herself in an atmosphere of roses and violets, a scene of
flowers backed by white and gold, the tall staircase tower
flooded with light from concealed sources. The whole
of the mansion was decorated in this sumptuous style.
Amongst the ornaments of the supper-room was a piece
of sculpture representing France and England joining
their hands in token of amity. The ball-room was a
magnificent scene. The court of Louis XV. was the
prevailing character; but the field of the cloth of gold,
national traits from old England, Poland, Russia, India,
and even from the realms of fancy, varied the coup d'Å“il.
The Queen wore a dress of great elegance, whose
prevailing colour was pink; Prince Albert was dressed as a
Field-Marshal. The French Ambassador wore his
official costume; and, in accordance with the wish of
the most distinguished person present, the diplomatic
personages and the ministers of state wore their official
costumes—the latter as privy councillors; and the ex-
ministers of state conformed to the same rule. After a
pretty series of quadrilles, the Queen danced with Count
Walewski. At a subsequent interval, the Count
presented his more distinguished guests to her Majesty; the
Queen made the tour of the apartments, resting on the
arm of the Count; and at midnight the royal party
were conducted to the supper-room. At half-past one
o'clock, after her Majesty had once more joined in the
dance, the Count attended the Queen to her carriage.
It was some hours later before the party dispersed.

The Mayor of Norwich has received the honour of
knighthood under somewhat singular circumstances.
Mr. Bignold had been commissioned to present to the
Queen, at her Majesty's last levee, an address from the
corporation on the subject of the Eastern war, breathing
most loyal views and expressing the fullest confidence
in the course her Majesty had adopted. He was
introduced by Mr. Peto, his card of presentation bearing
the words, "The Mayor of Norwich." After receiving
the address her Majesty inquired the mayor's name.
On learning it her Majesty commanded him to kneel,
and there and then he rose "Sir Samuel Bignold"—
thunderstruck, as he says, with the honour so
unexpectedly conferred upon him.

Mr. James Johnstone, for twenty years principal
engineer at the Russian Admiralty works at Kolpino on
the Neva, has returned to Scotland. When the war
broke out, he resigned; the Emperor offered him the
post of engineer-in-chief at Cronstadt, on condition that
he would become a Russian subject. Mr. Johnstone
refused the offer, and again when it was made without
that condition.

Sir R. Peel, who was prevented from presiding at the
anniversary dinner of the Printers' Pension Society, in
consequence of the recent melancholy disaster to the
Herculaneum steam ship, has, since his return to
London, contributed £30 to the funds of the institution.

Mr. Macaulay has been elected President of the
Edinburgh Philosophical Institution, in room of the
late Professor Wilson.

Colonel Perronet Thompson has been restored to his
proper place in the Army List.

Professor Edward Forbes has been appointed to the
chair of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh,
vacant by the death of Professor Jameson.

Obituary of Notable Persons.

Lord COCKBURN, one of the judges of the Court of Session
in Scotland, died in Edinburgh on the 20th ult, after a short
illness.

Mr. J. FITZGERALD, the Knight of Glin, died of cholera,
after a few hours' illness, at Glin Castle, on the 25th ult.

The MARQUIS OF Anglesey died at Uxbridge House on the
28th ult., in his eighty-sixth year.

Dr. LUXMORE, the Dean of St. Asaph, died on the 27th ult.,
aged sixty-two, at his residence at Cradley.

JAMES MONTGOMERY, the poet, died on the 30th ult., at his
residence, the Mount, Sheffield, aged eighty-two.

Lord COLBORNE died on the 3rd inst., at his house in Hill-
street, aged seventy-five.

The BISHOP OF BATH AND WELLS died on the 15th inst., at
Brighton, in his seventy-second year.

Admiral SIR HYDE PARKER died at Ham on the 26th inst.

COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES.

THE Overland Mail brings intelligence from Bombay
to the 28th of April. The last accounts from Burmah
still represent the state of the country as most unsatisfactory.
A detachment of sepoys, escorting provisions to
Prome, had been attacked by dacoits, when two sepoys
were killed and fourteen wounded. The party numbering
seventy men of the 10th Bengal Native Infantry,
under the command of Captain Phillot, when five miles
from Taphoon, was fired into from the dense jungle
through which the road lay, and in which the dacoits
were concealed. On the first fire the cart drivers
unyoked their bullocks and ran away, so that Captain
Phillot could neither advance nor return without
leaving the wounded men of his detachment behind, the
only dooly he had being occupied by a wounded man,
who subsequently died. However, the captain charged
his assailants and drove them through the jungle at the
bayonet's point, but no sooner were they dislodged from
one point than they appeared at another. After two
hours' hard fighting, Captain Phillot's detachment was
reinforced by a party of the 4th Sikhs, under the
command of Lieutenant Dunbar, who were accompanied by
two elephants, upon which the wounded were placed,
and all returned to Taphoon. Captain Phillot is said to
have had a most narrow escape; the pony he was on
was shot dead, the ball passing through the animal and
grazing the rider's leg. Another bullet went through
his forage cap and lodged in the shoulder of one of the
sepoys. The loss sustained upon this occasion by the
Burmese has not been accurately ascertained, but a
wounded chief who had been made prisoner died on
the road to Taphoon. All parties concur in considering
an advance on Ava unavoidable, and some dissatisfaction
is beginning to be expressed at the policy pursued
in reference to the Burmese by the Governor-General.

The latest accounts from Ceylon confirm the existence
of gold, but it is extremely doubtful indeed whether it
can be procured in sufficient quantity to remunerate
parties digging for it.

Russia has concluded treaties with Persia, Bokhara,
and Khiva. The articles of the treaty between Russia
and Khiva are: The friends and enemies of the one
state are to be the friends and enemies of the other.
Russia will not interfere with the dominions or laws of
Khiva. A Russian Ambassador is to reside at Khiva.
A subsidiary force is to be kept at Khiva of 10,000
horsemen, officered and paid by Russia. Russian,
Persian, Bokharan, and Affghan slaves, now in Khiva,
to be released on payment of all their value. Russia to
build cantonments, and to establish a force for twenty
years. Dost Mahomed demands, as the price of his
alliance, 5,000 Russian troops, and the necessary funds
to recover Peshawur and Pashmeun.

The West India Mail brings advices from Jamaica to
the 10th of April. By a majority of one, the Legislative
Council had passed the responsible government bill;
thus accepting the provision agreed to by the House of
Assembly for a judicial establishment under the civil
list; nevertheless, they passed the bill under protest.
Within half an hour after its passing the Council, Sir
Henry Barkly gave the assent of the crown.

The most important article of news from the Cape of
Good Hope relates to the Orange Sovereignty, which
has been abandoned by the British crown. A new
government has been formed by the inhabitants. At
starting a demand was made on Sir George Clerk for
£20,000 to begin business; but he declined to furnish
more than £6000, and £3000 on account of the Poem
Plaats fines. The new government has purchased
gunpowder, shot, &c., belonging to the British government;
and it has been presented with the three guns on the