The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-27 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen held a Chapter of the Most Noble Order of the
Garter yesterday afternoon, at Buckingham Palace.
The Knights Companions of the Order assembled at one
o'clock, in the Palace, end were robed in their mantles of
purple velvet by Mr. Hunter and Mr. Ede. The Knights
also wore their splendid collars.
Garter King of Arms called over the names of the. Knights
Companions present in the Green Drawing-room, and the
Knights and Officers of the Order proceeded into the presence
of the Sovereign, in the Throne or Chapter-room.
The Queen, who wore the Mantle and Collar of the Order,
was seated in a chair of state, Prince Albert being by her
side; his Royal Highness also wearing the Mantle and Collar.
The Duchess of Sutherland, Mistress of the Robes, and the
Countess of Gainsborough, Lady-in-Waiting, were behind
her Majesty. The Lord Chamberlain stood on the right of
the Queen, and the Lord Steward on the opposite side.
The Knights Companions present were his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge,
the Duke of Wellington, the Marquis of Anglesea, the Mar-
quis of Exeter, the Duke of Hamilton, the Marquis of Salis-
bury, the Duke of Beaufort, Earl de Grey, and the Marquis
Camden.
The officers of this order present, were the Bishop of Win-
chester, Prelate ; the Bishop of Oxford, Chancellor ; Sir
Charles Young, Garter King of Arms ; and Sir Augustus
Clifford, Bart., Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.

The Knights Companions being seated, the Chancellor
signified to the Queen that the Hon. and Rev. George Neville
Grenville attended at the door, and humbly prayed to be ad-
mitted to take the oath of office as Register of the most noble
Order of the Garter ; whereupon by her Majesty's command,
the Register, wearing his mantle, was introduced between
Garter and Black Rod, the former carrying on a velvet
cushion the Gold Chain and Badge ; the Register knelt on the
left-hand of the Queen, and the oath of office was administered
by the Chancellor. The Register was then invested by the
Sovereign with the Gold Chain and Badge, and having had
the honour to kiss her Majesty's hand, retired to his place at
the bottom of the table.

The Chancellor signified to the Chapter her Majesty's
Royal will and pleasure that the vacant stall in the Royal
Chapel of St. George, at Windsor, should be filled, and as by
the statutes none but a Knight can be elected, the Most
Noble Francis Duke of Bedford was introduced between
Garter and Black Rod. The Sword of State, borne by Sir
William Martins, Gentleman Usher, was presented to the
Queen by the Lord Chamberlain, and her Majesty was
graciously pleased to confer the honour of Knighthood upon
the Noble Duke therewith. His Grace, rising, kissed the
Sovereign's hand and retired.
The Knights Companions proceeded to the election, and
the suffrages having been collected by the Chancellor, were
presented by him to the Queen, who commanded him to
declare that the Most Noble Francis Duke of Bedford had
)seen duly elected a Knight of the Most Noble Order of the
Garter.

By the Sovereign's command, the Duke of Bedford was
received at the door of the Chapter-room, by the Marquis
Camden and Earl de Grey, the: two Junior Knights Compa-
nions present, and was conducted between them to the
Queen, preceded by. Garter (bearing the ensigns of the order
upon a crimson velvet cushion) and by Black Rod. His GrAce
knelt near the Sovereign, and Garter King of Arms, on his
knees, presented the Garter, and her Majesty, assisted by their
Royal Highnesses Prince Albert and the Duke of Cambridge,
the two Senior Knights Companions present, buckled it on his
Grace's left leg, the Chancellor pronouncing the usual admoni-
tion. Garter King of Arms presented, in like manner, the
Riband and George ; and her Majesty, assisted as before, put the
Riband over his Grace's left shoulder, the Chancellor pro-
nouncing the admonition. The Noble Duke again kissed her
Majesty's hand, and passed round the Chapter-table,receiving
the congratulations of each of the Knights Companions.
His Grace then withdrov.

