Social England under the Regency, Vol. 1 (of 2)Ashton, John
History
Social England under the Regency, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Ashton, John
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century; Regency -- England
The Prince Regent entered the State apartments about a quarter
past nine, dressed in a scarlet coat, most richly and elegantly
ornamented, in a very novel style, with gold lace, and a brilliant
star of the Order of the Garter; and he arrived just at the same
time as the dethroned Louis XVIII.--who was present as the Comte
de Lille--and his family. Dancing began about half past eleven or
twelve, and at half past two supper was announced. As one account
says: "Upon no previous occasion, and at no Court in Europe, was
ever the experiment made to sit down 2,000 of the principal nobility
and gentry of a kingdom to a regular supper, as was the case at
the Prince Regent's fête. The largest entertainment, at the most
brilliant period of the French Monarchy, was that given by the Prince
of Condé at Chantilli, to the King of Sweden, when 400 covers were
laid. Here covers were laid for 1,600 under canvas, and 400 in the
house."
_The Times_ gives a short, but succinct, account of this brilliant
fête, and being so, I take it, as well fitted for this book, as all
accounts, more or less, are by press correspondents, and relate only
to the internal arrangement and decoration of Carlton House.
"It was totally impossible, capacious as the Mansion of the Prince
is, to accommodate such a number of persons in the rooms of the
Mansion itself. From the central apartment of the lower range, which
we have mentioned, on the south, or garden front, proceeded a broad
and lofty wall, towards the southern wall of the garden, adjoining
St. James's Park, which was crossed by three similar walks, from
east to west, lengthwise in the garden. All these walks were closed
in by walls, and covered over by awnings made for the occasion. In
each of these cross walks were placed long supper tables, and at
the end of each walk were communications to circular marquées, in
which were tables containing all the necessary refreshments for the
company, with space for the numerous servants, and assistants in
attendance. The Great Walk from the house southward had in it six
tables, leaving those spaces quite open where other walks crossed
it. The intermediate spaces between these, were lawns, which
communicated to the walks by suitable openings. The interior sides
of these grand walks were lined with festoons of flowers, yielding
the most odoriferous perfumes, and relieved by the verdant and softer
beauties that more towering plants and shrubs could bestow. The
arched roofs were ornamented in the liveliest manner, and, from them,
were suspended thousands of lights, in all the different forms and
fashions by which illumination can be produced. The _coup d'oeil_ of
the whole, especially from the central south entrance to the gardens,
was inexpressibly delightful, and even magically impressive. The
entrance was under an illuminated arch, and the southern end of the
walk was filled by an immense mirror, and ornamented at the top and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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