the Assembly Rooms, and was regarded as the most splendid affair of the season. Upwards of 150 distinguished fashionables were present and dancing was kept up till the roseate morn broke forth, and chased away the festive night.
A week later, Robert Hollond, Esq., M.P., entertained a numerous party of nobility and gentry at his residence, “The Allegria”, where all was mirth and jollity, and where also dancing was kept up till the small hours of the morning.
On the 25th of September, a large and fashionable company assembled in the St. Leonards rooms to witness and to enjoy a performance by Richardson’s Rock and Steel Band. The inventor of these unique instruments of harmony and melody was highly complimented for his ingenuity.
On the 21st of December, the same rooms were engaged by the celebrated Distin Family, who gave a morning concert on their Sax-horns, the instrumental portions being relieved by a lady vocalist and pianoforte accompaniment.
Royal Visitors
The French Royal Family
Louis Phillipe and his family arrived at Chamberlain’s Victoria Hotel at 5 p.m. on the 22nd of May. The illustrious party consisted of the “Count and Countess de Neuilly” (ex-king and queen), the Queen of the Belgians, the Duke and Duchess de Nemours, the Count d’Eu, the Duke d’Allencon (sic), the Princess Margeurite, the Prince and Princess de Joinville, the Duke de Pentheeve, the Princess Francois, the Duke and Duchess d’Aumale, Prince de Condé, Gen. Chabannes, Gen. Dumas, Gen. Hendetot, the Duchess de Marnier, Dr. de Mussey, Madame de Vanderstatten, Col. Moerkerke, and the Countess de Montguyon. They alighted from the Bopeep (now West Marina) station, the approaches to which were lined with respectably dressed people, who saluted the Royal party. About a week later, the Duchess of Orleans, with the Count de Paris and the Duke de Chatres (sic), arrived at 65 Marina, where Mr. J. Hardwicke Braye was again in daily attendance as English tutor. Most of the Royal family were said to be improving in health since their arrival, except the ex-king, whose feebleness gave his family no permanently good hope. Visits of royal or distinguished persons were frequent, and among them were the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Cobourg and Gotha, the Duke de Montmorency, the Marchioness of Loban, and Lord John Russell. At a later date the health of the Count de Neuilly was said to be improving, and on June 17th the dinner party consisted of 41 persons, including the Duke de Broglie, M. Guizot, M. Duchatelle and M. Durmon. On the 22nd of June, the ex-royals having passed Wellington Place, where a man had been accidentally killed [See next chapter, one of the party went -
