The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-07 00:00:00

TTIF, SUN-,

THE FETES AT VA RIS.

(From Galignani's Me.ssenger of Wednesday.)
RECEPTION AT THE ENGLISH InILASSY.

The reception by their Excellencies th Marquis;
Marchioness of Normanby, which may be considered
as part of the Exhibition fetes, the intention being
to do honour to the members of the Corporation
of London and the Royal Commissioners who have
visited Paris on the invitation of the munici-
pality, took place yesterday afternoon. The cards
of invitation intimated that their Excellencies
would be " at home" from three to six, and soon alter
three nearly a hundred of the guests had arrived at the
Embassy. From this time until fire the arrivals were in
rapid succession. The party was one of the largest of
the season, but still select, for the invitations to the
British Embassy, although always on a liberal scale, are
made with such discrimination that there is never rAi
unpleasant crowd and such a mixture of company that
the receptions become a mere empty ceremony, and the
guests who are not personally acquainted with their
hosts run a chance of neglect or indifference. As the
guests arrived their names were called out, and they
were received by the Ambassador, who stood at the en-
trance of the second saloon, and introduced them to the
Ambassadress.

At about four o'clock the President of the Republic
was announced, and almost immediately afterwards the
Prince gave his arm to the Marchioness of Normanby,
and proceeded to the beautiful lawn at the back of the
hotel, where seats had been placed for the accommoda-
tion of the company. The Prince was dressed in plain
clothes, as at the fete of St. Cloud, wearing the grand
cordon of the Legion of Honour. It was generally re-
marked that he appeared on this occasion much more at
his ease than at his official receptions, and conversed
with much less restraint than usual. When on the lawn,
several of the company who had not already been pre-
sented to the President had that honour through the in-
troduction of the Ambassador.

Whirst the company were seated on the lawn, or were
promenading in the garden, which extends to the Champs
Elysdes, they were entertained with military and other
airs by an excellent brass band at the extremity of the
lawn, relieved occasionally by an orchestra in the gal-
lery of the hotel opening on the garden. Soon after-
wards the doors of the buffet were thrown open, and the
choicest refreshments in great abundance were at the dis-
position of the company. The arrangements at the buffet
were such as to prevent the slightest inconvenience, and
thus contrasted strikingly with what is witnessed at most
of the large parties in Paris. The hospitality of the
Noble Rost and Hostess was not confined to the invited
guests; tables were laid out under the shade of some
trees for a dinner to the musicians at the termination of
their duty. _ _

Of the company, which, as we have already said, was
very numerous, the English formed a large proportion,
but there was a large number of the Elite of Parisian so-
ciety, and several distinguished foreigners. Prince
Charles and Prince Lucien Bonaparte, some of the Ca-
binet Ministers, the members of the Corps Diplomatique,
some of the most distinguished members of the National
Assembly, and several general and other officers were
present. Lord Granville, the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs
of London, the Mayors of Manchester, and other large
towns in England, were among the English, all of whom
expressed great satisfaction at the kind reception given
to them by the Marquis and Marchioness of Normanhy.
a reception strikingly remarkable for affability. Mr. F.
Lloyd, who was present, met with a very cordial recep-
tion. It will be remembered that this gentleman was
the first person to give to the manifestations of
friendship for France by Englishmen arriving in
a body, the organisation that has since led to
such beneficial results. In March, 1849, several
hundreds of English arrived as an excursion party,
which would have excited very little interest, and would
perhaps have produced anything but a good effect, if
Mr. Lloyd had not consented to act as their chairman or
president. Thus organised the party were received with
great honour by the authorities of Boulogne and Amiens,
and on their arrival in Paris the example was followed
by the Prefect of the Seine, and a splendid entertainmeut
was given to them at the 110 el de Ville.
The party in 1849 was not composed of distinguished
persons like that which has just visited Paris, nor was
the occasion of the visit one of the same importance, but
it laid the ground-work of the good feeling which pro-
duced the recent manifestation. _

The company retired gradually yesterday afternoon,
so as to conform to the terms of the invitation, all de-
lighted with a reception which partook in a considerable
degree, from its being chiefly in the open air, and the ar-
rangements provided for the entertainment of the guests
of the character of a fete champetre.

