sed at 400,000 pounds, besides which there was the
Civic plate. The china dessert plates at the Queen's table cost 10
guineas each, and all the glass decanters and china were specially made
for the occasion.

At 20 minutes past 8, the Queen left the Hall, and in her retiring room
was served with tea from a splendid gold service made for the occasion,
and she reached Buckingham Palace about half-past 9--highly delighted
with her entertainment.

There is nothing more of interest in this year, if we except the maiden
speech of Lord Beaconsfield, in the House of Commons, which took place on
7th Dec. Mr. Disraeli (as he then was) had the disadvantage of following
O'Connell, in a noisy debate on the legality of the Irish Election
Petition Fund. He was not listened to from the first, and, in the middle
of his speech, as reported by _Hansard_, after begging the House to give
him five minutes, he said: "He stood there to-night, not formally, but,
in some degree, virtually, as the representative of a considerable number
of Members of Parliament (_laughter_). Now, why smile? Why envy him?
Why not let him enjoy that reflection, if only for one night?" All
through his speech he was interrupted, and this is its close, as reported
in _Hansard_. "When they recollected the 'new loves' and the 'old loves'
in which so much passion and recrimination was mixed up between the noble
Tityrus of the Treasury Bench, and the learned Daphne of Liskeard--(_loud
laughter_)--notwithstanding the _amantium ira_ had resulted, as he always
expected, in the _amoris integratio_--(_renewed
laughter_)--notwithstanding that political duel had been fought, in which
more than one shot was interchanged, but in which recourse was had to the
secure arbitrament of blank cartridges--(_laughter_)--notwithstanding
emancipated Ireland and enslaved England, the noble lord might wave in
one hand the keys of St. Peter, and in the other--(_the shouts that
followed drowned the conclusion of the sentence_). Let them see the
philosophical prejudice of Man. He would, certainly, gladly hear a cheer
from the lips of a popular opponent. He was not at all surprised at the
reception which he had experienced. He had begun several things many
times, and he had often succeeded at last. He would sit down now, but
the time would come when they would hear him. (_The impatience of the
House would not allow the hon. member to finish his speech_; _and during
the greater part o