The Sun.
London, England, 1838-05-31 00:00:00

PALACE.

Last night his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex gave one of the
most splendid entertainments that perhaps was ever given within the
walls of this ancient Palace.

It had long been announced that her Majesty had especially expressed
her intention of honouring his Royal Highness by her presence at din-
ner on this occasion, and in consequence crowds of respectable persons
had at an early hour assembled at Hyde Park corner and in the Parks
to witness the Royal cortege. Previously the most costly preparations
had been made at Kensington Palace to receive her Majesty with regal
splendour, as well as the numerous and distinguished party invited to
meet her Majesty. In addition to the extensive suite of apartments,
occupied by his Royal Highness, additional saloons were erected, and a
spacious staircase was formed to give ingress and egress to the many
hundreds invited. The whole arrangements were of a superior descrip-
tion, and, whilst they combined facility of approach and general conve-
nience, grandeur and magnificence were not lost sight of.
The series of apartments as the distinguished guests entered the Palace
were—

lat. The Vestibule—remarkable for several bronze figures ofpnrival_
led execution, including a Laocoon and Dying Gladiator, Hercules, &c.;
on the first landing a splendid window, transparent, and illuminated ex-
ternally with the Royal arms fully emblazoned, presented itself with
great effidgency.

2d. The Long Gallery.—This spacious apartment, illuminated by
arabesque branches and a profusion of waxlights, was, to make use of
the observation of an illustrious personage present, "hors de conzmun."
Succeeding this were the anti.rooms and smaller libraries.
3. The Principal Library formed the reception room on this occasion,

in which a chair of state of a very splendid description, elaborately
carved and gilt, was placed. The interior of this apartment with the
splendid assembly were reflected tenfold by mirrors reaching from the
ceiling to the floor, the whole illuminated by a splendid ormtVu char.
delier and four smaller ones of porcelain and silver.
Next followed the " Oriental Saloon" erected for the occasion, con.
sisting of white and rose-coloured draperies, not fluted in the ordinary
way, but forming " lozenges," novel in construction, and producing a
very imposing effect. Then we again entered a series of libraries all
tastefully fitted up, and forming retiring or anti rooms.
The refreshment rooms consisted of the elegant suite of yellow
drawing rooms (three in number), hung with gold-coloured brocade
damask. The libraries previously noticed being of crimson and gold
striped damask, the whole firming the finest specime❑ of modern taste.

Other apartments, which we have not time or space to describe, were
crowded at midnight with a full-dress assembly.
At half-past seven o'clock her Majesty and suite left the new Palace,
escorted by a d_lachment of the Horse Guards. Upon her Majesty's
arrival at Kensington Palace the band of the Royal Artillery struck
up " God save the Queen." The Queen was received by his Royal
Highness in full uniform, wearing the Ribbon of the Order of the Gar-
ter, and several other insignia of Scottish andsMasonie Orders.
At eight o'clock the Royal party'sat down to a sumptuous banquet.
Covers were laid for twenty-eii,ht. The tables presented a rich display
of gold and silver, and " vermielle" silver gilt, plateaux, candelabrums,
assets monte, &c. Besides which was the magnificent candelabrum pre-
sented this year to his Royal Highness by his " affectionate brethren"
the English Freemasons, on the Royal Duke having completed the
term of twenty-five years as Grand Master of the fraternity. This
candelabrum forms a beautiful circular temple, supported by fluted
Corinthian columns. On the top of the dome is a small statue, and
there are figures at each corner of the basement, the whole elaborately
ornamented with masonic emblems. At the end of the apartment was
a beaufet of gold plate.

The following composed the dinner party, viz,
Her Majesty—on her right Lord Melbourne; on the Queen's left the
Duke of Sussex, Duchess of Kent, Matqui3 of Lansdowne, Duke of
Argyll, Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster, Marquis of Conyug-
ham, Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury, Earl and Countess cf Mulgrave,
Earl and Countess of Litchfield, Earl of Albemarle, Earl Fitzwillizen,
Countess of Leicester, Lady Cecilia Uuderwood, Lady Mary Stephen-
son, Lord Dinorben, Lady Mary Stopford, Lord John Churchill, Lady
Theresa Digby, The Marchioness of Lansdowne was Lady in Waiting
on her Majesty.

During the repast, the band of the Royal Artillery, lcd by Mr.
Mackenzie, and consisting of forty-four musicians, performed nume-
rous beautiful Airs, so well as to attract especial notice from the high-
est quarter.

The evening party, from the number of cards issued, began to arrive
early, and commenced setting down at half-past nine. At midnight
the cordon of carriages reached from Kensington in one uninterrupted
line through th,, Queen's (ci (levant the King's) private road in Hyde
Park to the end of Piccadilly.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (who
dined with the Duke of Devonshire), the Duchess of Gloucester,
Prince George and Princess Augusta of Cambridge subsequently joined
the evening party.

It was stated that 1,400 cards of invitation were issued for the evening
party; from our own observation we should say that upwards of 1,000
of the principal nobility, Foreign Ambassadors, and Ministers and gentry
were present on this cccasion.

At dusk the Gardens were illuminated with variegated lamps by Mr.
Clark, of Pimlico ; the splendid chandeliers were supplied by Hancock
and Rixon, and the whole arrangements reflected great credit on those
who had the management.