The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-14
PILOT & TRANSCRIPT.
THURSDAY, JANUARY Ia.
A DINNER WITH LOUIS PHILIPPE

A DINNER WITH LOUIS PHILIPPE
The January No. of the KN1cKERBocKER
contains an interesting article from the pen OF
GEN. CAss, our Minister In France, enu-
tied sTHREE Hours AT ST. CLOUD COM
prising a notice of a dinner with the Royal
family in company with our countryman, Gov.
EVERETT Our readers cannot fail TO be gra-
4 tilted with the following notices of the SIM
plicitv. quiet and order of this entertainment
and interview. The complimentto Mr. WALSH
will also prove gratifying to his countrymen;
A 81 had arrived at st. Cloud an invited guest
to dinner Our party originally consisted of
four Americans: the Minister, Gov. Everett,
of Boston, Mr.. Walsh, of Philadelphia, and the
Secretary of Legation. Unfortunately sud
den indisposition had prevented Mr.. Walsh
from accompanying us. This we all regretted.
for this highly intelligent gentleman concillates
the respect Of all with whom he is brought into
contact In connection with his name, may
mention an incident concerning his invitation,
which proves the kind consideration of the
Royal Family. Not knowing his residence
with certainty, two notes had been addressed
TO him, one at Paris, and another at Versailles,
and each had been sent by special messenger,
so as TO exclude the possibility OF any mistake.
The rest of our party had agreed to meet in
the court of the chateau at the hour indicated,
which was six o'clock. As royalty must not
be intruded upon before its own time, so 1t
rived Punctuality, therefore, which is always
virtue, becomes here a duty of propriety.
. AS the Minister was at Versailles, and Gov.
Everett and the Secretary at Paris, the two
latter had made an arrangement to come to-
gether and to meet the former, who was to
present them.
In al few minutes, the Queen, with her young
daughter the Princess Clementine, entered the
Iaft. IA
versing with the American guests, took her
seat in 4 kind of alceve, opening ilAo gale
nv, which surmounts the court, and commands
full view of the magnificent enviTons. The
Minister soon arrived, and then different mem
bers of the Royal Family, who were followed
by the King. The manners and address of
Louis Philippe are prepossesslng, and he has
that ease and self possession which an early
knowledge of the world and participation in
society never fail to give. Although sixty
eight years of age, his appearance is firm, and
his step elastic; andhe has a perfect command
of himself. which enables him to control his
emotion, and to conceal from the world what
ever trouble the cares of royalty, even of
French royalty, bring with them He was dres-
sed in the ordinary style of French gentlemen,
wearing plain blue coat ornamented on the
left breast with the star of the Legion of Honor,
and what is peculiar to himself, but which IS
his usual habit having the chain Of his watch,
with several keys and seals, suspended at one
of his button holes Bowling to the company,
as he entered, in such manner as to seem TO
neglect no one, he advanced to the Minister,
and with much kindness of manner asked him
several questions. We were then present, and
he became quite particular in bis attentions to
Gov. Everett. 1t was obvious that he knew
the high consideration which this distinguish
ed gentleman enjoys in our country, and he
had too much sagacity not TO discover, after
very short intercourse, that this reputation
was most Justly founded. | more than once
during the evening felt proud of this represen-
tative of American intelligence, not less than
at the favorable impression he prodaced upon
the circle, confirmed by the observation of a
lady of high rank, who conversed with him.
Very soon the double doors were thrown o.
pen, by principal servant, and the Abide
camp de Service, approaching the Queen, init
mated .by slight inclination, that the dinner was
served The Queen walking up to the Minis
ter, took his arm, and led the way to the din
ing-hall The King followed, leading his beau
tiful daughter-in-aw, the Duchesse de Ne
mours, and then the Due de Nemours, with his
sister, the Princess Clementine. The Due d.
Aumale, the youngest son of the King, gave
his arm to one of the ladies of the court, and
the two American guests then succeeded, each
honored in similar manner. Alter us, came
the military officers, and the other persons in
vited to the table. We passed through kind
ofvestibule, where band of military music,
belonging to the troops on duty at the chateau,
was arranged, but concealed from view, and
which played while we proceeded, and took
our seats, and during considerable portion of
the repast. Entering the dining room, we
found ourselves in a long apartment, modeStly
decorated and furnished, and having IN its CEN
tire table with thirty covers. The service
was beautiful, and / may observe, en- PEASANT,
that in this branch of domestic arrangements,
the French far exceed the English. Their
Sevres porcelain, and their rich bronze, with
its deep orange, which contrasts so admirably
with the color of the silver plate, give most
imposing effect TO their table equipage. And
then the design is conceived in exquisite taste,
and executed with great skill. II may well be
supposed that the dinner servfre oi the King of
France, and the richest individual perhaps in
the world, is BETTING lis station and country;
and must leave the reader 10 draw upon his
imagination for just conception of it, as es-
- chew all attempts at such descriptions.
The King placed himself in the centre Of one
side of the table, having vacant chair on his
LEFT, and the Duchesse de Nemours on his right
The Queen was on the opposite side, having the
American Minister on her right, and the Due de
Nemours Oh her left, The Princess Clementine
was on the right ofthe Minister, and the Due d
AumaIe on the left of the vacant chair. The
other guests seated themselves as they entered,
without confusion, and apparently without any
previous arrangement. Before we had finished
the soup, Madame Adelaide, the Kings sister,
entered very quietly, and without disturbing any
one, took the chair by the side ofthe King, which
had been reserved for her. AS she remarked,
ladies cannot prepare their toilettes as speedily
as gentlemen; and having accompanied her bro
Their from Paris, she had not time to complete
her arrangements when the dinner was an
nounced.
The dinner at Saint Cloud passed as dinners
usually pass, in some conversation, but still
more in the laudable operations of eating and
drinking. Thank heaven, the days of healths'
and foasts have gone by! The fashion is dead f,
never to be resuscitated. Even in the palmy