Excerpts from The Court Journal: Court Circular & Fashionable Gazette, Volume 5

COURT AND FASHIONABLE LIFE – October 1833

King William IV

— On Sunday morning, the King and Queen, the Princess Augusta, and the Royal Suite and Household, attended Divine Service in the Chapel of the Castle. The Bishop of Worcester officiated.

In the evening Captain Ross and his nephew arrived at the Castle to pay their respects to his Majesty. They were received by the King in a very flattering and gracious manner, and had the honour of being introduced to the Queen and Royal visitors, with whom they dined and spent the evening. Captain Ross appeared in excellent health, and wore a Swedish Order.

— On Monday the King honoured the Earl and Countess of Albemarle with his company, at Hampton Court Palace. His Majesty arrived at Bushey about ten o’clock, where he was received by the Noble Earl; and after inspecting the paddocks and the Royal stud, returned to the Stud house, where his Majesty partook of a magnificent dejeuner a lafouchette. At half-past three o’clock, the King, attended by some of the distinguished visitors who were invited to meet his Majesty, visited the Palace at Hampton Court; and, at five o’clock, his Majesty returned to Windsor Castle.

— On Tuesday evening the marriage of the Hon. Mr Wellesley with the Hon. Olivia de Roos, was solemnized at Windsor Castle. The ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Worcester, assisted by the Rev. Isaac Gosset, Chaplain to their Majesties, in the private chapel, which was fitted up with crimson velvet for the occasion. There were present the King and Queen, the Duke of Wellington, Lady Sydney, Lord and Lady and Miss Cowley, Colonel and Lady and Miss de Roos, Lord and Lady Errol, Sir Herbert and Lady Taylor, and the Hon. Misses Mitchell, Johnstone, Eden, Boyle, and Bagot, Maids of Honour, and many of the Household. The bride was dressed in white satin and lace, and wore a beautiful head-dress of diamonds. His Majesty gave her away, and Lady Georgina Howe and Miss Taylor were the bridesmaids. At nine o’clock in the evening the bride and bridegroom left for Bushey; and early next week they take their departure for Germany.

-On Wednesday, tbe King, attended by Sir Herbert Taylor, arrived at St James’s Palace, for the purpose of holding a court. The following Foreign Ministers had audiences of his Majesty, viz :—The Baron Bulow, the Prussian Minister, to deliver a letter from his Sovereign; Prince Soutzo, Minister on a Special Mission from the King of Greece, to take leave ; Chevalier de Vial, the Spanish Minister, to deliver liis credentials from his new Sovereign; Marquis de Funchal and the Chevalier dc Lima, to deliver credentials from their new Sovereign. Viscount Palmerston presented Mr Addington to the King, on bis return from his mission to the Court of Madrid. Tbe King gave audiences to the Duke of Richmond, Viscount Melbourne, the Right Hon. Charles Grant, Mr Secretary Stanley, Viscount Palmerston, Sir James Graham, and Lord Hill,also to the Hanoverian Minister, Sir Lowry Cole (late Governor of the Cape of Good Hope), and Captain Woolmore.

Brighton Pavilion

 The King and Queen will leave Windsor at an early hour this morning for the Pavilion at Brighton, where a large party are invited to meet their Majesties in the evening. They will travel direct to Brighton without passing through London. Part of the Royal household have been at the Pavilion for some days making the requisite preparations for the reception of their Majesties.

— The Marchioness of Wellesley, on her way to Dublin, stayed several days at Chatsworth, on a visit to the Duke of Devonshire, who is at present surrounded by his noble relatives. The Duke, we are happy to be informed, is nearly recovered from his lameness.

— Beaudesert, in Staffordshire, the splendid seat of the Marquis of Anglesey, is now occupied by his Lordship’s eldest son, the Earl of Uxbridge, and his Countess. On the return of the Noble Marquis from his government in Ireland, and previous to his departure for Italy, he remained a few days in his pleasant and peaceful residence, Beaudesert.

— The Earl of Stair, during the winter, intends giving a series of grand entertainments at Paris, to all the British Noblesse sojourning there. His Lordship, although nearly a constant resident in the French capital, still retains his splended residence in Seamore Place, Curzon Street.

— The Hon. W. Clifford, who has recently taken possession of the mansion and estate at Irnham, near Bourne, Lincolnshire, gave a very elegant ball and supper on Wednesday to a numerous party of his tenantry.

— A very handsome guard-room for officers has just been erected in the King’s mews, north of tbe new barracks.



