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LA BELLE ASSEMBLEE;

general, that though an enlivening and attrac- whose tresses induce them wisely to reject tive habit, we cannot any longer rank it amidst || redundancy of ornament.

a fashionable selection. They are now worn by every description of females; and the tired eye turns from their oppressive glare to rest on the cool and refreshing shade of pea-green, primrose, celestial blue, silver grey, and pale lilac. In pelisses, scarfs, robes, and mantles, these colours are very distinguishable; and they are composed of the most light and transparent textures. There is little novelty in their construction, and they are generally formed and disposed in so varied and fanciful a style as to preclude the possibility of any regular or decided delineation. The Spanish Mantle, and Patriotic Bonnet, are lately become a favourite appendage to the outdoor costume, and are at once both interesting and elegant. The former article differs little from the Spanish cloak so long in fashionable request, except that it is shorter than they are usually worn; has square ends, finished with tassels; and a deep cape formed in sharp points, or scollops. It is composed of clear muslin, or crape, and bordered with chenille. The bonnet is constructed with a round crown, somewhat like the jockey cap; but has a deep front, which is turned up so as to appear like a Spanish hat; and ornamented with the Union berder in chenille. At the dejeuné, or in public parties, they are decorated with the ostrich, or willow feather; but on less particular occasions are worn plain, or with a simple rose or cockade in front. The Patuski bonnet, and Sardinian mautle are also worthy of adoption, from their graceful construction, and adaption to the form; and the compact and ingenious composition of the honey-comb tippet, must render it a favourite summer ornament, and well worthy of a place in a sel et wardrobe. We recommend them, however, rather to be formed of coloured crape, or muslin, thau white.|| The straw hat and bonnet is now entirely confined to the walking and morning dress. In carriages, and on the evening Parade, the hair with flowers, jewellery, small French caps and veils, small half handkerchiefs of figured net, edged with scolloped lace, placed towards one side of the head, the point fastened nearly in the front, with a brooch of silver, pearl, diamonds, &c.; the ends brought under the chin, exposing the hair on one side, in full curls, is by far the most fashionable style of decoration for the head. The Persian braid, or cable twist, with the ends curled full ou the crown of the head, or on one side, fastened with a gold filligree vine-leaf, with an animated butterfly in the centre, is often adopted by those females, the luxuriance and beauty of

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The style of gowns and robes offer little novelty since our last communication except that the long waist is becoming universal. It extends behind to the commencement of the fall in the back; taking in its regular circumference a portion of the small of the waist. This we consider a most natural and becoming termination; from which (as our fair fashionables are too apt to run into extremes) we take occasion to advise them neither to advance nor recede.

The high gown and long sleeve, with the stitutes the morning habit; net shirts with lace lozenge, or crescent front, most properly conbeading, formed in this style, are well adapted for evening dress, where either the decline of youth, or other causes, prevent the display of the throat and neck. In full dress, however, we scarcely see any covering for the bosom and shoulders, but such as is attached to the robe, or supplied by a tucker or border of lace.

No lady of fashion now appears in public without a ridicule-which contains her handkerchief, fan, card-money, and essence-bottle. They are at this season usually composed of rich figured sarsnet, plain satin or silver tissue, with correspondent strings and tassels-their colours appropriated to the robes with which they are worn. The stomacher antique, and laced cottage front; the simple wrap front bordered to suit the dress; with short sash, tied either behind or in front, are conspicuous amidst the gored and round bosoms, which are still very general.

Silver filligree ornaments have not had so great a claim to fashionable distinction, as from their novelty we might have expected. In this instance our females have evinced their judgemnt and taste. As we have before advanced, so we continue to proclaim them a most flat and insipid ornament, and only calculated from their neatness to soften the somewhat oppressive glow of the coloured robe. Crosses of diamonds, pearls, and every species of jewellery, though scarcely ever out of fashion, are now more than usually distinguishable. The Egyptian amulet is at this tinie formed in a large lozenge square, set in a rim of plain burnished gold. Coloured patent pearl of various shades is considered exceedingly elegant as a minor article in this line. Necklaces and bracelets of the new composition, amulet pebble, is a trinket comprising much novelty and taste; twisted necklaces and bracelets are on the decline.

