The Express.
London, England, 1865-08-28 00:00:00

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DUX *TENPIN A.UGUST 28, 186524'-
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BREST, Tininarma Evelmo.
The lady who did the honours of the ball was the
Marchioness de Chasseloup-Lautrat, who held a sort
of little court on the quarter-deck, where she and the
Maritime Prefect's wife, the Countess de Gueydon,
sat on a handsome sofa, which might be considered
a throne. Very assiduous court was paid to her,
not only on account of her influential position as
wife of the Minister of Morino, but also because of
her extraordinary beauty and pleasing manners. I
believe that universal suffrage would have voted
her the handsomest woman at the ball, and that is
no slight thing to say, for the beauty of Brittany
was in great force. Rarely have I been in an
assembly where so many whole rows of pretty
women sitting together could be pointed out.
Madame de Chasseloup-Laubst, as I have
before said, is an American. She does not look
more than 25, and is in reality under 30. Her com-
plexion is dark, so dark that many people call her
a Creole, but her akin is beautifully clear, her
black eyes extremely expressive, and her face is a
perfect Grecian oval. I was going to say she hal
abundance of rich black hair, but remembering
that in the present state of the fashions and the
coiffeur's science it does not matter the least whe-
ther a woman has fine hair or not, or, indeed, whe-
ther she has any at all, I refrain. At all events
her eyebrows and eyelashes are admirable. In any
ball-room whatever she could not fail to be re-
marked, not only as an extremely handsome wo-
man, but as one whose beauty was of an
uncommon type. Admiral Bonet Villaumez
and the Maritime Prefect were talking to
her during a great part of the evening, and a great
many English officers of rank were presented to pay
their respects. Lady Clarence Paget sat with her
constantly. There was plenty of room for dancing,
and although fully 3,000 people were assembled
(for I heard of many supplemental invitations at
the last moment), there was at no time inconvenient
heat or crowding. Ladies left a handkerchief
or a scarf on their seats and returned to
them without the least difficulty. The largest
salon in any palace is not so high as the
canvas roof which covered the deck of the Ville de
Lyons and the best ventilated rooms have less air
than came in plentifully, but, thanks to very
fine weather, not dangerously, from its numerous
portholes. I never saw dancing more enjoyed.
Everybody looked pleased and excited.
The quality of the supper was equal to that
Id good dinners. Wine was given without stint—
not during an hour or two only, when two-
thirds of the company were gone, as is the case at
many pretentious balls, but for six or seven how s
continuously, to upwards of 3,000 people, of
whom a large proportion were young men, junior
officers and midshipmen, who amidst the excite-
ment of dancing and running up and down stairs
from one deck to another were encouraged to take
ias much as they liked. Who bar not seen at crush
1 suppers at private parties the indecent struggles
that sometimes take place for a full bottle of
champagne, and how the possessor keeps a firm
hold of it, helping himself frequently, and
sparingly doling oat a glass or two to
particular friends 1 There was nothing of
the kind on board the Ville de Lyon. "Jolly full
bottle" was the universal motto ; and all the even-
ing long, not merely at the supper table, but at
the preliminary buffets, full bottles of champagne
were always at hand right and left. It was quite five
o'clock when the dancing ceased, and the streets of
Brest were thronged with ladies going home as late
as six. To-day the public is going in crowds to
visit the Ville de Lyon before the decorations of the
never-to-be-forgotten ball are disturbed.
At I this afternoon, as nearly as possible, Adro'-
ral Decree' squadron weighed anchor, and, after
firing farewell &dotes, which were duly returned,
steamed out of the harbour for Portsmouth. The
Edgar led, and was followed by the five frigates in
line. The Admiralty yachts did not leave till
half an hour afterwards. The wind being contrary,
no sails were set. The weather was very fine, with
a fresh breeze blowing.
I The hotels of Brest are now nearly empty, and
A the last visitors of the town are going away.
for

DEATH OP SIR GEORGE BROWN.
--4--

Gen. Sir Geo. Brown died at Link wood , near Elgin,
yesterday mos nine, after a lengthened illness. To the public
the name of the deceued general became familiar as that of
the commander of the Light DiViliol3 of the English army in
the Crimea. Sir Gawp entered the army as ensign In
the 43rd foot, in 1806. woo present at the capture of
Copenhagen in the following year. was at the storming of
Badajos, sooompanyieg Sir Do L. Evans in the forlorn hope
of the siege, and took an active part in the storming of
' the heights of Oilskins., mid in the flame affairs of Sala-
manca, Sabjeos de moan% Vittoria, the Pyrenees,
Hindle, sod Toulouse. He obtained his majority
on the 26th of May, 1814, and on the 29th
ensuing writ breveted lieutenint-colouel. lie wee
afterwards slightly wounded at the battle of Bladensburg
in America, and was present at the capture of Washington.
In 1851 he became Adjutant-floural of the Forces--an
of which he resigned in 185 1. In the Crimean war he
played a distinguished part as commander of the Light
Division. Ia the battle of the Alma, during the height
of the struggle, Sir George suddenly disappeared,
his horse haring ben shot under bim. A me.
meet afterwards kis troops saw him in front of a Russian
battery, enveloped in &cloud of dust, and heard him shoot,
" T minty-third, I'm all right ; be sure ru remember you for
this dsy." At the battle of Inkermann, where it is believed
the Russian soldiers were iostruoted to pick out the English
mounted officers, the Light Division was brought to the
front of the position on the first attack of the enemy,
and Sir George Brows was severely wounded. An eye-
witness of the battle says, " Sir George Brown was strut
by a shot which went through his arm and stanch his aide.
I saw with regret his pale and sternly composed feu, as his
body was borne by me on a litter, his white hair flattruieg
In the Wiese." Fe! hie distinguished ser►ices is the
Crimea the gallant officer was in 1856 promoted to the
rank of fall general, having previously bees appointed
colonel of a battalion of the Bide Si lode. He also received
the. Order of the Ideijidie of the F stOla s, end the Grand
Cross of the Legion of Honour.

The Duke of Hamilton arrived at Hamilton
House, Arliogtoastreet, Piccadilly, from France, on his
way to Hamilton Palace and /kaiak Castle, Scotland, for
@booting.
The Earl Grosvenor and Lady Constance
Grosvenor have arrived at Danaohin Castle, •• •
visit to the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, from the
south.
Viscount and Viscountess Sudley have arrived
at &oaken Hall, on a visit to Lord and Lady Palmerston.
from their raglans' at Kew.
Viscountess Jocelyn and lion. Miss Jocelyn
have arrived at Tallman Park, county Down, the seat of
the Earl of Rodeo.
Lord and Lady Farnham have arrived at
Claridgee Hotel oa their return from the Continent.
The Right Hon. William F. Cowper, IL P., and
Mrs. Cowper hove gone on • visit to Viscount and Via
countess Palm/atom at Brookett Sall, Herts.
The Hon. Frederick A. Stanley, hi P., and Lady
Constant* Stanley left /obeyK Park • few day. ago for
Sallykistass. Tipperary, t, we undastand, Lord
Stanlay, ILP,, has gives isp to his brother.
OttYetAl. PLLLOL HALF-A-OB.OW DAT.
SAITIDAT, AVOW! IR —Adsisisos oe payment, 1,402;
Mao by Nee= tickets, 3,355. Total Alton, 4,757.

share was divided into 10 parts at Mfr. each, en•
titling the bolder to his proportion of the dividend
and to the chance of the share being drawn a
prize, The Petit Tonna has an enormous cir-
culation. .sapecielly among the lower classes, and
anything patronised by it was almost snre to sue-