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whole deck house of the "Beluga" which
looked very fine when finished. The ceiling
& walls covered & draped with flags &
numbers of colored paper lanterns and
chandeliers were hung. The Ladies
laid and decorated the long
dinner table, which was set for twenty
two guests and at half past five o'clock
were dressed themselves and waiting to
receive the weaker sea. All wore fancy
costumes and four of the gentlemen
came in full evening dress. Their suits
having been made and designed by
themselves and the material, like that of
the ladies dresses finished from
the ships trade stores. Much of red striped
bed ticking, vests of red while plaid &
swallowtail of a gaudy [-] of
red & black calico with the whole
set off by white boat sail collar cuffs &
shirt [-] in the center of which
blazed huge diamond studs (glass bead
lights), and are immense calico sunflower
completed the costumes, which would have
done honor ([bassing?] the faces) to a make
quartett in any high [-] Darky
Minstral Troupe. When all the lights were
lit and the dinner fairly underway
we felt quite satisfied at the result of our
labors, and I for one would not have been
ashamed of the table, the service or the
menu anywhere. The men were charmed
& made speeches to that effect, also thinking