with torches. . . .  The ball-room was lighted by ten chandeliers and by magnificent gilded candelabra.  At one end, on raised seats, were the musicians, hautboys and violins, in fancy dress with plumed caps.  In front of the velvet-covered benches for the courtiers were three arm-chairs, one for Mme. la Duchesse de Bourgogne, and the others for Monsieur and the Madame.  Beyond the ball-room, across the landing of the staircase, was another hall, brilliantly lighted, in which were hautboys and violins, and this hall was for the masks, who came in such numbers that the ball-room could not have contained them all.

“. . .  After remaining about an hour at the ball, Mme. la Chanceliere and the Comte de Pontchartrain conducted Mme. la Duchesse de Bourgogne into another hall, filled with lights and mirrors, where a theater had been erected to furnish the diversion of a comedy.  Only about one hundred people were allowed to enter the hall of comedy, and the princes and princesses of the blood, being masked, took no rank there.  Mme. la Duchesse de Bourgogne and Madame had arm-chairs in the center of the hall.  The Duchesse de Bourgogne was surprised to see a splendid theater, adorned with her arms and monogram. . . .  As soon as the princess was seated, Bari, the famous mountebank of Paris, came forward and asked her protection against the doctors, and having extolled the excellence of his remedies, and the marvels of his secrets, he offered to the princess as a little diversion a comedy such as they sometimes played at Paris.  There was given then a little comedy which Mme. le Chanceliere had got M. Dancourt to write expressly for that fete.  All the actors were from the company of the comedians of the king.  They played to perfection, and received much praise. . . .  At the end of the comedy, Mme. la Duchesse de Bourgogne was conducted into another hall, where a superb collation had been prepared in an ingenious manner.  At one end of the hall, in a half-circle, were five booths, in which were merchants, clad in the costumes of different countries; a French pastry-cook, a seller of oranges and lemons, an Italian lemonade-seller, a seller of sweetmeats, a vendor of coffee, tea and chocolate.  They were from the king’s musicians, and sung their wares, accompanied by music, at the sides of the booths, and had pages to serve the guests.  The booths were splendidly painted and gilded, adorned with lusters and flowers, and bore the arms and cipher of Mme. la Duchesse de Bourgogne.  At the back of each booth a large mirror reflected the whole. . . .  The Duchesse de Bourgogne left this hall, after the collation, delighted with all that she had seen and heard.  Since the ball-room was so crowded with masks, the princess returned to the hall of comedy, where they held a smaller court ball until two o’clock, when she went to the grand ball to see the masks.  She was much amused there until four in the morning.  When Mme. la Chanceliere and the Comte de Pontchartrain conducted her to the foot of the staircase, she thanked them much for the pleasure they had given her.  This fete brought many congratulations to Mme. la Chanceliere.”