ENGLAND. 



555 



scribes ; and to be merry and malicious at the same time, is, it has been said, the strongest 

 evidence of a depraved heart.* Among the rural sports are wrestling, running, cudgel play- 

 mg, pitching the bar, and other games of agility and strength. 



In London one of the favorite amusements of the u eallhy, is the Italian opera, which Js one 

 of the best in Europe. The distinguished performers assume much state, and it is a matter of 

 delicate negotiation to engage them, or to reconcile their jealousies when they are engaged. 

 To the opera, it is usual to go in a full dress. f The theatres, though often full, are less fre- 

 quented than at the other capitals of Europe. There are provincial theatres in all the larger 



* The following is a description of a battle between two 

 pugilists, in the style tliat is common in the English pa- 

 pers. It is to be remembered, that there is a vast crowd 

 about the ring which is cleared in this way. The ama- 

 teurs make a regular onset upon them, and although it is 

 taken as a jest, there is no lack of heavy blows. It is for 

 a moment a scene of the greatest uproar, after whicli 

 every one takes his place. The tight seems not to have 

 been one of the most desperate ones, though perhaps it is 

 a fair specimen of a battle by people under the grade of 

 the professors. It was between deaf Davis and a feather- 

 bed maker named English. 



Round 1. The deaf-one had hardly put himself into 

 attitude when he went to work like a hammer-man and 

 floored English like a shot flat upon his back. 



2. The feather-bed hero, before he could look round 

 him again, received three facers in succession and was 

 again floored. 



3. EngMsh came up gamely to the scratch, when Da- 

 vis punished him in all directions and put in such a blow 

 over one of his peepers that he was positively electrified. 

 He put up his arm to feel if he had not lost his head, 

 turned his back and was stopped only by the ropes. Here 

 Davis caught his adversary and once more leveled him. 

 " Take liini away," rang from all parts of the ring, " he 

 will be killed." 



4. Contrary to all expectation the feather-bed maker " 

 was not such a flat as he seemed ; he met Davis like a 

 trump, and after a terrific rally Davis was hit down almost 

 senseless. 



5. English put a new face, or rather one of another 

 color on Davis ; lie milled him from one end of the ring 

 to the other, and by a flooring hit, levelled the deaf-one 

 in his native dust. 



C. Davis again took the lead, and nobbed the feathered 

 liero to a stand still; when English in turn gave him a 

 hit that was almost a finisher, on the knowledge-box. 



7. This round was fighting '' with a vengeance." The 

 claret run in streams from both their mugs. Davis was 

 floored, and on being called, said to his second he could 

 not stand." It was over in 12 minutes. 



t Almacks, the best public assembly in London, is held 

 twice a week during the season, in Willis's Rooms, St. 

 James's street. It is under tiie direction of 12 ladies of 

 the highest rank and fashion, who are called patronesses. 

 These lady patronesses have the privilege of accepting or 

 rejecting all candidates for admission. They regulate the 

 hours, the music, the refreshments, &c. 



At the approach of the season, and at other times, if 

 anything urgent demands their attention, they meet in 

 solemn conclave, in the apartments of IVIr. Willis. Seats 

 are placed for them round the table, where the debate is 

 to be held. If one of their number has died, or resigned 

 her office in consequence of ill health, absence from Lon- 

 don, or a disagreement with her associates, the choice of 

 a successor occasions as much debate, as the election of a 

 new pope. Or if an application has been made by any 

 lady, or gentleman, or family newly arrived in town, for 

 admission to their weekly assembly, the condition, con- 

 nexions, and fashionable character of the individuals are 

 discussed with a warmth which not unfrequently termi- 

 nates in universal dissension. Great is the consternation 

 of the officious Mr. Willis, when he perceives these signs 

 of intestine discord. He flies about uneasily from duchess 

 vO countess, pokes the fire, makes a pleasant remark upon 

 the weather, and hopes that nothing which he has said 

 or done hag caused off'ence to their ladyships. A lady 

 with a large family of daughters is their aversion ; or if 



fortunate enough to obtain a subscription through some 

 powerful interest, is precluded from bringing more than 

 one on the same night. A young unmarried nobleman, 

 or single gentleman of fashion and fortune, or a fmeign 

 count with a long name and a star, find little difncull3' in 

 winning their favor. They have, however, not unfre- 

 quently re|)ented of their extreme partiality to foreiirners, 

 since a Greek count carried off" one of their greatest heir- 

 esses, and proved to be a mere adventurer whose Alba- 

 nian cajjote and njoustaches a la grec, had given an air 

 distingue ; or since the great Russian prince with his 

 ferocious air, and diamond buttons, turned out to be a 

 discarded couiier, who had made free with his master's 

 wardrobe. Tlie assembly-room is a large and lofty apart- 

 ment, handsomely but plainly fitted up, with no furniture 

 to impede the dancing, but tiers of benches covered with 

 red stuft', and rising one above the other; splendid lustres 

 of cut crystal, with smaller lamps variously disposed, 

 give an equal and brilliant light to the apartment. The 

 orchestra, which is in a gallery on one side, is occupied 

 by Collinet and his celebrated band, unequalled, for the 

 beauty of their quadiilles, waltzes, and mazurkas. The 

 staircase is well lighted and coveied with scarlet cloth, 

 and when the folding-doors are thrown open, the general 

 effect is striking and brilliant. 



As the society is thus carefully sifted, it consists of nil 

 that London can produce of fashion and high rank. 

 The royal dukes seldom fail to attend. The princesses 

 with their ladies in waiting, frequently honor Almacks 

 with their presence. The dress of the ladies is usually 

 more splendid than at a private party, and there is a 

 greater display of fine jewels than is probably to be 

 met with in any otbei assembly of the same description 

 in Europe. Diamonds shake on the brows of the anti- 

 quated dowagers, or add a new lustre to the sparkling 

 eyes of the younger peeresses. The full dress unifirms 

 of field-marshals or guardsmen, add variety to the scene, 

 and many of tlie greatest statesmen and ministers, relax 

 their minds from the cares of the morning, by a frequent 

 attendance at Almacks. The Duke of Wellington seldom 

 fails to make his bow to the patronesses, though upon one 

 occasion rather hardly treated by their despotic govern- 

 ment. Their ladyships have made it a rule, that nobody 

 should be admitted airier eleven. One evening the liital 

 gates had just closed, when the carriage of the Duke of 

 "VVellington drove to the door, with a thundering knock 

 for admittance. Up flew Willis to mn.ke known the dis- 

 tressing fact. " Keep him out," said a dowager peeress; 

 "he knows the rules, and must abide by them." Willis 

 bowed before the decrees of Fate; but in a few minutes 

 returned " His grace presents his compliments. He is 

 in full dress and the night is cold. The House of Lorda 

 sat late upon an interesting debate, moreover he is but 5 

 minutes past his time, and is now standing in the pas- 

 sage." The patronesses looked at each other, " Keep 



liini out ;" exclaimed the young ladies M . '-The 



Duke of Wellington has no more right to transgress the 

 rule than any one else." " The House of Lords, ladies, " 

 said Willis imploringly. " Let the House of Lords meet 



earlier on an Almacks night," said the Countess of . 



Willis descended with this last reply. " So much for the 

 discipline of petticoat government," said his grace good- 

 humoredly, as he drew his military cloak round him. and 

 drove oft'. An air of formality ia more ob.servable at 

 Almacks than at any other party in London. Fashion 

 and rank being usually preferred to youth and beauty 

 there is a greater proportion of antiquated nobility than 

 of the young or the gav. Besides which, yotmg men of 



