The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-21 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

His Royal Ilighness the Prince of Prussia, at-
tended by his Excellency the Chevalier Bunsen, took
leave of the Queen and Prince Albert yesterday
morning, and took his departure from Osborne for
town.

Lord John Russell arrived at Osborne yesterday
afternoon from town. The Noble Lord had an
audience of her Majesty.
On Monday and Tuesday in the current week her
Majesty's Royal Charities were, according to very
ancient usage, distributed to aged and necessitous
persons who had declined from prosperity to adverse
circumstances. The numbers of this class have un-
happily of late very much increased.
The Royal Gate Alms were also distributed to 165
persons. This charity is of ancient origin, and for-
merly was distributed to the poor at the gate of the
Royal Palace at Whitehall.
MAUNDAY ThURSDAY. - The Royal Charities
were also distributed in Whitehall Chapel, to 29 aged
men and as many aged women, which number cor-
responds with the age of the Sovereign in the current-
year. The men received woollen and linen cloth,
also shoes and stockings, 11. 10s. as commutation of
provisions formerly issued in kind, and a further sum
of 11., together with silver pennies, corresponding
with the age of the Sovereign.
The women received, in lieu of clothing, a special
sum of 11. 15s. each, also 11. 103. in commutation of
provisions, a further sum of 11., together with silver
pennies corresponding in number with her Majesty's
age.
There were in attendance the Sub-Dean, the
Priests in Ordinary, Gentlemen and Choristers from
the Chapel Royal, St. James's, to assist the officers
of the Royal Almonry upon this occasion, including
of the clergy, the Rev. Dr. Wesley (Sub-Dean),
Rev. Dr. Vivian, Rev. Dr. Knapp, Rev. J. Clarke
Hayden, &c. ; and of the Gentlemen, Messrs. Hobbs,
Lockey, and Machin ; and also the boys.
The Lord Bishop of Oxford, who, as Lord High
Almoner, officiated in person upon this occasion, was
assisted by the Rev. Dr. Jelf, the Sub-Almoner, and
Joseph Hanby, Esq., the Secretary and Yeoman of
the Royal Almonry.
The following prayers, appropriate to the occasion,
were offered by the Rev. Dr. Vivian, by whom the
impressive service was read :
" 0 Lord, the Sovereign of the world, we acknow-
ledge that Thine is the greatness, and the power, and
the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all
that is in the heaven and the earth is Thine. Thine
is the kingdom, 0 Lord, and Thou art exalted as the
Head above all; both riches and honour come of
Thee, and Thou reignest over all. In Thy hand is
power and might, and in Thy hand it is to make
great, and to give strength unto all. Now, therefore,
our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious
Name, that Thou hast not only bestowed great-
ness and majesty upon our Sovereign Lady Queen
Victoria, but hast given her a heart also to take
compassion on them that are below her, and show
mercy unto the poor and needy. Accept, most
gracious God, of this tribute, which she pays
unto Thee, the giver of all good things, and make
ber still more fruitful and abundant in these, and all
other 'good works, that by mercy and truth, she may
be preserved, and her throne upholden by mercy; and
stir up the hearts of all those who have now been
partakers of her bounty, to be truly thankful unto
Thee for it, and both to bless and praise Thee con-
tinually for setting such a pious Princess over us;
and also pray most earnestly that Thou wouldst re-
ward her charity with a long and prosperous reign in
this world, and a heavenly kingdom in the world to
come, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only
Saviour.—Amen."

" Most blessed God, who :art good and doest good,
and takest pleasure in those that fear Thee, and imi-
tate Thy goodness, look down from Heaven the
the throne of Thy glory upon us Thy servants here
prostrate before Thee, who thankfully acknowledge
that we have nothing but what we have received from
Thee, and therefore can give Thee nothing but what
is Thine own. Fill our hearts, we beseech Thee,
with a lively sense of Thy fatherly goodness, which
bath bestowed so many benefits upon us that we are not
able to number them, and likewise give us to under-
stand the happiness of doing good with them ; and
assist us with the power of Thy holy Spirit, that we
may be faithful stewards of Thy manifold gifts and
graces, following the steps of our Lord and Master
Christ, whom Thou hast sent into the world to be a
pattern to us of humble goodness • unto which we
pray Thee to quicken us by the consideration that we
are but strangers and sojourners as all our fathers
were, our days on the earth being as a shadow, and
there is no abiding. That so nothing may tempt us
to be high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but
in Thee, the living God, who givest us all things
richly to enjoy, that we may be good, and rich in
good works, ready to distribute, willing to commu-
nicate, laying up in store for ourselves a good foun-
dation for the time to come, that we lay hold on
eternal life, and we most humbly beseech Thee, in a
special manner, to bless her Majesty, whom Thou
lust set over us; keep this ever in the thoughts
of her heart, to endeauour to do much good with
the power which Thou hast given her, and thereby
magnify Thee exceedingly in the sight of all the
people of these realms, and bestow upon her such
regal majesty as bath not been on any prince before
her; all which we beg for the sake of Jesus Christ
our most blessed Lord and Saviour, to whom with
Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory,
world without end.—Amen."

