The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-16 00:00:00

THE IMPERIAL PROGRESS IN

FRANCE.

FROM SPECIAL REPORTERS OF THE MORNING POST.

nificent preparations
urraEmperorttheherb
citizens,a hadal-n ball-room,
ob Empress,ea el nwainnh
BREST, AUG. 12, 1858
xaicdet:c,drstouowtoroikdoeggpdeloatirneadetoi.gnotaAhoryde
Last night the grand ball, for which such mag
lafionnoeke aharatl theeor
times, is a vast granary, but which on this occasion
was a palace, hung with velvet and gold, and glit-
tering with myriads of lustres. The most consum-
mate taste had been observed in the decoration—
paintings covered the walls, and on the side on which
the Imperial visitors were to enter was erected a gor-
geous throne, around which were rows upon rows of
seats covered with velvet, filled with fair spectators,
all in their ball dresses, and many of them glittering
with jewels. The male portion of those present
were almost all of them in uniform, as not only is
the fleet present, but several regiments are also sta-
tioned here. The sight presented on entering was a
truly beautiful one, and the good citizens of Brest
may boast of having done the thing well. Long
before the hour appointed for the coming of their
Majesties, the room was filled to repletion, and every
eye was strained towards the heavy velvet curtain,
that, drawn aside, would show the Imperial party.
At nine o'clock, the clanging of the trumpets an-
nounced their arrival, and the little Mayor pees the
city, Monsieur Bezet, rushed breathlessly to meet the
expected ones. The curtain was drawn aside, the
band played the usual march, and, amid the loud and
prolonged cheers of the crowd, the Emperor, Em-
press, and suite came in. Their Majesties having
remained seated a few moments, the band gave the
signal for the quadrille. The Emperor danced with
the Mayor's daughter, Madlle. Bezet, the Empress
with the Mayor himself ; and Admiral Hamelin, Mi-
nistere de la Marine, was also in the set. The name of the
others would not interest you. I will state, for the
benefit of your fair readers, the Empress's toilette :
Coiffure classique, nottes et bouches, diadem of
diamonds, in the centre of which the famous stone
called le Regent; a necklace with three rows of large
pearls, with a diamond clasp bracelet, diamonds and
turquoise. Her dress was of blue tulle, studded with
silver, with immense diamond brooches in front of
the corsage. lam sure of the exactitude of this
statement, as I had it from the artist who arranges
her Majesty's coiffure. He was, I believe, at one
time a resident of London, and rejoices in the cogno-
men of Chaumont. So much for the toilette. The
quadrille finished, their l‘lajesties again mounted
the estrade prepared for them, and the Empress hav-
ing desired that the dancing should continue, some
enterprising young persons made spasmodic attempts
to get up a polka, which, owing to the immense
crowd, was nipped in the bud. After a brief delay
and some terrible crowding to make room, during
which time I heard the loud squeak of some bag-
pipes, which sounded to me uncommonly like what
I had heard oftentimes far from here, I saw a number
of persons dressed in the most fantastical and pic-
turesque manner imaginable making their way to.
wards the throne. Once there, they managed to
clear a small circle, and to the particularly unplea-
sant tones of the bagpipes they executed a series of
dances peculiar to the country. L must say that the