The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-13 00:00:00

EMBASSY.

Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert
having, according to the tenour of the invitations issued,
"deigned to honour the French Ambassador and the
Countess Walewski with their company on Friday, the
12th of May, at a bal costume," the utmost exertions
were made by their Excellencies, assisted by the general
superintendence of M. De Saux, the senior secretary of
the Embassy in this country, to render this fete worthy
of the exalted presence with which it was honoured, and
of the gallant and accomplished nation of which the
Count is the representative. The new residence of the
Embassy, formerly known as Gibraltar-house, the quon-
dam domicile of Mr. Hudson, but now called Albert-
gate-house, has been in course of preparation for
some weeks past, and every resource of artistic
and floral decoration was put into requisition,
and an effect produced, which even to those
familiar with the magnificent suite of State apart-
ments at Sutherland-house and other principal man-
sions of the nobility, could not but excite surprise
and admiration, when the (comparatively speaking)
limited s:ze of the mansion is considered. In the arrange-
ment and decoration of these fetes our Parisian neigh-
bours have established a renown which it is hopeless for
any other capital to attempt to rival, and this fete at the
French Embassy will certainly not detract from their
well-earned reputation. The whole State apartments
had undergone a complete metamorphosis, and the beau-
tiful arrangement of the flow Ors, the elegance of the
form, the exquisite selection of the colour of the draperies,
and the novel and brilliant illuminations, were themes
of universal admiration throughout the rooms.
The visitors were directed to appear en costume, and
to arrive at the Embassy at 9 o'clock precisely, in order
that all might be in readiness for the reception of the
Queen and Prince.
At half-past 9 o'clock the Marquis of Breadalbane, the
Queen's Lord Chamberlain ; Lord Ernest (Bruce, the
Queen's Vice-Chamberlain ; the Duke of Wellington,
her Majesty's Master of the Horse ; and Earl Spencer,
the Lord Steward of the Royal Household, arrived at
the Embassy, and having made the tour of the State-
rooms, retired to a room on the ground-flour to await
the arrival of the Queen. These noblemen were 'all
dressed in the full State Household uniform, it being un-
derstood that neither the Queen nor Prince, the Royal
Family, nor the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Queen's '
Household in attendance on her Majesty, would appear
in costume.
At ten o'clock her Majesty and Prince Albert arrived
at the Embassy. The royal cortege consisted of four of
the State carriages, the attendants being in the same
State liveries as when her Majesty opens Parliament,
with an escort of a squadron of the Ist Life Guards,
under the command of Captain Lord Francis Gordon.
The Queen was attended by the Duchess of Sutherland,
the Mistress of the Robes, who rode in the carriage with
the Queen and Prince, Lady Jocelyn, two maids of
honour, Misses Macdonald and Cavendish ; Lord Rivers,
Sir F. Stovin, and Colonel Bouverie. Prince Albert was
attended by Lord Torrington, Captain Du Platt, and
Colonel Wylde, R.A. Her Majesty was dressed in an
ordinary ball dress, composed of pink crape over pink
satin. The dress was ornamented with bunches of roses
and green leaves running round the dress near the bot-
tom, and was trimmed with white lace. The Queen wore
a tiara of diamonds on the top of the head, and at the
back a number of small pink roses. The Prince wore a
military uniform with Blue Riband of the Order of the
Garter with the George in diamonds, and the Order of
the Golden Fleece, also set in jewels. The ladies of the
Queen's suite wore ordinary ball dresses, the Duchess of
Sutherland wearing a dress of Indian gold tissue, made
with great simplicity, having no other trimming than a
few blush roses in the front. The style of head-dress
was similar ,to that of the Queen—a tiara of diamonds
and blush roses at the back of the head.

