The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-10-11 00:00:00

CRAND BALL.

For the• following descr;ption of he ball we beg to tender our
acknowledgments to the proprietor of the Albion, from which
paper it is chiefly copied :
The scene which our good old town presented to view duriag
the whole of Friday was animating in the extreme. Every
bosom seemed to glow with anticipated delight. During the
whole day, nothing seemed to be thought of, nothing was
spoken of but this, the whole absorbing topic. " What do you
intend to wear ? Have you procured a ticket ?" and " How do
you intend to go?" were the questions which fell upon the ear
at every turn. The second question was not a superfluous one,
for by Thursday night all the tickets sent out by the committee
had been sold, and a fresh issue had to be made on Friday
morning. Such was the eagerness manifested by all parties on
the subject, tint dresses were let out at very high prices, and
some very old specimens of costume, which would not have
found customers under other circumstances, were borrowed at
prices far exceeding their utmost value. The gentry specula-
ting in such commodities have realized a rich harvest. Such-
little discrepancies, however, like straws in a landscape, when
they come to he mingled and embodied in the great scene, were
not even perceptible as defects, and it is a question, whether
they did not, by the force of contrast, aid the general effect of
glowing magnificence.
Several individuals, whose souls were
" On fire, and eager for the fray,"
sought admission to the rooms at an early hour. Multitudes of
the populace beset the door, anxious, if they could not join the
gay throng, to, at least, catch a. glimpse of those who either
had more money or more vanity. This, owing to the escellent
order kept by the police, created 'no ine,'invenieece, as'it-Clear
way was left for the carriages, %bleb came and departed without
the most trifling confusion having arisen. ' When the tide of
arrival was flowing with the greatest rapidity, the line of car-
riages reached beyond the bottom of Dale-street, while hundreds
of individuals, impatient of the tardy step by step sort of motion
whereby that distance would have to lie traversed, 'permitted
themselves to be set down iu the vicinity, and walked tip to the
doors of the Townshall. Of course, these were objects of con-
siderable amusement to the populace, but we have not heard of
any insult having been offered, or of anything having passed
save a good humoured joke or two, which were received, or
perhaps replied to, in the spirit with which they were given.
It is impossible to picture a sight of greater beauty than was
presented by the grand stair-case at this period. Its size, and the
sort of sweep which it takes, possesses an air of classical gran-
deur. We have seen it with every-day mortals passing up and
down, without noticing its picturesque beauty, but now the as•
sociation became complete, as groups of individuals, dressed
principally in the cos'u:ne of the olden time, passed upward
and disappeared at the turnings. Seen from the vestibule, the
effect was beautiful in the extreme. As we gazed upon it, vi-
sions of other days, such as made their impress in the spring-
time of youth, rose in fair array before the eye of imagination.
Then, for a brief space, we lived again in
" the joy of young ideas
Painted on the mind
In the warm glowing colours fancy spreads
When all is new and all is lovely."

Speaking of the staircase reminds us of an incident which we
witnessed, and which we might as well relate here as anywhere
else. At a more advanced period of the evening, several indi-
viduals, intent upon observing the lovely beings who flitted, like
fairies, across the scene, had stationed 'themselves upon the
staircase. This was contrary to the regulations, and one of the
stewards was sent to dislodge the 'gazers. Mr. - is remark-
able for his urbanity, and every person moved off at his polite
intimation, save a gigantic Turk, who maintained his post with
a sullen gravity that might have well becomethe Eastern Sultan
himself. " Sir," said. Mr. , "it is requested that the stairs
may he kept clear." The Infidel curled his lip and bent his
brow, but made no reply. Mr..-- looked tither blank at
this. For our own parts we began to think that this was-a real
native of the Ottoman empire, and we have no doubt that some
such thought passed across the mind of the worthy steward, fur
he cast rather a rueful glAnce at a scymitar of huge dimensions
which the stranger grasped in his left band. Summoning cou-
rage, however, he said, " Sir, I must request that you will leave
this spot." The eye of the Turk gleamed with double ferocity
as he exclaimed, with a growl, "Sir, it is impossible!" The
steward, nettled, said, " Sir, if you do not leave the spot in-
stantly, I'll-call—" "A h! dog, dust thou threaten me?" cried
the Turk, grasping the handle of his scymitar, but the steward
had prudently retired out of reach. The Turk, bursting with
suppressed laughter, seized the hand of his alarmed friend, say-
ing, " Is it possible that you do not know me ?" "God bless my
soul, T—, is it you ? Why your mother w9uldn't know you."
The parties were intimate friends.
On entering the great room, the sight which burst upon the
eye was one of surpassing beauiy. The floor was covered with
splendidly attired individuals, anti the air was alive with floating
plumes. The light, dispersed in myriads of rays from the drops
of the chandeliers, was reflected back in coruscations innume.,
rahle from rich jewels,; gold and silver laces, spangles, orders,
and glittering ornaments of every description. Of the ladies it
is ever our delight to speak; but, in this instance, it is dan-
gerous ground to tread upon.

