The Sun.
London, England, 1823-07-05 00:00:00

SPLENDID SPANISH FESTIVAL.
The splendid Fancy Ball projected in honour
and support of the Patriotic Spaniards, was held last night at
Covent garden Theatre, in a manner worthy of the cause and
its promoters. The arrangements at the Theatre contributed
much towards the brilliance of the scene. The pit was board-
ed over so as to form a continuous area with the stage, which
was fitted up in the style of a Turkish pavillion. The boxes
were arrayed in all 'the pomp and circumstance of theatri-
cal ornament, displaying all the glittering standards and ban-
ners, and martial and other devices wont to appear in the
stage processionals. Here and there were Boxes curtained and
festooned with silk drapery, so as to give an ensemble to its
union with the stage. Drawn round the back of the stage was
the beautiful scene representing his Majesty's voyage to Leith,
which was last winter exhibited with so much success. Extra
lamps were suspended from differents parts of the House, which
contributed gteatly to the brilliance and gaiety of the spectacle.
—The company began to arrive about half-past nine, and con-
tinued till near one; at which hour the view of the crowded
area from an elevation of a few feet, enabling the eye to take
in the Whole, can scarcely be imagined or described. The
greatest variety of dress was displayed upon this gratifying
occasion. Amongst the Ladies the fullest latitude was in-
dulged as to the colours and form of their garments, which
fancy
.could suggest. The military uniform of almost every
corps in the army, we believe, was present, mingled with fancy
dresses borrowed from every nation and every age, amongst
which the Spanish costume was predominant: Add .to these
the sparkling and costly gems which, in rich clusters and rows,
were abundantly interspersed throughout the gaudy group, and
saluted the eye from the fairest forms which female loveliness
can present, and 4 tout ensemble will be conceived of the most
soul-inspiring description. The dress and first cirole of boxes
were occupied by parties more or less numerous engaged in
viewing the busy throng of dancers or loungers below. From
the novelty of the whole scene arising; from the 'vast congrega-
tion of splendid dresses, and of the high rank and appearance
of the parties, we know of nothing to which it can he better
compares;, or which it more resembled than some of the
gorgeous and unrivalled scenes of his Majesty's Coronation.
Superior bands were stationed in different parts, and also oc-
cupied some of the upper tiers. Quadrilles and waltzing were
the order of the night, for which rings of ropes were fixed up in
different parts of the floor, which kept the dancers unmolested
by the surrounding crowd. Dancing commenced about half
an hour before midnight, the Duke of Devonshire taking part
in the first quadrille. Il is ()race appeared to great advantage
in military uniform. The spirit of dancing continued unabated
-throughout the evening, being kept up with little intermission
till long after morning had dawned. During the few and short
pauses the bands played select and appropriate music. Re-
freshments were in great variety, the Shalcspeare gallery and
saloon coffee-room being set apart for that purpose. The
company, as we have before said, was of the most fashion-
able and sel,ct description—distinguishable to every eye for
rank and beauty—and without any intermixture, we computed
that there were from eight to nine hundred present. To enu-
merate the distinguished characters would be to take up more
space than our limits will permi'. But amongst the many
we may hastily mention the tames of Susiex, Devonshire,
Grafton, and Argyll, Grey. Erskine, Tankerville, Rosslyn,
Fitzwilliatn, Essex, Auckland, Ellenborou"h, Lansdown,
Glengall, Strathaven, Clililen, Jersey, and Foley. A great •
number of the Members of both Houses of Parliament contri-
buted their presence on this occasion. Of the brilliant con-
stellation of' female rank and beauty
.who evinced their appro-
bation of valour and patriotism by being present, the following,
which we noticed among the splendid crowd, will suffice as a
specimen a—Duchesses of Argyll and Somerset, Marchioness of,
Lansdown, Countesses Jersey, Grosvenor Stanhope, Grey,
Euston, Cowper, Sandwich ; Ladies I'aget, De Clifford, Owen,
King, Foley, Deere, Morpeth, Russell, Duncannon, Coke,
Lanibton ; Hon. Mistresses Baring, Smith, Ilyng, Ellis, &c.

