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

HER _MAJESTY'S STATE BALL.
gave a State Ball es-rtirg at buck-
inghaea .01lacc, which %v 1. most numerously- at'endcri by
the nobility and gentry, nearly two thottalnd invitations
having been issued, and o,inne to her Majesty's gracious
permission dispensing with the Court mourning on this
ecoa:ion (except for the le.dies of oot-household), the
ball presenter} the brilliant and magnificent character
usual at the State receptions of the Sovereign.
The grand hall was decorated wih. Insautiful flowers.
Thiteball, composed of white marble • and supported by
marble columns, has two recesses or• alcoves at the foot
of the: greed- staircase; these were filled with the
choicest plants, groure,l with excellent taste, springing
from a border of mosses end mignionette, the one
group surmounted with a beautiful specimen of
the " acacia • sirma,a," tint' the corresponding
group with the " trtllsa indica alba." The sculpture
gallery adjoining the greed hall was filled with sofa
tabl's and setters for the accommodation of the vi=itors.
The grand staireage • was brilliantly illuminated; at
the foot wore two tripods, bearing a mass of glob a of
light, intersperselwithcut crystal, the upper portion of
the staircase leing bunj?. with whole-length portraits of
various members of the 'Roy al Family. The antrorocm
at the top of the staircase is a most beautiful specii-nen
of internal decoration. The arched et. ring is supported
by columns of wlike rhsrb:e with gilded capitals. This
room con ains Gliasoaisi statues in marble of her thjesty
And his Royal Highness Pi ince Albert, in which colour
is truingly and with much delicacy introduced in the
ern...Meets and drapsry. This apartment leads to the
greed drawing-room, the throne-room, and the picture-
gallery; -anti on the 'other side of the picture gallery
are, the yellow drawing-room, the saloon, the ball-
room; and the supper!room.
The throne ruonkwss appropriated as a second ball-
room, the orelest;ra was formed in the deep alcove in
which the -throne' is situate ; it was but slightly raised
above the floor, and the front was hung with draperies
of crimson:velvet embroidered in gold.
The ball-ronm, which has a massive arched roof of
great- magnificence, being 1-tunnelled in architectural
conipirrtments, 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 haut pas, on which the seats of state were placed
forlier 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 flowertr, rising to a considerable height
abeVe the seats. The draperies were surmounted by a
broad and massive gilt cornice. _ .

Full-length portraits of her Majesty and Prince Al-
bert, by Winrerhalter, ornament this apartment.
Adjoining the baq-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 background of dark crimson
andesuinerous 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
Gainsbarough, on 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
sides of the apartment.
The Yeomen of the Guard lined the grand hal and
staircase under the command of Captain. Kincaid, the
exon in waiting. Captains Ballairs and Rickfords, exons
of the corps, were also present.
Aguard of honour of the Foot Guards was on duty on
the Palace lawn, with the band of the regiment.
The comeany began to arrive at the Palace at nine
o"olock, those having the entrée alighting at a tempo-
rary entrance in the, garden, and the general company
entering from the ptincipal portico.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge
and the Princess Mary arrived at ten o'clock, attended
by Lady Suffield and Major Baron Knesebeck. 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 wore accompanied
by their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge
and the Princess Mary, and were attended by the Mis-
tress of the Robes; the Countess of Cbarlemont, lady in
waiting; Hon. Matilda Paget and Hon. Mary Seymour,
maids of honour in waiting; the Lord Steward, tho 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
Revd Highness; .Lieue-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 blank 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
pearla.and diamonds. Her Royal Highness's head-
dress was formed of a magnificent tiara of large pearls
and diamonds, with black lace lappets.
Her Royal Highness the Princess Mary wore a dress
of white net ever white glat 6 silk, el. gently 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 criachille was immediately formic], and the Queen
opened the ball with the Duke of Beecl,uch, the viy U-vis
being his Royal Highness Prince Albert and her Royal
liighn( as the Princess Mery.
His Ito) al Highness the Duke of Cambridge arrived
at half past ten o'clock, attended by Lord William
Panlet and Major the Hon. James Maedcnald.

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 bill-room, and played the following
dances-