfactory
account of their loss, should in future be enforced by
the officers who issue the renewed tickets, without the
intervention of a magistrate.

ROYAL SAPPBRS AND MINERS, WOOLWlCH.—Deser-
tion is said to be prevalent in some of the companies of
this corps on home service, as many as thirteen men
having been reported absent without leave during the
last month, of those stationed and employed on the
works at Hurst Castle, near Portsmouth. The cause
of this conduct in a branch of the Ordnance service
bearing generally so high a character for steadiness and
attachment to their duties cannot be accounted for, only
it has been said that several of the men have felt ag-
grieved that masons, bricklayers, and others employed
by contractors, had the best work given to them, while
several of the Royal Sappers and Miners, who had en-
listed to work at their trades, had been employed at
work similar to that generally executed by navigators.
The men are good workmen, and to keep up the esprit
and character of the corps, they wished to be employed
in their own trades, and on the best as well as the com-
mon work required for the public service in this country.
—Morning Advertiser.
A NEW "BISHOP."—The Freeman's Journal announces
that " Bulls have just arrived from Rome, appointing the
Rev. Patrick Fallon, parish priest of Touclea, Ennisty-
mon, to the Bishopric of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora,
vacant by the death of the late Right Rev. Dr. Ffrench."