of the flounce appears actually to touch the gown. For ladies fond of what they call a bustling trimming, this would be surely an acquisition. Two narrow round collars conceal the seam that fastens the sleeve to the body. A dress, also, of rose-coloured satin, with bouffont trimmings of the same coloured satin and crape, has appeared at some of our charitable fêtes; these trimmings held up by a bouquet of roses, ears of corn, and oats, of silver: the sleeves were very short and full. Coloured muslins are often trimmed with very broad bias folds; a chain of cotton braiding placed at the top of each fold: the same sort of braiding ornaments the body, and also the short sleeves of coloured muslin, which are discovered through long white transparent sleeves. The sashes are of shaded ribbons, with long ends, and are || fastened with a buckle, but have no bow: these buckles are à l'antique. With white dresses it is usual to wear a pointed pelerine of black lace, or tulle. Many of these pelerines are seen at concerts and other evening spectacles, of beautiful white blond over coloured dresses of gros de Naples. Morning dresses are chiefly of printed cambric: the favourite pattern is that of little detached bouquets of flowers. Bérets, so long the most favoured headdresses, now give place to the more appropriate summer cap of blond adorned with flowers. Turbans are worn at the theatres : they are chiefly coloured, and on the crowns is a treillage-work of satin, the colour of the crape or gauze of which the turban is composed. The few bêrets yet seen are now in their pristine form; not placed flat on the head, but on the summit of a broad bandeau, with a full rosette on each side. The béret is surmounted by another rosette: this gives the head-dress a new feature, yet it is much more classical than it has been (by its late innovations) for some time past. Small dress hats, worn very backward, the borders of which are en coquilles, both before and behind, are a novelty now in high favour in the fashionable world. At the theatres some ladies have been seen in basque caps of Scotch tartan. For the ball-room the most approved head-dress is a wreath of blue flowers with green foliage. Caps for the morning are made short at the ears; and whether of muslin or gauze, they are trimmed with a great quantity of ribbon. Though their crowns are rather high, and they are placed very backward, they discover the hinder hair above the nape of the neck. The new bracelets are of Egyptian pebbles. They are composed of three rows of those stones, cut in the shape of a lozenge, and united by little chains of gold. This new style of jewellery is charming, as it combines lightness, elegance, and simplicity. The favourite colours are canary-yellow, rose-colour, blue, macassa-brown, and green. Monthly View OF NEW PUBLICATIONS, MUSIC, THE ENGLISH AND FOREIGN SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE, &c. We have before us in five octavo volumes by all who recollect the very careful and "Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall able manner in which Mr. Bowdler executof the Roman Empire, for the Use of Fami-ed his former task with respect to Shaklies and Young Persons; reprinted from the Original Text, with the eareful Omission of|| all Passages of an irreligious or immoral Tendency. By Thomas Bowdler, Esq., F.R.S., S.A., Editor of the Family Shakspeare." This title-page is, of itself, no mean recommendation of the work; and, speare, it will at once be felt, that another important service has here been rendered to the cause of religion and morality. No one could be more competent to the task than Mr. Bowdler. To these volumes is prefixed a brief but suitable "Introduction," written, as we are apprized, early in the 32 year 1825. Since that period, Mr. Bowdler has been removed from the scene of his earthly labours. In a note, appended to the Introduction, we find this interesting statement: and very questionable shape. The soi-disant lady of rank" professes to be an English woman, indebted for her resources to his Grace the late Duke of Norfolk; and she intimates that the fame of her early proIt was the peculiar happiness of the writer ficiency in music, as well as of a pious disto accomplish, during the latter part of his life, position to embrace the Catholic faith, the two-fold labour of purifying the pages of drew upon her the favourable notice of the Shakspeare and of Gibbon, in order to present Queen of France, and of the Princess Lamto those who seek for information and rational || balle, with whom the desire of making conentertainment, the works of the dramatist and verts was paramount to every other conhistorian in such a form as might not raise a sideration. Of this we are certain, that no blush on the cheek of modest innocence, nor decent ENGLISH woman, whether of "rank" plant a pang in the breast of the devout Chrisor not, would express herself on paper, tian. