The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-21 00:00:00

[STAMPED, 11. ADDMONAL.]

IN PRICE'S usrma TO A LADY

FRIEND

The Paris correspondent of the Post has been
permitted by Mrs. Wimldeton Price to publish her letter
to Mrs. Brewster Hervey on Lord Cowley's hall, observing
Mrs. W. P.'. original and no doubt correct mode of spelling
certain words used in the highest society. The epistle
runs thus
-- .

" Pans, Boulevard Malesherbes, Saturday, May 18.
" Dearest Mrs. Brewster,—l write a little excited,
although it is all over ! Well, I have been to the grand,st
hall that was ever given to crowned beads at the British
Embassy. I hove lost one of my diamonds, but Jan* rya
I shall get it again. The Emperor, the Empress, the Prince
of Wales (I hope the poor princess is better, poor dear), the
King and Queen of the Belgium, Prince Oscar of royal
blood (comes from Lapland, I hear), • Russian princess, of
course • relative of the Czar—so much like Mrs. Ram-
bridge. Yon think I have done, no, dear no! H.R.H.
the Princess Luncheonbourg, or some such a name ; our
dear Prince Alfred, all the Bonaparte family, every one of
them so like Napoleon I. All the ambassadors, ministers,
all the Senate and deputies, and all the fashionable world.
I should think there must have been six thousand people
present, the gentlemen wearing stars, the St. George and
the Dragon Garter—so Mr. 'Wardle call it—covered with
orders the men, and sparkling with diamonds the ladies.
It produced upon one such • feeling of insignificance as
when you look up at a starry glittering firmament, and
yet I wore my diamond cross. Oh ! dearest, there is
something in high society, as Mr. Wardle says; however
hot and crowded, it is another atmosphere. My dress,
green satin, made at Madame Worts, very short, very
tight, arm rename de satin blame. I would wear my Indian
red shawl, though {prohibited to do so by the dressmaker.
Why, my dear, it coot 150/.,and I should like to know when
lam to wear it, if not at a royal ball. Now, I want you
to have an idea of the general aspect of bell-rooms. How
shall I, leery, describe it! Well, remember the lighted
evening Res at Madame T.'s wax-works, Baker-street, and
then imagine all those emperors, and kings, and queens,
and marshals, and princesses suddenly coining to life and
forming quadrilles and dancing to heavenly music! There
dear, there, and yet it was more sweetly beautiful than
that. Mr. Wardle was our gentleman friend, and Rosy
looked, I think, pretty—tulle blase, my dear, with natural
flowers. Although our party knew no one, we felt per-
fectly at home. You are salted to these balls on account
of your rank and respectability. [Mrs. Wimbleton Price
is the widow of—. No, I won't.) Mr. Wardle—we
made friends with him in Paris—his family is not here ;
he is so good-natured, sod must be • very respectable
person, as he says a relative of his is sure to be lord mayor
next year. It was Mr. Wardle who hired the largest car-
riage be could get to take as to the ball, with arms on the
door, and two splendid footmen, looking like one's own.
Mr. Wardle would give them orders in French when to
come for us, so they never appeared, and we went home in
• common cab. If he had said' 4 o'clock,' in English, all
would have been well, stair patience, as the French have
it. Well, dear, I send you from • French newspaper how
the Empress was dressed—' Une robe de tulle bLne,
garnie de rubana de satin et de volubilis, mauve
et diadems en diamana.' She looked like Mary
Queen of Soots, only more lovely. The Emperor Na-
poleon, in a room. is the handsomest man 1 ever saw ;
he wore the St. George Garter. The Prince of Wales,
dear, they say is growing like the late Count D'Orsay, but
I say so, like George IV. ; he's remarkably handsome, and
gentlemanly. There was the Princes, Clotilde, the King
of Italy's daughter ; she is truly beautiful ; also talk, dear,
and emeralds. Mr. Wardle says the Emperor gave him •
nod, but I doubt it ; lie is so amusing, but not exactly of
the highest class. I made several Court courtesies, which
were generally returned. Jane war asked to dance once,
but there was no room to stand up. I shall stern, serer,
care for county balls again ; you can't, after mixing with
royalty. The imperial and royal people kept to them-
selves, and our kind einbauarlor and her ladyship a little
too much—that is to say, they did not come amongst the
company and chat with us. It is all nonsense, dearest, to
say that the higher people are the more familiar h. their
manners. Ido not think much of the Belgian king and
queen ; you certainly could tell they were soterrioas in a
crowd. You remember poor dear Price took us to Brussels.
Paris rosy be dear, but Friday's ball was worth all the
money. Show this letter to that proud thing, Lady C—,
I do think It will annoy her.
"There was • grand supper. I actually saw the sore-
reigns and princes eat. They seemed to enjoy it much.
These great people speak to each other whilst refreshing
themselves. The Prince of Wale., laughed, the Emperor
only tended ; but what • smile ! Poen. tor.,, as the Italians
say, the evening pessed away. Mr. Wardle kept pointing
out this or that great personage, and yet we were sure he
could not possibly know them by sight even. I shall be
photographed in n.y ball dress, and so shall Jane. Our
friend Mi. Wardle can take over your bonnet. I will stop
for the Emperor and Empress of Russia. I was so near
the Empress once I could have touched her—there / I
am invited to a grand ball at the Princess Potokowaki'a, or
some such name; don't know her ; Mr. Wardle got the
invitation. I did not go to the state banquet at the Tuile-
ries ; the invitation must have been badly direeted. And
now, dear. boon notte, as they say in the Barber of
Seville.' There are a number of common English, but of
course none went to one ball. Show this letter to all our
friends.—Ever, dearest, affectionately,
" Ecru WiraLrros Paws."

