"A Letter to the Right Honourable, the Earl of Aberdeen, K.T., President of the Society of Antiquaries, on the Expediency of attaching a Museum of Antiquities to that Institution;" by J. H. Markland, Esq., one of the Directors of the Society. Surely it must seem strange that the Society of Antiquaries should have existed for so many years-it was founded in the reign of Queen Elizabeth-without a museum or repository of antiquities. ever, appears to be the fact. Mr. Markland's well-written letter has brought the subject fully under the consideration of || Fairy Favours, &c.," may also be safely the society. recommended for the simple and pleasing

Another acceptable present for the same class will be found in "Whims and Oddities for the Young, with Humorous IllusSuch, how-trations by H. Heath."

"The Birth-Day, with other Tales, by Elizabeth Frances Dagley, Authoress of

"Punch and Judy; with Illustrations || style in which it is written, for its variety drawn and engraved by George Cruikshank, of subject, and for the excellent practical character of its lessons.

A SUMMARY OF FASHIONS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

ment. Gowns of Indian chintz, with muslin pelerines, splendidly embroidered, prevailed much in home costume. On ball dresses were frequently seen, espe cially on those of tulle, deep white satin

the sleeves short, and very full, and di- || border, formed the most favourite ornavided in the centre by bows of yellow satin ribbon. A falling tucker of rich blond falling over the bust. The headdress, consisting of the hair elegantly arranged, in full curls, braids, and bows, with detached bouquets of flowers. Neck-points, à la Vandyke, surrounding the

lace and ear-rings, à l'antique, to correspond, with bracelets of gold and rubies.— Vide a Ball Dress for January, page 28.

border.

Turbans were much in favour for matrons: they were of the Armenian form, and often of crimson velvet, intermixed with silver gauze. Dress hats, still too capacious, and always in the way, were, nevertheless, much worn at dinner parties. One or two were seen, and endeavoured to be introduced for this style of parure, by two ladies of very good taste, of moderate and becoming dimensions: they were of white satin, tastefully trimmed with gauze and blond; lappets of which floated gracefully over the shoulders. A beautiful plume of white marabouts, and paddi feathers of their own native colour, adorned these hats.

An evening dress, which had a very beautiful effect by candlelight, was of bright Indian red, figured over in a Chinese pattern, bordered by two pointed flounces, edged round with a valuable feather trimming, composed of the small feathers of rare foreign birds; the upper flounce, headed by a band of the same feather trimming. This had the appearance of a fine, soft fur: the colours were yellow, tinged with a mixture of green. The corsage crossed over the bust in drapery, à la Circassienne; and full, short sleeves of white satin were worn under long ones, which were transparent, of The PARISIAN ladies were very fond of white Japanese gauze ; the latter confined dresses made of what they called Athenian at the wrists by two bracelets; that next cloth. One deep flounce surrounded the the head, a broad plain gold bar, à l'In- || border of a dress of this material; the dostannée; fastened with a cameo, or a gown made high, fastening behind, and large emerald surrounded by pearls: the beautifully finished round the throat by a bracelet above was composed of a row of satin rouleau, disposed so as to resemble very large oriental pearls. The hair ar- foliage in outline. This ornament was surranged in very full curls on each side of rounded by a triple ruff of fine lace. The the face, and short at the ears; adorned Cachemire dresses, of home manufacture, with puffs of gauze of bird-of-paradise were often worn at evening parties: some yellow, or saffron colour, and an elegant of these were embroidered in black floize plume of white feathers. See an engrav-|| silk, especially when the dress was of ing of an Evening Dress for January, bright rose colour, which had a very page 28. striking and beautiful effect. Two broad In half-dress, as well as in home attire, flounces, falling over each other, ornasilk dresses were seen in this month to be mented the border of the skirt, and were most prevalent. They were either of Ma- each edged with embroidery; the body dras silk, or gros de Naples; they were fitted tight to the shape, and was worked trimmed with full narrow flounces, and across the bust in separate ornaments of often in pointed festoons; the sleeves en black silk, forming a stomacher. Transgigot, with a deep cuff at the wrist. For parent long sleeves, of white crêpe-lisse, home costume, these dresses were made with rose mancherons, worked at the cleft particularly high, and the body finished edges with black, completed the dress. in front in the Anglo-Greek style. Black,|| Poplins, plain and figured, with chintzes purple, and other coloured velvet dresses, of very striking colours, were much in were often seen trimmed with flounces, in request, not only for home attire and halffestoons of rich white blond. At dinner dress, but also for the theatres, and other parties, gros de Naples was the most pre- evening spectacles. Most of the corsages valent material for dresses. These were were made in drapery. For full dress, trimmed in various modes; but rûches,|| satin, painted in Indian patterns, and set on, in deep sharp points round the sometimes spotted with gold, constituted

