Ireland.

Prince of Wales's plume and ribbon , with the motto , " Ich Dien , " worked out in gas jets , which looked admirably between the mellow rays thrown out through the Danish crystal stars at either side . These had rich stained glass centres , one with the motto , " Peace , Love , and Harmony , " and the other having the Prince of AA ' ales ' s arms , encircled with the words , " May they be happy . " The passage leading to the Round Room was artistically lighted , and near the entrance door stood a

magnificent mirror lit up by an ormolu candelabra , with ten or twelve lights on each side . The passage was handsomely draped with scarlet and white hangings . The cornice of the Round Room was picked out in gas jets , forming a magnificent luminous circle , the size of the roof , which poured down a flood of light on the scene ; and there were in addition eight crystal , gaseliers of chaste design , each having thirty jets ; which were carefully distributed through the roomso as to afford pleasing relief to

, the grand ormolu and ' crystal gaselier , having some hundred jets , which was suspended from the centre of the ceiling . Four beautiful gaseliers were also suspended from the ceiling , and , together with a large number of tri ple scroll brackets projecting from under the gallery , contributed considerably to enhance the brilliancy of the general effect . The entrance to the Pillar and refreshment rooms looked very fine , being lighted hy a drum of crystal hanging in the centre . The Pillar-room had nine ring

lights , each surmounted by a coronet and having some sixty mock candles . On the top of the mirrors placed round this apartment were semicircular arches of wax lights . In the drfiwing-room there were four half-round projections with wax lights and massive crystal gaselier with opal candles . The stairs to the supper-room were lighted by two ormolu chandeliers and scroll bracket-lights from the walls ; and in the . centre of the supper-room hung three crystal and gold chandeliershaving

, some thirty jets each , which threw a flood of softened light into the apartment . The supper tables were ranged so as to afford the utmost convenience to the guests , and were lighted with a number of branches .

Ihe bands which performed on the occasion were those of the 36 th and the 21 st Fusilier regiments , and Hanlon ' s stringed band , the two first being stationed in the Round Room and the last in the Pillar-room . Shortly before nine o ' clock , the Round Room began to fill . The seats below and in the gallery were already pretty fully occupied by ladies . The Grand Masonic Officers and Stewards of the ball had already assembled .

The following Grand Officers awaited with the Stewards the arrival of the Grand Master : —John Fitzhenry Townsend , LLD . Deputy G . M . ; Thomas Mostyn , G . Treas . ; Arthur Bushe , Senior G . D . ; Edmund R . Digges La Touche , Junior G . D . ; Charles D . Astley , G . Supt . of AA orks ; Joseph Manning , G . Dir . of Cers . ; Theophilus E . St . George , G . S . ; George Hepburn , Grand Sword Bearer ; Francis Qnin , G . Org . ; Edward D . ThorpG . I . G . ; Charles T . AValmisleyDep . G . Sec . and Treas .

, , ; Bro . Samuel B . Oldham , Assist . Sec . The following stewards were appointed to attend specially on the Grand Master : —Lieat .-Col . Burdett , Col . AVhitmore , Col . Hort , Lowry Balfour , Andrew Browne , and Maurice Keatinge , The following gentlemen were also stewards : —Bros . Cusack , Goddard , Bailey , Anderson , Casey , Miller , Fisher , Lane ,

Blackley , Buchanan , Ingram , B . AVhitestone , E . J . Armstrong , S . C . Collingwood , Handcoek , Sidney , Dobbin , Ferrier , Jessop , Lowry , G . Johnstone , De Roheck , Pirn , Huband , Shekleton , Owens , Bloomgeld , Massy , Goddard , Allen , Ringland , Barlow , Mackey , H . Johnston , Baker , Davoren , AVilson , Brereton , Jessog , S . B . Oldham , Lindsay , Jones , Orpen , Handcoek , Ingram , Stephens , Macrory , Pirn . The stewards were under the direction ot the Grand Steward , Theophilus E . St . George . The following

brethren were the representatives of foreign lodges , viz .: —The Grand Lodge of England , R . AV , Gapt . Godfrey Brereton , 21 . N . ; Grand Loclge of Scotland , R . AV . the Hon . Major A . G . F . Jocelyn ; Grand Orient of France ; Grand Loclge of Hamburg , R . AV . J . Faviere Elrington , LL ,. D . ; Grand Lodge of Prussia , R . Y . F ., R . AV . William Allen ; Grand Lodge of Canada ; Grand Lodge of Louisiana , R . W . Lucius H . Deering ; Grand Lodge of VirginiaR . W . John CottleGrand Loclof New York

