The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-18 00:00:00

GRAND BALL at the TUILERIES.

As early as seven o'clock on Wednesday evening
the Rue de Rivoli was crowded with equipages of
every species, and with a dense body of spectators to
see the company going to the grand ball, given at the
Palace of the Tuileries. At this splendid entertain-
ment, to which between 4,000 and 500 persons were
invited, courtiers and citizens danced together in the
same quadrille, and prolonged their enjoyments until
six in the morning. All the extensive galleries and
saloons of the royal residence were most brilliantly il-
luminated, and resounded with gay and spirit-stirring
music, under the direction of Tolbecq, who is second
only to Strauss. The orchestras, of 50 performers in
each, were in the Hall of the Marshals and in the Ga-
lerie de la Paix. Their Majesties entered at eight
o'clock. The King, the Prince Royal, and the Duke
do Nemours wore the uniform of Lieutenant-General,
and the Duke d'Aumale that of Colonel of his regiment,
the 17th Light Infantry. Their Majesties, the Princes
and Princesses, stopped in the throne-room, and com-
plimented the members of the Corps Diplomatique.
On perceiving M. Kisseleff, the Russian Charge d'Af-
faires, who appeared to be completely recovered from
his late indisposition, the King addressed him, and re-
mainea a few minutes in conversation with him. Their
Majesties then moved towards the ball-rooms, stopping
at almost every step to receive the respects of the nu-
merous personages who pressed around them. The
Queen took her seat in the Hall of the Marshals, the
most sumptuous and extensive of the Palace. On one
of the first benches was the Queen, who wore a parure
of sapphires and diamonds, which spread from her head
dress to the bottom of her robe, which was of white
satin, sprigged with gold. Oa her Majesty's left hand
was Queen Maria Christina of Spain, who wore a rich
dress of red velvet open in front, and ornaments of
beautiful cameos set in diamonds. Her Spanish Ma-
jesty displayed several orders, with a star of brilliants of
the first water. The Duchess of Orleans was on the
right of the Queen, wearing a superb set of rubies and
diamonds, on a dress of white tulle, garnished with wild
roses. The Duchess de Nemours was distinguished by
her emerald and diamond ornaments, and a dress of rose-
coloured satin. Being enceinte, her Royal Highness
did not dance. The Princess Clementine was dressed
in the same coloured robe, and similar jewels, but in
more simple style. Madame Adelaide was dressed
with great splendour. The Princess de Wagrarn sat
next to Queen Maria Christina. Behind the Royal
bench were the ladies of the Ambassadors and Foreign
Ministers. Among those most distinguished for the
splendour and taste of their attire, were Lady Cowley,
the Duchess de Serra Capriole, the Marquise de Brig-
nole, and the Marquise de Torreno, Lady of Honour
to the Queen of Spain, and Madame de Kisseleff, aunt
of the Russian Charge d'Affaires. The ladies' toilettes
were more rich, and the profusion of jewels much greater
than we remember to have seen at any former court-
ball since 1830. The whole of the Corps Diplomatique
were present. Reschid Pacha was the object of much
attention. There were not perhaps as many foreigners
of distinction at this as at the court-ball of list
year. Several ladies were presented by Lady Cowley.
The first contre-danse was composed of the Duchess of
Orleans and the Prince de Wagrane Princess Cle-
mentine and a Colonel of the National Guard, the
Duke d'Aumale and Mlle. Lobau, with other distin-
guished couples. In the second, the Princess Cle-
mentine danced with a Colonel of Light Infantry. In
the Hall of the Marshals there was one quadrille of an
immense number of dancers, and there were three other
sets in the Galerie Louis-Philippe, where their Ma-
jesties at a later hour of the evening made their ap-
pearance. In the other saloons the company were
able to walk about without being too much crowded.
The richness and variety of the numerous uniforms
were very striking. All the gentlemen, not military or
naval, were in full costume, except the Deputies, who
were mostly in black ; many of them wore the insignia
of various orders. The foreigners, among whom the
English were incontestably the most numerous and
observant, were remarkable for the eclat and splendour,
and in many instances the singularity, of their uniforms.
The new uniform recently adopted by the French in-
fantry officers demands our notice. It is certainly well
suited for the parade and the field, but for appearance
at Court and dancing with Princesses, as several
officers did on Wednesday night, nothing can be more
inconvenient, more inelegant, than these frocks of dark
blue cloth, falling below the knees, with very full trou-
sers and large boots. Economy is carried too far when
it is at variance with consistency. We saw several gen-
tlemen with the order of Jerusalem glittering on their
breasts, which, whether from their having been led into
Palestine by the late events in the East, or from their
having travelled thither with other motives, they had
received from the Reverend the Guardian of the Holy
City. It was with regret we observed some persons
who, though annually invited, have not yet learned that
there is a certain respect and propriety of conduct to I
be adopted not only in the immediate presence of
Princes, hut at all times when within the walls of a pa-
lace. Wednesday evening was rendered scandalous by
the renewal of a positive battle between the servants
posted at the doors of the room appropriated to the
supper of the Queen and the ladies, and a crowd of per-
sons that cannot be called gentlemen, but who, with
shouts and cries, and even with their hats on their
heads, that their arms might be more at liberty, tried
to force their way in. After all, in no Court of Eu-
rope can there be a finer spectacle than was exhibited
in this room, where upwards of 1,500 ladies were
seated, and served with every possible delicacy of the
season. The supper for ladies was served at midnight.
Supper for gentlemen continued long after the dances
were concluded, and the hall of the theatre in which it

