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THE 
 
 FANCY BALL 
 
 7. 
 
 A LETTER, 
 
 LOST FROM THE PORTFOLIO OF A 
 YOUNG LADY OF ALBANY. 
 
 ALBANY: 
 
 W. C. LITTLE & CO. 
 
 1846. 
 

 ALBANY: 
 J. MUNSELL, PRINTER. 
 
THE FANCY BALL 
 
 Brilliant beyond description, my dear , was the 
 
 fete which came off at Yates Mansion on Thursday 
 the 15th of January. I believe I mentioned to you 
 
 in a former epistle, that Mrs. S had been induced 
 
 by some gay friends to delight the hearts of the young 
 ladies of our city by giving a fancy ball. You 
 remember that Mrs. S. came to Albany but a few years 
 since, as a fair bride, and truly she has since, by her 
 accomplished mind, elegant simplicity of manner, and 
 unobtrusive worth, won to herself golden opinions from 
 all. Dwelling as she does in the home of her ancestors, 
 an ancient and spacious mansion, she had a fine 
 opportunity of drawing around her friends from different 
 parts of the state, as well as from the city, of New 
 York, without rendering her rooms either crowded or 
 uncomfortable. For myself, you know my dislike to the 
 wearisome monotony of ordinary evening parties ; but 
 in the brilliant pageant which attracted me from my 
 usual quiet course of life on Thursday evening, there was 
 
much that addressed itself to both the eye and ear of 
 taste. You may imagine my enjoyment of the scene, 
 when I assure you my feelings were akin to those 
 with which as a child I perused the Arabian Nights 
 Entertainments. Being not myself sufficiently " en 
 costume," or attractive, to be an object of general 
 attention, it left me more at liberty to observe and 
 fulfil my promise of a minute description to you. 
 
 You have requested me to give you an idea of how 
 the character of the individual harmonized with the 
 costume chosen. I will endeavor to do so as far as my 
 knowledge will permit. At least you shall have a 
 slight sketch of my own impressions, that is, as far as 
 my memory, (on which I rely entirely,) serves me. 
 
 Classic and historical associations were awakened 
 at every turn. Fair forms, clad in the costumes 
 of different nations, wandered about the spacious 
 apartments, or collected together in grotesque groups, 
 looking like so many fabled houris, beneath the clear 
 light of blazing chandeliers. In the dancing saloon 
 the Turk and the Italian, the Hindoo and the Greek, 
 the Milanese and the Parisian, the Russian and the 
 Spaniard, the Persian and the Bohemian, the Scot and 
 the English, joined the dance together. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. S., as Charles I. of England and his 
 queen Henrietta, received their guests in regal state 
 and attire, attended by their lovely little daughter as a 
 
Page, and surrounded by a train of Maids of Honor, 
 arrayed in the costume of the 17th century. Truly 
 they possess within themselves that innate nobility of 
 feeling which enabled them to sustain their characters 
 to admiration. How vividly arose to my memory 
 Charles's first meeting with, and romantic love for his 
 queen — when, as the betrothed of the infanta of 
 Spain, in disguise he visited her father's court, and 
 there first saw and loved the gentle Henrietta. 
 
 Next in state were Gen. T. and lady as Henry the 
 Eighth and Catharine of Arragon — in regal pomp and 
 stateliness of person, very kingly and queenly. I had 
 feared much for the success of so unusual an affair 
 in our old Dutch city. Imagine then my surprise, 
 when I saw old Bogardis himself in close conversation 
 with Annaje Jans, no doubt discussing the subject of 
 the grant which fully entitled his descendants to the 
 long-contested property of Trinity Church. Prince 
 Knickerbocker next riveted my attention, benignly 
 smiling on all around him. And never did the Prince 
 in his palmiest days give better cheer than flowed in 
 upon him that night. Beneath the old Dutch hat of 
 this spirit of the past, I recognized the benevolent 
 features of H — y M — n, whose past and present career 
 gives token of as unblemished a name descending to 
 posterity, as that of him whose title he had assumed. 
 In one apartment a group seated on the floor in 
 
oriental style now excited much attention. Enter with 
 me this charmed circle, and see what familiar faces we 
 can detect. Admirable sir Turk, or Mr. J. P. K — g, 
 of Tro5^ You might in that garb deceive Mahomet 
 himself and pass for one of his most devoted followers. 
 
