correspond with the border; it usually reaches within a quarter of a yard the bottom of the dress, and is invariably trimmed with a lace at the bottom, put on easily full.

The sleeves of this dress are of the same materials as the apron. Some of our elegantes only shade the bosom by a simple drawn tucker of lace. The front of dresses are rather lowered of late, in compliment, we presume, to the back and shoulders, which still continue their public exhibition, braving both moral and physical declamation. The short sleeve, worn in full puckers on the shoulder, confined at the bottom with a broad armlet corresponding with the other ornaments, is considered as elegant in full dress; while some, on the contrary, wear the short sleeve nearly plain, trimmed at the edge similar with the dress, and crossed to a point in the centre of the arm. The simple frock sleeve, with a cuff of lace, is much esteemed, with dresses of coloured Italian crape.

Egyptian or old English characters engraved as a motto, are a trinket or ornament entirely new in the fashionable world. Shoes and gloves continue much as our last communication, except that white kid are now painted at the toes and on the quarters, to represent a sort of coloured marble. The prevailing colours are dove, pink, pale morone, shaded purples, and jonquille.— Fawn-colour, though still much worn by the multitude, is not now considered as genteel.

of late; and the square and round bosom, plaited or gored with lace, have an equal portion of celebrity.

The decorations for the head were never more tasteful and elegant, than at this season. The tiaras of gold, silver, steel, or bugles, are most graceful and becoming ornaments. The small half handkerchief, in black, white, or morone net, embroidered in cotton, gold, or silver, is now so much in vogue, that scarce a fashionable woman appears in public without them. They are often placed at the back of the diadem, falling in irre

gular points on the back of the neck; others

wear them with the point in front, à la Mary Queen of Scots. Some intermix them with the knot of hair behind, or on the crown of the head, and bring the ends under the chin. When worn in this last mentioned style, there is generally an ornament in front of the hair. These chiefly consist of flowers, or fruit, in silver or gold; we have seen a small cluster of the hop-flower in silver, or bunches of currants, have a most animated and striking appearance. But of all these ornaments, that which has most excited our admiration, was a bunch of snow-drops, frosted with silver, placed very low on the forehead, nearly over the left eye. Although the bouquet makes but a very partial display, yet, at the Opera, we observed some few sprigs of lilies of the valley, American heath, and Labradore rose. Brooches are now formed in imitation of small natural flowers. Some of the damask rose, with gold leaves; others of hearts-ease, sweetpea, &c. &c.

The Egyptian amulet, in crosses or brooches, are also considered as a useful and interesting ornament; and the broad gold hoop-ring, with

year, rather than imprison herself in that gloomy seat within a mile of our town. How odious must she have found the croaking of her rookery, after the enchanting, soul-moving harmony of the Opera; And how offensive must have been the starched and stubborn antiquity of the two maiden sisters, R. and S. stuck opposite to her in our country church, when contrasted in her mind with the graceful images of London fashionables that flocked there. I cannot acquiesce, my dear friend, in your highly-coloured panegyric on a country life; being rather inclined, at this moment, to echo the song of our

old Steward,

"But if that in shades I am destined to dwell, "Oh! give me the sweet shady-side of PallMall."

Cousin Mary laughed heartily at your humourous description of Truro envy, on your brilliant exhibition at the quarterly assembly. And so you really danced Sir John Stuart's Strathspey with the new Member, and procured yourself an host of provincial rivals. I recommend to these dear friends a composing draught, or the fresh provocative I am about to subjoin, may increase their disorder beyond a cure.

You must needs smile, my dear Julia, at the sudden contrast between my observations of yesterday and to-day. I wrote to you then of the mild and spring-like season, and gave you the description of a new spenser, which appeared in the Park on the Sunday; which was, if you recollect, quite as fine as a bright May-day.Scarce had my packet been closed in the mail, when the whole face of nature was changed, and a Southern spring converted into a Northern winter. The spenser, in consequence, is con

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signed to the wardrobe, and the Russian costume again resumes its sway. In my catalogue of yesterday, I described all that was most new and elegant in this style of habiliment, as well as what was general in others. My letter, therefore (like the cabinet of great artists) will contain the more curious and choice specimens of my talents, and exhibit a chef d'ieuvre of fashionable intelligence.

