The fashions are remarkably plain; sleeves much longer than ours, and half handkerchiefs are universally worn. At Mrs. Henderson’s party there was but one lady except myself with a handkerchief—dressed as plain as possible, the most fashionable women the plainest. I have got you a pretty India spotted muslin—’tis fashionable here. The silk dresses must also have been light and airy in weight as Miss Pierce’s grandniece tells a story of her aunt’s best black silk well worth relating in these days of Saratoga trunks. At the present time railroad passengers grumble at being limited to one hundred pounds of baggage. A hundred years ago the amount permitted to each passenger of a stage coach was but fourteen pounds, and a trunk then was hardly larger than a handbag now, certainly not as commodious as a dress-suit case. Having just returned from a visit to her sister Mrs. Croswell, at Catskill, Miss Sarah Pierce reproached Miss Mary Pierce for having omitted to put her best black silk in her trunk when packing it. “I certainly put it in,” replied Miss Mary. “If you did I could not find it,” was the retort. Miss Mary went upstairs and shortly returned with the dress in her hand and showed how careful she had been to lay the dress between the folds of an undergarment to keep it from being creased. This was also the reason why Miss Pierce had not perceived it in the trunk. Could any of the beruffled, trailing gowns of these days be hid away like that? That the elaborate dress of some of the matrons of Litchfield, extended even to powdered hair raised in towers on the head can be learned from the portraits extant by the painter Earle. The notice of his coming is taken from the Litchfield Monitor. LITCHFIELD, Feb 24^{th} 1796 Arrived in town a few days since, from New York, Mr. Ralph Earle, the celebrated Portrait Painter; who holds rank with the most distinguish’d pupils of the great West. His Paintings will do honor to any country, in any age. May 18 1796 Mr. Ralph Earle, the celebrated Portrait Painter, is now at New Milford; where he will probably reside for some time. As we profess a friendship for Mr. Earle and are desirous that the Public avail themselves of the abilities of this able artist, we feel a pleasure in making this communication, many gentlemen in this vicinity, having been disappoint of his services, and several of our friends being driven to accept of the paltry daubs of assuming pretenders. Mr. Earl’s price for a Portrait of full length is Sixty Dollars, the smaller size Thirty Dollars; the Painter finding his own support and materials,—Applications by letter or otherwise, will be transmitted to Mr. Earle from this office, or the Post-master at New Milford will take charge of all letters addressed to Mr. Earle.