Kristine Hughes's Blog, page 117

Have Yourself a British Telly Christmas

If you're a fan of British telly (and who isn't. No question mark needed) you must check out Acorn TV. For a mere $29.99 per year, it allows you to stream a wide range of British television programs to your computer, with the schedule changing each month. For $79.99, you can bundle the package with a Roku player, which will allow you to watch the shows on your television. If you just don't know what to ask for this Christmas, this is just the ticket. Heck, even if you've already asked for a whacking great number of items, tack this on, as well.




I couldn't wait for Christmas and ordered it for myself and it arrived just in time for Thanksgiving, on which day I had my son hook it up for me. Turkey and telly - heaven. Here are just a few of the programs available - Prime Suspect, Poirot, The Last Detective, Pie In The Sky, Midsomer Murders, Poldark, Miss Marple, Rosemary & Thyme, Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill, Fingersmith, Above Suspicion, Touching Evil, etc., etc. It's fabulous to be able to watch all my favorite shows, whenever I want them. And the schedule rotates often enough that you'll always have something new to watch. Currently, they're running a Most Mysterious Christmas Specials marathon, featuring holiday episodes of all our favorite mysteries. So order the stream, light the fire, pour the sherry and enjoy. Merry Christmas, indeed.

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Christmas Reading: Envious Casca

One of Georgette Heyer's best mysteries -- in fact, I believe her very best -- is a Christmas-set story, entitled Envious Casca.  It's a favorite of mine (Victoria's) and a Christmas book I want to recommend.

Of course, since it is a murder mystery, don't expect a great deal of yuletide cheer. In fact, as you might assume from its genre, most of the characters are rather unpleasant and Lexham Manor may not be the house you dream about occupying in the quiet countryside.

The title Envious Casca  comes from lines in Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar:

If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle: I remember
The first time ever Caesar put it on;
‘Twas on a summer’s evening, in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nervii:
Look, in this place ran Cassius’ dagger through:
See what a rent the envious Casca made:

Thus we knew from the start that stabbing was the method of murder, and there may be a clue to the perpetrator -- a friend? a relative?




One might also consider this a typical country house mystery.  A dysfunctional family gets together for the holidays -- various strains are evident from page one.  If you enjoy an intriguing whodunit, you might give this a try for those hours after a big dinner when you are reaching for slumber...

Unlike many of Heyer's, it is not a historical but set in her own time period, the 1930's, and you might compare it with similar works by English mystery mistresses such as Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christie. The actual publishing date was 1941. The novel features one of Heyer's continuing characters in her mysteries, Inspector Hemingway of Scotland Yard.





Georgette Heyer (1902-1974) wrote dozens of novels and short stories, some in collections, others in periodicals.  She has been the subject of several biographies, the latest of which by Jennifer Kloester, will be available in paperback from Sourcebooks in January, 2013. It was published in the UK in 2011. Also available as an e-book soon.

Ebook Re-issues from Victoria

Victoria's first Regency, in e-book versionSmashwords, Kindle, Nook, iBooks, etc.
Miss Meg Hayward paints trifles to sell, a way to avoid poverty. When her copy of an antique fan is sold as the real thing, she must find it and make amends. Nicholas Wadsworth, the Earl of Wakefield, believes he was swindled by the lovely young artist.  How could he know that spending weeks with her at his estate would lead him from anger and humiliation to sympathy and affection?

Seems like ages ago when I published my first regency romance for Kensington Zebra -- but it was only ten years ago in 2002.  It was the first of my eight novels and three novellas published under the late, lamented brand Zebra Regency Romance.  Many of my friends and colleagues published there, or at the equally late and lamented NAL Signet brand. 

Most, if not quite all, of the Zebra Regency Romances were "traditional," that is, not racy or erotic or kinky in the slightest.  Also known as sweet and/or traditionalregencies, the last two brands had been part of a booming market for such books some years before -- there were many of them, hard and soft cover, with or without a dollop of explicitness, but relying on romantic tension and charming characterization. 