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire was several times revised or otherwise, as the author of these vowith the most anxious care, it occupied his lumes has expressed herself; that no ENGLISH gentleman would venture to read her book aloud in a company of ladies. After all, those who chuse to wade through filth-" if any such there be "-may obtain some information from these "rank" volumes. almost undivided attention, and he often breathed an earnest prayer that he might be permitted to complete it before he should be called to his rest. This desire was mercifully granted. He was enabled, in the full vigour of a sound and well-informed mind, to put his last hand to the work; and in the short space of a few weeks after transmitting his papers to the publishers, closed a life of usefulness and benevolence with a strength of mind, a calmness and cheerfulness of spirit, which the gratification of personal vanity or ambition can never bestow. The following title somewhat indicates the character of the work by which it is borne :-" Journal of a Voyage up the Mediterranean; principally among the Islands of the Archipelago, and in Asia Minor, &c.; by the Rev. Charles Swan, Chaplain to H.M.S. Cambrian." There is considerable information in these two volumes respect The next historical production to which we are desirous of pointing the attentioning the affairs of Greece, &c., but their of our readers, is a "Narrative of the Sur- effect is much injured by a flippancy of manrender of Buonaparte, and of his Residence ner in the writer, and also by an air of on board H.M.S. Bellerophon; with a De- pedantry, unpleasing equally to the lettered tail of the principal Events that occurred and the unlettered reader. We shall venin that Ship, between 24th May and 8th ture, however, upon two brief extracts; August, 1815; by Capt. F. L. Maitland, the first of which is a rather striking deC.B." From this modestly-written, yet scription of a mosque :— highly-interesting book, we have given very copious extracts in the Supplement to Vol. III. of LA BELLE ASSEMBLEE, which will meet the public at the same time with these sheets. A work of great promise, but comparatively slight performance, has appeared in two octavo volumes, under the title of "Secret Memoirs of the Royal Family of France, during the Revolution; with original and authentic Anecdotes of Contemporary Sovereigns, &c.; from the Journals, Letters, and Conversations of the Princess Lamballe; by a Lady of Runk, in the confidential service of that unfortunate Princess." Certainly there is information in these volumes; but it bears an unauthenticated The entrance of each of these buildings is furnished with a fountain and a number of cocks. The worshipper here makes his ablutions; he washes his feet, hands, breast, and face; then rinses his mouth, and wipes all upon a handkerchief or shawl, which he carries in his bosom. Ascending a few steps, a stone pavement, which is covered with mats, leads into the mosch. On this matted ground the slippers of the Moslem are deposited, as he however, first worship without before they proceeds into the building. Some of them, enter; and others, but fewer, go no further at the time. The mosch is covered with carpeting laid upon mats, to preserve it from the friction of the stone beneath. The east side facing the entrance has a profusion of gilding, with verses from the Koran inscribed in the centre. On each side of this showy part a pulpit is erected, one of which the Iman ascends by a staircase of white marble; all beside is painted in imitation of it. Fronting the pulpits is a wooden gallery, and in the centre circular rows of lamps are suspended. When the worshipper enters, he stands erect, looking towards the shrine, if it may be so called; by-and-bye he bows his body horizontally then his knees bend until they gradually touch the ground, by which movement his head, or rather nose, pretty much at the same time is also brought into contact with it. He again stands erect, and is continually repeating the same process till he finishes his devotional exercise. The second passage we quote is a Turkish bill of fare, which we earnestly recommend to the notice of our good friend, Dr. Kitchiner:: 1. Sort of white soup, in which were a few pieces of minced liver. 2. Roasted lamb with pistachio nuts. 3. Jelly floating on a glass bowl of water, in which gold and silver fish were swimming. 4. Roasted turkey cut in pieces, and stuffed with pine-apple seeds and peeled chestnuts. 5. Sort of white custard, sprinkled with pounded cinnamon. 6. Stewed vegetables soaked in oil. 7. Custard. 8. Fried fish with an acid sauce. 9. Bread pudding sprinkled with sugar. 10. Fried fish. 11. Preserved apples with a rich syrup. 12. Grilled legs of geese. 13. Mincemeat pie with a variety of herbs, from the top of which came a living goldfinch-a common eastern trick. It was the same at all the three tables. 14. Alban's Abbey, a Metrical Tale, with some Poetical Pieces; by Anne Radcliffe, Author of The Mysteries of Udolpho,'' Romance of the Forest,' &c. ;-to which is prefixed a Memoir of the Author, with Extracts from her Journals." We do not mean to say that Gaston De Blondeville excites an equal with the Mysteries of Udolpho, &c.; but degree of intense and appalling interest its story is well constructed; and its diction, combining the quaintness of the antique with the beauty of modern times, breathes the very soul of poetry and romance. Of this production, a more extended notice, with some extracts, will be found in our Supplementary Number to the preceding volume of LA BElle Assemblee. In that number also, under the head BIOGRAPHY, is given an abstract of the memoir of Mrs. Radcliffe. The poetical talents of that lady will shortly fall under consideration in our Contemporary Poets and Writers of Fiction. Their "William Douglas; or, the Scottish Exiles, an Historical Novel, in three volumes," is chiefly valuable for the vivid picture it presents of the manners and feelings of the people of Scotland during the troubled period of the reign of James II., when the wretched Covenanters were hunted like wild beasts, by men who, under the mask of loyalty, were guilty of every cruel and barbarous crime. The plot is simply as follows:-Ensign Forshaw is commanded by his superior officer, Sir John Davenport, to take up his station in a family suspected of favouring the Covenanters. The family consists of Mrs. Wallace, her sons