her Majesty sat down twice before M. de Winterhalter's
large picture of the Empress and her ladies of honour.
After having lunched at the Elysée, where she received
the Corps Diplomatique, her Majesty visited the Sainte
Chapelle, the Palais de Justice, the Cathedral of Notre
Dame, where she was received by the Archbishop of
Paris at the head of his Clergy. At all these places,
and in the streets through which she passed, her
Majesty was enthusiastically cheered by multitudes of
people. She was everywhere attended by the Emperor.
In the evening a splendid banquet was given at St.
Cloud. On Tuesday the royal visitors went to Versailles.
After being conducted by the Emperor through the
state apartments, and surveying the grounds, they
proceeded to the beautiful little palace of Trianon. There
they were joined by the Empress, whose delicate state
of health did not permit her to take any very prominent
part in the festivities. She and the Emperor,
accompanied by their royal guests, now withdrew to the
chalet behind the Trianon, where in perfect retirement
they had coffee served to them on the grass. The pretty
chalet, with its adjoining sheet of water and mill-wheel,
appeared to take the Queen completely by surprise, and
her gratification and that of the Prince were still greater
when the splendid band of the Guides made the air of
this sweet spot resound with the choicest music. The
cortege returned to St. Cloud about 4 o'clock, and,
having dined there en famille at half-past 6, the royal
party went at 9  in state to the Opera. The Boulevards
and other streets along which they passed were
brilliantly illuminated, and it is impossible to do
justice to the fairy-like appearance of that part of
Paris, lit up by thousands of variegated lamps.
Nor was the spectacle within the Opera-house less
imposing. The Emperor's box was erected in the grand
tier, directly opposite the stage, and on either side of it
stood, like a statue, a soldier of the Cent-Garde, en
grande tenue—superb-looking fellows, as superbly
dressed and equipped. Two others stood sentry on the
stage at either wing. The pit was entirely filled with
gentlemen in full evening costume, and the stalls and
tiers of boxes occupied by clusters of beautiful women,
resembled parterres of the rarest flowers. When the
Emperor and Empress, with their guests, entered, the
whole house rose to receive them, and from that brilliant
assemblage our Queen met with a reception worthy
of those who gave and of her who was the object of it.
The enthusiastic plaudits had hardly subsided when the
orchestra began to play the National Anthem, and at
its close the cheering was renewed and long sustained.
Her Majesty gracefully acknowledged these tokens of
favour. She was tastefully but simply dressed, and
wore the riband of the Garter, and on her head
a tiara of diamonds. She sat on the right hand of the
Empress, having the Emperor on her right. On the
right hand of the Emperor was the Prince Napoleon,
and on the left of the Empress Prince Albert, who
again had the Princess Mathilde on his left. The
Empress wore a magnificent tiara of diamonds, and her
delicate but beautiful features were the theme of
general admiration. It is unnecessary to enter into
any details as to the performance, beyond stating that
it was of a miscellaneous character, including both
opera and ballet, and that Alboni and Cruvelli were
among the vocalists. They sang "God save the
Queen," with the English words, before her Majesty
retired, and the house again renewed its plaudits as at
the commencement, insisting upon an encore. On
Wednesday the royal strangers passed several hours in
visiting the Great Exhibition, and in the evening
attended a grand ball at the Hôtel de Ville, a scene of
the most dazzling splendour and magnificence. The
exterior of the building was profusely and most tastefully
decorated with flags, and illuminated by a row of
gas jets running along the entire facade. Immense
pyramids of coloured lamps were placed around the
entrance. At half-past nine the imperial and royal
cortège arrived. The Emperor, giving his arm to the
Queen, led her into the court of Louis Quatorze, which
had been enclosed by a temporary roof, and converted
into a vast vestibule. An immense chandelier hung
from the roof, the windows looking into the courtyard
were draped with red curtains and illuminated by numerous
small chandeliers, and beneath a grand double staircase
ran a cascade of clear water, which gave a delightful
freshness to the air. Her Majesty, leaning upon the
Emperor's arm, ascended the grand staircase, followed
by Prince Albert, who conducted the Princess Mathilde.
The royal visitors passed into the great ball-room
where chairs of state were placed under a magnificent
canopy. Her Majesty opened the ball with the Emperor,
Prince Albert giving his hand to the Princess
Mathilde, and the remaining dancers in the quadrille
being Prince Napoleon, Lady Cowley, Prince Adalbert,
and Mademoiselle Hausmann, granddaughter of the
Prefect of the Seine. The Emperor then led the Queen
through the crowded rooms, followed by the other
members of the royal party and their suite, the
company making way as they passed, and receiving their
Majesties with the must respectful salutations, but
without cries or exclamations. The whole suite of rooms
of the Hôtel de Ville were opened to the company. About
8000 persons were present. The ladies' toilettes were of
singular beauty and richness; and as there were
diplomatists, attachés, and military men from every country
in Europe in full costume, the splendour of the scene was
complete. Her Majesty wore a white silk robe covered
with lace and embroidered with the flowers of the
geranium, a diadem of diamonds, and a splendid
diamond necklace. She also wore the blue riband of the
Order of the Garter, which the Emperor also wore
over his uniform. The Royal visitors, having made
the circuit of the rooms, left the Hôtel de Ville by the
grand staircase, Her Majesty staying to admire as she
descended the tasteful preparations made to do her
honour, and expressing to the Prefect the warm
admiration and delight which she had derived from her
visit. Their Majesties then took their departure. The
Empress was unable to be present. After the royal
party had left, dancing was resumed in various
apartments, and continued until daybreak. On Friday the
Queen, accompanied by Prince Albert, the Emperor,
and the Princess Royal, paid a second visit to the
Palace of Industry, and was afterwards present at a
grand review in the Champ de Mars. There were from
40,000 to 45,000 troops under arms, and an immense
multitude was assembled. While the troops defiled,
the Queen and the Empress left the carriage, and
occupied seats on the balcony of the Ecole Militaire. The
Zouaves attracted the especial attention of their Majesties.
As the soldiers passed in companies before the
Queen they cheered her enthusiastically. At night the
Queen went to the Opera Comique. The Boulevards
and the theatre were brilliantly illuminated. A dense
crowd waited her Majesty's appearance, and received
her with vehement acclamations. The royal party
return to-day (27th) after a short stay at Boulogne.

