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stalactite caverns conduct us to a subterranean for the sake of so many to whom price is an obworld, which impresses the beholder with senti- ject-that the price of admission has been remas of awe and solemnity, so entire is the de-cently reduced. We confidently hope and believe son. The Museum of Sculpture alone conthat this alteration will benefit the treasury, by has so many works of high art, that it would the increased numbers who will have the gratiwell repay a visit; and we rejoice to add-rejoice fication of visiting the Colosseum.

FASHIONS FOR FEBRUARY.

Our fashionable winter has opened with even more than usual splendour. Balls and evening parties succeed each other so rapidly that our elegates have very little time to think of their promenade costumes, which indeed has, except for a great increase in furs, altered but little Lace I wrote last. Camails, and mantelets charpes, both of sable and ermine, have been a good deal seen in the elegant equipages which now, when the weather permits, appear in the Bois de Boulogne: the first have nothing novel in their form; but the latter are considerably larger, descending very low in a rounded form behind, and in some instances made with sleeves. Fur trimmings also have greatly increased in vogue, though they have by no means displaced those of velvet and passementerie; the latter indeed continues to be adopted in every part of the toilette into which it can be introduced. The forms of pardessus are now definitely fixed for the season, but their use varies with the weather; if that is severe, the public promenade or carriage mantle is composed of casimir or velvet, lined with silk or satin, well wadded, and trimmed with fur; or else a redingote of casimir or velvet is worn with a sable camail, or mantelet écharpe. If the sun peeps out, which is rarely the case, then some very elegant dresses are seen in the carriages of some of our distinguished fashionables, and particularly in those of your fair countrywomen: I may cite, among the most admired, some velvet redingotes, both green and violet, bordered all round with a broad flat trimming of the same colour, fastened before with small silk buttons to correspond, put close together, and continued down the skirt. A long Crispin, of the same velvet, was worn over the redingote. A good many robes were composed of black damask in very large patterns; they are generally made without trimmings: others, of black or coloured satin, are trimmed round the border, very high, with velvet bands of different widths to correspond; the corsages are always made high, and the sleeves tight to the arm, and descending to the wrist. A short mantle, bordered with grèbe, and lined with white satin, or a paletot of black or coloured velvet, bordered with passementerie lyrinthe, or embroidered with arabesques in passementerie, is adopted with one

of these robes.

One or two of our most celebrated modistes are trying to put down the chapeau Pamela, but I think their success is doubtful; for the form, when divested of its exaggeration, is rather

a becoming one. Another shape has been introduced, which is perhaps more generally becoming: the brim is somewhat longer, rather of an oval form, and not so wide at the bottom as the Pamelas; these latter, however, are still predominant in public promenade dress, but the capote form only is adopted in plain walking dress; it is also worn, but of a much more elegant kind, for demi-toilette: I may cite among the prettiest of these, the capote Fontanges, a small, round, and moderately close shape; it is made in white, blue, and pink satin, ornamented with attaches of velours épinglé of the same colour; the exterior is trimmed with a voilette of point d'Angleterre, brought en coquillant under the brim. Lace begins to be more seen than it has yet been for the trimming of chapeaux and capotes; those of plain walking dress are generally composed of black, beaver grey, and maroon velvet; those of half-dress are usually, though not always, of lighter hues, white, pink, blue, and green; rich colours, as ruby, violetévéque, and very bright yellow, are also in favour for these chapeaux; they continue to be made of velvet, satin, and velours épinglé; for though fancy materials have been introduced, they have not been adopted by our élégantes of the haut ton. Feathers are still decidedly predominant in half-dress; they are sparingly employed in plain walking costume; a single feather, of moderate length, or two or three short ones, always of the colour of the chapeau. There is great variety in those used for demi-toilette; the Argus, Časouard, and plume guipure, are in great vogue; bouquets of tétes de plumes, and of coloured marabouts are also in request, particularly for blue and pink chapeaux; lappets of point d'Angleterre are frequently intermingled with them. Fancy feathers are so numerous that I cannot enumerate them; one of the most remarkable is a willow plume, which is a perfect fac-simile of a branch of that tree.

The robes de chambre, which I have recently described, have lost nothing of their vogue for home déshabille; indeed it would be difficult to find a more elegant or becoming morning costume. The douillete, or, as you call it, wadded pelisse, always more or less in favour for the coin de feu, is also a good deal adopted; they are generally composed of satin of sober colours. The corsages are high at the back, with a falling collar, and lappels of velvet to correspond; and the skirt, which fastens invisibly in front, is also trimmed in the robing form with velvet. Some

rows round the border : lastly, and they are the most magnificent, the points de Venèse, and gui pure, of gold or silver, employed both for even

have the lappels and robings scalloped and
edged with effilé; in others they are cut in dents,
that round at the point, each being terminated
by a small fancy silk button Caps are almosting and ball-robes.
universally adopted with these négligées; they
are very small, and this year both morning and
evening caps are worn very far back on the
head, the former nearly but not quite so much
as the latter. A good many have foundations
of point d'Angleterre; they are round shapes,
trimmed with velvet ribbon; others are of em-
broidered muslin, bordered with Valenciennes
lace. An embroidered cambric chemisette always
completes the morning toilette.