and daughters, and sister-in-law. mild and amiable manners excite the Ensign's sympathy, not only for themselves but for the Covenanters in general, of the injustice and oppression towards whom he becomes daily more sensible. This feeling leads him into many unpleasant and suspicious situations, in which he incurs the disapprobation of his superior officers. His curiosity is excited by the singular appearance and manners of a person who We solicit the attention of every lover visits the family as a tutor to the younger of genius to the four posthumous volumes son, but who ultimately proves to be Sir of a lady who once reigned without a rival Sholto Douglas, the husband of Mrs. Walin the world of fiction :-Gaston De Blon- lace, who had assumed the latter name for deville, or the Court of Henry III. keep- the sake of security. The estates of Sir ing Festival in Ardenne, a Romance ;-St. || Sholto, as a Covenanter, and for the part Honeyed pastry. 15. Cabbage leaves rolled up with boiled rice. 16. Almond Custard. 17. Stewed chicken stuffed with pine-apple seeds. 18. Sugar cake shaped like diamonds. 19. Stewed vegetables with a garlic sauce. 20. Pastry. 21. Wild boar roasted. 22. Pastry. 23. Sausages made partly with rice, herbs, &c. &c., I know not what. 24. Cakes. 25. Fried fish, mullet. 26. Cakes. 27. Wild boar or beef (I could not distinguish) done with sauce like beef olives. 28. Melons. 29. Pastry. 30. Fried knuckles of HAM!! 31. Cakes. 32. Fritters. 33. Sort of fry with chestnuts. 34. Roasted flesh of the wild boar. 35. Large dish of boiled rice. 36. Rose-water sweetened with honey. which he had taken in the rising at Both- is the death of a harmless boy, occasioned well, have been confiscated; and on their by a fall into the river? The plot, of which master's being arrested in the person of we are in total ignorance until the middle Patrickson, the tutor to Mrs. Wallace's of the third volume, is nearly to this effect: son, he is brought to a mock trial, and Sir Kenerick resides at Montville with his sentenced to death, and William Douglas, niece, Constantia Avily, the heiress prehis elder son, with several others, are sen- sumptive of his immense estates. Her tenced to perpetual slavery in the colonies. claims, however, are set aside by the arriHere a new interest arises. The ship is val of his nephew from the East-Indies, who wrecked on its passage; and William has escaped from captivity, and whom Sir Douglas and a few of his companions are Kenerick had never seen. Mr. Montville thrown upon an unknown island, a part of is accompanied by a black servant, named which, to their surprise, is peopled by Bri- || Kassrac. The former quickly ingratiates tish settlers, a family who had likewise himself with the female inhabitants of the been cast upon the island, had formed a || castle, and, after breaking the heart of one colony, and now consisted of about two luckless damsel, is on the point of eloping hundred persons. We must pass unnoticed with Constantia, when Kassrac is brought the patriarchal manners of these people, in dead. Kassrac is discovered to be a their engagements with some buccaneers || female, and to have been killed by her maswho occupied the farther side of the island, ter in a fit of passion. At this moment and proceed to state that William Douglas, || two strangers arrive, who declare Mr. after a residence there of eight years, dur- Montville to be an impostor, named Casing which he forms an attachment, and is taldi; that he is an Indian; and that he united to, a beautiful girl named Lillias, is had stabbed and left as dead, Sir Keneinduced to return to Europe, in the hope rick's nephew, and had obtained documents of obtaining a pardon. He lands in Hol- to assert his claim to the deceased's estates. land, where he learns that universal tole- The younger of these strangers proves ration has been proclamed in Scotland. to be the real Hubert Montville, who had He returns thither, and meets his father, recovered from his wounds, and after a whose life had been preserved through the long captivity in India, had returned to efforts of Ensign Forshaw. Forshaw is dispossess the impostor. Castaldi escapes, united to Emily Douglas, for whom he had but, on his return to India, is met by Keconceived an affection as Emily Wallace; || nerick Mordaunt, a protegé of Sir Kenerick the estates and title of Sir Sholto are re- Montville's, towards whom he entertains stored to him; and all ends happily. Such the most deadly hatred, and a duel enis the story of The Scottish Exiles.-Many|| sues, in which both lose their lives. The of the characters, particularly those of Sir real nephew sickens and dies; Constantia John Davenport and Ensign Forshaw, are is again heiress of Montville; soon finds ably sustained; and, as we have before another lover, to whom she is united, and observed, as illustrating the manners and thus ends the story. Skilfully wrought feelings of the times, these volumes will be up, these materials might have formed a read with lively interest. tale of much interest; but, in the present instance, we cannot compliment the author of Montville upon the success of his endeavours. || "Montville; or, the Dark Heir of the Castle!" Who, upon reading this title, would not anticipate a tale brimful of horrors, of haunted chambers, spectres, and all the concomitants of the Radcliffe school of romance? Who would not be astonished at being ushered into the presence of a "clad in the full costume" of ladies and gentlemen of the year 1826, whose gravest discussions are on the relative breadth of a gentleman's wristbands, and of|| whom, on reaching the end of the second volume, the only circumstance of record company, |