almack's

Almack's Assembly Rooms, King Street, St. James's, opened on 13 February, 1765. It's Great Room was one hundred feet long by forty wide. Horace Walpole wrote: "The new Assembly Room at Almack's was opened the night before last, very magnificent, but it was empty; half the town is ill with colds." Apparently, the ton recovered quickly, for Almack's was soon touted as the epitome of all that was fashionable. Almack's boasted three rooms, where, for a subscription of ten guineas, one attended a weekly ball and supper during the twelve weeks of the London Season. However, before becoming a subscriber, one was first subjected to the scrutiny of the Lady Patronesses of Almack's, originally comprised of Ladies Pembroke and Molyneaux, Mrs. Fitzroy and Mrs Meynell and the Misses Pelham and Lloyd. Circa 1814, the committee was made up by the Ladies Jersey (Sarah, Countess of 1786-1867), Castlereigh, Cowper (later Lady Emily Palmerston d.1869) and Sefton, the Princess Esterhazy and the Countess (later Princess) of Lieven. Mrs. Drummond-Burrell (later Lady Willoughby de Eresby) also served briefly.

According to Ticknor's diaries, only one member of the committee acted as Patroness at a time, the post being filled by a rotation system. Should an applicant not meet with the Ladies approval, he or she was turned down for membership. The Duke of Wellingtion himself was turned away when he arrived at the Rooms in trousers, rather than the required knee breeches. And he was not the only person of rank who was censored. A report dated 1765 runs: "The Duchess of Bedford was first blackballed, but is now since admitted. The Duchess of Grafton and of Marlborough are also chosen. Also Lady Holderness, Lady Rochford are blackballed, as is Lord March."

Captain Gronow records, "Very often persons whose rank and fortunes entitled them to entree anywhere else were excluded by the cliquism
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." Still, admittance was sought after and it's Rooms became "a matrimonial bazaar where mothers met to carry on affairs of state and often has the table, spread with tepid lemonade, weak tea, tasteless orgeat, stale cakes and thin slices of bread and butter - the only refreshment allowed - been the scene of tender proposals."

Subscribers to Almack's were allowed to bring a guest to a all, provided they had passed muster first. He or she had to call personally at the Rooms and were either granted a "Strangers Ticket" of admission or were blackballed. The Rooms were open for supper and gaming, with dancing lasting the night. Once supper was served at eleven o'clock, the doors were closed and no one else was admitted for the evening, regardless of rank or reputation.

Once you had been approved by the Lady Patronesses, your social standing
was guaranteed to soar. Fortuante young ladies making their first London Season and who'd been allowed to "come out" at an Almack's ball had their dancing partners personally chosen by one of the Ladies.

In 1814, the dances at Almack's were Scotch Reels and English Country dances. The orchestra, being from Edinburgh, was conducted by the celebrated Neil Gow. It was not until 1815 that Lady Jersey introduced the French Quadrille to the Rooms.