I have lately experienced a great loss, my dear Julia, in my charming cousin. She left us three days since, to officiate as bride's maid to one of her friends. Now as this fair cousin of mine is considered the mirror of taste, and glass of fashion, 1 know not how I can better accomplish the purpose of my letter than by describing to you those articles which were exclusively ordered for this occasion. First, then, an Hibernian vest and hat, of velvet, shaded much like the breast of your favourite red pigeon, with ruby clasp and brooch; a ridicule of the same, trimmed with ruby-coloured fringe and tassels; this formed the out-door, or carriage costume. Her morning dresses were composed by her own special direction, and consisted of the cambric tunic, and peasant's gown. The former is made precisely as a child's robe, with long sleeves in open hems, and plaited waist. It is ornamented down the sides of the tunic, round the bottom and bosom, with footing lace, or work, let in plain; and a cambric shirt, embroidered in a triangular form to correspond. With this dress she wears a Parisian night-cap, composed of spotted cobweb muslin, trimmed round the face with a fall of broad lace, which nearly obscures the hair, and is gathered over the left eye in a gold brooch, formed to represent the peacock's fan; and a similar ornament fastens the tunic at the bosom. The peasant's gown is composed of a dovecoloured, or pale olive cambric, made a walking length, with frock back, round bosom, and short sleeves; it is laced in front of the waist, at a wide distance, with pink ribband, and two rows of the same colour is laid flat round the bottom, bosom, and sleeves. A sash of sarsnet ribband, the colour of the dress, tied in long bows and ends on the left side. The hair, with this dress, is simply twisted in a knot on the left side of the head, and worn in dishevelled curls in front, displaying much of the forehead.

Her evening, and full dresses, are as fanciful and various, that it is impossible to give you a full description. Cousin Mary, when considered as a girl of fashion and fortune, is by no means profuse or extravagant; she has a ready invention, and a correct taste, which embellishes her person and spares her purse. She has lately introduced a new style of wearing the shawl, so as to make it form a sort of tunic drapery. I will

tell you how this is managed: she has a plain round gown of white satin, made with a short train; the bottom, the bosom, and sleeves, trimmed as fancy shall direct; Mary's is in vandyked silver net. The shawl is of patent lace, a full yard and half square, embroidered in a light border of silver vine leaves; she takes one corner of this shawl and pins it in the centre of the back, then brings the adverse end under the left arm, crosses it over the right shoulder, and fastens it at the corner of the bosom, with a brooch, or diamond pin, allowing the short end to flow negligently to the bottom of the waist, while on the opposite side it forms a tunic, and behind a loose pointed drapery. I should tell you that the three corners which are visible, are finished with a tassel corresponding with the trimming of the shawl.

I send, agreeably to your request, a quantity of dove-coloured Italian crape, which you can have made in a dress according to the following directions:-A round dress very scanty, with short train, a plain square bosom, and twisted frock sleeve, without lining; round the bottom, bosom, and sleeves, must be placed a satin ribband in reversed plaiting, the colour of the dress; with a sash of the same, tied in irregular bows and ends behind. You must wear it over a satin or sarsnet slip; but if your very good and discreet mamma should think this too expensive as an under dress, get your calender to glaze (but not stiffen) some fine cambric muslin, which will have an equally good effect. With this dress a white velvet tiara, in silver frost-work and spangles, is a very chaste and suitable ornament for the hair. A white satin pelerine trimmed with fine gossamer fur, white satin shoes, and white kid gloves, completes this attractive costume-in which I wish my dear Julia a decided conquest.

I must not forget to tell you that the small half handkerchief, now so much esteemed, is worn in net of divers colours; Mary has one in violet, with a rich border of silver; mine is in pink, but in morone, in black, in gold, and in white, they are equally fashionable. In disposing these ornaments, dear Julia, it is necessary to consult the cast of your features. The mode a la Mary Queen of Scots, does not agree with the Roxalana nose, or the Euphrosyne contour, and is best adapted to the Roman and Grecian style of countenance. Our old favourite head-dress, the Spanish hat, seems to be reviving; at the Opera I saw a few formed of white frosted satin, with drooping Argus feathers. These feathers are now much introduced, and are often formed in bands for the hair, which has an effect most singular and pleasing. I observed some few heads dressed in the Madona style, but they were