WINDSOR.-It gives us the greatest pleasure to state that their Majesties continue in the enjoyment of excellent health.

Her Majesty will hold a drawingroom on the 24th May next, in honour of the birth-day of the Princess Victoria; it will be attended by the King and Queen of the Belgians.

Prince George of Cumberland is expected to return to England in the autumn. The hopes that the Prince's sight might be restored are unhappily very faint; but it appears that some expectation is still entertained of success at a more advanced age.

The Earl and Countess Stanhope have left Great Stanhope Street for their beautiful seat, Chevering, near Seven Oaks. A select circle is invited during the recess.

The Marquess and Marchioness of Thomond and the Ladies O'Brien, who have been staying during the winter at Brighton, have returned to their house in Belgrave Square, where they will shortly give a series of splendid enter

tainments.

The Marquess and Marchioness of Downshire, who have been passing some time at their magnificent seat at Hillsborough, in the county of Down, in Ireland, among his Lordship's numerous tenantry, are arrived at their house in Hanover Square, and have commenced their dinner parties for the

season.

The Duke of Buccleuch has issued cards for a sumptuous banquet on Wednesday next.

PARIS. A grand fête will be given at the Palace of Versailles on the anniVOL. II.-No. 11.

versary of the Queen's birth-day. On that day, the 26th of April, the inauguration of the Museum at Versailles will take place. The King will do the honours of the day in person, accompanied by the whole of his family, introducing the Peers and Deputies, and numerous representatives of the several great bodies of the state, who will be specially invited for the occasion. A visit to the galleries after dinner, by the light of tapers, is talked of; but the theatrical representations at the theatre are certainly decided upon. The entertainments will commence with one of the overtures by Gluck, after which the actors of the Theatre Français will perform the Misanthrope, dressed in the costume of the age of Louis XIV. After the comedy, the fifth act of Robert le Diable will be executed by the principal singers of the opera. The evening will conclude with a new grand ballet, in two acts, written by Scribe, and composed by Auber. Mdlle. Taglioni will take the principal part, and dance for the last time before a French audience. An interlude will be given between the two acts of the ballet, during which all the national airs, from Vive Henry IV. to the Marsellaise and the Parisienne, will be sung by Nourrit, supported by a numerous body of chorus-singers. After this fête the museum will be closed till May 1st, when it will be opened to the public, in commemoration of the King's fête. The whole of the expenses of the fête, as well as those of this magnificent foundation, dedicated to the glory of France, will be defrayed from the funds of the civil list.

X

The carnival has been one of the dullest in my recollection, notwithstanding we have had a great number of very fashionable balls; but they have been but indifferently attended, on account, in a great measure, of persons being unwilling to expose themselves to the risk of a heated ball-room.

The Royal Family have been particularly gay this season, and indeed, ma chère amie, we have been glad to see it, as you know nous autres Parisiennes only require the hint to be gay, and we are soon on the qui vive, if it should happen to quelque chose de nouveaux. Louis Philippe, our gracious King, has not been the subject of attack by any more assassins; and, to tell you the truth, all well meaning people hope that he will yet escape, though we have certainly some très mauvais sujets in the capital; but a sharp look-out is kept up. The King seldom rides out without a strong escort of body guards.

Now ma chère, que je te dire quelque chose that regards your toilette. I know this is the season when you are most wishing for the nouveautés.

Hats.-Visiting hats are made with the brims a little more spread out than last month they should be ornamented with some feathers, shaded at the ends; I have seen some made of emerald green, with green feathers and white ends, that look admirable. should have your velvet hats ornamented either with three feathers, the same colour as the hat, or a tinted bird of paradise; or an aigrette, is very becoming.

You

Capotes. Many beautiful and new ribbons have recently been manufac

tured, intended to trim capotes to be worn this spring.

Evening Dresses look very beautiful ornamented with velvet flowers and bows of ribbons: some are fastened with a agraffes of jewellery. Velours épinglé is mostly ornamented as above.