Their Majesties held their first levee, as usual. on New Year's Day; the dresses were remark. ably splendid, and assuredly the most elegant o well as loveliest women present were English Several of the robes were composed of thos rich damasks and brocades which I announeti in the biginning of the season; they were one in front in the tablier style, upon a breadth of white satin; if there was a mixture of gold or silver in the material of the robe, the sides of it were bordered with dentelle d'or, x argent; if there was not, the lace was par d'Angleterre, or point d'Alençon. A good man white satin robes had the borders trimmed with gold guipure, and some blue satin ones were decorated with silver guipure, in the tun style. One of the most admired robes was composed of azure blue damask, embroidere with pearls à la Grècque; a diamond sparkled each pattern. The corsages of all the robes were cut low, and the points excessively deer The robe of which I have just spoken had the corsage ornamented with embroidery, forming a revers, and descending in basques on the hips: the front of the skirt was worked en taller very large at the bottom, but mounting almost a point as the patterns approached the ceinture

You will see by the models I send you that there is not much change in the forms of robes; high corsages keep their vogue, not only in morning but even in half-dress; but in the latter the majority are partially open in front. Long tight sleeves seem, except for robes de chambre, to have superseded all other in morning déshabille. A corsage and sleeve, copied from some portraits of celebrated women of the fifteenth century, is beginning to be very much adopted in half-dress; the corsage is made quite up to the throat, with a round collar, which closes in front; but the sides turn back in revers, displaying an under corsage of lace or muslin beautifully worked; the waist is made as long as possible; the revers meet just below it, and round off to the bottom of the deep and very full basquines. The sleeve a three-quarter There was a good deal of variety in the length, and very wide, is open from the top different head-dresses of hair; they are nearly to the bottom, displaying a large muslin all dressed lower at the back than last year, and or lace under-sleeve, always terminated by a the knot much larger. The front hair wa double ruffle of point d'Angleterre or point | posed in full but light curls, in ringlets a d'Alençon. These dresses are always composed bands; several of these coiffures were dested of damask, satin broche, or velvet, and are never with nets of gold, intermixed with silk or pearls, trimmed round the border; indeed the richness to which torsades and nœuds of green or poate of the material, and the enormous width of the velvet were added. These coiffures placed very skirt, which seems rather to have increased than far back on the head, did not cover the h diminished during the last two months, would Wreaths of various kinds of flowers or foliage give to any kind of trimming a heavy and un-intermixed with diamond epis, were also a good graceful effect. Garnitures are, however, almost deal seen. invariably adopted for robes of less rich materials. Velvet is very much in vogue for different kinds of silks, satins, and poplins; besides the different modes of employing it, which I have spoken of in my preceding letters, it is now disposed in embroidery, formed of very narrow velvet ribbon, arranged in various patterns. Black lace, disposed in volants or tabliers, is also in great favour: as to passementerie, there is quite a rage for it. We see every day new kinds of fringes, flat trimmings, buttons, and gimps. The most remarkable novelties are those employed for evening and ball-dress; I may cite among the most admired the fringes composed of acier filé, intermixed with gold, which, with a berthe to correspond, is a trimming very much employed for ball robes; as is also silver fringe, with a point d'esprit heading, and montants of the same description. I may add the very deep franges mousseuses, shaded in pink and white, or blue and white, that are employed for crape ball robes; they are usually disposed in three

Where the hair was not displayed, the coffre were as usual, toques turbans, petits bords, &.. &c., &c.; one of the most novel of the p bords is the Marie Antoinette; it is compos of velvet of a light hue, as green, pink, or b and trimmed with two superb white ostriche thers. Another coiffure, that was much as mired, is the Agnes Sorel; it is composed azure-blue velvet, covered with silver rosen Venise, and edged with silver frit ge. I may cite, among the most original coiffures, one sembling, but not quite of the same form as the petit bord; the foundation was of black la and the brim, which was extreme y small d velvet; it was raised in front as high as the ears and ornamented with diamonds lisposed wreaths. Less splendid, but exquisitely be coming, is the petit bord Gabrielle, composed pink crape, and trimmed with silver fringe. Th coiffure Isabeau, composed entirely of go blonde, is an admirable mixture of lightness and splendour,