THE MARQUIS •OF HERTFORD'S FETE. -
FUItTIIER PARTICULARS.—The dancing commenced a,
ten o'clock, in the Grand Saloon, led off with a new quadrille,
by the Duke of Devorshire and a very beautiful young Lady,
whose name we could not learn. Waltzes followed by the
Prince of Stares and Miss Seymour, Mr. Cavendish and Lady
G. Lennox. The spirit continued unabated till midnight.
The Duke of NVelhugton then handed some of the Ladies
to their carriages. A gun now announced that The Diana
was ready. The Duke of York then escorted the Duchess
of Rutland to the steam-boat, fo'ilowed by two hundred
of the leading fashionablcs. The Military bands then struck
up God save the King. and played till the -party were
on board. The band of the Royal Horse Guards (Blue) con-
tinued their harmonies on the water, and until the vessel ar-
rived at NVestminster-bridge, which was precisely at two
o'clock in the morning. The Dukes of York and Welling-
ton wore black, in compliance to the family mourning; anti
so did most of the Gentlemen.
The Ladies were mostly all
dressed in plain white, with white silk bonnets, and wreathe of
flowers. The Noble Host wore the riband, and garter at the
knee. His Lordship never looked better, and was all atten-
tion. Never, perhaps, did n file champeire go off with greater
eclat. All the neighbouring
villages poured forth the whole of
their population on the occasion. In short Richmond had not
seen so gay a scene in the memory of the oldest inhabitant. On
the return, much merriment was excited by the Duke of Devon-
shire, having. last his hat by a sudden squall of wind. The
loss was quickly supplied by the Captain of the vessel,
who presented his Grace with his own; but that being too
small, the Duke cut open the crown, and unfortunately, in
making the aperture too large, it dropt over his face, and
added to the risibility the former event excited.
MARQUIS OF LANSDOWN'S GRAND
His Lordship gave a grand' dinner on DINNER.
down House, Berkeley-square, to Prince and Princess de Beau-
voir, Prince arid Princess de Beauvoir, the Earl of Car-
narven, Lord and Lady Holland, Lord Cawdor, Lord Ellen-
borough, Lord Auckland, M Mr. r. Bailey, Hervey, Mr. Allen
, Thursday, -at bans-
Miss Fox, &c.—ln the evening the Marchioness had a grand
Musical Party. The grand suite of Apartments, including the
library, were thrown open. The Concert commenced soon after
ten o'clock. There were present upwerds of 300 distinguished
Fashionables, among whom were :—Princes Cimitelli, Gort-
chakoff ; the Puke and Duchess of Argyll, the Marquises of
Lord Maitland
Graham and Exeter, Viscount and Viscountess Chabot, Lord
and Lady Morpeth, the Earl of Essex, , Earl
Denbigh, Lord and Lady Ravensworth, Miss Liddell, Mr.
and Mrs. Agar Ellis, Earl and Countess Cowper, Miss Howard,
&c. &c.
DEJEUNE AT ROEHAMPTON.
On Wednesday last the Dowager Marchioness of DOWN'.
SillinE gave a sumptuous Entertainment at her noble villa, in
a style of great splendour. Among the visitants were—their
Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Duke
of Sussex, and Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg; Duke and
Duchess of Leinster, Lady Caroline Stanhope, Lady Isabella
Thynne, Mr. and Mrs. Cholmondeley, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Giles,
Lady Alaryborough, Mrs. and Miss Villiers, Lord Arthur
Bill, Lord George Hill, Mrs. Knight.—The company pro-
menaded from three till five o'clock ; they then entered the
drawing rooms, and sat down to table. In the evening the
whole party returned to town.

F A Sil lONABLE ARRIVALS.
Lady George Stuart and Miss Stuart, in Manchester-street,
from Paris; Mrs. 'Waddington and Airs. Powell, at Nerot's
Hotel ;
Bertram Dashwood, Esq. at ditto ; J.
Briscow, Esq.
'-s
Mrs. Briscow, and Miss APKenzie, at Ditto;. J. W. Ewen,
Ewsrqarr. andes
isioont,ela, u
tdeitgtoen, Paris;tf.mstirneet,from the Continent; Admiral
Hon. Col. Campbell, at
Sir John Wells, Bart. at Fenton s Hotel, St. James's treet,
from his seat in Sussex; Major Smith and Colonel Atkins, at
the Bath Hotel, Arlington-street, from Paris.
DEPART uuEs.—Sir John and Lady.ilamilton and Family,
from Baker-street, for Tunbridge Wells s • Mrs. Willoughby
and Ladies, from Nerot's Hotel; Mr. and Mrs. General and
Family, from ditto; Hon. Mr. anti Mrs. Latonche, from
ditto; Mrs. Campbell and Ladies, from ditto • Hon. Richard
Neville, M.P., and Family, for Audley End,
Sussex; Colonel
Gore Langton, M.P., on a tour; Lady Fielding anti Lady E.
Fielding, from the Clarendon Hotel, Bond-street, for their
seat in Warwickshire; Lord and Lady Suffield, from Jordan's
Hotel, St. James's-street, for their seat, Gunton-hall, Norfolk ;
Dowager Lady Anson and Family, for Stafibrdshire.
BAT u Aunty M.S.—Lord Glastonbury, Viscount Norman-
' by, Count di Pallatio, Lady Estcourt, Lady and Aliss Palliser,
Sir L. and Lady, Palk, Sir NVilliarn and Lady Tautiton, Sir
H. and .lady White, Sir G. Bingham, Sir G. Bampfylde;
Hon. Mr. Scott, M.P., lion. Mr. Phipps, lion. Mr. Jents—
Dr. and Mrs. Barnes, Dr. Maclagan, Dr. Bridges--main en.
Foley, Major--Gen. Shawe, Col. and Mrs. Cooper, Col. and
Mrs. Foreman, Col. Campbell, Col. O'Neill, 01. Pepper,
Col. Thornell, Major liadcock, Major Grant, Major Hole,
Major Rowen, Major Stephens, Capt. Ashe, Capt. Dawbin,
Capt. Hill. Capt. Huntley, Capt. Hely, Capt. Kingston_, Capt.
Portman, Capt. Peridergrast, Capt. baumarez, Capt. Turber-
vile, Lieut. Wright, &c. &c.

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