49° PALAIS ROYAL. 



qualities all together forming a foreft, fifty cleep, of 

 frifures, hats, caps, bonnets, periwigs, &c. Now the 

 arcades are lighted up. Round which hang eighty- 

 two large reverberatory lamps, one in each arcade, and 

 in the fhops within them, tapers before the great look- 

 ing-glafTes, among the brilliant-buckles, buttons, 

 watch-chains, and fwords, among the jewellery-trinkets, 

 gold and lilver ornaments, and wearing apparel of all 

 forts, which reflect the dazzling rays in a thoufand 

 gaudy colours ; at the fame time ; the grand pendent 

 luftres in the cofFee-houfes and at the reftaurateurs, to- 

 gether with their numerous girandoles, form large 

 maffes of light, which are multiplied back by the 

 mirrors. This is the time when the exterior of the 

 Palais Royal fhews one grand blaze, and gives one the 

 idea of a fairy court, or an inchanted palace ; and 

 thus it continues till midnight. 



The multitude receives a great acceflion, when the 

 play-houfes are over. Every thing that does not chufe 

 to Hay any longer in the Palais Royal, runs thither : 

 thefe, however, in comparifon of the whole, make but 

 a fmall number, as fomething or other mull necefTarily 

 induce each of them to fey. Thus, the hours from 

 nine o'clock till eleven are the more diverlified and 

 gay. Conversations and dalliance among the votaries 

 of Venus now rife to their fummit of vivacity and li- 

 centioufnefs, 



From eleven o'clock the fwarm gradually diminifhes, 

 and about twelve the Palais royal is as empty as it was 

 at eight in the morning. The cypriau nymphs that 

 have not been in luck, walk flowly and dejectedly 

 along, and perfecute the company with petitions for a 



viii$ 



