THE COURT.
The Russian war caused her majesty many anxieties, and an expression of care and deep concern was observed upon her countenance when she appeared in public. The festivities usual to the British court, and the rural enjoyments to which her majesty and her court were so much addicted, were greatly abridged by the demands of public business upon the queen, and the exciting vicissitudes of the war.
The events of chief interest to the court, apart from the great turmoil of public affairs, were the visits of certain royal persons to the queen, and a visit made by the royal consort to the Emperor of the French.
On the 2nd of June, the young King of Portugal, with his brother, the Duke of Oporto, arrived at Buckingham Palace. Every hospitality was shown to these princely guests; and they accompanied her majesty and Prince Albert to various places worthy the inspection of foreign princes.
The Egyptian prince, El Hami Pasha, heir of Abbas, the Pasha of Egypt, arrived at Southampton in July. The prince was attended by various great officers of the Egyptian viceroy.
On the 5th of September several princes visited the French Emperor at Calais and Boulogne. Among them was Prince Albert and his uncle, the King of the Belgians. The prince was attended by detachments of the Life Guards and the Horse Guards as an escort. These troops were objects of much curiosity and admiration on the part of the French citizens and soldiers.
On the 14th of September her majesty paid her customary autumnal visit to her Scottish Highland retreat. En route she slept at Holyrood, the palace of the famous and unfortunate Mary, Queen of Scots. On the 12th of October her majesty left Balmoral for Windsor.