 There is Mr. T d also in Turkish costume, whose 
 
 polish of mind and manner lend a charm to every 
 circle, and who now converses fluently in French with 
 Madame Pompadour, who stands beside him. Two 
 beautiful Circassian Captives now meet our eye — Mrs. 
 F. and Mrs. J., — once two of our city's fairest belles, 
 now really captive by the chain of matrimony. There 
 
 is Miss A — S d, a pretty Jewess with a sunny 
 
 smile, and C. T. B., whose dark eye flashes with fun 
 beneath his turban. A — y B — d looks the Sultan to 
 
 admiration, while at his side reclines Miss S n, a 
 
 fair Sultana, with a face brighter than her glittering 
 
 robe. The beautiful Miss L n, and fair Misses 
 
 V — R n, complete the circle. 
 
 In Sir Roger de Coverly, I recognize F A s, 
 
 a young and popular physician of our city. He seems 
 following in the train of an old-fashioned dame, beneath 
 whose disguise I discover the blooming face of the 
 daughter of one of our most eminent lawyers. Yonder 
 
 stands the gifted son of our ex-president, J V — 
 
 B , in a court costume, and at his side a fair 
 
 Greek girl, Miss T e. Smiles are playing about 
 
her brilliant teeth, but in her speaking eye, and on her 
 intellectual brow there is a shade of sadness which 
 accords well with our associations with the costume 
 she has chosen. Near her stands another fair Greek. 
 Her attire is rich in the extreme, and bespeaks her the 
 scion of some noble house. They call her Ida. I 
 know her by her bright blue eye, and by her tiny and 
 exquisite foot. Is it not Willis that says, " small as a 
 snow-flake, and falls on the ground as mute." It is 
 
 Mrs. B h, of New York. 
 
 Now an eminent counsellor, S. S s, as Sir Robert 
 
 Walpole, passes by, attired in a costume which well 
 befits his profession, and most admirably the character 
 is sustained. There stands an old lady of the last 
 century, whose cap shades features still beautiful, and 
 bearing a strong resemblance to those of the fair 
 shepherdess, who, with crook in hand, wanders at her 
 
 side. It is Mrs. H 1 and her daughter; who, ever 
 
 retiring, seems to shun rather than seek admiration. 
 
 Now the daughter of a gallant officer, Miss W r, 
 
 glides with perfect grace through the dance. There 
 
 I see Mr. J , of the senale, in the dress of a black 
 
 knight, and at his side a graceful form clad in azure 
 and silver. Wit and humor shed a witching influence 
 around her, for a kind heart shines through all. Fair 
 
 Star, a name well chosen for Mrs. B n of New 
 
 York, has ever many satellites revolving around her. 
 
8 
 
 Now moving through the dance we see the fair young 
 
 wife of S S s. She can talk delightfully as 
 
 well as dance gracefully, and possesses poetry of mind 
 as well as of motion. Now the stately form of a 
 
 pirate passes by — Lewis B 1: your only booty 
 
 this eveniug has been hearts. Leaning against yon 
 pillar stands a young girl, whose regality of costume 
 suits well the high breeding of her look and air. She 
 is the Lady Rowena, poor Rebecca's successful rival. 
 
 It is Miss B d, the daughter of our gifted ex-member 
 
 of congress. 
 