Dinner Dress.· -Satin of different hues, particularly sombre colours, are generally adopted for dinner dress: some of these dresses are made with corsages à la vierge, trimmed round the top with a row of antique lace falling over, arranged without any fullness; a short sleeve made with a little fullness, the bottom is trimmed with a row of lace like the corsage, which turns up tight round the sleeve in the cuff style.

Tunics.-This is an article of dress which is truly becoming, and more worn than ever: they are made of gauze, crape, and tulle, with ornaments to correspond with the dress.

Head Dress. In dinner dress, small brimmed velvet hats, trimmed with feathers or birds of paradise, are much in request at the present season.

Chapeaux a la Puritane. - This delightful and elegant hat has been recently adopted by ladies of distinction. for the promenade: some are of black velvet; but they look best in a delicate shade of grey, trimmed with satin ribbons, same colour and grey ostrich feathers.

Sleeves. Quite plain sleeves do not take, and some sort of garniture is always made use of to relieve them; tight sleeves are not calculated for douilettes. The douilettes à la Chatelaine, with square pelerine and goodsized sleeves, with the girdle tied at the waist, makes as elegant a négligé as can be adopted for a toilette de visite. Ball-dress sleeves are generally ornamented with treble rows of blond and flowers, or bows of ribbon.

Ball Dress. White and coloured gauzes, striped with gold or silver: they are mostly worn over white satin slips;-I have seen some of these sort of dresses, with the skirt looped on the right side, nearly up to the knee, attached with bouquet of flowers, such as Spanish jasmine, or moss-roses, min

gled with white lilac; these are most fashionable: a great deal of taste is required in the general arrangement of these dresses.

Colours, for out-door costume.-The most distingué are dark green, black, deep blue, dark fawn, violet, and light hues are much seen for evening dress; lavender, light blue, and pale pink, are greatly in request.

caps

Caps.-Tulle should be accompanied with lappets. I have seen some caps ornamented with a wreath of flowers in the front, over which are placed the lappets of blonde, which fall on the shoulders.

Materials for Dresses, though in great variety, I cannot inform you of any new fubriques in particular. Plain and figured satin, pou de soie, velours épinglé, tulle illusion, crape, repspointillé, gauzes of all kinds, besides damasks and brocades, which have been announced some time since.

The Hair. -The hair is still worn low behind; curls are considered fashionable on each side of the face, but not too much in quantity. The flowers and jewellery are also placed very low, nearly down to the neck; bows of ribbon are often substituted for flowers.

Flowers of all kinds are greatly in request in all toilets de ball; also birds of paradise are sought after eagerly, and are becoming a most important ornament. (Ball and Co., of Fosterlane, Cheapside, have, we understand,

a fine choice of this rare and beautiful ornament.)

Fans are more in request than ever; they are worn with any sort of toilette, and are large, with gold, tortoiseshell, or ivory handles: the style of ornament is after Louis XIV.

I must now conclude this paper, ma chère, and promise you further information respecting the most novel toilettes and fabriques in my next; until then, ma tout aimable amie, Je t'embrasse bien tendrement, tout à toi, M. de W. Rue Richelieu, à Paris,

EASTER ENTERAINMENTS.

At Drury Lane, last Monday evening, after Richard the Third, in which Mr. E. Forrest personated the Duke of Glo'ster, the romantic spectacle of Valentine and Orson was revived, for which some new and very beautiful scenery had been painted by the Grieves for the occasion.—At Covent Garden, Mr. Macready made his re-appearance as King John; after which, a new grand musical entertainment was produced, entitled Noureddin and the Fair Persian.—Mr. Braham has brought out a new piece of considerable interest at the St. James's, entitled Mabel's Curse, in which the whole strength of the company appeared. It is from the pen of Mrs. S. C. Hall; and is, we have heard, in some degree founded upon one of her sketches of Irish character; but she has brought the story to England, and placed it in the reign of Charles the Second. Harley, Miss P.

