to find faults with them. She appeared naturally a beauty of the first rank; and indeed her whole form and features wanted very little of being a perfect beauty: but her manner, dress, and stile of walking, were indeed singular, and appeared to me quite ridiculous. The music, though sweet, was a wild irregular measure; and she entered keeping time to it, in such a hop-step-and-jump pace, that I could hardly believe the lady to be in her right senses. See if you can change the tune, said I, into one of a regular measure; for, as she is obliged to keep' time to it, the majesty and beauty of her movements are quite marred by its wildness. That, said he, is her own choice, and we have not yet been able to persuade her to change it for any other, though I am persuaded it would make a great improvement in her appearance; for do not you observe, she is sometimes taking steps so short, you would think she could hardly step over a straw, and at other times making a rapid bound forward, as if jumping over a gutter: yet observe, the whole croud around are gazing at her with the utmost attention; and though many of them are screwing up their noses as if in derision, yet it is easily seen, by the eagerness with which they are watching and scrutinizing her every motion, that they cannot help admiring her, whatever they may pretend: and observe, continued he, with what ease and confidence she still continues to move on in her own way, utterly despising all their observations. Every one is holding out his hand expecting some favour from her; which, you see, she is distributing liberally: yet these are not all her own

gawky admiration, that if it but come through her hands it is received with avidity.

But who is this extraordinary creature? said I. An extraordinary creature she certainly is, Sir, said he, and a very dangerous girl to the bargain. Not with respect to her morality; that is unimpeachable. Never has a loose word flowed from her tongue, nor an immodest glance beamed from her sparkling eyes; and if she have in any degree erred this way, it has been by bestowing eulogiums on characters who are not very proper objects of imitation. But the chief danger which we have to apprehend from her is, the introduction of that wild uncouth dress and manner amongst such genteel and enlightened people. That dress which you see her in, and which, in spite of all that can be said, really becomes her, is the very same that was wore by the Scottish ladies two hundred years ago, save that it is made of much finer materials. Yet, would you believe it? she has been within a hairbreadth of bringing it into general use. If these habiliments had been introduced by a lady possessed of fewer personal attractions, the danger of corrupting our taste had been small indeed; but with that form and features, all animated by such a bold persevering spirit, consider, Sir, the risque we have run. I firmly believe had it not been for the tenacious perseverance of a few judicious solid people in maintaining the superiority of modern and refined manners, the Scot tih muses had not only again immersed into barbarity, endeavouring to imitate that lady, whom it is impossible to imitate, but we had like

wise lost one of the most precious beauties of our age, or reaped only mischief from her perfections..

The timely reprehensions of the abovementioned few have however secretly influenced her keeper; for although she dares not yet appear in any other dress than that to which she is so well accustomed, I am assured, that he has had her at a boarding-school for a season, and that she will soon appear with the utmost politeness imaginable and perfectly accomplished in all modern manners: and as a contrast to these, and to prevent her becoming too pedantic, he hath sent her for a month or two to the Highlands, where amongst the Trossacks, and on the banks of the wild Loch Katrine, she might indulge her romantic disposition, and to her wonted facility of description, add that of grandeur and sublimity.

The music now changed to a slower and more regular measure; and the lady curtseying, walked off at the side opposite to that at which she entered. A hiss was raised by a few, but these were soon drowned by loud and increasing claps, and shouts of approbation. In the moment that all was quiet, the most glorious personage entered I had ever beheld. Her countenance beamed beauty and majesty. Her apparel was rich, and splendid in the highest degree; and not merely so, but substantial, equal, and of the best workmanship and materials. Her ornaments were numerous, well placed, and becoming; and her whole air and deportment noble and graceful. Every eye was fixed upon her with respectful approbation, and scarcely was there a single murmur heard from the whole circle. And whereas the first lady,