BALL AT TEE 11.01:EL DE VILLE.
The magnificent festivities of the city of Paris to their
guests from England pursue their course most nobly.
Last night a ball of unrivalled splendour, given by M.
Berger, the Prefect of the Seine, served to prove to the
foreign visitors that if they were struck with admiration
at the sumptuous style of the varied entertainments with
which they were on Saturday welcomed to Paris, they
had in reality witnessed but little of what the French
capital, the city of pleasure par excellence, can effect,
when it puts on the gay and polished demeanour of the
ball-room. If the previous display was designed to do
honour to the male visitors, that of last night may bo
looked on as a homage offered to the fairer portion of
the creation. We have never seen a more truly elegant
scene of gaiety:than this grand ball; and the carelessness
toilette which has sometimes been perceptible amongst
of the fair frequenters of the festivities of the Hotel de
Ville was on this occasion completely absent.
The whole of the vast range of rooms, fitted up for fes-
tive receptions, were last night thrown open to the3mblic.
The entrance was through the Salle St. Jean, which was
fitted up as a vestiary, space being, however, left in the
centre to admit the guests to the grand staircase, lead-
ing to the state apartments. All up the staircase were
placed oorbeils of the rarest flowers, intermingled with
lofty girandoles of gilt bronze, a blaze of light being
poured down on the whole from chandeliers suspended
from the roof. The landing above presented even a
richer display of shrubs and flowers, and all so arranged
as to harmonise with the hangings of the adjoining
rooms.

On reaching the top of the staircase, the flood of light
was absolutely overpowering, and the eye required some
little time to get accustomed to the radiance. Two
ball-rooms were fitted out for dancing, the magnificent
Galerie des Fetes on the one side, and the Salle du
Trove on the other. In the former, the orchestra had
been placed at the eastern extremity, in place
of the centre, as on other occasions, thus leav-
ing this noble apartment unbroken in its whole length;
nothing could surpass the admirable coup d'eil which
greeted the spectator here as be looked down the long
range of pillars at each side, and marked the effect of
the thousands of wax lights, on the curtains of white
and yellow silk, on the delicate ornamental paintings of
the walls, and the many coloured flags of all nations
which waved above. The band in this, the principal
ball-room, was tinder the direction of Strauss, who came
up from the baths of Vichy, of which he is the director,
to preside at this great festivity.
All the rooms round the building between the two
ball-rooms were fitted up with equal magnificence.
Nothing could surpass the beauty of the tapestry, fur-
niture, and gilt bronzes which everywhere met the eye.
The Salon do l'Empereur was, during the whole evening,
an immense source of attraction to the English visitors,
and the picture of the Emperor, from which it derives
its name, was, without ceasing, the object of remark. In
one of the rooms beyond, we perceived a suite of furni-
tare of green brocade, now for the first time offered to
the public gaze, and which, for beauty of form, we con-
ceive to be almost unrivalled.
By going round through the rooms of the Prefect's
apartments, the other ballroom, the Salle du:Tame,
would be at last arrived at. It remains with the same
ornaments which were so much admired when it was re-
stored last year, and now, as then, the two noble chim-
ney-pieces, so beautifully sculptured by Jean Goujon,
were universally admired. The orchestra in this room
was directed,by Dufresne, and the distance between the
ball-rooms was too great to allow the strains proceed-
ing from one to clash with the music of the other.
The company began to arrive as early as half-past
eight, and by ten the rooms were already filled. Although
nearly 6,000 persons were present in the course of the
evening, not the slightest confusion arose, so perfect
978 ngrobethloeairnrgangements. Many of the English gen-
tlemen wore court dresses, with swords and bags,
whilst others appeared in scarlet uniforms, seine
to the army, other as lieutenants
and deputy-lieutenants of couniits. Sir J. Musgrove
also wore a scarlet coat, with a large diamond star
hanging in front, as the mark of his civic dignity. He
entered the rooms early, and very naturally excited
much attention. Our old friend the Chinese, whose
prowess at the banquet on Saturday was so remarkable,
rrenciisnedlyiffperreinuccee.
person amongst the earliest ar-
rivals. showed
ne w
ahliks e
throughpdort ly
ophie apathy, apparentlythe rooms
viewingiwith most philo-
the gay scene around
Louis Napoleon ar-
rhwiihvmAeiccithpfliai :tab: df'dtPwrat labsest een reserved for his receptiowniliga-
conducted into
Et
eans tpe
one of the dr rbodoniibs
Marquis of alreadyNor-
r es
t e assembled
fth e diplomatic
Pill, the President
t corps;
man M. Berger,
which were
of the Assembly; M. Baroche, Minister of Foreign
and the
the Prefect of the Seine; M. Du
pin,
and other members of the Government. Gene-
ommander•in-chiel of the army of P •
ral Msgnan, c arts,
Lords Granville and Wharncliffe, the Lord m
---syor, and
several other personages of distinction. After convers-
ing for a few minutes with the party here collected, the
Prince proceeded to make a tour of the rooms, having
the Marchioness of Normenby leaning on his arm,
whilst the English Ambassador conducted Madame Ber-
ger. The Lord Mayor came next, also conducting a
lady ; and immediately behind them, in procession,
appeared a long line of ministers, ambassadors, general
officers, &c. The President of the Republic was re-
ceived throughout his progreis with every mark of re •
spect, and acknowledged his reception by saluting on
each side. Be afterwards passed a second time through
one of the ball-rooms, and, after a stay of soinethieg
less than an hour, took his departure. Ile was dressed
in the uniform of the National Guard, and wore the
Grand Cordon of the Legion of Honour, with a diamond
cracliat on the left breast.

