The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-07-24 00:00:00

THE SOIREE.

The magnificent suite of rooms in the Town-hall were
thrown open for the reception of the ladies and gentlemen
whom the Mayor and his amiable lady had invited to meet
his Excellency the Duke of Dalmatia. Mr. Stubbs' har-
monic band was stationed in the vestibule: the band after-
ward's removed to the orchestra of the Great Ball-room. This
fine band played during the evening favourite airs, and con-
contributed much to the enjoyment of the company.
The guests began to arrive shortly after nine o'clock. The
arrangements for the setting down of the company were
under the directions of Mr. Whitty, our excellent head
constable; and so complete were they that, though,there was
a long train ofcarriages, neither delay nor confusion occurred.
Mrs. Rathbone and her amiable daughters took their station
at the left hand of the entrance to the drawing-room, and re-
ceived the company as they arrived. By ten o'clock the
suite of rooms to the front of Castle-street were densely
crowded. There could not have been less than one thousand
persons present on the occasion. Among the company we
observed most of the principal families in the town and its
neighbourhood. Many of the la lies were splendidly dressed,
and their appearance could not fail to give the distinguished
foreigners who were present a favourable opinion of the
beauty of the far-famed Lancashire witches." The pressure
in the drawing-rooms was slightly relieved by numerous
parties promenading in the Small and the Great Ball-room.
The guests whom the Mayor was entertaining still lingered
at the table, the sound of the cheering, which, ever and anon,
reached the ears of the company in the rooms, evinced that he
and they were •‘ enjoying the feast of reason and the flow of
soul." Shortly after ten, the Mayor, accompanied by his
distinguished guests, joined the company in the drawing-
rooms. The Duke of Dalmatia, who was plainly dressed,
wore a star upon his breast. The noblemen and gentlemen
of his suite were also plainly • attired, and some of them wore
orders. A number of naval and military officers, several of
whom had formed part of the dinner party, appeared in their
respective uniforms, and gave variety to the costumes of the
gentlemen.
The Duke of Dalmatia honoured Mrs. Rathbone with his
arm, and promenaded through the rooms. His son and
other noblemen and gentlemen escorted the Misses Rathbone
and the ladies of their party. The promenading continued
for about an hour, the military bands entertaining the com-
pany by playing a variety of favourite airs. On the entrance
of the Marshall to the Great Ball-room, the baud struck up
the " Marselloise," the national French air, in honour of his
excellency and suite.
About eleven o'clock the refreshment-room was thrown
open, and the,company partook of tea and coffee. Prome-
nading was again resumed, and continued till near midnight,
when the guests took their departure, highly delighted with
the soiree, and particularly with the hospitality and urbanity
of Mrs. Rathbone and the Mayor, who, in inviting our fair
townsmen to a soiree in the magnificent rooms of the Town-
hall, have set an example which all future Mayors and their
ladies will do well to follow.

When we state that the Mayor returned from London on
Thursday night only, and that all the arrangements for the
reception and entertainment of the Duke of Dalmatia and
his suite had to be made after his worship's arrival, it is mat-
ter of surprise, all things considered, that the affair went off
so admirably as it passed over. The invitations to the soiree
were not issued till late on the afternoon of Friday, Mrs.
Rathbone having returned from Dublin on the forenoon of
that day only; yet the result was one of the most brilliant
and delighted assemblages ever convened within the walls of
the Town-hall.