beguiled me of more tears and charmed away more sorrows than any other author ever did, or ever will do, and who has filled. our drawing-rooms with chronicles of such interesting rags and tatters, that we hardly know whether to prefer satin to lindsey-or, if it be not disgraceful to wear 'good clothes.' Well, he, with all his liberality, has done more than any other writer to lower us women in the intellectual scale. All his women are dots, or drolls, and when he attempts to change the construction, he turns us into Lady Macbeths!

But I am always rambling, and had better, perhaps, keep such observations to myself..

There is an abundance of musical soirées, where there is a great deal of noise, and very little melody.

As to the dinners, their pleasure to an old body like myself, depends upon who are my next neighbours :-dinners are, in the improved state of state of our cuisines, our cuisines, always well-dressed, and put upon the table in less

quantities, and with better taste, than in my early days was thought necessary :-dinners now, mingled as they are, with fruits and flowers, are very pretty to look at; and it is pleasant to be able to dine before I go to what I consider a supper, and to feel assured I may eat and drink as much, or as little, as I like, no one caring, or, pressing me to take this or that; and the gentlemen so moderate, all able to stand, and speak plain when they come up stairs-not as it used to be. But I don't feel that there is much 'society" at dinner; to be sure, ladies never hear the speeches, if any are made, but if they are of the same kind I have. heard at public dinners, I do not think we have a great loss.

I have once or twice been induced to visit the ladies' gallery at the Freemasons' Tavern, when gentlemen assembled to eat a good dinner and promote a great charity. I was generally disappointed. They did so flatter the chairman, that I was quite uncomfortable for him; they praised each other so much, that

it was necessary to believe every man in the room a model of Christian benevolence; though I know that some whose names shone in a circle of golden charities, by their coldblooded speculations, committed more robberies than Cartouche or Jack Sheppard ever dreamt of, in their most desperate days. At those dinners, and even in the ventilator of the House of Commons, where I have watched for eloquence, I fear I have been guilty of the sin of presumption, for I have longed to murmur out the word the speaker seemed at such a loss to find, though it was by no means a difficult one to remember or pronounce. I could give them words; but, indeed, some of the gentlemen-those, too, who had been greatly applauded when they rose-seemed to require ideas; but, as I so seldom understood what they were speaking of, I could not help them, even if there had been an opportunity.

But I have again wandered, as I often do, from my subject. I should like to see a woman in Mrs. Joseph Greene's position now-doing

what Mrs. Joseph Greene did then. Mrs. Greene would understand nothing of small cliques and petty differences. She was deaf to family jars, and political jars, and literary jars. Except in cases of moral wrong, she received all with courtesy and kindness. Her tact was based upon a desire to create happiness and ease; and, by the winning grace and sweetness of her manner, she beguiled foes into friendship. She managed a word or two of introduction so admirably, that it was quite impossible to feel the least constraint - no matter to whom you were presented. She read character clearly and quickly, and understood your tastes and desires at once. Her reception rooms were spacious, and all her guests found themselves exactly where they would wish to be. It was extraordinary how little she talked; but, then, she listened so admirably, and her large sympathy was so earnest that it prevented her finding it fatiguing to listen. She did not often say things to be remembered, but she never forgot what others

said. Without apparent thought or effort, she glided from room to room. No one was neglected-no one, however humble, insulted by even the semblance of 'patronage.'

I have already said that music was only heard at intervals, and that it was of the quality which commanded silence, even in an English drawing-room, where I have seen gentlemen, careless alike of good manners and good feeling, insult, by positive noise, the person who was exercising all the powers of art to give pleasure. To be sure, this is one of the ramifications of selfishness.

Mrs. Joseph Greene's house was admirably arranged for these charming réunions; there was not too much light, and it was so well disposed that the pictures, the various works of art, and particularly the sculpture, were seen to the best advantage. Mrs. Greene understood an art which, since her day, has made rapid progress among us-the art of massing and arranging flowers. We may thank the Germans for this taste; and I doubt not Mrs.