FRIVOLITY AND INHUMANITY. 113 



plause^ therefore, diminishes in value, and they already 

 laugh at me, as being quite Gothic, because I will not 

 become a slave to fashion. Our correspondence is 

 also a subject of ridicule for them : they say we write 

 about nothing but cats, dogs, and magpies, and that 

 our letters could only amuse a man who shows wild 

 beasts at a fair. They have no eyes for the beauties 

 of nature, or the wonders displayed in the dispositions 

 of the various tribes of animals. The only individual 

 they notice, of the inferior orders of creation, is a de- 

 licate French lap-dog, which they carry in their arms, 

 and on which they bestow as much tenderness and 

 attention as would bring up a child. This dog is 

 washed and combed regularly, and fed upon the most 

 delicate food, whilst the petition of an officer's widow, 

 with four children in a starving condition, was re- 

 fused because they had nothing to spare ; when, 

 only a few days before, they had purchased this use- 

 less creature for five guineas. But they are so 

 wholly occupied with themselves, with their rank and 

 consequence, and the gratification of their vanity, 

 that they have no place in their hearts for the plea- 

 sures of sympathy with the unfortunate, or the ex* 

 quisite gratification of relieving their distress. They 

 have a great desire to be accomplished, especially in 

 music, because it is fashionable ; but, except for that, 

 they have neither taste nor application. And as for 



