The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-28 00:00:00

(should sacure the present hands )me and moderate
1 edition, which is equally adapted to the library -or
(the casual reader. We are glad to .see a woricla
this character placed within the reach of moderata
means.

THE BALL .21T VIE BRITISH EMBASSY.

The fete given by Lord and Lady Cowley' nn
Monday night in honour of the nuptials of the
Princess Royal of Eegland was of a most brilliant
deNcription, the general magn;ficence of the arrange-
ments being enhanced by the elegance of the orna
mentatim, and the whole entertainment being dis-
tinguished by a certain heartfelt joyousness which
most happily suited the occasion. The exterior of
the embassy on both sides of the hotel presented.
blaze of light, the grand entrance in the Rue da
Faubourg St. Honore bearing the arms of England
in jets of gas, with an extensive scrollwork at each
side, and the garden side being adorned with a
multitilde of lamps arranged with infinite testi);
Inside, the whole of the extensive suite of rooms on
the ground floor were thrown open, and a large por-
tion of the grounds was covered in, and converted
into a splendid supper room. Flowers and shrubs
were arranged in graceful profusion along the vari-
ous passages, and when the light of innumerable
lamps fell softly on their foliage, the spectator for-
got that the winter season prevailed out of doors,
and could almost fancy that spring time had ar-
rived. The earliest guests began to arrive about 9
o'clock, and from that hour the stream of carriages
poured on without cessation, setting down all that
Paris contains of distinguished personages in the
fashionable, political, and administrative circles.
By half-past ten the rooms were filled with a most
distinguished company, consisting of the diplomatic
body, the ministers, marshals, principal members of
the Senate, Legislative Corps, Council of State, and
constituted bodies, accompanied by such a displ4y
of beauty as is rarely seen, except when the fair
daughters of Albion collect together. Bat what
imparted peculiar attraction to this entertainment
was the fact that the Emperor and Empress, in
order to testify the great interest which -they took
in the domestic happiness of the Royal family
_of
England, had graciously signified their intention to
be present. Their Majesties arrived at about balf-
past ten by the garden-entrances and were received
at the' vestibule of the hotel by the ambairsadorand
Lady Cowley, accompanied by the whole staffof fdie.
-embassy. The sugu,Vguests were condtieted to{tigis
Throne room, where, in the part which communi-
cates wi'h the great bali-room, chairs of state had
been placed on a raised dais, covered over with a
foot cloth of crimson velvet edged with gold. Four
chairs were disposed there, the two iu the centre
being occupied by the Emperor and Empres
having the Princess Mathilde on the left, and
Prince Napoleon on the right. Both the Empress
and the Princess were attired in white, her Majesty
wearing a tulle dress trimmed with bouillons, the
upper skirt fastened up with bows of plaid velvet to
match, with diamonds ; the head-dress was com-
posed of plaid velvet to match, with diamonds, the
whole being remarkable for its elegant simplicity.
The Princess Mathilde also wore white tulle with
gold blonde and cherry coloured velvet trimmings,
her headdress being a circlet of diamonds on red
velvet. But the Empress and the Princess wore
magnificent diamond necklaces, the latter having,
in addition, a row of large diamonds round the
body of her dress. The Emperor was dressed in
a I lue evening coat with gilt buttons, and
black continuations, wearing the grand cross of
the Legion of Honour, and the Order of
the Garter, in compliment to the ambas-
sador of England. Behind the Imperial seats,
other chairs were disposed for the ladies of the
Court. When their Majesties had taken their
seats a momentary pause ensued, and it was
then possible for the looker-on to take in at one
glance the precise nature of the lovely scene before,
him. In consequence of the fete being a nuptial
one, the immense majority of the ladies present
were in white, but still there was a sufficient sprink-
ling of rose-coloured and other hued dresses to pre-
vent monopoly. The prevalence of white, however,
in a ball-room always imparts a character of fresh-
ness, elegance, and youth to the scene, and this
was peculiarly the case on the present occasion,
when such a crowd of lovely girls were assembled.
Nothing could produce a more charming coup d'o3il
than the long vista of elegantly-dressed women,
many of them sparkling with a profusion of dia-
monds, which stretched out its length before the
Imperial party as they occupied their elevated posi-
tion at the head of the room. It was almost a pity
to disturb so charming a picture, but ball-rooms
have their inexorable laws, and on the signal for
the dance being given by Waldteufers orchestra,
'the whole assemblage was in an instant in move-
ment. The Imperial quadrille was an unusually
large one, the Empress dancing with the Prince do
Leichtenstein, and the Princess Mathilde with the -
Duke de Malakoff, the other parties being Prince
Napoleon, Lady Cowley, Lord Cowley, Countess
_Walewski, Count Walewski, Baroness de Wend-
land, arc. The Emperor did not take part in
the first quadrille, but danced in the sub-
sequent one. Vhen the ball had once
opened, dancing continued without intermission.
during the rest of the evening, the Imperial party
appearing much amused by the changing scene.
Both their Majesties seemed in excellent spirits, the
Empress conversing for a considerable time in an
animated manner with Marshal Pelissier, and the
Emperor speaking to various persons, and among.
them to Sir A. Malet, the British Minister at
Frankfort, who alsa bad the honour afterwards of
occupying the attention of the Empress for some
time. The Emperor twice during the evening made.
the toor of the apartments, and seemed to enjoy
himself with a freedom from all reserve not often
witnessed at state entertainments. At a quarter
to one their Majesties withdrew to a supper-room
specially provided for their reception, while at the
same time the temporary building erected for the
occasion was thrown open to the general body
of guests. The effect of this beautiful room was
so striking as to attract the attention of his Ma-

