cause of the difference. Be that as it may, those who have recently seen the royal pair affirm, that matrimony has not improved the looks of either. The scandalous chronicle adds, that the breach has been exceedingly aggravated by the officious interference of the queen's relations. The opposition papers delight in ridiculing Leopold, whom they represent as being equally inimical to the interests of Belgium and of France, and wholly devoted to those of England.

The subscription announced for Lafitte gets on very slowly. The French are beggarly in their notions of subscriptions. Where an Englishman would give fifty pounds, a Frenchman thinks it handsome to set down his name for fifty francs. A considerable part of Lafitte's immense fortune was made by his dealings with the English. He was almost the only banker to whom they applied, why, I cannot tell, for he charged a higher commission, and his clerks were not half so civil as those of other houses.

Mrs. B. and my daughter send their compliments to you, and affectionate remembrances to your sisters. Farewell! G. Melmoth, Esq. Melmoth Hall, &c. &c.

Truly yours,

CHARLES B

THE LADIES' TOILET.

WALKING DRESS.-It is composed of pale blue gros de Naples: the corsage is made up to the throat, and a little, but very little, pointed before and behind. Long sleeves fitting close to the lower part of the arm, with a pointed cuff; the fulness of the upper part is gathered in just above the elbow by a band and tassel to correspond. Pelerine of a moderate size, edged with narrow pointed white blond lace; the neck ruche is also of blond lace. Bonnet of pale rose color pour de Scie: the brim is long and close at the ears, wide across the forehead, and standing much off the face; it is trimmed with a moss rose and buds, and gauze ribbons to correspond. This is an elegant public promenade dress.

EVENING DRESS.-It is composed of poux de Soie of a new shade of fawn-colour; a low corsage setting close to the

:

shape, ornamented with three rouleaux of gauze ribbon in the stomacher style, and a bow of ribbon placed upon the point the top is trimmed with blond lace forming a fichu mantilla. Maintenon sleeves with mancherons of the wing kind, laid on over the blond lace. The border of the dress is disposed in deep points which are edged with blond lace set on plain. The hair is parted on the forehead; the hind hair disposed in braids, which partly fall over the sides of the head, and are partly gathered up under a knot of gauze ribbon, Necklace and ear-rings, large pearls. Scarf of blue mousseline de Soie.

CURSORY REMARKS ON THE LAST NEW FASHIONS.

The summer fashions have at last assumed an appropriate appearance, heavy materials of every kind have vanished both from out and in-door dress, with the exception, however, of silks, which are still of a very rich description, but being worn in out-door dress with lace mantelets, or light gauze scarfs; they do not look unseasonable. We observe that, for walking dress, silks and printed muslins appear in equal favor. Sober colors are preferred for the first, and those of the pelisse kind continue in request. Muslin dresses are not yet quite so numerous as silk ones, they are generally worn with shawls of rather a small size; those of white French cashmere with small Turkish borders are very much in request.

Bonnets of figured silk trimmed with gauze ribbon to correspond, are most fashionable for the promenade; they have, for the most part, crowns of moderate height, and some smaller at the top than the bottom; the brims are decidedly larger than those of last year; in other respects we do not perceive any remarkable difference in their shape. We see, with great pleasure, that bonnets of Dunstable straw are getting more into favor; they are generally trimmed in a very plain style with gros de Naples ribbon; but some of the finest kind are adorned with gauze ribbon disposed in a long light bow, somewhat of the butterfly shape, which is placed on one side of the crown: a single fower is inserted in the knot which ties the bow in the centre. The fact of these bonnets giving bread to a number of industrious and deserving females employed to

manufacture them, is of itself a reason why we should recominend their use to our fair readers. There is also another recommendation which they have to ladies in moderate circumstances, and that is the modicity of their price, and their being peculiarly serviceable.

A few moire pelisses have been recently made in carriage dress; the corsages are high behind, very open on the bosom, and trimmed with a lappel which turns back like a collar at the back of the neck, is open at the corners, and descending gradually narrower, terminates almost in a point. Foulards and printed muslins are also in favor. These dresses are made with pointed bodies, and are worn with black lace mantelets.

Rice straw is now the favorite material for carriage bonnets; for although those we described last month are still perfectly fashionable, we observe that those of rice straw are in a majority; they are of the form we described last month, and are trimmed with gauze ribbons and artificial flowers; although all those of the season are employed, yet we observe that those trimmed with sprigs of lilac are

most numerous.