 But a crowd are now making their way towards the 
 dancing saloon, to see a minuet — that favorite dance 
 at the court of Charles the First, performed with much 
 
 dignity and grace by Monsieur and Madame M d, 
 
 of Park Place. The fair Ambassadress to the court of 
 
 Charles and Henrietta, Mrs. G. B. W , of Troy, 
 
 wife of the estimable ex-member of assembly from that 
 city, now passess by. Her sandalled and aristocratic 
 foot scarce touches the floor o'er which she dances. 
 Grace and soul dwell in every movement, and though 
 yon youth so completely disguised by his becoming 
 costume calls her " mother," she still retains all the 
 charms that characterised her girlhood and bellehood. 
 A Highlander and his young wife now pass by — Mr. 
 
 and Mrs. S L h. Never did the tartan plaid 
 
 cover a manlier and a fairer form. Now advances the 
 
lion-hearted Richard of England — Dr. H W 1, 
 
 in a very rich costume, and with him a troop of 
 blooming sisters. Accompanying them is a fair stranger 
 
 from the West, Miss T k. She is in Spanish 
 
 costume, and by her extreme loveliness has fascinated 
 my gaze whenever she appeared before me during the 
 evening. Beneath the disguise of an Italian nobleman 
 I recognize my agreeable and intelligent friend, W. 
 
 W. F h, the lord and master of one of the fair 
 
 Circassians. Here I see a very pretty and decided 
 Quakeress, Miss V. A,, leaning on the arm of a stately 
 looking personage, in whom I recognize Gen. V. P — k, 
 
 of Batavia. There are Mr. and Mrs. W n, in slight 
 
 costume, with their daughter, a fair young debutante, 
 with one foot just on the threshhold of life. She is 
 Fenella, the dumb girl of Scott's Peveril of the Peak. 
 But though her lips are silent, her eye and smile speak. 
 
 Miss H 1, of New York, appeared charmingly in a 
 
 Peasant's unadorned garb, which displayed to much 
 advantage the feminine grace of her every movement. 
 
 Miss L — B d, also, in Neapolitan Peasant costume. 
 
 Her refined style of beauty would be conspicuous in 
 
 any attire. Mrs. K g, was attractive as ever in a 
 
 Spanish dress ; and Miss S r, as usual, graceful as 
 
 a Peri. The elegant person of Gen. C r appeared 
 
 to much advantage in the costume of a Knight of 
 Malta, and received even more applause when in the 
 2 
 
10 
 
 latter part of the evening, as an old French Nobleman, 
 in conversation with a fellow soldier, he " fought his 
 
 battles o'er again." E d B 1, as William 
 
 Tell, next rivited my attention. How forcibly did the 
 last line of the beautiful and touching song by that 
 name recur to my mind — "My son is saved." But 
 Cupid's arrows are the only weapons he uses. May 
 his aim be as worthy, and his success as great. 
 
 Schenectady was represented by several sweet faces, 
 in different costumes ; and Troy, among many fair, 
 like the ancient city of that name, sent its Helen, 
 Miss B., a Hindoo Girl, making music as she went, 
 and attracting many to watch her graceful movements 
 in the dance» La Vivandiere, the fair bride Mrs. 
 
 Y s of New York sustained her part well. The 
 
 simplicity of her costume was in perfect character with 
 the quiet beauty of her petite and graceful figure. 
 
 In friend Obadiah and sister Ruth we thought we 
 recognized the son of a distinguished prelate of the 
 church, and Mrs. P — e, one of Albany's reigning belles 
 in days gone by — now a Roman matron, in form and 
 
 feeling, calling her children her jewels. Miss W n, 
 
 and Miss F — d, two fair Spanish Girls, with their 
 dark eyes and raven curls shining through their black 
 mantillas. Mrs. J — e, in a rich and becoming dress, and 
 Mrs. A. B — d, representing Night — yet "fair as night 
 decked with a thousand stars." Beneath the garb of 
 
11 
 
 Rob Roy I recognize E d B f, a member of one 
 
 of our most ancient Dutch families. His dignity of 
 face and mein render the costume both suitable and 
 becoming. In the uniform of a Continental Officer 
 we discover Dr. F — d. Alas! in these piping times 
 of peace, his lancet is the only weapon he can wield. 
 
