876 



ESSAYS. 



ESSAY IX. 



WHEN Catharina Alexowna was made 

 empress of Russia, the women were in an ac- 

 tual state of bondage, but she undertook to 

 introduce mixed assemblies, as in other parts 

 of Europe: she altered the women's dress, by 

 substituting the fashions of England ! instead 

 of furs, she brought in the use of taffeta and 

 damask; and coronets and commodes, instead 

 of caps and sable. The women now found 

 themselves no longer shut up in separate apart- 

 ments, but saw company, visited each other, 

 and were present at every entertainment. 



But as the laws to this effect were directed 

 to a savage people, it is amusing enough the 

 manner in which the ordinances ran. Assem- 

 blies were quite unknown among them, the 

 czarina was satisfied with introducing them, 

 for she found it was impossible to render them 

 polite. An ordinance was therefore publish- 

 ed according to their notions of breeding, 

 which, as it is a curiosity, and has never be- 

 fore been printed, that we know of, we shall 

 give our readers. 



' I. The person at whose house the assem- 

 bly is to be kept, shall signify the same by 

 hanging out a bill, or by giving some other 

 public notice, by way of advertisement, to per- 

 sons of both sexes. 



' II. The assembly shall not be opened 

 sooner than four or five o'clock in the after- 

 noon, nor continue longer than ten at night. 



' III. The master of the house shall not be 

 obliged to meet his guests, or conduct them 

 out, or keep them company ; but, though he 

 is exempt from all this, he is to find them 

 chairs, candles, liquors, and all other necessa- 

 ries that the company may ask for ; he is like- 



wise to provide them with cards, dice, and 

 every necessary for gaming. 



' IV. There shall be no fixed hours for 

 coming or going away ; it is enough for a 

 person to appear in the assembly. 



' V. Every one shall be free to sit, walk, or 

 game as he pleases ; nor shall any one go 

 about to hinder him, or take exceptions at 

 what he does, upon pain of emptying the great 

 eagle, (a pint bowl full of brandy :) it shall 

 likewise be sufficient, at entering or retiring, to 

 salute the company. 



' VI. Persons of distinction, noblemen, su- 

 perior officers, merchants, and tradesmen of 

 note, head-workmen, especially carpenters, 

 and persons employed in chancery, are to have 

 the liberty to enter the assemblies : as likewise 

 their wives and children. 



' VII. A particular place shall be assigned 

 the footmen, except those of the house, that 

 there may be room enough in the apartments 

 designed for the assembly. 



' VIII. No ladies are to get drunk upon any 

 pretence whatsoever, nor shall gentlemen be 

 drunk before nine. 



' IX. Ladies, who play at forfeitures, ques- 

 tions and commands, &,c. shall not be riotous: 

 no gentleman shall attempt to force a kiss, 

 and no person shall offer to strike a woman 

 in the assembly, under pain of future exclu- 

 sion.' 



Such are the statutes upon this occasion, 

 which, in their very appearance, carry an air 

 of ridicule and satire. But politeness must 

 enter every country by degrees ; and these 

 rules resemble the breeding of a clown, awk- 

 ward but sincere. 



