Star.
London, England, 1818-05-16 00:00:00

.DUCHESS O GLOticEsTErrsROUTE.

The Assembly given by the Duchess of Gtoucms-
TER, on Thursday night, was one of the most crowded
and splendid :hat has been given upon any occasion.
It had bee for some time in contemplation by her
Royal Highness, and it would have taken place sooner
but for the indisposition of her Royal Mother.
The stair case, corridor, and entire suite of apart-
ments, leading to the drawing-room, were laid with
fine light-green cloth, and decked with an immense
profusion of choice exotics, occasionally interspersed
with antiipe Etruscan vases, the whole illuminated
by innumerable or-mold candelabra, forming a most
delicious and refreshing tout ensemble. The draw.
ing-room itself was decorated in the same style, but
the plants were more rare and beautiful, and the
candelabra more magnificent. In the anti-rooms, nu-
merous and ample tables %vete loaded with ices, con-
fectionery„ fruits, wines, and iadeed every species of
lighter refreshment, of the most delicate and costly
kind and in great profusion.
. On the exterior of the mansion, the whole court-
yard was covered with matting, continued through
both the gateways, and over the pavement into Park-
lane, it having been arranged that the carriages
should set down ih the street, and not under the
gate arty. as on ordinary occasions. At about nine
o clock the company began to arrive, from which
time,.till nearly two, there were generally three and
four carriages setting down at one and the same mo-
ment. The crowd of equipages was so great, that
many of the Nobility were obliged to alight even in
Piccadilly. By twelve o'clock the confusion was
truly alarming. A considerable number of well-
dressed persons had collected to witness the arrival
of the company, and, as the servants became disen-
gaged, the crowd increased to such a degree, that,
notwithstanding Townsend and a large party of the
Police were extremely active, many of the Ladies
were strangely maltreated. Not only did their
plumes and dresses suffer considerably, but even their
persons were in imminent danger. Several of them
repeatedly crud " Murder r and at one time their
shrieks, mingled with the hoarse vociferations of the
coachmen and the crowd, and the trampling of the
horses, aided by the livid glare of the flambeaux, for
med a scene truly terrific. In this confusion, the foot-
men of some of the visitors ce:tainly appeared to be
chief leaders. A Nobleman, in attempting to re-
monstrate with these men, was most grossly insulted,
and very much beaten about the head and shoulders
with their sticks. Within doors, the rooms were so
excessively crowded, that it became necessary to
throw open the whole of the windows, and many
found it still too close to remain many minutes. The
following are a few of the company present : His
Royal Highness the PRINCE REGENT, Princess SOPIIIA
of GLOUCESTER, the Prince of HESSE Hosteovac,
the Dukes of YORK, CLARENCE, KENT, CUMBERLAND,
and Sussax, and the whole of the Foreign Ambassa-
dors and their Ladies. There were also present, near-
ly all the rank and fashion of the metropolis, consist-
ing of nearly 1400 persons. The company had not all
lest till half past five o'clock. The Duke and Duchess,
with the Princess Soeusa, remained in the drawing-
room to the last, conversing with the distinguished
throng ; and we are happy to say, the Duchess ex •
perienced no inconvenience yesterday from the fa-
tigues of the night, as the answer to the numerous
inquiries, consisting. of most of those who were ho-
named with being Invited to the party, was, that her
Royal Highness was very well. In the evening, the
Luke and Duclicss, at:enJci by Colonel HIOOINS,
Colonel COTTON, &c. hOßO:ired Covent-garden Theatre
with their presence, to see the Play of The Slaw.

An Inquest was held yesterday .tthe Conch and Horses, Park.
treet, Grosvenor-square, on the body of George Haley, the
Want son of Mr. Haley, of Fark.street, who was killed on
Thursday evening by the carriage of the lion. Archibald Mac-
donald passing over his body. It appeared that a servant was
„caning the child us her arms, when the carriage suddenly twa-
in/ round the corner of Grosvenor-street. knocked them both
dawn. and the near hind wheel passed over them. The deceased
was killed on the spot, and the servant was carried to St. George's
Hospital. in a dreadful state.—Verdict, Accidentally killed by
tha said carriage. A deortand of ss. was laid on the wheel.
Friday. as some men were tilt owing a log of timber into the
Regret's Canal, a rope attached to It entangled the legs of one
of, them, and threw him into the water, from which he was not
estaieated till totally bereft of life.
Thursday morning two children. one aged seven and the
other nine years, sons to Mr. Dray. farmer, of Dranwood, near
Edmonton, were playing in the fields with some other children
near the site of the New River, having along with them a.iittle
dog belonging to their father, which the youngest of the brothers
took and threw into the river to learn it to swim, but perceiving
that the dog was paddling in the water, and not advancing, he
a...nosed it was drowning, and Aalltml to his brother to come and
get it out. On the other coming te, the spot, and thinking that
the dog was in dai.vr, he begs:: to cry, and at the impulse of
the moment he juniped Tutu the water, which was in the deepest
past of river, and sunk to ri,c no more. The cries of the
other little innocent attracted the notice of a labouring man, who
hastened to the spot on being told of the circumstance, to 42'crd
what assistance he could, and wh,. had the greatest
int.:enable to prevent the youngest child from plunging into ti;:
water, as he said to save his pour brother. 'When the holy was
got out it was quite dead, and was taken hettle to the indescrib-
able grief and agony of the poor parents.
Wednesday se'nnight several deaths happened at
Greenock by drowning. Two Lascars, belonging to
the India ship Jane, missed their way on the Iltlltng-
burn quay, fell into the harbour, and, before any
effectual assistance arrived, had sunk to the bottom.
Their bodies have since been found. Anther man
fell into the West Harbour, but was fortunately saved.
Vie Surgeon, Mr. Satre, of his Majesty's schooner
Alban, in going on board, also fell into t'.;:! East
Harbour, and was drowned.
Saturday se'nnight, two boys, one about 16, and
the other 10 years of age, went to the woods at Ethie,
near Arbroath, in order to shoot crows. In the course
cf their sport, the gun which the oldest was carrying
accidentally went off, and the whole of its Contents
were lodged in the body of his companion. After
liagering till Monday, the unfortunate youth expired.
A new sort of potatoe, called the bread-fruit-pota-
e, from its uncommon productiveness, is getting
rapidly into estimation. Mr. INsinm, of Spaxton, near
Bridgewater, planted last year, in the common way,
in a heavy soil, without manure, or any extra atten-
tion, two potatoes of that variety, weighing four
ciances : the produce was Ws4 ounces, being an in-
crease per acre (allowing six jacks to be the proper
tiaantity to seed an acre) of 39ti sacks. Heligoland
beans may be cultivated with the bread-fruit-potatoe,
With success, by dropping about half-a-bushel per
acre in the channels with the potatoes whet planted;
as they grow and ripen 4 the saute time, without
dcti,,oratmg the crcp cf fctatocs.
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