Sir William Molesworth has been appointed Secretary
of State for the Colonies, vacated by the resignation of
Lord John Russell; and Sir Benjamin Hall has succeeded
Sir William Molesworth as Chief Commissioner
of Works.

Mr. Matthew Baines has resigned the office of President
of the Poor Law Board, and is succeeded in that
office by Mr. Bouverie.

The Hon. William Cowper has succeeded Sir B. Hall
as President of the Board of Health.

Sir James Carnegie, of Southesk, having successfully
claimed the Southesk Peerage, becomes the sixth Earl.
His father began the proceedings, but died before he
could complete them.

Thomas Everett, a native of Brook-street, South
Weald, sergeant in the 7th Fusileers, and 22 years in
the service, has just returned to his native village,
Brentwood, with five wounds and the loss of an eye. His
proudest boast is that he had the distinguished honour of
shaking hands—a hearty English shake, too—with Her
Majesty at Portsmouth, who, in presenting him with a
silk handkerchief, hemmed by herself, said, "I am
proud of you, my brave sergeant;" that Miss Nightingale
also made him a similar present; that Miss Taylor
honoured him by walking arm-in-arm with him aboard
ship; and that Miss Stanley sent out his pay, &c, for
him to Halifax. He received a shot through the ear at
the Alma, a bayonet wound through the arm in a sortie,
a ball through the hip the same night, and had the sole