dity, are closed down the front by a row of pretty fancy silk buttons, or of small knots with a double piping to correspond with the ceinture; these pelisses are neat and gentlewomanly, without being very expensive.

Velvet bonnets begin to appear in carriage dress, though but slowly; they will, however, by the end of the month be very general; the favourite colours for them are various shades of brown, green, dark blue, and a new shade of slate colour; one or two ostrich feathers of the colour of the bat, is the trimming most commonly adopted generally speaking, carriage hats have the crowns higher, and the brims longer than those of last winter, there are, however, exceptions to this rule, some of the prettiest being made with the crown of a melon form, rather low, and with a drapery of black lace attached about the middle of it, and descending nearly to the bottom. These hats we must observe, are always of black or dark coloured velvet, they are trimmed either with a sprig of flowers in coloured velvet, or a bouquet of feathers, not more than three in number to correspond; the interior of the brim is trimmed next the face with a double plaiting of blond lace, three or four very small pink, green, or lemon-coloured flowers are placed singly, and at some distance from each other among the lace, and a light sprig of the same flowers issues from one of them, just over the left temple. Black lace and rich ribbons are expected to be very much in favor for evening dress trimmings; we have understood also that velvet boddices, pointed and laced behind, are to be brought in by some high leaders of fashion. In giving this information, we must add, that we very much doubt the success of the experiment. The hair in evening costume will be dressed low behind, and the front hair disposed either in bands, or long corkscrew ringlets; both these modes are becoming but to beauties of a different style. Fashionable colours are those of last month, with the addition of chesnut, and various shades of deep red.

FOREIGN FASHIONS AND NOVELTIES.

BRIDAL COSTUME.-Brussels lace robe over a white satin under dress. The corsage of the robe made to sit close

the shape, and of a three quarter height, is trimmed with A pelerine of a very light, but rich pattern; imbecille sleeves of a large size, the pattern in light columns. That of the skirt is also in columns, but they are of uncommon richness. The hair is arranged in four bows on the summit of the head, leaving a vacant space in the centre; the marriage veil, also of Brussels lace, is attached at the back of the bows by a superb pearl ornament placed at the base of a bouquet of orange flowers. The front hair is parted, and disposed in one large tire bouchon on each side, it is crowned by a wreath of the most costly exotics. Necklace and bracelets, pearls.

CARRIAGE DRESS.-Robe of maize Gros de Naples, plain high corsage, and sleeves à la folle chevronne at bottom; mantle of the new material peau de Chagrin-it is drawn close to the shape at the back by a band of the same material, and trimmed en mantelet, with velvet of a shade darker; the sleeves of a very large size, and quite a new form, are open at the elbow, and at the bend of the arm; the lining of the mantle is of gros de Naples of a corresponding colour; white satin bonnet, a long, deep and very open brim; the interior simply trimmed in the cap stile, with blond, white satin ribbon, and a bouquet of exotics decorate the crown; worked muslin collar trimmed with English point lace.

REMARKS ON THE PREVAILING PARIS FASHIONS.

The gardens of the Tuilleries, and the Bois de Boulogne begin to be thronged with élégantes, who appear already determined to defy even the severity of a Russian winter, for the warm wadded pelisse is frequently covered by the equally warm mantle; the first are of plain rich silk, ornamented down the front of the skirt, either with fancy silk trimming, or an embroidery in chenelle. The most elegant of the latter are of Cashmere, or of Cashmere wool mixed with silk. Several of those adopted in negligé are of wool only, but of a very fine kind. We may cite as most fashionable those of a maroon ground, figured in green or blue; those of deep blue figured in two shades of the same colour, and also slate coloured grounds figured in brown or black. These mantles are all made with a very

large collar, and excessively wide sleeves. Satin, velours grec, and plain velvet are the materials adopted for hats and bonnets no decided change has as yet taken place in the forms, but the most elegant are distinguished by the simplicity of their ornaments, and particularly by the lightness of the knots of ribbon which trims them. We may now announce as positively settled, that broad and wide brims, and rather high crowns, will be fashionable this winter; it is also expected that crimson will be a prevailing colour for hats both in half and evening dress. Some have already appeared in the former, composed of velours grec, and trimmed with ribbons of the same coloured ground, but figured in a variety of hues.