 R. E. T 's elegance is not concealed by his sailor's 
 
 hat and garb. The thorough bred gentleman will 
 
 shine through any disguise. The lovely Mrs. T e 
 
 appeared in Polish costume, as did Miss G s, and 
 
 one or two others. I could not discern whether the 
 costume most became their fair faces, or they the 
 costume. 
 
 The army was well represented in the persons of 
 Gen. W . . 1, Capt. W— r, Lieuts. B— n, and McD— 1 ; 
 
 and Gen. G 1 of Albany excited even more than 
 
 usual attention and respect, by appearing in the uniform 
 of his brave father, the Hero of Fort Stanwix. Mr. W. 
 
 M. W n, of Troy, also appeared in military costume. 
 
 Miss H. D — w, as Lady of the Mist, seemed enveloped 
 in moonbeams, so light and beautiful was the drapery 
 
 that fell around her. Miss E 1, a fair Bohemian 
 
 Girl, shone conspicuous for grace and beauty, and Mrs. 
 
 ■\\r — S n wore a costume evincing such exquisite 
 
 taste, and which became her so beautifully, that she 
 might have formed what are termed studies for an artist. 
 Miss M. T d was beautiful as Scotland's unfortunate 
 
12 
 
 Mary ; and Miss P — n of Troy, as a Sybil, graced much 
 her picturesque and rural attire. In the costume of 
 Baron Rothschild, we welcomed back to our midst our 
 
 old friend and fellow citizen, Cashier P , of Buffalo. 
 
 We hope his future exertions may be as successful 
 as his past, and crown him, ere many years are past, 
 indeed a Rothschild. In the character of Postillion, 
 
 so admirably sustained by Mr. H H 1, of Troy, 
 
 one would hardly recognize the son of one of the 
 wealthiest families in our midst. His own manner, 
 ever gentleman-like and unassuming, forms, I am 
 told, a striking contrast to the noisy, whip-snapping 
 character he had assumed. Mr. K — g, of Albany, 
 appeared remarkably well in the same costume* 
 
 J. A. F h appeared to great advantage in the 
 
 Burgesses Corps uniform ; while J. K. P e figured 
 
 as an Italian Bandit, and F. T d, and J — B , 
 
 as Romeos. J. D. T p was in the disguise of a 
 
 Boatman, and J. R. P r, in that of a French Sailor. 
 
 Our handsome young friend H. F G n as 
 
 Bassanio attracted many smiles from the fair ladies. 
 
 Now a circle anxious to penetrate the veil that hides 
 
 the future, gathers about a Gipsey Girl, Miss G y; 
 
 and now the pretty daughters of Comptroller F g 
 
 pass by, one as Little Red Ridinghood, the other a 
 
 Bohemian. Yonder Mr. W n, a Friar, counts his 
 
 beads ; and here, oh, horror of horrors ! comes S r 
 
13 
 
 L g as Blue Beard. " Sister Anne, sister Anne ! 
 
 do you see any one coming yet ?" 
 
 Mrs. C r of Utica made a lovely Sultana, wearing 
 
 as she did a very rich and becoming costume. Mrs. 
 G — r, another star of the Delevan House, I discovered 
 by the beauty of her hand and arm, which might 
 serve as a model for the sculptor. Mr. and Mrs. J. C. 
 
 Y. P e assumed the character and costume of a 
 
 Brigand and Brigandess. Mr. H d, of Boston, 
 
 revived our recollections of the unfortunate city of 
 Pompeii, by appearing in the costume of the Greek 
 
 Glaucusv Mr. L g P n wore the attire of a 
 
 Dutch Burgher, and Mrs. P. one quite imperial in its 
 
 style. Miss F 1 adorned her Milanese garb, and 
 
 was accompanied by her brother in law, V. P. D w. 
 
 Mr. S h, of Rochester, in the costume of Hamlet, 
 
 sought in vain for Ophelia ; while Miss G stole 
 
 even more hearts than usual in her becoming attire. 
 
 P S h appeared as a Pirate. J. B. P b 
 
 as Duke of Buckingham. J. McK n as Knight 
 
 Templar; and Miss McK n as a Scottish Lassie. 
 