Meantime the dance went gaily on in both rooms,
though those engaged in it were tower in number than
we have ever witnessed at a ball at the Hotel de
The reason was most probably the heat, which occa-
sionally in the smaller rooms of communication was
almost insupportable. Fortunately, a ready resource
was to be found in the open Court of Louis XIV., which,
being boarded over and brilliantly lit up, served as a
place of promenade during the sight. The play of
water in the fountain which occupied the centre of the
square, and the odour of the flowers and orange trees
placed around, were delightfully refreshing, atter the
heat of the crowded ball-room. At halt-past elev.,n
the ball was at its height, and the appearance of the
larger rooms, with the mingled mass of uniforms,
decorations, beautiful toilettes, and youthful beauty,

LONDON,

wai then a sight worth g.zing at. In the
smaller rooms this eh,,,rm was 14roken—they pri,,ented
well-dressed cru,h, and nothing more. F•:: the infor-
mation of whom it may concern, we have to sta'e
for. the ladies' dresses white was beyond comparison the
predominating. colour, and that it was a sumnicr ball;
flowers appeared to have put diamonds to shame, the
display of the latter not by any means amounting to the
average quantity.
During the evening refreshments were handed about
in profusion, and the quantity of ices consumed must
have been prodigious. Everything passed off most hap-
pily during the evening, and if the English visitors felt
th',A they excited more than ordinary curiosity amongst
the French portion of the guests, they could not but ad-
mit at, the same time that it was impossible to find
greater cordiality and a more courteous feeling displayed
than they met with from every one around them. When
we left, at half-past two, the rooms had thinned, but the
dance was still going on with unflagging spirit.

COURT CIRCULAR.
OSBORNE, WEDNESDAY.

Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince
Albert walked in the grounds at Osborne yesterday
morning. _ _

The .Q,ueen, with her Royal Highness the Princess
Royal, drove in the afternoon, in an open carriage, to
Rydc. M. and Madame Van de Weyer had the
honour of accompanying her Majesty, who was at-
tended by the Countess of Desart, the Honourable
Flora Macdonald, and Lieut.-Colonel the Honourable
A. Gordon.

Lord Cowley left early for London.
The Royal dinner party yesterday included M. and
Medulla Van de Weyer and Viscounteis Brackley.
This morning, it being the birthday of his Royal
Highness Prince Alfred, the band of the Royal Ma-
rines assembled in the gardens at Osborne at seven
o'clock, and played a serenade in honour of the day.
The following pieces wer performed :
Overture, "11 Flauto Magico"
Selections, " Les Huguenots"
Duetto, " Donna Cariten" .
Aria, " St. Bonafacio"
Duetto, " Belisario"
Selection, " Da Spermestra"

▪ Mozart.
▪ l‘leyerbeer.
• Mercadante
Verdi.
• Donizetti.
• Mercadante

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended
by Lady Augusta Bruce and Sir George Cowper,
visited the Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all
Nations early yesterday morning.
A meeting of a committee of the Privy Council
was held yesterday afternoon, at the Council-office,
Whitehall, on education. There were present the
Lord President, Lord John Russell, the Earl of
Minto, the Earl of Carlisle, and the Chancellor of the
Exchequer.
Sir Thomas Fremantle had an interview with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official
residence in Downing-street.
The Oxford University Commission held a meeting
yesterday, at the official residence of the First Lord
of the Treasury in Downing-street. Present—The
Bishop of Norwich, the Dean of Carlisle, the Master
of Pembroke, the Rev. H. G. Liddell, J. L. Dampier,
Esq., the Rev. Professor Powell, and the Rev. G. H.
S. Johnson.

Major S. J. Hill had an interview with Earl Grey
yesterday at the Colonial-office.
Dispttches were received yesterday at the Colo-
nial-office from the Governor of South Australia.
Despatches were also received from the Governor of
St. Helena.

Her Majesty's body guard of Gentlemen-at-Arms,
under the command of Major Harmar, were in-
spected on Tuesday by the captain, Lord Foley, in
undress uniform. After receiving the captain in re-
view order, they marched past in slow and quick
time, wheeled into line, went through the manual
and platoon exercise, and performed several military
evolutions, concluding by advancing in parade order,
taking distance on the move, and giving the general
salute. They were then formed, and went through
the cavalry sword exercise—dismounted practice.
Yesterday they were inspected in full uniform by
the captain, when his Lordship was pleased to ex-
press himself highly gratified at the soldier-like and
efficient appearance of the corps at the two in-
spections.