1821, | 
the conclusion, was a convincing proof 
of the high opinion entertained by the 
nobility and gentry of this rural festi¬ 
val. The company in general expressed 
infinite satisfaction at the great and 
lively abilities of the composer, who 
shewed great taste and genius through¬ 
out the whole performance. Much 
merit is also due to Mr. Vernon and 
Mrs. Barthelemon, particularly the for¬ 
mer, whose abilities were not solely 
confined to the harmonical part allotted 
him, but was particularly serviceable 
on the occasion, in decorating the trees 
with festoons of flowers, assisted by the 
gardener and his attendants. 
This being over, the company amused 
themselves with walking about till 
the temporary room w'as illuminated, 
and upon a signal given, another 
procession was made. Lord Stanley, 
supported by Lady Hamilton, the 
Queen of the Oaks, and Miss Stanley, 
led the way, the rest of the company 
following two by two. The noble vi¬ 
sitors were first conducted through a 
beautiful and magnificent octagon hall, 
with transparent windows, painted 
suitable to the occasion ; at the end of 
the great room hung six superb cur¬ 
tains, supposed to cover the same num¬ 
ber of large windows; they were of 
crimson colour, richly ornamented with 
deep gold fringe. Colonnades appeared 
on each side the room, with wreaths of 
flowers running up the columns ; and 
the whole building was lined chair- 
back high with white persian and gold 
fringe ; the seats around were covered 
with deep crimson. 
The company amused themselves 
with dancing minuets and cotillions till 
half-past eleven, when an explosion, 
similar to the going off of a large quan¬ 
tity of rockets, put the whole lively 
group into consternation. This was 
occasioned by a signal given for the 
curtains, which we have before de¬ 
scribed, to fly up, and exhibit to the 
company a large supper room, with ta¬ 
bles spread with the most costly dain¬ 
ties, all hot and tempting. The com¬ 
pany took their seats in an instant, 
without the least interruption, and par¬ 
took of the entertainment. They no 
sooner appeared satisfied than the whole 
was removed instantaneously, and a 
handsome dessert spread on the tables, 
without being able to account for the 
sudden change. When the ladies seemed 
tired with this second place of luxury, 
the band were heard timing their in¬ 
struments in the octagon hall. This 
Monthly Mag. Mo. 357. 
17 
was another signal for the company to 
leave the supper-room and adjourn to 
the ball-room. No sooner was the 
above chamber cleared, when again, 
to the astonishment of all present, down 
flew the large curtains, and made the 
ball-room appear in its first state of 
elegance. 
The ceremony of arranging the com¬ 
pany next took place, and was executed 
by the general, who having placed Lady 
Betty Hamilton in the centje, 
formed the rest of the company into a 
circular group. This done, a Druid of 
the Oaks, represented by Capt. Figott, 
came forward from the octagon ball, 
with a few complimentary lines, suit¬ 
able to tbe occasion, summoning the 
fauns and wood-nymphs to attend the 
ceremony within. A grand chorus 
was then sung by the nymphs, fauns, 
and sylvans, led on by cupids; after 
this chorus another speech by the 
Druid. Mrs. Barthelemon, in the cha¬ 
racter of a wood-nymph, sung a pleas¬ 
ing air, the words in praise of conjugal 
felicity; this produced at the conclusion 
a chaconne , which was executed by 
eight principal dancers, with great ease 
and agility. The Druid made another 
speech, and having finished, Mr. Ver¬ 
non sung an air in praise of the Oak. 
Next was an allemande by sixteen 
principal dancers, and afterwards a 
speech relative to the Oak by the 
Druid. Mrs. Barthelemon and Mrs. 
Vernon then sung a duett, which was 
likewise in praise of the Oak, its pros¬ 
perity and advantages, finishing with 
a few complimentary lines to Lady 
Betty by the Druid, and a grand 
chorus, vocal and instrumental, dur¬ 
ing which a device in transparency 
was introduce:!, consisting of two hy¬ 
meneal torches lighted on the top, with 
a shield representing the Hamilton 
crest, an oak with a saw through it, 
and a ducal coronet. After a chorus, 
the Druid, fauns, and wood-nymphs, 
went to the altar, and two cupids, the 
cupid of care and the hymeneal cupid, 
ascending the steps, crowned the shield 
with tile wreath of Love and Hymen. 
Thus ended the second part, of 
which, by this description, the reader 
will judge the elegance and grandeur. 
The third part was opened by minuets, 
composed for the occasion, by the Earl 
of Kelly. Lord Stanley and Lady Bet ty 
Hamilton opened the second ball, and 
the rest of the nobility danced in their 
turns. When the minuets were ended, 
country dances were struck up, and 
C continued 
An Oak Gazette Extraordinary. 
