The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-14 00:00:00

SATURDAY EVENING,

HER MAJESTY'S STATE BALL.
The State Ball last night at Buckingham Palace, so gra-
ciously designed by her Majesty to give an impetus to the
trade of the metropolis, could hardly have failed to have
effected its object even if the nobility had not been endued
with the same patriotic spirit that animated the Sovereign.
The period selected by the Queen for this ball was hap-
pily chosen, in being about midway, (in point of costume)
between the two previous fetes of similar character given in
the present reign—when the martial and chivalric costume,
at its zenith in the time of the third Edward, had eatirely
passed away, and before the advent of NV illiam of Orange had
changed so completely the brilliant and elegant character of
the dress of the English Court. The period represented last
night at her Majesty's Ball—the restoration of Charles ll.
was one when in matters of costume the Courts of England
and that of Louis .XIV. were identical, and may be regarded
as almost the termination of that time when elegance, costli-
ness, and variety in dress tended so much to the splendour
and influence of the Court. The alteration front this period
was very rapid, every succeeding Sovereign gradually de-
nuding the Court dress of some of its elegance or splendour.
Velvet, silk, satin, feathers, &c., ceased to be the materials
for the gentlemen's Court dress, an a, lastly, gold lace and
embroidery were removed from it.
The revivification of this gay Court could not therefore
but have a very material effect on certain classes of trade.
Some of the dresses displayed a remarkable degree of taste
as well as splendour, and many were strictly historical. The
baldrics worn by the gentlemen displayed very many beau-
tiful specimens of gold embroidery, and the patterns were
designed with great taste, and varied with nice effect with
dead and bright weld. Velvet, satin, and gold and silver
tissues formed the staple of most of the dresses, and the con-
sumption of ribands must have been enormous; not only
were the doublets, trunks, and sleeves ornamented with
ribands, but each gentlemen wore, from where the modern
waistcoat terminates, a great mass ef looped ribands, sus-
pended much in the same way as a Highlander's phillibeg ;
the coat-sleeves, too, terminating at the elbow. The shirt
sleeves were also bound and ornamented with ribands, and
this, v. ithout counting the quantity employed in trimming
the ladies' dresses, must have formed a vast aggregate.
Many of the gentlemen so thoroughly entered into the
feeling that prompted this Bal Costume that they repudiated
the attractions of old point, and procured beautiful specimens
of Honiton point lace for their collars and ruffles. Lord Over-
stone displayed some beautiful Honiton point lace in this
way, made for the especial purpose, and the beautiful silver-
watered tissue of the Duke of Norfolk's dress was manufac-
tured at Spitalfias for this occasion.
The compaey began to arrive at a very early hour—twenty
minutes before nne o'clock—and continued to arrive in one
uninterrupted stream for above two hours.
One of the fleet things that struck the eye in this gay and
brilliant, assemb'y was the greater effect produced by the cos-
tumes of the gentlemen than those of the ladies ; for the dress
of the latter did not appear so far removed from the fashion
of the present Court dress as that of. the gentlemen, than
which nothing could be a greater contrast. Some of the
dresses of the ladies displayed extraordinary splendour, and
with the costumes of the gentletmen produced a living and
truthful picture of the period presented.
Among the earlier arrivals was Miss Burdett Coutta, who
displayed some most magnificent jewels. Miss Courts wore,
among other ornaments, a broad band of emeralds and dia-
monds, worn in the same manner as a gentleman's b aldrick,
over the right shoulder to the left hip, weere it terminated in
a very large clasp of diamonds, used to fasten back the
dress, which opened iu front and displayed the petticoat; a
bandeau of large single stone brilliants passed across the
back. Mrs. John Towneley displayed a very elegant
costume of cloth .of gold trimmed with bows of purple
riband and pearls. The American Minister displayed every
handsome dress of blue velvet, richly trimined with gold lace,
a golden baldrick, and a scarlet velvet nantle. The Mar-
chioness of Londonderry's costume was exceedingly splendid.
A girdle of diamonds and a diamond border or berthe on the
top of the corsage were among the profuse lisplay of jewels
on this magnificent dress, which was of dad crimson velvet.
