The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-12-09 00:00:00

GRAND FE F'E'TE AT BUSHY PARK.

On Tuesday night the Duke and Duchess of Clarence
gave a grand entertainment, at their mansion in Bushy
Park, said to be in honour of the birth-day of the Princess
Feodore, the eldest daughter of the Duchess of Kent.
The party amounted to about three hundred, consisting of
some of the principal nobility and gentry for ten miles
round the country, besides numbers from die metropolis.
Among the company wi re—The Duchess of Kent, the
Princess Feodore, several foreigners of distinction, the
Earl of Caesillis and family, the Honourable Mrs. Hope,
the Marchioness of \Vests:teeth, Earl and Countess of
Errol, Sir Andrew and Lady Hillidav, Lord G. Seymour,
Mr. Seymour, Mires Fitzefarence, Mists Sey-
mour, the Honourable B. Paget, several of the Officers of
the 7th regimens of dragoons, who are quartered at
Hampton Court, &c.
Preparationshtel been making for several days, and con-
siderable temporary alterations and additions were made for
the occasion. The awning in front of the mansion was
brilliantly illuminated ; over it was a splendid star. The
bakony was illuminated ; over it was "G. R. the Fourth,"
in variegated lamps. Inside of the awning was also a dig-
, play of vari-gated lamps. A frame was placed in the
centre window of the grand saloon, in which was an as-
semblag./ of lamps, which reflected a most brilliant light
into the grand s loon. The 11‘11 suit the Whole of the
mans/on was most splendidly illuminated with lamps of a
variety of descriptions, wax fights, &c.
The company began to arrive about ten o'clock ; they
were received by the Royal Duke and Duchess in the most
affable and condescending 1711t1111t tieconipatded by the
Duchess of Kent and the l'rincess l'eadore. A band of
seven musicians were stationed in a vinpnrary orchestra,
in the grand saloon, which bad berm preparci for the ball,
the floor of which had been chalked by Mr. Rornmy, with
the Royal Arms, and over which were G. IL, a star, and
various appropriate devices. In moot of the splendid suite
'of the State apartments were placed choice plants and
clot es.

At eleven o'clock the bard struck up a most delightful
quadrille. which UIV aornmenceil by the Princess Feodore
and the Earl of Errol. The merry dance continued till
one o'clock, when the grand dining-room was opened, and
a sumptuous and princely banquet was displayed in the
setting out of a west splendid assortment of plate
on the tables and sideboards. The principrl table
was in the form of a horse-shoe, at which dui( Royal
Ilighntases ric,cidhd, and entertained their numerous
and distinpuzlird guests with every delicacy that could
be procured. Tlwre was a great profusion of pines,
crapcs, the most delicious ices, which were provided
and served up by Mr. Bikini, of Richmond, their Royal
confeeth nor. The whole of this exten-
sive entertainment was arranged and conducted by Mr.
Law, the Royal Duke's steward. Everything was managed
with the greatest order regularity ; not the least con-
fusion occurred, although such a numerous assemblage
was eon& cull on the occasion.

Alter supper 11:1,).!ing n•ss resumed, tchich was kept up
with great spirit till near four o'clock.

We understand that his Makal did not leave London
yesterday. iVe are sorry to say that his Majesty is suf-
feting under an attack of the gout.
'lle Duke of York returned:te
to
town ye,rday afternoon.

Yesterday the !) c!ui of Gloncester'took an ..airin%, and
received visits in the course of the day front the Duke of
1.4),k, the Princess Serbia, the Prin...ess Vittoria, and the
Primes' Fees:ore.

THE KING •ED THE FINE ARTS.—Oar gracious
Sovereign's putromye of the Fine Arts, and his munificent
liberality to various professors of them, are generally known
and appreciated. The purchase of a picture left by the late
Mr. Muss, for no lass a sum than 1.500/. was a splendid
instanced the Royal benevolence, ant! we venture ta relate
a inure Tee lit one. While Earl Whitworth was Lent
Lieutenant of Ireland, the Duchess of Dorset requested his
Majesty (then Prince Regent) would graciously favour
her with his portrait, which :he King aretded to, and
Mr. Owen (the artist) was summoned to Carltoa House;
but it being inconvenient for the King at that time to
sit fur h.. picture., a capital one, by Sir William Becchey we
ne.ieve, was given to Mr. Owen, with directions to copy
it carefully. Mr. Owen immediately set another artist
shoot the prrrintory part of it, and had already paid
him 401. or on account, when the Duchess of Dorset
arrived in town from Ireland, and called ta see what
progress was made it the portrait. On !earning that it
W 54 to be g.,:i!y a c,py, 11,1. Grace declined it altogether,
arid the picture rem:Mod upoil Mr. Owen's hands. For
some time past ( ',wen has been incapable of following his
profession from sever,. illness : his finances have in wie....
(pence been imich le.luced. Speaking one day lately to
a friend un the sulject, he mentioned his less by the pic-
ture above alladed to. '• Is the King aware of it ?" asked
his friend. " No," said Owen ; "it WEI never finished."
" Nu matter ; contrive to inform his Majesty of the circum-
stance, and rely upon it you wad be rennin. rated." Owen
followed his fr:..oti's advice, and respectfully acquainted
the King by letter of the particulars we have just detailed.
01 the text day but cnc he received a r ply from Sir Win.
Knighton, by command of his Majesty, expressive of the
having forgotten the matter, and at the
distress of Mr. I desiring that the pieture might be
se;it in its present state to Carlton Ikus•:, and inclusing a
chz.anc fee %;90

11)e E:t.l of Ito:alley has given fifty pounds in aid of the
Cic.rity S;Zioals in AlitWent%

Joseph Hardgett, M.A. one of the Chaplains
of Christ Church, has ha•n presented t' the Vicarage of
Itroughton, Yur!Atire, by the Dean avA Chapter of the
ab'»•e Society.
A smart contest is exp:etett to take place for the erpre-
Aentat:on i f Ci:nterbury at tie next diction. Sir lt,.:bert
Fa:lnbar, we uedcrstaad, ores.% Lord Clifton. No new
randi•l.:te :or either the Buroul;l1 ur the cAtutry of Mid-
dlosex 11a4 li2ett yet atmottiteetl.

0:t Satitrilvy last, Sir Miki Nightirgale gave hia an-
nual entert aina..ent at his mansiun, at ltrettle, to the l'rin-
cipitl god Ilarg,,s..s of the it
l:ye.

l'o!ottel Pratt has arrivkll iu Dtibl;n fn nt the Continent,
a.,,1 ham 03:meowed au active canvass for the County
Cavan.

IttivrYttr, ritANGEB.—Mr. Tisda❑, late one of the De-
b-111min. ( cers of the fort of C,trk, las he'll appointed one
of the Land-waiters of lt,h4tol. In th.t new Bill, Kt par-
ing to be brought into Rirlizunt.nt, for the rogulation of
Iteretiue flusintss, it is intended that hi future .ship-
-I,w:era and Agents shall be licensed persona.—Suathera
r. . . .

•
The rut in o;eep is tc,ry ;re:unit in the Western cart of
the county of hielit. The oldest graziers state, tlnit tL y
do not remember it to hare beep so bad fur ncarly furl
)ear; fast.