The Press.
London, England, 1854-05-20 00:00:00

THE STATE BALL.

A oluen state ball was given by her Majesty on Wednes-
day evening at Buckingham Palace. The descriptions
given of this fete by that official littfraieur the "Court
Newsman" arc exceedingly gorgeous. The entire suite of
state saloons was opened for the ball, and brilliantly lit
with chandeliers, girandoles, and magnificent crystal
lustre., containing wax lights. All the fireplaces were
filled with the choicest specimens of flowering-plants in
full bloom, and opportunity was taken of every architectu-
ral void throughout the state saloons to display beautiful
groups of flowers bearing the most brilliant blossoms. The
staircase by which the state looms are approached from
the marble hall was also profusely decorated by flowering
shrubs and plants of the most fragrant and beautiful
species. The archway fronting the first flight was filled
with a perfect screen of flowers to a very great height, and
the walls on each side were adorned in a similar manlier.
The ball-room and the throne-room were prepared for
dancing, orchestras being erected and ornamented in a
manner similar to the decoration of the apartments, within
alcoves, for the use of the quadrille bands. Ilaut pas were
erected in both rooms for the use of the Queen, the l'rince,
and the Royal Family. They were covered with crimson
Utrecht velvet, and on each was placed a chair of state
for the use of the Sovereign, and chairs of figured crimson
silk for the accommodation of the Prince and the royal
visitors. Behind each haut pea alcoves were formed, in
which were placed fine specimen. of azaleas, cacti, gera-
niums, fuschias, and other plants, the background being
lined with white silk embroidered with flowers, and having
draperies of crimson velvet in the throne-room and
draperies of amber-coloured silk in the ball-room, to cor-
respond with the furniture of the respective apartments.
The picture gallery was set apart tor the assembling of
the general company, the Queen receiving the members of
the Royal Family in the white drawing-room, which is one
of the state rooms in the garden front of the palace. Sup-
per was served in the state dinner-room. A lofty buffet
was erected opposite the entrance. It was lined with
crimson, and brilliantly illuminated by wax lights from
silver-gilt girandoles and sconces On it was displayed a
matchless collection of ornamental gold plate designed by
the most accomplished artists, ancient and modern. Some
of the pieces were enriched with precious stones and beau-
tiful cameos. There were also some exquisite carvings in
ivory mounted in gold. The tables were placed round
three sides of the apartment, and were ornamented with
vases, epergnes, ice-pails, and centrepieces of gold plate,
relieved with flowers.

The invitation to the receptionscomprised the members
of the Royal Family, the whole of the diplomatic corps, with
their wives and daughters, foreigners of distinction now

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in this country, and a numerous circle of the ladies and
gentlemen attending the Queen's Court—in all numbering
about 1,700.

nub (Mural.

THE ANNUAL CITY BANQUET TO THE JUDGES was
given by the Lord Mayor on Tuesday evening at the
Mansion-house. The entertainment provided was,
of course, magnificent, and the company included a
large number of distinguished personages both from
professional and political circles. The loving cup
was sent round with the customary formality, and,
after the loyal toasts had been disposed of, the Lord
Mayor proposed " The Church," which was acknow-
ledged by the Archbishop of Canterbury. To " The
health of the Judges " Lord Campbell responded in
graceful terms, and, alluding to the recent report of
the Royal Commissioners, eulogised the services
which had at different periods in our history been
rendered to the cause of constitutional liberty by the
corporation of the city of London. England, he
said, would not be England without the Lord Mayor.
He loved the Lord Mayor's day and the Lord Mayor's
show, and expressed a hope that, in discharging the
duties of the bench, the judges might not, according
to the recommendation of the commissioners, be dis-
severed from the chief magistrate and aldermen of
the City. The Marquis of Camden responded to
the toast of " The House of Lords," and Sir
John Pakington to that of "The House of Com-
mons." Vice-Chancellor Sir John Stuart proposed
"The English Bar," bearing high testimony to the
talents, the worth, and the honour of its members.
Sir F. Thesiger acknowledged the toast in animated
terms. Several other toasts were given during
the evening. The large number of guests who ap-
peared in official costume, and the many ladies
present, imparted a very gay appearance to the ban-
quet, which passed off with unusual éclat.
THE CHURCHWARDEN OF FAITH'S CHURCH, attached
to St. Cross Hospital, prohibited the clergyman ap-
pointed by the Earl of Guilford from preaching in
the church last Sunday, on account of the defective
title of his lordship to the mastership of the Hospital
of St. Cross.

THE PRESTON STRIKE is at length finally closed.
At a meeting of the operative spinners and self-actor
minders, held on Sunday evening last, it was resolved
not to protract the struggle longer. Accordingly the
hands sought work on Monday morning at the es-
tablishments where they were engaged when the
lock-out occurred. Many of them were, however,
unable to procure employment, in consequence of
their places being preoccupied. The aggregate ex-
penditure of all the operatives' committees during
the thirty-seven weeks of the contest amounts to
100,0001., and the sacrifice of wages is probably three
or four times that sum. In addition to this, there is
the manufacturers' loss of profits—no inconsiderable
item.

THE VACANT SEAT ON THE SCOTCH BENCH has
been conferred on Mr. Charles Neaves, who was
Solicitor-General under the Derby Administration.
THE GREAT GANGES CANAL, which has cost the
East India Company more than a million and a half
of money, is to be opened during the present month.
MR. BRIGHT'S SPEECH in the House of Commons
on the 31st of March has had the honour of a trans-
lation in extemo in recent numbers of the St. Peters-
burg journals and in certain Finnish ones under the
immediate control of the Russian Government.

THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA has, it is HOW said, done
all in his power to make good the inconvenience
which Sir H. Seymour may have suffered from his
furniture and chattels having been refused exit by
sea from Cronstadt. Sir Hamilton has been informed
that all his effects would be conveyed with all pos.
sible care to the frontier, at the expense of the Rus•
sian Government.

THE LEADING BREWERS have agreed that in con-
sequence of the increased malt duty the price of beer
should be raised as follows :—Porter, from 325.
to 365. per barrel ; brown stout, from 435. to 48s. ;
double stout, from 535. to 60s. Ale, XX, from 30s
to 405.; XXX, from 48s. to 545. ; XXXX, from 58s.
to 655.

ARRANGEMENTS for the formation of a local asso-
ciation, having as its object an improvement in the
dwellings of the working classes, were commenced at
a public meeting held in Liverpool last week. Up-
wards of 5,000/. worth of shares were subscribed for
in the room. It was observed by one of the speakers
that the twenty-two cottages lately completed in the
town, on the plans exhibited by Prince Albert in
Hyde-park, had yielded a clear profit of 5 per cent.
per annum on an outlay of 4,200/.
A COMMITTEE to organise the Indian department
of the great French Exhibition for 1855 has been
formed by Lord Dalhousie. It is presided over by
the Chief Justice, Sir Laurence Peel. The object is
to send to Paris specimens of Indian splendour, such
as were transmitted in 1851 to the Crystal Palace in
Hyde-park. The court of directors has sanctioned
an outlay of 50,0001. for the purpose.