CHRONICLE. 



355 



Biickingbam-gate. The corps being 

 thus judiciously disposed, no large 

 body of people could assemble, or 

 carriages accumulate, to obstruct 

 the general arrangements. The St. 

 Margaret and St. John's Volunteers 

 assembled at an early hour in West- 

 minster-hail, and thence proceeded 

 to Ranelagh-green. A detachment 

 of them formed a line across the 

 green, to keep the doors free from 

 the pressure of curious intruders; 

 another party was stationed to exa- 

 mine persons on foot, as they pass- 

 ed, to ascertain if they had tickets, 

 and to prevent those v.ho were not 

 so fortunate from passing the line. 

 A small detachment was posted at 

 the carriage-gate leading into the 

 gardens, to prevent any person pas- 

 sing that way, and to keep a clear 

 passage for the royal carriagi.'S. At 

 a quarter past 12, the trumpet an- 

 nounced the arrival of the courtly 

 party in three of his Alajesty's car- 

 riages. They were preceded by two 

 noblemen's carriages, and followed 

 by five. When they reached the 

 gate leading into the garden, which 

 it was necessary for them to pass 

 through. Major Rolleston rode be- 

 fore them uncovered, anil ushered 

 them into it. As the first of the 

 royal carriages was passing through 

 the gatev,a> , tlie horses became res- 

 tive for some time, till one of the 

 St. Margaret and St. John's volun- 

 teers seized the bridles, and led them 

 along. 'i"he royal retinue having 

 reached the entrance at the west side 

 of the Rotunda, ISIajor Rolleston 

 alighted from his horse, and handed 

 the countess of Harrington and her 

 attendants from their carriages. In 

 the fust were Miss Vernon, Miss 

 Coleinari, and ]\liss Digby, maids 

 of houour to her majesty ; in the 

 second, the vice-chamberlain and 



Mr, Vincent ; and in the third, lady 

 harrmgton and her daughter, lady 

 Anna-jlaria Stanhope, lady Cardi- 

 gan, and lady Ayl'/sbury, two ladies 

 of the queen's bedchamber. The 

 company having all quitted their car- 

 riages, lady Harriiiiiton was con- 

 ducted to her box by the vice cham- 

 berlain, and followed by her attend- 

 ants, in the same manner as the 

 queen would have been. Her lady- 

 ship was dressed in a black pelice, 

 and a scarlet sash. Her head-dress 

 was a rich velvet hat, highly deco- 

 rated, and with four very elegant 

 coquelicot feathers. Her ladyship 

 also wore an antique necklace of 

 great value, and a line came.) oi his 

 majesty, being a large beautiful o- 

 nyx, set as a medallion, which was 

 presented to her by her majc*-ty a 

 few days ago, as a memorial of the 

 event. Lady Anna-Maria Stanhope 

 appeared in a dress of white satin, 

 ornamented with pearls. The com- 

 pany in the rotunda, assembled 

 as spectators, were numerous, and 

 added to the splendour of the scene. 

 R.anelagh has seldom exhibited so 

 distinguished a display of beauty, 

 elegance, and fashion. On the ar- 

 rival of the countess in the bos 

 fitted up for her reception, the 

 two regiments of the queen's royal 

 volunteers, under the command of 

 lord Hobart, haying taken their sta- 

 tion two hours before, presented 

 arms, with the b-inds playing. As 

 soon as the corps had shouldered 

 arms, two pair of colours were in- 

 ti*oduceJ^ and placed on each side of 

 the royal box. Tiie king's colours 

 of each regiment was a plain union 

 standard; but the county or regi- 

 mental colour, which has been de- 

 signed and executed by the princesses, 

 was a superb piece of needle v.ork. 

 The ground was a rich purple silk, 

 A a 2 and 



