Why is not Lord Annandale a lover of the country, like Lords Delaward and Nottingham? We should then see more of you, and might get reconciled to this separation; but, as it is, it has fallen heavily upon us. I do not neglect your poor pensioners, and I feel an increase of good-will towards all our household from observing how much they sympathise with us in our regret for you. Heaven guard and bless my precious child, prays her fondly attached mother, FRANCES AUGUSTA VERNON. MISS MONTRESSOR TO LA MARQUISE MA CHÈRE DELPHINE, -I was fearful that I should never come in contact with any of the women here most remarkable for their high moral character, and for a strict decorum of manner peculiar to the noblesse of this country before a clumsy imitation and gross exaggeration of continental manners had been adopted. Some, however, of these ladies have been to call on Lady Annandale; and have impressed me with a respect for them, if not with any warmer sentiment. One, the Duchess of Fitzwalter, was announced the other day, when notre amie la Comtesse Hohenlinden was reclining in the bergère, in the boudoir of Augusta, exhibiting her pretty feet and wellturned ankles to two of her attending beaux, by placing them in a more elevated posture than modesty sanctions. This freedom of manner, this abandon and laissez aller, so peculiar to notre frau grafinn, always brings a blush to the cheek of Augusta; who sits constrained and silent, to the no small amusement of the comtesse, who delights in what she calls shocking her English prudery. I could perceive, by the increased gravity of the Duchess of Fitzwalter's demeanour, that she was more surprised than gratified by finding notre amie la comtesse established here so, apparently, at her ease; and I positively saw her cheek grow red as her eyes fell on the exposed ankles so ostentatiously displayed on the tabouret. Notre comtesse, who has discovered that she is in très mauvaise odeur with the circle in which the Duchess of Fitzwalter lives, determined, with that recklessness which is one of her distinguishing characteristics, to shock still more the decorum of that lady. We had been conversing on the cholera, and the alarming ravages it is making, previously to the duchess' entrance, and the comtesse resumed the subject by saying, "I hope the cholera will increase, for only fancy how delightful it would be to become at once emancipated from all the absurd conventional restraints of etiquette, and what you, mesdames, call decorum! How pleasant it would be to lead a life like that so agreeably described by Boccacio, as having been passed by him and his friends during the peste at Florence! Ever since I read it, I have longed to find myself in a similar position." The Duchess of Fitzwalter absolutely crimsoned, and Augusta became agitated with shame and indignation; while notre amie looked archly at her beaux, and triumphantly at me, directing our attention to the obvious discomposure of our hostess and her visitor; who, probably, will not seek to cultivate Augusta's acquaintance after this echantillon of the society she keeps, for there was a proud reserve in her demeanour, as she withdrew, that indicated some such determination. The coldness of Augusta's manner towards the comtesse irritates the temper, but does not check the levity and coarseness, of that lady, who every where represents her as being maussade, bête, et stupide. From all these imputed defects, however, Augusta is far removed; but the position in which she is placed is one so peculiar and embarrassing, that it throws a constraint over the natural vivacity and gracefulness of her manners, and induces the adoption of a reserve and hauteur foreign to her disposition. The extreme youth of Lady Annandale, and her total inexperience of fashionable society, have enabled her lord to usurp the privilege usually granted to all wives-that of selecting their female acquaintance. He encourages the frequent visits of those whose general tone of conversation is the most uncongenial to her taste; and, in truth, I must add, the least |