The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-05 00:00:00

itT &•01CULAR.

WINDSOR, MONDAY.—The Queen will hold a
Privy Council on Friday next, at Windsor Castle.
The Council is appointed at half-past two o'clock, P.M.
This morning her Majesty, attended by Lady Port-
man, promenaded in the pleasure-grounds and the
Home Park for some time. In the afternoon her
Majesty and Prince Albert took equestrian exercise
in the Riding-school, attended by Colonel Arbuthnot
and Colonel Wylde.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Duke of
Bedford, the Earl of Lincoln, Colonel Wylde, and
Mr. Anson, left the Castle, soon after half-past nine
o'clock, to shoot in the royal preserves at Bagshot.
His Royal Highness sent his commands to invite Col.
Chaloner and Mr. Ward to join the party at that
place.
Soon after the return of the royal party the Earl
of Lincoln took his departure from the Castle.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales
and the Princess Alice were taken out on their ponies
this morning.
.Her Royal Highness the Princess
Royal was taken for walking exercise. His Royal
Highness Prince Alfred was also taken an airing to-day.
The Earl and Countess of Clarendon and Sir Henry
Wheatley arrived at the Castle to-day, on a visit to
her Majesty:
The Rev. Lord Wriothesley Russell and Captain.
Francis Seymour, Scots Fusilier Guards, had the
honour of joing the royal circle at the Castle at dinner.
'The band of the Scots. Fusilier Guards was in at,
tendance during dinner ; her Majesty's private band
attended in the evening.

Dispatches for Sir Charles Metcalfe, Governor-
General of Canada ; also for Sir W. Colebrook,
Governor of New Brunswick; and for Viscount Falk-
land, Governor of Nova Scotia, were sent off yester-
day evening from the Colonial-office.

LATE VISIT TO PORTSMOUTH
OF THE FRENCH SQUADRON.
A letter, of which the following is a translated
copy, has been received by 'the chief naval, military,
and civil authorities at this port, acknowledging the
universal courtesy, hospitality, and friendly disposi-
tion exhibited by the British officers and civilians
towards the officers of the French squadron, on their
recent sojourn at this port :
" Paris, Oct. 26, 1844.
" TO ADMIRAL SIR CHARLES ROWLEY.

" Sir,—The official reports which I have received
from Vice-Admiral Baron de la Susse contain the
most minute accounts of what took place at Ports-
mouth in the reception given to the officers of
the French squadron by the eager assembly of the
population of that port, together with every honour-
able manifestation from the English royal navy,
which was added thereto.
" I have at the same time received an account of
the additional splendour which was united to these
noble demonstrations by the visit which her Majesty
the Queen of England condescended to pay to the
frigate Le Gomel-, after the departure of his Majesty
the King of the French.
"The first professions, which, according to the
example constantly given by your Excellency, had SO,
handsomely taken place on the part of the officers of
the English Royal Navy, and of Elle principal autho-
rities and other innabitant; of Portsmouth, have been
crowned in the mod;
pleased her Britannic
manner by its having
c Majesty to grant the distin-
guished favour of her presence on board the vessel
which bore the flag of Vice-Admiral de la Susse, and
these testimonials have been warmly felt by the whole
royal navy of France.
"I come, therefore, M. Admiral, in the name of the
naval and military body at the thead of which I have
the honour to be placed, to request your Excellency
to receive for yourself our thanks, and to express as
much as possible to the Royal Navy of England, as
also to the different persons who were kindly pleased
on that occasion to unite in the feelings by which they
have shown themselves actuated, the deeply gratify-
ing remembrance which we all preserve of the recep-
tion which has been given bs in that port of Great
Britain where the flag of your Excellency floats.
" This reception, which accords so well in every re-
spect with the existence of the reports of the perfect
harmony which I have so frequently seen manifested
between the navies of the two countries, is at this
time the indelible sign of the just and mutual esteem
which unites them.
" In congratulating myself most truly, M. Admiral,
on being called to become tbe faithful interpreter of
these sentiments, I esteem myself happy in having to
add thereto the personal confidence with which I have
the honour to be, your Excellency's very humble and
obedient servant, " Baron MACKAU,
" Vice-Admiral, Peer of France, and Secretary
of State for the Navy and Colonies."

THE THEATRES.
LYCEUM.
Our readers, no doubt, recollect an anecdote which ;
went the round of the papers, some few weeks since, ,
of a gentleman who advertised for a respectable
widow as a housekeeper, and who directed personal
application to be made at his residence on a certain
day and at a certain hour. When the hour arrived
the street was crowded with widows of all ages and
descriptions, struggling to gain his door. The tho-
roughfare was impassable. It was in vain that the
unhappy gentleman addressed the sable throng from
the window, and told them he was engaged, and at
length the police was sent for to clear the street
vi et armis. This anecdote has been the foundation
of au exceedingly clever and amusing original
(and we print the word in italics as something re-
markable) dramatic sketch, which was produced at
this theatre last evening with the most complete success.
Frank Mathews represented the unfortunate advertiser.
Mr. Pimony Codlums, an did bachelor, who having
tried boarding-houses and lodging-houses, and been
victimized in all of them, has taken a house, started
an establishment, and, finding himself plundered by
his servants, advertises for a widow as housekeeper.
His, agony at the consequences of his advertisement
was exceedingly amusing—the street, to use the
words of his servant, was " like the enclosure in Lei-
cester-square, full of weeds," and cabs were conti-
nually setting down fresh shoals of widows round the
corner, when the unfortunate Codlums, after having
in vain attempted to make a speech from the window,
is rescued from his dilemma by his nephew, who in-
troduces to him a widow as his future housekeeper,
and disperses the throng by telling them that his
uncle is engaged. The lady thus introduced
is the nephews wife, whom he has mar-
ried clandestinely, who so winds herself around
the old bachelor's heart, that he forgives them, and
takes them to live with him, warning others not to
follow their example, which warning he gives as his
advice To Persons about to Marry. Frank Mathews
was exceedingly humorous as the old bachelor, and
Miss Arden, as the niece, looked quite fascinating in
her widow's cap, and act;cl very gracefully. The dia-
logue is cleverly written, and abounds in excellent
hits. Altogether, this is a very agreeable trifle. It
was received throughout with shouts of laughter, and
at the conclusion the applause was loud and long-con-
tinued. The house was crowded.