The Chapter being ended, Garter by her Majesty's com-
mand again called over the Knights Companions, who with
the officers of the order retired from the presence of the
Queen with the usual reverence.
The Court was attended by the Lord Steward, the Lord
Chamberlain, the Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gen-
tlemen at Arms, the Captain of the Yeoman Guard, the
Master of the Horse; the Marquis of Londonderry' Gold
Stick in Waiting; the Marquis of Ormonde, Lord in Wait-
ing; the Vice-Chamberlain, the Treasurer of the Household,
the Comptroller of the Household; Viscount Clifden, Lord
in Waiting to Prince Albert; Sir George Philip Lee, Lieute-
nant of the Yeoman Guard; the Groom of the Robes; Mr.
R. Ormsby Gore, Groom in Waiting ; Captain Francis
Seymour, Groom in Waiting to Prince Albert; Colonel
the Hon. Charles Grey, Equerry in Waiting; Colonel
Bouverie, Equerry in Waiting to Prince Albert; and Messrs.
Gordon and Forbes, Pages of Honour in Waiting.
A guard of honour of the Yeomen Guard lined the grand
hall, under the command of the Exon in Waiting, Captain
Sadler.

The Queen's guard of the Foot Guards, with the band
of the regiment, was on duty on the Palace lawn during the
Court.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert presided, yesterday
afternoon, at a meeting of the Commissioners for Promoting
and Encouraging the Fine Arts, in rebuilding the Palace of
Westminster. The meeting was held in the new Palace.
The Prince arrived shortly before three o'clock, attended by
Colonel Bouverie. The Commissioners present were the Earl
of Aberdeen, the Earl of Lincoln, Lord Ashburton, Lord Col-
borne, Viscount Morpeth, Viscount Mahon, the Speaker of
the House of Commons, Sir Robert Peel, Sir Robert H. Inglis,
Mr. H. Hallam, Mr. Vivian, and Mr. Wyse. The Secretary,
Mr. Eastlake, was in attendance.
Mr. Barry, the architect, attended the Commissioners
during their inspection of portions of the new buildings.
The meeting broke up at six o'clock.
The Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal took an
airing yesterday in an open carriage and four.
The Royal dinner party yesterday at Buckingham Palace,
included the Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs. Howley,
the Duchess of Sutherland, the Countess Granville, and the
Right Hon. Sir James Graham,
The Band of the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, under
the direction of Mr. Tutton, attended during dinner, and
performed the following pieces :
Overture—" Stradella,"—Flotow.
Selection—" Huguenots."—Meyerbeer.
Waltzes—" Nur Lieben,"—Strauss.
Finale—" sth Symphony—Beethoven.
March—Lord Westmorland.
The Duchess of Cambridge visited her Majesty the Queen
Dowager yesterday, at Marlborough House.
Yesterday was the birthday of his Royal Highness Princo
George.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cam-
bridge and the Princess Mary dined with her Royal High.
ness the Duchess of Gloucester, at Gloucester House, late
evening. _ . . . . . . .

A deputation from the Mauritius Association, consisting
of Mr. D. Barclay, M.P., (Chairman), Mr. Hunter, (Deputy
Chairman), Mr. A. Steele, Mr. Edward Chapman, Mr.
Samuel Baker. Mr. Rowlandson, Mr. Clifford, and Mr. B.
Greene, jun., accompanied by Mr. Dennistoun, M.P., for
Glasgow, had an interview with Earl Grey yesterday, at the
Colonial•office.

The following Members of the New Bishopricks Commis-
sion yesterday attended a meeting in Whitehall-place :—The
Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord John Russell, the Bishops
of London, Durham, Winchester, Chester, and Lincoln, and
Sir George Grey.
The Chairman of the Excise had an interview with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday.

Lord James Stuart had also an interview with the Right
Hon. Baronet.

FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE.
WHITEHALL, MAucit 26, 1847.
The Queen has been pleased to grant to the Hon. ana
Rev. Henry Montagu Villiers, M.A., the place and dignity
of a Canon Resideatiary of the cathedral church of St. Paul,
London, void by the death of the Rev. Doctor Frederick
William Blomberg.
FOREIGN- OFFICE, M.A.Rcw 23.
The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Saul
Solomon, as Consul at St. Helena for her Majesty the Queen
of Spain.