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will distract your head, and its influence create those weaknesses of nature, which all fine ladies should disdain! In the choice of a husband, your leading con sideration should be his ability to allow you a hand some separate maintenance; and as long as he is rich, a broken constitution, voluptuous habitudes, and a mind unfurnished, are very small objections. But in selecting your footmen, I would have you use more consi deration and caution; though it is your fancy that must here direct your judgment: thus young ladies prefer blue eyes, a small white hand, and a melodious voice; whilst those of more experience ******. Always laugh in the pathetic parts of a tragedy, and die away at the cadenza of a Catalani. Give a little silver to charitable collections, but always a five-pound note for six half-guinea concert tickets.-Always play at whist on Sundays, to obtain the blessing of good fortune. Learn particularly to talk loud every where, to swagger in your gait, to stare the second sort out of coun tenance, and always-to make yourself observable as a distinct being, which will rank you as a complete lady of ton. Your instructor,

CHESTERFIELD'S SKELETON,

THE

ON THE WORD VIRTUE.

'HE true meaning and extent of this word is so extremely confused, that we must not wonder that the thing itself has slipped through our fingers. Where you once have occasion to hear, or indeed can possibly hear of the virtue of a man or woman, we hear terr times of the virtues of pills, drops, razor-strops, patent locks, and liquid blacking!In the late war with France (I mean the war for "indemnity and security," which ended in sixteen months armed truce) we took 45,000 Russians into pay; and upon their being conveyed prisoners to France, the virtue of a convention

we had made, obliged us to new-clothe them to fight against ourselves! We hear likewise of the virtue of statesmen quite as a technical term; and as some lexicographers inform us, that virtue means power, it must be allowed that we have had statesmen who have been virtuous to a fault very often! We hear of mili tary commissions distributed by virtue of the pleasure of the Commander in Chief! We hear of Oriental nominations sold like potatoes, by virtue of having interest and conuexions with East India Directers!We have heard at Bath of the loss of life, by virtue of the tyrannical interference of a high constable! And who but is shocked and disgusted to perceive the toowide distinction of punishment between murder and manslaughter of the most reprehensible kind, by virtue of the defective statute law? The man of fashion who has killed his best friend in a duel, and has seduced the wife of another good friend, is received into all companies as a man of fashion, by virtue of the improved sentiments of society ;-the woman who defiles her husband's bed, and abandons her offspring, still exhibits herself with unaltered rank, and maintains her luxurious state, by virtue of a well-secured jointure.

SIXTH LETTER FROM MR, DASHAWAY.

MY BOLD BATH CROSSER,

WHO

HO's afraid-Papillon against Fly-catcher for what they dare! I'll watch the race-Four neat ones in hand; know all their paces-sleek as satin— sharp as wild-fire-trot 'em against the country!--I think my last letter left my great grandsire stuck in a slough, in Queen Anne's reign, anno 1702.-Now, as the last has been a cursed ticklish century, with much hard running, crossing and jostling; I shall over it, at a flying-leap, and so disappoint all your long-faced politicians,

SIXTH LETTER FROM MR. DASHAWAY.

177

politicians, who inay strike their chins and rap their snuff-boxes just as wisely as if I assisted them.-I shall only tell you that from the accession of the House of Hanover (and may the breed continue for ever!) the Dashaway squad have drove most famously, and have always contrived to run into offices of honour and emolument; and there is no reason to think that they will be distanced in the new century, as the Dashaway colts and fillies are rapidly matching into all upper departments. Myself, who am the grafting twig of the tree, am acknowledged to be a thriving sapling, resolved at least to increase the Dashaway fame with every thing spunk and giggish.-Having already had the unequalled good luck to be distinguished in the world by the name of Dicky, not because my godfathers cried out "God save King Richard!" but for my sublime high-flying Dash and notoriety! I'll tell you how it happened. My training groom, Sam Sursingle, being rode down, and unable to sit my Arabian over all the ground I was spanking over; I chopped the cane box from my steward's gig, and tied it up beforemy post-chaise, for Sam's benefit, à posteriori (as they prate logic at Oxford).-The fashionables approved the go, and Hatchet and other Long Acre gents taking the hint, have transferred the article as an appen dage to carriages; and Dicky-box is now sported by half the neat ones in England, Scotland, and Ire land. So here goes for the Jordan; a new Bath bumper, huzza! luck 's all.

Yours, my tight one,

DICKY DASHAWAY.

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A PICTURE OF A ROUT.

* TAKEN FROM THE life.

ROUT has been defined--an assemblage of per sons of fashion at the private house of one of them. The manner of making a roul is this:-Lady A, or B,' or C, or any other capital in the alphabet of fashion, chooses a distant night which does not interfere with any then declared routations; but which, to make the more noise in the world, ought, if possible, to clash with some public amusement. Her cards (imitative probably of the sublime!) merely express-At Home on such a night! These are sent to several hundred persons, not because they are relations, friends, or acquaintance, but because she has seen them elsewhere, or because their presence will give éclat to her night.-Before éleven o'clock at night, which is the high tide of the tempest, the house is crowded (staircase and all) with all ranks, ages, and sexes: card-tables are placed so close in every room, as barely to afford space for the players to sit, and the spectators to move. At intervals, salvers with refreshments are handed round, the half of which is spilled on the clothes of the company, in making through the room!-Confusion, heat, and noise, are the very essence, nay, quintessence, of a rout.--The guests invited very far exceed in bulk all possibility of being contained in the space destined to receive them, and the hostess enjoys the inconvenience, fatigue, and heat of her company, with the same heartfelt pleasure, as a player hears the screams, and noise of a crowd flocking to his benefit. The blunders of servants, the loss of articles of dress, the tearing of clothes, the crash of fans, &c. the charming chorussed exclamations of "Good G-d, how hot it is!-Bless me, Lady Betty, I am ready to faint!-Dear me, bring some water!--Pray get the lady out," &c.-all afford the most exquisite satisfaction; and the happiness is much increased, if a fortunate

crash

CHARACTER OF A MIGHTY GOOD KIND OF MAN. 179

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crash of carriages makes the "glass jingle" on the pavement every five minutes; and also when the servants, in their zeal for rank and precedence, proceed to a pugilistic decision, and thereby interrupt both egress and regress for an hour or so, which attracts notice.-Pharo, or some other game of serious interest, is absolutely necessary to be provided; and it is in this that the well-skilled, rout-holder shows her art and science, by going snacks with the providore or bankholder; such honourable men" being always readily found both in London and Bath, with a chariot " rolling on the four aces" for wheels; and a settled pam for coachman Very considerable losses exalt the character of a rout prodigiously; and if a young heir is done over, it is a stamp of honour to the router equal to five centuries of noble blood, even should she be the next dip of a tallow-chandler, or the rich parings of sound Cheshire!--As for noticing the lady or her family who gives the rout, that is quite exploded, and deemed a bore!-Such is what is now denominated society and pleasant parties!

CHARACTER OF A MIGHTY GOOD KIND OF A MAN.

THE good qualities of such a man (if he has any) are

of the negative kind. He does very little harm, but you never find him do any good. He is careful to have all the externals of sense and virtue, but you never perceive his heart concerned in any word, thought,. or action. To him every body is his dear friend, with which he always begins all his letters, and ends them with Your ever sincere and affectionate friend." He is usually seen with persons older than himself, but always richer. He is not prominent in his conversation, but merely puts in his "Yes, Sir," and "No,Sir," to every thing said by the elevated or overbearing;.which

16

confirms

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