Large Print hard-cover versionThorndike Press, 2003

Times change and those who market romances began to want more and more love-making on the pages instead of behind closed doors.  And many writers responded by creating wonderful plots and characters....but some relied more and more on those erotic scenes and less and less on ...well, you fill in the blank.
Luckily, many of the traditional writers found other markets for their sweet romances, in the inspirational lines or for young adult readers.  Some turned to mysteries and even paranormal plots.  After all, it was in 1818 when Mary Shelley published Frankenstein and 1819 when John Polidon published The Vampyre, based on an unfinished story by Lord Byron.
Nevertheless, the entire market for traditional regencies never went away and has certainly been (pardon the pun) re-kindled by e-book editions from many authors.  Below is the original cover for The Fontainebleau Fan.


The Fontainebleau Fan, published by Kensington Zebra, 2002

In general, I like the original  cover, showing Lord Wakefield and Miss Meg Hayward in the conservatory of his estate.  Except his breeches shouldn't have a fly, and the man's shirt she is wearing should not be open from neckline to hem. But, as many of you know, the author has little to do with the covers put on their works by most print publishers.  Once we have the rights returned to us, we can have the covers we really want.

A Traditional Regency Romance by Victoria Hinshaw

Miss Rosalind Elliott, in possession of a handsome fortune, is understandably suspicious of suitors who pursue her. Instead of admiring her pretty face and enjoying her witty charm, they show more interest in the size of her bank account. To the gossips in Bath, Naval Captain Philip Caldwell seems just another fortune hunter. How can Rosalind and Philip prove them wrong and find true love?

The Eligible Miss Elliott is also available now.  James Bolen of EbookHelper created the new covers for me, based on a period fashion print I own.  Find him here.  If that Bolen name sounds familiar, think about another well-known writer of regency historicals, the inestimable Cheryl Bolen, who also used to publish with Kensington.  Many of her regency novels are available now as e-books and she is also writing for Harlequin's Love Inspired line.  Many thanks to James and Cheryl.
You can read the firt chapters of all Victoria's regencies at her website: www.victoriahinshaw.com

Original cover of The Eligible Miss Elliott, 2003
Below is the cover of the German version...



I will be epubbing four more of my regencies very soon...watch for them. 

Have Yourself A Very Downton Christmas

This year, as every year, Christmas gift catalogues are already arriving at my house. Not surprising. What is surprising are the number of Downton Abbey themed gifts on offer. I couldn't resist rounding them up and posting about them in case there are any DA fanatics on your gift list.

The Downton Abbey 2013 wall calendar is available from Daedalus Books at $5.98

Meanwhile, the Signals catalog has a wealth of DA memorabilia, including the "sister shirts"

Which sister are you? Not they sisterly type? Don't fret - many of the other DA characters have their own t-shirts, as well.










Or maybe you're just not the t-shirt sort. The following gifts are available from Past Times.





  Or you can always give the Downton Abbey cross-stitch kit, available on Etsy.     
or one of these (click on photo for link)







The Downton Abbey crossword puzzle


 and for the cook on your gift list . . . . .          
Finally, if you really want to splash out, or if someone has been very, very good, you might treat them to a one night luxury break and visit to Highclere Castle. Accommodation provided by nearby Esseborne Manor.

Books for Christmas Giving

Victoria, here.  For all Anglophiles, books can be a favorite way to travel to Britain, even if only inside you head...and every day we hear of more to tempt us.  Here are a few which might find their way into your letter to Santa.



Mrs. Queen Takes the Train is a fun romp to tickle your funny bone.  I enjoyed it.  Kuhn has also written non-fiction, and I am currently in the middle of his bio of Disraeli.  http://www.williamkuhn.com/




The Last Lion: Defender of the Realm 1940-65 by William Manchester, as completed by Paul Read, is a large volume and I am looking forward to reading in January.  One can never get quiet enough of Old Winnie.





It is the third  and final volume of Manchester's Churchill biography.  The others are The Last Lion: Visions of Glory and The Last Lion: Alone 1932-1940  (1988). William Raymond Manchester ( 1922 – 2004) was an American author, biographer, and historian from Springfield, Massachusetts.  He was the bestselling author of eighteen 18 books and was awarded the National Humanities Medal and the Abraham Lincoln Literary Award.

For more information, click here.

For more information on Paul Reid and his role in completing the last volume, click here.


The famous and infamous life of Richard Burton is examined in his own words in The Richard Burton Diaries edited by Chris Williams.  Some reviews had concentrated on the infamous parts, but there are also many intriguing insights into his life and career, beyond Elizabeth Taylor and their associated scandals.





