The company assembled on this occasion were all of the old _noblesse_; and no _nouveau riche_, no person connected with the government, and very few foreigners, were permitted to contaminate this _quintessence_ of “_bonne compagnie_.” I perceived many of those faces which I had remembered in London among the _emigrés_ of distinction; and the lady of the house did not forget to enumerate the families of _dukes_, _comtes_, _marquis_, _marechals_, &c. which formed her society. It is but justice to this class of company, to observe, that the ladies (whether from a natural sense of propriety, from habits contracted during their residence in foreign countries, or from the wish of distinguishing themselves from their plebeian fellow citizens, I shall not pretend to inquire) are infinitely more correct in their dress, than those of any other set at Paris. I saw here several elegant women, who were tasteful, without being indecent; and though, perhaps, a hundred persons were assembled (which is considered a very large party in this town) there was only one female present, of whom it could be said, that she was too liberal in the display of her charms; and she was the subject of general conversation, and general censure. The ball began with two cotillons, or french country dances, which were very gracefully performed by eight gentlemen and ladies, who vied with each other in skill and activity. The rest of the company were seated on benches, which were placed in gradations against the wall. A walse was then played; about fifteen couple stood up; and the gentlemen, placing their arms round the waists of their partners, moved round the room in a circle, while the young men not so employed formed a group, and filled the centre. The air appropriate to this dance is extremely pretty, and the figures of the ladies are seen to great advantage. Yet, notwithstanding the quiet, respectful manner of the parisians, I must still continue of the opinion of Werter; that no modest woman ought to dance the walse, unless her partner be either her husband or her brother. After a short interval, I perceived a string of young men crowding together, and forming a line. I learnt with surprise, that this was the preparation for an english dance; and that the gentlemen were taking places for their partners. Though gallantry is, I suppose, the cause of this mode of determining precedency, it is extremely dangerous; and the ladies of Paris ought, like our fair country women, to take the trouble of arranging, themselves, so _important_ a question. One or two duels have already taken place, this winter, owing to the disputes occasioned by the zeal with which these “_preux chevaliers_” contended for the honours of priority; and the evil will daily increase, if this manner of taking places be continued.