The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-10-15

Mr.. Bancroft Mr., Astor. Mr. Chas. O. Dayia
Mr. Leary and Mr. Braalsh ware promiuen nj
the dais. which was but q step or two from the
side door by which they On tered. aud the
Baron stood on ths frat step Of 1t, while the
otnsr genuemsn gathered around. Gov. Fish
was stlli ON his left and Lord Lyons on his
right The band play ed "0od Save the @ ueen. /,
and subseQ uently Hail Colum bia, /" and after
two or three moments, during which Lord
henirew was the cynosure Of several thou.
SAND eyes, bat bore the inspection with grace
and dignity, the company began TO pass by him
TO pay their respects. Many bowed very pro.
foundiy, and some of the ladies who had been
At Courts performed stately obeisance
others were less ceremonious, but the Baron
acknowledged each courtesy civiliy.
This had not continued more than ten min.
utes when crash was heard, and an alarm
pervaded the entire assem- blage. Two or three
little shrieks Were uttered, but extreme good
breeding and Indifference were manifested by
the men, The flooring somswher near the
place where the orchestra is usually placed
proved TOO weak to support the throne. and
feil through. Fortunately, it was only tive
ieet higher than the ordinary stage so that
lad any OF the company fallen, they could not
have been seriously injured. But the pre-
monitory trem bling had given q warning, and
no one fell. Ii was speedily, indeed, after
wards ascertaired that no danger existed, and
alarm of course subsided. Still 1t was singu
lar TO notice how both English and American
gentlemen gathered around the young lad at
the first thought of danger the English were
anxious for their future master, the Ameri-
cans for their guest He maintained as tho
rough composare as any, however, and
though his cheek turned pale, was ready to ac-
knowledge the civilities which were almost
Immediately resumed.
The space broken in upon was about thirty
feet square and within a few min utes an adj
ditional portion gave way, somewhat smaller
and this also without occasioning any abso-
lutte injury. rope was speedily stretched
around the opening, and carpenters brought
in, with their tools. The sight was a strange
one the great edifice and brilliant crowd, with
the glancing lights, the floral decorations and
the superb costumes, constitutes but a Frame
work around dark and ugly chasm beams
and transverse pieces were conspicuous, and
iaborers In ordinary garb, with hammers and
saws; two or three gentlemen stood near an d
issued orders. OF course no dancing could
take place until the accident and its results
were obviated; so the supper rooms were
thrown open an hour or two earlier than had
been intended the Baron was conducted by q
private entrance to the table prepared for him.
and OF course concourse followed by the
more public way. This relieved the pressu re
of the throng, and allowed the workmen space
for their man9uvres. The music kept up the
liveiiest measures; but the delay in opening
the ball was one of nearly two hours, during
which the spirits OF the throng had time 10
change from elasticity to something very like
disappointment.
The supper room was reached by new
passage-way built outside of the Academy, in
Fourteenth street. tits more than hundred
feet long, and about twent ty five feet wide, and
was carpeted and hung with white and pink
musiins, tastefully disposed. A thick red cord
divided its entire length, so that the crowd
passing to the supper room might be entirely
distinct from that returRing to the hall. The
supper room is one hundred and twenty -four
feet long, twenty five wide, and forty -eight
high. 1t was tastetully and brilliantly deco.
rated. Light muslins in alternate strips Of
pale pink and white concealed the walls and
ceiling; 1S or 20 chandeliers ligh ted the hall,
and were reflected in as many mirrors that of
course repeated the gay throng and made
the scene more splendidiy confused. The Ia
bies were arranged lengthwise on either side
of this oblong hall, and loaded with every
deiicacy and dainty served in style worthy of
private entertainment. Across the room, at
the point farthest from the entrance and op-
posite Fourteenth street. on q dais slightly
elevated, was laid the Baron's table it was
semi-circular, and provided with chairs for
about fifteen persons. No others sat. After the
guest had completed his repast, he was taken
by aprivate passage-way back to the ball room,
SO that the necessity of crowding through the
thronged supper room was avoided.
Among the decorations of the supper table
were sugar statues of Queen Victoria and
Prince Albert, and models of the Great East
ern, the Niagara Suspension Bridge with a
ball did not close till long after midnight
The Prince opened the ball forma lily W with Mrs
Governor Morgan. He danced the second
dance with Miss Mason, and the third with
Mrs. Hoyt the youngest daughter OF General
Scott. The crowd around during the last
dance was SO great that the party could hardly
stir.