Letter from Lady Elizabeth Feilding to her sister, 10 February 1813

urn:iso:std:iso:639:ed-3:eng

158–159

text excerpt

I am afraid all my powers -of description would fail to give you an idea of the oriental air of everything in that Mahomet’s Paradise, Carlton House. I do not know whether we all looked like Houris, but I for one was certainly in the seventy-seventh heaven. 

Of course I need not say that I was beautifully attired, for that is always part of a woman’s happiness, if she is of a true feminine gender. 

Imagine yourself ascending a flight of steps into an immense saloon lighted up to the ceiling with a profusion of candles and a display of gold plate on either hand that dazzled the eye, with a sonorous band of turbaned slaves playing ‘God save the King.’ 

The sight and sound were both animating, the kettledrums and cymbals, the glitter of spangles and finery, of dress and furniture that burst upon you were quite éblouissant. 

Then you turned to the right through a suite of rooms, some hung with scarlet and gold, others with blue and gold, and some decorated with portraits of all our great commanders. At last you arrived at the ballroom, where sat the Queen at the upper end, with the Princesse de Condé on her right hand, and the Russian Ambassadress on her left.

excerpt from 'Letter from Lady Elizabeth Feilding to her sister, 10 February 1813' pp. 158–159 (218 words)

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1535540476799