 Judge D y, of New York, excited much applause 
 
 by the infirm appearance and tottering footsteps so 
 characteristic of the Mufti. The son of Bishop DeL. 
 
 was completely disguised as Ivanhoe ; S. V. B as 
 
 Knave of Clubs ; and J V as Don Bazillio. 
 
 Mr. B. F h, of New York, wore the garb of a 
 
14 
 
 French Peasant. Colonel D e, of Schenectady, 
 
 as Ambassador to Henrietta's court, appeared in a very- 
 splendid costume, while the intelligent face of Mrs. 
 
 H y J s of Albany looked grave beneath the 
 
 cap of an old lady of the last century. Mrs. T — E — k 
 of Cazonovia wore a rick brocade silk of by-gone days. 
 
 . ''An intellectual beauty, like a light within a vase, 
 Touched every line with glory of her animated face." 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. J. V. L. P n appeared in costume 
 
 accompanied by the Misses C n, daughters of Judge 
 
 C, of Troy, in spangled robes, representing Night. 
 Who would not have been willing to sing, " I love the 
 
 night, the starry night." Miss A. B y, of Troy, 
 
 made a charming old lady. 
 
 Miss L e and Miss T n, of Troy, appeared 
 
 as Peasants, in very picturesque costumes, and Mrs. 
 
 K , as Vivandiere. In whatever contest we 
 
 may have with our sister city, the beauty and grace 
 of her ladies we take pleasure in acknowledging ; to 
 which homage of the head we add the homage of the 
 heart, that of admiring and in some cases loving. G. 
 
 W n and J. B. G e, of Troy, were courtiers of 
 
 the age of Louis XIV. 
 
 There was Miss V — W — k, of Albany, whose large, 
 expressive black eyes, are as Italian-like as any fair 
 
 resident of Naples. Mr. , of Boston, was also 
 
 present, in a beautiful dress of the time of Louis XIV., 
 
15 
 
 together with many others with whose faces I am not 
 familiar. 
 
 By the way, since commencing my epistle I have 
 
 discovered that the Quaker was not C n, but P — tt 
 
 P , of Schenectady. One of the most amusing 
 
 scences of the evening was a contest between the old 
 
 Frencn Nobleman, Gen. C r, and Sister Ruth as 
 
 to who should gain possession of the precious person 
 of Obadiah. The former, stationed at the door of the 
 supper room and armed with a weapon, which, alas ! 
 has often proved more fatal than the sharpest steel, 
 namely, a bottle of champagne, strove by dint of the 
 most eloquent entreaties to entice the staid brother to 
 return once more to the " world's people." While 
 Sister Ruth, with all the suppressed agony of her calm 
 fraternity depicted on her anxious features, exclaimed, 
 •' Obadiah, Obadiah, if thou returnest I will speak of 
 thee to our people, and verily thou shalt be dealt 
 with." 
 
 With all my regard for the Quaker community, and 
 my deep respect for the general uprightness which 
 characterizes them, I could not at this scene forbear 
 breaking forth into a most unfashionable burst of 
 laughter, in the midst of which Sister Ruth disappeared, 
 bearing off the meek Obadiah. " Did you ever 
 behold so brilliant a scene," exclaimed a friend of 
 mine, of Troy, to a fair belle of our own city, who 
 
16 
 
 leaned upon his arm. "For myself, (he continued,) 
 though I have attended fancy balls in the different 
 cites of the Union, and many during my sojourn in 
 other lands, yet truly I have never witnessed a scene 
 so brilliant in beauty and artistical effect as this." 
 Dream not, citizens of Syracuse ! of removing 
 the Capital from this its favored seat. Condemn and 
 despise the thought, ye wealthy and public-spirited of 
 our city, and you, ye grave Senators and Legislators, 
 pour forth the full tide of your eloquence against so 
 wild a scheme, for know ye not that Albany is destined 
 to be the most courtly city of the north. 
 