Her headdress was also peculiar, being a sert of cap or co-
ronet of jewels. Sir William and Lady Yolesworth both
displayed very beautiful costumes. Her Ladyship also wore
a beautiful band of jewels across the shoulder The Marquis
of Clanricarde, Colonel the Hon. George Cadogan, Lieutenant
Seymour Darner, and many others, displayed beautiful cos-
tumes of the period. The national costumes cf the Turkish
Minister, his Attaches, the Prince A. de Vogcrides, and that
of M. de Lodoriki (a Very beautiful Greek dress), produced
a great effect from their singularity in such in assemblage.
Among the dresses not of our own Court, though of the same
period, were those of Lord Ernest Bruce, wilt wore an ex-
tremely beautiful dress as a Venetian noblemen ; Lord Hol-
land, who wore a dress, apparently Venetian—a long mantle
completely enveloping the figure, of a material resembling
Utrecht or uncut velvet on cloth of gold, and asquare velvet
cap edged with fur.
Lord Campbell, the Chief Justice of England, appeared in
the costume of Chief Justice Hale; and Baron Parke wore
the dress of a judge of the time.
The suite of the state rooms thrown open for Lis ball were
the Green Drawing-room and its ante-room, tie Throne-
room, the Picture-gallery, Ball-room, Saloon, Y4low Draw-
ing-room, the State Dining-room, and the Carter-room.
These beautiful apartments were illuminated aril decorated
in a manner to display their magnificence and taeir artistic
treasures with the most consummate effect,. A throne was
erected for her Majesty and his Royal Highness Pnce Albert
in the middle of the west side of the Throneereom. The
throne was surmounted by a square canopy of crimson velvet,
surmounted with a gilt cornice ; from the velvet ittpended a
double row of gold bullion fringe. The outer draleries were
of crimson velvet with gold fringe; the inner daperies of
muslin were worked in coloured flowers and trimned with
silver. The interior of the throne and canopy vere lined
with white flowered satin and barred with are fringe.
The chairs of State were placed on a haute:l)as, 'Bich was
covered with crimson, the chairs themselves being of crim-
son satin and gold. Some of the choicest and most beaus
i-
ful flowering plants were placed behind and around the
chairs of state. Seated on this throne, her Majestyand his
Royal Highness Prince Albert received their numerous
and distinguished guests at the commencement of the ball.
The Throne-room and the Ballroom were appropiated to
dancing—temporary orchestras being erected in eact for the
Quadrille Bands. Tue Garter and the Green Drawing-rooms
were set apart for refreshments during the evening, and
supper was served in the State Dining-roorn.
Her Majesty's Body Guard, under the command of the
Marquis of Donegal, aas on duty in the Palace—his Lord-
ship as Captain—Sir George Lee (Lieutenant), and the four
Exons or Capitaines Exempts de la garde doe Carps, Captains
Kincaid, Phibbs, Bellaire, and Ricklerd, wore the splendid
uniform of the Corps during the reign ,of 'aeries 11.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness' the Prince Albert,
attended by the Ladies and Gentlemen id Waiting, were con-
ducted by the Lord Chamberlain and the Vice-Chamberlain
to the Throne-room.
Her Majesty wore le grand habit de eine of the fashion of
the Court of Louis XIV., introduces from France--by
Charles 11. The skirt of the dress . was composed of rich
grey watered silk, trimmed with gold end silver lace, and
ornamented with bows of rose-coloured, thands fastened by
bouquets of diamonds. The front of tlaedreas was open, and
the under skirt was made of cloth of.glt, embroidered in a
shawl pattern in silver, scolloped and tirnmed with silver
fringe. The gloves and shoes embroieleo alternately with
roses and flours delis in gold. Her gaiety wore on the front
of the body of the dress four large periehaped emeralds of
immense value.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert Wee a coat of cloth of
gold, ornamented with bows of rose-tnoured riband and
jewellery ; a hat trimmed with rose-colotred and white fea-
thers; stockings of grey silk.
Her Majesty being seated on the Throne the general com-
pany were ushered into the royal pretance, entering the
Throne-room from the green drawing-I.°ml, where they had
previously assembled.
The numerous and brilliant Court wafted in procession up
the whole length of the room, and makng an obeisance be-
fore the Throne, passed into the Picture trallery from the en-
trance to the west side of the apartment. This being con-
cluded a Herald of Arms (the Hon. Leveed Ellis),
in the
full costume of his office of this periodefelowed by the Four
Pages of the Four National Quadrillees(lord Vaughan,Hon.