For those who have gifts to buy for kids ages 8-12, check out Hollow Earth by John Barrowman and Carole E. Barrowman.  London twins discover their ability to go into paintings and bring artistic images to life -- but it's not all good!




The novel is about twins Matt and Emily ("Em") Calder who share an ability that allows them to make artwork come to life, due to their powerful imaginations. Their ability is sought after by antagonists who wish to use it in order to breach Hollow Earth—a realm in which all demons and monsters are trapped

The book has been described by Sarah Swain of The Herald as a Scottish-style version of Harry Potter. For more, click here.       

I can also recommend the wonderful book on house I wrote about here on November 8, 2012: The Life of the House: How Rooms Evolve by Henrietta Spencer-Churchill.





 And watch for my upcoming blog about English Country House Interiors by author Jeremy Musson with brilliant photographs by Paul Barker and Country Life.  Both of these scrumptious books are from Rizzoli.

A Couple In England - Google Maps

Holy crow, am I tired! I have been walking the length and breadth of London and I haven't even gotten there yet. I'm using Google maps streetview. Do you know about this invention? I knew that it existed, but have never used it so extensively, nor so amusingly, before. I've been plotting our every move through the streets of Town in preparation for our visit in December. And in the wake of doing so, I've been making some minor adjustments to our route(s).

When Victoria and I are in London together, we give nary a thought to the amount of walking we do on any given day. We walked miles the last time we were there, given that it was Open Garden Squares week and we were determined to see a good many of them. Alas, my Husband is not a big walker. Thus, it was a good thing that I used Google streetview to plot the extensive, nay exhaustive, itinerary I'd planned for us. It's a fairly good walk from Half Moon Street, where our hotel is located, to Speaker's Corner, where we'll be visiting Winter Wonderland on Friday night. And I don't think the Husband would appreciate walking from our hotel to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in Fleet Street. A nicely timed stroll to Apsley House or the Guards Museum in Birdcage Walk may just be doable . . . . .

Having had my memory of London walks refreshed, I began to second guess the daily itineraries I'd sketched for our time in Bath. The Holburne Museum is just a street away from our hotel, and the Abbey is a walkable distance, as well. Just over the Bridge, in fact. However, they must have moved the Royal Crescent and the Fashion Museum since I was there last, as they are both now considerably removed from our neighborhood, a fact that escaped me when I was making our plans. I have since made some minor adjustments to our daily itineraries in both London and Bath, many of which involved the inclusion of taxi cabs, and am now fairly certain that our marriage will survive the trip.

In case you need your memory of British places refreshed, or if you simply want to take a stroll through your favorite city, do try Google Maps streetview - and happy walking!

2013 Jane Austen Calendar Available Now

Victoria's colleagues in the Wisconsin region of the Jane Austen Society of North America create a wonderful calendar each year for all fans of Jane Austen.







The 2013 Jane Austen Wall Calendar is an updated edition using all 12 H. M. Brock illustrations from Pride and Prejudice with quotations from Austen’s novels and letters. Each date has an entry of something that happened in the novels or Jane Austen’s life. The calendar measures 11 inches by 17 inches and is printed in color. Based upon biographies, R.W. Chapman’s chronologies of the stories, and Jane Austen’s letters, the calendar is a year-long reminder of Austen’s life and novels.







Calendars are ready for shipment now.
http://www.jasna.org/merchandise/wisconsin.html
or
http://jasnawi.org/merchandise
This is a great way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the puiblication of Pride & Prejudice in 1813.

The July calendar page: Mr. Denny introduces his friend -- Chap. XV, by H. M. Brock







The Wisconsin chapter's treasures for sale at the 2012 AGM(excluding the Starbucks!)


Janet Johnson (L) of Wisconsin and Janet Rosowicz of Eastern PAselling calendars and other goods at the 2012 AGM

Dr. Syntax Part Three

Poem by William Combe; illustrated by Thomas Rowlandson; published in 1812 by Rudolph Ackermann, London

We left Dr. Syntax in a dire situation, tied to a tree, robbed of his money and his horse Grizzle;

Dr. Syntax in Search of the Picturesque 
excepts from Canto III



Dr. Syntax bound to a Tree by Highwaymen

By the road side, within the wood,
In this sad state poor Syntax stood;
His bosom heav'd with many a sigh,
And the tears stood in either eye.
What could he do?-—he durst not bawl;
His noise the robbers might recall;
The villains might again surround him.
And hang him up where they had bound him. ...

