The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-12 00:00:00

GRAND NAVAL BALL TO THE

OFFICERS OF THE FRENCH SQUADRON.
PORTSMOUTH, SATURDAY, ONE O'CLOCK, A.M.—This
magnificent fete, given by the British officers of the ships
in commission at this port, to the officers of the French
septadron, is now in its zenith, and a more splendid or
exhilirating spectacle than the entertainment, at this
moment, was perhaps seldom before witnessed.
The place chosen for the ball-room is the spacious
quadrangle of the Royal Naval College, which has been
formed into a pavilion, beautifully tapestried from the
ceiling to the floor with the flags and ensigns of all na-
tions, amongst which the royal standard of England is
naturally most conspicuous. The floor (a boarded one
of course) is elegantly carpeted, and the immense area
is lighted by three splendid chandeliers suspended from
the ceiling, which throw a flood of light on the beautiful
and glittering throng below. A large transparency,
with medallion likenesses of King Louis Philippe and
Queen Victoria, with the French and English crowns,
and the initials " L. P. V." wreathed with palm branches,
ornaments the extreme end of the ball-room, opposite
the grand entrance, mid above the orchestra occupied by
Weippert's band. This specimen of art, we understand,
was executed by Mr. Martin, of the dockyard, assisted
by one of the naval officers, at a moment's notice, entirely
from memory, and without the aid of a copy ; and taking
this latter circumstance into consideration, it is really a
very eralitable performance.
Over the grand entrance, in the interior of the ball-
room, is a radiant sun formed with broad swords, the
centre-piece being a shining metal imitation of the orb
of day, and along the walls a quantity of musketry and
other arms are displayed in a manner similar to that
adopted in the guard-chambers of our various royal
palaces. There are three orchestras, two fitted up as
side galleries, occupied respectively by the Marine band
and the band of the 59th Regiment, and the third, at the
extreme end, occupied, as we have already stated, by
Weippert's celebrated quadrille band. The bands play
alternately, and (as every where else) the Polka is still
ethe spacer o
tthe
knowncelebr aalso
dthe
uc
no
tveerr erde-i
gwnasy ,
in the ascendant. Beyond the ball-room, and occupying
lordtvh
is t hpea
rsaump poeurnr
aonma,
here taste has done its utmost to gratify both eye and
palate in most lavish profusion, and wines and liquoes of
the choicest and most expensive kind flow forth in the
richest abundance, whilst beautiful vases, containing the
rarest exotic and autumnal flowers, send forth their
grateful perfume, gratifying every sense, and leaving
hardly a wish unprovided for. This apartment is lighted
from gold and silver candelabra. The number of per-
sons present is variously estimated at 1,150, 1,200, and
1,300, and we believe that the last-mentioned
number is not an exaggeration. The company began to
arrive about nine o'clock, and were received by a number
of officers in full uniform. The entrance-hall and pass-
age to the ball-room were decorated in a similar manner
to that already described, the former being lighted up
by a brilliant star of Brunswick. The exterior of the
building was handsomely illuminated with myriads of
variegated lamps, the impressive word " Welcome"
being displayed along the entire front of the college.
The orrery was fitted up in the most handsome manner,
as a reception-room for the ladies, end the fencing-room
was used as a cloak-room, and the library, for the first
time, was occupied by card parties. Tho students'
dining-room was the only apartment in the building not
converted from its usual purpose, it having been devoted
to the dispensation of refreshments.
The following officers acted as stewards, and were
decorated with elegant favours of white satin, orna
mented with silver flowers :—Admiral Sir Charles
Rowley, Rear-Admiral Parker, Captain Lord Adolphus
Fitzclarence, Captain Rowley, Commander Lowe, Com-
mander Crawford, Captain Corry, Captain Mowbray,
Commander Matson, Commander Harris, Commander
Thompson, Lieutenant Cracroft, Lieutenant Fade, Lieu-
tenant Ferro, Lieutenant Shere, Commander Shering-
ham, Lieutenant Chamberlain, Lieutenant Ilynde,
Lieutenant Herbert, Mr. Pechell, Mr. Kerr, Mr.
Clerk, &c.

