patre, la Diane, or la Psychè? Sometimes the changeful nymph is a vestal, sometimes a Venus; but the last rage has been the Niobè; of late fat and lean, gay and grave, old and young, have been all à la Niobe; and the many-curled periwig, thrown aside by the fashionable class, now decorates the heads of petty shop-keepers.

The fair Grecians being determined not to injure the contour of fine forms by superfluous incumbrances, no fashionable lady at Paris wears any pockets, and the inconvenience of being without is obviated by sticking her fan in her belt, sliding in a flat purse of Morocco leather, only large enough to contain a few louis, at the side of her neck, and giving her snuffbox and her pocket-handkerchief to the care of the gentleman who attends her, and to whom she applies for them whenever she has occasion.

For a short time during the winter, in defiance of frost and snow, the costume of a few reigning belles was not à la greque, but à là sauvage. To be dressed à la sauvage, was to have all that part of the frame which was not left uncovered clad in a light drapery of flesh-colour. The boddice, under which no linen was worn (shifts being an article of dress long since rejected at Paris, both by the Greeks and the Savages,) was made of knitted silk, clinging exactly to the shape, which it perfectly displayed; the petticoat was on one side twisted up by a light festoon; and the feet, which were either bare or covered with a silk stocking of flesh-colour, so woven as to draw upon the toes like a glove upon the fingers, were decorated with diamonds. These gentle savages, however, found themselves so rudely treated whenever they appeared, by the sovereign multitude, that at length the fashions of Otaheite were thrown aside, and Greece remains the standing order of the day.

But to return to the contractor, and his ball-after several hours had passed in dancing cotillons, which the young women of Paris perform with a degree of perfection-a light nymphish grace unseen elsewhere

-and after the walse, which is now never forgotten at a Paris ball, had proved that the steady heads of Niobés were not to be made giddy, the company were led to a supper furnished with Eastern magnificence, and decorated with Attic taste. After supper the folding doors of the saloon were thrown open to a garden of considerable extent, beautifully illuminated with coloured lamps, and its trees bending with lavish clusters of fruits of every season, and every climate, formed of ice, while fountains poured forth streams of orgeat, lemonade, and liqueurs.

Those who have been too rapidly enriched by the revolution have endeavoured to hide the obscurity of their origin, by mimicking the tones of those who have titles and honours to regret, till aristocracy has descended so low, that it will soon perhaps be exploded, like any other fashion, when taken up by the vulgar. Many of the fair wives of titled emigrants, or blooming widows of murdered nobles, who have made such second marriages, that we might well apostrophize them in the language of Hamlet:

"Such an act

"That blurs the grace and blush of modesty,
"Calls virtue hypocrite,

"Makes marriage vows

"As false as dicers' oaths."

These very ladies, who have taught their new-made liege-lords to ape their counter-revolutionary follies, will at length be ashamed of their aristocracy, when they find how successfully they are rivalled in those sentiments by their milliners and mantua-makers. A writer of a late political pamphlet has given an admirable reason why our Parisian belles will soon lay aside the tone of eternal lamentations for the overthrow of despotism: "Seven years," says he," have already elapsed since the epocha of the revolution: seven years is a period of some length in the history of a youthful beauty, and a lady will soon not be able to regret the monarchy, under the penalty of passing for old." I believe every person who has studied the fe

male heart, will agree with this writer, that the republic has a tolerable chance upon this principle of obtaining ere long many fair proselytes.

MISS WILLIAMS.

SECT. CXLVI.

I CURIOUS ACCOUNT OF THE TROGLODYTES IN ARABIA

A small district in Arabia was once inhabited by a people descended from those Troglodytes, of whom antient history informs us, that they resembled brutes rather than men; not indeed, in their outward form, but in their depraved dispositions and savage manners. It is true, they walked erect; they were not shagged with hair; their countenances too, and voice, were human; and they were not armed with either tusks or talons. Yet fierceness and cruelty were predominant in their bosoms: they were strangers to justice and humanity.