The Duchess of Kent


– The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland have been entertaining large parties of noble friends at their princely Palace at Alnwick, where it is their intention to remain until after Christmas. The Duchess of Kent and the Princess Victoria some time since contemplated a visit to the Noble Duchess in the north, but the genial breezes of the Isle of Wight have so exceedingly renovated the health of the young Princess, as to occasion the Duchess of Kent to remain on the island beyond the period originally contemplated. The Royal visit to Alnwick Castle is therefore deferred until next year.

— The Earl of Egremont is, next to Royalty, the greatest benefactor Brighton ever had. Should the Chain Pier be re-instated, it will owe its restoration entirely to the Noble Earl. Nearly all the improvements in that fashionable retreat have been suggested, and in part. carried into effect, by the liberality of his Lordship, whose private charities are also unbounded.

— Lord and Lady Lyndhurst have been passing some time in Paris, where her Ladyship excited the admiration of the beau monde in that gay and spirit-stirring capital. The learned Baron and his Lady during their stay frequently dined with the British Ambassador, and they remained in Paris just long enough to bid adieu to Prince Talleyrand and the Duchess de Dino, previously to their departure for the south of France.

— The Duke and Duchess of St Albans have returned to their house in Piccadilly after a very long provincial tour, where in every town they visited, her Grace substantially patronized the theatre if there were one. They will shortly depart for Brighton for the winter, where they will resume their capacious house in Regency Square.

— The amiable Countess of Clare and her suite have again departed for the Continent, where they will remain until the spring of next year, unless news from her lord in India should occasion her Ladyship to return.


Hatfield House

- Marquess and Marchioness of Salisbury, during the last fortnight, have been entertaining in succession large parties of the nobility at their mansion at Hatfield, one of the most splendid in that part of the country. The Noble Marquess will shortly review, on his own princely domain, the Hertfordshire Yeomanry, on which occasion the Duke of Wellington, and several of the Duke’s military friends and ‘companions in arms,’ will likewise be present, to participate in the general and most unbounded hospitality which pervades Hatfield House at this annual festival. Lord and Lady Dacre, Lord Verulam, Lord Grimstone, and most of the opulent and distinguished neighbours are also invited

— Chantrey the Sculptor is at present engaged on a professional tour in the north. He has received instructions from the Dowager Viscountess Downe, to execute a full-length statue of her deeply lamented Lord, which is intended to be placed in Snaith Church, Yorkshire. The figure will be taken from a picture painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence, in which Lord Downe is represented in his parliamentary robes.

— The Duke and Duchess of Argyll will occupy a house at Brighton, in order to be near their Majesties, with whom his Grace is an especial favourite.



Bowood House

-  The Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne have been entertaining a large party of fashionables at Bowwood Park. We understand that, if the state of public business will permit, his Lordship and family will pay their annual visit to Paris before Christmas.

— Lord Delamere has been entertaining a large party of fashionables, at his seat, Vale Royal, Cheshire, to celebrate the coming of age of his Lordship’s eldest son, the Hon. Hugh Cholmondeley, late of the 1st Life Guards.

— The Marquis and Marchioness of Conyngham are now in possession of the large mansion, in Park lane, built by the late Earl Dudley, from whose executors it was purchased by Lord Conyngham. We believe the Noble Marquis first intended to take the wine, which was valued at two thousand pounds; but this his Lordship has subsequently relinquished. The entire house has been newly-embellished, under the good taste and direction of the Marchioness of Couyngham.

— The Duke of Devonshire, the Marquis of Bristol, and the Marchioness and the Ladies Cornwallis, are the only distinguished personages that at present occupy houses at Kemp-town, near Brighton. The keen air of the west cliff is better suited for a summer than a winter residence.

— A happy family party, consisting of the Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury, Lady Laura Tollemache, Hon. Charles and Mrs Tollemache, and Miss Tollemache, are assembled under the roof of the excellent Countess of Dysart, and enjoying her hospitalities, enlivened occasionally by the visits of the surrounding neighbourhood.

— Few persons went to the last levee with greater magnificence than the Portuguese Ambassador, the Marquis of Funchal, and the Charge d’Affaires, M. de Lima. The liveries of the Marquis were nearly covered with silver lace. The reception of these gentlemen by the King was highly gratifying; his Majesty conversed with them for some time, and enquired particularly after the health of his ‘ little favourite,” Donna Maria, and the Duchess of Braganza. His Majesty said he was rejoiced to hear of the continued success of the constitutionalists, and hoped that the contest would be soon over.

