Morning journal and courier., 1881-08-12
Price Four Gents.

ment is furnished in single color. the red room being warm with crimson satin, the blue room cool and exquisite in it's celestial sheen, and the amber room rich in colors of gold Mirrors and mantels in these elabor- ately draped saloons were artistically trim med with bloom, the profusion of flowers being notable. In several of the windows charming effects were produced by these be- ing bowed out with awnings, filled with plants and lighted so as to give them a sub dued and fascinating appearance. None of the vases on the mantels were filled, as these are too rare to be tempered with. Among the collection are several of amber, onyx and other precious stones, and Sevres dish worth e1O, 900.
 At one end of the amber room are two spa. cious mirrors, before which stand etegeres. One of these plate glass arches is a secret door to her majesty's private closet, where she may retire when fatigued, and when the royal family assembled before entering the drawing g-rcoms on State occasions. The im- mense arched panel was swung open to per- init me to take peep into this holy of ho1- les, and 1t really looked in the soft light of candles a charmed spot. The furniture is of crimson plush and satin, and the divans most luxurious. The walls are upholstered in sat- in, and let me say here that the decorations of the ceiling and walls of all the staterooms are very magnificent, especially. those where the gold medallions are in relief. But to re- turn to her mrjesty's closet. It is hung with cabinet pictures, the most interesting of all to me being painting on porcelain of the young Duchess of Kent holding in her arms the young child Victoria. It is a tender and most beautiful picture.
 The windows of the ''closet" were bowed with canvas, filled with plants and lighted these annexes of bloom looking very pictur- esque. There were rich punches of roses on mantels and tables, and imagined how the scene would be completed were the Queen in jewelled crown and ermine resting in her &C., customed chair. In the passageway leading
 from the amber room are statues in Parian
 marble of Victoria and Albert. Several beef
 eaters in gorgeous regalia, holding tall gilded spears, keep guard here. The state dining
 room, with it's lovely landscape view from
 the windows of the palace grounds, is one of
 the pleasantest of this long chain of saloons
 The portraits of Victoria just after her cor
 onation, wearing a wreath of roses, and of
 Prince Albert when slender youth, and of
 George III, which is full of expression of
 action, made a marked impression upon me-
 bringing "reminiscences of the early years of
 Victoria's reign before her happiness was
 shadowed by death.
 In the great hall where the supper table
 was spread is the buffet set out with curious
 pieces of solid gold Fountains in costly
 metal, golden shields urns, sconces and
 vases, many of these being trophies from the
 Spanish Armada. The articles on this side
 board worth $1 1000, ,OOo. The supper ta-
 ble shone with silver, and the china and
 glassware, painted and engraved with royal
 arms, was distracting to one with a weakness
 for fine table furniture. The frescoing,
 crystal lights which show no jets, and side
 enclosed illumination of this saloon, are be-
 yond description. The tea room, however,
 was even more attractive, as back of the cen
 tre of the tables was a pyramid of plants,
 which could be plainly seen from the picture
 gallery. Here tall lilies tossed their heads,
 and there was fine arrangement of hydran-
 gea panicula grandifora, anthurium andrse-
 mum, and large drac@nas, massed with ferns.
 The only plants on the tea or supper tables
 were small caladiums, ferns or spirees but
 these were specimens of their kinds.
 One hundred grates in Buckingham Palace were heaped with blooming plants, and near ly as many mirrors were decorated at the
 base but the most elegant floral display last
 night was along the grand staircase, which
 was fenced by flowers and held by rows of C tiles. Among the plants, which were banked high against the walls, were clusters of lights, and the wide stairway was guarded by the footmen, in powdered wigs and silk hose, and beef eaters whose coats were maryels of bullion. The top of this royal stairway is hung with portraits, and bronze statues, whose heads crowned with lights, illumin- ed the passages.
 On the arrival of the Prince of Wales and suite, at Il o'clock, 8 maroon was exploded.
 They proceeded to the ball room, which was already filled with guests. The band payed, and cotiIlon was formed. The Princkss, lovely in white silk, lace and sprays of whnse flowers, danced with Duke Hesse with LadyA Mary of Cambridge and Duke of Cambridge
 vis-a-vis. The Prince of Wales led forward Princess Christian, opposite whom were the
 Duke of Connaught and Princess Beatrice. It will occupy too much space to describe costumes, but plumes and wreaths of flowers
 were universally worn by the ladies for head dresses, otherwise the assemblage, far as the fair sex are concerned, looked much like
 one in America. The scarlet coats and orders
 worn by men, of course, set off brilliantly the
 great gathering.