The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-03-26 00:00:00

THE BALL.

At length came " the great, the eventful day" (or rather
night) " big with the fate of" more than one " Cato," if
not "of Rome" ; and the bosoms of the enthusiastic
aspirants to immortality, as the best personations or the
most attractive or beautiful at the rooms, fluttered in
joyous expectation. Coaches and cabs were in universal
requisition, and towards eight o'clock the main entrance
being thrown open, and the stewards in waiting in the
vestibule to receive the guests, every thoroughfare in the
neighbourhood of the Exchange rang with the din of
hundreds of revolving wheels bearing along characters of
' all nations, and all degrees, from the prince to the pea-
sant. The crowd in Castle-street and Dale-street, and
particularly round the portico, became every moment
more and more dense,—all who flocked to the scene being
anxious to obtain a glimpse of the splendid or grotesque
personages rushing to the place of action, either through
the windows of the carriages, or more fully as they alighted.
Many and quaint were the remarks made, and great the
wonder excited, by the appearance of the motley groups;
but goodhumour prevailed throughout, and the humble
mechanic and labourer eyed without jealousy the sceptred
monarch and the plumed knight. From eight o'clock to
about half-past eleven, " the cry was still They come,' "
and the carriages continued to set down till the latter
hour, when the gathering may be said to have concluded,
if we except a few stragglers.

APPEARANCE OF THE ROOMS.
Soon after ten o'clock the rooms became filled with
multitudes of elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen,
arrayed in the most varied and gorgeous, or extraordinary,
costumes. The gentlemen appeared to predominate in
number, but it was impossible to form a correct estimate
by a mere view of the splendid and moving assemblage in
each apartment. The first impression of the beholder
was one of wonder and delight ; and it would be in vain
to attempt to convey an adequate idea of the magnificence
of the rooms, or the display of manly and female beauty
there concentrated, now that they were brilliantly lighted
up, and enlivened by thousands of resplendant and de-
lighted visiters—many of whom did not at first recognise
their intimate acquaintances, while all felt as if by some
magic spell they had been wafted into an enchanted palace.
As was sung by a Liverpool poetaster of a similar fete
many years ago,—

" Kings, heroes, dames, anti maidens fair,
And natives of all lands were there;
And there in life and vigour shone
The famed, the'brave, of ages gone ;
For every realm had there impress'd
Her fairest, brightest, noblest, best :
And vainly would the bard essay
To tell that meeting's bright array,
The manly stride of warrior frame,
The charming look of gentle dame.
The knights in gleaming armour dight,
The maidens armed with eyes of light,
That sparkled now in playful maze,
Now languished soft in loving gaze ;
And though the spear and sword of steel
Threatened dire wounds and death to deal,
The only killing weapons nigh
Were darts from beauty's sparkling eye.''
Some reclined on gorgeous couches ; others joined in
the sprightly dance; but the greater number, in groups
or singly, promenaded the rooms, the whole of which,
from any point, presented the appearance—such were the