LADIES COLUMN.

It appears the Queen did not hold the Drawing Room, last Tuesday, in
person, but was represented by the Princess of Wales, and I hear that it was a
very brilliant function, though not so crowded as the one held the previous
week; and it was remarked on all sides how beautiful the Princess looked. Her
court dress was of cream satin, also her train, which was draped with Brussels
lace and mauve chiffon, trimmed with orchids, and the corsage to correspond. A
diamond tiara and a number of orders were worn.

Among those present, representing our own country, was Lady LAWSON,
who, I understand, looked remarkably well, in a handsome dress of green velvet,
draped on the skirt and bodice, with rare antique rose point lace, the train
of pale blue brocade, with a design of gold ribbon stripes, and powdered over
with little bunches of roses, in old world tones.

An incident, connected with the last Drawing Room, came to my
knowledge, the other day, which again shows the extreme kindness of heart and
consideration for others, possessed by Her Majesty. It appears an old lady, a Mrs.
CHARLTON, who is in her 83rd year, had been at the Queen's Coronation, and was
anxious to see Her Majesty, during her diamond Jubilee year. She was accordingly
granted the entree at the last Drawing Room, in order that she might be
personally received. The old lady who walked with a stick, was very graciously
received by the Queen, who gave her hand to Mrs. CHARLTON to kiss. Her Majesty has
also given instructions that a seat is to be reserved at Buckingham Palace
for Mrs. CHARLTON for the Jubilee Procession. The CHARLTONS of Hesleyside,
Northumberland, are one of the old Roman Catholic families of England. I suppose
that Mrs. CHARLTON, despite her age, takes great interest in all current events,
retains her memory to a remarkable degree, and recollects seeing Her Majesty,
as Princess Victoria, when only 15, at a ball at York, dancing then with the
Lord MORPETH.

Have you heard much of the discussion now going on respecting the
reading of TENNYSON's "Becket" to be given by Sir Henry IRVING in the
magnificently restored Chapter House of Canterbury Cathedral, and for the benefit of the
Cathedral "13th Centenary Fund"? There are people who make use of the word
"sacrilege" in (???) to it, but I agree with Dean FARRAR, when he says "There will
be exceptional interest in hearing Sir Henry read Tennyson's work in the
midst of the very scenes where Becket's death occurred." I only wish I could also
have the privilege of hearing him.

People in general and Philatelists in particular, are naturally taking
great interest in the Jubilee stamps just issued for the benefit of the
Prince of Wales Hospital Fund. It seems they have been issued to give small
subscribers a handy and convenient form of receipt, and one which they can retain as
a memento of the Diamond Jubilee. I think the design is a charming one. It is
taken from Sir Joshua REYNOLD's picture of "Charity" in which Mrs. SHERIDAN
is the chief figure. These stamps will be very shortly most valuable, as only a
limited number of the issue is to be printed, and then the plates used are to
be destroyed. I understand that spaces for these stamps are being made in
many new albums, in addition to the issue of specially prepared pages for
insertion in such existing albums as those of Messrs. LINCOLN. The stamps collecting,
(I was going to say sav mania, but perhaps that is a wrong word) is a
wonderful thing now, indeed it may truly be called one of the "latter day sciences,"
and in many cases it is most lucrative.

The repetition of the Rev. Father BRUNO's organ recital came off on
Tuesday evening, and proved just as great a treat as was anticipated. The Rev.
gentleman is evidently not favoured with "Queen's weather" for it simply poured
down all the evening. Notwithstanding this, the church was full, and I hope a
handsome collection was realised, for the cause was indeed a worthy one,
viz., the Whitehaven Infirmary. The organ recital pure and simple was wonderfully
good, at times entrancing, particularly the first item on the programme,
Symphonie No 5 by Beethoven. It was splendidly played. The Scherzo following it, in
quite another style, was also very charming. Altogether it was a musical
treat, rarely, if ever, heard in Whitehaven. The vocal solos, if one may be
allowed to criticise, were perhaps not quite equal to the rest of the performance,
the voices were extremely good, but the articulation, more or less, was hardly
what it might have been. The duets were exquisite, particularly the one sung
by Miss. ROONEY and Father BRUNO, "Benedictus also composed by Father BRUNO,
and sung by Miss. ARCHARD and Miss. KEARNEY was hardly less pleasing. The
audience was a most appreciative one, and I am sure all those present are greatly
indebted to Father BRUNO for such an enjoyable evening. - Ever yours,