The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-18 00:00:00

_HER MAJESTY'S STATE BALL.

Her Majesty gave a State Ball last evening in Buck-
ingham Palace. The entire suite of state saloons was
opened for the ball, and brilliantly lit with chandeliers,
girandoles, and magnificent crystal lustres, containing
wax lights. All the fireplaces were filled with the
choicest specimens of flowering plants in full bloom,
and opportunity was taken of every architectural void
throughout the state saloons to display beautiful groups
of flowers bearing the most brilliant blossoms.
The staircase by which the state rooms are approached
from the marble hall was also profusely decorated by
flowering shrubs,and plants of the most fragrant and
beautiful species. The archway fronting the fiat flight
was filled with a perfect screen of flowers to a very
great height, and the walls on each side were adorned
in a similar manner. Several of the Yeomen of the
Guard were stationed at the foot, on the landing of the
staircase, and up to the entrance of the ante-room lead-
ing to the state suite, the main body of the guard being
on duty in the Grand Hall.

The Ball-room and the Throne-room were prepared
for dancing, orcheAtras being erected and ornamented
in a manner similar to the decoration of the apartments,
within alcoves, for the use of the quadrille b aids. Haut
pas were erected in both rooms for the use of the Queen,
the Prince, and the Royal family. They were covered
with crimson Utrecht velvet, and on each was placed a
chair of state for the use of the Sovereign, and chairs of
figured crimson bilk for the accommodation of the Prince
and the Royal visitors.
Behind each haut pas alcoves -,vere formed, in which
were placed fine specimens of azaleas, cacti, geraniums,
fuschias. uud other plants, the back ground being lined
with white silk embroidered with flowers, and having
draperies of crimson velvet in the Throne-room, and
draperies of amber-coloured silk in the Ball-room, to
correspond with the furniture of the respective apart-
ments.

The Picture Gallery was set apart for the assembling
of the general company, the Queen receiving the mem-
bers of the Royal family in the White Drawing-room,
which is one of the state rooms in the garden front of
the Palace.
The Yeomen of the Guard were commanded by the
Ekon in Waiting. A guard of honour of the Foot
Guards was on duty in the lage quadrangle of the
Palace.
The invitations to the reception comprised the mem-
bers of the Royal family, the whole of the diplomatic
corps, with their wives and daughters, foreigners of dis-
tinction now in this country, and a numerous circle of
the ladies and gentlemen attending the Queen's Court,
in all numbering about 1,700.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent arrived at
half-past nine o'clock, attended by Lady Anna Maria
Dawson and Lord James Murray.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge
and the Pri"cess Mary were attended by Lady Caroline
Cast and Major Home. Purees. • • • •
Her Majesty the Queen and his Royal Highness the
Prince Albert were conducted by the Lord Chamberlain,
the Marquis of Breadalbane, K.T., and the Vice-Cham-
berlain, Lord Ernest Bruce, from the White Drawing-
room through the Saloon into the Ball-room, accom-
panied by their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent,
the Duchess of Cambridge, and the Princess Mary, and
followed by their numerous guests.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness were attended
by the Mistress of the Robes, the Duchess of Suther-
land ; the Lady in Waiting, the Viscountess Jocelyn ;
the Maids of Honour in Waiting, the Hon. Caroline
Cavendish arid the Hon. Flora Macdonald ; the Lord
Steward, the Earl Spencer, K.G. ; the Groom of the
Stole to his Royal Highness, the Marquis of Abercorn,
K G. ; the Lord in Waiting, Lord Rivers ; the Lord in
Waiting to his Royal Highness, Viscount Torrington;
the Groom in Waiting, Sir Frederic Stovin ; the Groom
in Waiting to his Royal Highness, Colonel Wylile ; the
Equerry in Waiting, Colonel B,iuverie ; and the Equerry
in Waiting to his Royal Highness, Captain Du Plat.
I he (been wore a dress of white crape lisse, spangled
with gold bouillonnd with white tulle, and trimmed with
wreaths of green bay leaves and red berries, ivy leaves
and ribbon grass. The dress was ornamented with
diamonds. Her Majesty wore a headdress to correspond
with the flowers, ornamented with diamonds.
The Duchess of Kent wore a dress of white silk, bro-
caded with silver, of British manufacture. trimmed with
white lace, arid having the stomacher ornamented with
diamonds. Her Royal Highness's headdress was firmed
of sky-blue velvet, ostrich fathers, and diamonds.
Tile Duchess of Cambridge wore a dress of grey satin,
trimmed with white Honiton lace. The stomacher of
diamonds arid enterable. The necklace of diamonds and
emeralds. Her Royal Highness wore a diamond tiara.
The Princess Mary wore a dress of apple green crape
over a rich glac4 silk petticoat of the same colour. The
bottom of the dress was trimmed with crape and gar-
lands of white roses. The Princess had an over skirt of
crape looped up with white garlands of roses. The
stomacher was ornamented with diamonds. The neck-
lace was pearls and diamonds.
Her Royal Highness wore round her head a wreath of
white roses and green leaves, with diamond stars in
front, and diamond and carbuncle stars at the back.

Immediately after the entrance of her Majesty and the
august party into the Ball-room a quadrille was formed
at a quarter before ten o'clock, and the Queen opened
the ball, with Count Colloredo, the Austrian Minister,
the vis-a-vis being his Royal Highness Prince Albert
and her Royal Highness the Princess Mary of Cam•
bridge.
The quadrille bands of Mr. Weippert, and Messrs.
Coote and Tinney, were stationed in the rooms appro-
priated for dancing, and the following were among the
dances played by them :
QUADRILLES
La Fete de Lillis La Motto.

L'Etoile du Nord Musard.
Songs on the Ocean Coote.

The-Benefit Bosisio.
Hortensia Wellington Guernsey,
La Corbeiile d'Oranges Montague.
WALTZES.

Gondolas de la Tamise.
Union

..Bosisi o.
..Strauss.

Rosalinda D'Albert.
Mein Erster Walzer iu Berlin Gung'l.
Belle of the Fete... Tinney.
POLKAS.

Sultan
Sappho
Ocean Mail

D'Al bert.
Bro wne.
Coo te, jun.
GALors.

Overland Mail D'Al bert.
Crescendo Bosisio.
Star of the North Browne.
Cl se of the Ball Montgomery.
Artillery . ..... Coote, jun.
L'O sage Gung'l.
The supper was served in the State Dinner-room ; a
lofty buffet was erected opposite the entrance. It was
lined with crimson, and brilliantly illuminated by wax
lights from silver gilt girandoles and sconces. On it
wls displayed a matchless collection of ornamental gold
plate desi:ied by the most accomplished artists, ancient
and modern. S one of the pieces were enriciied with
precious stones and beautiful cameos. There were also
some exgo:site carvings in ivory mounted in gold.
The tables were placed round three sides of the apart-
ment, and were ornamented with vases, epergnes, ice-
pails, and centre-pieces, of gold plate, relieved with
flu were.