During the setting down of the company. which lasted
from nine until twelve o'clock, the stewards had cer-
tainly no sinecure, for, faithful as sentinels, there stood
Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, and a glittering array of
colleagues, vieing with each other in polite attention to
their guests. Outside the gates of the Dockyard the
scene, as regarded the continuous stream of carriages,
more resembled St. James's-street on a Drawing-room
day than a mere sea-port ball, conceived in a hurry, and
carried into effect with only a few days' note of prepara-
tion. The line of vehicles appeared almost intermin-
able and here the resemblance to the Court gala ceases,
for almost every description of conveyance, from the
aristocratic carriage to the humble one-horse fly, ap-
peared to have been pressed into the service for the
occasion. Antiquated stage-coaches, railway omni-
buses, and obsolete post-chaises, all did duty, the latter
with an affected air of former briskness which would
have excited even the sympathy of aroad-sideinnkeeper.
The floating bridge which plies between Gosport and
Portsmouth, and which usually rests from its labours at
ten o'clock, was kept going backward and forward
during the entire night for the convenience of the
t nu-
meroushe guests who came from Southampton and
neighbourhood of the New Forest.
swell the list of the company
;ofbuthesoDock-yard, which
ingress through the single g!tt
ball-room
obliged
The last trains from London conttribudteildatnoortya,nlltstlethtoe
pass out as well as to
cr..rriabes
had to let the empty
aaiantdtpoartthiees
on
to quit their
Owing to the anxiety of some parties to gain early
foot.
admit the ones, that
proceednumerous
admittance, and who were thereby induced to attempt to
are likely to afford employment to the coach-wrights of
break into the rank, several casualties occurred, which
the vicinity for some time to come. The police being
occasionally obliged to shut the gate rather abruptly, the
horses of the first carriage were frequently startled back,
and in a moment the crashing of poles and panels ran
orderthise 1e nut
suaati v‘i
.doe
ride
ra
eabgcli euml
iainconvenience
cti hhn eg t
loedlne
entire
xroef.
like electricity through the entire chain. With the ex-
wi
he
cct leer Pee
ct'iai °rt riniae gf
affairLa s uws •
saes
acnotnidtuhceteod. aierA as
French otinteeenrso'cwl ohcok
h,
ad
dined Admiral
with Admiral Parker at his residence in the Dock-yard,
arrived in a suite of carriages at the ball-room, and, im-
mediately on their entrance, the band of the 59th Regi-
ment struck up La Parisienne. From this moment the
enjoyment grew " fast and furious," and never was
such a scene witnessed in Portsmouth or its neighbour-
hood bt-rfore.

The Locust steam-vessel, Commander J. Lunn, arrived
this morning from the Mediterranean, with the late Go-
vernor of India, Lord Ellenborough, on board.

It is generally understood that the marriage of
Lady Augusta Somerset, eldest daughter of the Duke of
Beaufort, and his Excellency Baron Nieumann, the
Austrian Minister, will be solemnised in the course of
the ensuing,month.

13, Great Marlborough-street.
MR. COLBURN'S NEW PUBLICATIONS.
TO BE HAD OF ALL BOOKSELLERS.
I. .NARRATIVE of the VOYAGES and SERVICES of the
NEMESIS in CHINA. New and Cheaper Edition. 1 vol. 19s.
2. BURKE'S HISTORY of the LANDED GENTRY. Part HI.
3. REVELATIONS of RUSSIA. 2 vols.

4. CONINGSBY. By B. DISRAELI, Esq. M.P. Third Edition.
3 vole.
:5. HISTORIC FANCIES. By the Hon. G. S. SMYTHE, M.P.
Second Edition. I vol.
6. A WINTER in ITALY. By Mrs. ASHTON YATES. 2 vols.
7. MISS STRICKLAND'S QUEENS of ENGLAND. Vol VII.
8. LETTERS of MARY QUEEN of SCOTS. Second Edition.
2 vole.
9. LADY LONDONDERRY'S NARRATIVE of her VISIT to
the COURTS of VIENNA, CONSTANTINOPLE, ATIIENS,
and NAPLES. I vol.
10. MEMOIRS of the BABYLONIAN PRINCESS. 2 vols.

