Ball Anecdotes

Balls were the mainstay of the Regency and Victorian eras, and the Thorn's enjoyed these extravagant affairs more than most. In previous posts I have devoted some time to the Colonel's most exceptional ball in 1840. Below are some other mentions of Thorn events. I have enjoyed re-reading the ball extracts after reading Jane's letters... Continue Reading →

March 28, 2026 0

In Defence of Colonel Thorn

I discovered this letter, which was sent to the Editor-in-chief of Le Sport. It was written by Baron Etienne de Pierres in 1859 and speaks in defence of his father-in-law about the rumours that abounded at the time, after the Colonel had left France to return to New York. It's curious that he responded publically... Continue Reading →

January 30, 2024 4

Letters of Elizabeth J Knox

Below is a interesting glimpse into the Victorian mind with a mention of Colonel Thorn's upcoming ball, and the American's in Paris by Elizabeth J Knox in her letters. They make for such fascinating reading as they reveal the gossip and cultural beliefs of the time. In one letter I read, she spoke of a... Continue Reading →

June 25, 2021 0

The Ball of 1840 pt 3

And so the recounts of the Colonel's masked ball continues. If nothing else, I will one day write this in a fictional form because... well I do love a good party! COLONEL THORN'S BALL Everyone in Paris knows the Hotel Monaco, a veritable reception area, which belongs to Mme Adélaïde, which M. Colonel Thorn, this... Continue Reading →

October 27, 2020 0

The Ball of 1840 pt 2

The Colonel's masked ball in 1840 with the Louis Quatorze theme was written about in many places. I've outlined the evening in two earlier posts but I think it's worth sharing other accounts of the night, so that we can see exactly what an incredible event it was. Here is a version of the evening... Continue Reading →