the end of covering, but the main purpose of dress is to reveal. I really almost begin to think, that these aukward creatures were so stupid and unaccountable, as to have no design upon me. To complete the oddity of their characters, these girls are constant at church, but never dreamed of promoting an intrigue there; employ their whole time there in praying, never heard of such things as cut fans, and are so attentive to the queer old put of a preacher, that they scarce look or listen to any one else. After service too the doctor is always taken home to dinner, and is as constant at table on Sunday as a roast sirloin and a plumb-pudding.

to.

But even with these unaccountable females, I thought I could have passed my evenings tolerably, if I could have got them to cards, which have the charming faculty of rendering all women equally agreeable. But these, I found, they were almost wholly unaccustomed I once, indeed, heard the dear cards mentioned, and was in hopes of something like an assembly. But what was my mortification! when, instead of seeing half a dozen card-tables, &c. set out, and whist, brag, or lansquenet going forward, I saw these strange women place themselves at an huge round table with country girls and cherry-cheek'd bumkins to play, according to annual Christmas custom, at Pope Joan and Snip-snap-snorum.

It would be endless to recount the miseries I suffered in those three weeks. Even the necessaries of life were denied me; and I could scarce have been more at a loss among the Hottentots. Would you think it, Sir? though this house had a family in it, and a family of females too, not a drop of Benjamin-wash, nor a dust of almond-powder could be procured there, nor indeed in all the parish; and I was forced to scrub my hands with filthy wash-ball, which so ruined their com plexion, that lying in dog-skin gloves will not re

cover them this fortnight. Add to this, that I never could dress for want of pomatum, so that my hair was always in dishevelle; and I am sure, I should not have been known at the dilettanti. At length, Sir, my snuff and salts were pretty nigh exhausted; and to add to my distress, I lost my snuff-box. These losses were irreparable there; not all the country afforded such snuff and salts as mine; I could as soon live without food as without either; and not a box could I touch but one of Deard's, and of my own choosing. So I hurried up to town, and being just recovered from the fatigue of my journey I send you this, in hopes that my woeful experience will deter all my friends, from following a chase as mad and hare-brained as any of Sir Sampson's; since it is impossible to exist a day there with tolerable ease, and neither wit nor beauty are worth one pinch, unless they are improved by a town education.

Sir, yours, &c.

DILLY DIMPLE.

My other correspondent, by the familiarity of her address, must be, I am sure, a woman of fashion.

DEAR TOWN!

DID I know your christian name I would call you by it, to shew you at first setting out, that I know the world, and was born and bred in high life.

The design of this epistle is to express to you the uneasiness, that some of us women of spirit feel at being incumbered with petticoats, and to convince you, by our way of life, that had we been men, we should have been bucks of the first head. Be assured, however, that such of us as are unmarried are strictly virtuous. We have, indeed, been accused of copying the dress of the nymphs of Drury. And can any thing be invented more becoming? Fanny, it must be

owned, has taste. What so smart as a cocked hat ? and who but sees the advantages of short petticoats, unless it be some squire's awkward daughter, who never yet heard of a Poloneze, and never accidentally shews her leg without blushing?

It is true, their similitude in dress now and then occasions some droll mistakes. In the park the joke has been sometimes carried so far, I have been obliged to call the sentry: and how did a young templar start and stare, when, having just made an appointment with him, he saw me step into a chair adorned with coronets!

If you frequent Ranelagh, you must undoubtedly have seen or heard me there. I am always surrounded with a croud of fellows; and my voice and laugh is sure to be the loudest, especially while Beard is singing. One is my dear lord, another my sweet colonel; and the rest I call Tom, or Dick, or Harry, as I would their footmen. At the play I always enter in the first act. All the eyes of the house are turned upon me. I am quite composed. Before I am settled the act is over; and to some I nod or court'sy, with others I talk and laugh, till the curtain falls.

rade.

What would I give to change my sex! Entre nous, I have a strong inclination to see the world in masqueIf you love me, keep it secret, and should you hear of any prank more wild and buckish than usual, conclude it to be played by me in men's clothes. Your's, as you mind me,

HARRIOT HARE-BRAIN.

N° 53. THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1755,

Acerita bibuntur.

Juv.

Drams are our bane, since poisons lurk within,
And some by cordials fall, and some by gin.

NOTHING is more natural than for the quacks of all professions to recommend their wares to those persons, who are most likely to stand in need of them. Thus Mrs. Giles very properly acquaints the fair sex, that she sells her fine compound for taking off superfluous hairs at a guinea an ounce and ladies of quality are constantly informed, where they may be furnished with the newest brocades, or the choicest variety of Chelsea China figures for deserts. It is very necessary, that the beau monde should be acquainted, that Eau de Luce may be had here in England, the same as at Paris: but I must own, I was very much surprised at seeing repeated advertisements in the papers from the "Rich Cordial Warehouse," introduced by an address "to the people of fashion." I cannot but look upon this as a libel on our persons of distinction, and I know not whether it may not be construed into scandalum magnatum; as it tacitly insinuates, that our Right Honourables are no better than dram-drinkers.

There is a well-known story of the famous Rabelais, that having a mind to impose on the curiosity of his landlord, he filled several vials with an innocent liquor, and directed them with Poison for the King,-Poison for the Dauphin,-Poison for the Prime Minister, and

for all the principal courtiers. The same might be said of these rich cordial liquors; which however they may recommend themselves to the people of fashion by their foreign titles and extraction, are to be considered as poisons in masquerade: and instead of the pompous names of Eau d'Or, Eau divine, and the like, I would have labels fixed on the bottles (in imitation of Rabelais) with-Poison for my Lord Duke,-Poison for the Viscount,-Poison for the Countess.

We live, indeed, in so polite an age, that nothing goes down with us, but what is either imported from France and Italy, or dignified with a foreign appellation. Our dress must be entirely à la mode de Paris; and I will venture to ensure great success to the Monsieur taylor, who tells us in the public papers, that he has just been to France to see the newest fashions. A dinner is not worth eating, if not served up by a French cook; our wines are of the same country; and the dram-drinkers of fashion are invited to comfort their spirits with rich cordials from Chamberry, Neuilly, and l'Isle de Rhè. A plain man must undoubtedly smile at the alluring names, which are given to many of these; nor is it possible to guess at their composition from their titles. The virtues, as well as the intent, of Viper Water may be well known: but who would imagine, that Flora Granater, or Belle de Nuit should be intended only to signify a dram? For my own part I should rather have taken Marasquino for an Italian fiddler, and have concluded that Jacomonoodi was no other than an Opera-singer.

But dram-drinking, however different in the phrase, is the same in practice, in every station of life; and sipping rich cordials is no less detestable, than in the vulgar idiom bunging your eye. What signifies it, whether we muddle with Eau de Millefleurs or plain aniseed? or whether we fetch our drams from the Rich Cordial Warehouse, or the Blackamoor and Still?