The Sun.
London, England, 1825-01-03 00:00:00

FASHIONABLE PARTIES.

The Earl of Caiillis entertained a distinguished party at
dinner on New Year's Day at his seat, St. Margaret's.
The Earl of Harcourt is entertaining a distinguished party
of friends at his scat, St. Leonard's Hill, Berks.

STATE CARRIAGE of the KING of PORTUGAL.
Highly to the credit of the British arts and manufactures,
which have been selected for the building of a state carriage
for the King of Portugal, which has been making during the
past year at a coach-builder's in Berners-street, who has pro-
duced one highly appropriate for this occasion, in magnificence,
splendour, and taste : the general feature of the form very
much resembles that of our King's in which he goes in state to
the theatres, and other similar occasions : the upper panels are
of glass, 50.% It has been finished within these few days, and
has attracted the attention of the foreigners of distinction, the
nobility and gentry, to view it The state harness for eight
horses to correspond is also exhibited in the same show-room,
the ornaments of which are of highly finished workmanship,
made of a composition of metals, to imitate the appearance of
gold. To give its full effect, a wooden-horse, of the size of a coach
horse, is placed in front of the carriage, painted bay-colour,with
a black tail and mane, fully caparisoned with the harness.—
To make the Portuguese state equipage completely English,
Mr. Milton, the horse-dealer, was engaged during the past
year to select horses suitable, who succeeded in selecting 12
beautiful bay horses to match, with black tales and manes,
which have lately sailed from England to Portugal, with Eng-
lish grooms to take care of them, which is essential for the pre-
servation of English horses abroad.
The following is a slight description of the carriage, on which '
the first-rate artists have been employed. The body of the
coach is of rich crimson, the Royal arms, crown, &c. superbly
emblazoned in a painted mantle on the front, back, side, and
centre panels the four corner panels represent the arms, sur-
mounted by the regal crown, supported by military and naval
trophies ; the bottom of the whole entwined by a well executed
garland of flowers : the upper parts of the coach are of fine
plate glass, which is encircled with a rich painted bordering of
flowers and figures ; the top of the roof is ornamented with hand-
some rich carved and gilded brackets which support the crown and
cushion ; the four lamps, one at each corner, are of rich gilt,
chased work, and cut-glass, and each surmounted by the Royal
crown. The inside trimming is of costly crimson silk, and
figured silk lace, and which has every appearance of being
gold ; on the inside centre of the roof is placed the Order of
Christ, the principal Portuguese Order, in gold and silver em-
broidery ; the hammerdoth is superb, almost beyond descrip-
tion ; it is made of the most costly materials, viz. crimson silk
velvet, gold lace and fringe ; the sides and back represent in
gold and silver embroidery the same subject as on the panels,
and is fitted up to have a very stately appearance. The coach,
box is supported from the carriage by four dragons, carved in
a most masterly manner : the figures which protect the foot-
men's cushion correspond with the above. The Royal support-
ers are dragons, and are in unison with the last-mentioned
figures. The harness is for eight horses. The ornaments are
of chased metal, of a rich gold colour, and of the greatest pro-
fusion, consisting of the Royal crown, arms, supporters, orders,
&c.

MEINENGENT, DEC. 13.—Yesterday the birth-day of our
beloved Duke Bernhard, who completed his :.'4th year, the
opening of the Assembly of the States took place in the man-
ner prescribed by the new Constitution, divine service having
been first performed in the Palace Church. This important
event was accompanied by the formal announcement of the in-
tended marriage of our Duke with her Highness the Princess
Maria of Hesse Cassel.

THE A ItTS.—Mr. is.ENDittCK, whose talents
as a sculptor need no eulogium from us, has made a bust of
Dr. KITCHENER, so well known for his various useful publi-
cations; and of Mr. M u anal-, the eminent Solicitor, who
arranged the affliirs of the late Mr. KEMBLE, and inhabits his
mansion. Both of these busts are of marble : They are, like
all Mr. KENDRICK'S productions, exact in similitude, and
excellent in art. Mr. K. is also engaged upon a marble bust of
ALEXANDER DAVISON, Esq., a liberal patron of British
artists. But what will, we doubt not, prove an ornament to
the next Royal Academy Exhibition when completed, is a
design representing EVE when offered the apple by the serpent.
The surprise and shrinking timidity of our first parent at such
an offer, from such a being, are admirably conceived, and shew
that the artist possesses imagination and taste in design, as well
as fidelity in execution.
PROPOSED Suit' CANAL.—We are not so happy
as even to know the name of the individual whose enlightened
and comprehensive mind first conceived the possibility of open-
ing a communication for ships from the English to the Bristol
Channels, without the tedious, expensive, and dangerous pas-
sage around the Land's End : neither are we acquainted with
those public-spirited individuals whose minds caught the idea
and cherished it from hour to hour, and from day to day, to
the present time ; nor do we know to whose patient and perse-
vering energies the country is indebted for that assurance of
success which now attends the measure; but, as Public Jour-
nalists, we cannot fail to recollect that, from year to year, our
columns have been filled with the narration of disasters which
it has not been in the power of man to redress, and which have
but too frequently been beyond the reach of alleviation. From
the Report of Captain Nicholls, which we propose to insert in
the future numbers of the ,Journal, it does, however, appear
that, from the year 1815 to 1823 (a period of only eight years)
no fewer than 382 chips have been stranded on the Western
Coast, and 556 vessels have lost their masts, or sustained in-
jury at sea, round the Land's End, and on the coasts of Dorset,
Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. We propose to resume the
consideration of this subject, because we consider it as by far
the most important which can engage the attention of the
Landed and Commercial Interests of the West of England.—
(Dore/tcster and Sherborne Journal, Dec. Si.)
KING'S BENCIL—The London Sittings had
been adjourned to this day ; but it was announced on Saturday
morning in a notice front Lord Chief Justice A Bnovr, that
such Sittings for London would be further adjourned to Friday,
the 7th instant. His Lordship will commence with Common
Juries, and, in about a week afterwards, proceeded to Special
Juries. The last day for making Special Juries will be Mon-
day next. The cause "A. Cox' Esq. v. Kean," still remains
on the Paper ; but it is intended for trial by a Special Jury.
RUSSIAN DuctruNE.--During the late inun-
dation in Russia, a centinel, who was stationed
at the gate of the Emrctton's gardens, remained
steady at his post till the water came up to his
chest and was still rising. He was evidently de-
termined not to quit his post without orders, at
the certainty of being drowned. A Serjeant,
who saw his danger, determined to share it or
rescue the man ; he rushed forward, and pulling
him away; they were both fortunately saved,