lady patronesses were the Ladies Castlereagh, Jersey, Cowper, and Sefton,
Mrs. Drummond Burrell, now Lady Willoughby, the Princess Esterhazy,
and the Countess Lieven.

The most popular amongst these grandes dames was unquestionably Lady
Cowper, now Lady Palmerston. Lady Jersey's bearing, on the contrary,
was that of a theatrical tragedy queen; and whilst attempting the sublime,
she frequently made herself simply ridiculous, being inconceivably rude,
and in her manner often ill-bred. Lady Sefton was kind and amiable,
Madame de Lieven haughty and exclusive, Princess Esterhazy was a bon
enfant, Lady Castlereagh and Mrs. Burrell de tres grandes dames.

Many diplomatic arts, much finesse, and a host of intrigues, were set
in motion to get an invitation to Almack's. Very often persons whose
rank and fortunes entitled them to the entree anywhere, were excluded
by the cliqueism of the lady patronesses; for the female government
of Almack's was a pure despotism, and subject to all the caprices of
despotic rule: it is needless to add that, like every other despotism,
it was not innocent of abuses. The fair ladies who ruled supreme over
this little dancing and gossiping world, issued a solemn proclamation
that no gentleman should appear at the assemblies without being dressed
in knee-breeches, white cravat, and chapeau bras. On one occasion,
the Duke of Wellington was about to ascend the staircase of the ball-room,
dressed in black trousers, when the vigilant Mr. Willis, the guardian
of the establishment, stepped forward and said, "Your Grace cannot be
admitted in trousers," whereupon the Duke, who had a great respect for
orders and regulations, quietly walked away.

In 1814, the dances at Almack's were Scotch reels and the old English
country-dance; and the orchestra, being from Edinburgh, was conducted