 In the brilliant getting up of the Fancy Ball on 
 Thursday evening, and in the taste and elegance 
 displayed in the choice of costumes, I observed the 
 same spirit which has led some of our most prominent 
 citizens to take active measures with reference to 
 establishing an Academy of the Fine Arts. When 
 Nature in the early spring is opening her volume of 
 glorious and beautiful revelations, Art, her worshiping 
 handmaiden, will enthrone herself in a building 
 about to be erected by our enterprising fellow citizen, 
 
 E s C g, on the site of the old Knickerbacker 
 
 Hall. There, on the very spot where to the sound 
 of the merry viol, hundreds of hearts have bowed 
 in homage before living and breathing beauty, there 
 again will they admire and revere the wonderful 
 
17 
 
 imitations and creations which the hand of genius 
 imparts to the senseless canvass, until it seems instinct 
 and rife with life and loveliness. There, my dear 
 
 1 trust we will one day wander together — now 
 
 a fair face calling forth our homage, now a glorious 
 landscape awakening our admiration, and now bowing 
 together in adoration before some glorious scriptural 
 representation. Hasten, hasten the day ! Forgive 
 this digression, you know my love of pictures ever 
 renders me forgetful of all else. Do you recollect 
 how perfectly oblivious I once was in the Academy in 
 
 your city of the presence of Mr. , although in my 
 
 unabstracted moments, he found me ever ready to 
 exclaim with the poet, 
 
 " Much we admired, and much our wonder grew, 
 That one s7naU head could carry all he knew. 
 
 But to return to the Fancy Ball. Our senate and 
 assembly were also represented, and ably disguised, 
 as were also the learned professions. Brave warriors 
 and grave statesmen of by-gone days reappeared in 
 the manly and gifted of our own. But the crowning 
 
 charm of the evening was the Indian Girl, Miss B 1, 
 
 the daughter of one of our most respected citizens. 
 Every look and movement was in perfect keeping 
 with the costume she had chosen. Her eyes and 
 teeth were more brilliant than the ornaments about 
 her person. Her stately step seemed to spurn the 
 3 
 
18 
 
 rich carpets o'er which she trod, and her immobility 
 of feature when addressed, was a perfect piece of 
 pantomime. The soft strains of the distant music 
 from the dancing saloon fell unheeded on her ear. 
 Statue like and motionless she sat, as if listening 
 only to the sighing of the wind among the trees of 
 her native forests. She brought to my memory the 
 Magawisca of Hope Leslie, that story of Miss Sedgwick 
 which so enchanted our youthful imaginations. 
 
 It was very easy to detect through the slight disguise 
 of the Minister from Oregon, our talented friend E — n 
 
 C 11, accompanied by Mrs. C, also in slight costume. 
 
 I was happy to see that this gay pageant had attracted 
 from her usual retirement the charming wife of Gen. 
 
 J. T. C r, who with her two agreeable sisters, the 
 
 Misses H y, lent an additional charm to the evening. 
 
 But in my endeavor to fulfil my promise, I have 
 already exceeded the bounds of an ordinary letter. 
 Doubtless there were many present whose names and 
 costumes my recollection has not been sufficiently 
 faithful to retain. Amid the brilliant constellation of 
 that night of starry beauty, you must regard such as the 
 Lost Pleiads of my memory. Suffice to say, that to 
 prove that the Dutch feeling of Albany had not been 
 sinned against, all the Vans were present, from the 
 Van A's to the Van V's — which last letter was well 
 represented in the person of A — V — V — -n, grandson 
 
19 
 
 of the late venerable counsellor of that name, for so 
 many years a resident of our city, and the pride and 
 glory of his profession. 
 
 But Morpheus is attacking my eyelids with so much 
 power that I must reserve all else till we meeto 
 
 Adieu. 
 
The following poem, by particular request, has 
 
 been obtained by the publishers, and printed on 
 
 their own responsibility. 
 
 W, C. LITTLE & CO. 
 
