The Sun.
London, England, 1833-12-18 00:00:00

BRIGHTON, DEC. 17.

In consequence of the unfavourable state of the weather
yesterday their Mijesties did not leave the Palace during
the day.
The King gave audience to Colonel Sir John Woodford.
Sir Charles 2sl. Clark, General and Mrs. Dickens,
Colonel Sir Thomas Downrnan, Sir James Fraser, Major
Johnson, and Lieut.-Colonel Grey bad the honour of
visiting their Majesties yesterday afternoon.
The Baron and B ironess Dimsdale, who have been
sojourning here for the last few weeks, will take their
departure the latter end of the present week for their seat
in Herefordshire.
The Royal dinner party last evening included the Prin-
cess Augusta, Duchess of Gloucester, Earl and Countess
of Moray, Earl and Countess of Clarendon, the Ladies
Stuart, Mr. Geo. Stuart, Earl and Countess of Errol,
Lord Frederic Fttzclarence, Lord Colville, Marchioness of
Westmeath, Lord James O'Brien, General Philips, Hon.
Miss Eden, and Viscount Falkland.
Letters were received here yesterday from Petworth,
communicating a progressive improvement in the health of
the Earl of Egretnont.
The demand for tickets to the approaching " Alinack's
Ball" has been greater than on any former occasion.
The Countess of Rosse has issu-d cards of invitation for
a ball and supper, at her residence in Brunswick-terrace.
A fire broke out in a house on the Grand-parade the
night before last, but, by the prompt assistance of a com-
p any of the Grenadier Guards, it was shortly extinguished.
The fire, it appears, originated in the sleeping-room of the
lady of the house, from the incautiously placing a candle
too near her bed.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent
is ❑ot the only distinguished individual who has sustained
inconvenience from their movements being publicly
noticed in the official Court Circular. The Noble Pre.
mier is stated to have recently expressed his high indigna-
tion at certain visits to a diplomatic character of high
rank being similarly noticed.

Prince Talley_ rand and the Duchess de Dino
were expected at the French Embassy yesterd iy, to
dinner, but, owing to the tempestuous state of the weather,
it is considered that they have been prevented reaching
Dover. Part of his Excellency's powerful establisbmcnt
of the cuisine arrived on Monday.

Prince Esterhazy, Prince and Princess Lieven,
Baron Bulow, and most of the corps diplomatique, left
town the day before yesterday, for the seat of Lord Pal.
merston, Broadlands, near Romsey, Hants, where his
Lordship is entertaining a numerous and distinguished
circle, who are not expected to return to town until to.
morrow or Friday.

In consequence of the report of Mr. Attwood's
speech at Gateshead, which appeared in the Newcastle
Press, Mr. Harland, M.P., waited on Mr. Attwood, on
behalf of the Earl of Durham, for the purpose of requir-
ing an explanation of a passage in that speech, which
seemed to reflect on Lord Durham's private character.
Mr. Harland received from Mr. Attwood the following
statement, which we are authorised to publish:—
" Mr. Attwood fully disclaims any intention of casting the
slightest imputation on Lord Durham's personal courage, or on
his character of a man of honour and a gentleman, in the ex-
pressions used by him in his speech at Gateshead, with re-
ference to his Lordship's observations regarding the Bishop of
Exeter.

(Signed)

" CHARLES ATT WOOD.

" Whickham, Tice. 9."

Mr. Horace Smith has again indulged in
that comic vein which gave such great celebrity to the
" Rejected Addresses." His cit;zen knight, transplanted
into the most aristocratic quarters of the West ; his
sketches of some of the poor and proud nobility ; his por-
traits of the adventurers, who with their preposterous
airs of "exclusiveness" infest every house wherein young
heiresses are to be found ; his busy, busting, invita-
tion—hunting women ; his delineations, in short, of
whatever is at once absurd and vicious, as portrayed in
the new story of " Gale Middleton," are in the best wool
of satirical comedy.

Mr. Bunn is returned from Paris. It is said
in theatrical circles that the Revolte du Serrail will be
brought out at Covent-garden forthwith.
DINNER TO THE MEMBERS FOR MAN-
CHESTER.-The public dinner to the representatives for
Manchester, so long delayed in consequence of Mr. Pou-
lett Thomson's engagements as Vice President of the
Board of Trade, is announced for Thursday in the Ex-
change Dining-room.
- -

The agents of Queen Donna Maria in this
country have during the week entered into contracts for
800 horses, muskets, clothing, and other accoutrements.
Several vessels have been freighted, and it is expected that
by the latter end of this week a part of the horses will be
shipped for Lisbon. Two steatn.boats are about to be
contracted for, which will be armed and manned by British
sailors.

The High Sheriffs in various parts of England
have opened Courts under the Act for the purpose of
trying issues joined in actions depending in either of the
superior Courts of Law, for any debt not exceeding 201.
The question as to whether barristers or attorneys are to
appear in these Courts as Advocates has been set at rest
by the opinion of the Lord Char.collor and Justices Bosan-
quet and Parke, that they are open equally- to both.
At the Middlesex Sessions, on Thursday,

the Court unanimously refused an application no► to
entreat the recognizances of a witness who, having over.
slept himself, did not appear in Court early enough, by
which a notorious offender was acquitted.

An Irish gentleman, an observer of rural life
in both countries, his offered the following singular chal-
lenge to a gentleman of England. He proposes that he
shall go into any market town of Meath, on a fair day,
without notice beforehand, and select one hundred men of
that county, and the English gentleman shall go into any
market town in any part of England, also without notice,
and choose two hundred. The parties so selected shall
meet on the Curragh on a day to be fixed in August,
1834, without any weapons, and shall make the following
trial of strength and skill :—That the two parties be draw❑
up opposite to ea4h other, at a distance of 21 yards; they
shall close at a signal ; no blow shall be given ; and the
challenger wagers one thousand pounds that the hundred
Irishmen will throw the two hundred Englishmen on th.
ground, each man once thrown to be removed, and not to
be allowed to take further part in the contest. Fifty sove-
reigns hdve been deposited by each party, and the English
gentleman forfeits unless his countrymen are on the ground
on or before the Ist of August.—.Dub/in Dispatch.