the drapery is bordered with blond lace, and ornamented with a full knot of rose-coloured gauze ribbon on each shoulder, and a sinaller knot at the bottom of the drapery on the point. Double bouffant sleeve, with a sabot of English point lace. The border is trimmed with a flounce of the same costly material, set on with a full beading, on which knots of rose-coloured gauze ribbon are laid at regular distances. Head-dress of hair, disposed in full curls at the sides, and long light bows at the back of the head. Earrings of enamelled gold.

REMARKS ON THE PREVAILING LONDON FASHIONS.

This is perhaps the most brilliant month in the whole year for balls and soirées, and never, in our memory at least, have the dresses for them been more varied, rich, and elegant. Terry velvet is still in favour both in half and full dress but we observe that satins of light colours are more in request in the former, and that white satin dresses seem to be in a majority in the latter.

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Some of the new dinner dresses have the corsages à la Vierge, with long sleeves. A good many have the corsage made quite plain, the centre of the back and bust marked with a satin rouleau. Long sleeves, less ample than they have been recently made at the top, but descending full nearly to the wrist, where they terminate in two small bouffants. Blond lace pelerines are almost invariably adopted with these dresses; in some instances they are made quite high, and bordered with lace; these are usually of a large size, falling deep over the shoulders and back. Others adapted to the corsage, and cut of the same height, are very shallow just across the bosom, sloped round in the mancheron style on the shoulders, and square behind.

Some of the prettiest evening dresses are of white satin, with low corsages made to sit close to the shape, and ornamented with a lappel composed of three bias folds of satin, a row of blond lace attached under the lower fold, gives an elegant and novel finish to the bust. The sleeves are either of the beret or the bouffant kind; in the latter case, the lower bouffant always forms a bouillon. Nœuds de Page, and a knot at the bend of the arm, are frequently employed to ornament these sleeves.

L 35 1.

The skirts are variously deco,

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rated; some have a tablier formed of bands of ribbon, on which knots are placed at regular distances. Others are looped up at the bottom, either in the centre, or at the sides, by a knot of ribbon, in which a bouquet of flowers is placed. Turbans have lost nothing of their attraction, particularly those à la Juire; this form is fashionable both for full and half dress, but the materials are different. In the first they are of plain gauze or crape, sometimes ornamented with flowers placed on one side, but oftener having no other deco. rat on than the full and graceful folds in which the front is arranged. Those for grand costume are of gaze Memphis, the ground of which is white, thickly studded with Egyptian patterns in vivid colours; they are embroidered in silks, and have very much the effect of coloured gems. An esprit, either of gold or of the plumage of some rare foreign bird, is employed to ornament these turbans. Sometimes also, an end of the material floats loosely on the neck. Turbans, composed of an intermixture of gold spotted gauze, and lightcoloured velvet, or rich plain satin, are also highly fashionable. Several of these are decorated with a single ostrich feather, which winds gracefully round the turban, and is attached by an agraffe of diamonds.

The chapeau à la lumargo, is a very favourite head-dress for grand soirées; it is composed of velvet, turns quite up in front, the brim forming rather a large half circle, which displays the forehead, but descends rather low at the sides, a large bouquet of white ostrich feathers placed on one side of the crown, partly surmounts it, and partly droops in the neck on the left side. The hair is generally worn in bands, with one of these hats, and a diamond star, or some other ornament in jewellery, is always placed upon the bands immediately under the brim.

Coiffures en chevaux, are very numerous, and more simple than they were in the beginning of the season. Those of a rich description are, however, still adopted by several elegant women. One of these coiffeurs, equally remarkable for its elegance and originality, was formed by the hair arranged in plaits, which were braided with pearls, and formed a single deep loop on each side of the face, the hind hair combed up tight to the summit of the head, was disposed in a full cluster of bows, formed of an intermixture of soft and plaited braids;

a circlet of gold and coloured gems encircled the bows, and a bouquet of fine white ostrich feathers, inserted among the bows, droops to the left side. The prevailing colours are, green of various shades, violet, dark blue, crimson, gold colour, and different shades of brown, green, and rose.

BOUQUETS AND PORTE-BOUQUETS.-Every season brings with it some novelty of fashion, usually imported from that fatherland of fancy and frivolity, the French metropolis. This year, it seems, the whim of carrying in the hand, at evening parties, a bouquet of exotics, fancifully arranged, has given rise to the invention of an ornament called a portebouquet; consisting of a small stick of carved ivory, sandalwood, or jewellery, hollow at one end, with folding leaves to receive the stalks of a nosegay, and of all varieties of price and value, from ten shillings to twice as many guineas. Without one of these bouquet holders, (in addition to her old-fashioned fan of painted vellum) no fashionable belle will appear in a Parisian ball-room; and to such a pitch has the mania for elegant bouquets of natural flowers arisen in Paris, that the trade of bouquetière, almost as lucrative as that of milliner, has been adopted by the wives of several eminent coiffeurs. It has even been introduced into London : and Madame Nardin, we hear, is already" practising" the art with great success, airanging not only bouquets à la main, but guirlandes à la Juive, after Nattier's patterns, of natural exotics. The flowers, both artificial and natural, likely to be most in vogue this season, are the Mimosa spirens, the single white Camellia, the Cactus, pink or crimson, and a new Mexican bell-flower, introduced into France by the Princesse de Chimay. Screen-fans, exquisitely painted, carved or embossed, are also much in fashion; and one of these beautiful eventailécrans was lately passed through the Custom House for Howell and James, which excited much attention, being the first introduced into this country.Court Journal.

BURFORD COTTAGE -Few, we believe, can have forgotten the amusing Travels of the faithful Keeper." After many years its author again comes forward with another work, for which the rising generation will thank him hereafter. Burford Cottage is full of information on the wonders of

creation, in all its varieties; and though told in a style admirably suited to juvenile capacities, we are inclined to think that many grown persons will read it with avidity. The portion devoted to Natural History is extremely curious and original. The following we select for its brevity: "A lady had a canary-bird, the cage of whose door she used to set open whenever the bird, with safety to itself, could be permitted to fly and hop about the room. The lady also had a cat; and she had brought the two to live together in the greatest harmony, and confidence, and comfort. The room had a window which opened upon leads that were covered with stands for flowers-pots; and from which steps led to a still higher platform. One day, when the lady had left the room, with the door and window open, and only the canary-bird and the cat within, and the latter out of his cage, and quite at large, a strange cat made her appearance, and the lady's cat, instead of staying to growl and spit at the unknown intruder, as, in other circumstances, would certainly have happened, immediately caught the canarybird in her mouth, and sprang with it out of the window, and from one lead to the other, upon the highest of which she held the bird in safety, till her mistress returned, and till the strange cat was gone. When all was clear, she descended, with the bird in her mouth, and brought it unhurt to the feet of her mistress."

FOREIGN FASHIONS AND NOVELTIES.

DINNER DRESS.--Pelisse robe of green pou de Soie, lined with rose-coloured satin, and worn over a white satin underdress; the latter has a low and square corsage, bordered with white fancy silk trimming. The chemisette, which comes quite up to the throat, is of blond, richly embroidered and trimmed with a full ruche round the top. The pelisse robe is made with a shawl body, open on the bosom, and tuning back with a pelerine, which also forms a lappel; it is composed of pink satin. Sleeves à la folle, exceedingly large, and with pointed cuffs of pink satin. Ceinture of pink satin ribbon; the skirt open in front, displays the under-dress. Blond lace cap; the form is nearly that of a cornette, but it does not quite meet under the chin. The trimming consists