The difficulty of obtaining contemporary illustrations, fitted for this work, from books, or pictures, has compelled me to draw freely on the satirical prints of the period--which are abundant, and perfectly well suited to the purpose, if the reader will only bear in mind, that they are sometimes a little exaggerated. Still, on the whole, they so truthfully represent the manners, costume, &c., of the age, that they could not be omitted; and that they are faithful reproductions of the originals, I can guarantee, for I drew them all myself. JOHN ASHTON. CONTENTS. Page INTRODUCTION 1 MEN'S DRESS 51 WOMEN'S DRESS 69 NAVY AND ARMY 80 SOCIAL ECONOMY 114 GAMING, ETC. 166 THE THEATRE 187 OPERA AND BALLET 204 MASQUERADES, CONCERTS, ETC. 215 MONETARY 232 LAW AND POLICE 243 POLITICAL 280 ROYALTY 293 VARIETIES 297 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Page EDMUND BURKE 16 THE PRINCE'S BOW 51 TIGHT-LACING, 1788 51 MACARONIS, 1789 53 A JESSAMY, 1790 54 A CHOICE SPIRIT--A BUCK 54 A SMART, 1790 55 A RAIN-BEAU 56 JIMMY LINCUM FEADLE, 1791 56 A SCARAMOUCH 56 APING THE FRENCHMAN 57 NECK OR NOTHING--A BACK VIEW OF THE CAPE, 1792 57 A SPENCER AND A THREAD PAPER, 1792 63 "A JEAN DEBRY" (MR. SKEFFINGTON) 66 FRENCH TAILOR FITTING JOHN BULL WITH A "JEAN DEBRY" 66 A COTILLION, 1788 69 FASHIONS FOR 1788 69 INDOOR COSTUMES, 1788 70 THE DUCHESS OF YORK 70 THE DUCHESS 70 FRAILTIES OF FASHION, 1793 70