The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-20 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen held a Court yesterday afternoon in
Buckingham Palace.

The Very Rey. Dr. Graham had an audience of
her Majesty in the Royal Closet, and did homage on
being appointed Bishop of Chester. Sir George Grey,
her Majesty's principal Secretary of State for the
Home Department, and the Bishop of Norwich,
Clerk of the Closet, assisted at the ceremony. The
Dean of Hereford was in attendance.

Her Majesty gave audience to Sir George Grey.
The Earl of Morton was the Lord in Waiting.
The Judge Advocate-General had an audience of
the Queen yesterday, and submitted to her Majesty
the proceedings of some Courts-martial.
The Duchess of Kent visited the Queen yesterday.
Her Royal Highness also visited the Queen Dowager
at Marlborough House
Her Majesty and Prince Albert, attended by the
Countess of Charlemont, Lady Caroline Cocks, the
Earl of Morton, Colonel Berkeley Drummond,
Colonel the Hon. C. Grey, and Captain the lion. A.
Gordon' inspected the Collection of Pictures by
British Masters, which has been presented to the
nation by Mr. Vernon, at his residence in Pall-mall,
where her Majesty and his Royal Highness were
received by Mr. Vernon Heath and Mr. Eastlake.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness the Prince
were graciously pleased to express their admiration of
deputation on
these fine specimens of British art.
of the Earl of Aberdeen A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the
Foreign-office. Lord John Russell, the Marquis of
Lansdowne, Earl of Minto, Sir ;George Grey, Vis-
count Palmerston Earl Grey, the Chancellor of the
the Aberdeen Rathi
Hume,
m.pMr. LHone.raSvnird Acleoxloainedl,eary
the Marquis
the Earl of Auckland, Lord Campbell,
Matheson, 11.1. P
other Ministers of
M.P., Captain E;alr
attended. The Council sat two
lion. Captain GorDdc
Aaniniinvte.rsvimewithw,
hours.
.1- an d , Mr.
lia.i
I A
Al
Al.. deputation ut a Elise,ti l‘firm etehn Richmondß vestry consisting
r.
iFordyce, M.P. Mr. Traill,
M.P., Mr, Duff, M.P., Mr.
with the Commis-
Moch,
sinners of Woods and Forests wend Fraser,
yesterday. Chancellor of the Exchequer
of Mr. Robert Smith, Mr.
The Chairman of the Exerseestirday.
on Thursday, with the Chancellor ofadan interview,
The Lords Committee of the thePr Exchequer.
Trade and Foreign Plantations had avly:neCo9ncil for
terday. There were present Earl G e.tmg yes-
Campbell, Earl Grey, Sir J. Stephen '''•
, and Sir E.
Ryan. ihtahCdiai,ahnineripicnalrde, Viscount Morpeth, and

THE QUEEN'S STATE BALL.
The Queen gave a state ball, the first this season,
yesterday evening, in Buckingham Palace, which was
very numerously attended; the invitations including
the royal family and foreign princes in. England, the
whole of the diplomatic corps and foreigners of dis-
tinction at present in town, the ministers and officers
of state, the ladies and gentlemen of the royal house-
hold, and upwards of one thousand of the nobility and
gentry. Half-past nine o'clock was the hour named
for the company to assemble, but before that time the
distinguished guests began to arrive ; the foreign
ministers, privy councillors, and the Queen's aides-
de-camp, alighting at the garden entrance, and the
general company at the entrance to the Palace in
Pimlico. The members of the royal family were
ushered on their arrival into the royal closet, where
the Queen and Prince Albert received their illustri-
ous visitors, and the general company were conducted
up the grand staircase to the picture gallery, each
end of which was tastefully filled with rare and
beautiful shrubs and plants. The recesses in the
staircases were also tastefully grouped with plants
in flower. The Yeomen of the Guard lined the
grand staircase, commanded by Sir W. Bellairs, the
Exon in Waiting. The officers of the corps present
were Sir. G. P. Lee, the lieutenant, and Capt. Sadler,
the Exon.
The Prince of Prus,ia arrived at half-past nine
o'clock, attended by Count Goltz and Baron Boyen.
The Duchess of Kent was attended by Lady A.
Bruce, Baroness de 'Speth, Sir G. Couper, and Lord
J. Murray.
The Count of Syracuse was attended by his Ex-
cellency Prince Castelcicala, the Chevalier Colona,
and M. Canofari.

