The Sun.
London, England, 1831-07-08 00:00:00

THIS DAY.

The Jury in Mr. Cobbett's case retired soon after six o'clot k
last night, and remained in consultation all night. They came
into Court this morning at nine o'clock, and stated that they
could not agree, and were discharged without returning any
verdict.

The causes tried to-day presented nothing of public interest.

COURT CIRCULAR.

Her Majesty was much better yesterday. The Duke and
Duchess of Cumberland, accompanied by Prince George, the
Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Princess Sophia, and the
Princess Sophia Matilda, partook of a dejeune yesterday with her
Majesty. The Duchess, Princess Augusta, and Prince George
of Cambridge. also visited the Queen. Her Majesty, accom-
panied by the King, took an airing in the afternoon, in an open
landau.

His Majesty give audiences yesterday to the Hanoverian Ali.
nister and Lord Clinton.

The Duke and Duchess of Cumberland, the Duke and Duchess
of Gloucester, the Princess Sophia, and the Princess Sophia Ma-
tilda, visited the Princess Augusta yesterday.
A meeting of the Ministers of the great Powers was held yes-
terday afternoon, at the Foreign-office.
The Duke of Dorset has, we regret to state, been dangerously
indisposed. His Grace was a little better yesterday.
His Majesty, the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland, attended
by Lady Sophia Lennox, Miss Cooper, Baron Leiningen, and
Colonel Poten ; the Duchess of Kent, accompanied by the Duke
of Saxe-Coburg, the Prince of Leininge and attended by Lady
Charlotte St. Maur, and Sir John Conroy; the Duchess of Cam-
bridge, attended by Baroness Ablefeldt, honoured the Ball for
the Relief of the Distressed Irish; at Drury.lane Theatre, with
their presence last evening.

BALL AT DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

The ball, for the benefit of the distressed Irish, which has been
for some time past in preparation, and which has excited so
much interest, as well in consequence of the benevolence of its
object as from the announcement that it would be honoured as
well by the presence as by the patronage of their Majesties, was
celebrated last night at Drury lane Theatre.
The alterations to which the theatre had been subjected, in
order to render it fit for such an entertainment, were admirably
contrived ; and the novel decorations which gave additions)
lustre to the splendourof the edifice on this occasion were marked
by extremely good taste. The appearance of the house was
brilliant without being at all gaudy, and elegant without any
thing of affbcted or fastidious elaboration.
The pit and the orchestra were boarded over to a level with the
stage, and the renters' boxes were concealed with panels, which
were painted to resemble marble.
The stage wa= hung with broad red-striped drapery, so as to
give that part of the theatre the appearance of a tent, and was
lighted with ten gilt chandeliers, of rich and costly workmanship.
The drapery which formed the sides of the tent was open in the
middle, and though the vacances thus afforded were seen the
most picturesque views in Mr. Stanfield's last diorama. The
effect of the pictures so disposed and brought to view was very
striking and agreeablel and this part of the arrangement does
great credit to those with whom it originated. At the back of
the stage there was constructed an elevated orchestra, corn.
p'sed of gay scenic decorations, and lighted on either side with
chandeliers, which, though smaller, and of different workman-
ship to those of which we have just spoken, were little inferior to
them in elegance and splendour. Over the centre of the upper
part of the orchestra there was a very tasteful gas-illuminated
crown, supported by laurel leaves.
The principal stage...ox, which was reserved for their Ma-
jesties, was splendidly decorated, and made to project promi-
nently over the floor, so that there was scarcely any part of the
house from which a view could not be obtained of the Royal
party. Immediately over this box there was suspended a very
large and richly chased chandelier, the massive appearance of
which was beautifully re'ieved by the glittering and many-tinted
reflections which sparkled from long slips of polished steel, that
were here and there inlaid into the yellow metal of which the
ponderous chandelier was formed. The boxes adjacent to that of
their Majesties were set apart for the Co..,rt and Royal suite, and
the buxes immediately opposite to these on the other side, were
reserved for the Foreign Ambassadors,—but few, if any of them,
were present. The only other box which challenged notice was
that of the lady patronesses of the ball, and this was situated in
the centre of the circumference of that segment of a circle which
is known by the name of the dress circle. It was formed of the
centre box, and a box on each side of it, open in the front, and
from this opening a flight of steps had been let down upon the
flooring over the pit. To the right and left of these steps, and
at a short distance, four other boxes had been removed, and, two
similar flights of steps thrown down from the spaces which were
thus opened. These steps formed the communications between the
floor and the other parts of the house,—one of the flights being
for the entre, and the other for the sortie. From the upper
boxes were suspended a number of flags which had been sent to
the theatre by the Earl of Munster, and all of which were said to
have braved both the battle and the breeze.

The 2s. gallery (on this occasion a ss. gallery) was fitted up for
such as were content to be mere spectators, from that distance,
of the greatness and gaiety below, and who were admitted to it
by ss. tickets. The seats in this gallery had undergone the con-
venient improvement of having backs put to them, and the ap-
pearance of them was rendered decent and neat by their being
covered with red cloth. This gallery was quite lull with company.
A lion and a unicorn with their accustomed charge, the King's
arms, were the only occupants of the ls. gallery,—a part of the
house which was allotted exclusively to them, and to the admis-
sion of fresh air.

The floor, which was formed of the stageand the boarding over
the pit, was not covered because. intended for dancing and thy
promenade; but it was curiously chalked, and in the early part
of the evening, before the chalk was rubbed off; had very much
the appearance of a carpet.
As soon as the house became filled with company, the soup
d'cril, from whatever position, was extremely splendid. The
number of beautiful and elegantly dressed ladies was very great,
and of the gentlemen a large majority of them wore military uni-
forms, which, of—course, vastly heightened the richness of the
spectacle.
At about twelve o'clock the King, who had proceeded in state
from the Palace at St. James's, arrived at the theatre, and en-
tered the Royal box, attended by his Court and suite. The com-
pany received his Majesty with loud plaudits, which his Majesty
acknowledged by repeated bows. The King looked remarkably
well. Her Majesty, we regret to say, was prevented from ac-
companying the King by indisposition.
The appearance of the Royal party was the signal for the com-
mencement of dancing; every other species of which, however,
was abandoned after the first half hour in favour of .. the waits."
That most laborious of all pastimes was prosecuted with a degree
of vigour that would almost make one believe that giddiness was
not a disagreeable sensation; and that a violent perspiration was
as pleasant as it is sometimes wholesome.
At the expiration of about two hours, Isis Majesty and the
Royal party retired, as did many of the more distinguished of
the company; but the rest remained till a much later period of
the morning.

The ball was most numerously and fashionably attended, there
being few families of any mark or likelihood among the aristo-
cracy resident in town who had not some member of it there,
and a list of whom would fill much greater space than we can
atftird for such a purpose.
In conclusion, we have only to observe that, if too much
money has not been spent upon the decorations of the theatre,
(and we have no means of ascertaining what sum has been de.
voted to that purpose), the profits of the evening must form a
large and timely contribution, towards the relief of the unhappy
persons whose sufferings were the cause, and the alleviation of
whose sufferings the object, of this gay and gorgeous gathering.

We are happy to understand that there will be a Grand
Masked Fete, under the management of the same Committee,
with the whole of the present decorations, and they are indeed
most splendid,. on Wednesday next. It will he a rich treat.

GEORGE Ti NEI', Esq., has been ap-
pointed Commi,sioner of Greenwich Hospital, in the
room of the late Sir W. Horz.