Masquerade balls in Regency London
Masquerade at the Pantheon (cropped) from The Microcosm of London Vol 2 (1808-10)A masquerade is a valuable plot device for a historical romance writer. There is no end to the scenarios that could arise when your characters’ identities are disguised. When writing the first draft of my current work-in-progress (a sequel to A Perfect Match currently known as Georgiana after its heroine), I saw how I could use a masquerade to take the story where I wanted it to go. Questions immediately arose in...
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The poet Thomas Moore was invited to the same ball, and his diary entry about it is very funny:-[7th June] – "Went home to dress for Lady Darnley's at eleven, and what with stitching and patching was not ready to join the party from Power's till half-past twelve. The ball a most beautiful spectacle, but I had left my glass at home; besides, I was rather ashamed of my dress; and the little girl at my lodgings had stitched my stockings to the trunks so ill, that they came asunder, and threatened every minute to make a Highlander of me. To add to my annoyance, the Duke of Sussex, when I was hiding snug behind a pillar, took me by the hand, and drawing me forth into the full light of the room, said, " Come, let us look at you; why, you're very smart." His daughter was leaning on his arm; the first time he has appeared with her in public. Her dress, a Mary Queen of Scots, most becoming to her. Left the ball soon.
[8th June] – "The "Morning Post" kind enough to tell me what I was last night (which I did not know myself), and announces me as having been in the character of a court page in the reign of Henry VIII."
Georgie wrote: "That's a really interesting article - thanks. Lady Darnley gave a fancy-dress ball in June 1819, and the Pittsburgh Gazette covered it at length (fascinating to see that Sir Gore Ousley is still to..."What a lovely account - thanks for sharing.
"The Countess of Darnley on Monday evening gave splendid Fancy Ball at the Hanover Square Rooms. The grand entrance was illuminated with a profusion of variegated lamps. The band of the Coldstream Regiment of Guards were stationed there, who performed as the company arrived. The staircase leading to the Grand Concert Room, which was fitted up in a most tasteful manner for dancing, was decorated with shrubs and flowers. The floor of the ball room was beautifully painted, representing various devices, flowers, birds, &c. with an elegant border. Dancing commenced a little before eleven o'clock, with a new quadrille. There were two refreshment rooms, where coffee, tea, orgeat, lemonade, ices and fruits were served. There were two supper rooms; the tables were covered with all the delicacies of the season. The wines were of the rarest qualities. The company present exceeded 1000. The ladies assumed the costumes of different nations, and of different ages and in their variety as well as elegance, were highly attractive each lady having naturally chosen the habit that was the best adapted to the display of her person. The gentlemen were chiefly in military uniform or in full dress; some few indeed sported fancy dresses, and some felt themselves uneasy by being rendered too conspicuous. Among the company were their Royal Highnesses, the dukes of Kent, Sussex and GLOUCESTER, in their field marshal's uniforms; the DUKE OF WELLINGTON, in uniform of his regiment; the Persian ambassador was most splendidly dressed with a profusion of diamonds; Sir Gore Ouseley, bart. was dressed as a Persian, with splendid beard; LADY CASTLEREAGH as a Spanish princess very elegant, her ladyship wore a profusion of diamonds; the duchess of Wellington wore a beautiful Swiss dress; the countess of Darnley an elegant Neapolitan; Lady Clifton, an elegant Polish dress; the two Misses Brownlow, rich Spanish dresses; the earl of Belfast, a rich Polish dress; General Bligh, an elegant Highland dress: the ladies Bligh, Venetian dresses, with diadems of gold and silver. It was half past six o'clock yesterday morning when the company broke up."