They were fair,
Oh ! how divinely. fair !

With their unadorned beauty, how many thousands of stout
hearts might have been enslaved; but with the lustre of their
charms, heightened into enchantment by dresses the must
graceful, superb, or fanciful that the highest taste could con-
ceive, what mortal could behold them without emotion ! Stoics
as we are, we pretend not to such coldness, and, among our
youthful friends, we know of hundreds who have had their peace
of mind ruined for at least a month to come, while others have
formed friendships with princesses, Swiss peasants, Roman
nymphs, and flower girls which will, probably, lead to results
of great importance to their connexions. The usual number of
odd combinations of characters took place. A grave monk pa-
tronized, with great care, a youthful Don Giovanni, who, in his
turn, shrunk with blushing bashfulness from every female who
came near him, The haughty noble of days of yore yoked his
artwin fellowship with the serf of the same period, while the
modern dandy hussar officer walked in company with "the fine
old English gentleman, all of the olden time." The splendid
Mussulman and the venerable Jewish Rabbi, forgetful of their
customs, devoured ham sandwiches and drank Wine together,
while an European Kitight and an Alg‘erine Dey, no'longer op-
posed, divided a veal pie with the greatest appearance of amity.
The days of Arcadia seemed to be restored, foriovelied princesses
were on the most friendly terms with peasants and shepherdesses,
while they did not disdain to bestow their hands upon the swains
in the dance.

In the first instance, the suite of rooms belonging to the
Town-ball was crowded to excess. `!.Of comfort no man spoke,"
for there was scarcely room' to move:' This arose from the
avenue leading to the Underwriters'-room and the refreshment-
room not haviug yet bee❑ thrown open. In this direction the
high pressure principle was akted upon, to a degree that proved
extremely inconvenient to lbose
.individuals who stood not
within the moderate compass of their fellows. "Let me have
men about the that are fat," Said a merry wag, who, dressed as
Figaro; stood- steaming with perspiration, jammed between
the ponders is paunches of two personsOf the. Falstaff calibre.
Notwithstanding the crowd, however, numbers of individuals
were hardy enough to attempt lancing, though, for any display,
the sets might as well, at this time, have been formed inside of
an omnibus.

• At length the avenues leading to the 'Underwriters'-rOorn and
the refreshment-room were thrown open. Even then, however,
the relief mine very slowly, the company being only admitted
in parties of thirty or forty at a time, and at intervals of four
or five minutes, which, to those who were waiting, appeared
like so many hours. It is to be regietteo, that the Committee
did not listen to the suggestions which were thrown out re-
specting the enclosure of the whole or a part of the Exchange
area. 'With such a promenade, the rooms would have been
greatly relieved, and space
.would have been afforded for that
display of the costumes which on :an occasion of this sort is so
desirable. The whole range of apartments, extensive as it was,
was much too small for the accommodation of so large a coin-
pan v.

The specimens of splendid and tasteful costumes were num-
berless, some being gorgeous in theextreme. Masks of course,
were not admissible, but some individuals were so completely
disguised that recognition was impossible. Many an individual
stared in blank astonishment after the person who, urged on by
the crowd, had shaken his hand in passing, and addressed a
passing compliment to him byname. " Who is that gentleman?"
„ Really I don't know. 1 can't say that I ever saw him before."
One incident amused "r.s. A professional gentleman, of this
town, who was ~,,rndittly attiica in a court di ess,of the last cen-
tury, was passing across the floor of one a tli:Siriallrnoin, when
he was accosted by an individual dressed ai'a "Child of the
Mist." Silently the Gael honk the hand of our friend, and ga-
zed intently in his free. The latter gazed, in turn. " I know
face. Sir,-but—but--I cannot cull niind where I baYe
your ,
seen You." The 'ifill)laCt‘d his finger, with a mysterious air,
upon his lips, and was. about to depart. Curiosit.3 pt, pre(lomi-
and the gentleman c:,m;lit the arm of the
Ppuci.itt.seanners.;, and forci,iy tel him for a minn,"
ould no•nti3O his fiarite. Still, the
mysterious
eor7l
with a countenance of the utmost
daughter to the gentlemen in the court
" Sandy," said she, addressing the.Griel, "
dress, came up—" Sandy,
the gentlemau, a
usoi:gan:.
.s—bi eAgigi cNiT.UogillYntah,S:itaublyerepeated"'
"is it possible ?" It was his own
cousin " Hon came ) no' to ken me, mun?" exclaimed the
Child of the Mist. "Hoot, mun I" said the Eliglish, nobleman,
dliigdh\t'(b)urelaekai'neguitst?l'lll-To;; him—
" vet ails mither wad na ken ye wi'aw that horse hair an paint
upon yer countenance."

The first object that, met our view, ris'we entered the refresh-
ment-room, provoked our risibility. It • was Julius cmstir, with
the conqueror's wreath on t,u brow, swiizlong deeply at a pot of
porter, while Brutus stt,cd u), marvelling at the