The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-23

the property OF Lord Botetourt, and which
was purchased at the sale of bis effects by
Colonel Richard Adams the elder, is still
preserved, and Is Ia the possession OF q lady
Of this city, descendant of Colonel Adams.
Mr.. r. a. Brock has In bis possession q
detailed list of the personal effects Of Bryon
Martin, one of the heirs OF Lord Fairfax,
wherein appears. as the contents of an old
chest, the wardrobe, or what was left Of It,,
of Lord Fairfax" The date of the docu.
ment is believed to have been about 1920.
The mention Of this fact, it is believed, may
not be uninterestng to those OF our good and
fair citiz,ns so markedly infected with the
Centennial fever, which is very harmless
malady after all, aud hardly merits the glove
less handling accorded 1t By our cautious
legislative sages, State and National
TIE THgArRE-DEcoBAr1oss.
To prepare for the ball the floor of the
stage was extended 10 forward direction
until 1t reached the railing which separates
" bat is known as the orchestra chairs from
the parquette. A railing surrounded this
platform and was very useful in keeping
back the eager crowd which pushed forward
from all directions. kessnich's orchestra
occupied 8 position in front and to the left
Of the Court.
The decorations-whichw were put In place
by the Il. E. k.-were in elegance, appro.
priateness. and completeness. far superior to
any before seen 10 the Theatre, and made
the building look quite handsome. 4 special
feature consisted of four festoons of streamers
and banners dropped from the centre of the
ceiling in graceful curves to the family circle.
Coats Of arms, fags and colors Of England.
Ireland, Scotland, and " ales, were displayed
from the stage and the columns Of the pri-
yate boxes, and everywhere else they could
with good taste appear. Many OF these we're
used in the Inauguration Of the Jackson
statue, aud were exactly what was needed
for this occasion.
THH ENTERTAINMENT.
The Theatre was densely crowded, and
the anxiety to get good seats at times rose to
a painful height, and was not greatly allayed
by the arrangements made for seating the
people. The dress-crcle was filled with a
brilliant assem- blage, vieing in the splendor
OF their dress, in rich display ofjewelry, and
in all that makes women charming and men
agreeable, with the powdered and beNigged
personages of Lord Botetourt's court. The
family circle was also packed. The seats in
it had been numbered and sold, and lucky
were they who got places there. This was
indeed an eligible location. as the occupants
could gaze down not only upon the royal
pagentry on the stage, but upon the congre.
cation of beauty in the dress circle. The
uppernost gallery Afforded sitting room for
a few gentlemen. Had it been thrown open
to the public it would have been crowded.
So insufficient we're the dress and family
circles to accommodate the spectators,
the stage-door was besieged, and
many whose presence was not essen
tial TO the success of the entertainment in
that direction thronged behind the scenes.
The crowd also pressed upon the stage plat
form, but the strictness of the arrangements
there prevented few of those not entitled to
from gaining admittance.
Manager Powell, who knows how to
Judge a crowd In the Theatre accurately,
says there were about 1900 present. The
popular opinion, generally exaggerated, was
that were 1900 or 1000 present.
OPENING SCENE.
The curtain rose upon Lord Botetourt
Colonel R. B. Berkeley seated upon his
throne, which was placed to the left Of the
stage as seen from the auditorium. A little
girl and boy, children of Mrs. Coffee, in full
costume of great beauty, stood the one to
the right and the other to the left of the
Lord, and on the floor to the left of the throne
stood about forty or fifty Of the courtiers,
and to the right of the audience.
Advancing towards the front of the stage,
the gentlemen of the white stick Mr.. A. Sale
Watkins) bowed to his EXceIlency Lord
Botetourt, and with great ceremony said
"With your EXcelency's permission l will
now read a salutatoIy welcome from the
loyal citizens of this province"
Virginia, see, thy Governor appears
The peaceful olive on his brow he wears.
Sound the loud trumpets beat the rattling drums
From Great Britania's Isle his lordship comes.
Bid echo from the waving woods arise,
And joyful acclamatiOns reach The skies.
Let the loud organs join their tuneful roar,
And believing cannons rend the pebble shore,
Bid smoott James river catch the joyful sound
While Rappahannock and ork's gliding stream
Swift shall convey the sweety pleasing theme
To distant plains. where pondrous mountains r:Se,
Whose cloud-capped verges meet the bending SKI es.
The lordy. prize The Atlantic waves resign.
Aud now, Virginia, now The blessing thine,
His listening ears TO your trust attend,
And be your guardian, Governor, and friend.
Then swell the loud chorus as we joyful sing,
Health to our Governor ard God save The h1ng.
Miss Meade, of Petersburg. personatiDs an
ancestress, said, with splendid tone ane ges.
tUre:
He comes ; his Fxcelency coE:es:
To cheer Virgtnian plains;
Fill your brisk bowls, ye 10 yal sons-
And sing your loftlest Strains.
Be this your glory, this your boast
Lord Botetourrs The fayorta toast,
Triumphant wreaths eEtwine.
Fill full your bum per swiftly round.
And maize your spacious rooms resounc
With music Joy, and wine.
See, We have stript each 1owery bed
Hpre,s laurps for his iordip head,
Aud while ViroiniG IS his care
May ke protect the virtuOus fair.
Long NAV he live In health and peace,
And every hour his joys Increase.
Master of ceremonies:
To this let every swain Of lass
Take the sparkling, flowing glase.
Health to the Governor.
THE PRESENTATIONS.
Then the chorus "God Save the Eing' u
was sung. After ttat the gentleman of the
white stick continued "As perceive other
of the gentry have arrived for the purpose
of offering their humble congratulations.
your Lordship will doubtless condescend tc
allow them further presentation"
The gentleman of the white stick then re-
| tired to the door and presented the couple:
| as they arrived from the outside, each o.
whom represented some one OF their distin'
guished ancestors of that time. This cere
| monial having been gone through after The
! traditional manner of colonial times, the
master of ceremonies announced the follow
Jag:
Your Lordship, L" Mr.. Bridges, gentle
man, painter, has recently arrived in Virgil
mia under the patronage of Colonel Byrd, o.
WestoVer, who pronounces him limnel
equal to Sir G 'cffrey Kreller or Sir Peter
Lely. This gentleman, at great pains, has
pre- Dared series of tdbleau1 uirants after g
fashion now much affected by the nobility OF