The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 6, 1854.

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, DEC. 5.

Th e dinner party yesterday included the Duchess of
Kent, Prince Ernest of Leiningen, the Earl of Aber-
deen, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Kent,
Viscount and Viscountess Hardinge, Baroness de Speth,
Lord George Paget, Lady Raglan, and the Hon. Miss
Somerset.

The Band of the Royal Horse Guards played during
the dinner. Her Majesty's Private Band afterwards
performed in the Castle.
The Queen and the Princess Royal rode in the Riding-
house this morning. Prince Albert went out shooting.
The Earl Somers and Lieut.-Col. the Hon. N. Hood
have succeeded the Earl of Listowel and Lieut.-
General Sir Frederick Stovin as Lord and Groom in
Waiting.

Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governors of Hong Kong and Ceylon.

Tag ADDRESS.—It is reported that the address of the
House of Commons, in reply to her Majesty's speech
from the throne, will be moved by Mr. Henry Arthur
llerbert, MX. for Kerry.

Lieut.• General Wetherell has entered on his duties at
the Horse Guards, as successor to the late lamented and
gallant Lieut.-General Sir G. Cathcart.
We are glad to announce that the Duke of Somerset
continues to go on favourably. The inquiries after the
health of his grace are still very frequent.
The Earl Somers has arrived at Windsor Castle from
his seat in Worcestershire to take his turn as one of the
Lords in Waiting on her Majesty.
Viscount and Viscountess Hardinge arrived In Great
Stanhope-street yesterday, from visiting her Majesty and
the Prince Consort at Windsor Castle.

The Hon. and Rev. Win. Robert Capel, uncle of the
Earl of Essex, and for 55 years vicar of Watford, died
on Saturday last, at the venerable age of 79 years.
The Duke of Newcastle Secretary and Minister of
War, yesterday transacted official business for the first
time in his Grace's department at Pembroke-house,
Whitehall-gardens, so many years the abode .of the late
Lord Harrington, and which has been purchased by
Government, and fitted up as Government offices.
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle has suggested to
the Board of Ordnance the necessity of supplying the
troops berthed on„deck, on board transports proceeding
to the East, with oil-skin capes, in the proportion of one
to three men, and has proposed that a portion of the
20,000 new being manufactured for the use of our army
in the East should be supplied for that purpose to each
transport conveying troops to the Crimea.
Ths Lady Raglan and the Hon. Misses Somerset, who
have been honoured with an invitation to visit the Sove-
reign at Windsor Castle, returned to Great Stanhope-
street today, from the Regal residence in Berkshire.
We understand, from private sources, that the Sovereign
expressed herself, and also the Prince Consort expressed
himself, much gratified at the result of the late battles
in the Crimea, and at which the allied troops came off
victorious. The Hon. Richard Fitzroy Somerset, only
surviving son of the noble lord, is still officiating as Pri-
vate Secretary to his Majesty the King of Hanover.
Loan DOWNSHIRR.—We have heard with satisfaction
that the Marquis of Downshire, upon a representation
being made to him of the melancholy case of the Trainors,
who were lately drowned at the strand between Dun-
drum and Ballykiular, with exemplary kindness, re-
mitted the entire rent, payable at the Ist of November
by their surviving relatives, amounting to 571.—Down-
patrick Recorder.
Lieut.-General his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam-
bridge, we hear, attended by the Hon. Major J. Mac-
donald, embarked at Balaklava on the 12th ult., on
board her Majesty's steam-frigate Retribution. The
Hon. Captain Drummond, en route, we believe, for
England, was on board during the fearful storm of the
14th, and the frigate rode out the gale with the loss of
two of her guns.
The late Sir Alexander Clay Grant is succeeded by
his brother, Sir Robert Innes Grant, seventh baronet,
son of the fifth baronet by the daughter and heir of
Jeremiah Cray, Esq., of Ibesley, Hants. Sir Robert
was born at Malsanger House, in the same county, in
1790; and married, in 1825, the eldest daughter of Cor-
nelius Battelle, Esq., of the island of St. Croix. The
next heir is Sir Robert's son, Alexander, fellow of Oriel
College, Oxford.
Lord Courtenay, secretary to the Poer-law Board,
will in all probability succeed the Right Hon. T. F.
Kennedy, as Commissioner of Woods and Forests. Mr.
Hayward, Q.C., will, we have reason to believe, have
the secretaryship te the Peor-law Board, vacated by
Lord Courtenay.
ST. PETERSBURG.—On the 24th of November the
thermometer at St. Petersburg was 20 degrees, Fahren-
heit, 10 degrees below freezing point. The Neva was
closed, and the ice firm, as far as the iron bridge.
TRANSARRS I.T CONSOLS.—Friday next, the Bth inst.,
will be the last day on which transfers cad be made in
Consols before the dividends. India Stock closes on
Thursday, the 7th.

THE " Nvrvizs" volt THIS CRIMEA.—The number of
railway navigators engaged for the construction of the
tram line from Balaklava to Sebastopol is about 500,
and they will sail immediately.
THU I.ILATHHIL MARIC&T.—In the leather market yes-
terday a large business wail transacted at last week's

prices.
ME SHIP POLAM STAR.—Advices from St. Helena of
the 21st of Oc'ober mention the arrival of the Anna

Alooka, having on board Captain Walker and the whole
,f the crew ant passengers, 93 in number, of toe ship
Polar Star, which hid bPen burnt at sea on the 4th of
that ►ninth, bound from England to New Zealand.
GRAND JUNCTION CANAL COMPANY.—At a meeting
of this company, held yesterday, the dividend declared
was 11 per cent. for the half•year, and the report wn,,
adopted. The low rates of tonnage, and the increased
cost of horses, provender, and labour have unfavourably
affected the revenue.