at her entrance, had some appearance of youth or juvenility about her, and, as she walked in our view, rather appeared toacquire new charms, this, on the contrary, was in full bloom at the very first; indeed so ripe and accomplished, that nothing more perfect could well be expected; but, as she walked on, began rather to look paler, and somewhat enfeebled. I observed this, and mentioned it to Mr. Shuffleton, who with much seeming regret, acknowledged it, but said, he could not well account for it. It is indeed nothing uncommon in nature, said he, that those who arrive early in life at maturity, soon fall off and grow sickly; and if that should be the case with this lady, it will be an unspeakable misfortune. But I hope it is only occasioned by an affected gait, for you hear she has made them change the tune to which she formerly walked with so much ease and grace: or perhaps it is only a transient qualm, or a touch of the sea sickness, as I understand her keeper has had her out on a voyage to America. She next sung a few of her favourite airs, some of them bold and some more tender, but all of them quite exceeding any thing of the same kind that ever was heard before. I forgot to mention, that the first lady had likewise attempted it slightly, but not with equal success. On the exit of this. charming creature, some shook their heads, as if to say, what a pity that progressive excellence is not discernible; and though she did not depart in a manner nearly equal in grandeur and ease to that in which she entered, not a mur mur was heard, but every one seemed to. hope, that she would yet at some future period appear more brilliant than ever..

The music now changed to a strain a great deal more simple, but perfectly regular, and still very sweet. As soon as I heard it, I formed to myself au idea what kind of a figure was next to be presented to our notice. We were not kept long in suspense. A country-looking girl soon entered, whose countenance exhibited a good deal of sweetness and animation; and she was dressed with what she supposed would pass for the most elegant simplicity. Had her dress been equally elegant, and her ornaments rightly arranged, she might have passed for a beauty in her degree: but unfortunately this was not the case. The great circle of spectators having been so dazzled with the splendour of the two last ladies, did not deign to look on this with so much attention; not one appeared to view her with contempt, but only a few took particular notice of her, and these few seemed highly pleased with her. At her first entrance she was dressed in a mantle, somewhat resembling the dress of the first lady, but finding that it rather incumbered her, she threw it off, and appeared in the dress of a native shepherdess, which became her a great deal better. In this garb she accompanied the music with her voice, which indeed was melodious: and observing that this by degrees drew the attention of the croud, she sung a great many of her native airs, which she performed with spirit and considerable facility; at one time falling into the true simple pathos, at another melting into the tender love ditty, and again bursting into a merry and comic strain.

I had been listening with so much attention to this minstreless of the mountains, that I had not till now observed that she was attended by an old faithful colley

which she seemed very anxious should be taken notice of. This made her rather the more interesting: and I must say of her, what cannot be said of all these ladies, that in proportion to the minuteness of our inspection, our good opinion of her increased. The main body of the croud still continued rather insensible to her person al charms, or if they really admired her, would not acknowledge it, as thinking it rather below them to seem interested in a girl so low bred.

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What a pity it is, said I, Sir, that this girl is not more attentive to her dress, which is the more singular, as she does not seem to want taste. A self-willed imp, said he, who thinks more of her accomplishments than any other body does; and because her taste is natural, thinks it infallible, and every person wrong who does not acquiesce in her o pinions. Pray make the observation to herself, and see how she takes it. Shep. herdess, said I, you little know what a blemish you throw upon one of the sweetest creatures in the world, by that marked and affected negligence of dress. (for I wished to begin softly with her.) She made a slight and aukward curtsey: “I think I sude ken as weel as you, or ony like ye, what suits my ain form an' features," said she tartly; and looking back, addressed her dog: "Come away my poor fellow; you an' me disna mak a good appearance amang a' these pridefu' fock." So saying, she vanished in a moment. She is hurt, said my friend, and I am glad to see it: guilt never appears so evident as by the person taking it ill when charged with it; and the first and best mark of reformation is conviction. I will lay any bet, that this Shepherdess will pay more attention to

the regularity and elegance of her dress in future, and learn by experience that cooks must not always make dishes to their own taste.