— Lord Yarborough has arrived at his seat, Brocklesby, for the burning season.

— It was the intention of the King and Queen of Belgium to visit Claremont this year, but they have been prevented. As the Queen, however, is very desirous of spending two or three weeks, the King will probably bring her over next Spring. The improvements in the Royal gardens and grounds in Belgium are proceding rapidly, under the superintendance of the King’s Conservator, Mr Mackintosh.

— The Duchess de Dino, since her departure, has written to several of her distinguished friend, to say that she expects to return to London early in January, accompanied by her daughter.

— The Duke of Grafton has been entertaining a party of his sporting friends with a grand latte, at his magnificent set, Euston Hall, near Timford. Amongst his Grace’s distinguished guests are the Marquis of Exeter, Count Matuscberiu, the Earl of Chesterfield, the Earl of Stradbroose, Lord C. Fitzroy, Hon. Colonel Anson, &c.

— Earl and Countess Grey and family are still remaining at Howick, and no day has yet been named for their return to Downing Street.

O'Brien the Irish Giant

An engraving by A. Van Assen, 1804

Patrick Cotter O’Brien (1760-1806) was at one time the tallest man in the world, reported to stand anywhere from 8′ 1″ to 8′ 6″ tall. Patrick Cotter was born at Kinsale, County Cork in either the year 1760 or 1761. When he was a teenager, a travelling showman discovered him working as a bricklayer and brought him to England to star in his ‘freak of nature’ show. He added the stage name ‘O’Brien’ to his own to connect himself with the legendary Celtic giants. The showman who’d discovered Patrick and paid him fiftypounds per annum also obtained the right to exhibit him for three years in England. Details become sketchy, but it appears as if the showman then attempted to sublet the right to show Patrick to another and Patrick objected. The showman then charged Patrick with a fictitous debt and he was thrown into a sponging house in Bristol. Soon after, a visitor to the Sheriff, a man of means, met Patrick, heard his tale and succeeded in having him freed from jail and, more importantly, from any obligation he might have had to the showman – shades of Dickens!

At this time, Patrick was 18 years of age and, again with the help of his benefactor, he was able to set himself up in the fair then held in St. James’s, London where, in three days time, he earned thirty pounds. Patrick made his first public appearance at the Full Moon tavern in Stokes Croft, Bristol on the 19th July 1783; and indeed it appears that he made his home at Bristol whilst travelling around the country appearing at various theatres and fairs. In 1785 it was advertised that he was again to be ‘seen by the quality’ in a room in James Street, London for the sum of two shillings. In the same year, he appeared at the Sadler’s Wells theatre in a bill shared with some performing animals and fourteen years later he was still turning a profit whilst appearing in a booth at the Bartholomew Fair. His career certainly extended over twenty years until 1804 when he decided he had made enough money to retire to Clifton in Bristol.

Patrick had himself a special coach made, with a lowered floor that included a box for his feet. Once, when held up by a highwayman, Patrick had only to pull back the curtain and look out the window in order to send his would be robber terrified into the night. It was said that Patrick’s height allowed him to walk down the street and light his cigars on the streetlamps. 

The remainder of Patrick’s life was spent in Bristol and he is there still referred to as the ‘Bristol Giant’. When he died in 1806, he instructed that his body be protected from bodysnatchers and the knives of curious surgeons. His coffin, therefore, born by 14 pallbearers, was lowered into a vault cut 12 feet deep into solid rock and heavy iron bars were cemented into the walls. Patrick left his clothing to a servant, who dressed up a huge figure in resemblance of his master in the clothes and exhibited them throughout London. His considerable earnings Patrick left to his mother. His giant boots are on diplay at the Bristol Museum and, this past summer, one of his super-sized gloves was at the centre of an eccentric exhibition at the Head of Steam museum in Darlington.

O’Brien’s remains were exhumed in 1972 and surgeons determined that he would have stood 8′ 1″ tall, making him one of only 12 men in medical history to be verified as having stood over eight feet tall.

The British Garden – Hanover Square – New York City

The British Garden in Hanover Square, New York City was created to honor the memories of the 67 British citizens who lost their lives during the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. The garden, situated in Lower Manhattan, also celebrates the historic ties of friendship between the U.S. and the UK and aims to bring British heritage and arts initiatives into the community and city of New York.

