The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-18 00:00:00

THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE'S

GRAND BALL.
Last night his Grace the Duke of Devonshire gave his
first grand ball for the season at Devonshire House, which
was honoured by the presence of her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Cambridge, and about eight hundred members of
the aristocracy, including nearly the whole elite of the fashion-
able world.
The grand suite of saloons, comprising thirteen apartments,
were thrown open on the occasion, for the first time since the
magnificent improvements recently effected under the super-
intendence of his Grace. • The rooms were ornamented with
fragrant shrubs and the most choice exotics, and illuminated
by an infinity of wax lights tastefully arranged; the marble
staircase and hall being likewise adorned with a profusion of
plants and flowers.
The company began to arrive about half-past ten, and be-
fore eleven the ball-room was filled, when dancing commenced
to Weipperes; band, led by Mr. Charles Coote, pianiste to his
Grace. Amongst the most attractive dances of the evening
was the Polka, a new arrangement of which had been spe-
cially prepared for the occasion by Mr. Coote.
Supper was laid in the dining-room, and announced at one
o'clock, the adjoining apartments being appropriated to the
purposes of serving refreshments during the evening.
The following were -among the company, in addition to
the Royal Duchess and nearly all the I °reign Ministers and
their ladies :
DUKES—Wellington, Norfolk, Leinster, Montrose, Bedford,
Roxburghe."
DucuEssrA—Sutherland, Buccleuch, Bedford, (Dowager),
Northumberland, Beaufort, Norfolk, Bedford, Roxburghe,

Leinster.
MAnQuisEs—Anglesey, Londonderry, lleadfort, Clanri-
carde, Normanby, Douro, Salisbury, Granby, Ailesbury.
MArtcmoNEssEs—Wellesley, Londonderry, Lansdowne,
Ailesbury, Douro.
Eants—Delawarr, Jersey, Wilton, Rosebery, March,
Cawdor, Auckland, Eglintoun, Chesterfield, Aberdeen, Essex,
Leicester.
CourrrEssEs--Delawarr, Jersey, Wilton, Rosebery, De
Salis, March, Mansfield, Chesterfield, Mount Edgecumbe,
Clarendon, Essex, Leicester, Glengall, Minto, Tankerville.
Viscouxrs—Sydney, Jocelyn, Palmerston, Ingestre, Clive,
Barrington.
ViscouNTEssEs—Sydney, Jocelyn, Ingestre, Palmerston,
&c., &c.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge retired
shortly after one o'clock, but dancing was kept up by the
great majority of the company until nearly daybreak.

OPENING OF THE GENERAL AS-

SEMBLY.

The General Assembly opened its proceedings to -day with
the usual pomp and circumstance. In the forenoon his Grace
the Lord High Commissioner held a levee in the Throne-room
of Holyrood Palace, which was attended by a very numerous
company. Among those present were—the Earl of Selkirk,
the Earl of Strathmore, Lord Ruthven, the Lord Provost and
Magistrates, the Moderator, Principal Lee, Sir Robert Aber-
cromby, Sir James Ramsay, Sir Ralph Anstruther, Sir T. D.
Lauder, Sir P. M. Thriepland, Sir William Hamilton, Sir Wil-
liam Liston Foulis, Sir C. G. Stuart Menteath, Sir Neil
Douglas and Staff, Dr. Cook, Dr. Arnot, Dr. Brown,
Greenock, and a number of clergymen. besides a numerous
list of military officers, landed proprietors, and the gentry of
the city. The band of the Cameronians, with a company of
the same regiment, was on duty at the Palace ; and on the
levee being finished, his Grace, with the usual cortege, pro-
ceeded from the Palace to the High Church to hear sermon
by the Moderator ; he was escorted by a guard of honour
from the Scots Greys, and preceded by the band of the Cara-
bineers. The Not th Bridge was lined by the Cameronians
and by the Scots Greys, and the High-street to St. Giles's
Church, by the Greys and the Carabineers.
The procession from the Palace attracted as usual a great
crowd of spectators along the whole line ; and the brilliancy
of the equipages, the fine appearance of the troops, both ca-
valry and infantry, joined to the beauty of the day, gave an
effect to the cavalcade which has not been witnessed for
some years.
After sermon by Principal Macfarlan, his Grace proceeded
to the new Assembly Hall, when Dr. Macfarlan took the
chair, and opened the Assembly by prayer. He then ad-
dressed the meeting, congratulated them on being able to
meet in the elegant hall provided for their accommodation,
thanked the members of the last Assembly and the Church
at large for the kindness they had shown him in electing him
to the office of Moderator last year, and concluded by pro.'
posing the Rev. Principal Lee as his successor in the Mode-
rator's chair, on whose talent.sand accomplishments he passed
a high eulogium. The proposition was hailed by loud cries
of " Agree, agree ;" and Principal Lee was introduced and
took the Moderator's chair.
Her Majesty's appointment of his Grace the Lord High
Commissioner, and her letter to the Church of Scotland, were