A prince of foreign extraction once reigned over them, who entertained the ambition of subduing their barbarous natures; and, with this view, attempted to rule with severity. They conspired against him, put him to death, and extirpated his family.

Thus they were reduced to the necessity of erecting a new government. Innumerable and violent were the contests that ensued. At length, however, they chose a number of magistrates. But scarcely were these magistrates chosen, when they were massacred by this incorrigible generation.

Anarchy followed, and was embraced. Every individual declared loudly against subjection. Every. one thought himself sufficient to take care of his own Interests; and why give himself any concern about another's?

"Why should I harass myself to death," said a Troglodyte, "for the benefit of those who care for me as little as I do for them? No; I will not do it. My solicitude shall be centred in myself. I will provide for my own necessities, and live as happy as I can,

Let my neighbours follow my example; or, if it be their pleasure, let them starve, and be wretched."

It was seed time. Every one said, "I will prepare and sow just such a parcel of ground as shall yield sufficient for my own consumption, Superfluity will be needless; and I am determined to be at no needless pains."

The soil of this small territory was different in different places; in the uplands, dry and thirsty; in the valleys, rich and well-watered. The drought of this year happened to be extreme: the consequence was, that, while the natives of the low grounds rioted in plenty, the mountains proved barren; their inhabitants were reduced to distress and famine; and many of them perished; for their brethren of the vallies refused to supply them.

The succeeding year was not less remarkable for heavy rains, which drowned and rotted the harvest of the low country, but rendered the high grounds uncommonly fertile. It was now the turn of the inhabitants of the vallies to implore assistance. They did,. and were denied in their turn.

One of the principal Troglodytes had a handsome wife his neighbour fell in love with, and seized her; they contended, and fought, but, at last, agreed to refer the dispute to a certain Troglodyte, who had been wont to maintain some authority, so long as the republic subsisted. He absolutely refused to be the umpire. He would not even hear their arguments. "What is

your

it to me," said he, "whose this woman is ? I have my land to till; and am not in a humour to settle affairs to the neglect of my own. I beg of you to leave me in quiet; and decide your quarrel as you can.”The ravisher, who had strength on his side, swore he would quit his life sooner than his prize. The husband had nothing left but to repine to no purpose at the injustice of his neighbour, and the unfriendliness of his judge. In his way home he met a beautiful young woman returning from the well. He had now no wife, and was pleased to supply his loss so soon and so

agreeably but it increased his satisfaction to find, that she was the wife of the very person who had refused to be his arbitrator.

Another Troglodyte was in possession of a piece of ground, which was very fertile, and which he cultivated with great industry. Two of his neighbours resolved to dispossess him. Accordingly, they drove him from his house, and agreed mutually to enjoy and defend their acquisition against any invader. They did so for some months; till one of them, choosing to be sole master, killed his companion. But he did not long maintain his treacherous usurpation; and unable to defend himself singly against two other Troglodites, who attacked him, he was obliged at once to surrender his possessions and his life..

It is recounted of another of this people, who was in distress for clothes, and almost naked, that he cheapened a parcel of wool. The merchant bethought himself: "It is true, the just price of my wool is but so much, enough to buy me two measures of corn; but I will not part with it under four times that sum ; which is the value of eight measures." The buyer was not in a condition to dispute the demand. He must pay the money. "Now," says the seller, "I am able to provide myself with corn."" What! are you in want of corn then ?" says the buyer. "I have some to dispose of: you will, perhaps, be a little staggered at the price. You know corn is extremely dear on account of the famine. Give me back my money, and you shall have for it a single measure; not a grain more, were it to save you from starving,"

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A pestilential disease broke out, and ravaged this miserable country. Its progress was checked by the arrival of a foreign physician, who administered his medicine so skilfully, that whoever applied to him was recovered. When the disorder had disappeared, he went about soliciting his rewards; but none could he obtain from his ungrateful patients; and he was oblig ed to return into his own country, harassed with fatigue and chagrin. It was not long, however, before