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The ball given by the English ambassador was, as usual, the first of the season, and cerainly none can surpass it for the beauty of the deuses, and the richness and elegance of their toilettes. Your countrywomen no longer content themselves with the palm of beauty, which is universally adjudged to them; they now rival ours in their exquisite taste in dress. I may cite, among the most elegant ball robes, those of tulle, either light blue or pale pink, made with three skirts; the ground was lightly strewed with silver stars, and the border of each skirt-mixed gradually in front over a satin dress of the same colour-was edged with silver fringe; the draperies were raised by bouquets of all roses placed in tufts of velvet foliage veined with silver. Some had the corsages very ful draped and similarly ornamented; others had a berthe of dentelle d'argent, with a bouquet of roses in the centre. Some white satin dresses were covered with double skirts of gold gaze moirée, each skirt was trimmed with five lacets For. Several robes, both of crape and Italian taffeta, were trimmed with wreaths of shaded

moss roses, camellias, &c., &c. The prettiest of the new wreaths for simple ball dress, are the guirlandes Marie Stuart, composed of bruyère des Alpes, and the guirlandes Joinville, in wild clematites mingled with the foliage of the almond tree.

Some of the new evening wraps are composed of white or blue satin, or of velvet; the form is usually that of a short mantle with large sleeves, and a capuchin sufficiently large to cover the head-dress, and prevented from crushing it by a slight slip of whalebone round the edge. I need not observe that these mantles are well wadded, and lined with satin; they are trimmed either with grèbe or swansdown. One recently seen on a newly-married duchess is composed of white satin encircled with silver reseau de Venise, and the capuchin bordered with a silver torsade, and finished with small tassels of marabout plumes.

Fashionable colours are still those I have already announced; but light hues are decidedly predominant in ball dress.

ADRIENNE DE M

marabouts. A robe, worn by a very lovely DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. English lady, was composed of pink tulle, trim

med very high with bouillons of the same. Small roses de Mai scattered here and there among the bouillons had a very pretty effect; the berthe was similarly ornamented. Some gold and silver Llama robes were exquisitely embroidered in five rows of Grecian borders, divided by filets d'or. The corsages were à la Grècque, and the short sleeves raised over the under ones by small gold tassels. This seducing subject tempts me to exceed the limits you allow me, so I shall quote only one more ball robe; it was worn by a young French comtesse, one of our most celebrated ones; the under robe was composed of blue Italian taffeta, shot with white; over it were two skirts of dentille d'argent, the foundation sprigged with a rich border in antique patterns. The skirts were raised on each side by three full folds, attached by bouquets of blue flowers, intermingled with some of silver filligree; the corsage-low and deeply pointed-was decorated with a berthe covered with dentille d'argent, and bell sleeves of the same, covered the small tight

silk ones.

Ball coiffures are, with few exceptions, composed of hair, ornamented in various ways; but always in a style corresponding with the robes; if that is simple, a wreath of flowers or a fancy bandeau is adopted. If the robe is splendid, then precious stones are mingled with the flowers. One of the most admired is the guirlande Isabeau, composed of velvet foliage, interspersed with light pearl sprigs; it rises rather high towards the hind hair, which it partially covers. Striking colours are decidedly the vogue in flowers; consequently red, of various shades, is very extensively seen. Coiffures composed of a mélange of pearls, garnets, emeralds, and marcassites with long velvet leaves divided by a narrow filet d'or, has a most brilliant effect. The tufts of wreaths are always of rather large flowers, as

FIRST PLATE.

HOME DRESS.-Green levantine robe, over a cambric one; the latter made with a corsage up to the throat, and long tight sleeves: the corsage is embroidered in the centre, and trimmed round the top with lace. Lace ruffles. The corsage of the silk dress is made rather more than half-high at the back, exceedingly open on the bosom, and slashed from the centre of the breast to the waist: the entire is bordered with two rows of black velvet ribbon, disposed in scallops, which form the slashes into lozenges. A similar style of trimming, enlarging gradually as it descends, goes down the front of the skirt; a similar garniture is also disposed at each side, but only a quarter deep. The sleeves, rather more than a three-quarter length, and an easy width, are finished at the bottom with two velvet bands, Honiton lace cap; a round shape, the borders plain except at the ears, where the lace forms round rosettes, in which a similar ornament of gold-coloured ribbon is inserted: a band passes from one rosette of ribbon to the other across the caul.

PUBLIC PROMENADE DRESS.-Blue satin robe, striped in black velvet stripes; the skirt is trimmed a three-quarter height, with bias tucks; the corsage is high at the back, open rather more than half-way to the waist, and trimmed with a lappel, ornamented at the bottom with buttons and braiding. Long sleeve, shaped to the arm, and cuff à la mousquetaire. Sable mantelet écharpe, lined with white satin; it is of a very large size. Embroidered cambrie chemisette. Chapeau Pamela of rose-coloured velours épinglé; it is of the latest and most moderate size: the interior and exterior are trimmed with coques, and ends of velvet ribbon to correspond.

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