The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-09 00:00:00

IMPERIAL SKATING SCENE.

Near the bridge of Suresne, and not far from the
villa of the Prefect of the Seine, is a smooth pond,
so shallow as not to wet one above the knee, should
any misadventure happen, and upon which, some
two years ago, when a short frost set in, the Em-
peror and Empress went two or three times to skate
and even gave a torchlight representation of that
amusement. Thither the laughing party repaired,
having been summoned, in fact, by an Imperial
invitation ; they were soon joined by the Emperor,
the Empress, and Prince Imperial, together with a
few favoured intimates. The whole party were
costume (for that is the only word which can pro-
perly be applied) for the occasion, many of the
ladies wearing a tasteful sort of velvet short
dress or Polonaise, not reaching as far as the ankles,
and which, in several cases, were trimmed with
magnificent sable furs. Collars, cuffs, and small
muffs, attached by a cord round the neck, of the
same costly fur, corresponded with the trimming
311 the skirt. The Empress herself wore this style
of costume, with which Polish boots, edged with
fur and tassels, showed off her small and well-formed
feet and ankles. A velvet cap, edged with zhibel-
line, and have an aigrette, fastened with a diamond
3tnd on one side, was coquettishly placed on her
head. Next to the Empress, Mrs. Moulton was the
person who best carried off this stylish dress, and
so his Majesty appeared to think when he took her
hand in his, and performed with the fair song-
stress, who delighted all ears last winter, some of
the most difficult passes or figures known to accom-
plished skaters. The Emperor skates well, though
he is growing rather too stout for this amusement,
and evidently does it with ease and enjoyment,
while the Empress, who seems very desirous of
excelling, is a very timid skater, and was all the
time supported on either side by a dexterous cava-
lier. A species of chair-sledge, of an elegant form,
was standing by for her Majesty's use when she
should require rest, but this she for a long
time refused to avail herself of, the Emperor gal-
lantly wheeling about in it the lady he had last been
skating with. A bonfire had been made close by the
edge of the water, to which, from time to time, some
the party rushed, and then began the sport anew
with redoubled vigour. The whole scene was gay
and fantastic, and unlike anything seen in Paris
habitually. It was said that, last night, there was
a select party on the ice by torchlight, when
the Emperor and Empress gave " punch" to all the
guests, but no particulars have yet confirmed the
fact. All the dresses mere new, and made for the
special occasion, which argues not a little for the
luxe and love of expense so prevalent at this moment
in Paris.

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS FOR THE
ENSUING WEEK.-3/07day--Goographical, at 81 : " Mus-
takh Glacier," Captain Austin; " Report on Non-Auri-
ferous Character of West Australia," Mr. Hargraves.
Tuesday—Syro-Egyptian, at 71 : " Manetho's Lists of
Kings, and Tables of Abydos," Mr. Sharpe ; Ethnological,
at 8 : " British God Mogon," &e., Mr. ; " Tribes of
Valley of the Amazons," Mr. Markham ; Engineers, at 8 :
Address by President ; " Closing of Reclamation Banks,"
Mr. Heppe' ; Zoological, at 2 : " Birds collected in Damara
Land," Mr. Gurney; "Oysters from North America,"
Mr. Buckland. Wednesday—Microscopical, at 8 ; Graphic,
at 8; British Archabalogical, at Bi. Thursday —Royal
Academy, at 8: "Architecture," Professor Smirke ; Anti-
quaries, at 8 ; Royal, at 81.—Athencewn.
ASCOT, 1864.—The Ascot Gold Cup has closed
with 31 subscribers, including 11 sealed up nominations,
which are to be opened after the running of the Oaks. Lord
Clifden's name appears among the entries, but Macaroni's
is, no doubt one of the " sealed up" lot of Mr. Naylor, who
has four nomine.,lous, The New Stakes has GS subscribers

LONDON GAZETTE,—Last Evening,

FOREIGN. OFFICE, DEC. 31.

The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint Wil-
frid Scawen Blunt, Esq„ now Attache to her Majesty's
Legation at Madrid, and George Sheffield, Esq,, now
Attache to her Majesty's Legation at Washington, to be
Third Secretaries in her Majesty's Diplomatic Service.
The Queen has been pleased to approve of Don Francisco
de Uncilla as Consul at Cardiff for her Majesty the Queen
of Spain.
The Queen has also been pleased to approve of Hadj
Said Guesus as Consul at Gibraltar for the Sultan of
Morocco.