The Duke and Duchess Bernhard of Saxe Weimar
were accompanied by Prince Edward and the Prin-
cesses Anne and Amelia of Saxe Weimar, and were
attended by M. Hergt.
The Duchess of Cambridge was accompanied by
Prince Frederick William of Hesse, and was attended
by Lady A. Cadogan and Mr. E. Mildmay.
The Duke George of Mecklenburg Strelitz was
also present.
Soon after ten o'clock the Queen and Prince Al-
bert, preceded by the Lord Chamberlain and the
Lord Steward, and attended by the Mistress of the
Robes, the Lady in Waiting, the Maids of Honour,
and the principal officers of the household, entered
the saloon from the white drawing-room, followed by
the royal guests.
Her Majesty wore a very chaste and elegant cos-
tume ;the dress:was of white crape, trimmed with white
roses and pearls, over a white silk slip. The Queen
also wore a wreath of white roses. The august party
passed through the saloon, and entered the ball-room,
followed by the general company. The Lord Cham-
berlain conducted her Alajesty to a seat in an alcove,
lined with white silk embroidered with gold, with
draperies of amber-coloured satin, and ornamented
with a variety of the choicest and rarest exotics. The
seats for her Majesty and her royal visitors within
the alcove were elevated above the rest of the apart-
ment.
The ball was then opened, the first dance being a
quadrille, " Ilaydee" (Musard), which was performed
by the quadrille band, led by Mr. Henry Barnard.
Quadrilles, waltzes, and polkas followed.
Dancing having commenced in the ball-room, the
numerous assembly shortly afterwards formed into
sets for quadrilles, in the Throne-room, where a
second quadrille band, conducted by Mr. Charles
Coote, was in attendance. Quadrilles, waltzes, and
polkas followed in succession. The following were
danced :—Quadrilles—Attila Henriette, Fountain,
Pomeroy (Coote), Cavendish' (Tinney). Waltzes—
Oberon, Rachel (Tinney), Emmeline (D'Albert),
Concordia (Strauss), Romelie (Fessy),
Matilda (Coote). Polkas----Evelyn, Belfast (Tinney), Co-
quette (D'Albert), Clara (Coote). Galop.
Both the ball-rooms and the entire suite of state
saloons were brilliantly illuminated.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.
y, a special
THE HEALTH OP TOWNS BILL.--Yesterda
court was held, in consequence of a
re,consider
qui
tti
numerously signed, to the Lord Mayor "to on, most
how far the Public Health Bill,
House of Commons b ow brought into the
y her M najesty's Government, is
likely to interfere with the right of self-government in-
herent in all local representative bodies, and to take such
steps therein as may be deemed expedient." After the
transaction of some routine business, Mr. Blake intro-
duced the following resolutions by a long speech:—
" That although the City of London, and the metro-
politan boroughs generally, are exempted from the
operation of the Bill introduced into the House of
Commons by her Majesty's Government, intituled, ' A
Bill for Promoting the Public Health," yet this Court
considers itself called upon to express its opinion upon
a measure so deeply affecting the well-being of a large
portion of theirJellovv-subjects, being satisfied also that
in vindicating and supporting the rights of other local
representative bodies it best consults the maintenance
and integrity of its own.
" That this Court desires to express its deep and un-
feigned regret that her Majesty's Ministers, professing
generally their attachment to liberal opinions, should
have introduced into Parliament a Bill which virtually
deprives the people of their just share in the administra-
tion of matters purely local, placing the same in_
the
hands of Commissioners, to be appointed by and
re-
sponsible only to the Crown.
" That the provisions of the Bill in
and irresponsible
which
irresponsible
place an uncontrolled, unlimited,
Com-
missioners, are, in the opinion
.o
't of the constitution ;
power of taxation in the hands off
thsiuschceCurrotw, nunwise
impolitic, and contrary
Legislature,
and if unhappily they shtuouthlde
of the people,
and tend
foundation of the liberties
attachment of all
impair and to loosen the ,sysenacidtionsaopf
thethe
see passed into a
materially to
.. That this Court would ri
and efficient measure
classes to the most valuable
ei.nnsinteitutotions of the country.
law a well-advised, comprehensive,
desire to see carhreiead out,vm t
for improving the adminiarteramtiotnimofesatneitatriymae,ffsauiresth aitV
promotingce orscienee shall point out and
hi this Court
the health, happiness,
P dictatertsaomc ie"aillttwhs well-being all classes of the community;
and
it is of opinion that these most desirable objects
would be dearly purchased at the expense of any sacri-
fice of the liberties of the people; and this Court depends
upon the wisdom of Parliament to devise such amend-
ments in the measure now before the House of Com•
mono as shall provide for sanitary improvement by
means consistent with the preservation of the existing
rights of municipal, parochial, and other local represen-
tative bodies."
Mr. Wire seconded the resolutions, and Mr. Alderman
Lawrence and Mr. R. Taylor (who regarded Lord Mor-
peth's Bill as nothing less than " an exhibition of gross
folly and quackery '') having addressed the Council, the
resolutions were then put and carried unanimously,
was
amidst cheers, tad a petition founded upon theta ,