"The fashion of dressing, at present, is to appear _prominent_, and the stays are made accordingly. This is holding out a wish to be thought in a thriving way, even without the authority of the _Arches Court_ of Canterbury--something in the French way--a philosophical desire to be _conspicuously great_ with MISCHIEF, without any regard to law or reason. The idea was at first sent forward by a few _dropsical_ Ladies."--(_Times, March 25, 1793._) * * * * * "The _Wapping Land-ladies_ are all at the very pinnacle of the fashion. Nature has given them prominences which far out-picture the false mountains at the West end of the town. It is not only the fashion of appearing six months gone, that prevails with the ladies--but that of not having any waists, so that, even with their prominences, they may be called--_No-body_." (_Times, April 15, 1793._) [Illustration: A Cotillion--1788.] [Illustration: Fashions for 1788.] [Illustration: Indoor Costumes.--1788.] [Illustration: The Duchess of York.] [Illustration: The Duchess.] [Illustration: Frailties of Fashion--1793.] [Illustration: The Height of Fashion--1793.] [Illustration: The Toilette, No. 1.] [Illustration: The Toilette, No. 2.] [Illustration: The Toilette, No. 3.] A series of prints were published which represent the amount of indebtedness, ladies were under, to Art, to repair the ravages made by Nature. No. 1 shows us most graphically the "levée au matin."--Tears drop from the eyeless socket--a yawn discloses the want of teeth, and, the handkerchief, tied round the head, which does service for a night cap, tells a sad tale of baldness. In No. 2 the defect of nature is being remedied by the insertion of a glass eye--which the subsequent illustrations prove to be very effective. No. 3 shows the triumph of the hairdresser's art; and, certainly, it adds much to the ladies personal attractions. In No. 4 false teeth are being inserted, to replace those, of which unkind nature has robbed her. No. 5 applies the bloom of youth to the faded cheek,--a bloom that never yet deceived any one. In No. 6 the Belle has finished her toilette, and is now prepared to break all hearts. This series is attributed to Rowlandson--and, most probably, is his work. It is called "Six Stages of making a face.--Dedicated with respect to Lady Archer," of which lady we shall hear more anon under the head of "Gaming." Waists, as may have been perceived by the last two, or three examples, have been gradually disappearing, until, as in "The Scarecrow," they became practically _nil_. High feathers were beginning to come in, and, in addition to the "panache," was worn a curious thing made of straw, very much resembling the "bristle plume" which used to be worn in the Shakos of our Engineers, and Artillery. In imitation of the men, the ladies' throats were swathed in voluminous wrappers.