in the Ivy-bush, and wrote under it, 'This is not the Royal Oak') he would say under his punch-bowl, 'This is not the Punch-bowl Inn.'" The impropriety and folly of employing young and vigorous men to serve female customers with articles of dress, and those silly catch-pennies idly supposed ornaments to the person now so prevalent, is by no means a new trait in our customs; that it should be continued, though severely reprehended even so long since as 1765, is astonishing. At that time the antient sisterhood of _tire-women_ were almost extinct; but now what head can be dressed fit to be seen without the assistance of a smart male hair-dresser? or what lady will purchase her bandeaus, her ribbands, gloves, &c. &c. from the hands of a young woman, when the same shop contains--a young _man_? Unfortunately this is a fatal custom to many fine blooming females, who, thus consigned to idleness and temptations, often fall victims to seduction. A strange infatuation prevailed for many years in that class of the community which might be termed demi-fashionables, of sending their daughters to Convents in France for education; if that could be so termed, which amounted to nothing more than speaking the French language tolerably correct, cutting and pasting coloured paper together in silly shapes, and learning tambour, or working in imitation of lace. To mention the disadvantages attending the practice would be futile; the Revolution in France, the dissolution of Monasteries, and our endless wars, have totally abolished the custom, at least as far as relates to Convents; though I have no doubt that, should Peace ever again smile on us, French boarding-schools will be preferred to British.