The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-09 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

COMIC HISTORY OF ENGLAND. By Gilbert
Abbott a'Beckett. Part XIV.
In this number we have the oonclusion of the
reign of Bloody Queen Mary, and the commence-
ment of that of Elizabeth ; and Mr. a'Beckett does
full justice to the characters of each of these vixens.
They were both of them " Father's own children."
Of Mary he says :
" Miserable and middle-aged, detested and dropsical,
this wretched woman was tormented by every kind of
reflection, from that presented by the mirror of her own
mind, to the dismal prospect shadowed forth in her look-
ing-glass. She had lost Calais; but, as the audacious
Strype has boldly suggested, she might have become cal-
lous to that, had she not known the fearful fact, that her
husband Philip declared he had had his fill of double
cursedness, and intended to try in Spain what a timely
return to single blessedness might do for him. All these
17,_
troubles proved, like herself, unbearable, and on the 17th;
h
yet
Of November, 1558, she expired, after a shortn
and eleven
too long a reign of five years four months,
ofa her age,
days. She had reached the forty-third year
and must have made the most of her time,
least; for no woman of her age had oer
odium of a durable quality, as she In h sa ae
donseowmaYucaht'
short life had acquired. comparativly:
" If we were to draw a
nfaithful character of this
Princess, we need do nothing
use the saturate
ore than upset our ink-
stand over our paper,
and
es in one enormoumann-
s
script to be transferred to our pag
pe
horribly could
d
black job of handing
black blot; for we are sure that
whe mnowperhinatvenesthtey
furnish a type of the persons
ow n_
or rather knocking down—
to posterity. Those indefatigable readers who are de-
sirous of having the appropriate epithets which Mary's
ctihnanorac4, er deserves, are requested to take down the dic-
and having selected from it all the adjective ex-
pressive of badness that the language contains, place
them in a string or a series of strings, before the name
of Mary.
To look for her virtues would require the aid of one
of those solar microscopes which give visibility to the
merest atom, and the particle, if even discovered, might
.be deposited in the, mental eye without its being suscep-
tible of anything having entered it. She seems to have
possessed some sincerity; but this only gave a certain
degree of vigour to her evil propensities. She was per
haps susceptible oil some attachments, but so is a boa con-
strictor, though few would conceive it a privilege to be
held in the firm embraces of that paragon of tenacity to-
wards those with whose fate it happens to twine itself.
She had a certain vigour of mind, just as the tiger has a
certain vigour of -spring, a parallel the force of which her
victims very frequently experienced.
" The loss of C alais was, perhaps, one of the mostaye had
im-
portant events of Mary's reign, and it is said to h
such an effect up( )n her, that she declared when she died
the word Calais would be found
the word had
engraved upon her
heart; though we, are quite sure, h
been found at all, it would not have" presented if
resented itself as
an engraving, b at as a lithograph.
To Elizabe' lb be is notone whit more complimen-
tary, and mor e than insinuates
_hs is a
ithat she was the Mrs.
glorious number.
Skewton off atblic life. T

OSBORNE, SATURDAY.—Yesterday being the miniver •
sary of the birthday of his Royal Highness the Prince
Alfred, her Majesty gave a fele to the servants and la-
bourers employed at Osborne, together with their wives
and families, in the same manner as last year, upon the
occasion of the birthday of his Royal Highness the
Prince Consort, which will cccur this year during the
absence of the Court in the north.
At three o'clock about three hundred persons at down
to a subStautiat dinner of roast beef, plum-pudding, &c.,
after doing ample
justice to which, Mr. Toward, the
Queen's Bailiff, proposed in succession the healths cf her
Majesty, his Royal Highness the Prince Albert, Prince
Alfred and the rest of the Royal Family, which toasts,
we need hardly
say, were drunk with the greatest en-
thusiasm.

The sports of the evening then commenced in the fol-
lowing order:—Dancing—cricket—quoits—trap-hat and
ball and rounders—whipping a ball out of a hole (six
perions hooded)—foot-ball—toot race--donkey races—
hopping match—hurdle races—jumping in sacks—blind
man's buff--r-leapfrog—long rope, follow my leader, and
skipping—wheeling barrows (blindfolded)—snapping, rt
gingerbread (hands tied)—bobbing for apples (in water)
—dipping for a piece of money (in meal)—climbing
greased poles—winding strings around pegs, &e. &c.
These sports afforded amusement to a large concourse
of happy people. The bands of the Royal Marines and
43d Light Infantry were present by her Majest) 's:com-
mand, and to their music some forty or fifty couples
threaded the -mazes of the good old English countty
dances.

