The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-13 00:00:00

TEE BALL AT THE HOTEL DE VILLE.

The Municipal Palace of Paris, famed as it is for
princely hospitality, never made greater exertions than
last evening to receive its guests with fitting honour,
and never succeeded more completely. This grand fete,
to which the Prefect of the Seine bad invite'upwards
of 9,000 persons of the first distinction in Paris,
and of whom 6,500 bad accepted the 'invitation,
formed part of the maenificent festivities which'
were designed to do honour to the Lord Mayor
of London and the deputation of the corporate body
who accompanied him ; but the circumstance of the
young King of Portugal and his Royal Highness
the Duke of Oporto having deigned to accept the in-
vitation sent,to theme invested the entertainment with
aditional interest. It is impossible to conceive anything
more beautiful than the decoration of the building on this
occasion, or more perfect than the arrangements. A-
temporary tent was erected in front of the grand entrance'
of the Pavillon Henri IV. From it rose a wide staircase
ornamented with flowers, the walls being covered with a
golden trellisework intertwined with evergreens. This led
to the Cour Louis XIV., which, being covered over with
a pale pink awning rising in the centre above the roof of
the building, formed a magnificent hall, surrounded
below with a long series of arcades, whilst above were
ranges of windows hung with draperies of crimson vel-
vet and gold. From the centre was suspended a magni-
ficent chandelier, so arranged as to shed a subdued and
graceful light on an immense parterre of living flowers,
arranged with the most exquisite taste in thamiddle of the
immense space, and over the spot where the statue of
Louis XIV. formerly stood. At present it is placed in one
of the arcades, whilst a statue of Francis T. is seen at the
other side in a corresponding situation, so as to insure a
certain uniformity. All the lower parts of the pillars
round the court were intertwined with foliage, gad on
two of the sides beautiful fountains and jets-d'eau feli on
a mass of flowers, cooling the atmosphere, and filling
the air with fragrance. A staircase descended on the
side opposite the grand entrance, and cascades of water
fell sparkling and foaming in a blaze of light, one on
each hand, amidst flowers and shrubs, in the same style
as was seen in the court above, Evergreens were dis-
posed along the walls up to the first storey, and in the
amidst of them were placed lamps of coloured glass,
which added to the variety of the scene. This fairy-
like decoration excited universal admiration, and
during the evening was continually visited by
the guests, who seemed never weary of exa-
mining its various beauties. The looms up stairs were
most beautifully ornamented with floveers, mirrors, and
draperies, and the grand staircase leading up from the
prefect's private apartmeets was covered over, so as to
form a vast salle of great beauty, having an equestrian
statue of the Emperor in the centre. In several places
through the rooms flags were disposed, bearing the arms
of the city of London. The magnificent Galerie de Fetes
was the principal ball-room, and there, Strauss's orchestra
was placed in the upper gallery near the Salon de l'Em-
pereur, but bands of music were likewise to be seen in
two other rooms, where dancing went on during the even-
ing. Four buffets were arranged in the rooms which
form the corners of the immense range thrown open,
and above in the upp4 galleries running round the
rooms, two others were disposed, so that in every part of
the vast building, the visitors were certain of obtaining
refreshments of every kind.
The Princess Mathilde arrived about• half-past nine,
and Queen Christina soon after. Both were struck by
the extreme beauty of the Court of Louis XIV., and
warmly expressed their admiration. At that early
hour the rooms were already crowded, the company
having been set down with wonderful rapidity. The
King of Portugal, the Duke of Oporto, and their
euite arrived at ten o'clock, and were received by
the Prefect of the Seine, M. Delangle, the Pre-
sident of the Municipal Commission, and the
principal members of that body. These gentlemen con-
ducted the royal visitors to the Salle dds Cariatides,
where several persons of distinction were presented to
their Royal Highnesses. After a brief delay the royal
party proceeded under the escort of the Prefect to the
Galeria des Fetes, where seats of honour had been dis-
posed for them exactly in the centre. As the splendid
procession, headed by royalty, and composed of so.
many generals, high functionaries, ministers, am-
bassadors, and beautifully dressed women, advanced
through the splendid gallery with its thousands
of lights and its gorgeous decorations, it was
impossible not to be struck with the wonderful
magnificence of the scene, and with the astonishing taste
which had combined such exquisite effects. Strauss's
band struck up a march as the party proceeded, and
continued the strain until the young King and his
quadrille took their places to open the ball. His Ma-
jesty danced with the Princess Mathilde, having for
vis-a-vis the Duke of Oporto and Mme;Haussmann.
After the quadrille, his Majesty walked through the
room, and more than once expressed his gratifi-
cation at the splendid entertainment to which be
had been invited. Both the King and his royal
brother wore the Grand Cordon of the Legion of
Honour. It was almost half-past 11 when the royal
party left the ball, but the Princess Mathilde, Queen
Christina, her Majesty's fair daughters, the Princess
Czartoriska, the Lady Mayoress, and the younger
branches of her family, remained for some time longer in
the part of the room set apart for the more honoured
guests, and at the request of the Princess Mathilde, an-
other quadrille was danced in front, and a space left open
to allow the waltzers and practisers of the polka to
figure before them. Midnight had some time struck.
ere Queen Christina and the Imperial Princess inti-
mated their intention to depart, both of them evi-
dently enjoying the splendid scene before them. Their
departure was, however, only the signal for the dance
tojproceed with greater spirit, and at four o'clock visitors
were still in the rooms.

The Lord Mayor was present only in his private ca-
pacity, and the English deputation the same. But they
could not but feel that the city of Paris could not more
magnificently close the series of splendid festivities to
which they had been invited than by this wondrous
entertainment, at which everything that taste could
suggest or wealth procure had been put into requisition
to do. honour to the persons representing the city of
London.

• ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM.