It was incidentally the occasion of the first "society reporting." Attree, of the New York _Herald_, was an invited guest and went in costume--quite an innovation for conservative old Manhattan.
Lossing tells us: "At the close of this decade the features of New York society presented conspicuous transformations.

Many exotic customs prevailed, both public and private, and the expensive pleasures of the Eastern Hemisphere had been transplanted and taken firm root.

Among other imported amusements was the masked ball, the first of which occurred in the city of New York in 1840, and produced a profound sensation, not only _per se_, but because of an attending circumstance which stirred 'society' to its foundation." The British Consul in New York at that time was Anthony Barclay,--he lived at College Place,--who was destined later to fall into evil repute, by raising recruits here during the Crimean trouble.

He had a daughter, Matilda, who was remarkably lovely and--if we may believe reports--a very great belle in American society.

She had a number of "suitors," as they were gracefully called in those days, and among them was one Burgwyne, from South Carolina--very young, and, we may take it, rather poor.
Lossing says: "There was also in attendance a gay, young South Carolinian named Burgwyne." The Consul and Mrs.Barclay disapproved of him strongly.