The music now struck up a Bordèr melody, much resembling that which I heard at the first; and a lively slender lady entered, walking with much ease and agility, and keeping time with considerable grace to the various antient tunes which she chose. She was dréssed in an old-fashioned garb, resembling that of the first lady, which seemed to become her equally well; but the novelty of the thing being over, and the robes no richer of themselves, she was not so much admired as the first by one half. If she had continued to persevere in this same antique dress, it is impossible to say how far she might have succeeded in dividing the attention and admiration of the circle with the first, by adding new ornaments to it as seemed to suit their taste. But either despairing of gaining the palm from her, or rather, perhaps, struck with admiration at the steady grandeur and dazzling glory of the second lady, and impatient to appear in the same sphere with her; she threw off her first apparel, and dressed in one still more resembling the latter, than her former dress had done that of the first lady: a very small proportion of the antiquated mode only now remained, which consisted in some articles of head-dress. Her ornaments were numerous and brilliant; and her features regular, sweet, and animated.

She was asked to sing, but declined it, choosing rather to entertain us with some old stories, which she told in an animated and delightful attitude, and with gestures highly amusing: yet still the at

tention was drawn more to the manner of telling the stories, than to the stories themselves. Upon the whole, though a sparkling beauty, yet she attracted less notice than any that had been introduċed. I testified my surprise to Mr. Shuffleton why it should so happen.

There is no accounting, said he, for the taste of the multitude; it is always fastidious, and sometimes false; although in the course of time it eommonly sets every one in their own proper sphere, by improving upon the observations which gradually commence and expand: but with respect to the first reception, it depends a good deal on the lady having a sufficient number of friends placed regularly amongst them, to point out, and extol, not only every beauty and perfection, but every thing that is not notoriously deformed or ugly. This art is neither unusual nor unknown in common life, and often practiced with considerable success. A wag from the country lately told me, that he would undertake, to make any tolerable girl in all their parish pass for a complete beauty: that he had tried the experiment again and again, and never missed accomplishing it: and had in some instances so highly praised every sentiment, every action, every smile and turn of the eye, that the swains almost believed they looked upon a being of a superior order, and in the height of admiration were fit to fall at the feet of a very ordinary lass. The case is the very same with the ladies now under our inspection. Several of them have been brought forward by a party, and borne throughwith considerable eclat, who were in reality nothing but flimsy jades at the best. The English people

are particularly apt to be duped this way: they have caressed, and almost idolized, some of the most insipid of the whole species. The Scots are more cold and taci-turn, and not so easily imposed upon. If they think there is any merit, they will perhaps take just as much notice of them as to keep them still within view; but they will be very sure indeed, before they become extravagant, either in their praises or their endeavours to encourage them. In some late instances indeed, their eulogiums seem rather to have been extorted from them, or at least granted out of compliance with the opinions of their Southern brethren: as they have alwaysgiven them with a sort of reluctance, and accompanied by some reflections on the bad taste of the times.

It must however be acknowledged, that in most instances these ladies have themselves to blame for the want of due attention being paid to them. If they would study the improvement of their own inherent charms only, whatever merit they had, would not long escape notice and due deference. But instead of that, when any brilliant and original beauty appears, they immediately do every thing in their power to imitate her. This is a grand mistake; and the public act justly in discountenancing them, even though they imitate with great suc

ship, makes them rather inferior, what praise is due to such? Of the same character is that lady before us, whom you think to be such a charming creature. She first tries to imitate one, then another; and if we had never seen any of them before, we could not have withheld our approbation from her. Perhaps the croud are too stiff in this respect, and scarcely allow her that praise to which she is entitled; but as the case, stands their conduct is justifiable to a certain degree. Besides all this, you seem to be but a very superficial observer, and to be struck most with a brilliant dress, and sweet features; without considering whether the person is handsome, and perfectly proportioned, and the character quite agreeable, or only made up of contrarieties; for in both these respects this lady has great deficiencies. Her character (you may see at once, if you would look as you should do,) is a mixture of great and shining abilities with a playful childishness. And her person— pray what do you think of her person? It is charming, said I, rather slender; but vastly charming. Indeed, if it please your honour, said Mr. Shuffleton, (for whenever he found it necessary to contradict me, he gave me that respectful title to prevent me from growing angry; and he is that sort of a man, who will tell his real sentiments when desired, without regard to the opinion of others, although he does not wish to irritate any body,) Indeed, if it please your honour said he, she has scarcely any body at all: She is little better than a mere brilliant shadow, and looks as like falling in two by the middle as any thing else: and, were it not for that load of shining apparel, she