entered (the gloomiest part of the pageant, by the by), the Knights Commanders of the Bath advanced under the archway. I can give you no idea of the effect of their magnificent appearance. Their plumes rolled like the foam of the sea, and were all silver white! The day streamed in with them, as though glad to bear along so radiant a company. I have spoken of the dresses of these Knights, but no description can indeed touch them. Next came nobles and standard-bearers, and marvellously rich and chivalrous did the standards float into the banquet-hall. Barons, Viscounts, Earls, Marquisses, and Dukes, all followed, in separate clusters, all wearing their coronets and full robes, and walking as though they stepped in the best bright days of England. The gorgeous company appeared to swarm in as to some fairy hive! All the colours of imagination seemed housing from the world—and the eye became enamoured of beautful dyes, and seemed to dance upon a sea of gorgeous and restless beauty. Each dress was exquisitely neighboured,-pink and gold and white-and soft blueand light and deep red-all mingled as though they were married by magic hands. The colours ran into each other like waters,they played together even as music!-they shifted-and were the

same.

The procession now promised no end, and for my own part I would have had it thus ever pour on-I could endure! The Heralds, and Archbishops, and Officers of State, succeeded the Dukes. At length, alone and in stately silence, entered Prince Leopold. Princely indeed was his bearing-but methought there was a melancholy in his eye that spake of all that had been, and all that was not to be. He walked up the Hall, amid the plaudits of thousands,—but his spirit walked not with him.-The Royal Dukes followed:-and after some Nobles of State, the King again entered the banquet-room. He looked weary, but cheerful. He was habited in robes of purple velvet, furred with ermine; the crown of state was on his head,-in his right hand was the sceptre, and in his left the orb with the cross. He walked under the canopy, which was supported as before. Officers and Yeomen of the Guard closed the procession.

I cannot help feeling how difficult-ray, how impossible it is to give you any, the smallest idea of the effect of the whole scene:

recall all that you have read of chivalrous banquets, and you will do more in your own fancy than I can achieve for you. You will wish me, however, to be more particular in my account of some of the dresses; or such will be the wish of your sisters; and I shall, therefore, to the best of my ability, select you a few of the richest habits, and describe them as aptly as I may. The King retired for a couple of hours previously to the dinner; so you may feast on my description until his return.

The Privy Counsellors had vests and hose of deep blue silk, with mantles of blue satin lined with white. They had ruffs, with black Spanish hats and plumes. The Registrar of the Order of the Garter, and a Knight (the Marquis of Londonderry), were in the splendid full dress of the order-a purple velvet mantle, with red velvet cape, &c. His Lordship's hat was enriched with most dazzling jewellery, and surmounted with an ample plume of white feathers. His Majesty's Vice-Chamberlain and the Comptroller of his Household were both in crimson velvet cloaks, with black hats and white feathers. Their cloaks were laced with gold; their vests blue, slashed with white; and their stockings, shoes, and rosettes, all white. The Treasurer of his Majesty's Household bore, in virtue of his office, the bag with the medals. He was dressed in a crimson velvet cloak; and was succeeded by a Pursuivant of Arms, the Herald of Scotland, and the Herald of Ireland, all in tabards; the two latter with collars of SS.

The Earl of Mayo, in his robes of estate, as a peer, carried the standard of Hanover, a red flag, bearing for its device a white horse, and preceded the barons. The noblemen of this rank immediately followed, the juniors walking first. They, as well as all the other peers, were in their robes of estate, namely, a crimson velvet mantle, with an ermine cape, having two rows of spots, a white silk vest, breeches, stockings and shoes, with white rosettes; a crimson velvet surcoat, and sword belt.

The Lord Chamberlain of his Majesty's Household, in his robes of estate, was attended by an officer of the Jewel Office in a scarlet mantle, with a crown embroidered on his left shoulder, bearing a cushion, on which were placed the ruby ring, and the sword to be girt about the King. The Lord Steward of his Majesty's Household was also in his robes of estate. He was immediately

succeeded by Earl Harcourt in his robes of estate, carrying the Royal Standard, a flag emblazoned with his Majesty's arms.

Three Kings of Arms followed, namely, the Ionian, the Gloucester, and the Hanover, dressed in their rich tabards. They carried their heraldic crowns in their hands as they went to the Abbey, and on their return wore them on their heads. Dukes came next: and then the three other Kings at Arms, namely, Ulster, Clarenceaux, and Norroy, decorated as the former.

The Lord Privy Seal and the Lord President of the Council wore their robes of estate; the Archbishops of Ireland, and the Archbishop of York, their black and lawn; the Chancellor his robes of estate, with a full bottomed wig; and the archbishop of Canterbury, like the other Prelates, black and lawn.

The Lord Lyon of Scotland, and Garter Principal King of Arms, were in their rich tabards, with their crowns and sceptres.

The Usher of the Black Rod wore a scarlet dress slashed with white, a crimson mantle lined with white, with the Red Cross shield embroidered on his left shoulder, red stockings and swordsheath, white shoes with red rosettes, and a black hat and feather: he carried in his hand the black rod.

