The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-05-23 00:00:00

COURT AND F.A.SHIOIV

THE COURT were to leave Buckingham Palace for
Osborne yesterday, where the Queen's real birthday
(Wednesday), the 24th instant, will be spent by the
royal circle.

THE DOWAGER LADY DAME expired at her residence
in Chesterfield-street, on Wednesday, in her 82d year.
Her ladyship was daughter of the late Admiral Sir Chal-
loner Ogle, and -relict of Valentine Wilmot, and by her
marriage with the late Thomas, nineteenth Baron Dacre,
had no issue.

THE BISHOP'S HEin.---In consequence of the demise of
the late Bishop of Bath and Wells, Colonel Edward Bagot,
formerly of the Rifles, and now commanding the Royal
South Middlesex Militia, becomes the next heir to the
magnificent property of Ashtead, in the county of SUrrey.
This property, long a part of the hereditary domain of
the Suffolk family, is of great extent and value, and the
late bishop had a life interest in the estate.
LIEUT.-GENERAL STAVELEY, C. 8., Commander-in-Chief
of the Madras army, died on the morning of the 4th ult.,
in his transit carriage, shortly after his, departure from
Tippicadoo. Since leaving Madras he had improved in
health and spirits, and early on the morning of the 4th
expressed himsely as being " Never better in his life."
At Bandipoorah he partook of an excellent breakfast, and
on arrival at Tippicadoo left his carriage and walked some
few yards. Upon his re-entering the transit he lay down,
as if for the purpose of going to sleep, and into which he
immediately fell, and from that passed to death without
the slightest struggle or groan.
THE EMPEROR. NICHOLAS has at length, it appears,
been shamed into decent conduct in reference to the goods
and chattels of the British Ambassador. Sir Hamilton
Seymour has been informed that his " traps", which had
been detained at St. Petersburg. have been sent to the
Russian frontier, where he may claim them whenever he
likes, and get them home the best way he can. The
Emperor, it seems, has actually been so magnanimous as
to send them " carriage paid," 'which, considering all
things, is perhaps more than Sir Hamilton Seymour had
reason to expect.—John Bull.

Tim CHEVALIER BIINSEN.—The recal of the Prussian
minister at the Court of St. James's (his Excellency the
Chevalier Bunsen) has been involved in considerable mys-
tery, which, as it arises from circumstances which may
affect the future relations of the two countries as well as
the European 'settlement, may deserVe some elucidation.
We have reason to believe that the startling and very un-
expected event in question was occasioned in this manner :
His Excellency Chevalier Bunsen, some little time ago,
addressed a secret and confidential despatch to his Court,
in which he sketched out a new territorial disposition of
Europe, and indicated the provinces now belonging to
Russia which it was proposed to apportion to his own
sovereign. The King of Prussia was very indignant and
greatly alarmed when Baron Manteuffel submitted this
despatch to his Majesty. The king ordered the instant
recal of his plenipotentiary, and' commanded General
Groeben to proceed immediately to England on a special
mission, and obtain from the British government distinct
explanations whether the proposals of M. Bunsen had
received their sanction. The ministry of Lord Aberdeen
replied that the Bunsen project was in nowise authorized
by them, and that they recognized the integrity of the
Russian empire as necessary to the political equilibrium
which they wished to maintain. The Chevalier Bunsen
subsequently addressed a long explanatory letter to his
sovereign, but without effect on his excellency's altered
position. The king of Prussia expressed the anxiety of
the German powers to restore and secure peace on the
footing of the status quo, which was a sine qua non.—
The Press.
STATE BALL.—The Queen gave a state ball on Wed-
nesday evening in Buckingham Palace. The entire suite
of state saloons were opened for the ball, and were bril-
liantly lit with chandeliers, girandoles, and magnificent
crystal lustres, containing wax lights. All the fire-places
were filled with the choicest specimens of flowering plants
in full bloom, And opportunity was taken of every archi-
tectural void throughout the state saloons to display
beautiful groups of, flowers, bearing the most brilliant
blossoms. The staircase by which the state rooms are
approached from the marble hall was also profusely deco-
rated by flowering shrubs and plants of the most fragrant
and beautiful species. The archway fronting the first
flight was filled with a perfect screen of flowers to a great
height, and the walls on each side were adorned in a
similar manner. Several yeomen of the guard were sta-
tioned at the foot landing of the staircase, and up to the
entrance of the ante-room leading to the state suite; the
main body of the guard being on duty in the grand hall.
The ball-room and the throne-room were prepared for
dancing, orchestras being erected, and ornamented in a
manner similar to the decorations of the apartments,
within alcoves, for the use of the quadrille bands. Haut-
pas were erected in both rooms for the use of the Queen,
the Prince, and the royal family. They were covered with
crimson Utrecht velvet, and on each were placed a chair
of state for the use of the sovereign, and chairs of figured
crimson silk for the accommodation of the Prince and the
royal visitors. Behind each haut-pas alcoves were fiirmed;
in which were placed fine specimens of azaleas, cacti, ge-
raniums, fuchsias, and other plants; the background
being lined with white silk, embroidered with flowers, and
having draperies of crimson velvet in the throne-room, ;
and draperies of amber-coloured silk in the ball-room, to
correspond with the furniture of the respective apart-
ments. The Queen wore a dress of white crape lisse,
spangled with gold boullonne, with white tulle, and
trimmed with wreaths of green bay-leaves and red berries,
ivy-leaves and ribbon grass. The dress was ornamented
with diamonds. Her Majesty wore a head-dress to corre-
spond, with the flowers ornamented with diamonds. The
quadrille bands of Weippert and Messrs. Cote and Tinney
played appropriate music, and dancing was carried on with
much spirit. The supper was served in the state dinner-
room ; a lofty buffet was erected opposite the entrance.
It was lined with crimson, and brilliantly illuminated by
WAX lights from silver-gilt girandoles and sconces. On it
was displayed. a matchless collection of ornamental gold
plate, designed by the most accomplished artists, ancient
and modern. Some of the pieces were enriched with pre-
cious stones and beautiful cameos. There were also some
exquisite carvings in ivory, mounted in gold. The tables
were placed round three sides of the apartment, and were
ornamented with vases, epergnes, ice pails, and centre
pieces of gold plate relieved with flowers.