be establishment.

The reverence for the

scriptures and the authority of religion will then be re-established-if indeed they were ever detached or shaken. And then shall the world see clearly to collect what results to truth from the mighty decomposition of ancient and modern prejudice and error!

While my friend was giving this interesting account, I could not but reflect how soon mankind get bewildered when they leave the plain paths of the true faith for the defiles of infidelity! But I recollected the Wehabites and humbled myself in the dust. Alas, that the followers of the Prophet will be so much like Christians!

CHAP. III.

Ali Bey attends a rout-His views of the ladies-- Their manners-Dress--Beauty-Education-The conduct of the gentlemen, &c.

April 1817. A few evenings ago, I attended what is here called a fashionable rout. Several hundred cards or tickets of invitation were said to have been issued, and more than a hundred I should think, obeyed the summons. When I arrived, most of the company was already collected. I was met in the passage by the master of ceremonies who led me into the drawing room, which was lined with ladies, and conducting me up its whole extent, introduced me in due form to Madame, the lady of the house. He then discharged me, to attend to others.

After coffee and cake had been duly passed around, all hands began to prepare for the solemnities of the evening. The rooms were cleared for dancing or spread with tables for such as chose cards. I declined at first taking part in either, because I wanted

an opportunity to reconnoitre. I accordingly took a view of the several apartments :in one was music and dancing, in others were gentlemen and ladies at whist, backgammon, &c.; here a group of men talking upon political subjects; there an unbroken file of ladies who did not find partners; in one corner two or three gentlemen talking apparently in private; in another quarter is stationed a corps of observation, taking a survey of the dance, and criticising the looks, dress, dancing, &c. of the rest of the company. When I heard some of this body admiring or condemning the dress of one lady, the face or foot of another, the figure or dancing of a third, I noticed the objects of their remarks to ascertain how far my ideas corresponded with theirs. For my own part I saw enough to admire in the features and complexion of the ladies, but very little in their dancing. They are certainly handsome ;-their well turned oval features, their ruddy complexion, mellow eye and sprightly air would enrapture the most phlegmatic, if they were not, as in this country, the objects of daily observation. I verily believe that neither Cyprus nor the Haram can produce their parallel! Their

dress is not calculated to give effect to their beauty. It is in general too gaudy and too constrained. Their plumes, and spangles, and bracelets, and rings, and beads, and watches, may dazzle like a jeweller's shop. But simplicity is the garb for beauty.

Their dress is faulty in another respect, that was to me exceedingly painful. In conformity to a pernicious fashion, every lady imprisons her person in a machine called corslet, which, to conceal a bad shape or display a good one, is laced so tight as to produce visible constraint and pain in its victims. To this violent compression of the chest and stomach, and the consequent interrupted action of the corporeal organs I attribute the ruddy complexion of the ladies -a sort of hectic flush for which they are remarkable. To this cause also may be attributed their small breasts- those forms of beauty's mould,' which, if emaciated by a deranged system, art can neither counterfeit nor supply. In vain do medical men inveigh against this fatal fashion. A female here does not hesitate when health is pitched against fashion.

Their dancing was perfectly decorous, but neither light nor graceful. The Spanish

bolero or German waltz would not be countenanced here. They learn to dance of the French, but both gentlemen and ladies make but sorry pupils, if this is a fair specimen.

men.

From what I observed this evening I did not form a very favourable opinion of the good feelings and politeness of the gentleIt appeared to me that they gave themselves very little concern about the enjoyment of others when it crossed their own inclinations. This was very noticeable in their attentions to the ladies. Two or three who were styled, par excellence, the belles of the evening, monopolized the civilities of the gentlemen, and had a continual crowd revolving around them, flattering their vanity and anticipating their engagements,—while a large and respectable corps remained unapproached, without dancing or having an invitation to dance during the whole evening. I mentioned this neglect to one of the gentlemen, and proposed inviting some of a group hard by to take a part in the next dance. Ah! Monsieur, said he, they are on the old list.' I then shewed him another squadron that had been equally unfortunate. Those are on the ugly list,' he replied. All these lists the gentlemen regard as exempts: