The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-06 00:00:00

M A Y 6.

HER MAJESTY'S STATE BALL.
The Queen gave a State Ball last evening at Buck-
ingham Palace, which was most numerously attended by
the nobility and gentry, nearly two thousand invitations
having been issued, and owing to her Majesty's gracious
permission dispensing with the Court mourning on this
occasion (except fur the ladies of the household), the
ball presented the brilliant and megnificent character
usual at the State receptions of the Sovereign.
The grand hell was decorated with beautiful flowers.
This hall, composed of white marble and supported by
marble columns, has two recesses or alcoves at the foot
of the grand staircase; these wore filled with the
choicest plants, grouped with excellent taste, springing
from a border of mosses end mignionette, the one
group surmounted with a beautiful specimen of
the " acacia armata, " and the corresponding
group with the " azalea indica alba:" The sculpture
gallery adjoining the grand hall was filled with sofa
tables and settees for the accommodation of the visitors.
The grand staircase was brilliantly illuminated; at
the foot were two tripods, bearing a mass of globes of
light, interspersed with cut crystal, the upper portion of
the staircase being hung with whole-length portraits of
various members of the Ro;s, al Family. The ante-room
at the top of the staircase is a most beautiful specimen
of internal decoration. The arched csilieg is supported
by columns of white marble with gilded capitals. This
room contains Gibson's statues in marble of her. Majesty
and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, in which colour
is sparingly and with much delicacy introduced in the
ornaments and drapery. This apartment leads to the
green drawing-room, the throne-room, and the picture-
gallery; and on the other side of the picture -gallery
are the yellow drawing-:oom, the saloon, the ball-
room, and the supper-room.
The throne- room was appropriated as a second ball-
room, the orchestra was formed in the deep alcove in
which the throne is situate ; it was bat slightly raised
above the floor, and the front was hung with draperies
of crimson velvet embroidered in gold.
The ball-room, which has a massive arched roof of
groat magnificence, being pannelied in architectural
compartments, profusely enriched with gilding, is sup-
ported by columns of crimson scagliola of the Corinthian
order with gilt capitals. The permanent orchestra is a
gallery at the north end.
The hart pas, on which the seats of state were placed
for her Majesty and Prince Albert, was covered with
crimson. The draperies enclosing it were of amber-co-
loured satin and white lace, and at the back, forming a
back-ground to the seats, was a most brilliant assort-
ment of beautiful flowers, rising to a considerable height ,
above the seats. The draperies were surmounted by a
broad and massive gilt cornice.
Full-length portraits of her Majesty and Prince Al-
bert, by Winterhalter, ornament this apartment.
Adjoining the ball-room is the supper-room, having a
deep recess at the end, within which a buffet was ar-
ranged, on which the more exquisite specimens of
jewelled and ornamental gold plate were most effectively
displayed, with the aid of a backgrourd of dark crimson
and numerous lights from golden candelabra. This room
contains the portraits of George IV., in the robes of the
Garter, by Sir Thomas Lawrence, placed in the middle,
with those of George 111. and Queen Charlotte, by
Geinsborcugh, oa either side, Frederick, Prince of
Wales, and the Princess of Wales, and the Duke and
Duchess of Cumberland.
The tables for the supper were ranged round three
aides of the apartment.
The Yeomen of the Guard lined the grand ball and
staircase under the command of Captain Kinceid, the
exon in waiting. Captains Bellairs and Rickfords, exons
of the corps, were also present.
A guard cf honour ,or the Foot Guards was on duty on
the Palace lawn, with the baud of the regiment.
The company began to arrive at the Palace at nine
o"clock, those having the entrée alighting at a tempo-
rary entrance in the garden, and the general company
entering from the principal portico.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge
and the Princess Mary arrived at ten o'clock, attended
by Lady Suffield and Major Baron linesebeck. Their
Royal Highnesses were received by the Maids of Ho-
nour, the Grooms, and the Equerries in Waiting, by
whom they were ushered to her Majesty.
Soon after ten o'clock the Queen and Prince Albert
were conducted by the Lord Chamberlain from the yel-
low drawing-room, through the saloon into the ball-room.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness were accompanied
by their lloyal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge
and the Princess Mary, and were attended by the Mis-
tress of the Robes; the Countess of Charlemont, lady in
waiting; Hon. Matilda Paget and Hon. Mary Seymour,
maids of honour in waiting; the Lord Steward, the Vice
Chamberlain, the Treasurer of the Household, the Comp-
troller of the Household; Lord Polwartb, lord in wait-
ing; Sir Edward Bowater, groom in waiting; Lord
Charles Fitzroy, equerry in waiting; the Pages of
Honour in Waiting; the Groom of the Stole to the
Prince; Lord George Lennox, lord in waiting to his
Royal Highness; Lieut.-Colonel Francis Seymour,
groom in waiting to his Royal Highness; and Lieut.-
Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon, equerry in waiting to his
Royal Highness.
The Queen wore a dress of white tarlatan over white
watered silk, trimmed with black and white flowers and
diamonds. Her Majesty's headdress was composed of a
wreath of black and white flowers and diamonds.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge wore
a dress of black net over black glace silk, embroidered
with black bugles, the stomacher ornamented with
pearls and diamonds. Her Royal Highness's head-
dress was formed of a magnificent tiara of large pearls
and diamonds, with black lace lapptts.
Her Royal Highness the Princess Mary wore a dress
of white net over white glace silk, elegantly trimmed
with white bugles and white roses, with ornaments of
pearls and diamonds in the stomacher. Her Royal
Highness's head-dress was composed of white roses,
pearls, and diamonds.
The assembled visitors followed her Majesty and her
august circle from the saloon and picture gallery into
the ball-room.

A quadrille was immediately formed, and the Queen
opened the ball with the Duke of Buccleach, the cis-
being his Royal Highness Prince Albert and her Royal
Highness the Princess Mary.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge arrived
at half-past ten o'clock, attended by Lord William
Faulet and Major the Hon. James Macdonald.
The ball having been opened, dancing was com-
menced in the throne-room with the " Quadrille of All
Nations." The brothers Labitzky attended with their
orchestra in this ball-room, and played the following
dances:

.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE

THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND'S LEVEE.—The
followirg officers were presented at his Grace's hvee yes-
teiday :—Rsar Admiral Wauchope' Admirai Gost,Ain,
Rear Admiral Sir James Sterling, Rear Admiral Robin-
son, Rear Admiral Cator, •Sir Henry asst.
Captain Richard Devonshire and John F. Apple'oy,
both cSIB3B, have accepted the retirement. Cereraander
Norcott, 1838, and Commander Cater, 1831, have been
appointed to the coast-guard. •
Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam sloop Buzzard, 6
guns, at Devonport, is ordered for immediate commis-
sion, but no of sera have as yet been nominated to her.
A sad accident occurred on board the Amazon, 26,
Capt. Barker, lying in Plymouth Sound. We under-
stand that in striking the topgallantniast, it came down
by the run, when oce man was killed, and four others
seriously wounded.
PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—His Royal Highness the
Comte d'Aquils, Lord High Admiral of the Neapolitan
fleet, and suite, arrived at this port this afternoon to in-
spce; the chief objects of interest.
The Qaren, 116, Captain Wise, was towed into har-
bour this afternoon by tie Sprightly and Echo steamers.
The Superb, 80, Captain Purcell, exercised her crew
in' gunnery this morning at Spithead with shot and shell
at target-.
The Prince Regent, 90, Captain Hairiv, struck Com- •
modore Martin's-broad pendant last evening at sunset,
the Commodore having gone on leave.
The Winchester, 50, Captain Loch, C. 8., bent sails
thi. morning.
The steam-frigate Highflycr, 21, Captain Matson, will
be ready to go to Spithead this week.
The court-martial on the sat- viving cfficers nod men
of the Birkenhead bids fair to last several days.
PLYMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—Lfor Majesty's steam-
vessel Vixen, 6, Commander F. L. Barnard, having on
board Sir Charles Hothsm, the Envoy to Brazil, and
suite, sailed yesterday for Rio Janeiro.

Her aljesty's frigate Aatez.,n, 26, Captsin C.
hacker, which arrived on Sunday from Portsmouth,
went up harbour on Monday, with unbent ;,ails, and
commerical taking out stores, prepi,..ratcry to being
paid off.
Her Majesty's ship RAney, 92, Captain C. Gra-
ham, now in the Sound, is 150 m(1) short of her com-
plement.
The crew of Britomart, 8, CLmmander Heseltine,
wcre paid wages Ou Monday.
The frigate Leander, 50, Captain Dacres, was taken
out of dock on Monday, and roasted on Tuesday.