The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-23 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen and Prince Albert rode out on horseback
on Saturday afternoon, in the vicinity of Osborne
House, attended by the Hon. Capt. Gordon. _ _

The Royal Children rode on ponies on Saturday in the
pleasure grounds of Osborne House.
The following had the honour of joining the royal cir-
cle at Osborne House at dinner on Saturday, the birth-
day of her Royal Highness the Princess Royal:—Sir
Hercules Pakenham, Sir Charles Ogle, Sir James Clark,
Lady Lyttelton, Hon. Miss Lyttelton, and Miss Carey.
Yesterday her Majesty and her Royal Consort took
their usual morning walk.
The Royal Family walked and rode in the pleasure
grounds.
The Queen and Prince Albert, and the Ladies and
Gentlemen of the Court, attended divine service yester-
day in Whippingham Church.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge, and the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand
Duchess of Mecklenburg Strelitz visited her Royal
Highness the Duchess of Gloucester on Saturday at
Gloucester House.

A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday at twelve
o'clock at the Foreign-office. The Ministers present
were Lord John Russell, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the
Earl of Minto, Sir George Grey, Viscount Palmerston,
Earl Grey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Earl
of Auckland, Viscount Morpeth, Lord Campbell, the
Earl of Clarendon, the Marquis of Clanricarde, and the
Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay.
ga The Lord Chancellor afterwards joined his colleagues.
The Council sat three hours.
The Marquis of Lansdowne (Lord President) left town
after the Council, for his seat, Bowood Park, Wilts.
A deputation from Liverpool, on the subject of a re-
duction of the duty on tea, had an interview with Lord
John Russell on Saturday at his official residence in
Downing-street.
A deputation on the subject of opening the ports, for
the admission of foreign corn, duty free, had an inter-
view with Lord John Russell and the Chancellor of the
Exchequer on Saturday at the official residence of the
Noble Lord in Downing-street.

Dispatches were received on Saturday at the Colonial-
office, from the Governors of the West India Colonies.
The Dukes of Wellington and Rutland attended the
early service yesterday in the Chapel Royal, St. James's.
The Rev. Dr. Wesley officiated, and preached the ser-
mon. At the daily service, the prayers were read by
the Rev. T. Helmore, and the lessons by the Rev. J. C.
Haden. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr.
Dyson. The Marquis of Winchester, the Earl and
Countess St. Germans, Lords Hatherton and W. Gra-
ham were among the nobility present.

THE FIRE AT GRAVESEND.—To our report of this
calamity in The Sun of Saturday we have little more to
add than that the amount of property now ascertained
to be destroyed is far above the estimate then conjec-
tured. Some statements make it equal to 100,0001 ;
amongst others, the Kentish Independent, a paper pub-
lished in the town, and likely to be well informed on the
subject. The insurance is, in proportion to this esti-
mated loss, very small, not being, as we have been as-
sured, more than 25,0001. at the utmost. A great num-
ber of houses in the High-street and West-street, not
enumerated in our report, are, as now appears, very
materially damaged. There is, as we learn, a meeting
of the corporation to be held on Wednesday, to devise
measures for the future protection of the borough
against the occurrence of similar calamities. An efficient
fire brigade and engines are spoken of as a precaution,
but it is, we fear, not very likely that such will be
sanctioned by the corporate body, unless the insurance
offices give their cordial support to the proposition, if
made and entertained. The conduct of some of the sol-
diers in the course of the night of the fire is very
strongly animadverted on by the inhabitants; but such
was the confusion, or rather consternation predominat-
ing throughout the awful scene, that much excuse may
be made for the soldiers as well as civilians engaged in
the work of apparent protection of property. In the
progress of useful work of actual protection, the sol-
diors generally were active, and their commander, Co-
lonel Kelly, was indefatigable in his exertions to preserve
life and property. Such acknowledgment is due to that
gallant and humane soldier,