As the Paris winter is now fairly commenced, we cannot do better than present our readers with an account of the most elegant costumes that lately appeared at a grand musical soirée; they offer all that is most novel and elegant in evening dress. The robes were composed principally of the various new and splendid materials which we cited in our last number; there were also several of plain white satin, and some of crape, studded with silver stars; the forms of the robes were exactly copied from the portraits of celebrated women in the reigns of Louis XIV. and XV. which we have already frequently described under the title of robe à la Maintenon, or robe à la Dubarry; there were among the head dresses a majority of turbans, à l'Israelite, some in emerald green satin, intermixed with chefs d'or, others of Cashmere, with superb gold fringe, and a good many of white gauze, embroidered in coloured silks, with an intermixture of gold. There were also several turbans of plaid gauze ornamented with aigrettes placed in contrary direc tions, and drooping so as to form an arch. There were a good many velvet and satin hats with the brims turned up, but the most elegant of those kind of head dresses were of cherry coloured pou de soie glace d'or, and trimmed with a bird of paradise; there were only three of these headdresses, but from the admiration they excited, we have no doubt that they will be very much the rage this winter.

There were several blond lace caps-those composed of a double row of blond over the forehead, and very high, presented one of the fashionable coiffures of Louis XIV.,

and the pretty and simple bonnets à la Ferroniere, brought back the recollection of the beautiful mistress of Francis the First, while the little bonnets, à la paysanne, with their simple trimmings of flowers, offered a striking contrast to the two above described, which were adorned with feathers, and in some instances with jewels.

The Spanish Ambassadress and her two daughters were in bead-dresses of hair, adorned with a christinos, that is to say, a narrow band of green velvet with agraffes of diamonds and a tuft of green ribbon on each side of the face. This coiffure, which is expected to be exceedingly fashionable among the fair Liberals, is an imitation of a head-dress in which the celebrated Agnes Sorel has often been painted; wreaths of roses, and other flowers, encircling the knot of hair at the back of the head were adopted by several youthful belles. They used to be called chaperons,-they are now stiled Pandores; the colours of last month, with the addition of beet red, and crimson.

DEAR MARIA,

LETTER PROM PARIS.

Rue St. Dominique, Faubourg St. Germain.

Our fashionable winter has began brilliantly, and we owe the opening of the campaign to Lord Granville. I must say, that it is gratifying to my national pride, (would not variety be a fitter word?) to see the balls and soirées at the English Ambassador's take place even of those of the court; although the latter is just now very gay, owing to the presence of the Queen of Belgium. It is, however, principally the English and foreigners of distinction that form the high society of Paris, for the nobility still remain at their chateaux in the provinces, and seem determined that the court of the citizen king shall be a completely bourgeois one.

I am sorry that I cannot comply with your friend Mrs. P.'s request of taking handsome lodgings for her in a house where no other lodger is admitted, She cannot find any such in Paris, for the houses are of immense size, and each except the hotels of noblemen, or persons of immense, wealth, affords accommodation not only to different fami

lies, but even to the most opposite grades in society, so that it very often happens, that the ground-floor and firstfloor are occupied by opulent families who live in the first stile, and the fifth and sixth stories by working people. Nor is it thought at all derogatory to a man of fortune to let out his house in this manner. He has, in fact, nothing at all to do with it; the whole charge of letting the lodgings, and receiving the rent, being left to the porter. If you want unfurnished apartments, you may take them as you do houses in England, upon a lease for a certain number of years. There is a general outcry against porters, they are said to be a greedy, malevolent, and tattling race. I give implicit credit to the latter part of the assertion, for I never pass our porter's lodge without perceiving his wife in earnest conversation with one or more of the servants belonging to the families who reside in the house; but, after all, porters are not the only gossips in the world; and as to the rest, I dare say the portrait is often overcharged. They are not very well paid, and the care which they are obliged to take of their master's interest, makes them, perhaps, by degrees suspicious and inquisitive, even if they are not naturally so. I confess I am rather favourable to this generally disliked class, for the sake of our porter, an old soldier, and a complete original, with whom Papa, who you know doats on originals, is very fond of talking. He fought in Spain during the campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, and talks with great glee of those brave gens the English. It appears by his account, that the French and English sentinels were upon exceedingly sociable terms, for they used to make a regular interchange of commodities. A sort of traffic that was convenient enough, and no doubt very agreeable to both parties; and it seems, that so good was the intelligence between them, that even in cases where the one had something to barter, and the other nothing to give in return, they did not hesitate to trust to each other's honour. Old Pierre, who is a staunch republican, was enthusiastically devoted to Napoleon as long as he was general and consul, but as he expresses it, he thought himself bound in honour to cut the emperor. However his devotion to his old master revived with his fallen fortunes, and Papa, says that he has observed that the poor L. 35. 2.

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