3-017-096 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Ball on board H.M.S. Victory, at Portsmouth, at the Centenary Festival of the ship, 1865. 'The Victory, Nelson's flagship in the Battle of Trafalgar, hallowed by the memory of his death, is still extant, as a hulk, in Portsmouth Harbour...On Wednesday week the centenary festival of this famous ship, which was launched at Chatham, in July 1765, was celebrated by her present commander, Captain Francis Scott, with a ball, which he gave, on the upper deck, to a party of some four hundred guests, including...the chiefs of the various departments in the dockyard, with their families, besides many of the naval officers and of the neighbouring gentry. The upper deck was covered in with a sort of awning and tastefully decorated with the flags of all nations, and with festoons of evergreens around the masts...The dancing commenced at three o'clock in the afternoon...some of the ladies wore their bonnets or hats all the time. The naval officers appeared in their blue frock-coats...and the military gentlemen were in their undress frock-coats or braided shell-jackets... many of the guests were permitted to drink from...three wine-glasses used by Nelson himself...to the immortal memory of the great English naval hero'. From "Illustrated London News", 1865.