In the article of gloves we have observed the

pea-green and pale olive, of French kid, to dence they may repose in their agents. The unite with those recommended in our last. same man who generally appears richly dressShoes of painted kid, checked at the toes, jeaned, with a gold-headed cane in his hand, a diawrought in a leaf, together with plain colours,mond ring on his finger, seldom goes out bal are now worn even by the pedestrian fair. In full dress we scarcely see any thing but white satin, French silk, and kid, variously trimmed. The most fashionable colours for the season will be found at the commencement of these remarks.

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in an elegant carriage, and though he frequents all the places of public amusement, and visits the first circles, will, upon a certain day, put on a thread-bare coat, an old wig, old shoes, stockings that have been mended in different places, let grow his beard, and paint his hair and eye-brows. He then proceeds, thus attired, to some distant part of the town, where he has hired a small room, which exhibits only a sorry bed, three broken chairs, a mutilated table and crucifix. There are introduced three or four score poissardes, whom he addresses in the following words :-

Trains of any remarkable length are now seldom seen; but some few females have lately appeared in partics, with their robes resting || about a quarter of a yard on the ground. This "You see, my good friends, that I am not we hope is approaching to that graceful and richer than yourselves; you see the whole of distinguishing style which should mark they furniture; that is the bed I sleep in whea several degrees of personal attire.

PRETEURS A LA PETITE-SEMAINE.

THESE préteurs à la petite-semaine are usurers of a particular class, who are to be found hardly any where else but in Paris. These men are so conscious of the baseness of the trade they carry on, that they never appear before their customers but in disguise. The poor women who sell vegetables, fruit, or fish, about the streets, or even in some markets, are often in want of a six livre picce to purchase peas, currants, pears, and cherries.-This crown the préteurs à la petite-semaine supplies them with, but on that day se'unight they are to return seven livres and four sous (six shillings). So that the interest of that crown at the year's end amounts to the enormous sum of 21. 128.

Which of the two appear the most surprising, the abominable distress of these retailers who are so destitute of prudence as not to be able to command a crown, or the constant and shameful success of so shocking an usury? These usurers lett their money at the highest price it will fetch. On the other side, the poorer people are distressed the more they are in want of ready cash to cominence business; for no one will trust the indigent. We must shudder indeed if we reflect on the uninterrupted struggle between distress and opulence. Notwithstanding the principals have their weekly brokers, or agents, they are desirous of seeing two or three times a year a meeting of their debtors who make them so rich, and of being able to ascertain at once the dispositions of their minds, and the degree of confi.

I come to town; I give you money, though oa trust, and rely merely upon your principles of honesty and religion; for yon know that I receive no bond, no security, so that, as you well know, I have no claim upon you, according to the laws of the country; but is it not right however, that when I so generously trust yon, I should have some security? Come, be secu rity for one another, and swear upon this cracitx, the image of our divine Saviour, that you will never wrong me, but return most faithfully what I am going to lend you."”

In answer to this harangue, all the women lift up their hands, and swear to murder any one who would refuse punctually to discharge her debt. The crafty sycophant then takes. down all their names, and gives them a croña each, saying: "I don't get as much by you as you do by me, far from it."

The poor people withdraw, and the hypacrite settles with his emissaries. The next day he crosses the market-places and the streets in his carriage, but is not to be known again on account of his superb dress. When in company, this very same individual will occasionally discourse on benevolence and humanity! No one around him has an idea of his mean practices, and he bears a good

name!

THE USURER'S PRAYER.

IN one of the sermons of Robert Corson, the legate of the holy see, who preached up the crusade in France during the reign of Philip Augustus, we find the following curious passage:—

Will you hear the usurer's paternoster? || Then listen.

The ussier rises before any other person in the house; he examines whether any of his locks have been broken in the night, he double bolts the doors, wakes his wife and daughter, and dresses himself." I am going to the church," s he, as he puts on his clothes; if a customer should come in while I am away, run one of you immediately to fetch me, and I will returu directly."

