Star.
London, England, 1813-07-21 00:00:00

PITTORLI 17711 AT PAUXNALL

The preparations for this splendid testimony of,
national exultation and gratitude,. have been con-
ducted undi r the auspices of Lord—Gwvrom Lord j
YARMOUTH, Mr. WELLESLEY POLE, MY.LONG VCrELLES-
LEY ?OM Mt..Coxotteve, and several persons of dio
tinction, assisted by Mr. SIMPSON, the ordinary Ma-
eager of the Garden.' Each Gentleman took a par-
ticular department, to which his taste and judgment
were specifically applied, and the whole was under the
inspection and direction of a general Committee, who
attended daily to view the progress of the works,
which were carried on with a degree of celerity and
dispatch almost inconceivable. None but those im-
Ine.hately connected with, or employed in the pre-
parntiuns, were permitted to enter the Gardens, and
hence the vague and incorrecestatements which have
:ypeared upon speculation before the public.
The first object whfch the Committee had in view,
was to select el place ' sufficiently extensive for this
fe,lival, affording the necessary accommodation for
the immense concourse of persons who, it was cor-
rectly anticipated, would feel a desire of being present
on so happy an occasion; and therefore it was that
V.itsxhall was chosen, as comprising in itself,. in ad-
dition to space, many of those requisites which were
essential to their views. An agreement was conse-
quently made with Mr. BARRATT, the Proprietor, to
give the use of his Gardens for the night; for which
he was to receive 2500 guineas, and to have no other
trouble in the arrangements than that of illuminating
the Gardens to the extent which the illuminations

are carried on ordinary nights. With the prepara-
tions for the banquet, and all the other brancbes of the
entertainment he was to have nothing to 'do, steps
having been taken by the Committee for the supply
of the nece,sary refreslnnents, and engagements hav-
ing been made with the most celebrated confectioners,
wine-merchants, and other persons, fur this purpose.
These preliminaries having been settled, the next
point to be consulted was the complexion to be given
to the fete, and the choice of the decorations which
might he most conducive to the public satisfaction,
and the eclat of the particular circumstance to be cele-
brated. It was at once unanimously determined that
the festival should be purely military, and, of conse-
quence, application was made to the Ordnance, and
other Departments, under which the military stores
are placed, tor the use of such materials as were ne.
cessary to complete the plan, and these were most
readily granted.
This end attained, an inspection of the Gardens
took place, when it was resolved to change their ordi.
nary teatures, and to give to the place as novel an
appearance as possible. Tor this purpose many of
the usual ornaments were
_removed ; the triumphal
arches were levelled—the Hermit and his cave were
removed to more gloomy regions...-the ruin: were for
a u hile obscured ; many of the fences round the en.
closures were taken down, and a complete metamor-
phosis took place in the exterior of these parts of the
premises. The execution of the plan, which had been
digested by the Committee, then commenced, altd
was completed yesterday at two o'clock, in a style
of great Magnificence and splendour.
THE QUADRANGLI.

Upon entering the Gardens by the principal en.
trance, the first object that attracted attention was
the Quadrangle, and here a scene of brilliancy and
dazzling effulgence was exhibited, which may be li-
terally said to beggar description. The eye was at
first natorally attracted towards the Orchestra, which
stands in the centre, and which was studded from the
summit to the base with ten thousand lamps, exhibi-
ting all the various hues of the rainbow, tastefully ar.
ranged in festoons, stars, diamonds, plumes, crowns,
and other elegant devices. Opposite the front of this
conspicuous pyramid of light, is situated the Prince's
Pavilion, and here a new source of astonishment and
delight was presented. Upon the cornice which runs
along the roof, stood pre-eminently distinguished the
• name of the immortal Marquis of WEL IJ NGToN, in-
scribed in prodigious large Roman characters, aad
illuminated by variegated lamps. Above this revered
name appeared a Sun of extraordinary magnitude,
formed of gold coloured lamps thickly hung, the
effulgence of which was rendered still more bright by
I the rays which were delineated upon the ground work,
and which were formed of burnished gold. This again
was surmounted by the Prince's Plume, not less
vividly illuminated. On the right were placed the
letters P. R. P. (Prince Regent of Portugal), and
the Portuguese Arms ; and on the left F. VII.—
1 ardinand the Seventh), and the Spanish Arms.—
rUnder the name of Wellington, was a star of great
anaegottude, in the centre of which were the letters
D. Y. in Italian characters, standing for the Duke of
York, Commander in Chief of the British troops.—
The pillars which support the roof were entwined
with spiral lines of variegated lamps, and the whole
was interspersed with diamonds and an immense pro-
fusion of laurel leaves, the fresh green of which, con-
trasted with the blond glare of the lamps, had the
most happy effect, and softened that light which
would othrxwise have been almost insupportable.
Emanating korn this gefnd centre, as it were, ran
nand the covered way forming the quadrangle, a
range of illumined borders, on which were inscribed
the names of all the principal Officers, British, Spa-
nish, and Portuguese, who have distinguished them-
selves during the war in the Peninsula. Wliile on
the south side, and immediately opposite to the Pa-
vilion bearing the name of Wellington, was the word
lirrrottea, entwined with laurels, and splendidly
illumined. Among other names which we oOscrved,
'Rue BueiteoAp GRAHAM, 13 EneSeoltD, L, VIM EIRA ,
ALAVERA, PAGE?, SPENCZN, ROLIEA, SHERBROOKE,
SALAMANCA, COLT, AFENTS6 DONOR; FAN!, BADA•
jOZ, A LAMA, CLINTON, SIMILE, OPORTO, LEITH,
CICDAZI ROLMMGCI, Kuala, TbICTON, COTTON, STEW.