Henry Colburn, PubUsbe-r,13, Great Marlborough-street.

THE EDINBURGH REVIEW, No. CLXII.,
will be published on Wednesday next.

CONTENTS:—
I. RECENT DEVELOPEMENTS OF PUSEYISM.
11. SIR FRANCIS DRAKE.
111. NATURAL HISTORY OF REPTILES.
IV. THUNDERSTORMS AND PROTECTION FROM LIGHT-
NING.
V. TIIE LATE SESSION—RESULTS OF TORY RULE.
VI. YOUNG ENGLAND.
VII. EARLY ADMINISTRATIONS OF GEORGE THE THIRD
—THE EARL OF CHATHAM.
London : Longman and Co. Edinburgh: A. and C. Black.

MR. AINSWORTH'S NEW HISTORICAL ROMANCE.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY GEORGE CRUIKSHANK.
Just ready, In 3 vols.,
AINT J A MES'S;
OR,

THE COURT OF QUEEN ANNE.
By W. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Esq.
Also just commenced, by the same Author,
REVELATIONS OF LONDON ;
With Illustrations by " Phiz," in " Ainsworth's Magazine.
London : John Mortimer, Publisher, Adelaide-street.

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE,
THIS EVENING, OCTOBER 12,
Will be performed ACIS AND GALATEA. Adis, Mr. Barker;
Damor, Mr. D. W. Icing; Polyphemus, Mr. Stretton; Galatea, Miss
Rosner.

To be followed by the favourite Drama of CLARI; or, The Maid
of Milan. The Duke Vivaldi, Mr. W. West; Rolamo, Mr. Cooper ;
Clari, Miss Rainforth ; Vespina, Mi.s Romer.
After which, the Grand Hallet, entitled THE CORSAIR.
Z.7onrad, M. Albert; Julien, M. Desplaces; Sanguo, M. Montessu s
&fedora, Miss Clara Webster ; Une Vivandiere, Mdlle. Auguste,
Delbes ; Guinare, Mille. Adele Dumilatre.
It is respectfully announced that no one can, on any account, be
admitted in future, either to the Dress Circle or Stalls, unless in
Evening Costume.
The Box-office is open daily, from Ten in the Morning until Six
in the Evening, where Private and Family Boxes, Stalls, Places,
and Tickets may be had on application to Mr. John Parsons

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee, Mr. B. WEBSTER.
THIS EVENING, OCTOBER 12,
Will be repeated Vanbrugh's Comedy of THE CONFEDERACY.
Adapted to the present Period.
The Principal Characters by Messrs. Strickland, W. Farren,
Buckstone, and C. Mathews, Madame Vestris, Miss P. Horton,
Mrs. E. Yarnold, Miss Julia Bennett, Mrs. Stanley, and Mrs.
glover.

After which, a New Farce, by Mr. Buckstone, entitled THE
1 i-11:4BLE RIG. John Ginger, Mr. Buckstone, Sam Shindy,
Mr. Strickland ; Mrs. Ginger, Mrs. W. Clifford.
To conclude with THE MILLINER'S HOLIDAY.

THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHL
Under the Direction of Maclaine CELESTE.
THIS EVENING, OCTOBER 12,
Will be performed FOREIGN AFFAIRS; or. The Court of
Queen Anne. St. Louis, Madame Celeste ; Ceurtall, Mr. Hudson ;
Baron, Mr. Wright ; Baroness, Mrs. Yates; Lady Bell, Miss
Woolgar.
To be followed by a New Comic Operetta, called the FOX
AND THE GOOSE. Principal Characters by Messrs. Hudson,
Paul Bedford, and Mrs. Fitzwilliam.
To conclude with DEEDS OF DREADFUL NOTE.
Prompter, Mr. Gallat ; Principal Painter, I.lr Pitt; Leader of the
Band, Mr. Mellon.—Box-octice open from Eleven till Four. Private
Boxes to be had at the Theatre. and at all the principal Libraries.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREEI.
LESSEE, Mr. J. M. MADDOX.
THIS EVENING, OCTOBER 12,
Will be repeated a New Drama, called DON C/ESAR DE
BAZAN. Don Carer, Mr. Wallack ; Charles the Second, Mr.
Walton; Maritana, Mrs. Stirling; Countess di Rotondo, Mrs.
Fosbroke.
To be followed by a new Divertissement, called The SLAVE
MARKET, in which M.. 1. Rouser, Mdlle. Caroline Rousset, Mdlle.
Teresine, Mr. Gilbert, and Miss Marshall will appear.
After which a New Farce, called TAKING THE PLEDGE
Augustus Larkins, Mr. Oxberry ; Alexander Paps, Mr. Walter
Lacy; Emily Gussett, Visa Emma Stanley.
To conclude with THE LOST LETTER.
Stage Manager, Mr. H. I. Wallack. Stage Director, Mr. Emden.
Machinist, Mr. Edmund Bradwell.
Dress Circle, ss. ; Boxes, 4s. • Pit, 25.; Gallery, Is. Half-price at
Nine o'clock—Dress Circle, 2s. 6d. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, Is.; Gallery, 6d.
Private Boxes, Two Guineas and One Guinea and a-Half ; Prosce-
nium Boxes, Two illuineas and a-Hilt Doors to be opened at Half-
past Six, and the Performances to commence at Seven o'clock.
The Box-office, under the direction of Mr. W. Massingh am.
Private Boxes and Free Admissions for the Season to be had at the
Theatre.

THEATRE ROYAL LYCHOU'SE.EUM LATE ENGLISH OPERA-
Under the Management of Mrs. KEELEY.
Last Night of " Martin Chnzzlewit."
THIS EVENING, OCTOBER 12,
Will be repeated a New Drama, entitled MARTIN CHUZZLE.
WIT. Principal characters by Messrs. R. Younge, Craven, Emery,
F. Mathews, A. Wigan, Meadows, Kinloch, Turner, Stanton,
J. W. Collier, Yarnold, and Keeley; Miss I orteseue, Mrs. A.
Wigan, Mrs. Woollidge, Miss Groves, Mrs. Usher, Miss Turner, and
Mrs. Keeley.
After which, a. New Comic Scene, called 0 UTGENERALED ;
or, a Hint to Bachelors. Charles Stanley, Mr. F. Vining; Mrs.
Bartley, Miss Walcott.
To conclude with an entirely Original, and much better than
New, Grand Operatic, Romantic, Melo-Dramatic, Burlesque Extra.
vaganza, founded on the celebrated Eastern Tale, in the Arabian
Nights' Entertainment, entitled ALADDIN AND THE WON-
DERFUL LAMP; or, New Lamps for Old Ones. With very
extensive New Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, &c. Principal cha-
racters by Mrs. Keeley, Messrs. F. Matthews, Turner, A. Wigan,
J. W. Collier, and Keeley ; Miss Fairbrother, Mrs. Woollitige,
Miss Grove, Miss Arden, Miss Turner, Ms ,s James, &c., &c.

Immense Attraction and Double Spectacle at
ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE OF ARTS.
Proprietor and Manager, Mr. BATTY.
Re engagement of Mr. CiTter, the American Lion Ring.
CHIS EVENING, OCTOBER 12,
Will be performed Lord Byron's Equestrian and Dramatic Spec-
tacle of MAZEPPA, AND THE WILD HORSE, with all its
Original Effects.

New Scenes of the Circle.
To conclude with the French Equestrian Military Spectacle of the
LION OF THE DESERT, or, THE FRENCH IN MOROCCO.
Abdallah, the Outcast Arab, Mr. Carter.
Acting and stage..minager, Mr. W. D. Broadfoot,
13oz-office open from Eleven till Five. Lessons in the Art of Riding
by Mr. R. Smith.