The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-16 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, WI,
Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, were taken an airing in a
carriage yesterday morning, in the pleasure-grounds of Osborne
House, and also walked on the sea-beach.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert took an airing on Sunday afternoon.
Sir Robert Peel had the honour of joining the royal circle at Osborne
House, at dinner, yesterday evening.
Archdeacon Marriott had an interview with Lord Stanley yester-
day, at the Colonial-office.
The Duke of Wellington left town yesterday, for Walmer Castle,
Kent.

Lord Wharncliffe, Lord President of the Council, left town on
Sunday, for his seat, Wortley Hall, Yorkshire.
Sir James Graham left town on Sunday for his seat, Netherby, near
Carlisle.

Dr, Brady had an interview yesterday with Lord Stanley, at the
Colonial-office. _

The Earl of Lincoln has arrived at Wilton House, near Salisbury,
the residence of the Dowager Countess of Pembroke, from the Isle of
Wight.

Viscount Anson arrived in town on Friday, from the Conti-
nent, and has proceeded to Tamworth.

TAYLOR'S FLOATING BREAKWATER.—We regret
to notice the exceedingly unsatisfactory nature of the reports
which have been made to the Admiralty on the subject of
Captain Taylor's floating breakwater off Brighton by the
Coast-guard officers. These reports are embraced in a re-
turn which has been printed by order of the House of Com-
mons. It appears that for many months there was no gale
from the south. west—the quarter necessary to test the powers
and action of the breakwater, and when at last, on the 2d
of August, a strong breeze sprang up, the experiment can
hardly be said to have been really tried ; for the report of
the Lieutenant of the revenue cutter Tartar, whilst it states
that the breakwater had no effect that he could perceive, in
part accounts for this result by saying that the sections of
the breakwater were moored very slack, and the inspecting
commander further observes, that " from the small number
of sections laid down, also from those being so slackly moored
and improperly placed, it is impossible to form any correct
opinion of their efficiency for shelter, or whether they could
stand the force of a gale, broadside on." More than three
months previously Lieutenant Westbrook had in his
official report objected to the insufficiency of the size
of the breakwater, as too small to warrant any
decided opinion ; he said "he much regretted being re-
quired to express an opinion upon so few as only
three sections of only sixty feet lone-. each." If it were
worth while to examine the matter, it was worth while to
have afforded means for trying it on a sufficient scale. That
it is worth while to try the experiment fully we can hardly
doubt, when we consider how vast a sum is about to be sunk
in our southern harbours; and, if some time has been unpro-
fitably lost, it is but the stronger reason for taking a different
course now. The comparative ease and rapidity with which
a floating breakwater can be constructed is a strong argu-
ment for pursuing the inquiry into its efficiency; for, sup-
posing that it should turn out that its efficiency also is merely
comparative, it may yet be desirable to enlilloy it whilst the
more solid structure is in course et' .rection and when that
object is effected, the float;-,-,g breakwater may be allowed
either to remain as ai..l auxiliary to it, or may be transferred
elsewhere to a station of less importance. The Admiralty
ought scarcely to have needed Lieutenant Westbrook's hint;
they might have known that 60 yards of floating breakwater,
loosely moored, could not be expected to have any perceptible
effect ; it was no more than an overgrown buoy, and the sea
would merely play round it; but whose fault is It that a
larger section was not presented to the action of the waves ?
Surely, not that of Captain Taylor, wbo, we believe„,has made
every pecuniary sacrifice for the success of thi experiment,
while the Admiralty have contented themselves with re-
maining ecAtl apeetators of' his struggles. A breakwater of
Awl; otie quarter to half a mile is the least that would indi-
Cate the worth of the plan; and when we consider the num-
ber and weight of the scientific real.ons that have been urged
in support of ti% opinion that the action and influence of the
KwA the sea are yory superficial, we hope to see the
experiment fairly tri.e.4.--Times.
...L ELANCIROX.F 'DEATH OF MRS. THEOBALD.--This
latcly, so W known in the sporting world, especially by those
tartt with the Queen's hounds, died on Saturday, at
.g,toi *look, In consequence of the injury she received on Fri-
day by a fall from her horse. The facts of the ease are these :
—Mrs. Theobald, in company with a gentleman, on passing
by the fields of Mr. Hunipbaes, farmer, of Hanworth, made
a request to, he AlkoWed to try her horse over the stubble,
was readily granted. She entered, but had not gone
far; when the horse fell, and the crutch of her saddle breaking
pit tiie 414 tlim she was thrown on her head with great
Yicikinks Ste remained senseless for some time. Mr. Hum-
prie,s sent immediately for Mr. Hobarton, surgeon, of Hamp-
ton, who readily attended. He, however, from the first, saw
that there existed no hopes of Mrs. Theobald'a recovery. The
unfortunate lady was removed to her rtaidenoe at Feltham,
and, as we have er.eady crated, She died on Saturday,
An ingues,t 1<:91 Wlerdas afternoon held on the body before
deputy-coroner for West Middlesex, when the
jury returned a verdict of" Accidental death."