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip and Mayor Bloomberg of NYC

Here, the Queen cut the ribbon and formally open the British Garden at Hanover Square on June 6, 2010 and she also met families of the 67 Britons who died in the September 11 attacks. “We’re very honored that Her Majesty should take time,” Rodney Johnson, vice-chairman of the garden’s board said. The families meeting her are particularly thrilled.”

Aberdeen Asset Management PLC (“Aberdeen”) has gifted a granite stone from the heart of Royal Deeside in Scotland to the British Garden that replicates the 22- to 26-pound “Braemar” stone which is thrown at
Highland Games across Scotland and the world. The Aberdeen Braemar stone is supported by a specially carved limestone square pyramid plinth which shows the distance from New York City to Aberdeen, Scotland – 3,281 miles.

The garden reflects Britain in its design; with City of London style bollards, paving quarried in Scotland and Wales and benches produced in England which were completed in Northern Ireland. The Garden was designed by Isabel and Julian Bannerman, leading British landscape architects best known for their work for HRH The Prince of Wales and British sculptor Simon Verity undertook the stone carving of the county map of Great Britain.

Prince Harry visited the British Garden and planted a tree on May 29, 2009.

Like a Fine Wine

Like a fine wine, actor Ian McShane continues to age beautifully, stepping into the limelight at intervals in order to remind us just how delicious he is – especially when playing the bad boy. Villianous roles, it seems, suit McShane right down to the ground and at age sixty-eight, they keep coming his way.

Born in Blackburn, England, McShane is the son of professional soccer player Harry McShane, who played  for Manchester United, and Irene McShane. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Having starred in more than thirty films, McShane made his debut in 1962’s The Wild and the Willing that led to other roles in The Battle of Britain, The Last of Sheila (at right), Villain (co-starring Richard Burton), Exposed, and Agent Cody Banks.

His TV resumé includes any number of TV-movies and miniseries: he played Judas in the internationally produced Jesus of Nazareth (1977) and was seen as the title character in the British miniseries Disraeli (1979). In America, he was a regular on the 1989-90 season of Dallas, playing Don Lockwood.
                                                              

McShane gained an international fan following as a result of his starring role in the widely-distributed TV series The Lovejoy Mysteries, originally filmed in 1986, then brought back by popular demand in 1990. In the late 80’s the actor formed McShane Productions, which produced the much-adored Lovejoy for the BBC and A&E. The series, based on the books by Jonathan Gash, features antique dealer/detective Lovejoy, a “divvie” who has an uncanny ability to recognise exceptional items as well as for distinguishing fakes or forgeries from genuine antiques.

McShane earned the coveted Golden Globe Award for “Best Actor in a Television Drama” for his versatile performance as Al Swearengen on HBO’s hit series Deadwood. His charismatic portrayal of Swearengen also led him to a nomination for the 2005 Emmy and a 2005 and 2006 SAG nomination for Lead Actor, as well as being voted by People Magazine in 2005, “TV’s Sexiest Villain.” McShane’s performance gained him a wave of critical acclaim which earned him the Television Critics Association’s annual award for “Individual Achievement in Drama,” and being selected as one of GQ’s “Men of the Year.” They described the character of Swearengen as “infectious” and “darkly irresistible.” The New York Times dubbed him as “One of the Most Interesting Villains on Television,” and Rolling Stone Magazine bestowed the title of “Hot Barkeep” and described the character as “played to perfection.”

McShane has also voiced several characters for films – Captain Hook in Shrek the Third and the voice of Mr. Bobinski, in the film Coraline and has had a long stage career. In 2000 McShane returned to the West End in London to make his musical debut starring in Cameron Mackintosh’s successful musical The Witches of Eastwick as Darryl Van Horne. His varied stage career has included roles as Hal in the original cast of Loot, the title role of The Admirable C
richton
at the Chichester Festival, Tom in The Glass Menagerie, and Charlie in The Big Knife. He co-starred with Judi Dench and Ian McKellen in Promise, which successfully played London and debuted on Broadway. In Los Angeles he starred in three productions at The Matrix Theatre, including the world premiere of Larry Atlas’ Yield of the Long Bond and two others for which he received the Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Award, Inadmissible Evidence and Betrayal.
A current villainous role is his appearance as the crafty bishop of Shiring, Waleran Bigod, in the TV production of Ken Follett’s novel Pillars of the Earth. He is duplicious, a liar, and changes sides in the war between Stephen and Maud with alacrity.  But you can’t help admiring his acting!
Ian McShane plays the fearsome pirate Blackbeard in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the fourth installment of the Disney movie series directed by Rob Marshall scheduled to open May 20, 2011. McShane will play legendary pirate–real name was Edward Teach– who piloted the ship Queen Anne’s Revenge. Read McShane’s latest interview in the Independent here, in which we learn a few details about his colourful love life, that he likes oysters and that he’s not personally fond of antiques.  You can watch an interview with Ian about his upcoming role here. And another interview about his stage work with Charlie Rose here.  Drink up.

