52 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1813. 



the head of the table by a flourish 

 of trumpets ; and then, with the 

 spirit of the " antique time " of 

 royal feasting, was returned from 

 the foot by another flourish. The 

 marquis of Huntley presided in 

 the temporary saloon. About nine 

 the ladies began to arrive, and the 

 gentlemen, who had already risen 

 for some time from dinner, went 

 to the avenues to receive them as 

 they entered. The gardens were, 

 as the night came, gradually bright- 

 ening until they exhibited a blaze 

 of splendor. 



Admission was given to the com- 

 pany who came with the stewards' 

 tickets for the evening, for some 

 time previous to the hour of ten. 

 They were received at the coach- 

 door by lord Yarmouth, and others 

 of the stewards. The numbers of 

 carriages which crowded the road 

 for above an hour before the doors 

 were opened, rendered the access 

 very tardy. The general effect of 

 the illumination of the gardens 

 was, unquestionably, much more 

 brilliant and striking than usual. 

 The facades of the quadrangle in 

 which the orchestra stands, were 

 ornamented, above the colonades, 

 with variegated lamps, expressing 

 the names of all the places in which 

 the British, Spanish, and Portu- 

 guese arms have been distinguished 

 in the glorious war of the Penin- 

 sula, as well as of those of the 

 gallant officers who have taken an 

 eminent share in those exploits of 

 heroism. On these inscriptions, 

 decorations were raised like battle- 

 ments, intermixed with trophies, 

 and with shields, tepresenting the 

 crosses of St. George, St, Andrew, 

 and St. Patrick, the Union Cross, 

 and various other emblematical de- 

 vices. Vast numbers of additional 

 lamps were suspended in the more 



retired and umbrageous walks, of 

 which the principal one formed a 

 most beautiful allee verte: the en- 

 trance to this delightful promenade 

 was distinguished by a magnificent 

 arch, and on each of its verdant 

 sides were hung a triple festoon of 

 lamps ; between which and the 

 gravel walk, were placed beds of 

 the most charming and odoriferous 

 shrubs and flowers. At the east 

 end there was a superb Gothic il- 

 lumination, enclosing a transpa- 

 rency of his majesty on horse- 

 back. In one corner of the re- 

 tired part of the garden, a fanciful 

 rustic temple was erected ; the 

 rude pillars that supported it en- 

 twined with foliage. In another 

 corner there was an exhibition of 

 *' Les Ombres Chi7ioises," with a 

 representation of wild water-fowl, 

 and the amusements of angling, 

 supported by a dialogue from be- 

 hind the trahsparent scene. At the 

 back of the orchestra was a very 

 large picture of the marquis of 

 Wellington, mounted, receiving 

 from a soldier the baton of mar- 

 shal Jourdan. The fire-works were 

 very well managed, and were re- 

 peated several times during the 

 fete. There was nothing particu- 

 larly meritorious in the devices : 

 but the rockets excited much ad- 

 miration from the superior height 

 to which they rose, and the splen- 

 dor of their explosions. Among 

 the bands who attended, were se- 

 lections from those of the foot and 

 life guards, together with those of 

 the duke of Kent's regiment, and 

 of the 7th hussars. The appear- 

 ance of some of these bands in the 

 forest part of the garden was 

 extremely picturesque, and pre- 

 sented some idea, at times, of sol- 

 diers in a campaign regaling and 

 reposing themselves under the. 



