The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-25 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, MARCH 24.
The Queen and Prince walked in the Home Park
this morning.
Sir Charles Wood arrived in town from his seat,
Hickleton-hall, Doncaster, and was present at the Cabi•
net Council. The Right Hon. Baronet left London
after the meeting for Portsmouth.

Despatches from the Governor of Ceylon, and also
from the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands,
were received yesterday at the Colonial•office.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the Foreign-
office, Downing-street. The Ministers present were—
Viscount Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Gran-
ville, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Sir George Grey, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Charles Wood, the
Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, and the Duke of Argyll.
The Council sat two hours.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert will, it is under-
stood, inspect the camp and troops at Colchester this
week. His Royal Highness will be accompanied by the
Duke of Cambridge and. Viscount Hardinge.
The Countess Persigny will not " receive," as usual,
this evening at the residence of the French Embassy.
The Dschess (Dowager) of Norfolk has takon a man-
sion in South-street, late the residence of the Countess
(Dowager) of Sandwich. •
The Earl Grosvenor has taken the mansion in Gros-
venor-square, late the residence of Viscount Canning.

The Earl of Morton has taken a house is Lower
Brook-street.

The. Earl and Countess Cawdor arrived in town, yes-
terday, from Lord Brackley's seat, Burwood, near Cob-
ham, Surrey.
The Earl and Countess Craven leave town to-day, for
Ashdown Park, Berkshire.
The marriage of Viscount Somerton with the Hon.
Miss Barrington is fixed to take place on the 2d proximo
Lord Somerton has taken a mansion on Princes-terrace.

Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston leave town
this afternoon, for their seat, Broadlands, Hants.
Lord and Lady Colchester have left town for Brighton.

Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence gave a dinner on Satur-
day, at his apartments in St. James's Palace. The com-
pany consisted of the Duke of Cambridge, Viscount and
Viscountess Falkland, Lady William Russell, Mrs. Lane
Fox, Miss Raikes, Right Hon. Charles Villiers, M.P.,
General Drummond, and Dr. Quin.
Lady Dinorben and the Hon. Miss Hughes are ex-
pected in town in a few days from their seat in Wales.
Lird and Lady Olivia Ossulston are expected in town
in a few days from ChiHingham Castle, N.B.
Sir Charles Wood arrived in town, yesterday, from
his seat, Hickleton Hall, Doncaster, and was present at
the Cabinet Council. The right hon: baronet left Lon-
don, after the meeting, for Portsmouth.
The Baron de Videl has left the Clarendon for Paris.
Sir Frederick Arthur, Bart., has arrived at his resi-
dence, in St. James's-street, from Nice.
Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Vernon have arrived at the Cla-
rendon from New York.
RUMOURED DEATH OF EARL DALHOUSIE.—Rumours,
which we fear are but too well founded were current
yesterday, that the preparations for the return home of
Lord Dalhousie bad been frustrated by the lamented
death of that nobleman. Previous accounts had in-
formed us that the late Governor-General, worn out with
long disease and the exhausting duties of his high sta-
tion, had fallen into a melancholy state of weakness and
suffering, to which, according to the latest tidings, it
would appear that he had finally succumbed. The new
administrator of our Indian empire, Viscount Canning,
reached Calcutta, we believe, before the decease of his
able predecessor.—Morning Chronicle.

GENERAL SCREW STEAM COMPANY.—This company
has just received a further deposit of 20,0001. from the
French Company, by whom eight of their ships have
lately liE.en purchased. This makes a total deposit c f
25,0001. On the Ist of July the first ship is to be
delivered and paid for, and the remainder are expected
to be delivered at intervals of about a month. It is
also understood that the books of this company will
be closed at the end of the present week for the dis-
bursement to the shareholders of the 31. per share of
capital authorised to be returned.
HARBOUR AT BOULOGNE. Letters from Boulogne
mention that the new sluices at that port have at last
been brought into play, and that the result bas proved
very important. It is stated that the harbour is now
nearly always accessible to steamers in neap tides, and
that 'the period during which it is open in spring and-
mean tides bas been considerably increased. A new
system of signals, to show the depth of water to ves-
sels outside, has been established on the lighthouse at
the extremity of the west pier.
FIRE INSURANCES.—Some weeks back it was men-
tioned in Parliament that the English fire assurance
companies were threatened with competition from
French offices, which the high rate of duty would pre-
vent them from being able to meet. The Chancellor of
the Exchequer replied that he did not apprehend any
such competition would be attempted, but tbat, if this
opinion should prove erroneous, he would immediately
take whatever measures might be requisite. A circular
has now been issued by the company La France, esta-
blished in Paris in 1837, with a capital of 400,0001.,
slating that they have established an agency in London,
where policies may be effected with precisely the same
conditions as those of the British offices, and at little
more than one-half the annual charge. Thus the ordi-
nary risks which in England are subject to a premium
of ls, 61. and a duty of 35., making a total of 4s. 6d.
per cent., will be taken by La France at 2s. 6d. per
cent. The company, in illustration of the effects of our
heavy duties, point to the fact that in France seven-
eighths of the owners of the house property effect in-
surances, while in England the proportion is only ose-
third. _

MARRIAGE O➢' THE PRINCESS ROYAL—As the subject
is one of much interest, we subjoin a brief memoir of
the would•be bridevroom. Amid the general body of
German Princes, Prince Frederick William Nicholas
Charles of Prussia stands high. He was born on the
18th of October, 1831, and is consequently in his twenty.
fifth year, and ten years the senior of his supposed
fiancee. He holds the commissions of major, ala suite,
of the let Regiment of Foot Guards, and chef and
colonel pi oprietaire of other regiments in the Prussian
eervice. He is the eldest son and heir of Frederick
William, Prince of Prussia, brother of the King, and
heir to the throne. Consequently, if the projected mar-
riage shall become ua fait accompli, it may be antici-
pat-d that the time is not far distant when the throne
of Prussia will be occupied by a Princess of England.
The 'Prince is more soldier than a politician ; but io
far as his political feelings are known, they are held to
be in accordance with the views of his father. Accord-
ing to general report, the Prince is a person of gra-
cious and conciliatory manners, popular with the army
and people, and the favourite of hie Royal uncle.