The Bishop of London held a Confirmation yester-
day of about forty of the juvenile nobility and gentry,
in the Chapel Royal, St. James's.
The Duke of Cambridge visited her Royal High-
ness the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday, at Glou-
cester House.

A deputation, consisting of Messrs. Colvile, Cavan,
M'Chlery, and H. Barkly, had an interview with
Earl Grey yesterday, at the Colonial-office.
The Hon. Charles Law had an interview with Sir
George Grey yesterday, at the Home-office. Colonel
Anson had also an interview with the Right lion.
Baronet.

Dispatches from the Governors of the North
American provinces, also from the Governor of the
Gold Coast, were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lady Mary
Wood left town yesterday for Mickleton Hall, Don-
caster.

THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA.

Ilis Royal Highness, accompanied by the Prussian
Ambassador and Lord Ashley, left Osborne Palace yes-
terday morning about eleven o'clock, and embarked in
her Majesty's yacht Fairy for Gosport. The Prussian
standard was carried at the mast• head of the yacht,
which was saluted by the battery of the garrison on
entering the harbour of Portsmouth, and by her Ma-
jesty's ships therein. His Royal Highness landed at
the Victualling-yard, where the following brilliant staff
of naval and military officers were in waiting to receive
him :—The Governor of the Fortress, Lord Frederick
Fitzclarence, G.C.H., and staff (Captain Purvis, Bri-
gade-Major, and Majors Harvey and Wemyss, Aides-
de-Camp to his Excellency); the Port-Admiral Sir
Charles Ogle, Bart.; Sir Edward Parry, R.N.; Admiral
Prescott, C.B. ; Messrs. Davis and Grant, the chief
officers of the victualling-yard; and a guard of honour
of the 17th Regiment. A special train had been engaged
for the distinguished Prince, which started from the yard
at twenty minutes past twelve for Nine Elms.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent will visit
the Queen at ()Aortae to-morrow. Her Royal Highness
will proceed from the Vauxhall terminus of the South-
Western Railway, by the express train, at 10.15 A.3t.,
stopping at Farnborough station to take up her Royal
Highness's carriage, which will be seat to Osborne, via
Southampton.
After the departure of the Prince of Prussia from
the Royal Victualling-yard yesterday, Lord John
Russell, the Premier, arrived by express from town to
visit her Majesty. The royal yacht Fairy embarked his
Lordship, and proceeded with him (unattended) to
Cowes, whence his Lordship was conveyed to Osborne in
one of the royal equipages.

THE PRAYER FOR PEACE.
The following is the form of prayer to Almighty God,
for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity, to be
used before the General Thanksgiving, and on the four
next Sundays in all churches and chapels in England
and Wales, and in the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed:—
" 0 God, whose never failing providence ordereth all
things both in heaven and earth ; wo Thine unworthy
servants most humbly beseech Thee to continue Thy
favour to this land, and to preserve us alike from foreign
enemies and domestic divisions. We acknowledge, 0
Lord, that if Thou wert to deal with us after our sins,
most
justly reward us according to our iniquities, we might
justly have fallen under Thy wrath and indignation.
For in our prosperity we have too much forgotten
Thee ; other lords besides Thee have had dominion
over us ; we have offended against Thy holy laws
and have not glorified Thee, in whose hand our breath
is, and whose are all our ways. Thou hast said in Thy
Holy Word, that when Thy judgments are upon the
earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteous-
ness ; and now we beseech Thee so to incline the
hearts of the people of this land that they may bear
one another's burdens, and follow the things that make
for peace, and have love one towards another. And do
Thou, Lord, of Thy great mercy, restore to us such
prosperity that we may not sow much and bring in little,
but that Thou mayest bless us in whatsoever we set our
hand unto ; and that our people may eat their own bread
with quietness.. Above all, teach us so to acknowledge
Thee, the Author and Giver of all good, that we may live
in Thy faith and feu, setting our affections on things
above, and seeking first Thy heavenly kingdom, through
Jesus Christ our Lord ; to whom, with thee and the
Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world without end.
Amen."

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.—CAMBRIDGE, APRIL
20.—The Professor of Botany will commence his lec-
tures on Wednesday, May 10, in the f,ehGoli at tho
Botanic garden, at one o'cicelt. Herborizing excursions
in the neighlsourhood will take place as the weather may
permit.