(After bemoaning his fate and wishing himself back at home...)

It now appear'd an angel's shape.
That promis'd him a quick escape :
Nor did La Mancha's val'rous Knight
Feel greater pleasure at the sight.
When, overwhelm'd with love and awe.
His Dulcinea first he saw :
For on two trotting palfreys came.
And each one bore a comely dame :

They started as his form.they view ;
The horses also started too :
The dog with insult seem'd to treat him,
And look'd as if he long'd to eat him.
In piteous tones he humbly pray'd
They'd turn aside, and give him aid ;
When each leap'd quickly from her steed,
To join in charitable deed.
They drew their knives to cut the noose.
And let the mounful pris'ner loose ;
With kindest words his fate bewail,
While grateful Syntax tells his tale.
The rustic matrons sooth his grief,
Nor offer, but afford relief; ...

(Eventually, they free him, and he is pleased to remember that much of his money was sewn into his clothes, so he is not entirely without funds.)

"... And, thanks to Spousy, ev'ry note
Was well sew'd up within my coat.
But where is Grizzle ? — Never mind her ;
I'll have her cried, and soon shall find her."

Thus he pursued the winding way.
Big with the evils of the day
Though the good Doctor kept in view
The favour of its blessings too.
Nor had he pac'd it half an hour,
Before he saw a parish tow'r.
And soon, with sore fatigue opprest,
An inn receiv'd him as its guest.
But still his mind, with anxious care,
Ponder'd upon his wand'ring mare;
He, therefore, sent the bellman round.
To see if Grizzle might be found. ...

(Meanwhile, Grizzle is having her own adventures, but they are eventually reunited...)

...Lo ! Grizzle's alter'd form appears.
With half its tail, and half its ears!
"Is there no law?" the Doctor cries: —
" Plenty," a lawyer straight replies:
" Employ me, and those thieves shall swing
On gallows-tree, in hempen-string: …

(More conversation follows, but nothing is decided...)

...So to the ostler's faithfull care
He gave his mutilated mare:
And while poor Grizzle, free from danger,
Cropp'd the full rack and clean'd the manger,
Syntax, to ease his aching head,
Smok'd out his pipe, and went to bed.

End of Canto III -- story to be continued

King's Bench Prison, from Microcosm of London, by Thomas Rowlandson and Augustus Pugin,published by Rudolph Ackermann, 1809
As we told you in a previous post, Dr. Syntax in Search of the Picturesque -- and many other books and articles -- was written by William Combe, who lodged in the King;s Bench Prison for many years.  This prison, for debtors, lodged many other famous personages at various times.  The famoius engineer Isamboard Brunel spent some time there, as did Emma, Lady Hamilton.  Marly Robinson, an actress and poet, sometimes known as Perdita, and famed actor John Wilkes also were at King's Bench.  Dickens set parts of several of his most famous novels in King's Bench: David Copperfield, Nicholas Nickleby and Little Dorrit.




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Offerings From Hatchard's Book Shop

Many moons ago, on one of my first trips to England, I traveled over with an exceedingly large suitcase and an empty duffle bag. At the end of the trip, during which I had visited bookshops throughout the UK, I packed all of my personal belongings into the duffle and completely filled the suitcase with my antiquarian book purchases. At customs, the officer asked me to put my suitcase on the table so that he could inspect it. The conversation went something like this:

Officer - "Place your luggage on the table for inspection, please."

Me - "I'm sorry, but I can't do that."

Officer - "Are you refusing to allow me to inspect your bag?"

Me - "Not at all. It's not that I won't allow you to inspect my bag, but rather that I'm physically unable to lift the bag onto the table. It's too heavy."

Officer - "What is in the bag, Madam?"

Me - "Books."

Officer - "And what else?"

Me - "Nothing. Just books."

Officer - "Do you mean to tell me that you spent two weeks in England and all you have to declare are books? That's all you purchased during the course of your visit?"

Me - "Yes. Just books."

The Officer's skeptical look endured until he'd lifted the bag onto the table and opened it. Books. And nothing but. Books - upon which there is no duty tax imposed. Now keep in mind that these were antiquarian books, each lovingly wrapped and cushioned against the journey home. Determined to catch me out, the Officer proceeded to unwrap the books and rifle through them individually. Perhaps he thought I'd secreted a Buckingham Palace tea towel between their pages. Or the crown jewels. In the end, he had to be satisfied that a female American tourist could be perfectly happy with books as the only souvenier of her trip to England.

