Page:Repository of Arts, Series 1, Volume 01, 1809, January-June.djvu/402

 Mrs. Dickons sung the difficult and chromatic part of Donna Anna most delightfully. Miss Hughes, as Elvira, betrayed some timidity, which operated as a drawback on her vocal powers. She bids fair to arrive at eminence in her profession. Mrs. Bland’s Zerlina was, as might be expected, sprightly and playful. The male part of the performers likewise acquitted themselves respectably of their several characters. Mr. Spaguoletti’s concerto on the violin was given in his best style, and universally applauded. 

FASHIONS FOR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.   satin slip, under a crape dress, made to fit the figure very exactly, cut open in front, and bound all round with white satin ribbon and a row of beads, linked together in front with bands of beads loosely suspended at distances; short sleeves the same. Fan richly spangled. Pearl necklace, with diamond clasp in front; ear-rings and bracelets to suit. White shoes striped in scarlet or blue. Hair in ringlets on the forehead, and lightly turned up behind with a diamond comb. Petticoats very short. 

Dress of white Scotia washing silk. Bishop’s mantle of sage or olive-green striped and plain silks, made entirely without seams; border of the same colour. Hat to correspond, and decorated with artificial flowers. Shoes sage or olive-green, also to correspond.  

Spanish hats, which have been worn all the winter, with feathers, for full dress, are now converted walking hats, substituting flowers instead of feathers. Straw hats and bonnets, ornamented with flowers, and white silk hats, are making their appearance for the season. Light silk mantles, of all colours, are much worn. Spencers, of a beautiful grey, ornamented with silver, not buttoned, but tied loosely at the neck, form a most elegant dress. The Scotia silk, introduced in the last number, is now in great request for dresses, as is also the spotted muslin. Colours vary with the taste of the individual; silver grey is unquestionably the most elegant and the most fashionable. The attempt to introduce long waists has completely failed; they have not, nor will they ever become fashionable. The full dress of this number is the present standard.

I happened to be in a family party of ladies on the evening of the publication of the last month’s Repository: the moment it was introduced, the dresses became the subject of critical animadversion, and the essay attached to them under the title “General Observations,” was read aloud for the entertainment of the company. Various (as may be supposed) were the comments of the fair hearers. I was pleased to find that scarlet was given up to its fate without a pang: the colour, however, was out of fashion and out of season, so that I could not congratulate myself much on the victory. Green, on the contrary, found its 