Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-03-26
THE COUNTESS OF cATucARr's BALL, rTc.


In my dull letter of yesterday date intimated that
perhaps should send you brief description OF other
sounds and sights which heard and saw in this me-
,ropos subsequently TO the evee Of the Governor Cen
eral holden on Wednesday last This communication
will, therefore, be continuation OF the letter which
has been already inflicted upon the readers OF the Ex
press giving in very imperfect manner some ACCOUNT
of the mode in which the Civil Governors OF British
North America receive visits OF ceremony from H. NJ.
subjects
About five o'clock the doors of the Government
House closed and His Excellency with his spen-
did cortege made their exodus from the city to Monk
lands, situated, as | have already said outside the
"Barriere" city limits. In the evening grand Ball
was given by the Countess OF Cathcar in the large
and commodious dining room OF Daley Hotel. Sew
hundred cards Of invitation were issued, 1t is said,
and the ball was had on the anniversary OF Queen Vic
oria's coronation and the recent battle Of Sobraon
Earl Cahcart was, until the arrival OF the Earl OF Ell
gin, the Civil Governor and Military Commander Of
British North America Since the installation Of tho
new Governor General he has been barely the COM
mander of the forces-a highly honorable, responsible
and profitable pos-the salary attached 10 the Office
being almost great that o. King James the First.
the present sovereign ofhe United States lie resides
with his family at the hotel where am writing tbs
and this ball was given in honor OF the noble Lord who
is ms successor as Governor General.
The company began to arrive soon after nine o.
clock, and were received by the Countess in draw
ing room where she STOOD surrounded by the staff Of
the Earl of Cahcar, and her own family. Alter each
guest had been presented 10 her ladyship and made
his salutaons, he proceeded through a double line OF
we'll dressed soldiers, TO the set apart TOR quad
rifles, watzes and poikas. The usual military salute
was given to all whose rank gave them title to the
honor.
After His Exeency arrived with his staff the Count
ess took Lord Elgins arm, and followed by the Earl
of Cahcar and the respective suites of the two Ears
proceeded TO the brilliantly lighted ballroom, the large
assembled company rising to receive them, and the
band playing the good old national air OF God save
the Queen They proceeded to the upper end OF
| the long and spacious ballroom, where ddis had
been prepared, and there enjoyed the most dazzling
coup oei that had been seen for long time in Mon
treal. Lord Elgin was attired in the splendid blue
ill. Drtt, ,tlI and
personal staff were dressed remarkably well. The
beautiful uniforms Of the military gentlemen the cost
dresses OF the ladies' the brilliant yet soitened lights
OF the chandeliers, and the lively music OF the Rifle
Brigade Band, and the Quadrille band OF Mr. Maire.
and the excellent arrangements that had been COM
peted under the eye OF Major Talbot, State Military
Secretary combined to render the Countess Ball, at
Daleys Hotel OF the most recherche affairs OF the
kind that have taken place in the Canadian me-
tropolis
and glitter OF gold and silver plate the champagne the
sherry and Rhine vines shall not essay a descrip-
ton The tables literally groaned with plenty and the
unwontcd sparkle that you and then detected IN
pretty madens eye showed concusvey that the cham
payne she had slipped was not manufactured at !ef-
spy clJcr-nill. Dancing was prolonged until late
hour and Of the city papers insists that mo city
this continent could present a greater array o.
beauty and fashion than ,ras to be met Nth on thus
OCCASION This seaudatory assertion l positively
5 deny The editor could never have spent any time in
Baltimore, New York, New Haven, Boston or Phlla-
delpha to hazard such remark. | avaed myself OF
/ "
mos. eminent gentlemen present; Among some OF
the principle personages. were His Excelency the
Goy Ea of En AND REX Maiden, hsTd
n Lord Greenock Major General Sir James Hope, Ma
r jor Gen Gore Sir George Simpson Major Douglass.
and His Hdnor the Mayor john e E. Nils
: Esq. an American genemen-a native, am told, OF
l. the land OF steady habits good old Connecticut.
By the way former ye0rs, the tact that gentle.
i man was born on the Yankee side of the Divisional
g line oil Asa almost an insurnountabe bar TO po-
e ltical eminence: The elevation Of the late Hon Ho,
} ratio Gates Massachusetts gentleman, the pos, Of
h, member of the Council the aran OF the
l. promotion OF other American gentlemen 10 the Bench
lie and Council and very recently OF the election TO ihs
Mayoraty, Of John L. Mills, Esq, formerly OF Connec
of AT the opening of,his letter. spoke fgying you
n brief description of the Countess Ball, and now Tim
re that have incidentally given, at length, utter
a. ance to irrelevant expressions OF national feeling
he This ought not so TO be- and in my account OF the bal
n, at Doneganas the evening following, ! will air
ell to tell plain and unvamshed tale, in very few
", words
Ell, This ball given for charitable purposes unde
&C. the patronage OF Mrs Col Wetherall, Mrs. DR.. Rob
OF ertson and Madame ID Blcury. The spacious ball
rts room OF Mr. Donagana--5eIng eghty-ive feet long
and thlry-hve feet wide vas brilliantly lighted wit
gas and the entire arrangements OF his rooms were
exceptionabe. The two bands of music in attendance
zee played their parts in admirable style. Dancing, CLAN
u cling, walking, talking Waiting, and pclkang, chat
- ting and pronenadlng love maklng and Sinking, &C
ia quoting and flirting .ogng and heart breaking, gu,
I'D spping coffee drinking sandwch-eang and all IN
ne customary concomtants Of metropolitan balls wei
st, found here in great prouslon The company was,
IN course more mixed than at the Countess Batckc
ed OF admission being within the reach OF all young gen
IS tlemen who are fond OF music and dancing No
outstanding a. this saw, at tins ball al Done cana
me Lords ana Ladies, gentlemen with moustaches an
dl- gentlemen without officers with spurs and office
ny without spurs gentlemen with pure blood in their vein
ms and gentlemen without, English Scotch Irish Frenc
ted and American gentlemen and ladies' all determined
the ENJOY to the m lest extent the good cheer OF mine hos
IN In the small hours the company dispersed well col
u neh Tho Ptanr lla h,
zeal had been conducted As for myself was glad TO q
gs under the jurisdiction OF the bamy god and for OF,
en- IN my life thought when heard the rumbng OF tn
gong, mat nie clock was excellent hour for bret
nth ast
Tomorrow being the 18th day Of the month will
OF Ash Wednesday, or the first day Of Lent The gre
up NUMBER oil parties, concerts, soirees &c &c whiC
sra are crowded within the space of the past week
nd perhaps be accounted for when the tact have stat
ID isrcmembcrcd To-day is the last day OF the Car,
att raj so called becaus, M ni,ln , Deone formerly ,o
'oth leave OF flesh and propitaed the invisible powers
hcf abstinence from pleasure and penance. The "gra
SUE concert ior the reei OF the amlshing poor OF Monlr
oh al the grand soiree Tor the promotion of the Fl
ny Arts, under the patronage of Mrs tioiiau Mrs
hlei Robertson. and Mrs Charles Lindsav ana the Ann
re- al Festival OF Mechanics Institute under the dist
ugh gushed patronage OF His Fxccieurv The Cove,
General are therefore the last matters OF the X
oe "nch gay persons may expect until Easter arrives
IN Now mere permit me 10 close this communica III
III designed To say something about the interest
my tested IN Montreal about railways to connect with
ne ton and Ogdensburgh bat deter those sube
as until more convenient Talete st pGudi
Ne SUM CUIoUE
who
re to News from England :!