The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-20 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Prin-
cesses Helena and Louisa, took a drive in an open landau and
four yesterday afternoon. Colonel Bouverie and Captain Da
Plat attended on horseback.

Prince Albert went yesterday morning to Sutton, accom-
panied by the Earl of Derby, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert,
and the Hon. W. P. Talbot, and attended by. Colonel the Hon.
Charles Grey, and Captain Uu Plat, for the purpose of inspect-
ing the site offered in that neighbourhood for the Wellington
College. The Prince and party travelled in tat royal car-
riages and four, and returned to Buckingham Palace at two
o'clock in the afternoon

P. ince Albert afterwards presided at a meeting of the com-
mission for promot.ng and encouraging the tine arts in the
rebuilding the Palace of Westminster. His Royal Highues:,,
attended by his equerry in waiting, arrived at the Palace at
Westminster, soon after three o'clock. The commissioners
present were Viscount Canning, the Righn Hon. the Speaker,
Viscount Mahon, and Sir Robert H. Inglis, Bart.
The Secretary, Sir Charles L. Eastlake, attended.
The meeting broke up at five o'clock.
Prince Arthur nod the Princesses Helena and Louisa took
a drive in an open carriage and four.
The Queen had a dinner party in the evening. The com-
pany included the Duche,s of Kent, the Duchess of Suther-
land, the Duke and Duchess of Athol', Lady Anna Maria
Dawson, Baroness de Speth, and Lord James Murray.
Lord Lansdowne was prevented by indisposition from hav-
ing the honour of dining with her Majesty.
The band of the Grenadier Guards attended in the Palace
during the dinner, and played the following selection :
Overture, " Die Meerstille " Mendelssohn.
Waltz, "Prince Arthur " .........
Fantasia. " Souvenir de St. Sebastien "
(Fandango) ..
Polka, " Sehnsuchts"
The Society of the Cdogne Choral Union attended in the
Palace after dinner, and had the honour of Finging before her
Majesty and the Royal circle. The performance took place
in the Picture Gallery.

The Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary arrived
at Buckingham Palace at half-past 9 o'clock, attended by
Lady Caroline Cust and Baron linesebeek.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

Her Majesty having announced her intention of honouring
with her presence the opening of the Crystal-palace at Syden-
ham, on the 10th June, we understand that preparations are
in progress for celebrating the event by an inaugural ceremony
worthy of the occasion. The Governments of France, Bel-
gium, and Prussia, and the other principal foreign powers,
have intimated their intention of sending commissioners. The
mayors of the different towns of England, the presidents of the
principal scientific societies, and other distinguished repre-
sent dives of art, science, and industry, are also expected to
take a part in the ceremonial, which, from all we have heard
will be of the most imposing description. As an instance of
the magnitude of the seal e on which preparations are making,
we may mention that 1,000 performers of the Sacred Harmonic
and New Philharmonic Societies have volunteered their
gratuitous services. The directors have prudently limited the
admission of the public on the opening day to the holders of
season tickets, in order to avoid the risk of accidents and in-
convenience which might re-ult from the rush of an over-
whelming number of visitors on the first day.