The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-14 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S FANCY DRESS

BALL.
(Abridged. :from the Court Circular.)
Her Majesty's Fan cy Dress Ball, on Thursday night,
was a scene of such., brilliancy. and magnificence that,
since the days of Chteeles 11., with the solitary exception
of one fete given i.n the regency of George IV., there
has been nothing at all comparable to it in all the enter-
tainments given at the British Court. -Even to an eye
familiar with the pomp and pageant of a Court—the regal
splendour which always on State occasions surrounds the
British Severeie ;n, the magnificence and dazzingfirilliancy
of the ball of Tt%.ursday night was almost overpowering. Oc-
casionally, toc e owing to the correct taste which caused
the Queen's r aore immediate circle all to appear in the
dress of the • same period, the fitful dreams of fancy be-
came reality ; a representative of a hero of Cressy stood
beside his S avereign, and a Knight of the Garter repre-
sented One of the first members of the noblest order of
chivalry bs side the Royal representative of its illustrious
founder. ; a nd each were what they seemed.
In addition to all its splendour, this brilliant fete had
that charm. in perfection which gives the greatest zest to
nit enjoymeents—novelty. It is a day long past since the
chivalry of. England have appeared in what might not
inaptly be termedthe costume of their race, and gratify-
ing as • the richneSs and variety of the dresses both in
colov r and decoration was to the eye, jet there was a
still,' greater pleasure in the excitement that was given to
the:lmagination in seeing thein versonation of those his-
toric.al associations so interwove •n with the record of the
hone ur and the glory of Great ,Britain.
Ttke Throne Room was selet eed by her Majesty for
the reception of the company. The throne was removed,
and the alcove in which the theone is placed was lined
throughout with purple velvet, studded in gold, with a
small shield with the cross of St. 'George, the motto and
the Garter, surmounted with the. Royal Crown. This
was terminated at the top by gothic tracery gilt. The
throne erected for this occasion was decorated in the
fl.me way., copied frost an authentic source, so as to be
'strictly historical. The chairs of state were gothic in
their character, and very handsome ; the seats were of
purple velvet. At the back of the throne were embla-
zoned the Royal arms of England and France, sur-
mounted by a Royal crown ; Royal banners waved at
the top and on each side of the throne. On the purple
-velvet background were shields, emblazoned with the
Itoyal arms of England at that time, and the red cross
of St. George. The light which threw its illumination
sent, and hhae eparates trone
on the throne was. concealed from
hic h:
the spectators by its
d ath
most
being placed behind the arch w
alcove from the rest of the apartm
beautiful effect. and Prince Albert,
Seated on this throne, tbe Queen
surrounded by the following awaited the entrance
of the Duchess of Camt 'ridge., as Anne
of Brittany, at
the head of her Court. •
• Grouped about the th rone,were ;the Duchess of Buc-
eleuch, Mistress of the Robes, having embroidered on
her dress her arms qu art erecl with those of Buccleuch,
and wearing a ducal con ,net ; Lady Portman and Vie-
countess Jocelyn, Ladle in Waiting; in Court dresses
of the time ; the Hon. I .liee Paget, the Hon.-Miss Lid-
dell, the Hon. Miss Deft ereux, and the Hen. Miss Stan-
ley, Maids of Honour? i a the costume of the Maids of
honour of that period ; the Hun. Mrs. Cr. E. `Anson and
Mrs. Brand, Women o: 7 the Bedchamber, in dresses
having the fleal. tie lis i luartereJ, with the English lion
erahroidorcd on tiu m ; . the Earl of Liverpool, the Lord
Steward of the held, in the costume of the
Seneschal of that time Earl Delawarr, Lord Chamber-
lain, in the armour or, erd Delawarr, as worn at the
battle of Cressy ;Er al ,
rsev, Master of the Horse, in
the dress of his offi ee at that time ; the Marquis of
Exeter, Groom of the St ole to his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, in tie: dr ese of Sir .John Cecily, as worn
at the siege of Calais in t lie time of Edward 111 and all
the principal Officers of S tate.
In addition to the abov, ► official circle, there were as-
sembled about the throne ()flier Majesty and the Prince,
the Duke of Buceleuch, i a the costume of an ancestor,
one of the original Knights of the. Garter ; the Duke
and Duchess of Roxburgl tee as King David Bruce and
Queen Jane of Scotland. Th c Marquis of Salisbury in
the dress of the Earl of F of that period •
the
Countess of Rossiya as fir B Con ntess of Salisbury,- &e.