jesty, who expressed his admiration as he passed.
The numerous guests were accommodated there
in the space of an hour and a half, and all
without the slightest difficulty, and with such
a profusion of delicacies as was well suited to
a wedding feast. In the Imperial supper-
room, just before their Majesties left the table,
the Emperor rose, and in a few appropriate words
proposed the health of the Princess Royal of Eng-
land, then Princess of Prussia, and expressed a
hope that her Royal Highness might, be as happy
in her married state as her many amiable qualities
so richly merited. It is needless to say that this
toast was drunk with enthusiasm. Their Majesties
then left the table and returned to the ball-
room, where they resumed their seats, and again
remained some time regarding the dancers. It WAS
nearly two o'clock when at last their Majesties rose
to leave the ball-room, and at their departure they
both expressed to Lord and Lady Cowley the great
gratification which the evening had afforded them.
After their Majesties' departure dancing was kept
up until four o'clock, when this splendid entertain-
ment was closed by the band playing " God save
the Queen." It would be unjust in concluding this
short account not to observe on the admirable man-

nor in which all the details of this fete were con-

ducted. It falls to the lot of few to give such
grandiose entertainments, to fewer still to have the
honour of Imperial guests, and almost to none to
have perfect success in a fete of such splendour ;
Lady Cowley, however, stands in this last-name&
category—a result not more attributable to the
excellence of the arrangements than to the perfect
grace with which her ladyship did the honours of
the evening to 2,000 persona who had accepted the
invitation. —Galignant.

LivEsrooL, Jan. 25.—The screw steamer Indian
- the
eyi
this morning
cabin,for P eTrthl Portland, Maine, with the.
Canadian
nfsodc:reNweewteaymorekrgere of
Citywith of
a
simile, a fair cargo, and 117 passengers,
Baltimore
e wn ctailed
no
ship's mail and a large number of P Raven era The next
steamer for America is the Cunard
g
unard • steamship
Niagara, which sails on Saturday
for Halifax and Boston.
MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT ON THE MERSEY.—FIVZ MEN
DROWNED.—LIVERPOOL, Wednesday,—Last ' ht b
tween 7 and 8 o'clock, a very nig I e.
sad accident took place on
the river, by which five men met with a watery grave.
It appears that four riggers got into a small boat at the
'audio - g stage, for the purpose of proceeding with stores
to the ship Castilian, lying at anchor between New
Brighton and Egremont. A moderate gale was blow-
ing at the time from the south-east ; and as the wind
and tide were meeting each other, a heavy swell was
rolling up the river. Upon getting into the middle
of the stream the boat was suddenly upset, and
her crew were seen for a short time struggling with the
waves and endeavouring to maintain a hold of the mai
craft, which was floating bottom upwards. The accident
was witne-sed by the crew of the screw steamer Indian,
lying at anchor, as well as by the men belonging to the
Rock Ferry steamer Ant, the Tranmere boat Cato, and
the steam-tug Sailor King. Life-buoys were thrown
from the small steamers to the drowning men, but owing
to the roughness of the river the poor fellows were
uLable to seize hold of the preservers, and in a short
time they disappeared. What renders the occurrence
more melancholy is the circumstance that whilst
the crew of the Indian were lowering a boat for
the purpose of saving, if possible, the drowning riggers,
the boatswain's mate fell overboard, and was also
drowned. His name was Alexander Clements, And it
is said that he has left a widow and a family of rTall
children. Notwithstanding the loss of their 4rmPaniffe
the crew of the Indian lowered two of their boat
nd the other by zurf
commanded by the chief mate,
the risk o
auo
in the hope
Carr, the second mate—and at riao,
their lives struggled against the meno.After searching
the inissin' returned to the
of picking up some of
t hoer, they
in the river Ease ab"" n that their exertions had
1 regretting
landing-stage, p y
been Urnevailing.