Whilst my library is now more or less complete and I no longer buy books like a drunken sailor on leave when I'm in the UK, I do still make a point of stopping into Hatchard's book shop on Piccadilly whenever I'm over. In preparation for my visit in December, I went onto the Hatchard's website and perused the current catalogue, from which I offer you the following intriguing selections.

All books are available through Hatchard's online catalogue




COUNTING ONE'S BLESSINGS: THE SELECTED LETTERS OF QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER by WILLIAM SHAWCROSS (EDITOR)

One of the great revelations of William Shawcross's official biography was the Queen Mother's private correspondence. Indeed, The Sunday Times described her letters as 'wonderful ...brimful of liveliness and irreverence, steeliness and sweetness.' Now, drawing on the vast wealth of material in the Royal Archives, at Glamis Castle, and elsewhere, Shawcross has put together a selection of those letters. A prolific correspondent from her earliest childhood to the very end of her life, her letters offer readers a vivid insight into the person behind the public face. Full of wit, hilarity, acute observation and a deeply held sense of duty, Queen Elizabeth's letters constitute a chronicle both of her long life and of the twentieth century. £ 25 Hardback




THE FURTHER TALE OF PETER RABBIT SPECIAL EDITION BOX SET by EMMA THOMPSON

Celebrate Peter Rabbit's 110th anniversary with this stunning special edition box set. A sumptuous gift box containing two Peter Rabbit adventures - The Original Tale of Peter Rabbit written by Beatrix Potter is accompanied by The Further Tale, written by Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson. Each book is cloth-bound, in a fabric specially commissioned by Timorous Beasties - a cutting edge design company, who have added their contemporary twist to these classic characters. The box also includes a letter signed by Emma Thompson. The Further Tale describes what happens when Peter Rabbit stows away in a picnic basket and, before he knows it, finds himself transported to Scotland on the back of a cart! This plucky little rabbit soon finds himself in the middle of a great big, brand new adventure, a long way from home, family and friends. Emma Thompson, Oscar-winning actress and screen writer, has a talent for creating engaging narratives with a dry humour similar to Potter's own and is the perfect choice of author for this new Peter Rabbit tale which will be published 110 years after the original. Emma said, "I've always loved Beatrix Potter, as a child and then as a mother and all the years in-between as well. When Mr Rabbit invited me to write a further tale, I was more honoured than I can say. I hope I don't let him or his extraordinary creator down." This special edition is limited to just 1000 copies. £ 110 Hardback 9780723268697  




LONDON: HIDDEN INTERIORS by PHILIP DAVIES

180 of London's best conserved and least known interiors are revealed in 1500 spectacular photographs. Following his successes with revealing London's vanished architectural heritage in Lost London and Panoramas of Lost London, Philip Davies now turns his attention to London's conserved heritage, presenting an expert introductory essay followed by the most extraordinary collection of contemporary photographs of London's historic interiors ever published. The increasing popularity of Open City has stimulated the curiosity of local Londoners and visitors from afar, awakening renewed interest and comprehension of London's success in preserving amazing interiors, from private salons to traditional public houses, from ornate churches to industrial plants. London: Hidden Interiors has one hundred and eighty examples which have been selected from a complete range of building types to convey the richness and diversity of London's architectural heritage and the secrets that lie within. It concentrates generally on the buildings and interiors that are lesser known and to which the public are not normally allowed, the hidden and the unusual, the quirky and the eccentric, although there is space too for some of the better known. The careful composition, superb lighting and exposure of the images featured in this book are themselves a lesson in conservation, capturing the sense of these unique spaces whilst at the same time revealing the important architectural detail; Derek Kendall's photographs, perfectly reproduced, make this book a visual delight and a major contribution to the architectural history of London. £ 40 Hardback 9780956864246 Available Now