a superb and expensive costume, generally select to the higher classes, from the latter quality.

The English fashions for FEBRUARY began to discover a decided feature for the winter attire. Yet was the weather so mild as to its temperature, that white, especially among the young, was still prevalent. The matron, too, wore white, as well as her daughter; the materials only differed: the young lady wore tulle, or clear book-muslin ; the mother, gros de Naples, or white satin. To give something of a wintry appearance, however, to the tulle dress, the border was trimmed with two broad rows of gauze, or tulle bouillons, confined by bias straps of blue satin, and || headed by the same, formed into ornaments, composed of narrow rouleaux. The corsage was made plain, of white satin, and well marking out the shape. Fichu

The newest head-dresses were ponceaucoloured berets, with long ends, of platted ribbon, of black and ponceau, depending as low as the knee; truly ridiculous, and giving to the wearer, with the unbecoming size of the beret, an almost crazy appearance. Many young persons revived the Chinese mode of dressing the hair; but that style happily expired again with this month. Bows of gauze ribbon, striped with gold, and turbans ornamented with flowers or feathers, were the favourite head-dresses of the ladies belonging to the French court. The dress-hats were either of white satin, watered gros de Naples, or crape. They were generally or-robings, however, gave a breadth to the namented with wreaths of flowers, elegantly disposed round the crown, in festoons.

front of the bust, which destroyed its grace, because, at all times, trop est trop. These were tastefully trimmed with blond, and rouleaux of blue satin; and the sleeves plain, very short, and very full. A beret of blue crêpe, adorned with bird-of-paradise plumes, completed this dress.—Vide an engraving of February fashions, at

The favourite pelisses for walking were of merino; they were trimmed with bias folds, cut in notches; with falling collar, and capes. The mantles were often in very large chequers, the squares like those on a draft-board. These squares || page 70. were black, on a light and lively ground. An opera dress, represented in the same Scarf-shawls were of embroidered Ca- | plate as the above, is well worthy of the chemire, and many of the winter mantles attention and admiration of our fashionwere also richly embroidered. The silkable subscribers. The gown is of white and satin pelisses buttoned down the front, from the waist to the feet. When for the carriage, or the public walks, these buttons were of jet; and from each waist || were placed seven buttons, up the small of the arm.

satin, lightly trimmed at the border with white satin rouleaux, surrounding crape, en rosaces: the sleeves of this dress are long, and fit almost close to the arm. Over the shoulders is thrown a superb opera cloak of violet-coloured velvet, trimmed round with chinchilla. A very large pelerine mantelet cape falls just below the || hip: this is quite plain, and of the same velvet as the cloak; over this falls a pelerine, much narrower, entirely of chinchilla. A turban of new crape, entwined with pearls, or with silver beads, was worn on the head.

Damask satin hats, lined with the same colour, in velvet, were among the novel- || ties of this month. The crown of a hat of this sort was encircled with white satin, lined with velvet, the colour of the lining. || When a hat was blue, its feathers and ornaments, ribbons, &c. were always of the same tint. Hats of white gros de Naples were trimmed with puffs of the same material, and a broad white blond was placed at the edge of the brim. Black velvet hats, however, for the promenade, claimed the pre-eminence; generally ornamented with black aigrette feathers, and a profusion of ponceau and black, or jon-part surrounded by a row of points, fallquil and black chequered ribbon; the chequers consisting of black, hair stripes, on a brightly-coloured ground. No. 42.*-Vol. VII.