Seymour Egerton, Lord Richard Grosvenor, and Mr. Fraser),
each in the characteristic dress of the nation represented,
entered the Throne-room, and ap_pro,clfing her Majesty,
made a profound reverence. The Heead and Pages then
retired, and joined the National Quadriles assembled in the
adjoining department.
The orchestra now commenced plaYin; a march, and the
Spanish Quadrilles entered the Throneroom, preceded by
their page (the Hon. Seymour Egerton), in the following
order:—
Viscountess Canning Lord Harry vane
Viscountess Jocelyn Earl Bruce
Countess Craven Lord Gig Earl of et
tie Pa
Countess Bruce W ton g
Lady Emma Vesey Viscount
Marquis c 2 d„,„
r- -
Frances Countess of Waldo- Azeglio
grave
Viscountess Sydney
Hon.MS F. Leo
Gower.
Countess of Granville
Teis quadrille presented a striking: untormity of appear-
all the noblemen members of it adopting one costume,
and
atie'call the ladies in it being dressed exanly
This was followed by the French Qpadalle, preceded by
their page (Lord Richard Grosvenor), in the following
order :
Lady Clementine Villiers Viscount Mandeville
Lady Victoria Talbot Viscount Vinson
Mr. Coke •
Miss Spalding
Martneachi
Mrs. Craven
Mademoiselle de Flahault Coun erio
t Pncher
Lady Henrietta Somerset M. Bethmat
M. de Saux
Lady Adeliza F. Howard
Mr. AsillitYPonsonby.
Lady Rose Lovel
The Scotch Quadrille then entered, .preceled by their page
(Mr. Frazer), in the following
Eoradreiro:f--;-Gifro.d
Lady Alice Douglas
The Master If Lovat
Lady Harriet Elliot _ _
Miss Stewart Mackenzie (of
Viscount Eneyn
Seaforth) Hon. J. Mactonald
Miss Charteris Mr. Charterir
Miss Baillie (of Dachfour)
of Stafford
Miss Baring biarquis
The English Quadrille came last, preceded like thelothers
by its page (Lord Vaughan), and appearedin the following
order:
Marchionesss of Ailesbury His Ro
of C aryalnbrid Highness the Duke
ke
Marchioness of Waterford His Serene Highness the
Prince Eduard of Saxe-
Weinalir
iiref
Countess of Strathmore MarquWftester
Marchioness of Worcester Marquid of Granby
Viscountess Newport Earl of Cardigan
Lady Churchill Earl of Strathmore
Lady Seaham
Lord LOndesbwough
Lady Londesborough
Lord Sealaam
The four National Quadrilles each cotitainei 16.
In the English Quadrille, conducted by tie Marchioness
of Ailesbury
The ladies were dressed in blue silk dresses, with rose
coloured and gold ornaments.
The gentlemen in scarlet, gold, and blue velvet,.
The page wore the livery of the King of England.
In the Scotch Quadrille, conducted by the klarchioness of
Stafford—
The ladies wore a very elegant riding habit if pale green
taffeta, ornamented with bows of .pink riband, grey hats, or-
namented with white and pink feathers.
Among them the most remarkable for the splendour and
accuracy of their Highland costumes were the Duke of
Argyll, the Marquis of Stafford, Earl Grosvenor, Earl Gifford,
Viscount Emlyn, Sir James Matheson, Bart., and the Hon.
the Master of Lovett, &c. The dresses, which were of the
fashion of the time of the Restoration', and were trimmed
with gold and silver lace, were furnished by Mr. Macdougall,
of Inverness.
The page in a Highland dress of Royal Stuart tartan.
In the French Quadrille, conducted by the Comtesse de
Flahault—
The ladies wore white satin dresses with bows of light blue
riband. The under skirt of cloth of gold, trimmed with sil-
ver fringe.
The gentlemen wore the uniform of "Les Mousguetaires
Noire," scarlet coats, trimmed with silver; jackets of dark
blue, trimmed with silver; gold croeees ornamented with
flew de lus, worn upon the chest and back; reel stockings, and
red feathers in the hat.