The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-28 00:00:00

MB GRAND FANCY BALL GIVEN BY
THE EMPRESS EUGENIE.

A letter from. Paris says :—The grand bal cos-
tume that was to have taken place ten days ago
was deferred until Tuesday night, as many say,
because of the late political troubles in Spain, some
of her Majesty's relatives being therein complicated.
Be that as it may, Tuesday night was the eventful
one that was to witness the eclat of an affair that
had thus assumed more than usual importance, and
at an early hour of the evening the Champs Elyeees
were filled with mounted gendarmes and .-)rgents-
de-ville, all occupied in clearing the wide avenue,
so that the many equipages bearing their fair loads
to the Hotel d'Albe might the more easily approach
that magnificent residence. By ten o'clock a line
of carriages, reaching almost the entire avenue to

the Place de la Concorde, was slowly wending its
way along towards the brilliant ball-rooms. The
invites, as they arrived, alighted amid a number of
gorgeously-dressed servants wearing the Imperial
livery and ranged on each side of the Eptrance,
which was draped with rich velvet and gilded
hangings._

Noticeable among those most gorgeously
dressed, were several gentlemen (1 beg pardon
of the ladies for leaving- them to be mentioned last,
but I am using my sex's privilege), whose fair
locks and beards betrayed them as the sons of per-
fide Albion. Their rich Henry the Eighth cos-
tumes were sparkling —with the most valuable
jewels, while among them strode a gallant Knight
of the Garter (of this same knight I shall have
more to say when I speak of the dancing). Cer-
tainly among the most beautiful women present
many were English, so many that I felt a thrill of
pleasure and pride as I gazed at them. Blonde and
brune, they all looked most lovely in their becom-
ing costumes.
_ _ _

When I first entered the ball-rooms the Empreks
was not present, neither was the Emperor. But a
few moments after I noticed a blue domino, whose
stately tread lat once reoognised. I became con-
firmed in my discovery, upon approaching the
domino. He was laughing and talking with and
at a fair little bergere that was teasing him, and as
he turned to answer one of her lively sallies I saw
the pointed beard of the Sovereign of the French.
I left Napoleon 111. talking with the little fair lady
to examine three Princesses.

Their Highnesses Mathilde, Clothilde, and Anna
Murat were seated together. The first-named wore
the costume of a magicienne. Her arms were
bared to the shoulder, and bronzed, as was her
face. Her head-dress consisted of a long white
shawl of fine knitted wool, that was 'bound to the
head with a circlet of Moorish coins,- and fell in
folds down the back. The Princess's black eyes
sparkled but the more from the dark colour -of
her bronzing, yet I must say that her costume was
not becoming. Next the Princess sat the fair
Clothilde, looking fairer from the contrast. Her
Highness wore a most becoming bergere costume
of pink and white silk, while a little pink hat
was coquettishly set on one side of her head. Her
fair light hair was simply but most becomingly
cape, and, to add to the grace of her costume, silo
wore a necklace of roses pinned together with dia-
mo'nds. I have never seen the Princess Clothilde
look so handsome_as she did last night. At her side
sat the lovely and bewitching Princess Anna Mu-
rat. She was also en bergere, but her costume was
white and blue, and her hair was powdered. She
looked, as she ever does, most truly handsome.
Having noticed these costumes I was turning
away, having, like " Oliver," a de ire for more,
when I observed a black domino, who was attack-
ing a tall Francis I. I detected in the feigned voice
the sweet tones of Eugenie, the giver of this mag-
nificent
fete and her Majesty of the French.
It was now twelve, that witching hour, and as
yet I had not noticed the kabitztes of all Parisian
fetes, the Comtesses de Morny, de Labedovere, the
Princess MetterniCh, and a nu►aber of those ladies
entitled by rank and beauty to briller at all our
most magnificent reunions. Just then I saw, from
the attitude of those near me, -that something was
to occur. The Duke de Tascher was ranging the
guests on each side of the apartment, leaving the
entrance free and the way clear to the room in
which the dancing was going on. A pause occurred;
the dancing-room was cleared, and Strauss's band
struck up a lively march. Now came in all those
I had missed, and the march changing to a quick
quadrille, the ladies, who were diessed as the
Elements, commenced a Most beautiful and grace-
ful movement, entitled by Strauss*, who wrote
and arranged all the music of the evening,
"Le Quadri:le de Quatre Elements." Si-teen
ladies, in appropriate costumes, performeil this
dance, which they had rehearsed several times
before the fete. I give their names, beginning, as
in duty bound, with those lent to us by a foreign
land to add to our gaieties by their charming pre-
sence. They were Princesses, Duchesses, and
Countesses—
FOREIGNTIRS.—Mettenaich,
Rozczdzireka,
Sneyekowaka,
Viezabytowska,
Ischetwertinaka,
Rosk,

Errazu,
Sinelwikoff,
Wallerabrozl,
Schowkoska.
OUR 0 WN. —De Morny,
Walewski,
De Gretry,
Persigny,
Pourtales,
De Weydoyere.