Horton, Miss Allison, Mr. Lefler, in short, the whole strength of the company performed in it; and a young lady, much admired in the provinces, a Miss Crisp, made her début in one of its principal characters. Mr. Braham is determined to provide amply for his friends, and will not suffer them either to lack novelty or be deprived of what they admire. Mr. Barnett is gone to fulfil some country engagements; but we perceive Mr. Goldsmid engaged to play St. Pierre in The Refugee.—At the Adelphi a new ballet burletta has been produced, under the title of The King of the Danube and the Waterlily. -The Olympic also re-opened with a dramatic version of The Rape of the Lock-an admirable subject — Madame is the Belinda.-The Strand theatre, with the same management under which it flourished last season, opened on Monday. A new piece (by Henry Brownrigg, Esq., the author of The

Bill Sticker, &c.) called The Gallantee Showman, or Mr. Peppercorn At Home,' was the first novelty. From the title, it is, we presume, founded on Mr. Jerrold's tale in the New Monthly Magazine.' For the last piece we have The Perils of Pippins, the successful run of which was abruptly broken by the termination of last season.

Mr. and Mrs. Wood have arrived in town, to fulfil an engagement at Drury Lane theatre.

Mr. Elton has taken an Easter trip to Dublin, where he is engaged for a few nights, commencing in Richard. Why is he not at Covent Garden? With Macready, Vandenhoff, and Elton,

the finest effect might be given to many of the finest dramas.

Mr. Vandenhoff, on his late visit to Salisbury, delivered a lecture on elocution in aid of the funds of the Mechanic's Institute. The subject is one of which Mr. V. is, we believe, a learned and scientific master.

A new theatre was opened on Monday last, called the "New City Theatre," situate in Norton Falgate.

A splendid fête was given at Darmstadt on the 14th of March, in honour of Mozart. Its object was to assist in raising funds for erecting to his memory a suitable monument in his native city of Salzburg.

SPITALFIELDS SILK WEAVERS.

Kensington Palace, March, 1837. Madam-I am desired by the Duchess of Kent to return to you the patterns you sent to her Royal Highness; and her Royal Highness has marked thirteen, of which she desires a sufficient quantity to be sent to her for dresses by Messrs. Griffiths and Crick, Chandos-street, silk-manufacturers; as it is her Royal Highness's wish that the silk necessary for the same should be expressly made for her by the weavers of Spitalfields. I am, Madam,

Your obedient servant, R. DITTMAR, Dresser to her Royal Highness. Mrs. Bettans, Dress-maker, Jermyn-street. We have noticed a new parasol invented by Mr. Barth, Charing Cross, quite on a new and improved principle, and which cannot fail to give the greatest satisfaction among the nobility.

The Rat and the Toad.-Mr. Brooks, of Northampton, observed the other day a rat running across his yard, apparently in great alarm, with a load on his back, which he presently discovered to be a toad. Mr. Croaker, notwithstanding the speed of his racer, kept his seat extremely well, and "took," what many jockeys of greater pretensions sometimes refuse-a stone wall. The rat was pursued and taken, but the toad maintained a firm hold to the last, and could with difficulty be removed.-Northampton Chronicle.

Patent Elastic Self-adjusting Stays. -Madame Le Plastrier, 29, Ludgatestreet, invites the attention of the Nobility and Gentry to her new French Elastic Self-adjusting Stays, as the most effectual means ever introduced of preventing those lamentable consequences to the female frame, which result from the use of stays improperly constructed. Among these destructive effects may be enumerated the varied flexures of the spine and general derangement of the functions of the several organs of life and health, producing distortions of the body, and generally terminating in some disorder or combination of disorders, tending to the abridgment of life. These evils are effectually guarded against by the present stays; which, whilst they are susceptible of adaptation to any form or fashion, ever preserve their elasticity to the extent of affording free action to the muscles and the ribs; preventing the evil of an impeded respiration, the basis of numerous disorders. They are, consequently, highly approved and recommended by medical men of the highest character, whose perfect knowledge of the anatomy of the human frame, and of the natural and necessary action of its vital parts, has induced this support of an invention calculated to preserve them unimpaired, and whose certificates may be seen at her house. These stays are equally approved of for general wear.