, 1866-12-28

70 the court were Invited, aud not loss than
thrce Thousand ladies' aud gentlemen wctu
present. The ladies, OF course, we're Richly
dressed and wore profuslon of diamonds
and splcndid jo~e'ry while the gentlemen
were IN full Uniform, every style being repre-
sented from the Azny and navy-Cossack,
Georgian and all.
The Emperor and Empress and the impc :
rial 1nntly ept cred the grand Nicholas saloon
ut about half rast nine o'clock, the band
playing the march from Tanuaausee The
Emperor a. once advanced to tho diplonatlc
corps, and conyc1sed with each Of the heads
ot legations, while the Empress moved
about among aad received the salutatlons o{
the ladies Of the diplomatic body, couvers-
Ing 10 The most aiIab!c manner, and not
sanl emitting tn, to say Tofd to al. While this
the imperial faniIy, the Grand Duchess Fro-
dorovsea and the Grand Duke Constautine
taking the head. In this set danced the
Prince Of Wales, who was dressed In the unI-
form Of a British General, and worc
number or orders and decorations !;
the Grand Duke Herities, In the red
uniform Of his corps. wearing the broad
GORDON Of the order Of the EePhaut of Dem
mark; the crown Prince Of Denmark, 10
Aussar uniform, and Ii short, all the Grand
Dukes and Grand Duchesses present were In
lhe 1lfst dance and entered into it with great
The Grand Duchess Feodorowna, the
bride, had On magnificent white silk dress.
oInamcnted with pearls aud diAmouts. The
diadcn upon her head was composed OF
diamonds and rubies. Around her neck she
~orc . splendid necklace OF diamonds Of
great size and brillIancy, and one OF pearls.
sne appeared to DO In excellent health and
spirits, and danced throughout the<yenipr
With great zest. She danced with the Priuce
Of Wales several times during the evening.
AZ the ladies Of the Imperial farni!y wore
d'adems Of beautiful design and great sp1en-
Nowhere III the world Is the at Of lighting
rooms 50 well known Us ID Russia, and Ger
tainly ia the Imperial palace, on great occa-
s!ons, the veg dcHe Of success Ii qhtatued,
10 saloon could hare been more brilliantly
lighted than that IN which the dancing took
place. and AL this Wa accomplished without
as would have been The case II gas, instead
o. Wa1 tapers, had bcen employed. Ten or
twelve immense chandeliers, pyramids oil
light, rows Of tApers near the ceiling and on
the columns at the side Of the room, and
hundreds q tapeFs IN cande1abras On al sides,
sht d food Of Light upon the scene riratlins
the rnys Of the noonday sun In brilllapcy and
| s1ftDess. Under such light the splendid
toilettes Of the ladies' aud the brilliant uni.
fo1ms or the gentlemen shone to great ad-
| Al midright supper WIS cnponnccd, and
| Empress and the Prince Of Wales. AMER the
| Imperial family came the diplomatic corps
and the distinguished stsang grrs, and then
| the others Of the party, the members Of the
| court IN advance, according TO rank. The
| SPLENDID seyrea ware OF the palace was
| upon the tables. and a great number Of sifye.
ornaments, artistica.ly emhodyius Russian
ecenes md customs. When all the company
1 was seated, the Emperor, as IL his custom,
passed through all the tables and saw that
| The guests were enjoying themselves. Aftes
ths supper there Was some more dancing,
when the Emperor apd the Imperial family
I retired, which vas the signal for the break
Ing up OF the ball. During the evening Gen
eral Clay sat IN excellent example @ tic
Young men Of the diplomatic corps, bs
dancing With eminent grase and
yiEor with some Of The Priucesses
The venerable schamyl aud bis sor
were present, and seemed 10 be
delighted With the occasion. uc attract
ed no little attention, and was generally the
centre Of humber Of curious spectators. j
observed Prince Gortschakoff In couversa
:io,I with him, through III Interpreter, eyi
dcntly greatly to the old warriors delight