then read ; after which
His GRACE addressed the Assembly, and intimated tha
her Majesty had directed him to state that 2,000/. should be
placed in the hands of the Assembly, for the promotion of
Christian knowledge and the principles of the reformed reli-
gion in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. This being ,
the first occasion when the Assembly was able to occupy
their new building, he felt the more grateful that Ler Ma-
jesty had been pleased to select him on this occasion as her
Commissioner.—(Applause.) The greatest pains had been
taken to arrange the adjoining apartments for their conve-
nience, and he hoped that that end had been attained. He
trusted that their Church would continue, under the Divine
blessing, to hold her Assemblies in this place for many many
years, and that she would prove alike the best security for
the liberties of the people and for the authority of the
Crown.—(Great applause.)
The MODERATOR begged leave, in name of the General
Assembly, to return her Majesty their warmest thanks for
her munificent donation of 2,0001. for the promotion of Chris-
tian knowledge in the Highlands and Islands. They would
take an early opportunity of returning a dutiful and loyal
answer to her Majesty's gracious letter, as it was particularly
incumbent on them to express their gratitude for her
Majesty's frequent recognition of her solemn pledge when
she ascended the throne, that she bound herself to main-
tain the Church of Scotland in all its rights and privileges.
He begged leave also to state, on the part of the Assembly,
that they hailed his Grace's re-appearance among them as the
representative of her Majesty. He had conferred many be-
nefits upon the Church of Scotland, not only in times of
prosperity and tranquillity but in seasons of trouble and
perplexity; and he (the Moderator) trusted the Assembly
would merit the approbation of one who had ever been a firm
and decided friend of the National Church. In adverting to
the elegant building in which they were now met, he could
not help expressing a fervent and earnest hope that in this
place, through future generations, the Lord God of Hosts
would command peace ; and that, added to all the embellish-
ments which belonged to the spot, they might hope to see
the Lord, the Head of the Church, spread over them the
buckler of his protection, like the pillar of cloud and fire over
the hosts of Israel, and that over all the glory there should be
a defence.—(Applause.)
The Assembly then proceeded to appoint various Commit-
tees, and transact other matters of routine, and adjourned
about half-past three o'clock.
The Assembly of the Free Church met this forenoon, in
Tantield Hall, Canonmills, when, after sermon by the last
Moderator, the Rev. Henry Grey, of Edinburgh, was elected
, Moderator for the ensuing year.—Edinburgh Courant.

LATEST FROM CHINA.
(From the Devonport Independent.)
Wo have received letters, by the Overland Mail, from our
correspondent at Hong-Kong, dated February 14th, 1844,
from which we make the following extracts
A Court-martial was held on board H.M.S. Minden, on
the sth January, to try two seamen for desertion, Rear-Ad-
miral Sir Thomas Cochrane, Knight, C.B„ being President.
They were found guilty, and sentenced to receive 100 lashes
each.
" Jan. 9th.—This morning, one of those mournful spec-
tacles which used to be very common during the revolu-
tionary war, took place at Hong-Kong—that of flogging the
two deserters through the fleet. There were altogether four-
teen boats manned and armed. At daylight a gun was fired
from the Agincourt, and the yellow flag (which, I under.
stand, is the signal for punishment) hoisted at her fore-top-
gallant-masthead, and kept there until it was over. It was
rather an astonishing sight to the natives, although many of
their punishments are more severe.
" Vice-Admiral Sir Wm. Parker, the Commander-in-Chief,
left Manilla, for Singapore, in the Cornwallis, on the 2d
January, so that he will not return to China.
" The Emperor, transport, which was supposed to be lost,
having been ninety days on her passage from Anger, the run
being generally made in a fortnight or three weeks, has been
found in a very crippled state.
" Lieutenant Hancock has been appointed to the Minden.
Mr. Wise, late clerk of the Cornwallis, has gone to England
in the Childers.
" Jan. 31st.—Lord Saltoun embarked on board the Dido
to-day. She sails with two millions of dollars, one to go to
Calcutta, the other to England in the Wanderer, from Singa-
pore ; the Childers will also take one million to England.
The Cornwall, freight-ship, has sailed for England, with in-
valids and old stores.
"All the salt meat (naval) in India has been found to be
bad; therefore the Alligator troop-ship is ordered, on her
arrival, to take up 1,000 casks of beef and pork for convey-
ance here, which will, no doubt, be as bad as the other when
it arrives.
" Feb. 2d.—The Dido has sailed, with her purser under
arrest.
" A very severe accident has happened to Mr. Aplin, mid-
shipman, of the Agincourt. He was out shooting, when by
some strange mismanagement the gun went oft; and both his
hands being over the muzzle, the contents passed through
them. The medical men have not yet been able to determine
whether it will be necessary for him to lose either or both of
his hands. Mr. Whipple, assistant• surgeon, happened fortu-
nately to be on the spot, or the unfortunate sufferer would
have died from loss of blood.
" I hear it is proposed to make the Sapphire troop-ship
a hulk or hospital-ship, as she is found to be in too weak a
state to be trusted on a voyage to England. Should this be
done, it is most likely the linden will be sent hoe.rn
"Feb. 10th.—The Fairlie transport is now coming in with
troops. Great fears have been entertained for her safety,
as she ought to have been here nearly two months since.
"Her Majesty's steam-frigate Driver is ordered to Chusan,
to bring down, with the Vixen steamer, the right wing of
the 55th regiment.
"The Proserpine iron steamer, Captain llough, has been
on shore and knocked a hole in her bottom, and is now on
the beach, undergoing repair.
"Feb: 14th.—ller Majesty's surveying-vessel Samarang is
just arrived, and as she was net expected fvr nearly twelve