TO THE QUEEN 
 
 Hail mighty queen ! upon this motley crowd 
 Of gay, of grave, of gentle, and of loud, 
 Permit a minstrel from his secret nook 
 To cast a careful, tho' unnoticed look ; 
 And in a careless, rough and hasty rhyme. 
 To sing the features of this merry chime. 
 
 Needs he a muse to inspire him in his theme ? 
 Not while thou (lovelier than a poet's dream) 
 Miss .... art here, with that same witching smile. 
 Which can the heart of Time himself beguile. 
 
 First then, your Majesty, he turns to you ; 
 To you from all assembled thanks are due ; 
 Well sits the coronet upon thy brow, 
 A queen before, tho' never crowned till now. 
 So when this pageant of a night is o'er. 
 And we have donned our usual garb once more ; 
 Tho' all thy guests shall drop their borrowed parts, 
 Still shalt thou reign as ever — queen of hearts. 
 
 Near to thy throne beauty and grace are seen, 
 Three maids of honor wait on thee their queen ; 
 
24 
 
 Fairest amid the fair, by Envy's self-confessed, 
 Where all are lovely, still the loveliest. 
 How can the minstrel sing their various charms ? 
 Or how could even B t sketch their forms ? 
 
 Heavens ! what a motley sight spreads out to view, 
 Of dresses, warlike, peaceful, old and new. 
 Here is a dress, which ninety years ago. 
 Caught for some great-great-grandmother a beau : 
 And by its side one that by candle-light 
 Was scarcely finished to. be worn this night. 
 Here one which made for English palace halls, 
 More humbly now is worn at fancy balls: 
 And here another, rich in spangled work, 
 For this night's use brought lately from New York. 
 Dresses from Greece, from Scotland, and from France ; 
 Dresses of days of prowess and romance. 
 Guests from each nation under heaven are seen, 
 Turkey's sultana beside fair England's queen. 
 From east, from west, from south, and north they come, 
 From warmer climates, from a colder home — 
 Till (as I to a fair lady said) " Madam, 
 The only absent pair are Eve and Adam." 
 If each to talk his proper tongue were able. 
 Confusion here would far exceed old Babel. 
 
 Here are the " Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled," 
 Dressed up in tartan black, blue and red ; 
 Some of them are " Vich Alpines, warriors true," 
 And one perhaps is even " Roderick Dhu ;" 
 
25 
 
 Yet fear not ladies, for in peace they come, 
 
 Your smiles, the only spoils they will bear home. 
 
 Great they may be in sham militia war, 
 
 But will not do the deed of Lochinvar ; 
 
 Or, were they standing on old Scotland's heather, 
 
 They'd wrap, I think, their plaids more close together; 
 
 Or, shivering beneath some highland storm, 
 
 Wonder how Donald kept his bare limbs warm. 
 
 In dreamy idleness, unused to work, 
 
 And loosely clad, here stands the " turbanM Turk," 
 
 Wishing these fair ones slaves, that he might buy 
 
 The beauty which on all sides meets his eye ; 
 
 But yet despair not Turk, if you have gold : 
 
 Not among the Turks alone are women sold. 
 
 Parties are here the markets for the dears. 
 
 And careful mothers act as auctioneers. 
 
 Yet take a warning — buy but one — no more, 
 
 Although Mahomet vt^ill allow you four. 
 
 For you cannot with sack or bowstring scare 'em. 
 
 And four would play the mischief in your harem. 
 
 Close by the Turk — not now a thing for fear — 
 See Richard of the lion heart appear. 
 He fights not now 'gainst Turks with sword and lance, 
 But only runs against them in the dance ; 
 And by his graceful air and flattering arts, 
 Robs ladies, and not lions, of their hearts. 
 
 Another, still another English king 
 More than the minstrel can have time to sing- — 
 
26 
 
 Portly and brave Harry the Eighth is seen ; 
 Can he not somewhere find fair Anne Boleyn ? 
 " In peace there's nothing so becomes a man" 
 He says, " as to be general, if you can." 
 
