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Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 442, 28 January 1857, Page 8

Levee of the Queen of Oude. —It having been announced that the Queen of Oude would give audience to several ladies and gentlemen on the 23rd of August, the doors of the York Hotel, Southampton, were beset by a concourse of persons anxious to catch a glimpse of the royal party. The time for visiting the princes was fixed at half-past three p.m., and that for the queen-mother at four o'clock. Soon after three o'clock unusual bustle was observed at the Hotel. The crowd before the building became greater, and there was much excitement in the interior. A notice was affixed to the inner doorway, written in Hindostanee and English, that gentlemen were not allowed to entor. Gold and silver mace bearers stood inside the door to guard the entrance. Messrs. Brandon, Rogers, and other interpreters were also in attendance, and none were allowed to

pass in but tlie nobility and .gentry. .Tho reception was held at the upper part of the hotel, where the princes reside. Oriental servants were stationed along the staircases to show, the way to the reception room. The visitors passed by the apartments of the zremindars jagheedars, and other native gentlemen, who have accompanied the royal family of O.ude to this country. At half-past three o'clock the reception, took place, Major R. W. Bird acting as, master of the ceremonies. On entering the reception room the- two Princes of Oude were seen. standing at the. further end dressed in magnificent costumes. The heir apparent had on a cloak of scarlet and gold. His head-dress consisted of a coronet-shaped cap of rather large size, the most prominent ornament of which was a string of large precious stones projecting from the cap. In his hand ho held a scimitar, sheathed in a magnificent scabbard. His Uncle, the brother of the ex-king, was dressed in a blue and silver cloak, with headdress of the same materials, and of a fez-like shape. By the side •of the heir apparent were two gigantic Nubian eunuchs, and two other officers of State. Two officers of the royal suite stood by the side of the prince's uncle. Major E. W. Bird led each visitor forward, and mentioned the name to the princes; the visitor bowed and retired to the other end of the room. As soon as the room was full of visitors, the princes sat .down on a sofa, and the visitors on chairs. Amongst, the visitors so introduced were the Earl' and Countess of Hardwicke, the three Ladies Yorke, Viscqunte Royston, 'Admiral Ayscough and family, Sir George Wombwell, General Sir George and Lady Pollock, the mayor, high-sheriff, and some of the magistrates of Southampton, and a number of the gentry of the town and neighbourhood. Sir George Pollock entered into conversation with the elder prince. Several-of the higher order of the officers of state mingled with the visitors. Soon after four o'clock, about thirty ladies of Southampton were admitted into the presence of the ex-queen. Mrs. Brandon, an English lady, who long resided at Cawnpore in Oude, and who accompanied the Queen to this country, acted as interpreter. Her Majesty was dressed in splendid shawls, but her head, neck, and one arm were uncovered. Her hair was cut rather short, and brushed back over the head a la Chinois. ' She wore two massive ear-rings, but no other jewellery about lier head. Her features bear a striking resemblance to her grandson's, tlie heir apparent to the Oude throne. She is a stout good-looking personage; is not very dark, and appears younger than she really is. She has a pleasing voice, and from her features and manners would appear to possess a kind and affectionate disposition. She received' her visitors affably, and seemed gratified. She pathetically lamented to the Countess of Hardwicke, one of the visitors, and of whose high rank she seemed to be aware, that she could not speak to her in the English' language. .Frequency of Fkattd isr England,— Scarcely a week passes without the discovery of astounding frauds in some public department, perpetrated by directors, managers, or persons in whom implicit trust has been placed. This week a clerk in the employment of the Crystal Palace Comjiany has been robbing his employers to the extent of thousands of pounds; indeed the amount of the loss has not yet been discovered ; but the act is very- comfortably described by the directors as " irregularities which have taken place in the transfer office." The affairs of the ißoyal British Bank exhibit the directors in a light which is enough to shake confidence iii men to whom the public entrust their money ; and what with the Sadleir frauds, and bank frauds of every imaginable form and hue, we seem to be rapidly advancing to a condition of society when the' trust-in-one-another' principle will altogether disappear. This is a sad stain on the character of the country, and a great national calamity. , Reckless speculation^ in the way of business with the property 01 others, followed by bankruptcy and ruin, is bad enough, but for offenders in this way the poor plea may be advanced that they hoped to retrieve their losses by a lucky turn, and that they had sacrificed their all. There is veiy little to the purpose in such a defence, but the act is rarely one of downright swindling like the majority of offences which almost every day brings to light.' The love of show, which begets a taste for extravagance, and a desire for people to appear'to.be what they are not, cause acts which make morality and rectitude blush.—JZ". News,