ce on 28 March, and the sale lasted 24
days, commencing on 25 April and ending 21 May. No one can hazard a
guess as to what such a collection would fetch now, the sum then
obtained, 33,450 pounds 11s. 9d., being utterly inadequate according to
modern ideas. The sale took place in a temporary shed, erected in the
grounds, and on the first day of the sale, which was confined to books,
there were not 200 persons present, and among them, not more than a dozen
bidders.

* * * * *

By way of recognition to the King of Prussia for his being sponsor of the
Prince of Wales, the Queen sent him some presents, which, if the
_Wurtzburg Gazette_ is to be credited, were of somewhat mixed
description. 1.--A cradle with the figure of nurse holding an infant,
representing the Prince of Wales, in her arms, all of pure gold. 2.--A
pistol, which, when the trigger is pulled, opens and exhibits a
completely furnished dressing-case. 3.--A gold mosaic snuff-box, upon
which are seen allegorical _souvenirs_ relating to the baptism of the
Prince of Wales. 4.--Four boxes containing snuff. 5.--A dozen knives
and forks of gold, except the blades of the knives, which are of Damascus
steel, and the handles ornamented with a crown set in brilliants. 6.--A
stone vase, containing the rarest Indian fruits. 7.--Two extraordinarily
large legs of mutton.

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Royal "Bal Costume"--The Queen shot at by Francis and by
Bean--Duke of Cambridge's star--Chartism--Income Tax--Female Chartist
Association--A gipsey trial--Closing of the Fleet prison--Married in
a sheet--Enormous damages in a gambling case.

There was a great flutter of excitement over the Queen's Fancy Dress
Ball, which took place in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace on 12th
May. Its leading feature was the assembling and meeting of the two
Courts of Anne of Bretagne (the Duchess of Cambridge) and Edward III. and
Queen Phillipa (The Queen and Prince Albert).

A separate entrance to the Palace was set apart for the Court of
Brittany, the Duchess of Cambridge assembling her Court in one of the
lower rooms of the Palace, while the Queen and Prince Albert, surrounded
by a numerous and brilliant circle, prepared to receive her Royal
Highness in the Throne Room, which was altered so far, as to be made as
much as possible to harmonise with the period. The throne was removed
and another erected, copied from an authenti