not so employ the graces of your person, that they will be but syrens, inviting us to death!

Forgive, forgive, O, beautiful friend! my honest earnestness. I know that you would rather lose all the lustre of your charms, than that a moral deformity should be concealed behind so beautiful a mask; the venom of the serpent lie hidden beneath the flowers. I see even more. A noble thirst for knowledge flashes from your eyes. An awaking consciousness of the dignity of your own nature, a crowd of lofty presentiments, excite the pulses of your heart. You despise the male insects which flutter around you, in whatsoever garb they may choose to glitter. You long after the applause of the king and ruler of the world, who alone dives into the labyrinth of our inclinations, and alone is fitted to judge of our actions. With how novel a beauty will you enhance our now deformed world! How much will all the friends of virtue love you! What a heaven will that fortunate person, to whom destiny shall award you as a reward for his virtue, find in your possession! How blessed will be the lot of those, whom with maternal care you shall rear in the paths of innocence and virtue! You will be as

a venerated Shirley when the hand of time shall whiten your locks; and although age may deprive your cheeks of their roses, it will never be able to efface the harmonious expression of your features.

LONDON FASHIONS FOR THE MONTH.

THE approach of spring has as yet brought little change in promenade costume; indeed, in a climate so variable as ours, we could not expect much. Cloaks are, however, beginning to give way to shawls and mantelets; and we have reason to believe that as the season advances the latter will resume their vogue. Velvet bonnets are less numerous. A few drawn ones composed of satin have appeared, but we doubt very much whether they will be in vogue during the spring; at all events we should not recommend them, for there is no doubt that though they may be adopted, they will not be decidedly the mode.

This month, which may be called the interregnum of la Mode, is generally in carriage dress, a partial renewal of the autumnal fashions. This year Cachemere shawls take the lead those with blue grounds and superb Turkish patterns are most numerous. We have seen also several mantelets trimmed with swansdown or black lace. Some very elegant car

riage bonnets have just appeared; they are composed of pale pink satin, and trimmed round the crown with a wreath of wild roses formed of velvet of a full shade of rose colour; the interior of the brim is decorated with tulle and velvet, of a corresponding hue. A light voilette of English point lace edges the brim and completes the trimming.

As the winter advances to its close, the toilettes are always more brilliant; nothing, indeed, can exceed the splendour of full dress at present. We may cite among the most novel robes, those composed of plain satin, either white or some light colour; the corsage cut very low round the top, and draped either in the Tyrolienne or Grecian style. A mantilla of point d'Alencon or point d'Angleterre, encircles the back and shoulders; it is agraffed by an open-worked trimming, formed of very small satin rouleaux interlaced. The sleeves are tight at the top, with a bouillon at the bottom, and pagodas ornamented with the same trimming; a band of it, but much broader, encircles the skirt. The materials of robes continue the same; but velvet ones are not so generally worn. Black satin, lace, and moire are all in request. Lace dresses are worn both over black satin and coloured satin: the latter are not at present very generally adopted, but they will be more in favour if black lace continues to be fashionable, as it is expected to be, in the early part of the summer. Several of these dresses are made with the corsages en cœur, the cœur formed of crossed drapery; it is trimmed with a row of lace falling over à l'enfant. The skirt is ornamented down one side by a row of broad black lace, a double ground, and an antique pattern; it is looped at regular distances by small sprigs of green velvet fol age and gold berries. The sleeves are formed of bias bouillons terminated by engageantes; they are traversed by a wreath similar to the garniture, and which also loops the engageantes. A style of trimming that has been much admired, and we think with justice, for the effect is very novel, is composed of English point lace: a row turned in a sort of corkscrew direction is placed in the form of a broken cone down each side of the front of the skirt,-roses, without foliage, placed under the lace are partially concealed by its folds. We should observe that this trimming gradually increases in size as it descends from the waist to the bottom of the skirt. The Berthe and engageantes are always of lace to correspond.

Caps retain their vogue: they are at once so various and so pretty, that it would be a thousand pities they should not. We shall cite as one of the most elegant novelties of the day,

a cap composed of three pieces of black lace and velvet; it is trimmed on one side with sprigs of small red flowers. Another novelty, but one of a very splendid description, is the echarpeturban; it is a scarf of white lace, with the pattern wrought in gold or silver, and intermingled with coloured velvet; it is arranged in the turban style, and forms indeed one of the most elegant that we have seen. In fact the turban or demi-turban is decidedly the reigning coiffure of the season, or rather we ought to say they are the reigning coiffures, for their forms are quite distinct: the first composed either of cachemere, velvet, point lace, or the magnificent materials we have cited above, is calculated only for full dress, and generally speaking, becoming only to majestic beauties. The demi-turban, more dressy than splendid, may be said to be generally becoming. The foundation is formed of two rouleaus, through which the hair passes, and it is usually dressed in such a manner as to display its luxuriance; the front is arranged very low, and is ornamented only with a twisted end, which floats at each side. We should observe that the demi-turbans are always composed of velvet, and the ends bordered with a light gold or silver fringe. We have no change to announce in fashionable colours this month.