"Le Quadrille des Elements" was most rap-
turously encored by the pleased lookers-on, and
after a brief respite the sixteen ladies went again
through the mazes of the beautiful dance. I must
here state that I missed seeing the first quadrille of
the evening, " Les Contes de Fees," led by Mine.
Wey-Isabey. After the dancing I have above
named, several polkas and waltzes were played ;
and it was during the quick and lively deuxtemps
that the English knights distinguished themselves
all, excepting the Knight of the Garter. He poor
' fellow was weak in the knees, and danced with

his red silk tights at right angles, more especially
while executing his cavalier ssul in his qua-
drilles. A lady near me said he was the most
polite gentleman in the room, as he was ever
in a state of half-adoration of his fair vis-a-vis.

I must mention how exceedingly lovely were the
daughters of Lord Cowley, whom I observed look-
ing, with parental satisfaction displayed in his
countenance, at the Lady Sophia Wellesley, as she
gracefully turned with her partner in a waltz or
polka. She was dressed as Night, but was beauti-
ful and bright as day.
Two o'clock had no a, arrived, and on .all sides I
heard inquiries as to where the great gallery was.
I managed to get as near as possible to a large
yellow silk curtain that hung about the middle of
the conservatory, as I saw that near it stood the
Empress, now dressed in white and wearing a
burnous of white striped silk. Near her Majesty,
who wore a mask, stood the Duke de Tascher, the
nominal giver of the fete, and close by were seated
the Princesses Mathilde, Clothilde, and Murat.
All at once a clang of trumpets was heard. The
yellow curtain was quickly raised, and a fairy-like
and most dazzling scene met the gaze. It was an
almost endless hall, surrounded with balconies and
balustrades covered with vines and flowers, rivalling
in magnificence all that we can conjecture of the
halls of Italy's famed clime. Myriads of lights
abounded. Overhead, splendid chandeliers poured
down floods of light on tables that were loaded with
a feast almost hidden from our gaze in flowers. At
the end of the hall a fountain was splashing its
waters in rays of light that rivalled the brightness ,
of the sun. All the senses were pleased at once,
for music, sweet and low, was adding to the plea-
surable emotions of the guests, who were waited
on by pages in feudal dress.
Once the supper over, dancing was resumed with
renewed vigour. The third quadrille, "Le Car-
neval de Venise," was then danced, and after seve-
ral waltzes and polkas the Cotillon began. This
lasted more than an hour, ending in open daylight
at six o'clock. It was conducted by Mdlle. de
Tascher de la Pagerie and Count d'Andlan, the sec-
retary of Count de Persigny. I must here tell you
that the Countess de Persigny was charmingly
dressed as "Earth," one of the "Four Elements,"
and danced most admirably in the principal qua.
drille.

The Emperor retired at the termination of the
Cotillon—past six in the morning. Then ended
this most splendid fete. Too much praise cannot
be attributed to her Majesty and to the Duke de
Tascher de la Pagerie,-who planned so magnificent
an entertainment. It was worthy of an Empress.
In my haste to render you an account of the fete
I have no doubt overlooked many most interestino.
details. Should I recall them to mind I will make
them the subject of another letter. You will notice
I have made but little mentirn of the costumes of
the gentlemen. They were all excellent, but space
would be lacking to describe them, as well as those
ladies' costumes that I have been compelled to
overlook.
Some time since I described the dress that the
Empress was to wear. She was to appear as "Diane
Chasseresse," but owing to the fact of its becoming
known, her Majesty changed her mind and wore
only dominos.

SCOTTISH CANALS.—The profits of the Forth
and Clyde Canal during the last six months enable the
governor and council to declare a dividend at the rate of 61
per cent., less income tax. An enlargement of the cut of
the Junction Canal at Grangemouth has been completed.
The Caledonian Canal is to be closed for traffic for three
weeks at the end of June, to enable the Ross-shire Railway
Company to proceed more readily with the construction of
a bridge which they have on hand. In the interval the
works are to be overhauled, and any repairs executed which
may be considered necessary.