The Press.
London, England, 1853-06-18 00:00:00

Court anb faslion.

THERE has been much t ) amuse and excite the vo-
ta►ies of gaiety during the last week. One of the few
'opportunities for a glimpse of something really grand
was afforded to the world on Friday last, owing to her
Majesty having honoured the Duke and Duchess of
Sutherland with her company at dinner. In the
evening a very large party were invited to do honour
to the royal guests, and the colpo &Dead() was in
truth magnificent. The very architectural defect in
Stafford-house, namely, the great size of the stair-
case (which involves the sacrifice of all the other
rooms in the house), is a great advantage on un oc-
casion of this nature, and the enormous space,
crowded as it was with a gay and brilliant throng,
presented a spectacle which could scarce he witnessed
in any other capital in Europe. Shortly after her
Majesty's departure dancing was commenced in the
gallery, the Blue's band officiating as orchestra; and,
although this proceeding prevented a due examiva-
tion of the pictures. some of the more important gems
of the gallery, such as the two great pictures by 3ht-
rillo, purchased by the duke from Marshal Soult, and
the famous " Christ before Pilate," by Gherardo della
Note, could not fail to be seen to advantage.
On Saturday last Lady Palmerston recommenced
her agreeable and far-famed Saturdays. Of all
drums hers arc the only ones which ever seem
to he endurable.
On Monday, besides Mrs. Antrobus's concert, there
were three balls. Remembering the story about a
certain golden apple, 1 propose to make no invidious
distinction, and content myself with stating that, of
the three, Mrs. Henry White's was, perhaps, the most
crowded.
On Tuesday Lady Johnstone gave a very pleasant
Glance at her house in Grosvenor-square.
The invitations to her Majesty's ball on Wednes-
day last were more mtmerous than ever. Her Majesty
looked extremely well, and the ball was unusually
_ . . .

On Thursday Mrs. Miles's bull, in BelgraNie-square,
was the order of the night ; and this evening we are
to have the pleasure of making our second bow this
season to the Hon. Mrs. Ferguson, of Pitfour, in
Charles-street, Berkeley-square.
in former days radicals and republicans used to be
distinguished by a species of o iginal and sentimental
dandyism. White hats and blue and buff had an air
of gentility which could never be mistaken for snob-
bery. in these times, however, even the gentlemen
of a liberal turn of mind are fast degenerating, and
we now see them at every place, and positively when
Royalty itself is present, in black neckcloths and with
gloveless hands.
Friday preying.

6IBUS.

Tho second drawing-room of the season was held
by her Majesty on Tuesday, at St. James's Palace.
The Duke of Genoa and the Duke of Saxe•Coburg
Gotha were present, and the diplomatic circle was
numerously represented.
The following presentations took place
fly the Baroness de Cato--11nronesa de Iltmoldstein,
wife of the Baron de Hunoldatein, Chamberlain to the
King of Bavaria.
130rottess de Bnennow —Mademoiselle Helene d❑
Brunnuw, Demoiselle d'Honneur de sa Majeste l'hupera-
trice.
By the &melt Andeasscuiress—Mre. Henry .lol►nstou, wife
of the Hon. H. Johnston, formerly of the United States
Senate ; Miss Thompson, niece of the above lady.
By the Russian Mini4ter--6eueral Ogareff, Aide•dc•C'anep
fienend de sa Msjeste l'Empereur de touted les Russies ;
I.e Comte Dmitry de Nesselrode, Conseiller d'Etat et
Cluunliellan de 5.31. i. _ . .

By the Prussian Minister—Le Comte L. Suminski, Cham-
bellan do sa 3litieste le Roi de l'russe.
By the seedinian Minister—M. C. Bride de Lessolo,
()ffieier de Cavallerie dans l'Armee Sarde.

By the. Sicilia* if iniater—Le Comte dr San Giacomo,
T,e Prince Dentice. Le Marquis Chumino de Valengano,
L.e• Chevalier Frederic Cimmino, Le Baron de Notari
Stefani.
By the .46tstrian 31inister—Baron Wydenbruck, Councillor
of the Embassy.
By the Mini,,ter of the Visited Shelex—The Hon. Henry
Johnston, formerly member of the Senate of the United
States.

There wel'e also presented on the same day :
Miss Emtua Armytage, by Mrs. Henry Armytage--Miss
Athorpe, by Mrs. 'Edward Walter--Mrs. Boyd, of Hill-
bousetield. 6by Mrs. Kelso, of kelsoland—Mrs. Riehanl
Brett. by Mrs. Watson—Mrs. Temple Ba-igstocke, by Mrs.
Brigsweke—Mrs. Brunel, by Mrs. Hawes—Lady Margaret
Butler, by the Countess of Glengall—Mrs. Carter, by Lady

THE PRESS.