He sets off, and begins by the way the fullowing prayer:—

The usurer now enters the church, and kneels down in a place exposed to the view of all. He beats his breast, heaves deep sighs, and thus coutinues:

"Give us this day our daily read-I should like to know where my daughter got all the money that I caught her with the other day. Perhaps she clandestinely lends money upon pledge, and says nothing to me about it. She will throw it all away on the clumsy fellow whom I lately found with her, and who was so confused when he saw me, though my daughter protested that he was come to borOur father- Lord God, look graciously row of me. And forgive us our debts as we forapon me, and bless my coming in and my give our debtors-The d-d Jews have sworn to going out, that I may be the richest of all rob us of our customers and to ruin us; they those in this world who lend upon pledge. take a lower interest than we. O gracious Which art in heaven-I am confonadedly vexed God, consider that they crucified thee, and that I was not at home when the peasant's plunge them into the lowest abyss of hell! wife came to borrow a sum of money. Yesterday when madame Hersaut brought me should have done better if I had not gone to the pieces of gold, I forgot to weigh them; mass that day. I am always out of luck's now they are mixed among the others, and I way; and if I but set a foot in the church I must rummage over the whole bag. So much lose an opportunity of shearing my sheep. It the worse for her i'faith; if I find any light is exactly as if it was contrived for the purpose. ones I will carry them to her, and resolutely It is enough to make one wish the priests and maintain that they are hers. There is nothing their masses at the devil. Hallowed be thy to be got by my neighbours, for they are enone-Then I have an idle baggage of a|vious of me because they think me rich; I daughter at home, who will ruin me. I could swear that she and her mother are both in a plot to rob me, and that they live sumptuously and enjoy themselves as soon as my back is turned; I have a great mind to run home and surprize them. Thy kingdom come-Ah! I recollect that the Chevalier who owed me fifty livres, has only paid one half of his debt. I was a cursed fool to take his word of Lonour;liver us from eri-Who is this Robert Corson, a good pledge is a thousand times better than all words of honour. Thy will be done-I have, to be sure, made a vow to go twice a week to mass, that the blessing of heaven may rest upon me and my little business, but I have vot considered that the church is at too great a distance for a person of my age, God reward e for my trouble!”

wish they would die, for then I might have others. Lead us not into temptation--When shall I be able to feast my eyes ou a beautiful heap of gold and silver? Ah! gracious God, I promise thee not to touch it, to renounce every indulgence, to starve rather than―; but did I lock my door properly? One, two, three; yes, here are the three keys! Bat de

that runs about preaching from town to town? Is he really such a fool as to imagine that I would go a begging out of love to my neighbour? For ever and ever Amen-Our parson will begin to preach and to talk all the money out of our pockets. Your servant, Sir, you sha'n't get mine at least."

London: Printed by and for J. BELL, Southampton-street, Stand.

OR,

Bell's

COURT AND FASHIONABLE

MAGAZINE.

FOR AUGUST, 1808.

EMBELLISHMENTS.

1. An Elegant PORTRAIT of the Most Noble the MARCHIONESS OF TAVISTOCK.

2. NARCISSUS; by T. STOTHARD, ESQ. R. A.

3. FOUR WHOLE-LENGTH FIGURES in the FASHIONS of the SEASON. 4. TWO SPANISH BOLEROS; or, National and Patriotic AIRS.

5. Two elegant and new PATTERNS for NEEDLE-WORK.

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London: Printed by and for J. BELL, Proprietor of the WEEKLY MESSENGER, Southampton-Street,

Strand, September 1, 1909.

STOTHARD'S NARCISSUS.

WE present our Readers, in our present Number, with a beautiful Outline Engraving from a Picture of T. STOTHARD, Esq. R. A; with which that celebrated Artist himself has kindly presented us, Dran and Outlined by his own hand-This must be our apology for deferring to another month the two Plates from BARRY's Pictures, which have again been unfortunately retarded by the indisposition of the excellent Artist who has undertaken them; next month we may promise them.-The description of Mr. STOTHARD's Picture will be given in our next Number.

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