Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-02-03
FEANCE,
TIE fiRsr it;fERrAt hAf.1.


The London Morning Chronicle gives the FOL.
lowing account of the first Imperial Ball given al
| the Tuilleries on the 18th:
The invitations were limited to 9, 900, of which
| 240 were set aside for English His Majesty
and Court came out in the glories of shor
breaches and silk stockings, having for the occa.
sion laid aside their long pantaloons and bottles q
cecuyere. Court etiquette in the matter of uni.
forms and silk stockings as we'll as in more i'm.
porant affairs is to be strictly kept up under the
new Imperial regime. 1t appears the Court is in
commotion respecting the strictness of the OBJ
servances of State. The orderly officers and
aides de camp especially are desole. Those OF
them who were allowed TO approach the Presi
dent OF the Republic with the familiarity Of
equals, now find themselves thrust back into the
ante chamber of the Emperor Napoleon Ill
They are not even allowed to enter the Sale des
Nareschaux which in Louis Phillipes time was
their usual lounge.
Though the hour mentioned was o'clock
yet long before carriages began to arrive at the
Court of the Palace. There were two sets of
tickets-those of rose color procured an entrance
by the Pavilion floor, and were set apart for the
members of the Diplomatic Corps and the higher
functonaries of the State; and white tickets for
the other persons, who had access by another
entrance on the same side. The Emperor en-
tered the State apartments precisely at 8 clock,
aud proceeded to the throne room, where he
received such persons as were specially presented
to him by their respective ambassadors. About
10 O'Clock general movement was observed in
the saloons leading to the throne room, and soon
the Emperor appeared with Lady Cowley lea
ming on his arm, and followed by the Ministers,
| the members of the Diplomatic Corps, the officers
of the household, the great functonaries of State
aud the ladies and gentlemen who had Just been
presented.
Louis Napoleon was dressed in the uniform of
a general officer, with the riband and star of the
Legion of Honor. He wore shoes with small
diamond buckles, and white silk stockings with
diamond knee-buckles. I he Ministers and seve.
raj other public functonaries were similarly habi-
ted. The Emperor looked well, and appeared in
excellent spirits as he passed between the rows
OF gorgeous uniforms and costly dresses of ladies',
bowling to the right aud left. He proceeded at
the head of his brilliant coYtege to the Sale des
Marechaux, where dancing at once commenced
The Emperor had for his partner the lady of the
English Ambassador. Arrivals continued almost
without intermission till II O'Clock, and soon
the magnificent saloons of the palace were flied,
yet not inconvenienty so.
Dancing continued with spirit till near o.
clock, The Emperor had danced with Lady
Cowiey, the Princess Mathilde, and the Countess
OF Teba-the last of the most beautiful wo-
men in Spain. He then sat down with the
Grand Chamberlain standing or seated behint
INN, and looked on the others dancing or walked
about with n lady leaning on his arm 1t is but
fair to say that othe most consp cuous for the
vigor and energy of his dancing was Marshal
Magnan, whose movements did not seem in the
least encountered by the weight of his new hon
ors. At IL O'Clock the Emperor led the way to
the supper room. The feast was laid out in the
theatre of the Palace. which was also richly
decorated for the OCCASION
In order that the repast might be enjoyed with
| more ease, it had been arranged that the Indies
should sup by themselves, and the men after
The Emperor was followed by numerous cortege
of ladies and gentlemen. When the folding
doors which led from the long gallery to the yes
thule through whichyou pass to tho theatre were
thrown open nothing could exceed the brancy
Of the spectacle. Around the semi-circular
apartment buffet laden with refreshments
The number oftables laid out were 40; they were
round, and each provided ample accommodations
| for ! 4 persons. Meats ofevery kind, and wines
ofevery vintage We're supplied in abundance
Besides the brilliant light which flowed down
from the listers, which hung from the ceiling,
three silver branches, with three or four lights
| each, were placed on each table. An elevated
| gallery round the hall, and two bands of
music played the most select airs alternately dur
| ing the whole time. The favorite air, "Partant
pour la Syrae," was always sure to be heard
wherever Louis Napoleon made his appearance.
| 1t was remarked that the plate bore the initial
IN" with the Imperial crown, while the nap
| kins-at least many OF them-had the letters
81 Pr and the date '1s47," marked on them
Supper over at 2 o'clock, but more than an
hour previously the Emperor returned to the
Sale des Marechaux with many of the ladies', and
dancing was resumed with even more earnestness
| than before. At 3.oclock the company began to
| thin, and before that time the Emperor had re-
tired to his private apartments. Dancing was
kept up tiIl4 O'Clock
A correspondent of the Chronicle adds that the
Emperor's civility to his English guests was
marked, AID that prior to the ball. the English
Minister having sent in long list of persons de-
string invitations, with an intmaton that if rela-
lively too large the number might be diminished,
Napoleon replied that ''whatevei the relative
proportion, no name should he erased from the
English list; that he had meyer forgotten, and
would not forget, the hospitality he had received
in England; and that he should see Englishmen
underhs roof with particular PLEASURE