REFORM DEMONSTRATION IN SHRoPSHTRE.—A
long-projected demonstration of reformers of the iron dis-
trict in East Shropshire took plaoe at D.rwley last night.
Resolutions condemning the restrictions in the govern.
ment bill, and expressing confidence in Mr. Gladstone,
were adopted.
ROYAL HORTICrLTURAL SOCIETY.—Thia society
held a great floral fete yesterday in honour of the visit of
her Majesty the Queen, who walked through the conser-
vatory and on the terraces, after laying the first stone of
the Hall of Arts and Sciences. Her Majesty was pleased
to stop and inspect the collection of Mr. Win. Bull, of
King's-road, Chelsea, who displayed the Prince Consort's
gold medal awarded to him last year. Unfortunately,
the weather in the afternoon was the reverse of that in
the morning, and in consequence of the heavy rain but few
people remained to hear the excellent music played by the
band of the Royal Hone Guards.
MERCHANT SEAMEN'S ORPHAN ASYLUM, SNARES-
RROOR.—Captain Williams, of the Parramatta, lately
arrived from Sydney, has handed to the secretary the
sum of :15 guineas, subscribed in aid of the funds of this
institution by the puseagars, odious, and crew of that
.easel during her outward and homeward voyages. Ad.
r,oe of the following bequests in favour of the charity
hoe also been recently received :—Mr. Thos. (larks, of
Norwood, 10/. ; Mr. Gerona Gray, of Row, 100/. ; Mr.
W. J. Hall, of Tower.hill, 1,0001. ; and Captain W. H.
Pare, el IlLortlaka, 2501.

To this address her Majesty retnrned the fol-
lowing reply, a copy of which was handed to her
by Mr. G. Hardy

I thank you for your affectionate and dutiful address.
It has been with a struggle that I have nerved myself to
• compliance with the wish that I should hike pert in this
day's ceremony ; but I have been sustained by tho thought
that I should assist by my presence in promoting the ac-
oomplishinent of his great designs to whose memory the
gratitude and affection of the country is now leering a
noble monument, which I trust may yet look down on
such a centre of restitutions for the promotion of art and
science as it was his fond hope to establmh here. It is sitz
wish that this hall should beer his name to whom it wilt
have owed its existence, and be milled "The Royal Albert
Hall of Arts and Sciences."

The Archbishop of CANTERBURY offered up the
following special prayer, which his grace read in so
loud and clear a tone, that it was distinctly audible
throughout the tent :

O Lord God Almighty, without whom nothing is strong,
nothing is holy, behold, we pray Thee, with Thy favour
this our work, which we begin in Thy holy name and com-
mend to Thy gracious protection. Prosper it with the dew
of Thy blaming, and give it such success as way best pro-
mote Thy honour and glory. May the Arts that shall hero
be fostered be the Arts of Peace ministering to the wel-
fare and happiness of mankind ; and let the Sciences of
which this building is to be the abode lead to the know-
ledge of Thee, whom to know is life eternal. May tut
study of Thy works in creation. and of Thy act. of pro-
vidence and grace, move all men to adore Thy Majesty,
and praise Thee for Thy loving-kindness .n.l mcluy ; vo
that, advancing in true religion and virtue, we Thy 'wept°
may ever serve Thee in all godly quietness, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

This was followed by the Lord's Prayer, and the
Benediction, which were pronounced by the vener-
able primate in an equally impresaive manner.
The band and chorus performed the " Invoes-
zione all' Armenia," composed by the late Prince
Consort, Signor Mario and Mesdames ltudersilortf
and Dolby singing the solos ; and the proceedings
were closed with the repetition of the National
Anthem.

