The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-03-06 00:00:00

MARRIAGE IN THE ROTHSCHILD FAMILY.

On Wednesday afternoon, a Marriage was celebrated
with great pomp and splendour at Gunnershury Park,
near Chiswick, the country seat of Baron Lionel de Roths-
child. The contracting parties were the representatives
of the two great firms of the Rothschild family—the bride
being• Miss Leonora, the eldest daughter of Baron Lionel,
and the bridegroom Baron Alphonse, the eldest son of
Baron James Rothschild, of Paris.
The wedding repast was laid out in two large rooms,
one of which was specially built on to the dining room for
the occasion. Bath were decorated with exquisite taste
and splendour. .The walls were covered with large
mirrors, With ornamental trellis work between, up which
were twined long garlands of artificial passion .flowers,
lilies, wreaths of orange blossoms, and other emblematic
tiara suited to the oboasion. The outer saloon was lighted
from the roof, which Was entirely composed of glass, over
the panes of which were strained fluting of white and
pink silk in the form of a Maltese cross. The subdued
roseate hue this shed into the chamber beneath, produced
a most beautiful effect. Great Centre pieces, epergnes,
.candelabra, race cups, and massive tankards, fhwer
vases, and this, chefs-d'ceivre of !Sevres, Dresden,
and Worcester, strewed the board in rich profusion: The
wedding cake, a very reared of segar architecture, was in
the centre at the top, upon a salver which for sire and
weight might have done duty as a shield for Achilles,
while behind the seats of honour rose up a beaufet of gold
plate—a background quite in keeping with the goigeous-
ness of the scene. The covers were laid for 140. Only
the plate of the family was nsed.
The bridal presents, bath in dittility and Variety; were
more than sufficient to have stocked an eastern baits!.
Breakfast services, as usual, distinctly prevailed, there
being ~onle five or six of them, all in silver, except one set
from Mrs. Montefiore, which was of massive standard
gold enriched with the most elaborate chasings. To this
gift succeeded a long row of candlesticks, gold and silver
filigree, and enamel ivory workboxes, lace,,tans, jewelled
buttons, prayer books bound in gold and jewelled, escri-
toires of built and marqueterie, more breakfast services,
and a lace parasol. The latter was in a kind of jewel case ;
the handle was covered with serpents of rubies and
diamonds, and the tip of each rib Was formed of an oval-
shaped emerald and large pearl. Arranged On a table by
themselves were the jewels, a dazzling pile, all given by
different members of the Rothschild family. One set of
jewels alone, the gift of the bridegroom's father, was said
to be worth £30,000. Close by these, and in a well-merited
place of honour, were some humble but beautifully worked
little presents from the scholars and pupil teachers of the
Jewish free school.
As the appointed hour for the commencement of the
solemn rites approached, the observer could not fail to
note in every significant detail the symbolic evidences of
a poetic, devout, and imaginative race. Of those tokens,
amongst the most eipressiie may be mentioned the bridal
canopy, suggestive of the great attributes of Jehovah_.
Truth, Space, and the Providential Eye. This canopy
was supported at each corner by Barons Nathaniel and
Alfred Rothschild, brothers of the bride; and Barons
Ferdinand and James Rothschild, the bridegroom's
brothers, officiating as groomsmen. A portion of the
solemnity, at which only the contracting parties and their
immediate relatives were present, had already taken place
in an upper apartment of the mansion, when -at half-past'
four o'clock the flutter of expectation which had prevaded
the brilliant assemblage was checked by the entrance of
the chief Rabbi, the Rev. Dr. Adler, robed in canoMcal
garments, and a' tenqed by his assistant priests, the Rev.
Simon AShei, the Rev. A. Greene, and the Rev. Samuel
Lyons. The Chief Rabbi having taken his position in
front of the canopy, the nuptial procession entered the
saloon. The bridegroom—a handsome young man, with a
fine open countenance—entered first, supported by his
father and father—in-law; and then came the bride, be-
tween her mother and mother-in-law, the betrothed pair
first meeting, under the canopy. The bridesmaids were
sixteen in number.
• The costume of the bride was a chef-d'ceuvre in taste
and appointments. The robe was of white satin covered
with real Bruxelles Point of a very, rare description,
trimmed with inarabonts, and decorated with bouquets of
orange blossoniy, and lilies of the valley. The head dress,
admirably adafted to Oriental beauty, was composed of
massive braids of. hair falling low upon the neck, and
bound with roulettes of royal blue velvet, producing a
charming effect. The bridal chlplet was formed of orange
bloSkonis,'the stephanotis, anti lilies of the valley, with
pendants of jessamine and Mai, flower. Attached to the
back of the head was a veil of the costliest Brussels lace
which swept the ground; and superadded to this was the
distinguishing veil of the Hebrew bride (the voile a la
vierge.) Literally it should have been but a mask of fine
linen concealing the features, but on this occasion it was
represented by themozie wlyeannttiraenlyd
eanpvpeirooppirnigattehe" tfualclee
illusion," a most aerial f
without concealing it. At the door of the saloon she W 4311
met by her mother, who, assisted uy tne bridesmaids,
completely enveloped her whole figure and person in the
veil, which reached to the gronnd, and which is worn in
compliance with the Scriptural verso in Genesis relating
to Rebecca. She was then conducted to the saloon win h
rthe-sairie forms as the bridegroom, and. placed under the
canopy.