was served was filled three successive times by the
guests. Two hundred maitres d'hotel and five hundred

footmen waited on the company. The King, who
looked remarkably well, retired at half-past ten, but the
Queen and the rest of the Royal family remained till

near two.

PRUSSIA.
(From the Aug:burgh Gazette, of Jan. 10.)
The Ministers of State exercising the authority of
censors, have addressed to the superior Presidents of the
provinces the following remarkable instruction to the
censors, in order to render the application of their at-
tributes more uniform. From this day the press is to
be affranchised from those inconvenient restrictions
which do not coincide with the King's views ; conse-
quently his Majesty has, by a superior order, dated
January 10, declared his disapprobation of all inoppor-
tune enthralment of the press. The Monarch recog-
nises the necessity of countenancing a free and re-
spectful publicity, and enjoins the censors not to lose
sight of Article 2 of the Edict. of the Censure,
dated October 18th, 1819. According to this edict
the Censure is not to oppose any serious research
after truth, nor raise any inconvenient obstacle to
free trade in books. The object is to prevent any publi-
cation contrary to the precepts of religion, to morality,
and to good conduct, as also to combat the fanatic
adoption of religious axioms and dogmas in politics, and
the false ideas which result therefrom. Also to obviate
any circumstance which might compromise the safety
of Prussia and of the other States of the Confederation.
The privileges of the Censure ought not to be exer-
cised with narrow views, and contrary to the spirit of
the law. The censor may authorise a free discus-
sion of even the affairs of the State. The linen-
testible difficulty which existed in determining the
true limit should not lead from a true application of
the law, nor inspire that anxiety which has already
giVen rise to false and lamentable interpretations of the
Government views. Although it be impossible to fore-
see every particular case which may result from in-
structi ons of this nature, the education and the position
of the censors are a certain guarantee that they will
maintain a mean term, thus conciliating what is due to
science and to morality, and what is owing to private in-
terest as well as to general. Hence it results that
writings containing an opinion upon the administration
or upon one of its branches, of laws enacted or to be en-
acted, indicating errors, or false ideas, or ameliorations,
ought not to be repulsed because they are conceived in
a tense contrary to that of the Government, provided
always the editing of the same be worthy, and its ten-
dency benevolent. The limits within which Govern-
ment measures may be subjected to a critique of this na-
ture depends upon the manner in which the debates of
the Rhenish States have been published ; but it must
never be lost sight of that the observations addressed
to the Government must not have a malevolent charac-
ter. It is also essential for the censors to know how to
make a distinction of this nature. Their attention
must be directed to the form and to the tone of the
works, and to the prohibition of their publication if
they in them perceive a passionate, violent, or arrogant
spirit. All that is contrary to the Christian religion, or
to any dogma of that religion, must not be tolerated.
It roust also be the same as regards anything which
may offend morality, or which is contrary to dcency.
Offensive expressions to individuals, wounding their
honour, must not be printed. The same rule must be
observed also with regard to a criticism of private
opinions, or of entire classes of society, the use of party
names, and other personalities. If the Censure be ex-
ercised according to these indications, conformably with
the edict on the Censure of the 18th of October,
1819, a sufficient publicity may thus be enjoyed, and
be conformable with the rules of good conduct. Hence
will result a greater sympathy for the interests
of the country, whilst the national prosperity will
be a gainer thereby. Thus it is permitted to hope that
political literature and the daily press will the better
understand their object, will assume a more worthy
tone, and will not seek to speculate upon publie curi-
osity, by communicating unmeaning articles bor-
rowed from foreign journals, or news furnished '
by ill-disposed or ill-informed correspondents, and by
reproducing personalities- The Censure is evidently
delegated not to tolerate such a state of things, but to
attain this end it is necessary to act with the greatest
precaution when new journals are authorised or
new editors admitted. The daily press ought
to be confided only to respectable men, whose
knowledge, position, end character, are the gua-
rantee for the loyalty of their sentimeilts: The