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

HER MAJESTY'S STATE BALL.

Her Majesty gave a State Ball yesterday evening tm
Buckingham Palace, which was the last of a series of
State receptions this season, unparalleled for their num-
ber and extent since her Majesty's 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 Sate re-
ception had the effect 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 hem fit of their presence.
The invitations exceeded 1,700 is nuistar, and the
whole of the beautiful suite of State apartments was
thrown open fur 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 apartments were adorned with the por-
traits of George ILL, his Queen, and the members of
their family; the portraits of her Majesty and Prince
Albert being placed in the Ball-room. The Picture
Gallery displayed some of the choicest treasures of art,
being particularly rich in specimens of the Flemish
school, including the works of Rembrandt, Vandyck,
Elobbema, Cuyp, and Rubens, as well assome of the
very finest works of Teniers. The Gallery also con-
tained some fine pictures by Wouverman, Mieris,
Ostade, Jan Steen, and our own Reynolds, whose
" Death of Dido" and " Cymon and Iphigenia" occupy
conspicuous places. Some beautiful statues, by Canova,
at one end of the Gallery, add very considerably to its
many other attractions.
While the mind could thus dwell with so much plea-
sure on these fine productions of artistic genius, the eye
could not fail of being delighted with the brilliant hues
of a never-ending variety of the most beautiful flowers
which were displayed in lavish profusion throughout
the whole scene—from the foot of the grand staircase to
the Throne of the Queen. Every vacancy, and every
opportunity which the architectural ornaments of the
apartments gave for the introduction, was used for the
display of these most beautiful productions of nature,
and it is difficult to imagine anything more charming in
its eff,ct.

Chairs of State were placed on a haut pas in the Ball-
room for her Majesty and Prince Albert. The caribpy
and drapery were of amber-coloured satin, with gold
lace and bullion fringe, and lined with white, ornamented
with silver. The cheictist exotics and most beautiful
d 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 Phibbs, the Exon
in Waiting, was on duty in the Palace. Sir George Lee,
the Lieutenant, and Colonel Fitzmauriee, the Adjutant
of the corps, were present,
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent arrived at
twenty minutes before ten o'clock, attended by Lady
Augusta Bruce, Sir George Couper, and Lord James
Murray. Her Royal _Highness was received by the
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 atter 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 Wasa
and his Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Wei-
mar, and were attended by the Countess ot Gainabo-
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; Viscciunt 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 and the lion. W. F. Forbes, Pages of Honour in
Waiting.
The Queen wore a dress of pink glace, covered with
pick crêpe lisse, trimmed with pink roses and wreaths
of silver leaves, ornamented with diamonds.
Her Majesty's head dress was formed of a wreath of
pink roses and silver leaves intermixed, with diamonds
to correspond.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent wore a dress
of point lace over white satin, the stomacher being orna-
mented with diamonds and amethysts. The head dress
was of point lace with flowers on one side and feathers
and diamonds on the other.
The General Circle of visitors followed her Majesty
and the Royal party through the Saloon into the Ball-
room. The Ladies wore costumes ot great cleave°, the
fabrics of many of the dresses being of the rifflest and
moat costly description. The Gentlemen were in Court
costumes, the members of the different orders of knight-
hood wearing their respective ensigns.
Immediately after the entrance of the Queen and the
illustrious party into the Ball-room a Quadrille was
formed, and her Majesty opened the Ball at ten minutes
before ten o'clock with his Royal Highness the Prince
Gustavus of Wasa, the vis 1 vis being 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 sapper was served in the
principal Dinner-room, to which the Royal and chatin-
guighed circle were conducted from the 1;3411-room.
Throughout the whole of the evening refreshments were
served to the company in the Green Drawing-room.