LORD DALILOUSIV.—We believe we may announce
authoritatively that the Governor-General has consented
to retain his post for at least another year. We believe,
also, that even those who have felt the weight of his
censure—and he has no other enemies--will rejoice in
this announcement. Even they will allow that the states.
man who conducted us through the Punjaub war is the
best ruler for the empire in a European crisis,—that the
financier who converted the Five per Cents. may well
face the growing difficulties. of the opium revenue, and
that tho author of the Railway Report is of all men
the one best fitted to carry out the gigantic improve-
ments now in contemplation. For ourselves, we believe
Lord Dalhousie's stay to bo absolutely essential to the
empire. The great projects which have been started re-
quire to be matured by experience as well as intellectual
ability, and the great difficulties to be faced are half
obviated by the confidence the Exe3utive reposes in the
capacity of its chief. Above all, every year of his reign
consolidates that unity which is the great political ne-
cessity of the empire.—Friend ofit adia.
If the knowledge of a disease be half its cure, Mr.
Dufton, surgeon to the Birmingham Institution for the
Relief of Deafness, may well be proud of the very flatter-
in testimony paid to hirn at the recent meeting of the
directors and subscribers to that praiseworthy institu-
tion. We understand that to Mr. Dnfton's strenuous
exertions the metropolis of the midland county is solely
indebted for the establishment of an hospital which has
Afforded such inestimable relief to suffering humanity.
Similar institutions ought to be encouraged in all large
communities throughout the kingdom.

THE SESSION OiPreeaßtumAaMnEyNT:a.—rniiieThs of distinction
e calli g tg ehteo
London, r
Parliament at this unwonted season has alreaiy had the
effeceffodon, and
t
toC bringinga g
more may be expected to arrive daily. The
appearance of Regent-streetaon,dußnodnerd-sotrrdeientairsyvceirryeudmif.
ferent from that which is usually exhibited at this period
of the year ; and there can be no doubt the trade of the
metropolis must derive advantage from the presence of
sitoamncaes7wPeorusldnastotfbilusasrekas' who,
be preparing to enjoy their
Christmas festivities in the provinces.—Morning Post.
ILLNESS OP MR. PHILIP PUSEY.—We regret to an-
nounce the serious indisposition of Philip Piney, Esq.,
the celebrated agriculturist, of Pusey, Berks, and late
A.P. for the county, who since the bereavement sus-
tained by the death of his wife, Lady Emily Pusey, has
been staying at Christ Church College, Oxford, with his
brother, the Rev. Dr. Pusey. Dr. Watson, of London,
has been called iu to consult with Dr. Acland, the family
medical adviser, and great doubts are entertained of Mr.

- ---•
Pusey's recovery.
Toww CLERKSHIP OP BIRMINGHANI.—.A. meeting of
the Town Council of Birmingham took place yesterday
For the purpose of electing a town-clerk, consequent on
the resignation of Mr. William Morgan. Four gentle-
men were putin nomination—Mr. Thomas Staabridge,
Ur. Wm. Simmons Allen, Mr. C. H. Jagger, and Mr.
E. H. Collis. On a final decision being taken, Mr.
itandbridge (nominated by Mr. Alderman Hodgson)
was declared elected. The salary is 1,0001. per annum.
REPRESENTATION OP AYRSHIRE.—The Conservative
party have not as yet announced a candidate, although
it has been rumoured that Sir James Fergusson, who is
now on his way home from the Crimea, will be asked to
stand. The Solicitor-General was at one time spoken of
as likely to come forward on this occasion, but from an
anxiety to prevent division in the Liberal ranks Mr.
Craufurd has declined the request preferred to him by
an influential section of the electors ; but, in the event
of no Conservative candidate being started, he will pro-
bably contest the representation with Mr. Oswald.
Caledonian Mer cury.
GENERAL MINING COMPANY OF IRELAND.—The half-
yearly meeting of the shareholders of this eompany was
held at their offices in Dublin ou Monday—Sir James
Murray in the chair. There was no dividend ; and the
lirectors' report stated that " the time of the board
has been in a great measure tiken up in investigating
into the state of the company's affairs. They have to
notice that great losses have been sustained by advances
and over payments to tributors and tutworkera. The
tosses thus sustained amount from Ist of July, 1853, to
October, 1854, to 2,5421. 19s. 3d., of which sun, 2,2561.
1.4. 3d., were the result of advances made to the men
luring ten months by the late agent or mining captain,
and before the present directors came into office."
FIRE NEAR DRURY-LANE THEITRE.—A fire, attended
with considerable damage, broke out at a late hour on
Alond ty night in the large range of premises 1 i
~e.ong_ng
to Messrs. R. and E. Foulkas, linendrapers, No. 2 and
3, Little Russell-court, Drury-lane. It was caused by
the gas, which set the under side of the counter in a blaze,
and the fire extended completely round the shop. The
engines of Drury-lane Theatre, the parish, and two of
the London Brigade, and that of the West of England
Office, quickly attended, and a good supply of water
having been obtained all hands went to work, but the
fire could not be extinguished until the whole of the
costly stock in trade was considerably damaged. The
contents were insured in the Phcenix Fire Office. The
building was insured in the Sun Office.