1322.] Stephensiana.—No. IF. 523 
FASCINATION. 
That serpents terrify birds, and to 
such a degree that the poor little vic¬ 
tims flutter about and fall within their 
reach, I can readily believe; but to 
suppose that they possess any charm or 
power of fascination will scarcely be 
allowed by those who deserve the name 
of philosophers, or who search into the 
reason of things. The following oc¬ 
currence towards the latter end of 1800, 
suggests an observation that will ex¬ 
plain some circumstantial relations 
quoted in natural history:—A parrot 
belonging to my family, was entrusted 
to the care of a neighbour, during our 
retirement to a country house, and was 
placed, as usual, at the window. A 
dromedary happened to pass by, and 
stretching forth its long neck towards 
the parrot, affrighted the poor bird to 
such a degree that it fell off its perch 
upon its back, and remained a long 
time in convulsions. Why give an air 
of adven (ure and surprize ? wily plunge 
into a maze of inquiries? May not a 
common incklent—a fright—produced 
by an object of terror, serve as a clue 
to the judgment ? Would not this have 
been called fascination had the part of 
the dromedary been performed by the 
serpent ? 
lady ARCHER, formerly miss west, 
lived to a good age—a proof that cos¬ 
metics are not so fatal as has been sup¬ 
posed. Nature had given her a fine 
aquiline nose, like the"princesses of the 
House of Austria, and she did not fail 
to give herself a complexion. She re¬ 
sembled a fine old wainscoted painting 
with the face and features shining 
through a thick incrustation of copal 
varnish. 
Her ladyship was, for many years, 
the wonder of the fashionable world— 
envied by all the ladies that frequented 
the court. She had a splendid house 
in Portland Place, with et cetera equal 
in brilliancy and beauty to, or rather 
surpassing those of any of her contem¬ 
poraries. Magnificent appendages were 
a sort of scenery she gloried in—milk- 
white horses to her carriage—the 
coachman and footman in grand, shewy 
liveries—the carriage lined with a silk 
calculated to exhibit the complexion, 
&c. &c. 
I recollect, however, to have seen 
the late Mrs. Robinson go far beyond 
all this in the rich exuberance of her 
genius ; a yellow lining to her landau, 
with a black footman, to contrast with 
her beautiful countenance and fascinat¬ 
ing figure, and thus render both more 
lovely. Lady Archer’s house at Barnes 
Elms Terrace, was fitted up with an ele¬ 
gance of ornaments and drapery to 
strike the senses, and yet powerfully 
addressed to the imagination. She 
could give an insinuating interest to 
the scenes about her, which other eyes 
were viewing. Her kitchen garden 
and pleasure ground of five acres— the 
Thames running in front as if apper¬ 
taining to the grounds—the apartments 
most tastefully decorated in the Chinese 
style—a fine conservatory opening into 
the principal apartment, with grapes, 
slow peaches, &c. at the end a magni¬ 
ficent sopha, with a superb curtain, 
all displayed with a peculiar grace, 
and to the greatest advantage. Much 
praise was due to the arrangements in 
her collection of green and hot house 
plants, the appellations of which she 
was well acquainted with, as also every 
thing relating to their history. 
ADMIRAL SIR RICHARD HUGHES 
was of an ancient family—ran away 
with Miss Sloane, descended from the 
family of Sir Hans Sloane; he was a 
midshipman with Sir Edward Hughes, 
who, by some mistake, put out the e ye 
of his friend with a fork, when about 
to transfix a cock roach. While ad¬ 
miral on the Halifax station, he sur¬ 
veyed the woods of Nova Scotia, and 
was introduced to the King on his re*- 
turn, and had an audience of two hours 
in the closet. He then became an ad¬ 
miral in the West I udies. He was a very 
handsome man, wore a ribbon over his 
eye, and was at once a poet, a musi¬ 
cian, a well-informed man, and a most 
accomplished gentleman. 
The captain hughes 
was the son of an admiral and a baronet. 
This young man, heir to a good fortune, 
possessed of wit and humour, and un¬ 
doubtedly had many of the best requi¬ 
sites for a gentleman. But one fault 
be had also, but it was a fault that 
precluded his advancement, ruined his 
constitution completely, cut his life 
short, and put a period^to the hopes of 
his family and acquaintance. 
Constant and habitual intoxication 
having at length endangered his life, a 
physician belonging to the fleet told 
him that if lie persisted be would ac¬ 
tually wear away the coats of his sto¬ 
mach. With a non-chalance that too 
strongly marked his character, he re¬ 
plied, 44 1 thank you, Doctor, for your 
information, but in case of such an ac¬ 
cident, which I find it difficult to pro¬ 
vide against, it must jwork in its waist¬ 
coat.' 1 ' 1 ’ Letter 