The Queen, the Prince, his Imperial Highness the
Grand Duke Constantine of Russia, his Royal Highness
the reigning Duke of Nassau, and their respective suitee,
Count Mensdcrff, his Excellency Baron de Brunnow,
Viscount Palmerston' and the Ladies and Gentlemen of
the Royal Household, were present during the whole of
these festivities, and her Majesty and his Royal High-
ness appeared to take the greatest interest in the amuse-
ments and happiness of the joyous groups by whom
they were surrounded. The royal children formed not
the least interesting part of this scene. His Royal High-
ness the Prince of Wales and his Royal Highness Prince
Alfred appeared in the correct costume of British sea-
men, and, with their royal sisters, appeared to enter
fully into the humours of the day. The whole concluded
at sunset., and the enthusiastic cheering which re-echoed
through the woods of Osborne, on the departure of the
royal party, will no 4 easily be forgotten by those who
were fortunate enough to be present.
The royal dinner party in the evening included his
Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Constantine of
Russia, his Royal Highness the reigning Duke of Nassau,
Count Mensdorff, his Excellency Baron de Brunnow,
the Countess of Desart, the Earl of Ilchester,Viscountess
Palmerston, Viscount and Viscountess Sydney, Viscount
b Jocelyn, Admiral de Lutke, Colonel the Hon. Charles
Grey, and three gentlemen of the suite of the reigning
Duke of Nassau.

The band of the Royal Marines were in attendance
at dinner.

This morning his Imperial Highness the Grand Duke
Constantine of Russia took leave of the Queen on his
return to town. His Royal Highness Prince Albert ac-
companied the Grand Duke to the Fairy. His Imperial
Highness left at half-past ten o'clock, attended by his
Excellency Baron de Brunnow and Admiral de Lutke.
His Royal Highness the reigning Duke of Nassati,
attended by his suite, also left to-day.
Viscount Palmerston took his departure this forenoon.
OSBORNE, SUNDAY.—This morning the Queen and
Prince Albert, and the ladies and gentlemen of the Court,
attended divine service in Whippingham Church.
Lord Monteagle, Mr. C. K. Murray, and Mr. Mac-
gregor, M.P., had interviews with Lord John Russell on
Saturday, at his official residence in Downing-street.
Lord John Russell went to his residence at Richmond
on Saturday evening, and has proceeded to Osborne, Isle
of Wight, on a visit to her Majesty.
The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had a
special general meeting on Saturday.
Dispatches were sent off on Saturday evening from
the Colonial-office, for the Governor of Ceylon and the
Governor of Malta.
The Dukes of Wellington and Rutland, and Sir F.
Trench, attended the early service in the Chapel Royal._
St. James's, yesterday. Prayers were read by the Rey.
Dr. Wesley, and the sermon was preached by the Rev.
F. Perkins. At the daily service, the prayers were read
by the Rev. Mr. Helmore; the lessons by the Rev. Mr.
Povah; and the communion service by the Rev. Dr.
Wesley. The st;stmon was preached by the Rev. P.
Perkins. Mr. CNoper presided at the organ.