Palmerston—Hon. Mrs. Cholmondeley, on her marriage, by
Lady Sarah Cholmondeley—Miss Clayton. by Mrs. Rice
Claytou—The Lady Clermont, by the Marchioness of Or-
monde—Miss Cleveland, by IMy Clifford Constable—Miss
Cochrane. by Miss Milne—Miss ()obliate' and Miss Fanny
Crompton. by Lady Crompton—Miss Cunningham., by the
Hun. Mrs. I lerbert—Mrs. Clayton de Windt. by Viscountess
Seahain—M rs. l taniell, by Mrs. William Chieheley Plowden,
—Miss Daniell, by Mrs. Daniell—Miss Kathenne Derby,
by Mrs. Wykehatn Martin—Lady Anne Home Dnaumond
by the Duchess of Athol—The Lady I )yuev or. by Viscountess
Hardinge—Mrs. Farley. by Lady 'Pries—Miss Farley and
Miss Lucy Farley. and Miss Fannie Farley. by Mrs. Farley
—Lady Floyd. by Lady Hume Campbell—Miss Floyd, by
Lady Floyd—Miss Foublanque, by Lady Dufferin—Mrs.
Richard Gardner, on her marriage. by Lady Rivers—Miss
Isabel Milne"; Gasket', by Mrs. Wiles tiaskell—Lady
tioderich, by ',tidy Mary V yner—M rs. ,Inlon, of put am 4,
by
Lady liaddo—Miss Gordon. and Miss lateen Gordon, by
Mrs. Gordon—Miss Grant, by Mrs. Francis Grant—Mrs.
Henry Darby Griffith, P'y Lady Willshire—Mrs.
Lv Viscountess Palmerston—Miss Grove. by the Hon. Mrs.
Herbert—Miss Zumala Garwood, by the Mare) •se of
Ely Miss Hose Hill. by Lady Clittonl consume
Mrs. William M. .domes, by Lally Crunworth Mrs.
Kelso, of Kelsoland, by Lady Ouseley—Mrs. King, by.
Lady Naas— Mrs. Henry King, on her marriage, by
Mrs. King—Miss King, and Miss Harriet King, by Mrs.
King—Mrs. Liam, by Mrs. Stnitt—l.atly Lcitler.
um
her return Nom India, by Viscountess Harding'.
Miss Lockett, by Mrs. Harrison—Mrs. Mare, by the
Countess of Derby—Miss Medlyeott, by Lady Medlycott—
Miss Emily St. John Whimsy and Miss Charlotte St.
John Mildmuy, by Lady St. John Mildnuty—Mrs. Charles
Miles, by Mrs. Miles—Hon. Mts. Monekton :Willies, by
Viscountess Galway—Mrs. Douglas Moffitt, by Mrs. Wil-
liam Lockyer Freestun—Mrs. Edmund Fitmeane Morris,
by Mrs. Whatman—The. Countesa of Newburgh, on sue-
ceeding to her title, by the Duchess of Nortnlk—Mrs.
William Nicholson, by Lady Vain of I farts ealten-4 .ounte,,s
of Norbury, by the Countess I /imager of Norbury —Miss
Oakes, by Mrs. Oakes—Mrs. Charles J. Parke. by Lady
Smith—Mrs. Phillips. by the Coutitem of Oxcart—Mrs.
Francis Horsley Robinson, on her marriage, by Lady M me-
laine—M iss Rolt, by the Countess of I ferbv—M iss Augusta
Seymour, by Lady Augusta Seynt ttttt •—ttoly Shelley. by
Viscountess Palmerston—Lady Smith, by Lady Theresa
Digbv—Lady Susan Smith, un her marriage, by Mrs. Abel
Smith—Miss Elizabeth Laura Smith, by Latly Colborne—
Lady Emma Stanley, by the Countess of Derby—Mrs.
Henry Stone. by Mrs. King—Miss Horatia Stopfonl, by
Viscountess Hood—Lady Stuart. by the IhtelIPAN Of Suther-
land—Miss Grant Suttie, by Lady Frames hope—Miss
Taylor, by Lady Willoughby de Broke—Mrs. Vamp, by the
Countess of t Obligati—Miss NVaddell, by Lady Maclaine—
Miss Walsh. by Lady de Ros—Mrs. Edward Walter, on
her marriage, by Mrs. John Walter—Miss Watson, by Lady
Palmerston—Mrs. Henry Whitmore, by Lady Calthorpe—
Miss Wilder, by Lady Spearman—The Hon. Mrs. Mon-
tagu Wilde, by Mrs. Walter—Mrs. Graham Willmore. by
Lady Cranwortb—Lady Willoughby de I troke, by Baroness
North—Lady Wilson, by Lady Dalrymple.
The Queen wore a train of blue silk moire antique,
brocaded in lane and white flowers, trimmed with
white tulle and blonde, blue ribbons, and bouquets
of small pink roses and lilies td' the valley. The pet-
ticoat was white satin, covered with white tulle, and
trimmed with white tulle, blonde, and lilies of the
valley. Headdress, diamonds and feathers.
Her Majesty on Wednesday night gave a grand
state ball at Buckingham Palace. The list of in-
vitations extended to 1,900 persons, of whom the
great majority were present.
This was the first State entertainment since the re-
decoration of the grand hall. The ceiling has been
painted in oil, pannelled in a variety of geometrical
forms, and adorned with shields of' arms, heraldic
badges, the insignia of the national orders of chivalry
of the three kingdoms, the badge of the Prince of
Wales and the monogram of the Queen and Prince,
with wreaths of flowers, and the various mottoes in-
terspersed, all contributing to the general very beau-
tiful effect. A large oval occupies the centre of the
ceiling, in which are the shields of her Majesty and his
Royal Highness Prince Albert, surrounded by a
wreath of flowers. On the one side is the golden
harp of Ireland, in a circle of deep blue, and on the
other the lion of Scotland. The stars of the orders
of the Garter and St. Andrew, with the rose, sham-
rock, and thistle, on squares of vermilion, are
arranged so as to form the points of the geometrical
forms into which the ceiling is pannelled by colour.
The architectural ornaments of the architrave, freize,
and cornice, are also picked out with vermilion and
white, blue, gold, and white, and green and white.
The ball-room and throne-room were appro-
priated for dancing, and in both apartments a tem-
porary haat pea had been erected, on which were
placed seats for the Queen and royal guests of white
with silver fringe. in the yellow drawing-room the
Queen and Prince Albert received the members of
the Royal Family. The green drawing-room was
used as a refreshment-room during the evening, std
a state supper was served in the dinner-room.
The general company began to arrive soon after
nine o'clock, those having the entree alighting at the
garden entrance, and the other visitors at the prin-
cipal entrance in front of the Palace. All the guests
were ushered up the grand staircase, through the
green drawing-room, into the picture gallery. At
ten o'clock her Majesty and his Royal Highness
Prince Albert were conducted with the usual state

