c source, of the time of
Edward III. It was lined (as well as the whole alcove in which it was
placed) with purple velvet, having worked on it, in gold, the Crown of
England, the Cross of St. George, and emblazoned shields with the Arms of
England and France. The state chairs were as near those of the period as
the archaeology of the time could compass, and the throne was surrounded
with Gothic tracery. At the back of the throne were emblazoned the Royal
Arms of England in silver. Seated on this throne, the Queen and Prince
Albert awaited the arrival of Anne of Bretagne, which, ushered in by
heralds, took place at half-past ten.

The various characters then formed a procession divided into Quadrilles,
the French, German, Spanish, Italian, Highland, Russian, Waverley and
Crusaders Quadrilles, and marched into the Ball Room, where dancing at
once commenced, the Queen and Prince Albert watching the scene, seated on
a _haut pas_. At one o'clock, the Earl of Liverpool, the Lord Steward,
conducted the Queen and Prince Albert to supper; and when they had
finished the guests were attended to. After supper, the Queen danced a
quadrille with Prince George of Cambridge, their _vis-a-vis_ being the
Duchess of Buccleugh and the Duke of Beaufort; then some reels were
danced, and the Queen retired at half-past two.

This account would be strangely incomplete without some account of two or
three of the principal dresses, to give an idea of the splendour of the
show. The Queen's petticoat was of red velvet, trimmed with ermine. The
ground of the jacket was garter blue, with a large pattern of leaves
woven in it, of gold, and ornamented with precious stones; hanging
sleeves, lined with ermine. The mantle was of cloth of gold, worked in
silver, and trimmed with gold lace and pearls, lined with ermine, and
fastened in front with a broad gold band, worked in diamonds and other
precious stones. Her shoes were red silk, worked with gold and diamonds.

The crown was a _fac-simile_ of that worn by Queen Philippa, and was
ornamented with diamonds and precious stones. Under the crown,
descending to the sides of the face, was a network of red velvet and
diamonds.

Prince Albert's under dress, of a garter-blue ground, was worked in large
gold flowers, lined with red silk. The collar and cuffs were ornamented
with diamonds and precious stones. The cloak was of red velvet, trimmed
with gold lace and pearls, and was fastened in front w