The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-15 00:00:00

BURNETT'S (LATE WILLIS'S) BOOMS.

Mrs. H. St. Leger's soiree musicale et dansante took
place last night, when a selection of her new songs
and dance music was performed. Between the dances
Miss Holmes, a little girl, apparently about ten years
of age, sung an aria by Mozart in the finished style of
an experienced vocalist. We understand she is a pupil
of Mr. French Flowers. Mrs. Theodore Distin was
rapturously encored on singing Mrs. St. Leger's charm-
ing ballad, " From a dream of the past I am waking,"
which, on its repetition, was given with, if possible,
increased feeling and artistic effect.
Miss Warnum, from the Hungarian concerts, per-
formed Wallace's Cracavienne on one of Hopkinson's
grand pianos, with all that brilliancy of execution and
taste for which she has justly gained so great a cele-
brity at these excellent concerts. Mr. Theodore Dis-
tin's performance of " All is Lost," on the Saxe Tuba,
was the theme of universal admiration. The evening was
considerably enlivened by several comic songs from Mr.
Grattan Cooke, and an amateur whose name we did not
learn. The 'Seymour Polka, and the Doneraille Waltz,
performed nightly at the Argyle Rooms and Casino de
Venise, were played by the band, and Mrs. St. Leger's
new Glenmire Redowa, Doncaster Galop, and Les belles
de Willesden Quadrilles, were performed with much
eclat by Herr Wilhelm Ganz. During the evening
Mr. W. S. Pratten delighted the audience with several
of his exquisite ballads. The author of " The London
Season," the caro sposa of the accomplished hostess, was
indefatigable in his exertions during the evening to pro-
mote the happiness of his friends ; and, if we may judge
by the lateness or rather earliness of the hour at which
• they separated, we may do the little Saint the justice to
say that he succeeded to his heart's content.

COURT CIRCULAR.

OSBORNE, DEC, 14.

Owing to the unfavourable state of the weather the
Royal family were unable to leave the house yesterday
morning.
In the afternoon the Queen and Prince and Royal
children took their usual exercise.

Mr. R. M'Calmont Cairns, M.P. for Belfast, and a
deputation, had an interview with the Earl of Aberdeen
yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street.
A deputation, consisting of William Carver and John
Peacock, from the merchants and inhabitants of Gibral-
tar, introduced by Mr. John Bright, M.P., and accom-
panied by Mr. J. B. Smith, M.P., Mr. G. B. Carr,
Mr. J. Aspinal Turner, president of the Commercial
Association, Manchester ; Mr. Henry Ashworth, vice-
president of the Chamber of Commerce ; Mr. John
Stagg, director of the Chamber of Commerce ; Mr.
Mosley, Mr. Fred. Jackson, Mr. David E. Power, Mr.
John Ingram Travers, and Mr. Charles Blake, had an
interview with the Duke of Newcastle yesterday, at the
Colonial-office.
Mr. French, M.P., had an interview with Viscount
Palmerston at the Home-office on Tuesday.
Despatches for the Governor of the Cape of Good
Hope, and also for the Governor of the Mauritius, were
sent last evening from the Colonial-office.

Her Majesty the Queen, in consideration of the
severity of the season, and the excessive price of every
necessary of life, has, with her usual Royal munificence,
announced her gracious 'intention of contributing 250/.
towards the funds of the Association for Promoting the
Relief of Destitution in the Metropolis.
The Duke and Duchess of Athol are entertaining
a select party at Dunkeld, Blair Athol, Perthshire. Lord
and Lady James Murray have been visiting their graces.
The Marchioness of Kildare gave birth to a
daughter, on the 12th inst., at Kilkea Castle, county Kil-
dare.
The Earl of Cardigan entertained his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge and a large party during
last week, at Deena Park.
The Countess Dowager Craven, who has been
visiting Mr. A. and. Lady Louisa Oswald, at Auchincruive,
Ayrshire, has left that seat for the south, accompanied
by her youthful grandsons, Sir Frederick Johnstone and
Mr. Johnstone.
Viscount Hardinge has left Stanhope-street for
South Park, Penshurst.
Lord Stanhope is recovering from his late severe
attack of bronchitis, which prevented his lordship from
doing duty with his regiment, the Horse Guards Blue.
His lordship is staying at Bretby.
The Lord Bishop of Tuam and family left the
palace this week for Tourmakeady Lodge, where they in-
tend sojourning for the Christmas.
ILLNESS OF THE DEAN OF ROCHESTER.—The Very
Rev. Dr. R. Stevens, Dean of Rochester, is so dangerously
ill that his life is despaired off by his friends—indeed, there
appears to be little hopes of recovery in consequence of his
advanced age. The rev. gentleman was presented to the
deanery by the Crown in 1820, and the same year he was
instituted to the rectory of West Farleigh, near Maidstone,
a benefice worth between 500/. and 6001. a-year, in the
gift of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester. The deanery
is worth 1,5001. at present, but will not yield so much to
Dr. Stevens's successor.
DUBLIN, TUESDAY.—THE LADY MAYORESS.--
We regret to state that her ladyship is confined with an
attack of measles, having taken to her bed the day after
her brilliant ball. The attack is a severe one, but her lady-
ship progresses favourably.
LORD BENHOLME.—On Saturday Mr. Hercules
Robertson, having the day previously presented her Ma-
jesty's commission, and gone through the customary pro-
bation in the Outer and Inner House, took his seat on the
bench under the above title. Lord Rutherford, who has
been in the Outer House for little more than two years,
will take his seat to-day in the First Division. —Edinburgh
Advertiser of Tuesday.
THE BEAUFORT SKEW-BALLS.—The late lamented
Duke of Beaufort possessed for many years a stud of skew-
balled horses of great beauty. His grace's equipage, drawn
occasionally by a pair, and sometimes by four of these ani-
mals, will long be remembered by park loungers. The
demise of the duke has led to the disposal of a portion of
his stud. His Excellency Count Walewski has secured
four of the beautiful skew-balls, an acquisition which will
materially add to the brilliancy of the carriage appoint-
ments of the French Embassy.
SussEx-HALL, LEADENIIALL-STBEET. —Miss Annie
Webb's concert took place on Tuesday evening, when
was issued a well-selected and highly-attractive pro-
gramme. To enumerate the different points of the con-
cert would take up more space than we can spare. Suffice
it to name a few. The gem of the evening was the tin
approachable pianoforte playing of Mr. Alex. Billet.
The next best was the exquisite and highly-finished ren-
dering, by Miss Stabbach, of Weber's difficult scans,
" Softly sighs ;" her other song, " Take back the
ring," was loudly re-demanded. Mr. George Case's
solo, "Concertina" was deservedly encored.
Miss
Miss
Lowe, in Bellmi's " Do not mingle," was encored.
Webb herself sang two songs in a very tasteful manner.
M. Valadare'e solo, " Violin," was a masterpiece of
execution. The charming duet-singing of the Misses
Brougham was the theme of general admiration, and
the Buffo songs of Herr Jonghman's, as usual, gained
encores. The conductors, Messrs. Haskins and Wolf-
Bohn, materially aided the artistes by their careful a,ccom-
paniments.