The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-07 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queenl held a Privy Council yesterday afternoon at
Buckingham Palace. It was attended 'by his Royal High-
ness Prince Albert, the Lord President, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, the Lord Privy Seal, the Commander-in-Chief,
the First Lord of the Treasury, the Secretaries of State for
the Home and Colonial Departments, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the
President of the Board of Trade, the Secretary-at-War, the
Postmaster-General, the Lord Steward, the Lord Chamber-
lain, and the Master of the Horse.
At the Council the Archbishop of Canterbury was directed
to prepare a Form of Thanksgiving for the recent victories
in the East Indies.
The Hon. William Bathurst was the Clerk to the Council
in Waiting.
The Queen gave audiences to the Duke of Buccleuch and
Sir Robert Peel.

The Court was attended by the Marquis of Anglesey, Gold
Stick in Waiting ; the Vice• Chamberlain, the Treasurer of the
Household.

Lord Rivers and Mr. R. Ormsby Gore were the Lord and
Groom in Waiting,
Her Majesty and her Royal Consort took their usual early
walk yesterday.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred,
the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice were taken
airings yesterday in the royal gardens.

The royal dinner party it Buckingham Palace yesterday
included her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, the Earl
of Jersey, Lady Augusta Bruce, Baroness de Speth, the Right
Hon. W. E. Gladstone, Hon. and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay,
and Sir George Couper, Bart.
Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Albert examined with
much interest the first production of a wonderful shawl-loom,
submitted for inspection by Mr. George Smith. The loom
has been constructed by Mr. Robert Kerr, of Paisley, so that
one man weaves two shawls at the same time.

Her Majesty was pleased to give her patronage to this
new manufacture, by the purchase of both the specimens
submitted.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester visited
her Majesty the Queen Dowager yesterday, at Marlborough
House.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the
Duchess of Gloucester yesterday, at Gloucester House.
Prince Castelcicala, the Neapolitan Minister, had an inter-
view with Mr. Secretary Gladstone yesterday, at the Colo-
nial-office.

The Bishop of London had an interview with the Earl of
Dalhousie yesterday, at the Office of the Board of Trade. Mr.
John Wood, Chairman of the Excise, had also an interview
with the Noble Earl yesterday.
The Bishop of Lichfield had an interview with the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence
in Downing-street. Lord Ashley had also an interview with
the Right Hon. Baronet.
Sir George Hayter is at present at Falmouth, to which
port he proceeded by steamer, for the re-establishment of his
health, from the severe attack he experienced three weeks
0
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yester-
day, and resumed the consideration of the petition of the in-
habitants of Cape Breton. The Solicitor-General was heard,
and the Attorney-General commenced his address. The case
was adjourned.

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.
PROMENADE CONCERTS. _

Mr. Allcroitiia.;T;ienCoveiitGarden Theatre for five
nights only, for the purpose of giving a series of Promenade
Concerts during Passion week. The conductor of these con-
certs is Signor Negri, and we rejoice once more to see this
excellent conductor, to whose exertions the English public
are in a great measure indebted for the; introduction of
Promenade Concerts, resuming his proper place as
the conductor of an orchestra. The leaders are
Messrs. Thirlwall and Mellon. Among the solo performers
are, M. Laurent on the cornet a piston, Mr. Nicholson on
the oboe, Mr. Keating on the bassoon, Mr. Hancock on the
violoncello, Mr. Carte on the Boehm flute, and Sivori (the
first violinist in the world) on the violin. He last night
delighted the audience by giving his world-famous solo, "Le
Carnival de Venise." In addition to these he has secured the
services of Mr. Henry Russell, who last night sang
'• The Ship on Fire," and the " Maniac, " accompanied
by himself on the pianoforte. As a matter of course, both
songs were enthusiastically encored; but, instead of repeat-
ing them, Mr. H. Russell gave us two negro melodies,- pre-
facing them by relating some piquant anecdotes illustrative
of "Nigger" life in the United States. This introduction of
vocal music is a great improvement on the ordinary
programme of Promenade Concerts, and gives a most
agreeable variety to the entertainment. The programme
of last night was excellent. After the National Anthem we
had a selection from the .111essiah, which was very carefully
given, concluded with the magnificent Hallelujah chorus,
the chef d'oeuvre of Handel, which was deservedly encored.
We had of overtures those to Fidelio, to Masienello, to
Giullaume Tell, and to Tier Frieschutz, all admirably per-
formed; and we had also a fantasia from II Don
Giovanni, embracing all the favourite airs of the
greatest of the compositions of Mozart. This was
perhaps the gem of the evening, and was evidently
with all concerned a labour of love. Among the lighter
music there were three new compositions by Mr. J. G.
Calcott—a Polka, a Quadrille, and a Mazourka, lively dance-
exciting compositions, and which prove that we have an
English composer, at least, who need not shrink from a com-
parison with Labitsky, Lanner, Strauss, or Musard. These
pieces, composed expressly for these concerts, reflect the
highest credit on the taste and musical science of Mr. Cal-
cott, and were received with the most rapturous enthusiasm.
Musard's far-famed "Echo Quadrilles," which were first in-
troduced to the English public by Signor Negri, were re-
vived last night, and are as popular as ever; and Mr. Carte
gave us a solo on the Boehm flute, consisting of varia-
tions on the " Huntsman's Chorus," which was one
of the most exquisite specimens of flute-playing it
has ever been our good fortune to hear. All
the difficulties of the instrument were fairly met, and fairly
overcome, and the tone throughout was clear, powerful, and
yet exquisitely delicate. The House was crowded to suffo-
cation in every part. Let us hope, that encouraged by his
success, Mr. Allcroft will be induced to extend his season
beyond the five nights at present announced. Of the success
of such an experiment there can be no doubt, for good pro
menade concerts (and these are among th%very best that
have ever been given) have always been the most popular of
the Metropolitan amusements.