A great, large, noisy, tumultuous, promiscuous, crowding, crushing, perfumed, feathered, flowered, painted, gabbling, sneering, idle, gossiping, rest-breaking, horse-killing, pannel-breaking, supper-scrambling evening-party is much better imagined than described, for the description is not worth the time of writing or reading it. It was very presumptuous of Sir Gilbert Sampson thus to ape his betters. Pity it is that no sumptuary laws are passed in this legislating age to prevent all persons of inferior rank from imitating so closely the manners of the higher orders. It should be ordained that all those who can remember by what means and at what time their wealth was acquired should be considered as people of yesterday, and be prohibited from having any party beyond a certain number. We do not, however, assert that the soap-boiler's evening-party was extraordinarily large, or at all equalling some parties which are collected at the mansions of higher people; but it was as large as it possibly could be, and Miss Sampson had contrived to send out the invitations, so that the number of carriages was great in proportion to the party. Miss Sampsom among the splendid was the most splendid; and had there been no looking-glasses in the rooms for the good people to enjoy the sight of their own dear selves, her splendor would have fixed the gaze of every eye in the apartments. Miss Sampson addressed Colonel Rivolta in Italian; but the Colonel, either from politeness or because he could not understand her, requested permission to use the language of the country in which he was residing; for it was his opinion that it was most suitable that the Italians should speak English in England, and that the English should speak Italian in Italy. Miss Sampson was going to say that the Italian language was as familiar to her as the English, but she thought that was going too far. Signora Rivolta was much astonished at the magnificence of the house, and at the number and decorations of the guests. Fancying that she must be in an assemblage of English nobility of the highest rank, and wishing to be familiar with their names, she interrogated Miss Sampson, who was disposed to be very communicative, as to the names, rank, title and honors of several individuals to whom she directed Miss Sampson's attention. Some of these Miss Sampson did not know, and therefore could not tell their names; and unfortunately some of them she did know, and therefore would not tell their names; lest being urged to be more descriptive and particular, she should betray to the Signora that her visitors were not all of them persons of rank. It is very true, and we are ashamed almost to acknowledge the truth, that there are to be found most serious manifestations and displays of the pride of rank even among those who have no rank to be proud of. And Miss Sampson was more pleased with her _papa's_ knighthood, the only thing that made him ridiculous, than