m; a
little, narrow, pink saloon at the back of the stage, where the dancers
congregate and practise before an immense looking-glass previous to
their appearance in public.

To a fellow of warm imagination and vigorous constitution, such a scene
is calculated to create sensations that must send the circling current
into rapid motion, and animate the heart with thrilling raptures of
delight. Before the mirror, in all the grace of youthful loveliness
and perfect symmetry of form, the divine little fairy sprite, the
all-conquering Andalusian Venus, Mercandotti, was exhibiting her soft,
plump, love-inspiring person in pirouette: before her stood the now
happy swain, the elegant H------ B-, on whose shoulder rested the
Earl of Fe-, admiring with equal ecstasy the finished movements of his
accomplished protegee{4}; on the right hand of the earl stood the single
duke of D--------------e, quizzing the little daughter of Terpsichore
through his eye-glass; on the opposite of the circle was seen the noble

4 It was very generally circulated, and for some time
believed, that the charming little Andalusian Venus was the
natural daughter of the Earl of F-e: a report which had not
a shadow of truth in its foundation, but arose entirely out
of the continued interest the earl took in the welfare of
the lady from the time of her infancy, at which early period
she was exhibited on the stage of the principal theatre in
Cadiz as an infant prodigy; and being afterwards carried
round (as is the custom in Spain) to receive the personal
approval and trifling presents of the grandees, excited such
general admiration as a beautiful child, that the Earl of F-
e, then Lord M- and a general officer in the service of
Spain, adopted the child, and liberally advanced funds for
her future maintenance and instruction, extending his bounty
and protection up to the moment of her fortunate marriage
with her present husband. It is due to the lady to add, that
in every instance her conduct has been marked by the
strictest sense of propriety, and that too in situations
where, it is said, every attraction was offered to have
induced a very opposite course.

~204~~

musical amateur B-----h, supported by the director De R-s on one hand,
and the communicative manager, John Ebers, of Bond-street, on the other;
in a snug corner on the right hand of the mirror wa