her ladyship took leave, she desired I would let her know the day I
would favor her with a visit, as she should be loath to be absent. She
resides, in summer, a little distance from town. The Earl is a member of
Parliament, which obliges him now to be in town, and she usually comes
with him, and resides at a hotel a little distance from this.

I find a good many ladies belonging to the Southern States here, many of
whom have visited me; I have exchanged visits with several, yet neither
of us have met. The custom is, however, here much more agreeable than in
France, for it is as with us: the stranger is first visited.

The ceremony of presentation here is considered as indispensable. There
are four minister-plenipotentiaries' ladies here; but one ambassador,
and he has no lady. In France, the ladies of ambassadors only are
presented. One is obliged here to attend the circles of the Queen, which
are held in summer once a fortnight, but once a week the rest of the
year; and what renders it exceedingly expensive is, that you cannot go
twice the same season in the same dress, and a Court dress you cannot
make use of anywhere else. I directed my mantuamaker to let my dress be
elegant, but plain as I could possibly appear, with decency;
accordingly, it is white lutestring, covered and full trimmed with white
crape, festooned with lilac ribbon and mock point lace, over a hoop of
enormous extent; there is only a narrow train of about three yards in
length to the gown waist, which is put into a ribbon upon the left side,
the Queen only having her train borne. Ruffle cuffs for married ladies,
treble lace lappets, two white plumes, and a blond lace handkerchief.
This is my rigging, I should have mentioned two pearl pins in my hair,
earrings and necklace of the same kind.

THURSDAY MORNING.

My head is dressed for St. James's, and in my opinion looks very tasty.
While my daughter's is undergoing the same operation, I set myself down
composedly to write you a few lines. "Well," methinks I hear Betsey and
Lucy say, "what is cousin's dress?" White, my dear girls, like your
aunt's, only differently trimmed and ornamented: her train being wholly
of white crape, and trimmed with white ribbon; the petticoat, which is
the most showy part of the dress, covered and drawn up in what are
called festoons, with light wreaths of beautiful flowers; the sleeves
white crape, drawn over the silk, with a row of lace round the sleeve
near the sho