153

into the ball-room, where the Queen opened the ball
with his Royal Highness the Hereditary Grand Duke
of Mecklenburg Strelitz, in a quadrille. The dance
succeeded without ilitennission until half-peat
twelve; when supper was seined, and afterwards re,
sumed until an advanced hour.
Her Majesty held a Court and Privy Council on
'l'hursday afternoon. Shaft khan had an audience to
deliver his credentials as di nster Plenipotentiary
from the shah of Persia; and the Count de Vitithun

as Minister Resident from the King of Saxony.
Vice-t liancellor Stuart ; Mr. It. Bethel!, the Soli
citor-tieneral ; and F. 01lilt Physician to the
British Embassy in Paris. respectively received the
honour of knighthood at the hands of tho Queen.

'their Alaiesties the King and Queen of Hanover,
aecompained by the flutlifitl l'rowtt l'rince and
the Princesses of the Hovel Family, arrived at Wool
wielt at half-past live o'clock on Thursday evening,
from Ostend.

The Duke of Genoa left town for Brussels on
Tuesday. After returning front the drawing-room
his Royal Highness paid various farewell visits, had
a private audience of the queen to take leave, and
entertained the Sardinian Minister and all the 'nem
hers of the legation at dinner at his hotel. At eight
o'clock he left rid the South Eastern Railway.
A marriage is about to take place between the Lady
Augusta Hare, eldest daughter of the Earl and
Countess of Listowel, and Captain iiranvill I A`VeS4
l'roby, son of Admiral tlie lion ti. L. Prtiby, and tw •
phew of the Earl .of Carysfort. Lady Albrtsla Fitz •
William, youngest daughter of the Earl Fitzwillitun,
will be united on the 21st. inst. to Mr. Fitzpatrick
Ve , eldest SOU of the Right Ito tttttt rable Vernon
Smith, M.P.
A matrimonial alliance is also announced between
the lady Alice Lambton, the youthful sister of the
Earl of Durham, and Lord Aberdour, eldest son and
heir of the Earl of Moreton.
A grand entertainment was given by the Lord
Mayor on Thursday evening, in the Egyptian-hall of
the Mansion-house, to the Archbishop of Canterbury
and his brethren of the episcopal bench. About PM
ladies and gentlemen were honoured with invitations
to meet the clerical dignitaries, of whom, including
the clergy of the diocese, there were more than fifty
present.