The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-10 00:00:00

C OURT CIRCULAR.

"Witareson, THUBSDAY.—The Queen and Prince Albert
walker.. a the pleasure grounds this morning. Her Ma-
jesty. and her Royal Consort visited the aviary, and after-
war,ls returned to the Castle in a pony carriage.
The Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess
Royal, and the Princess Alice, were taken their usual
exercise to-day in the grounds adjacent to the Castle.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horse-
back in the forenoon, attended by Colonel H. Seymour.
Prince Albert drove her Majesty out in a pony
phaeton this afternoon, attended by the Equerries in
Waiting, Colonels Grey and H. Seymour on horseback.
The Marchioness of Douro, the Hun. Misses Murray and
Napier followed in a pony landau and four.
There was no addition to the royal dinner circle this
evening.
Her Ro)al Highness the Duchess of Gloucester
visited her Majesty the Queen Dowager, yesterday, at
Marlborough House.
His Serene Highness the Hereditary Prince of Saxe
Meiningen, attended by Captain Taylor and the Baron
de Reitzenstein, went to Kew, yesterday. in an open
carriae.e and four, and visited their Royal Hignesses the
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Her Majesty's royal charities to the aged and poor at
this season of the year, were distributed on Monday
and Tuesday last, to upwards of 950 persons, five shillings
each.
The royal gate alms were also paid to 168 persons,
each person rec. lying thirteen shillings, being at the
rate of sixpence per week consolidated into one pay-
ment. This ancient charity was in by-gone days paid
at the gate of the Palace, at Whitehall, hence its appella-
tion, which has been retained.

Yesterday being the anniversary of the Maundy, the
royal bounty was distributed in the interior of White-
hall chapel with the customary ceremonials.
The Yeoman of the Guard attended in their Corona-
tion uniform under the command of an Usher.
The Clergy of the Chapel Royal were also in attend •
ance; also the Gentlemen in Waiting, accompanied by
the boys, under the charge of the Rev. Mr. Elmore, who
has succeeded to the care of them, vice William Hawes,
Esq., lately deceased.
The usual anthems were given between the distribu-
tion of each class of alms with much pathos and effect.
" Hide not thou thy face."
" Call to remembrance."
" 0 Lord, grant the Queen a long life."
" Who is this who cometh from Edom?"

There were in attendance the Rev. Dr. Sleath, the
Rev. Dr. Wesley, the Rev. Dr. Dakins, the Rev. Clarke
Haden, and other clergymen ; Messrs. Hobbs, Sale,
Horncastle, and other gentlemen of the choir.
The Sub-Almoner, the Rev. Dr. Jelf, Canon of Christ
Church, and Principal of King's-college, officiated for
the first time since his appointment, and the whole ar-
rangements were conducted by Joseph Hanby, Esq.,
the Secretary and Yeoman of the Almonry, under the
immediate direction of the Lord Archbishop of York,
the Lord High Almoner.
The Bishop of London held a Confirmation yesterday,
in the Chapel Royal St. James's, of the juvenile nobi-
bility. Between forty and fifty of the young Nobility
and Gentry were confirmed.
Die French Ambassador transacted business at the
Foreign-office, yesterday.
The Commissioners of the Metropolitan Termini had
their first meeting yesterday, at the office of the Woods
And Forests. There were present Viscount Canning,
the Earl of Dalhousie, the Lord Mayor, the Right Hon.
J. C. Herries, and Sir F. Smith.
The Chairman of the Customs and the Deputy Chair-
man had an interview with the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer yesterday. The Right Hon. T. Franklyn Lewis
had aim; an interview with the Right Hon. Gentleman.
The Solicitor-General had an interview with the Earl
of Dalhousie yesterday.
Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope.
The Duke of Buocleuch left town yesterday for his
seat, Boughton House, Nortbamptonshi►e.
The Duke of Wellington has left town for his seat at
Strathfieldsaye.
Sir Robert Peel left town yesterday fer his seat, Dray-
ton Manor, Staffordshire.
The Earl of Ellenborough left town yesterday for his
seat, Southam House, Cheltenham.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTI-
TUTION.
Dr. Ryan, this week, has been delivering a course of
lectures on the " Ancient Elements." On Thursday the
subject was Water: not the stale every-day repetition
of the oxygen and hydrogen experiments, but a sound
and philosophical disquisition-- First, " On the con-
ditions and physical uses of water;" secondly, "On its
chemical characteristics;" and thirdly, " On its sources,
impurities, and methods of purification." The Doctor
was extremely happy in his illustrations of the influence
of water in its three states or conditions, in equalising
and changing the temperature of our common atmos-
phere. Thus, he explained the liberation of heat
during the condensation and freezing of water, pro-
ducing the well-known increase of heat during a fall of
snow, and the habitability of the Arcti3 regions during
winter, only close to the open sea, where the freezing
of leagues of water allow the conversion of latent into
sensible heat. The doctor also dwelt very pointedly
upon the influence of the waters of the ocean in modi-
fying the extremes of heat and cold ; thus the winds
blowing from the poles, in passing over the surface of
the 'ea, receive a certain amount of heat, the cooled
water then falls, and warmer portions rise to the surface,
again to give increments or warmth to the cold air. Nor
is this all ; the cold, deep currents, flow to the equator,
while the upper strata of water take a direction to the
poles, thus establishing an equalising agency. Our
limits will not permit us to follow Dr. Ryan through his
lecture, which, we may state, in conclusion, wils distin-
guished by his usual perspicuity and simple elegance of
style.