Grand occasions

Three examples of the stylish grand occasions enjoyed by many of the street's residents.

In 1843, George and Grace Napier (Number 23) attended the banquet in in honour of Lord Earl Grey for his many achievements. When Prime Minister, Grey oversaw the Reform Act 1832, which finally saw the reform of the House of Commons, and the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire. The banquet was the culmination of a series of events to mark his visit to the city, and so many people wished to attend the banquet that a huge pavilion had to be specially built. This painting (unknown artist) of the banquet certainly bears out the report that ‘ no fewer than 2,768 persons were present, including a brilliant cluster of 240 ladies in the gallery, whose presence gave to the scene a grace and lustre which no other addition could have imparted.’ At the dinner special songs were sung in Lord Grey’s honour, one verse being:

‘O, come where Scotland’s colours fly and Scottish banners stream –

Where gilded emblems, waving high, in the merry sunshine gleam;

Come where ten thousand throbbing hearts have met him on his way,

And shout with loud and stunning roar, the glorious name of Grey!’

Earlier in the day, there had been a grand parade, here described in The Scotsman: ‘About nine o'clock in the morning, the different bodies of the Trades, with their flags and music, proceeded to Newington to meet Earl Grey and escort him into the city. The day being bright and beautiful, the numerous flags and regalia of the trades were shown off to great advantage, many of them being covered with gold, and dazzling to look upon in the sunshine. The, sugar refiners had a new motto, “Sugar without slavery" while the gardeners carried a magnificent device in flowers, consisting of a large crown and two smaller ones, borne up by a support from the centre of a heart. The flags and banners displayed amounted to 159, and the items in the glittering regalia were without number. ….When the Procession halted at the Waterloo Hotel, the scene presented was the grandest ever witnessed in Edinburgh, not even excepting the King's visit in 1822. The North Bridge, Prince's Street, the front of the Register Office, Waterloo Bridge, and Calton Hill, with the windows, balconies, and even some of the housetops, presented a dense mass of human beings, charmingly relieved of monotonous effect, by the variegated dresses of the fair sex. The enspiriting sound of the music, the chiming of the city bells, and the joyful faces of a great multitude, formed a picture which filled every heart with delight. In the air a thousand streamers flaunted fair, various in shape, device and hue, green, sanguine, purple, red and blue. The Freedom of the City was then presented to Earl Grey.

In 1846, there must have been great excitement at Number 2a as Mrs Leslie and her two daughters prepared for their attendance at the Waverley Ball. (Entrance Card - collection Edinburgh Assembly Rooms) This was one of a series of such events, held to raise money towards the cost of the Scott Monument. Although there had been two previous Waverley Balls, it seems likely that this was the first the Leslies attended, as they are specifically referred to in the report of those who attended: 'the Misses Leslie from Albany Street'. One can have little doubt that the Leslies found the event delightful, as it was generally regarded to have been the most elegant Waverley Ball to date. The whole of the Assembly Rooms on George Street were taken over and decorated throughout. The Music Hall contained casts of the sixteen sculptures that had been designed for the monument’s niches, including: ‘the casts of ‘two mortal enemies in their lives, but peacefully united now, and affording in every feature a striking contract – Charles 1 and Oliver Cromwell. The Monarch with his mild face, pointed beard, and loose ermine robes, looked all pious resignation; while the stern Protector, in his big jack-boots and mail-vest peeping out, appeared, with one hand grasping baton and the finger of the other imperiously stretched out, to be issuing some haughty order.’

The guests began to arrive about nine pm, but as there were around 1,300 attendees, George Street was so thronged with carriages it took a couple of hours for all the guest to be delivered. For the many attending from Glasgow, special trains had been laid on. Among the guests were other Albany Street residents, including the Bertrams (6), the Ritchies (10), the Farquharsons (27) and Sir and Lady Ferguson (29). A number of the guests wore fancy dress, though apart from William Marshall (18), resplendent in his Knight of the Order of Dannebrog uniform, worn in his capacity as Danish Consul-General, the only Albany Street resident known to have attended in fancy dress was John Fraser (57), who dressed as one of Sir Walter Scott's characters, Lord Monteith. There were others dressed as characters from Scott novels including Norma of the Fitful Head from The Pirate . By 9.30pm, dancing was underway with a rapid succession of quadrilles, waltzes, polkas and gallops. An unexpected novelty that caused great astonishment, was a locomotive engine and carriage which was driven by hidden machinery, and moved through the rooms. At midnight the dancing gave way to a set of tableaux of scenes from Scott novels. The music, including the band of the 92nd Highlanders, and the ‘elegant and abundant’ refreshments' were adjudged 'first class'. One trusts the merry ball-goers from Albany Street did not disturb their neighbours as they returned to their beds in the early hours.