The Merry Past 



At the Derby Hunt Ball, for instance, in 1837, 

 the Marchioness of Hastings appeared in a dress 

 of scarlet velvet ornamented with the brushes of foxes 

 killed by her lord in the chase. 



This costume was considered a charming innova- 

 tion, and at a dinner given to Lord Flastings by the 

 gentlemen of the Donnington Hunt in January, 1838, 

 the following verses were interpolated in a song set 

 to one of Moore's melodies : 



She shone at the ball, the Queen of all, 



Her jewels were smiles and blushes ; 

 While the folds of her red robe gracefully fall, 



Festooned by a garland of brushes. 



CHORUS 



Then here's to the sport so renowned and so rare, 

 That procures us a garland and grace for the fair. 



The leaders of eccentricity in costume were generally 

 Cyprians. One of these — a Mrs. Potter, whose 

 abode was near Fitzroy Square — created quite a sen- 

 sation at Brighton in 1802 owing to her unconven- 

 tional dress and equipage. The lady in question, 

 after enlivening Bartholomew Fair, where she opened 

 the ball at a hop in fine feather and golden plumage, 

 betook herself to the Sussex watering-place. 



There she dashed about in her light blue chariot, 

 or on horseback, keeping two saddle-horses and a 

 footman, besides her carriage ; now she was seen in 

 simple muslins, her hair lank like a water-nymph ; 

 next in a riding-habit, mounted ; then in silks of 

 yellow, blue, and scarlet ; afterwards in crape, silver, 



T 273 