Lady Jocelyn wore a pink ball dress, with a head.
dress of diamond stars.
. . _

The appearance of the Queen and Royal family and
their respective suites in the fashion of the day made the
Royal groups easily distinguishable among the gay and
fanciful dresses of the general company by which they
were surrounded—dresses of the greatest magnificence,
and in almost every variety of design, but which were
far too numerous and too elaborate for description in
our columns.
Her Majesty was received on alighting from her car•
riage by the Count and Countess Walewski and her own
great officers of State, and, conducted by the Ambas-
sador and ushered by the Lord Chamberlain, reached
the elevated seats prepared for her, the Prince, and the
rest of the Royal family, through the gay and brillant
throng, who tendered the homage of their respect durinv
her Majesty's passage. Laurent's quadrille band was sta-
-1 tioned in the ball-room, and immediately alter the
Queen's arrival dancing commenced, various costunie
quadrilles being danced in the course of the evening.
The other members of the Royal family present were—
the Duchess of Kent and Cambridge and the Princess
Mary of Cambridge, who were dressed in ordinary ball
dresses.
M. Van de Weyer, the senior Foreign Minister ac-
credited to the British Court, M. 31usurus, the Turkish
Minister, and the whole of the corps diplomatique and
their ladies were present, and the invitations extended
to ail the members of the Administration, the great
officers of State, the leading members of the two Houses
of Parliament, and a numerous party of the nobility and
gentry.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES.

THE CASE OF MR. HENRY STONOR.
This committee re-assembled yesterday. Mr. G. H.
Moore sat as a member for the purpose of conducting the
case; no member appeared as representing the defence.
The proceedings began by an application from Mr.
Eyston, of Gray's-inn, London, who said ho had formerly
acted as Mr. Stonor's solicitor, but now attended as his
friend. In the course of the proceedings he should beg
the permission of the committee to make suggestions to
them ou Mr. Stonor's behalf as to facts within his know-
ledge, should circumstances render it advisable that ho
should do so.
Mr. Sotheron replied that the committee entirely dis-
claimed having Mr. Stonor's conduct in question before
them. At the same time Mr. Eyston might remain in the
room, and if any fresh imputation should be cast upon Mr.
Stonor, he would bo at liberty to make to the committee
any application he might decide upon.
Mr. Moore then proceeded to examine the Duke of New-
castle, who had already taken his seat in the witness-box.
His Grace began by saying that he concurred in the state-
ment made in the House of Commons by Mr. Peel, that Mr.
Stonor's appointment was given him entirely on account
of his professional attainments. A letter wasreceived from
the then Governor of Victoria, Mr. Latrobe, on the 19th of
August, 1853, to the effect that a temporary puisne judge
was wanted at 1,5001, a-year during a tenure of office, and
that there was a prospect of his receiving a similar place
of a permanentnature. The appointment lay properly with
Mr. Latrobe, but as there was no gentleman in the colony
whom he thought himself justified in appointing as suf.
ficiently qualified, he wrote home, begging that the Co-
lonial-office would send out a gentleman whom he might
appoint.
Mr. Moore—Would not a considerable knowledge of
common law, and of the practice of courts, be an indispen-
sable qualification for such a gentleman ?
The Duke of Newcastle—The duties of this gentleman
were to be civil as well as criminal.
Mr. Moore—Mr. Stonor was a conveyancer ?
'Tie Duke of Newcastle—Yes.
Mr. Moore—Are you aware of any precedent in this
country of a conveyancer being appointed to a place such
as the ono in question ?
The Duke of Newcastle—l have no knowledge on the

