The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-06 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, JAN. 4.
The Queen and Prince Albert took their usual
early morning walk.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and
Prince Alfred, attended by Mr. Birch, drove out this
morning in a pony phaeton, in Windsor Park.
The younger members of the Royal Family took
their usual airings.
His Excellency Senor Isturiz, his Excellency the
Marquis d'Azeglio, the Mat quis of Abercorn, the
Earl and Countess of Jersey and Lady Clementina
Villiers, General the Earl of Strafford, Viscount and
Viscountess Ponsonby, and Lord and Lady Stanley
(of Alderley) left the Castle to-day.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Lady
Fanny Howard, Baroness de Speth, and Mr. Birch,
joined the Royal dinner circle this evening.
The band of the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards
attended during dinner in the Castle yesterday (Fri-
day) evening, and performed the following pieces :
Overture, "Missilonghi" _Herold.
Waltz, " Elenor"

S-lection, " Marie Stuardo"
Quadrille, " Reine JEr:nne"
rolka, " Bridesmaid"
The Queen's private band afterwards attended and
played the following pieces :
Overture, "Prometheus" Beethoven.
Fantasia, Flute, Mr. Richardson
Concertante, 4 Violin', Messrs. Spin-
ton, Day, ell Sin!, and E. Chipp Meurer.
Solo, Flute, Mr. Richardson
dallacic Marsch

Her M*jesty's private band attended in the Castle
this evening, and performed the following selE ctions :
Overture, " La Lac des Fees"
Ottetts, 4 Violins, 2 Violas, and 2 Vio-
loncellos, Messrs. Sainton, Day, Cu-
sine, Chipp, Hill, Nickel, H. Chipp,
and P. Hardy
March, " Les Deux Journees"
....... Cherubini.
Solo, Violin, Introduction et Valse, M.
Sainton . Sainton.

JAN. 5.
The Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert
walked this morning in the Slopes.
Tne Royal Family took their accustomed walking
exercise.

The Queen and his Royal Highness the Prince
Albert, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, her
Royal Highness the Princess Royal, the ladies and
gentlemen of the Court, and the domestic household,
attended Divine service this morning in the private
chapel. The Hon. and Rev. G. Wellesley officiated.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent also at-
tended the service.

A meeting of the Finance Committee of the Royal
Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, was held at
the Board of Trade on Saturday. There were present
Earl Granville (chairman), Sir A. Spearman, Bart.,
Mr. Baring, M.P., Mr. Peto, M.P., Mr. Gibsou, Mr.
Cubitt, and Colonel Reid. Mr. Bowring was in at-
tendance.

The Rev. R. Rawle, from Barbadoes, had an in-
terview with Earl Grey on Saturday, at the Colonial-
office.

The Commissioners for the Reduction of the Na-
tional Debt held a quarterly meeting on Saturday, in
the office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in
Downing-street. There were present the Master of
the Rolls, the Governor of the Bank of England, and
the Deputy Governor. Sir Alexander Spearman,
Secretary and Comptroller-General to the Commis-
sion, was in attendance.
The Judges, Queen's Counsel, &c., will not assem-
ble at the Lord Chancellor's residence on the first day
of the ensuing (Hilary) term.
Dispatches from the Governor of New South
Wales were received on Saturday at the Colonial-
office.

SOCIAL ASPECT OF ATHENS.
(From the Euterpe, an Athenian periodical of
December, 1850.)
" I make only one exception in the midst of all these
human casualties, and that is in favour of the dance,
and I rejoice and glory in having to say that once more
in our little community the whole world has begun to
dance. Thanks to such a lightning conductor, there is
no longer any fear that the lightning may fall upon
our heads. Our beauteous dames and their accom-
plished daughters, not three timer, as was formerly the
case, but four times a week, may now dance and waltz, if
so they please, without the least apprehension.
" How many enjoyments, how many advantages re-
sult from these re-unions, for which we are indebted to
two or three honses, lovers of the elegances of life, and
to two ef the Legations (the English and Russian), one
of whom (the English) was the first to give the impulse
and to originate these amusements, which has rescued
us from the narrow confinement in which we were hound
hand end foot, every one must perceive himself without
our sugtzestion.

Independently the bodily deassernent and exer-
cise whien they afford, these receptions have largely
contributed to the development of elegant enjoyment, of
good feeling, and intellectual improvement; they hnve
brought together men of the moat opposite parties to the
great benefit of our politics generally, and to the soften-
ing and civilizing of our manners. For in there circles
the Moseomany lute (the French), the Nappist (the Rus-
sian), and the English party now approach each other,
hold out the hand of reciprocal friendship, and em-
brace each other, as the eagle once with the fox. The
minister and the diplomatist with their respective sub-
ordinates. and officials are there to be found in ani-
mated conversation. The general is thrown together
Kith the lieutenant—the professor with the student—the
journalist of the Opposition with the journalist of the
Mtuister —but, above all, are we astonished at the sim-
plicity, theirace, the cordiality, and beauty of the nu-
mt rous Oren and foreign ladies who honour them; and
on every side surprised at the facility and spirit which
nistinguished the dancing of our young ladies of every
age and class.
" Before I conclude this resume of the month I have
to announce to my intellectual lady readers that my
prayers have been heard; within a short period we shall
have an Italian theatre, and our prima donna Virginie
Marchesina is, as we have seen with our own eyes in one
of the Italian papers, an artist of the first merit, an ad-
mirable singer, an excellent actress, and above all,
) oung and of surpassing beauty.
" What more does happy Hellas require? and if it be
true that a French vaudeville company is also to arrive,
what have we to envy others, even the most advanced
communities, unless it be an eighth Minister, to watch
specially over this department, of which for the present
she is deprived.

The Quarterly Official Revenue-tables were pub-
lished at length, with editorial remarks, in the. Observer of
the sth
hJanuary. The extensive publication of the
Observer
commences on Sunday mornings, at four o'clock, in
r
time ter all the early railways. Monday's edition of the
Observer, best for the country and abroad, at 4 every Monday
afternoon. Price of the Observer (40 folio columns), Gd. A
gratuitous stamped Supplement will be published with the
Observer on Sunday, February the 9th.
THE STATE OF WESTMINSTER•FIRILDGE..— This
ricketty old structure, so frequently tinkered and cobbled,
is beginning to show signs of increasing tottering and decay.
The fourth arch from the north, and which was giving way
some time ago on the west and east sides of it near the
crown of the arch, and which was patched up for the time,
is again beginning to appear cranky, and the key-stone itself
has slipped a little on the west side, and left at the top of it
an opening of nearly an inch, as nearly as we could judge.
At this season of the year, when the volume of water in the
river is liable to be greatly increased from high tides from
below and floods from above, the proper authorities should
examine the structure, and use every precaution for the
safety of the public.

Dr. Delany, who is called the Bishop of Cork, has
written a letter to Cardinal Wiseman, congratulating his
Eminence on his recent appointments by the Pope, and ex-
pressive of his surprise that the toulish and ignorant people
of England have been so ungrateful as not to receive the
Archbishop of Westminster with deepfelt and enthusiastic
joy.—North Wales Chronicle.