Figured silks, mousseline de laine, and clear muslin, pointed in bouquets of flowers, are all fashionable in evening dress; the latter is peculiarly so. Pointed corsages are almost the only ones adopted; they are not made quite so low round the bust as those of last month, and we observe that those with plain fronts are more numerous than those draped across the bosom. Short sleeves are most prevalent.

Berets of painted gauze or crape are very much in favor in evening dress. The most novel are of a smaller size, and of a lighter form than those worn in the winter. Some of those for social parties have no ornament whatever; others have a light sprig of flowers inserted in the folds a little on one side; but if the head-dress is for a grand reunion, it must be ornamented with the plumage of a bird of Paradise.

Fashionable colors are rose of various shades, emerald and pea-green, lilac, azure blue, and various shades of yellow and dust-color.

PARISIAN FASHIONS.

WALKING DRESS.-A pelisse of a new and peculiarly brilliant shade of green gros de Naples: the body is high and plain: Amadis sleeves with a cuff cut in dents of the shamrock shape round the top: the skirt is trimmed down the front in the form of a broken cone, with gros de Naples! cut in shamrock dents at the sides. Pelerine of the heart shape, bound with a satin rouleau round the lower part; the upper part is cut to correspond with the trimminga Worked muslin collerette and cravat of rose-colored gauze ribbon. Bonnet of rose-colored gros de Naples trimmed with a single white ostrich feather, knots of rose-colored gauze ribbon, and a curtain veil of blond lace.

EVENING DRESS. It is composed of lilac mousseline de Soire Corsage low and plain with gigot sleeves. The skirt is trimmed with a pointed flounce set on full. White blond lace mantelet of the scarf kind, edged with very broad blond lace, except at the bust, which is encircled by a ruche of blond net. The hat is of rice straw adorned with the plumage of a bird of Paradise and knots of canary. colored gauze ribbon.

CURSORY REMARKS ON THE LAST FRENCH FASHIONS.

Our promenades begin at last to be filled with ladies in summer dresses. The most elegant of these novelties are the pelisses of thin jaconot muslin lined with colored sarsenet, and embroidered all round in feather-stitch. Some are made quite high with a large square falling collar; others have the corsage of the shawl form, only partially high, and very open on the breast. The sleeves, which continue to be made close to the lower part of the arm, and very wide at top, are frequently finished with a small embroidered cuff.

There is great variety in the materials of promenade hats and bonnets, though but little in their form. Straw of various kinds, both plain, fancy, English, and Italian, sewed straw, are all in request. Open-work straw has a little declined in favor, as the price being moderate, has made it rather common; but those bonnets are still, when

Eined with gros de Naples and trimmed with spring flowers, adopted by very elegant women. Plain straw is generally used for bonnets only; they are trimmed with rich figured gros de Naples ribbon in a very simple style. Italian sewed straw hats or bonnets are generally decorated with flowers. Plain and figured silks of various kinds are also in request both for hats and bonnets, as is also rice straw. Flowers and gauze ribbons are the materials employed for trimmings, but we must observe, that when both are used there is very little ribbon employed: sometimes only a band which traverses the crown, and descending upon the brim forms the strings. The bouquet or sprig of flowers is inserted in this band on one side, so as to rise considerably above the

crown.

Chaly seems likely to be this summer quite as much in favor as it was last year in half-dress. Printed muslins also are coming very much into favor, but white ones are not so much seen as they were in the beginning of the month. These dresses are always made à la vierge, the corsage laced behind, and draped horizontally on the breast. Long sleeves, finished sometimes with a trimming of the manchette kind, falling a little over the hand.

The most fashionable style of dress for social dinner or evening parties, is a gown of mousseline de Soie, or tissu de cachemire, with a half high corsage draped round the upper part of the bust in the Sevigné style, and a little pointed before and behind. Short sleeves of the double sabot form, the lower part falling over the elbow. The head-dress must be of hair, parted on the forehead, disposed in a full tuft of curls on each side, and in a plaited braid arranged en couronne on the summit of the head. A narrow chain of burnished gold brought low upon the forehead is the only ornament of the coiffure A small scarf of black blond lace, the ends of which reach only to the waist, is tied carelessly round the throat. Mittens of black silk, not trimmed at the top, with a narrow plaiting of colored ribbon complete the costume..

Gros de Tours dresses trimmed with black lace are also in favor, particularly for ladies of a certain age, and even young and pretty matrons appear in them. Caps of black blond lace are very frequently adopted with dresses of this