THE SECRET ROOMS: A TRUE GOTHIC MYSTERY by CATHERINE BAILEY
Catherine Bailey, the best-selling author of "Black Diamonds", uncovers a plotting Duchess, a mysterious death and a castle full of lies in her thrilling book, "The Secret Rooms: A True Gothic Mystery". In April 1940, the ninth Duke of Rutland died in mysterious circumstances in a murky room next to the servants' quarters of his family home, Belvoir Castle. The mystery surrounding his death holds the key to a tragic story that is played out on the brutal battlefields of the Western Front and in the exclusive salons of Mayfair and Belgravia in the dying years of la belle epoque. Uncovered is a dark and disturbing period in the history of the Rutland family, and one which they were determined to keep hidden for over sixty years. Sixty years on, "The Secret Rooms" is the true story of family secrets and one man's determination to keep the past hidden at any cost.
£ 20 Hardback 9780670917556 Available Now




THE VICTORIAN CITY: EVERYDAY LIFE IN DICKENS' LONDON by JUDITH FLANDERS
The nineteenth century was a time of unprecedented transformation, and nowhere was this more apparent than on the streets of London. In only a few decades, London grew from a Regency town to the biggest city the world had ever seen, with more than 6.5 million people and railways, street-lighting and new buildings at every turn. In The Victorian House, Judith Flanders described in intimate detail what went on inside the nineteenth-century home. Now, in The Victorian City, she explores London's outdoors in an extraordinary, revelatory portrait of everyday life on the streets. From the moment Charles Dickens, the century's best-loved novelist and London's greatest observer, arrived in the city in 1822, he obsessively walked its streets, recording its pleasures, curiosities and cruelties. Now, with him, Judith Flanders leads us through the markets, transport systems, sewers, rivers, slums, alleys, cemeteries, gin palaces, chop-houses and entertainment emporia of Dickens' London, to reveal the Victorian capital in all its variety, vibrancy, and squalor. From the colourful cries of street-sellers to the uncomfortable reality of travel by omnibus, via the many uses for the body parts of dead horses or the unimaginably grueling working days of hawker children, no detail is too small, or too strange. No one who reads Judith Flanders's The Victorian City will view London in the same light again. £ 25 Hardback 9781848877955 Available Now

The Book of Fashionable Life - Drawing Rooms

From The Book of Fashionable Life by A Member of the Royal Household (London, n.d.)

REGULATIONSTO BE OBSERVED ATHER MAJESTY'S DRAWING ROOMS.  All ladies attending Her Majesty's Drawing Rooms are requested to bring with them two cards, with their names legibly written thereon—one to be left with the Queen's page in attendance in the Presence Chamber, and the other to be delivered to the Lord in Waiting, who will announce the name to Her Majesty. And those ladies who are to be presented are informed, that it is absolutely necessary that their names, together with the names of the ladies who are to present them, should be sent into the Lord Chamberlain's Office two clear days before the Drawing Room, in order that they may be submitted for the Queen's approbation, it being Her Majesty's command that no presentation shall take place, unless the name of the lady presenting, together with that of the lady to be presented, shall appear on the card delivered as before directed, corresponding with the names sent into the Lord Chamberlain's Office; and it is especially requisite that the Ladies who present others, should be actually present at the Drawing Room. One card must be left with the Queen's Page, in the Presence Chamber, and another be delivered to the Lord-in-Waiting, who will present the Lady to the Queen.At a Birthday Drawing Room, no presentations take place; but, nevertheless, each Lady and Gentleman, who proposes to attend, should send a card to the Queen's Lord Chamberlain a few days before the holding of the Drawing Room Afterwards, when you attend, take care that your carriage arrive at the Palace before two o'clock. You should be provided with two cards, to be delivered as before mentioned, one to the Queen's Page in the Presence Chamber. Afterwards you enter Queen Anne's Chamber, where you wait until the door is opened at the end of the room, looking down from the fire-place. You should enter within the rails near the fire-place, and go in procession to the Anti-Drawing Room. Ladies carry their trains on the left arm until they come near to Her Majesty, when the train is dropped, a card delivered to the Lord-in-Wailing, who will announce the Lady's tide or name, when she makes a graceful courtesy to Her Majesty, and then retires. The Ladies who attend Drawing Rooms will be pleased to observe that there is an established regulation with regard to their dresses. Court Etiquette requires that they should not appear in hats and feathers, or turbans and feathers, but in feathers and lappets, in conformity with the established orders.It must be particularly observed, that no persons are permitted to remain in the Throne Room, having passed Her Majesty at the Drawing Room, but the Ministers and their ladies, the great Officers of the Household and their ladies, the Foreign Ministers and their ladies, and the Officers of the Household upon duty.