Evening dresses were much admired when of pink crape over satin of the same colour; trimmed with a broad puckering of gauze or crape, over which was scattered satin foliage. The body made low and close to the shape, and the tucker

ing over, edged with blond, set on rather full. The sleeves short, plain, and extremely full. The head, with this dress, 2 U

was very tastefully arranged, but made too large, and too much elevated, not only by the disposal of the hair, but also of the ornaments. The curls were in very full clusters on each side of the face; and the Apollo knot, consisting of three long puffs of hair, had the centre one surmounted by a white esprit feather. On the right and left side there was also placed an esprit, rather lower; and long puffs, of pink, or of Aurora gauze, towered over the front; where the hair was divided by a splendid coronet, of gold and very large pearls. See an engraving of an Evening Dress, page 70.

wadded, was worn of the same material as the pelisse. The mantles, or cloaks, were much improved, and were cut so as to set off the form, which, at the first appearance of these useful envelops, they rather tended to obscure. Some had sleeves attached to the arm-holes. Russian mantelets of fur continued to be worn over pelisses, and over high dresses of merino.

The bonnets, though still outré as to size, were of a beautiful shape; yet was this improvement not general; and many faces, even otherwise agreeable, were sadly disfigured by the wide umbrellashade of heavy black velvet, with bows, and bateaux ornaments, sticking out in every maniac-like direction. How could ladies, devoid not only of every outward attraction, but even of youth, presume to wear such head-gear? They did, however; and they rendered these hats and bonnets-what they, certainly, did not mean to do-perfect caricatures. We almost hoped they would be regarded as such; but, no; churches were darkened, pedestrians impeded, and horses startled, at the prevailing rage for the extravagant and grotesque.

On the same plate is a ball dress, which we gave more for its singularity and novelty, than from any very great approbation. There is a chaste simplicity in dancing costume which we much more admire, and in which a young person seems more at her ease. It is also infinitely more elegant. We allude to tulle, or gauze, over white satin, and the hair arranged without heavy bows, or jewel- || lery; with simply a few flowers for its ornament, or strings of pearls. This dress, which we represented of that beautiful and expensive material, painted Indian taffety, while the young lady may be quadrilling with light and airy step, does not appear so intrinsically good as it really is. The Apollo knot is still more elevated and spread out, than that on the evening head-dress, and imparts a painful idea, as it seems to weigh heavily on the crown of the youthful and agile votary of|| Terpsichore. This knot was confined by a regal coronet ornament of massive gold, set with rubies; and the full curls, on each side of the head, were divided on the || forehead by a stiff and rather broad plait || thought more elegant, when plain, for of hair. walking costume. Coloured satin hats,

When a black velvet bonnet was trimmed with its own sable hue, the broad strings which tied it were invariably coloured. They looked very well with these strings tied slightly under the chin, as they imparted a liveliness to the sombre || bonnet, and appeared like a cravat-scarf. Immense puffs also of coloured satin ribbon, richly striped in resplendent colours, were added by many ladies to their black bonnets. Feathers of the weeping-willow kind, with black esprit feathers, were often seen on carriage hats; but they were

Silk pelisses this month were of ruby || trimmed with ribbons of the same colour, and other brilliant winter colours. Though || chequered with black, were often seen in the sleeves were still en gigot, they were carriages. They were tied under the chin, not quite so capacious as formerly; neither either by a narrow ribbon, or a mentonwere they stiffened out next the shouldernière of white blond, quilled on white with whalebone or buckram, to give that || deformity to the top of the arm which a lady would be very sorry to have bestowed on her by nature. The pelisses were finished by bias folds round the border; and were ornamented in the same manner down the front, where they closed, to the feet. A temporary pelerine cape, slightly

satin ribbon; which came forward, and confined the bonnet down each cheek, like the cap of a lancer. The strings, only used for ornament, hung down in a long loop.

Black for dresses was still in favour, at all times of the day, and almost in every style of dress. Grey, lapis, and lavender