These

ceau, of the quartier du Temple and la Rapée inté our court-end of the town and into our first circles, where they are not only endured but caressed. persons are the sweepings of minor theatres, or debu tantes of mauvaise grace; yet the idea of the concern being a foreign one suffices for our easy fashionables -such second-hand furniture as a Perlet or a Fusil, who, not for the sake of making a pun, but for that of truth, it must be allowed, would go off no where else but with the fanciful of London.

We ought to admit of nothing from a foreign stage but the most select and the most spirited-the very last fashion (as in dress); for its novelty, in general, is its greatest recommendation. It is not because it is merely French, (a bad compliment indeed to our national taste) that it is, or ought to be introduced, but because it is novel, interesting, light, full of variety, or that it has some real merit. We are

quite near enough to France to receive every novelty, in dramatic as well as in any other fashion, and why should we, as if the Atlantic were between us, receive stale fashions and damaged goods, whilst even the Americans receive their fashions twice a quarter, wind and weather permitting: so say my dress-maker and habit-maker, and they are less hoaxed than the Ar gyle-committee.

Were it once understood that we were to have a French as well as an Italian theatre, although, at the present juncture, it could not be licenced, from the unpopularity of the measure, yet, might we, by subscription, have the very first performers, who would come, in rotation, for a short time; for every thing gives way to British gold. In London we have but to say we will have a thing, and it is done. The orient and the occident, the most remote and frozen regions; all the luxuries and produce of the Continent

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find their

way to the British market. But there want of judgment in the Argyle-committee; and appears as if the boast of having French plays quite sufficient, without looking at all to the excelle of the performers: for which the French laugh at with their convulsive ah! bah! and, "it is go enough for les Anglais;" and thus do they pass their very worst theatrical lumber upon us. Nay so of the performers come pour se degourder, to f the use of their limbs, and to make a practising-ro of the British boards.

I could say something nearly similar respecti French companions of all casts; but it does not qu become a female pen. Yet do Lord M

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Marquess, the rich Mr. L, and hundreds others support establishments for ladies, on whom t fastidious and self-sufficient Paris merveilleux wou bestow his wanted ah! bah! accompanied by t

most contemptuous smile on English taste. What has injured this last subject in a great measure, is, the conduct of our countrymen abroad, their herding together, their bacchanalian imprudences, their real want of taste and discrimination in Paris, and the very few, who, assimilating themselves to the manners of the country, could really set the fashion, and furnish the most brilliant examples for imitation, which our nobility is capable of doing.

I now came to the fancy ball! This assemblage was one of the most brilliant which I ever joined. All the beauty and fashion of the first circle were there a numerous yet select, án illustrious yet truly happy collection. The exterior of the house was one blaze of light; its approaches, a wood of carriages. Nodding feathers, sparkling gems, blooming complexions heightened by the warmth of the apartment and improved by the hand of art, glittered and VOL. 1. lowed

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glowed on every side. The rose, in all its shades, there, from its modest opening bud scarcely darin meet the solar beam, to the full blown maturity of marchesa, and to the damask rose of Lady A

The interior of the mansion possessed all marble, porphyry, granite, bronze, carving, sculpt architecture, painting and ornament could prod The centre room, of many pillars, multiplied immense mirrors and rendered dazzling by the ref tion of lights and their multiplied effect from t being returned and doubled again and again upon eye, was of singular elegance and taste. It breathed a coolness of drapery which, in such a cro appeared to alter the climate, and to give the scene entirely new attraction. The drapery of the curta and the pannels of the room were lilac and I yellow, with silver fringe. Drab, crimson, and molu borders were the furniture of the next ap

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