vifta, formed by two triumphal arches, erected at proper intervals, in a line with the landing-place. Two pavilions, with raws of benches, rifing one above the other, and ferving as the advanced wings of the triumphal arch, received the ladies while the gentlemen ranged themfelves in convenient order on each fide. On the front feat of each pavilion were placed feven of the principal young ladies of the country, dreffed in Turkish habits, and wearing in their turbans, the favours with which they meant to reward the several knights who were to contend in their honour.

These arrangements were fcarce made, when the found of trumpets were heard at a diftance; and a band of knights dreffed in antient habits of white and red filk, and mounted on grey horfes, richly caparifoned in trappings of the fame colours, entered the lift, attended by their efquires on foot, in suitable apparel, in the following order: Four trumpeters, properly habited, their trumpets decorated with pendant fmall banners;-a herald in his robes of ceremony; on his tunic was the device of his band, two rofes intertwined with the motto, We droop when fe parated. Lord Cathcart, fuperbly mounted on a managed horse, appeared as chief of these knights; two young black flaves, with falhes and drawers of blue and white filk, wearing large filver clafps round their necks and arms, their breafts and fhoulders bare, held his stirrups. On his right hand walked Capt. Hazard, and on his left Capt. Brownlow, his two efquires, one bearing the lance the other the fhieid. His device was Cupid riding on a Lion, the motto, Surmounted by Love. His lordship appeared in honour

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of Mifs Auchmuty. Then came in order the knights of his band, each attended by his efquire, having his lance and fhield. Firft knight, the Hon. Capt. Cathcart, in honour of Mifs Ann White, efquire, Capt. Peters, the device, a heart and fword, the motto, Love and Honour. The fecond knight, Lieutenant Bygrove, in honour of Mifs Craig, his efquire Lieutenant Nichols, the device, Cupid tracing a circle, the motto, Without End. The third knight, Capt Andre, in honour of Mifs M'Chew, his efquire Lieutenant Andre, the device, two game cocks fighting, the motto, No Rival. The fourth knight, Capt. Horneck, in honour of Mifs N. Redman, the efquire Lieutenant Talbot, the device, a burning heart, and the motto Abfence cannot extinguifh. The fifth knight, Capt. Matthews, in honour of Mifs Bond, efquire, Lieutenant Hamilton, device, a winged heart, the motto, Each Fair by Turn. The fixth knight,Lieutenant Sloper, in honour of Mifs Shipen, efquire, Lieutenant Brown, device, a heart and sword, motto, Honour and the Fair.

After they had made the circuit of the fquare and faluted the ladies, as they paffed the pavilions, they ranged themselves in a line, each that in which were the ladies of their device; and the herald (Mr Beaumont) advancing into the centre of the fquare, after a Bourish of trumpets, proclaimed the following challenge: The knights of the blended rofe, by me, their herald, proclaim and affert, that the ladies of the blended rofe, excel in wit, beauty, and every accomplishment, thofe of the whole world; and fhould any knight or knights, be fo hardy as to difpute or deny it, they are ready to enter the lifts

with them, and maintain their assertions, by deeds of arms, according to the laws of antient chivalry. On the third repetition of the challenge, the found of the trumpets was heard from the oppofite fide of the fquare; and another herald with four trumpeters, dreffed in black and orange, gallopped into the lifts. He was met by the herald of the blended rofe, and after a fhort parley, they both advanced in front of the pavilions, when the black herald (Lieutenant More) ordered his trumpets to found, and then proclaimed defiance to the challenge in the following words:

The knights of the burning mountains prefent themselves here, not to contest by words, but to disapprove by deeds, the vain-glorious affertions of the knights of the blended rofe, and enter thefe lifts to maintain, that the ladies of the burning mountains are not excelled in beauty, virtue, or accomplishments, by any of the univerfe. He then returned to the part of the barrier through which he had entered; and fhortly after, the black knights, attended by their efquires, rode into the lifts in the fol lowing order: Four trumpeters preceding the herald, on whofe tunic was reprefented, a mountain fending forth flames, with this motto, I burn for ever. Captain Waton, of the guards, as chief, dreffed in a magnificent fuit of black filk and orange, and mounted on a black managed horfe with trappings of the fame colour with his own drefs, appeared in honour of Mifs Franks. He was attended in the fame manner as Lord Cathcart. Captain Scot bore his lance, and Lieutenant Littleton his fhield. The device, a heart with a wreath of flowers, and the motto Love and

Glory. Six other knights, with efquires, devices, and mottos, fuitable to the occafion, at last advanced, and after they had rode round the lifts and made their obeifance to the ladies, drew up fronting the black knights, and the chief of these having thrown down his gauntlet, the chief of the black knights directed his efquire to take it up. The knights then received their lances from their efquires, fixed their fhields on their left arms, and making a general falute to each other, by a very graceful movement of their lances, turned round to take their career, and encountering in full gallop, fhivered their fpears. In the fecond and third encounters they difcharged their piftols. In the fourth they fought with their fwords. At length the two chiefs fpurring into the centre, engaged furiously in fingle combat, till the marshal of the field, Major Groyne, rushed in between the chiefs, and declared that the fair damfels of the blended rofe and the burning mountain, were perfectly satisfied with the proofs of love, and the fignal feats of valour given by their refpective knights; and commanded them, as they prized the future favour of their mistreffes, that they would instantly defift from further combat. Obedience being paid, by the chiefs, to this order, they joined their respective bands. The white knights and their attendants filed off to the left, the black knights to the right, and, after paffing each other at the lower fide of the quadrangle, moved up alternately till they approached the pavilions of the ladies, when they gave a general falute.

A paffage being opened between the two pavilions, the knights preceded by the efquires, and the band

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of mufic, rode through the first triumphal arch, and arranged themselves on the right and left. The arch in honour of Lord Howe, prefented two fronts in the Tuscan order, the pediment was adorned with various naval trophies, and at the top was the figure of Neptune, with a trident in his right hand. In a neck on each fide stood a failor with a drawn cutlass. Three plumes of feathers were placed on the fummit of each wing, and in the entablature was this infcription, Laus illi debitur et alme gratia major. The interval between the two arches was an avenue 300 feet long and 34 broad; it was lined on each fide by a file of troops, and the colours of all the army planted at proper distances, had a beautiful effect in diverfifying the fcere. Between these colours the knights and efquires took their ftations. The bands continued to play feveral pieces of mufic. pany moved forward in proceffion with the ladies in the Turkish habits in front; as thefe paffed they. were faluted by their knights, who then difmounted and joined them, and in this order we were all conducted into a garden that fronted the house, through the fecond triumphal arch dedicated to the general. This arch was alfo built in the Tufcan order. On the interior part of the pediment was planted a plume of feathers and various military trophies. At the top stood the figure of Fame, and in the entablature this device, I bone quo virtus tua te vocet pede faufto. On the right hand pillar was placed a bomb fhell, and on the left a flaming heart. The front next the houfe was adorned with preparations for the firework. From the garden we afcended a flight of teps, covered with carpets, which led into a fpacious

The com

hall