ENGLAND. 



551 



of the saloons to dance with lier frieriQ, — "■ Well, trot her out," was the characteristic reply, 

 [n England, as well as in Europe generally, the life of young, unmarried females is one of 

 -eclusion. Marriage is there the state of freedom, and a matron is held to a less strict rule 

 of life, than a maiden. In the United States, this principle is reversed, and the effect is not 

 unfavorable. 



The English have reduced convenience and comfort to a system unknown in other coun- 

 tries. Every piece of furniture is perfect in its kind. The table furniture is costly, and the 

 windows and doors are joined with the utmost nicety. The very grate is made to shine like a 

 mirror, and it is commonly of some elegant form. It is an Englishman's delight to stir the fire, 

 as it is also the pleasure of his transatlantic brethren. The two great practical philosophers of 

 New England, Eranklin and Ilumford, speculated much on the principles of stoves and fire- 

 places. In America, where wood is the general fuel, the amateur often takes down the whole 

 fabric, that he may build it up in a better form ; but the Englishman's operations are more 

 simple, and he confines them to giving his sea-coal fire, a " rousing stir." In New England it 

 has been said, that serious domestic disputes arise from the question of the privilege of moving 

 the fire. It is certain that a countryman, whoever he may be, who discovers a brand that inay 

 be better placed, will seldom fail to exercise his benevolence in putting it right. The Eng- 

 lish are a domestic people, and there is a vast amount of quiet happiness in England. The 

 business of the day is concluded before the social hour of dinner, and the cares of the world 

 are dismissed for the night. Dinner is the principal meal, and it is not swallowed in tlie 

 ravenous haste that is so common in America. 



The hours of the fashionable world in London, for London is a world, are those of night, 

 and all the night. At ten, there is a constant roar of carriages, and it subsides not till long 

 after midnight. The fashionable assemblies and routs are crowds, so dense, that it is hard to 

 penetrate them, or to escape from them. The houses are often stripped of furniture to the 

 garret, the better to contain the " troops of friends," who come on a previous intimation, that 

 the hostess is " at home." There is here a confusion of tongues, but little conversation. 

 The rooms are in a blaze of light, and the shutters thrown open for the gazing crowd in the 

 streets. When an American in London invited half a dozen friends in an evening, the ser- 

 vants opened the blinds, thinking it to be a rout after the American mode. In London, it is the 

 numbers, and not the enjoyment, that give eclat. 



On particular occasions, the English dress with great splendor, and the ladies are often 

 oppressed with the weight of jewels and diamonds.* But in general the linen drapers, mer- 

 cers, &c., are the finest dressed persons about London. The 

 court dress is in fashion that was general 70 years ago. The 

 coats are without collars, and have wide sleeves and broad skirts. 

 The ladies have hooped petticoats and high head-dresses. There 

 is, however, so little of the paraphernalia of royalty, that a stranger 

 may live long in London, without seeing that it is the seat of the 

 court. 



There is in England such a commercial competition, that a 

 tradesman's arts are numerous, and his perseverance infinite, 

 to attract customers. The shops are in themselves a show, and 

 the contrast of colors, and arrangement of goods, are managed 

 with much effect. The system of puffing is of course as well 

 understood as in the United States ; but it is practised with more 

 delicacy and effect ; it is not so direct, and the puff is often con- 

 tained in a sort of practical metaphor. A pair of shoes are seen 

 at a window, floating in a vase of water, to intimate that they are 

 water-proof; and at another window is seen a wooden leg, booted and spurred, to show that 



* la the establishment of an English gentleman, Uie of pkish. Some wear a silver or gold epaulette on the left 

 men-servants are divided into two distinct classes ; ser- shoulder, or an aiguilette, whicli is a long silver or gold 

 vants in livery, and servants out of livery. The ser- chord dependinjr from the shoulders, and looped up with a 

 vants who wear no livery, and who are considered sujierior jrnld or silver pin ; also a hat witli a gold or silver band 

 to the others, are the butler, the underbutler, and the When the family is in mourning, the footmen wear black 

 gentleman's valet. The livery servants are the coach- livery with a black epaulette or aiguilette on the shoulder, 

 man, the footmen, and the grooms. To all families of If the masler of the house is a military man, or the lord- 

 any consequence, a certain livery belongs. lieutenant of a county, his footmen wear bl.nck cockades in 



A livery is a coat and small-clothes ot'a particular colr.r their liats. There is one livery Vvihich may be adopted by 



tnd stuff. The cont i.s of fine rlolh, and tlic small rlothes any fnniiU'. as belonging to no pt-ruliar one; this is □ 



English. 



