3-017-184 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The International Naval Festival at Cherbourg: the ball at the Hotel de Ville - from a sketch by our special artist, 1865. '...the festivities were brought to a close by a ball at the Hotel de Ville [in Cherbourg, northern France.] The company assembled in three fine saloons - the first the municipal hall proper; the second built since Cherbourg has expanded into its present importance, and called the Emperor's saloon; the third, named the Queen's, as having been used on the occasion of her Majesty's visit, and as containing a magnificent picture of that event...as more than 1500 had been asked and nearly 1200 came, it followed as a matter of course that the throng was somewhat inconveniently dense, and dancing was almost impossible...From the thronged state of the rooms, the whole entertainment partook more of the nature of a stately conversazione than a ball. Still, dancing to a certain, or rather to an uncertain, extent did go on under more or less of difficulties; and it was amusing to see how the "middies" and youngsters from the English fleet always selected the biggest ladies they could find as partners, and with what energy they bounced against group after group in the crowd in their untiring efforts to keep the dancing'. From "Illustrated London News", 1865.