, ; ge , R . AV . John Rinuland ; Prov . Grand Lodge of Lisbon , A \ . John H . Goddard . The Grand Officers assembled in the refreshment-room at nine o ' clock . Their dresses were more or less splendid . The Grand Deacons carried wands . The sword , a magnificent emblem , was borne by the Grand Sword Bearer . The Deputy

Grand Master carried the book of the constitutions . A procession of these officers , headed by six stewards , in the first instance , conducted the Deputy Grand Master , Dr . Townsend , to his seat . At twenty minutes after nine o'clock the arrival of the Grand Master , his Grace the Duke of Leinster , was announced . Forthwith the Deputy Grand Master and officers proceeded to meet his Grace at the door . A great procession was then formed of

the stewards and grand officers , by which the noble duke was conducted slowly round the room , until he reached his throne . During this progress , which was made at a slow and stately pace , the band of the 35 th Regiment played the " AA elconie " from the Masons of Ireland to the Princess of Wales , the words composed by Bro . S . N . Elrington , and the music hy Mr . Clarke , the bandmaster of the regiment , As soon as the Grand Master had taken his seatthe Deputy Grand Master called

, upon all brethren present to salute the Grand Master according to ancient form . This completed the interesting ceremonial , which was the formal opening of the festivities of the evening . The presentation of ladies then commenced , and occupied , nearly an hour and a half . The company in the interval arrived rapidly , and by eleven o ' clock the rooms were thronged . At a few minutes after eleven o ' clock his Excellency the

Lord Lieutenut was announced . The Grand Master , the Deputy , and the Officers rose and met his Excellency , and conducted him to his seat upon the dais , the band playing the " National Anthem . " His Excellency was accompanied by Major and the Hon . Mrs . Bngot , Lord St . La . vrence , Captain Lascelles , Mr . Arkwright , Captain Moore , A . D . C , Captain Shulclham , Mr . Hatchell , Private Secretary , and Mr . Creyke . The Riht Hon . the Lord Chancellor arrived ahout the same

g time with his Excellency . The Right Hon . the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress subsequently arrived . His Excellency having taken his seat beside the Grand Master , dancing commenced in the Round and Pillar Rooms with great spirit . The programme of dances was lithographed in superior style by Browne and Nowlan , of Nassau-street . The card , as usual upon all festive occasions where dancing on a grand scale

is expected , was presented to each of the company , and in this instance the embellishments were more than those of an ordinary character . The portraits of the Prince and Princess of AA'ales , the emblems of the Prince and the Masonic symbols , were lithographed in blue and gold , and at the back of the card the British standard was depicted in brilliant colours . At half-past twelve o'clock the Lord Lieutenant , the Grand and Deputy Grand Masters , ancl a numbers of the most

distinguished guests , were conducted to the supper-room . His Excellency and party afterwards returned to -the ball-room , and having remained some time , left at a quarter to two o ' clock . The Grand Master took his departure shortly afterwards . The festivity of the evening was kept up to an advanced hour . IRISH MASONIC FEJIAEE OEPHAJT SCHOOL—The ceremonials and festive proceedings at the ball on the 28 th ult ., naturally

lead the mind to a consideration of that which is nearest and dearest to the heart of the Mason—their school for the education , maintenance , and protection of female orphans . Few in Dublin need to be reminded that the school is situated at Burlington-place , near Baggot-street Bridge , and a recent visit enables us to say that the institution is managed upon principles that must meet with the approval of the most fastidious and critical in scholastic discipline and government . The

children occupy well ventilated apartments—they have good food , comfortable clothes , and suitable recreations . Each is taught to bear the reverses of life with fortitude , and its prosperities with moderation , for no preference is given to one class over another , The orphan girl of the gentleman of high rank undergoes the same discipline , which teaches humility , industry , and patience , quite as much as the child of humbler parents . She is qualified to do for herself in every respect , from the

polishing of her shoes to the making of her bonnet—from the cooking of her dinner to the adjustment of her sleeping roomfrom the brushing and repairing of her clothes to the recreating herself with music of a high order , or enjoying the pleasures of converse with the best educated and most polite persons in society . In fact , the education which she receives is calculated to ensure for her a sound mind in a sound body ; and that the homely , healthly , honest system of mental and moral culture adopted in the institution has that effect , is proved by the peace ,