SUDDEN DEATH OF MR BARNARD, M.P. FOR
GREENWICH.—it is our nu:14110101y duty to announce
the sudden death of a veteran and consistent Reformer,
sir. E. G. Barnard, the Member for Greenwich, who
died on evening, at his house, near Black. •
fir. Barn
7,7.4 he fciremost men of the age perhaps
no place ; but his post was never
vacant in the lobbyll3ler„, when questions of importance to the
His sympathies were always euus‘eu
progress, and it is consoling to reflect that his political
career was as satisfactory to his constituents as it must
have been to his own conscience. We understand that
a deputation from the borough, anxious to pre-
Jerre the Liberal interest from the possible in-
road of a Tory, have have waited upon Mr.
Hawes, the warm personal friend and active also-
biate,:of their late Member in all the great struggles
for free trade, the penny postage, the reduction
of the pension list, corporation reform, and every other
measure of beneficial change—and requested that he
Would allow himself to be put is nomination when an
election shall take place. We are rejoiced at this
prompt proceeding on the part of Greenwich ; and if
Mr. Hawes should hereafter become a candidate., we
Fqoubt not that he will experience that support from the
electors, to which his honest services, his great expe-
rience, and his business qualities so well entitle him.
DEATH or MRS. EGERTON.—This celebrated Re-
Itress of the Theatres Royal, who for so many years held
distinguished position among the tragic performers
:that once adorned the national theatres, expired last
.Tuesday, at her residence in Chelsea, where she had for
,several years taken up her abode, Mrs. Egerton famed
la portion of the Kemble school, and was contempora-
neous with Mrs. Siddons, Miss O'Neil, Mrs. Bartley,
Mrs. Powell, &c. Her father was the Rev. Peter litither,
Rector of Torrington, Devonshire, where the deceased
lady was born in 1762. Her introduction to the stage
was as early as 1803, at the Bath Theatre, where the
late Mr. Egerton, her future husband, was an actor also.
In 1810 she appeared at Covent Garden as Juliet, one
year after the retirement of the great tragic actress, Mrs.
Siddons. The appearance of Miss O'Neil soon after-
wards precluded all hopes of Mrs. Egerton's maintaining
her position of a leading actress, but the management
found her for many years a most valuable auxiliary, and
in parts of a romantic cast she has seldom been equalled.
Iler performance of Ravine, in the well known melo-
drama of The Miller and his Men, was a gem of its •
kind. She was the original representative of Helen
Macgregor, Madge Wildfire, and Meg Merrilies, the
three great creations of Sir Walter Scott. It is a
curious fact that the late famous comedian, John
Emery, was selected by the adapter of the novel
(the late Daniel Terry, the actor) to represent the
heroine, but Robert Tyke refused to go into petti-
coats, and the part was given, as a dernier resort,
to Mrs. Egerton. Independent of the many compliments
paid by the public and the press, the late lamented
Princess Charlotte honoured her with signal marks of
approvol. After quitting Covent-garden she appeared
at Sadler's Well Theatre, where her husband was lessee.
and in the drama of Joan of Arc she played the heroine
so cffectively. that the piece ran the whole sews% She
afterwards Joined the Surrey and Olympice establish-
ments,
2.h
ments, and again returned to. the theatres royal oin yalfora
short time, and performed Jane de Joanna,Montford,
for the late Edmund Kean. In l.wBh3e2n it wEagserrteovnt
Baillie's tragedy of De Montford,
t,thebevcaionitoeritahelessee ofHthe,
Theatre. ere
ccoonbj
ou
regt
o h with
ht h t he Mr.
namedt
Mrs. Egerton distinguished herself as Queen Elizabeth,
in Sheridan Knowles's play of The Beggar of Bethnal
Green, after which she retired from the stage to the
quiet of private life. Her death at the age of sixty-ft)
is another proof of the longevity attained by most of the
eminent professors of the histrionic art Mrs. Gibbs,
Mrs. Harrows, and Miss Tidswell, are yet living, the
two former something near eighty years of age, the latter
almost a centenarian, as she was an actress at Drury-
cidleacnteebfetfhoreeseDlainveida
vvGaasrraiclakdy o quitted eersathalgeea.
attainments,
.
ecqu
friendship
a anced considerable
. She afn
was
sapnedeteanbjloeyeed the
of a a
not member
mosta a
liar
singular that Mr. Drinkwater Meadows, the respected
secretary of the fund, paid her the last quarter's annuity
onlyinterred
saitluerrdaryemlaasir were
MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.—Lord John Russell
met a select party of his political friends at dinner on
Saturday at Holland-house. To-day his Lordship will
prcceed to Osborne, and will remain till Wednesday on
a visit to her Majesty. A Council will be held at Osborne-
hetiso to marrow. Lord Dalhousie will be sworn in as
Govcrnor•General of India. Lord Palmerston has been
on a visit to the Queen at Osborne-house. His Lordship
joined tha Count. ss at his seat at Broadlandl la, on
Saturday, and will return to be present at tho Privy Conn.
eil to morrow. E irl Grey will return to town this day
from his seat at Da tehet, and proeeerl to Osborre to be pee,-
'sent at the Council to-morrow. His Lordship will prozeol
wi,h her Majesty on her excursion. Lord Palmerston
will then be the Secretary of State nanui-iing in London,
and in about a fortnight will join the Court after the re•
turn of Sir G. Grey.—Observer.
MIDDLESEX ELECTION. OrlSliaturday evening
anumerous and resp' stable eting of the friends of
sqh. atthethe n
chair.
InnM
Mr.
, Osborne Edmonton
wa
Mr. Osborne
shFoirenldet:''Esll
s
.a
received with great applause, and a resolution wars carried, approving of Mr. Osborne's pran-
cipleF. A vote of thanks having been passed to the
chairman,
and three hearty cheers given for Mr. Os•
borne, the meeting separate .
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN MANCIIESTER.—ShortIy
before twelve o'clock on Friday night a fire broke out its
the mill occupied by Mr. Whittaker (late Croome and
Whittaker), printers, Hargreaves-street, Red Bank. The
building, which is entirely destroyed. was four stories
high, but employs few hands.—Manchester Guardian.