Queen Elizabeth to Launch New Cunard Ship

Cunard Line has announced that Her Majesty The Queen will name the company’s new Queen Elizabeth, the third Cunard ship to bear the name, at a ceremony to take place in Southampton today. The Queen Elizabeth, a 2092-passenger ocean liner, will set sail on her maiden voyage tomorrow – the voyage sold out in a record 29 minutes. The 13-night maiden voyage will depart from Southampton with ports of call including Vigo, Lisbon, Seville, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma and Madeira.

The Queen at the launch of the QE2 in 1967

“The naming of a Cunard Queen is a very special occasion and this will be an historic event in the true sense of the word. The Queen launched Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1967 and named our current flagship Queen Mary 2 in 2004,” said Peter Shanks, President and Managing Director. “We are both honoured and proud that Her Majesty will name our new liner Queen Elizabeth,” he added.

Her Majesty was also present at the age of 12 at the launch of the first Queen Elizabeth on 27 September 1938 when she accompanied her mother, Queen Elizabeth, to Clydebank for the launch. The Queen Elizabeth will be the second largest Cunarder ever built and will join her sisters, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, as part of the youngest fleet in the world.
 
 

 

Artist rendering of the QE3

Cunard ships, while among the most modern afloat, are known for their traditional luxury, accentuated by extensive use of brass, classic fabrics, marble and highly polished woods. One challenge for Queen Elizabeth’s designers was how to treat the significant central space on the sweeping staircase in the ship’s soaring Grand Lobby.
 
Cunard’s President and Managing Director, Peter Shanks, says: “We needed to fill that space with something which would not just be dramatic but which would also reflect our emphasis on traditional and sumptuous materials. After much thought and exploratory work, it was decided to commission a 5.6-metre (18 ft 6 in) high marquetry panel depicting the original Queen Elizabeth, an Art Deco icon, using a variety of natural woods from around the world.

“Once we had decided on the theme and the medium, it didn’t take us long to conclude that no-one was better qualified for this work than the company of the exceptional craftsman David Linley (Viscount Linley, son of Princess Margaret, nephew of the Queen), whose creative ability and mastery of wood is renowned.”

Peter Shanks and Viscount Linley at the unveiling
As a result, Linley, a company specialising in the design and manufacture of fine furniture and marquetry was commissioned to design and make this stunning centrepiece at the heart of the ship. The magnificent artwork spans 2½ decks and shows the port bow of the original Queen Elizabeth seen dramatically from sea level. The piece is intricately executed using the technique of marquetry inlay in nine different types of wood veneers.

State Room on the QE III’s sister ship, the Queen Victoria

Cunard was the first to introduce a Library on board Bothnia in 1874. Queen Elizabeth’s Library features a unique leaded glass ceiling and a globe from the era of the original Queen Elizabeth, along with its 6,000 volume book collection.
 
 

 
Cunard Line’s tradition of providing guests with the ultimate luxury experiences at sea continues on board with Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Spa. The tranquil 13,000 square-foot modern spa space features stunning décor in line with the art deco style of the new Cunarder, and includes two levels for treatment rooms, and fitness and pool facilities. Like her sister ships, Queen Elizabeth’s spa offers a comprehensive health and wellness programme with a spectacular Hydrotherapy Pool and Thermal Suite, with the new addition of the Royal Bath House, the centerpiece for the ultimate spa experience. Inspired by holistic, relaxing and stress-relieving treatments drawn from disciplines around the world, the Royal Spa.  This covered space is a social relaxation area that includes both the Thermal Suite and Hydrotherapy Pool, all adjacent to the main outdoor pool on Deck 9. Plush robes, slipp
ers and other amenities will be provided.

To attract good luck during its voyages, three coins were welded under the mast of the Queen Elizabeth 3- a British half-crown from 1938 (when the first Queen Elizabeth was launched), a 1967 sovereign (when the QE2 was launched) and a contemporary ‘sovereign’ bearing the date 2010.