L30/11/329/25

Letter from Elizabeth Yorke to Mrs Caroline Eliot [step sister in law]. Detailed description of a ball. [Typed transcript available].

10 May 1802

From: 1802 To: 1802

At the previous private Ball given by Lord & Lady Hardwicke on 1st April, news of the Definitive Treaty being signed arrived as the company were assembling. The Ball which appeared to be a very prompt celebration of the event. Describes the more recent Ball: The great staircase is in the centre of the house, it leads to the Battle Axe Hall. On one side is St. Patrick’s Hall, on the other a long arched corridor about 12 feet wide and 100 feet long. The corridor which leads into the private apartment was decorated with lamps and flowers. The company were brought through it to an antechamber, then a card room and a ball room with pillars 38 feet long, and next to the Presence Chamber 40 feet square, where they also danced. The flowers and lamps everywhere has a beautiful effect. The corner where there was a raised orchestra was formed into a crimson tent, lined with white. The opposite corner was formed in the same manner with seats for the company. A double row of seats were placed round each ball room. A good square room for refreshments was beyond the Presence Chamber, and beyond that a room 46 feet long with supper for the overflowings of St. Patrick’s Hall. When supper was announced, marched in state – Lord Hardwicke preceded and followed by his household, Lady Hardwicke led by her chamberlain and followed by her pages – through all the rooms, the corridor and the Battle Axe Hall into St. Partick’s Hall. The two ends of the hall are formed by pillars, two rows of galleries or boxes between them. The pillars were wreathed with lamps, with more lamps hung from the ceiling cornice. General description of the Hall and the other decorations, how tables and chairs were arranged etc. The confectioner produced a number of little peach trees with peaches made of ice hung on the tree. On each division of the tables, the pastry cook had provided a Man of War in pastry, with masts, sails, flags, colours and canon ‘I did not admire the plan of firing these off when I heard there was a grain or two of powder in each..’ Behind the writer’s table was a table set up for the Misses Catherine, Elizabeth, Kingsley and Champholtz. A gentleman tried to fire his ship but it would not go off; the girls then went to have a close look at it, and it went off in their faces; the gentleman was horrified. The night following the ball the rooms were lighted as before for the tradespeople to walk about – ‘I believe the attention to these folks gave much satisfaction.’ Two balls followed, one for the upper servants and another for the plebeians. ‘The night of the Promenade we thought it would be well taken if we walked through the rooms….. the folks seemed much pleased with this great condescension. It is a stage trick most necessary here, to hold ourselves extremely high that it may be more evident when we unbend…’

item

Yorke, Elizabeth,
Yorke, Philip (3rd Earl of Hardwicke),
Eliot, Caroline,
Yorke, Catherine,
Yorke, Elizabeth Margaret,
Kingsley

family correspondence, Dublin, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, balls