They still flourish abroad, often seen at the tables of the great. _The demi-philosophe-moderne-politico-legislativo-metaphysico-non-logico-grand philanthrope_ still scribbles, by the ream, _pièces justificatives_, _projets de loi_, and volumes of metaphysical sentiment, to be seen at the fair of Leipzig, or on ladies’ tables. The greater bore, the _courtisan propre_, is still admired at little _serene_ courts, where, well-dressed and well-drilled--his back much bent with Germanic bows; not a dangerous creature--would only bore you to death. We come next to our own _blue bores_--the most dreaded of the species,--the most abused--sometimes with reason, sometimes without. This species was formerly rare in Britain--indeed all over the world.--Little known from the days of Aspasia and Corinna to those of Madame Dacier and Mrs. Montague. Mr. Jerningham’s blue worsted stockings, as all the world knows, appearing at Mrs. Montague’s _conversaziones_, had the honour or the dishonour of giving the name of blue stockings to all the race; and never did race increase more rapidly than they have done from that time to this. There might be fear that all the daughters of the land should turn blue.--But as yet John Bull--thank Heaven! retains his good old privilege of “choose a wife and have a wife.” The common female blue is indeed intolerable as a wife--opinionative and opinionated; and her opinion always is that her husband is wrong. John certainly has a rooted aversion to this whole class. There is the deep blue and the light; the _light_ blues not esteemed--not admitted at Almacks. The deep-dyed in the nine times dyed blue--is that with which no man dares contend. The _blue chatterer_ is seen and heard every where; it no man will attempt to silence by throwing the handkerchief. The next species--the _mock blue_--is scarcely worth noticing; gone to ladies’ maids, dress-makers, milliners, &c., found of late behind counters, and in the oddest places. _The blue mocking bird_ (it must be noted, though nearly allied to the last sort) is found in high as well as in low company; it is a provoking creature. The only way to silence it, and to prevent it from plaguing all neighbours and passengers, is never to mind it, or to look as if you minded it; when it stares at you, stare and pass on.