Hunt Balls

Hunt Ball From the Sporting Magazine February 1810 at 154.

On Monday evening, the 19^th the members of Lord Dursley’s Hunt gave a grand ball and supper, at the King’s Head Inn, Gloucester. The preparations, which had engaged Mr. Dowling’s attention for several days, did ample credit to his exertions. Lord Berkeley’s family were unfortunately prevented attending, by the illness of their relation, Captain Craycraft. The ball-room was most elegantly furnished, and exhibited various devices appropriate to the occasion. At the top were, in variegated lamps, the initials D.H. at the bottom was a transparent representation of a Fox. The floor was very ingeniously chalked, presenting a novel and tasteful appearance. About half-past nine the ball was opened, and at one o’clock, five rooms were thrown open for supper, which was of the most sumptuous kind, and served up in an excellent manner. The dancing was continued with spirit, till half past seven in the morning. Upwards of two hundred persons, including many of the leading families of the county, were present.

Burton Hunt Ball from April 1810 Sporting Magazine at 29-30

A letter from Lincoln, dated April 12, says—“Fox-hunting, which in the Burton hunt has lately been pursued with more ardour and greater spirit than can be remembered for several years past, it seems will close for the season on Wednesday next. A ball was given by the gentlemen of the hunt at the county assembly-rooms, on Tuesday. The company, a numerous and genteel one, was received by Mrs. Osbaldeston and the Stewards with flattering attention, which was most accurately continued through the night. About ten o’clock, dancing began. Supper was announced at one; the middle room and the card room were surrounded by tables for the occasion; and the supper consisted of an elegant cold collation, of very great variety, and of the most excellent quality, with hot soups, the whole being set out in a most tasteful manner, and crowned with festoons of evergreens and flowers artfully intermixed. At a reasonable time after the repast, dancing was resumed, and continued with great spirit until past five on Wednesday morning, when the guests departed, highly gratified with the interesting and liberal entertainments which the gentlemen of the Burton hunt had afforded them.”