Her Majesty then left the dais, and accompanied
by the princes and princesses, passed through the
tent into the conservatory of the Horticultural
Gardens. As the Queen walked slowly through
the tent, the spectators on either side of her path
had a more than usually favourable oppor-
tunity of observing the royal countenance. Her
Majesty appeared to be in excellent health and
spirits, and seemed greatly pleased at the warmth
and cordiality of her reception. She spoke a few
words to Signor Mario and M. Costa—stopping a
moment for the purpose—and frequently acknow-
ledged by gracious inclinations the hearty applause
wluch anticipated, accompanied, and followed her
. The conservatory was occupied by
programe nd .7entlemen who, unable to obtain ad-
mission to the tent where the business of the day
was transacted, had waited patiently through the
morning to catch a glimpse of the Sovereign us she
passed through on her way out of the gardens.
They were not less demonstrative in their loyalty
than their more favoured fellow-subjects, and her
Majesty was everywhere saluted with the most
fervent and sincere expressions of loyalty. In the
conservatory, and the adjoining arcade there was
a show of wallas and other spring or early sum-
mer flowers ; and her Majesty paused more than
once to notice some of the choicer specimens. The
principal exhibitors were Messrs. Veitch, Turner,
Low, Lee, Williams, Bull, Henderson and Son,
Lome and Son, W. Paul, Carter and Co., F. and A.
Smith (Dulwich), Wills, &c. As she entered the
conservatory her Majesty was received by the
Duke of Buccleuch, the President, Lonl H. Len-
nox, M.P. and other members of the Council of
the Horticultural: Society. The noble duke pee-
-1 sented to the Queen a very handsome bouquet,
composed of orchids, lilies, fens, &c., which her
Majesty graciously accepted ; and his grace and the
other members of the council accompanied her to
the entrance in the Albert-road, at which the royal
carriages were drawn up, and from which her
Majesty drove to Buckingham Palace, escorted, as
upon her arrival, by a squadron of Life Clouds.
The weather was fine throughout the ceremony,
but shortly after the Queen took her departure
rain came on, and it fell steadily during the after-
noon, entirely preventing any pneuerading in
the gardens, and occasioning serious inconvenience
to those persons who, not having carriages of their
own, had omitted to secure the attendance of albs.
The building is to be erected by Memoirs. Lucas,
the contractors, after the designs of Lieutenant-
Colonel Scott, LIE., at a cost of 200,0001. The
inscription upon the stone laid by her Majesty
yesterday was simply :
' •

TEis stone was Isla
by her Mo■t Gracious Majesty
QuEEN VICTIIRI A,
May 20,1867.
_

The lines were deeply graven in the stone, and
the letters were faced with gold.

WARTHOUREMEN AND CLIDURie SCllOOl.N.—The
half-yearly general court of governors and mbeerihers wee
held last evening at the Guildhall Coffee-home ; Mr. W.
Ureatorex in the chair. The report of the board of
management began by giving the financial statement, from
which it appeared that the receipts fur the past half year,
including a-balance from the preceding period, h. d been
1,9727. 2a. Id., and that the expenditure amounted to
1,9741. 19s. 6d. In consequence of the liberal coutribu-
thins on the occasion of the iietuguration cm-newsy last
year, it had been thought advisable to omit the annual
festival; and it had been, therefore, found necessary to
entrench upon the reserve tend by the sale of 1,(A11g. 3 per
cent. Commie to meet the etpemes of the current year.
The board were thankful to report th,it the hea th of the
establishment during the past six months had been Pais-
factory, with but one exception. They ftgretteil to an-
nounce the death of Mr. John Bradbury, one of the trustees
and a very liberal supporter of the achonle, and they
begged to nominate in his place Mr. John D. AU-
croft. They also regretted the death of Mr. Geo.
Lawrence, the late hon. secretary, who ren-
dered most essential services to the institution at its
foundation. There were at present 109 children in the
schools (being four more than at any former period), of
whom 77 were boys and 32 girls. Of that number six boys
and one girl would leave at Midsummer, but at the elec-
tion which would take place the following day (to-day)
eight more would be admitted, raieiug the total to HO.
The whole of the account' in coonex. with the new
building had been paid. The huil.ling had LOW been oc-
cupied more than a year, and was found to poster all the
advantages which were anticipated for the health and
comfort of the children. The report having been adopted,
a resolution was introduced by Mr. Allcroft which pro-
posed to empower the committee to admit the cons of
subscribe,, to be educated with the other children
the funds allowed of the school being filled by other
children, and that the annual charge should fur the pre-
sent be fixed at 311., payeblo half-yearly in advance. The
resolution was nirratived by a large majority, after which
the pewee sings terminated.
The Rev. Wm. Francis Shaw, M.A., has been
collated to the vicarageof pastry ; the Rev. Charle, blot ice
has been collated to the vicarage of River, with the per-
rmtcuracy of Gaston ; the Rev. R. kalmond Tilaley
lio, 8.A., has been licensed to the curacy of Rrasted ;
and the Rev. Humphrey Fitzroy Woolrych, has
been licensed to the cure of Rucking, all in the county of
Kent and derma of Canterbury.