The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-15 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S STATE BALL.

Her Majesty gave ttt.a.--te BTAliyesterdayWning at
1 Buckingham Palace, which was the last of a series of
State receptions this season, imparstlleled for their num-
ber and extent since her Majesty 'a reign.
Not only has the Royal hospitality been largely ex-
tended throughout the whole circle of the nobility and
gentry and the more distinguished members of the lite-
rature, science, and art of the kingdom, but all the more
celebrated foreigners who have been drawn to this
country to view the great industrial efforts of the civilized
world have been honoured from time to time with the
Sovereign's gracious invitation to meet the notables of
the empire assembled in the salons of the Palace.
Protracted as is the season, and numerous as have
been the Royal entertainments, there were yet many
distinguished foreign visitors thronging the British
metropolis who, but for the Ball of last night, would
have had to leave the country without an opportunity
of paying their respects to the Sovereign, and of meeting
all that is illustrious, noble, and distinguished in the
kingdom; while so numerous and brilliant a State re-
ception had the eff,ct of detaining many families in town,
who would otherwise have quitted London long ere this
for the country, and so far have deprived the trading
portion of the metropolis of the bent fit of their presence.
The invitations exceeded 1,700 in nuver, and the
whole of the beautiful suite of State apartments was
thrown open for the reception of the guests, and illumi-
nated in a most brilliant and effective manner. In addi-
tion to their own architectural and decorative ornaments,
the walls of the anattments were adorned with the por-
ta aits of George 111., his Queen, and the members ~f
their family; the portraits of her Majesty and Prince
Albert being placed in the Bell-room. The Pietuie
Gallery displayed some of the choicest treasur s of art,

- -
being particutsrly rich in aptcitnena of the Fli-mith
school, including the winks ot Rembrandt, Vasud)ck,
Jlobbema, Cuyp, and Rubens, as welt as some ut the
very finest works of Teniers. The Gallery also con-
tained some fine pictures by Wouverman, Mieris,
Ostade, Jau Steen, and our own Reynolds, whose
" Death of Dido" and " Cymon and Iphigenia" occupy
conspicuous places. Some beautiful statues, by Canova,
at one end ot the Gallery, add very considerably to its
mayfry (Aber attre.c. ions.

While the mind could thus dwell with no much plea-
,ure on these fine producoons of artistic genius, the eye
could not fail of being delighted with the brilliant hues
of a never-enoing vatite:y of the most beautiful flowers
which were displayed in lavish profusion throughout
the whole scene—from the foot of the grand staircase to
the Tnrone of the Queen. Ev, ry vacancy, and every
opportunity which the architectural ornaments of the
apartments gave tor the introduction, was used for the
display of these most beautiful productions of nature,
and it is dilfisult to imagine anything more chat miug in
its eff ct.

Chairs of State were placed on a haut pas in the Ball-
room for her alajesty and Prince Albert. The canop)
and drapery were of amb,r-eotoured sarin, with gold
lace and bullion triage, and lined with white, ornamented
with silver. The cheicvst exotica and most beautiful
ewers were behind and around the chairs of the Queen
and Prince.

Her Majesty's body-guard of the Yeomen of the
Guard, under the command of Captain PhibbA, the Exon
th 6 Las;
ti TAaracnint, aA thc liZjatrit
of tile. errp:7,, we.rs:
Her Royal 1111,113r2 tits I)nelicse ci ituat arrit;ll st
tose,uty iLitlutzo bc,fcra t,=.11. o'o:Lack:, attcza&A. 1,7 LE,IS,
Augusta Bruce, Sir George Cooper, and Lord James
Murray. Her Royal tiighness was received by th©
Maids of Honour, and also by the Grooms and Equer-
ries in Waiting:. . .

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge was
attended by the Hon. James Macdonald and Lord Wil-
liam Paulet.

The general company began to arrive at the Palace
soon utter nine o'clock, and assembled in the Picture
Gallery.
Her Majesty the Queen and his Royal Highness the
Prince Albert were conducted by the Lord Chamberlain
at a quarter before ten o'clock, from the White Drawing-
room through the Saloon into the Ball-room.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness were accom-
panied by their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent,
the Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Gustavus of \Vasa
and his Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Wei-
mar, and were attended by the Countess of Gainsbo-
rough and the Marchioness of Douro, Ladies of the
Bedchamber; Hon. Amelia Murray and the Hon. Lucy
Kerr, Maids of Honour in Waiting; the Lord Steward,
the Groom of the Stole to the Prince, the Vice-Cham-
berlain, the Treasurer of the Household, Lord Elphin-
stone, Lord in Waiting; Viscount Clifden, Lord in
Waiting to the Prince; Sir Edward Bowater, Groom in
Waiting; Lord A. Charles Fitzroy, Equerry in Waiting;
Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Hugh Seymour, Equerry
in Waiting to the Prince; and Mr. George Grant Gor-
don Lied the Hon. W. F. Forbes, Pages of Honour in
Waiting.
The Queen wore a dress of pink glact-:, covered with
pick crepe lure, trimmed with pink roses and wreaths
of silver leaves, ornamented with (fiat:coeds. .

fi,r Msjesty's head dress was formed of a wreath of
pink roses and silver leaves intermixed, with diamonds
corre- -pond.
tier Royal highness the Duch, ss of Kent wore a dress
Ott pour lace over wnite satin, the st-litiaener being orna-
mented With diamonds cud amethysts. Tee head (1; esa
was of point lace with flowers vu one side and leathers
and diamond; on the other.
The G.,neral Circle of visitors followed her Majesty
and the Royal party through the Saloon kap the Ball-
room. The Ladies wore costumes of great elbgance, the
fabrics of many of the dresses being of the richeiit and
moat costly description. The Gentlemen were in Court
costumes, the members of the different orders of knight-
hood wearing their respective ensigns.
lintnediatety after Llie entrance of the Queen and the
illustrious Firty into the Ball-room a Quadrill, was
formA, and tier Majesty opened the Ball at ten minutes
betore .en o'clock with his Royal Highness the l'rince
Gustavus of Wass, the vis.al.-eil ti ing his Royal High-
ness the Prince Albert and the Marchioness of Douro.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge joined
in this Quadrille, and other dances followed in rapid
succession.

About, twelve o'clock a State supper was served in the
principal DDinner•room, to which the Royal and distin-
guished circle were conducted from the Ball-room.
Throughout the whole of the evening refreshmen,s were
served to the company in the Green Driviing-room.