The Deputy Lord Great Chamberlain of England wore his robes of estate as a peer, and carried in his hand his white staff.

Prince Leopold was dressed in the full habit of the Order of the Garter, wearing a long purple velvet mantle, cap, and feathers, and carrying in his right hand his Marshal's baton. His train was borne by gentlemen in the following dress-a white silk vest and breeches edged with gymp, white stockings, shoes, and rosettes, a blue velvet sword-belt and sheath, a plain blue satin cloak lined with white silk, and a black hat with white feathers.

The Barons of the Cinque Ports wore a scarlet satin dress, puffed with blue and gold gymp edging, a blue satin surcoat, blue velvet sword-belt and sheath, scarlet silk stockings, white shoes with scarlet rosettes, and a black hat with scarlet and black feathers.

The Train-bearers and Masters of the Robes were habited alike in a white satin dress, slashed and laced with gold, a crimson velvet cloak, laced with gold, crimson velvet sword-belt and sheath.

white silk stockings, shoes, and rosettes, a black hat and white feathers.

The Gentlemen Pensioners wore a scarlet dress slashed with blue, and almost wholly covered with gold buttons, spread like lace over great part of the habit; red silk stockings, white shoes with red and black roses, white gloves, and a black hat with red and black feathers.

The Lords of the King's Bedchamber had a peculiar dress, consisting of a blue vest slashed with white and gold lace, white stockings, shoes, and rosettes, a blue velvet sword-belt and sheath, a crimson velvet cloak laced with gold, and a black hat with white feathers.

The Keeper of his Majesty's Privy Purse succeeded them. He wore a blue satin cloak trimmed with broad gold lace, a blue satin dress slashed with white and laced with gold, white stockings, shoes, and rosettes, a black hat and white feathers.

The Gentlemen of the Bedchamber wore a blue dress edged with spangled gymp, and slashed with white, a plain blue satin cloak, lined with white; blue silk stockings, white shoes, with blue roses; blue sword-belt and sheath, a black hat and white feather.

There:-I think I have made up a dish of dress sufficient for the most inordinate female appetite. I now must forward. The King returned to the Hall precisely at the time he promised, and took his seat at the table, on which was a noble display of gold plate. Previous to the King's entry, however, I should not omit to tell you that orders were issued that the middle of the Hall should be cleared, which occasioned great consternation amongst groups of ladies, who were quietly and happily refreshing themselves in all directions. The order frayed them like birds, and they were seen flitting up and down, without any place of rest. Lord Gwydir pursued them with the fury of a falcon, and he eventually succeeded in effecting a clearance. His Majesty wore his crown and mantle on his return, and the Royal Dukes, and the Prince Leopold, sat near him at his table.

The passage from the kitchen to the lower end of the Hall was now opened; and the gentlemen bearing the golden dishes for the first course were seen in regular line, ready to proceed to the King's table. At this moment the doors at the end of the Hall

were opened, the clarions and trumpets sounding bravely at the time, and the Duke of Wellington, as Lord High Constable, the Marquis of Anglesea, as Lord High Steward, and Lord Howard of Effingham, as Deputy Earl Marshal, entered upon the floor on horseback. The Marquis of Anglesea's horse was a beautiful cream-coloured Arabian; Lord Howard's was a dun; and the Duke's a white steed. After a short pause, they rode gracefully up to the royal table, followed by the gentlemen with the first course. When the dishes were placed on the board, the bearers first retired, with their faces towards the King; and then the noble horsemen retreated, by backing their steeds down the Hall, and out at the archway. Their noiseless steps on the blue cloth conveyed the idea that the horses had been shod with felt, according to Lear's invention. The Duke of Wellington's white charger "walked away with himself in the aptest manner; but the Marquis of Anglesea had great difficulty in persuading his Arabian to retire tailwise. The company could hardly be restrained from applauding, although it was evident that a shout would have settled the mind of this steed in a second, and have made him resolute against completing his unpleasant retreat. The pages soothed him before and behind, but he shook his head and tail, and paused occasionally, as if he had considerable doubts upon the subject.

Before the dishes were uncovered, the Lord Great Chamberlain presented the basin and ewer, to bathe his Majesty's hands; and the Lord of the Manor of Heydon attended with a rich towel The dishes were then bared; and his Majesty was helped, by the carvers, to some soup. He tasted it! This was a source of endless wonder to a lady near me.

At the end of this course, the gates of the Hall were again thrown open, and a noble flourish of trumpets announced to all eager hearts that the Champion was about to enter. He advanced under the gateway, on a fine pie-bald charger (an ill-colour), and clad in complete steel. The plumes on his head were tri-coloured, and extremely magnificent; and he bore in his hand the loose steel gauntlet, ready for the challenge. The Duke of Wellington was on his right hand; the Marquis of Anglesea on his left. When he had come within the limits of the Hall, he was about to throw