The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-11 00:00:00

THE WAVERLEY BALL.

It must be premised that this ball was devised for the pur-
pose of raising a fund in aid of the general subscription for
the completion of the monument at present in course of erec-
tion in the city' of Edinburgh to the memory of Sir Walter
Scott. There is a difficulty in naming the identical person
with whom the idea originated of embodying in a fancy ball
the characters of that great novelist and poet; but to who-
ever the credit is due, we have only to say, the most sanguine
expectations must have been surpassed by the gorgeous and
brilliant spectacle the arena of Willis's Rooms presented on
Monday night. The object of the promoters of this; magni-
ficent assembly has hem fully gained. We stated, at a rough
guess, yesterday, that there was between 1,200 and 1,300
persons of rank and distinction at the ball; we can now.assert,
on authority, that no less than 1,4.38 tickets were actually
entered, so that upwards of 1,0001. will pass into the exche-
quer of the Committee.

In an early stage of the arrangements, the ladies patronesses
were unanimous in their desire to limit the issue of vouchers,
but owing to the extensive demand it was judged almost a
necessity to increase the original number named by 500. On
Monday afternoon vouchers could not be procured for either
love or money. . .

It was shortly after nine when the carriages began to set
down company at both entrances to the room, and there was
an uninterrupted succession of arrivals until after one. The
arrangements for the reception of the company were beyond
all praise. The splendid rooms are well known to our aris-
tocracy to possess all the conveniences requisite for a monstre
ball, certainly not to be approached by any other establish-
ment. On this occasion it was necessary, however, to in-
crease the ordinary accommodation, in order that the per-
sonal comfort of all present should be insured. The supper-
room on the grouud-floor was appropriated for dancing, and
the staircase leading from that room to the ball-room above
was suitably decorated with exotics, &c., and access was
gained with the greatest facility to both rooms. The grand
ball-room had rows of raised seats arranged at the east end,
covered with crimson, exclusively for the use of the ladies
patronesses, and those beauties of our nobility who were to
take part in the fancy quadrilles. The five costly chan-
deliers, and the girandoles, from which the •room was illumi.
nated by hundreds of wax lights, were tastefully orna-
mented with roses and camellias. In the supper-room an
extended table was supplied with the choicest refresh-
ments, and two rooms up stairs were set apart for refections
of a lighter description. Several of the rooms, as well as
the staircases, were abundantly embellished by flowering
plants and exotics.
The ladies patronesses were in early attendance, and were
conducted to what is termed at Almack's the " Card Room,"
although at those assemblies such instruments of gaming are
never allowed. The tea room, invariably used as the salon
of meeting for those dominant personages, was on Monday
the locale for the congregation of the ladies and gentlemen
taking characters in the Waverley quadrille (the Marchioness
of Londonderry's), so that not the slightest confusion arose.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester arrived
from Gloucester House precisely at tea o'clock, the leading
ladies patronesses advancing to meet that illustrious and ami-
able member of our Royal Family.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, attended by
Major Stephens, came shortly after his royal sister. The
Royal Duke wore the uniform of Colonel of the Coldstream
Guards, and the riband of the order of the Garter.
It was nearly eleven when the Hereditary Grand Duke of
Mecklenburgh Strelitz arrived.
By half-past ten the ball-room was crammed to excess,
and it was feared that from the intense anxiety manifested
by the company to witness the procession of the Waverley
quadrille, great inconvenience would be experienced in the
necessary endeavour to obtain sufficient space for the forma-
tion of the quadrille.
As a prelude to the commencement of the ball, Tolbecque's
powerful orchestra played the national anthem, at the con-
clusion of which the folding doors of the tea-room were
thrown open. All eyes were directed to that apartment, and
a signal having been conveyed to M. Tolbecque, the band
struck up the march of the " English Volunteers," at which
the procession began its progress along the left centre of the
salon de danse, to the raised benches where the Royal Family
and ladies patronesses were seated, advancing in the follow-
ing order, the annexed programme setting forth the names
and assumed characters of the Marchioness of Londonderry's
monstre quadrille :
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS.

" Brenhilda," " Count Robert of Paris,"
Lady Al exandrina Vane. Mr. Chas. Sheridan.
" Anna Comnena," " Nicephorus Briennius,"
Lady Elizabeth De Burgh. Mr. Dawson Darner.
THE BETROTHED.

" Eveline Berenger," " Sir Damon de Lacey,"
Lady Charlotte Herbert. Hon. H. Cholmondeley.
THE TALISMAN.

" Queen Berengaria," " Richard Coeur de Lion,"
Hon. Miss Scarlett. Viscount Cantilupe.
" Edith Plantagenet," " Kenneth the Scot,"
Lady Caroline Cust. Lord John Manners.
CASTLE DANGEROUS.

" Lady Augusta Berkeley," " Sir James de Walton,"
Lady Ellen Douglas. Mr. Hesketh.
THE BRIDAL OF TRIERMAINE.

" Sir Robert de Vaux,"
Hon. Mortimer West.

" Ivanhoe,"
Mr. Robert Peel.
" The Templar,"
Lord Northland.
LORD OF THE ISLES.