A more brilliant scene could not be imagined.
The elegant toilets of the ladies, the gorgeous uniforms of the representatives of the army and navy, the bright court dresses of the diplomatic corps, looked dazzlingly beautiful beneath the light of a thousand wax candles held by multitudinous sconces.
An old-fashioned minuet was being danced, when a murmur passed through the room.
How it originated no one could have told, but all seemed to know that news of another victory had been brought.
The Secretary of the Navy left the room, and in a few minutes re-entered, accompanied by two officers wearing lieutenants' uniforms.
Men clapped their hands, women waved their handkerchiefs, and the scene was changed from one of terpsichorean pleasure to that of patriotic delight.
Then one of the lieutenants handed a document to the Secretary of the Navy, who read it in silence.
His face wore an expression of pleasure as he finished, and turning to the people he said in a voice husky with patriotic emotion:
"I have the proud privilege of introducing Lieutenant Hamilton of the good ship United States, who will tell you of an engagement on Christmas Day whereby the English lost their warship Macedonian, forty-nine guns."