A HUNDRED YEARS AGO
" THE SPECTATOR," APRIL 29TH, 1837. THE COURT.
The King came from Windsor on Wednesday, and held his Levee at St. James's Palace. The company was rather more numerous than usual. Among the distinguished persons present, were the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Dukes of Somerset, Sutherland, Grafton, and St. Alban's, the Marquis of Northampton, Lords Lovat, Byron, Ashburton, Segrave, Poltimore, the Bishops of Hereford, Ely, and Rochester, Sir James Graham, Mr. George Dawson, Sir Francis Goodricke, Sir Charles Grey, Mr. Babbage, Mr. C. P. Cooper, and Mr. Horace Twiss. The King gave audience to several Cabinet Ministers, and returned to Windsor in the evening.
The Drawing-room in honour of the Queen's birthday was held on Thursday ; but her Majesty was too unwell to attend it, and the Princess Augusta received the company on the part of the Queen. The report that her Majesty bad broken a blood-vessel is contra- dicted ; and it is now said that she is only labouring under a violent bilious attack.
The company at the Drawing-room was numerous and brilliant ; but although the Dutchess of Kent and Princess Victoria appeared in dresses of Spitalfields manufacture, and it was the express desire of the Queen that the company should wear clothes of British make, a glance at the long description of the ladies' dresses in the Morning Post proves, that generally foreign silks and satins were the order of the day. Now and then we catch the words " British manu- facture," but much oftener " Brussels lace, Chantilly blonde, and gros de Naples."
Grand dinners were given in the evening, by Lord Melbourne and most of the Ministers. There was a splendid entertainment at the Carlton Club, graced by the presence of the Hanoverian Crown Prince and the Duke of Wellington. Most of the dub-houses, and many of the shops in the City and West End of the town, were gorgeously illuminated.
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