Sarah Villiers, Countess of Jersey

Of the three hundred officers of the Foot Guards not more than half a dozen were honoured with vouchers of admission to this exclusive temple of the beau monde the gates of which were guarded by Lady Patronesses whose smiles or frowns consigned men and women to happiness or despair these lady patronesses were the Ladies Castlereagh Jersey Cooper and Sefton Mrs Drummond Burrell now Lady Willoughby the Princess Esterhazy and the Countess Lieven the most popular amongst these grandes dames was unquestionably Lady Cowper now Lady Palmerston.

Lady Jersey's bearing on the contrary was that of a theatrical tragedy queen and whilst attempting the sublime she frequently made herself simply ridiculous being inconceivably rude and in her manner often ill bred Lady Sefton was kind and amiable.

Madame de Lieven, haughty and exclusive.

Princess Esterhazy was a bon enfant.

On one occasion the Duke of Wellington was about to ascend the staircase of the ballroom, dressed in black trousers, when the vigilant Mr Willis, the guardian of the establishment, stepped forward and said, "Your Grace cannot be admitted in trousers." Whereupon the Duke, who had a great respect for orders and regulations, quietly walked away.

In 1814 the dances at Almack's were Scotch reels and the old English country dance; and the orchestra, being from Edinburgh, was conducted by the then celebrated Neil Gow.

It was not until 1815 that Lady Jersey introduced from Paris the favourite quadrille which has so long remained popular.

I recollect the persons who formed the very first quadrille that was ever danced at Almack's.