'Tie dresses of the sixteen bridesmaids were of white
tulle, looped with blue ribbons, and velvets over very full
slips of white glace. They wore wreaths and boquets of
white roses and lilies of the valley, laid on blue velvet,
and tulle veils.

The Chief Rabbi opened the ceremonial by an appro-
priate address to the bride and bridegroom, delivered in
English. in the course of which he paid a high compliment
to the Rothschild family, and especially to the father and
mother of the bride, whose example he enjoined the young
couple to emulate as the best mode of insuring a happy exist-
ence here, and attaining a blissful hereafter. A solemn
prayer and blessing in Hebrew followed, of which the
annexed is a literal rendering :—" Blessed art Thou, 0
Lord our God King of the Universe, who created the fruit
of the vine. Blessed art Thou, 0 Lord our God ! King of
the Universe ! who has sanctified us with Thy command-
ment, and permitted us those who are married to us by
means of the canopy and the wedlock. Blessed art Thou,
0 Lord who sanctified Israel by means of the canopy and
wedlock." _

The bridal pair now partook of a wine cup handed to
them by their respective parents, after which the bride-
groom placed the ring on the finger of his bride, pro-
nouncing audibly in Hebrew that which my be thus
rendered :—" Behold I thou art wedded to me with tbis
ring according to the law of Moses and Israel."
The marriage contract, the burden of which enforces
the mutual duties of husband and wife, was next read,
after which the Chief Rabbi presented another wine cup,
and invoked on the wedded pair the seven blessings. He
then congratulated the pair, and offered up a supplication
for the poor of the land of promise. The -glass being laid
on the ground empty, the bridegroom crushed it with his
feet, all the relations at the same time wishing (in
Hebrew) that the marriage might be happy, and the bride
and bridegroom be as irrevocably joined as the pieces of
glass were sundered.
The ceremony concluded, the bridegroom removed the
veil from his bride and saluted her. The young baroness
was also saluted by her parents, and by the fair sisterhood
in attendance upon her.

About an hour after the conclusion of the ceremony, the
visitors sat down to the dinner, for such, in fact, it was.
The bride and bridegroom sat together at the head of the
principal table.. On the right of the bride sat Baron Jas.
Rothschild, Baroness Lionel de Rothschild, Count Per-
signy, the 'Duchess of Bedford, the Belgian Minister.
. Baroness Nathaniel de Rothschild, Lord J. Russell, and
Lady Anthony de Rothschild. On the left of the bride-
groom were—Baroness James Rothschild, Baron Lionel
de Rothschild, the Duchess of Wellington, Count Kiel-
rnansegge, and the Hon. Mrs. Fit zroy. After the banquet,
the Rev. A. Greene chanted in Hebrew grace after meat..
When this had concluded, the bride's health was proposed
by the French ambassador, and drunk with enthusiasm.
The Bridegroom, in responding to the toast, said on
such an occasion he might be excused for want of words to
express the cordial thanks of himself and his wife for such
kind wishes for their happiness. He hoped and he trusted
that God would bless their union. (Cheers.) He knew
that his beloved wife could not but feel the loss of her
parents; but to ensure her welfare would be the great
object and tender care of his future life, which he devoted
to her. (Cheers.) To her parents he hoped his gratitude
for having_given him so great a blessing would be shown
in his conduct to her. To his dear friends now present—
grateful as he was. that they had honoured him on this
occasion—he should feel still more grateful if they would
come to see him at his own home. (Hear, hear.) He
could say no more, but, in conclusion, would, invoke the
solemn blessing of Providence on that day. (Cheers.)
The Right Hon, B. Disraeli rose and said—We have
heard with an emotion which has been felt by all, the
wishes expressed for the health and happiness of the hero
and heroine of this memorable day. But there are others
eresent who are entitled to our affectionate respect.
Under this roof aro the heads of the name and family of
iterhschild--a name famous in every capital of Europe
and every ,division of the globe—a family not more
regarded for its riches th.n esteemed for its honour,
virtues, integrity, and public spirit. The father of the
bridegroom has resided in Paris for many years, and in
that capital the united influence of his talents and his vir-
tues has accomplished great design's. Many of us have
witnessed the responsibility of his cares and shared in his
cordial hospitality, but on all occasions we have found
him alike remarkable for that joydus spirit which forms
so distiegnisbing a feature in his character. The wisest
monarch of this.world has said that there is something
more precious than 'rubies, and I am sure that. he has
found that treasure. Those who are acquainted with the
Baroness James Rothschild know the cultivated mind and
commanding intelligence which she possesses, and how
much she adorns the life of which she is the soul and
inspiration. The parents of our bridegroom are not only
guests under this roof, but guests 'in this country. lam
sure you will give them such a cordial expression of our
good will, that when they cross the waters which separate
us from, an ally, so much cherished, and who is so well
represented in this country by Count Persigny, they will
carry back with them our feelings of admiration and
gratitude. It is with these feelings I now propose " The
health of the Baron and Baroness James Rothschild.'!
Baron James4othschild expressed his acknowledgments
in a"few concise words, and said he should be very happy
to welcome all his kind friends at his own home in Paris.
Lord John Russell proposed the health of the Baron and
Baroness' Lionel de Rothschild, to whose public and