 Anneke Jans! since thou art here, declare, 
 Is, or is not, old Trinity thine heir ? 
 Settle the question with a little pains, 
 And quiet all these lawyers cogging brains. 
 
 Is it a vision flashing past my eyes. 
 Fresh as a rosebud amid summer skies ? 
 Do fairy belles, with tinkling music sweet, 
 Attend the movements of those tiny feet ? 
 Were such the forms near Ganges' hallowed shore, 
 His waters would be never worshipped more ; 
 And Hindoos, turning from their gods of stone, 
 Would kneel to beauty such as thine alone. 
 
 In sable garb, a crescent on thy brow, 
 Adorned with stars, fair Night, next cam'st thou ; 
 Were every night lovely as thou art here, 
 We'd wish it might be night the livelong year. 
 
 Fawn of the forest ! say, how didst thou dare 
 To enter here with cold indifferent stare ? 
 Cam'st thou from thy loved and distant wild 
 To show to Fashion's children. Nature's child? 
 Or didst thou wish to shame each king and queen 
 With thy untutored majesty of mien ? 
 Back to thy woods, lest thou may'st learn to prize 
 Our heartless life, our hollow gaieties ; 
 
27 
 
 Preserve thy soul from Fashion's bondage free, 
 And scornful still smile at our vanity. 
 
 Hark to the minuet ! Upon the floor 
 See Monsieur M. and Madame Pompadour. 
 Slowly they move along the courtly dance, 
 "With all the grace of their own native France ; 
 And ne'er could France, if challenged to compare, 
 Show a more polished, gay, and graceful pair. 
 Ye peasant girls, dressed up in costly gear ; 
 Ye shepherdesses, little used to shear ; 
 Ye bandits, who would fear to kill a fly ; 
 Ye quakers, whom we cannot well call dry ; 
 Ye pirates, who can draw a brief or plea 
 Better than ye could board a ship at sea ; 
 Ye Jilles du regement, with canteens handy. 
 
 Filled up (so says) with best of brandy; 
 
 Ye artists, eager to immortalize 
 
 The forms and faces flitting past your eyes ; 
 
 Ye Polish maidens, all unused to fear. 
 
 When tales of Eussian insults meet your ear ; 
 
 Ye Spanish ladies, with your long black hair; 
 
 And ye Rebeccas dark, Rowenas fair. 
 
 And you, great master of the rapid bow, 
 
 Too merry for the love-sick Romeo ; 
 
 Thou Capuchin, with cross and string of beads, 
 
 Questioning others of their evil deeds, 
 
 Ne'er thinking of thine own— like most divines; 
 
 Ye Byrons, skilled in writing ledger lines ; 
 
28 
 
 Ye princesses^ adorned with brilliant stars ; 
 Ye maids cf Athens ; and ye jolly tars, 
 Who in your ship, or any other place, 
 Can splice no rope so well as the main-hrace ; 
 Thou veteran husband of "oZd Molly Stark,''* 
 With regimentals saved in Noah's ark ; 
 Ye tawney Indians, looking through your specs ; 
 Ye lovely Swiss girls, with your snow-white necks; 
 Ye fair,, half-hidden under misty veils ; 
 Thou old Soga-dus with thy long coat tails ; 
 Ye quakeresses, with your thee and thou-ing ; 
 Ye dapper French lords^ with your courtly bowing ; 
 Ye old Dutch ladies ; ye Italian dames ; 
 And all who have, or have not borrowed names ; 
 Zuleikas ; captains ; Maltese boatmen ; all, 
 Ye great and little, and ye short and tall ; 
 Both ye who in these lines have mentioned been, 
 And whom the minstrel has by chance not seen, 
 A happy night to all — may you to-moiTOW say 
 You ne*er have been so merry and so gay ; 
 And when this night is o'er, be it the theme 
 Of many a talk and many a bright day-dream. 
 For surely in the memory of all 
 Naught has been known like to this fancy ball. 
 Then join me in deep bumpers to this toast, 
 ^^Long live the royal pair, our hostess and our host.''' 
 

 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 
 ^fi,: -r^'Ti.