subject.
Mr. Moore—ls it not desirable that you should have a
knowledge on the subject?
The Duke of Newcastle—l do not consider myself quali-
fied to decide on the merits of the judges to be appointed.
I should be guided by the opinions of those who were
conversant with such matters. The Governor's letter
was received on the 19th of August, 1853. He (the Duke
of Newcastle) did not immediateiy set on foot a series of
inquiries, with a view of finding a properly qualified per-
-1 sou to send out, because in such matters it was the custom
MR. HENRY RUSSELL.—This gentleman is about to that the first notice be received of thet efxoirstenofHv.esca
enxi
ties was from the letters of app an s . the
pro luce a new entertainment written by Charles Mackay, pected the same thiug to happen in this case, and waited
entitled, "The Present and the Future." he West-
for applications, but the vacancy alien, when
known at
POOR RELIEF (IRELAND).--The sum of 751,5231. was the commencement of the long vacation, when all t
expended for the relief of the poor in Ireland in the year minster-hall gentlemen had gone to theofcothunetry or the
ending at Michaelmas last • 446,030/, in in-maintenance ; Continent, and the temporary character
only 4,919/, in out-relief; 139,3041. in salaries and broughteh. iatetaebrout that
efore spoke on the subject to
of officers ; and 191,2681. in other expenses. The —these two circumsttHiecetsher
cations wtereemmenacline. li
whom he had confidence, but he was
to
expenditure in the previous year was 886,2541., being a -(1 them that it would be very difficult to fill t sosmueregenbyl
decrease of 280,700/. on its predecessor. The number aysacaney, as there was only a possibility of permane e
of persons relieved during the year ending last Michael- dependent on the will of a future governor and his exuecce,
Inas was—ln-door, 396,436 ; out-door, 13,232. The tive council. Those gentlemen were Mr. Merivale Pour--
number in receipt of relief on the Ist of January, 1853, manent Und-Socretary for the Colonies, a lawyer of
was 141,822, of vs ho m 3,058 were out-door ;on the great
lawyergheenlce ,
aaann(jicul
daliicimisaalpnr
ai vpoafptoegri
nsetearnctreenetxtair,eyi
n'_
previous New Year's-day the whole number was 170,484.
Jamaica. The was 1,5001. during
GAMING-HOUSES BILL.—The Attorney-General's bill
60weosallsareynly equal to 5001. in
recites the act of 8 and 9 Victoria, giving power to the ,
rtheitenure,eijee island' ohabnae: rleitnt; that a t at Victoria .
p7pOliocla.tioAnbefurotmthmrere.
magistrates to authorise the police to enter houses sus England, or, at most to
weeks before the receipt of the"
pected to be common gaming-houses, and arrest all per -
Stoner an application was received froma a Mr. Chapman, a
sons found therein, and providing that where cards or
appointment in Now
instruments of gaining are found in a room it shall be gentleman who had held a judicial
ivi»z(l facie evidence that the persons in the room were Zealand, and a political one, a secretaryship,
playing. The bill then proposes a penalty of 100/. on men's Land. He (the Duke of Newcastle) did notuthiniel-s
persons obstructing the entry of the constables, or fit to give him the place, as he had gathered from Mr
securing the door by a bolt, bar, chain, or other con- Latrobe's letter that it would not be advisable to a p ' t.
trivance ; and where there is such obstruction, or the any oneh already connected with the colony. Mr.pCheamp-
place is found fitted with means for unlawful gaming, Inan, however had left his family there, and was on his
or for concealing or removing instruments of gaming, wtyout to rejoin him, and therefore the uncertainty of
permanence did not much matter to him. On the 30th
it shall be prima facie evidence that there is a corn.
of
from November,
...r.e 1853, he (the Duke of Newcastle) received
ton gsrning house, and that the persons found there
and mli nry Stonor a letter soliciting the appointment,
were unlawfully playing. There is also to be a penalty
enclosing testimonials from the Lord Chief Justice
of 201. on giving a false name or address before the ma- (Lord Campbell), Vice-Chancellor Stuart, Judge and 11hlas-
gistrates in these cases,
and a penalty of 1001. on a ter Sir George Rose, Mr. Peter Brodie, Mr. Jas
person keeping or assisting in conducting a gaming- Q.C., Mr. John Measure, and Mr.
itichard driffitls eloli
house, or knowingly permitting his premises to be so Dublin, with whom Mr. Stoner had been much engaged in
persons apprehended 1846-7, and also a reference to Mr. Labouchere, during
used. The magistrates may require
that period Chief Secretary for Ireland. There was also a
in the house to be sworn and give evidence, though it 1
printed statement—a small pamphlet--as to the Sligo
may tend to criminas;e themselves ; but those who make
a full discovery are isa be freed from penalties. Half (Borough) Election Committee's Report.
the penalties are to go the informer, and half to the ' Mr. Moore—According to the statement of your Grace,
the statement made by the Under-Secretary for the Colo-
poor-rate. An appea;,_ to the Quarter Sessions is to be i nie4,ihienDthuekeHoofuseeofcCarlemens is not altogether accurate?i__r
allowed. If the infor met neglect to proceed with the N w s —I am not aware whethe • hi. .
case, the magistrates •_niay authorize another
person to i Peel's statement was accurately reported in the newspapers
. .
prosecute in his stead. or not. If it is accurately reported, lam unable to say