It seems that the splendor and magnificence displayed at the investiture
had never before been equalled. The Warsaw gazettes are never weary of
dilating upon this subject.
The guests begin to arrive; people are pouring in from the most distant
quarters. Notwithstanding the number and size of the apartments, it will
be impossible to lodge all in the castle; preparations have been made in
the village, in the priest's house, and even in the better class of huts
belonging to the peasants, to receive some of our guests.
The cooks and confectioners are all busy; the laundry is in a state of
unceasing activity; the trousseau is nearly finished; and the bedsteads,
two cases filled with mattresses, pillows, and carpets, a box of silver,
and a thousand other things, were sent off to Sulgostow this morning.
The bedsteads are of iron and beautifully wrought; the curtains are of
blue damask, and fastened to the four corners by bunches of ostrich
plumes.
Barbara ought to kiss both the feet and the hands of our parents, who
have given her so many precious things. My father has inscribed an exact
list of the trousseau in a large book, preceded by the words which I
here copy, lest I should forget them:
'List of the trousseau which I, Stanislaus, of the Corvini
Krasinski, etc., etc., and my wife Angelica Humiecka, give to
our dear and well beloved daughter Barbara, on the occasion of
her marriage with His Excellency, Michael Swidinski, Starost of
Radom. We implore the blessing of Heaven upon our dear child,
and we bless her with parental affection in the name of the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.'
I do not copy the list of the trousseau, for I have no time; I shall,
besides, be one day obliged to do it upon my own account.