THE promenades present us as yet with very few demi saison toilettes, however they increase in favour daily, but as yet afford no actual novelty, being merely silk or satin pelisses, trimmed with black lace; or short mantles either of satin or velvet, bordered with swansdown or chenille fringe, and worn over silk dresses. If the trimming is swansdown, the boa corresponds, but otherwise it is of sable. Satin bonnets are decidedly in a majority, but a small one, for velvet and velours epingle are still in vogue. The most elegant of the latter are white, trimmed with white feathers, shaded with rose or cherry colour, and white satin ribbons, shot with a corresponding shade of red.

It is the season for balls; and this year they are more than usually numerous and brilliant, so that in fact the talents of our fashionable modestes and centurieres are put in requisition for ball dresses, almost to the exclusion of everything else. Hitherto light materials have been in a majority for robes; but

altogether those of organdy, tulle, and lace predominate. We see also a good many of satin, and even of velours epingle; but these latter are of such delicate colours, and trimmed in such a light style, that they have a very elegant effect. The antique style, or as it is now called, style of the renaissance, not only continues in vogue, but even increases; for the point of the corsage is sharper and deeper, and the sous jupe has swelled to a rorotundity imitating that of the hoop. Several of the tulle and organdy dresses are made with double skirts; the under one of the robe form; the upper en tunique, with the corners rounded, and much shorter than the under dress, which we must observe is always worn over a satin slip. Some of these dresses have the tunic, and also the border of the robe trimmed with a broad biais of the material of the dress, headed by a chef d'or. The corsage is also trimmed with a biais disposed en mantille round the back and shoulders, but forming a cœur in front, diminishing in size as it descends, so that it is excessively narrow as it approaches the point of the cœur: this trimming is also headed with a chef d'or, and the biais which terminates the short tight sleeve in the form of a Maintenon ruffle, is headed en suite. Other dresses have only a very deep hem, which is surmounted by an embroidery in coloured silks; and a good many are ornamented with a wreath of roses without foliage, or else of velvet foliage. We should observe that where the robe and tunic are of the same material, the garniture of the former always corresponds with that of the latter; but if the tunic is of lace, and the robe of satin, which frequently happens, the latter is very seldom trimmed, but the former is ornamented with flowers; they loop the fronts of the skirt in the drapery style, are placed en gerbe on the front of the corsage, and disposed in various ways upon the sleeves.

Ball head-dresses are mostly of hair; it continues to be arranged very low behind, either in a full round knot, or one formed of platter braides, the ends of which are curled, and float upon the neck; the front hair may be dressed either in bands or ringlets, but the latter are in a large majority. The ornaments most in favour for these coiffures are velvet flowers; but fancy jewellery, marabouts, and velvet ribbons are also in vogue. So also are coral ornaments, particularly cameos in coral. Nothing can have a more elegant effect than these cameos inserted in a wreath of gold vine leaves, exquiquisitely wrought in a light and elegant style. There is no decided change in fashionable colours this month, but light hues are in the ascendant.

3

Opera Bress.

WHITE satin under dress; the skirt bordered with a bouillonnée of the same. Lace robe; the skirt is a little shorter than the satin one, very open in front, and looped back on each side by a tuft of wild flowers. Low corsage deeply pointed, tight to the shape, and trimmed with a pelerine turning back en schall, and a wreath of wild flowers down the centre of the breast. Short sleeves terminated by a bouillon, and a Maintenon ruffle, and looped by flowers. The hair disposed in soft bands at the sides, and a knot at the back of the head, is ornamented with a diamond ferroniere, a gold comb, and a small green velvet scarf fringed with gold, the latter is attached at the sides by diamond pins. A plume of feathers on the left side completes the coiffure.

Ball Bress.

Tulle robe over white satin; the skirt is bordered with a wreath of flowers. The corsage low and pointed, with short tight sleeves, is composed of pink satin, and trimmed with blond lace. Head dress of hair, ornamented with a wreath and gerbe

of flowers.

Evening Dress.

VERY pale pink satin robe, low corsage en gerbe, and short sleeve covered with a triple fall of Brussels lace; the corsage, sleeves, and one side of the skirt are decorated with flowers: they are intermingled on the latter with knots and bands of ribbon. A ceinture with floating ends completes the ornaments of the dress. The coiffure is composed of Brussels lace arranged in the style of a cap front, but without a caul, and trimmed with pink ribbon.

Binner Bress.

PEA green satin robe; corsage drapé, the folds are retained in the centre by a gerbe of white roses. Short sleeve, covered with a triple fall of Mechlin lace; the lower row forming a manchette. The skirt is trimmed with two lace flounces disposed round the back in waves, and looped to a point on each side of the front by a knot of ribbon, and a bouquet of flowers. The hair is ornamented with a wreath of green vire leaves intermingled with two white ostrich feathers which, droop low on each side.