The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-21 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the
Queen and Prince Albert yesterday morning at Buck-
ingham Palace, previous to her departure for Frogmore.
The Royal Duchess left town at half-past one o'clock,
attended by Lady Fanny Howard and Sir George
Couper, for her residence at Frogmore.

. -
Her Majesty had a dinner party yesterday evening at
Buckingham Palace. The company included his Excel-
lency Mona. Drouyn de Lhu3s, their Excellencies the
Baron and Baroness de Brunnow, the Marchioness of
Normanby, the Marquis and Marchioness of Kildare,
the Earl and Countess of Hardwicke, the Earl and Coun-
tess Granville, the Right Hon. William S. and the Lady
Caroline Lascelles, Lord George Lennox, the Right lion.
Sir James and Lady Graham, Colonel the lion. C. B.
Phipps. and Colonel Wyldc.
The Queen's private band attended in Buckingham
Palace on Tuesday evening, and performed the following
pieces

Overture, "Faust"
Selection from "Faust"
Ballet music, ‘• Gaii,liaume Teli" Roseibi.
ThP., Royal Children took pony arid walking exaciee
yesterday in the garden of Buckingham Palace.

--
Sir %Alilium C. Hess, R.A., had th. honour of taking
the first antinc yesterday, for a miniature of her Royal
Highness the Princess Louisa, to be Fainted by command
of her Majesty.
A deputation from the Quebsc and Afelbourre Rail-
way Company, consisting of Mr. W. J. C. Benson, Mr.
George Pernhertor, Mr. Edward Bur tall, Mr. Edward
Ryan, Mr. George Bcswick, and Mr. Edmond Mat kir,
of Quebec; and Mr. William Chaprca,', and Mr. Robert
Carter. of Londor, had an intervi, w with Earl Grey
yesterday at the Colonia'-office.
A deputation with reference to the bonding in Man-
chester, consisting of Sir Elkariah Arraita2e, Mr. Alder-
man Watkins, Mr. Alderman Bancroft, Mr. Councillor
Gibbs, and the Town Clerk of Manchester; and also
Mr. Atherton (on behalf of tte Manchester Commercial
Association), accompanied by the Right Hon. T. Milner
Gibson, M.P., and Mr. Bright, M.P., and also by Mr.
W. Tatton Egertor, M.P., Mr. Brotherton, M.P., and
Mr. Kershaw. M.P., had an interview with the Right
Hon. H. Labouchere yesterday. at the office of the Board
of Trade.

The Cabinet Ministers dined with the Right Hon. H.
Labouchere yesterday evening, at his residence in Bel-
grave-square.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes-
terday, and resumed and concluded the hearing of an
appeal from Bengal, " Grant v. tLe Chief Justice of
Bengal" (part heard).

LOCOMOTIVE SLEDGE.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
In order to forward the searches of the Arctic Expe-
dition, a novel mode is suggested for travelling on ice,
which appears sufficiently feasible to warrant a trial.
The lehicle proposed for that purpose is a light loco-
motive sledge, capable of containing one person, pro-
pelled by the rotatory action of a single wt.eA, placed
in front, and prepared with small cogs. The moving
power is composed of the combined agency of double
springs, one fixed on each side, and a mechanism somf -
what [similar in principle to that used in the common
spring jack, but perfecte with superior ingenuity. As
the success of tie whole contrivance depends entirely on
the efficiency of the springs, the utmost care, skill, and
judgment must be employed in the manufacture of those
indispensable article e Vast improvements have lett ly
been introduced in this branch of business, butte with
regard to the form and application t.f springs, us well as
the quality t f the steel, which is of a promising character,
and leaves little room to doubt the attainment of the
object desired. The suffice of ice being in general
smooth, level, and slippery, presents less friction than
any other substance with which we are acquainted, and
the necessary force and traction will, in consequence, bo
proportionably diminished. With a moderate weight,
and few encumbrances, a sledge set in motion, will
rapidly glide along, traversing in a short period an ex-
tensile range over a wide field of frost, and can be easily
guidtbe guided, regulated,
nlaeteed,
be performed or stopped.errined
withTh processiaeility of
by winding
upmeans
of a key and lever, whenever occasion demands the ope-
ration. It may be requisite to have the aid of two or
more men, which can always be supplied, as prudence
would direct that no journey should be undertaken for a
distant length except in parties. A portable engine of
the kind described is simple in its construction, can be
executed at a trifling cost, seeds no replenishing. and
requires only to be kept in order. Its nature and design
are exactly adapted to the peculiar circumstances ited
exigencies of the case in question, uniting the advantages
of safety, speed, and convenience, while it removes
in
a
want and supplies a experienceddeficiency,long
however,
exploring the frozen regions. The scheme,
toits
apffroarcdt i coaceb iul ipt
ay:
when relieved
s
from duty. Such a cheerful and animating pursuit, will
td i eoevenne andrshould
pleasuretcteir withotor prove
the ea g merelyviewall sn calculatedtos hf ti
pe sst cn crews,
w s ,
constitute e
xereis of an excursion is well suited to invigorate
a new and refreshing source of enjoyment.
health, and to exhilirate the spirits of individuals
unaccustomed privations, and subjected to a
suffering
e
monotonous course of life in an isolated position, during a
prolonged engagement in a glorious, but solitary enter
price.
Under
these impressions the project is respectfully
submitted for examination, accompanied with the
indul-
geuco of an anxious hope, that no untoward or unfore-
ieen obstacle may arise, or defect appear, that shall
dt f at its purpose, and mar the prospect of a fortunate
and happy result.
K.

R OTAL LYCEUM THEATRE.—We understand her
Majesty.
and his Royal Highness Prince Albert have sig-
nified their intention cf honouring the theatre with their
presence this evening, to witness The _bland of Jewels,
and He would be an actor.
RAMSGATE.— A seaman named 'John Hunter was
landed at this port last week, by a fishing smack, having
been picked up in the North sea, floating on a small
piece 01 wreck, and from his statement it appears that
he belonged to the brig Anne Maria, of and from South
Shields, for London, with coals, and that his vessel was
run foul of by the barque Ben Nevis, off Yarmouth, during
a gale of wind in the night. The brig having received
much damage, the crew with difficulty could only succeed
in keeping her afloat until the middle of the next day, when
she foundered, and the whole of her crew (excepting
himself), together with two of the crew of the barque who
had got on board during the coll4ion, were eefertf
k.astely drowned,—Mailieftni Garkp.