ART, ALSCERA, &e.—These were all; like the name

d Weilington, composed of lamps, and above them,
at short distances from each other, were military
trophies and wreaths of laurel, also illumined by va-
riegated lamps. The cieling of the covered way was,
as usual, studded will lamps, and the supporting
posts were beautifully decorated with wreaths of
Lure!, interspersed with roses, jesamine, carnations,
bonvy-suckle,.and other sweet•scented flowers—form-
ing altogether a soup d'ail truly grand and imposing.
The attention of the visitor u as nexeturned to the
rear of the Orchestra, where was exhibited a transpa-
rency, painted by Orme for this occasion, in which
was displayed the Hero of the Fete, mounted on a
spirited charger, and dressed in the fulkuniform of a

Field Marshal at his feet beak Serjeant oftbalth
regiment, presenting to him the &woo of Jourdan ; and
behind him stood two of his Aids-de-Camp, regarding
with exultation the interesting spectacle. In the back
ground the fight was seen to rage in all its fury;
while the whole was enveloped in thick lowering
clouds, from the top of which burst a ray of light,
which, darting upon the figure of the gallant Wel-
lington, lifted him, as it were, from the scene of car-
nage with which he was surrounded, and exhibited
him to'the full view of the spectator. This piece was
entwined with one vast wreath of laurel, and excited
universal admiration.

THE BANQUET ROOMS.
The next source of attraction was the dinner-rooms,
from the inspection of which the gratification was not
less conspicuous than that experienced in the qua-
drangle. The Chinese Saloon or Rotunda, was the
spot chosen for the head of the tables, and here cer-
tainly the most magnificent arrangements were made,
and a sumptuousness of ornament and decorations
was displayed, which was never exceeded in this
country. The recess which formed the Orchestra, to
the Rotunda, in its original shape, was completely
altered, and in the room of the Gallery, for the-mu-
sicians, was erected a sideboard, formed of successive
steps or shelves, reaching to the cieling, and covered
with crimson cloth • upon which was exhibited a rich
and matchless profusion of gold and silver plate,
brought thither from Carlton house, in honour of the
festival. It was arranged in a pyramidial shape, the
apex being formed of a bust of the Marquis of Wel-
lington; near which was displayed Jourdan's &toe,
as. Field Marshal. To give effect to this exhibition,
a great body of light was introduced, which had the
most fascinating effect. Immediately in the front of
this recess was erected a large segicircular platform,
with an ascent of two steps, which was also covered
with crimson coloured cloth, and upon this was placed
a semicircular table, calculated to give accommoda-
tion to about one hundred persons of distinction.
From this table a complete view was had of all the
other tables, which proceeded in a direct line from it,
through the Picture-room, to the temporary refectory.
A magnificent chair was provided for the Duke of
YORK, over which was suspended a rich drapery of
crimson cloth, and the British. standard. At the
back of the chair was stationed two trumpeters, and
a grenadier holding the standard of the 100th regi-
ment of French horse, taken at the battle of Vittoria.
This head table was, of course, ornamented with the
most costly decorations, being a succession of tri•
umphal arches, pillars, and patent lamps. From the
Rotunda the tables extended, as we have stated,
through the Picture-rooms to the

TEMPORARY REFECTORY,
Which, for elegance of effect, and for the taste evin-
ced in us erection, surpassed any thing we could have
anticipated. The visitors of the Gardens may recol-
lect, that in the space between the Painted Room and
the Cascade, a semicircular area is formed, which is
surrounded by boxes, and in the centre of which
stand several lofty trees. The whole of this space
was converted into one beautiful room, covered by a
canopy formed of innumerable Royal Standards,
Union Jacks, and Ensigns, which were so contrived
as to form a variegated dome, suspended from, and
upheld by the wide-spreading branches of the trees,
the green boughs of which occasionally bursting
through the roof, had the most enchanting appear-
ance. From every part of this temporary cieling
were hung lustres of matchless elegance, filled with
wax tapers, and emitting a blaze of light of the most
dazzling description. The base of the dome was
formed of festoons most luxuriantly arranged, com-
posed of silken colours, and interspersed with laurel
leaves, which gave an indescribable spirit and anima-
tion to the whole. The floor upon which the tables
were laid was covered with sail-cloth, and thus the
effect of any darnpnesss which the ground might
have imbibed was totally prevented. The tables and
forms were of deals, resting upon tressels, and were
all made for the occasion. The knives and forks,
and the other table furniture, were of the best qua-
lity.

THE BALL ROOM.
The next object that attracted attention was the
Ball Room. The Supper Rnom, immediately ad-
joining the Rotunda, was the place chosen for ar-
ranging the principal room for dancing, and here a
total change was made. A ccmpletc new and ad-
mirably constructed floor was laid down, new and
brilliant lustres were suspended from the ceiling, and
the pillars by which the roof is supported were en.
twined with Artificial flowers. A temporary latticed
door, to ventilate the room, was also broken into the
adjoining garden, and, for this branch of the enter-
tainment, no pains were spared to consult the plea-
sure and convenience of the guests.