this day. The fashion of the year is determined by that carriage which is most generally admired in this promenade. Α procession of greater magnificence is not to be seen in Europe; the carriages proceed in three or four rows, close beside or behind each other; the pleasure consists in seeing and being seen, and after some hours spent in this manner, every one hastens home satisfied and delighted.

Driving in sledges is another leading diversion amongst the great and fashion able. The sledges in use in this amusement are at once extremely simple and elegant, they are in the shape of shells. gondolas, swans, eagles, &c. They are universally drawn by a pair of horses, one being harnessed in the shafts, aud another on the other side of the shaft. The art is to keep the shaft-horse in a trot, and the other in a gallop; the interest consists, of course, in the dexterity and in the rapidity. These sledges often drive in a race against each other; the horses are very fleet, and the banks and river are usually lined with spectators.

have instituted one or more of these coffeehouses, but they are so litue in conformity with the manners of the people, that they meet with little encouragement.

The manners of the lower orders are unfortunately not in that state of refinement which has been described in many authors who have written on the state of Russia. Notwithstanding all the efforts of Catharine, who certainly promoted the growth of Russia upwards of a century, and pushed it forwards from barbarism into civilization, the Russians of the lower order still remain in the lowest possible condi tion of barbarism. An eminent instance of this is related by a recent traveller.The Russian peasantry who have sons, marry them at an early age to some blooming girl of the same village, then dispatch them to Petersburgh to make their fortune; during this absence they live with the wives of their sons, and beget children by them. The son, returning in a few years, finds a progeny by his own parent, whom he very patiently educates as his own. In his turn he follows the same example.

The Russians indeed of all classes, and The promiscuous bathing which we have more particularly perhaps the great and mentioned is another proof of the same fashionable, are peculiarly fond of water kind of barbarism. The Empress Cathaparties. On the shores of the Neva in-rine prohibited this at Petersburgh, but it numerable boats are always plying; they still remains at Moscow. are infinitely more elegant than those we are accustomed to see in London; every nobleman and gentleman, moreover, has his own barge, which is carved and gilded with the greatest possible magnificence. The rowers are all dressed in an elegant uniform; they are celebrated for their dexterity in the use and practise of their oars. The rowers, moreover, usually sing a song in chorus, and as the tunes are gay and simple, nothing can add more to the general tone of the animation which characterises the scene.

The Russians are the most hospitable people in the world; to be a stranger is to be entitled to every act of kindness; hence a stranger well recommended in Petersburgh has very little need of the expences of the table; he is immediately admitted from one to every successive party, and may pass his life in an unintermitting round of visits.

This hospitality, in fact, characterises the Russians, as much as the general polite. ness pervading every rank characterises the French. The Russians of all classes hail the visit of a friend as a holiday; cer

We have already had occasion to mention that the Russians are not fond of pub-tain days of the year are set aside for this lic assemblies; Petersburgh, therefore, has interchange of hospitality, and the welcome one distinction above every other capital of the old feudal times is renewed in the in Europe. There are no coffee-houses hall of a Russian Count. and taverns as in London, none at least for the use of the Russians. A Russian never thinks of dining at a tavern when he has a house and family at home. Of late years it is said that the French emigrants

Though many of the splendours of fa shionable life have obtained admittance in the Russian empire, nothing of what may be termed fashionable foppery, fashionable frivolity, has as yet contaminated the

original purity of Russian manners. They still retain all the hardihood of the north; they still retain their characteristic virtues and vices. A concert of the French or English stamp would be a phenomenon in a Russian assembly. The ladies are as far,

on their part, from those fashionable extravagancies which characterize the belles of England and France; unfortunately it cannot be said that they are equally far from a fashionable profligacy of manners.

MR. EDITOR,

MADAME CATALANI'S SINGING.

As by the name of your Magazine you ought to have a good acquaintance with the fashionable world, and with the changes which it undergoes, I wish you briefly to answer me some short questions; but which you will better understand when I lay some circumstances before you.

me, and tells others, that if I were to hear Catalani I should never attempt to sing again. She passed the room the other day whilst I was singing her former favourite song, "'Twas within a mile of Edinborough town," and I heard her say to my brother who was with her, "Will that Phill never have done squalling." If in the midst of my work I insensibly slip into a tune, she I am naturally, Sir, a girl of very ani- stops her ears without ceremony, and asks mated spirits, of a disposition always gay, me crossly if I mean to murder her. She and therefore undoubtedly sometimes in has got, moreover, several outlandish want of a check. I have, moreover, a very words which she occasionally throws in good natural voice, and have hitherto been my face to jeer me; the other night I hapmuch admired in the narrow circle of our || pened to cough so as to drown my tune, village. When my mother and sisters when she clapped her hands, and cried were at work they would desire me to sing, Bravo! Encora! Now, Sir, though these and in obeying them I would partly forget may seem trifles to you, it is not so to me my own labour, and perhaps render theirs or my family; it has much disquieted the the easier. When any party of friends, harmless satisfaction which I used to feel moreover, made us a friendly visit, one por- at contributing so much to the pleasure of tion of their entertainment was to hear me my father and mother; it has likewise sing. In this harmless amusement of my-much disturbed our general good temper self and friends, and in the innocent satisfaction which resulted from the praises which I received, I was as happy as the day was long. This happiness, Sir, has now passed away. About two months since an aunt whom I have at Bath invited my sister Kitty to come and pass a month with her. Kitty went, and has returned; and here, Sir, is the cause of all my uneasiness. There could not possibly be a more good natured girl than sister Hetty when she went to Bath; she had a good colour, good health, good humour, much affection for me, and a ready obedience for her parents; she was all open, candid, and na-sands, if the greater excellence of one in tural, had nothing affected about her, and delighted as much as the others to hear me sing. How miserably changed is she since she left us; she talks about nothing but Catalani, and if I begin a song, tell:

and family union, for my mother has two or three times turned my sister out of the 100m, and my father always takes my part and d-ns Catalani with some bitterness.

Now, Sir, as your Magazine is taken in our family, I wish you briefly to inform my sister, that it is neither within the course of sense or manners to suffer her idle affectation to encroach on the peace of the family; and that it is not reasonable that every one should cease to sing, because they cannot sing as well as Catalani. There would soon be an end of all the variety in the world, and of the amusement of thou

any art or accomplishment was necessarily to destroy all relish for a less degree of talent or ability in another. In London you have actors and actresses of all merit, and you very liberally hear them all, and,

give to each his due; Catalani cannot be every where, and is all amusement to cease in London because Catalani is in Bath? A few words to this effect, in better language, and more like a sermon, would do much good to sister Kitty, for she has great good nature at heart when she is not possessed by Catalani and the spirit of affectation. Ah, Sir! if fathers and mo- | thers could well understand what is the effect of a cursory visit to places of pleasure like London and Bath on young minds, they would not so easily give their consent to every foolish invitation which is given to their daughters. Sister Kitty sleeps with me,—I will say nothing more at present, than that she is not the same girl that she was; she talks sometimes very strangely, and frequently instead of reminding me of my prayers, as she used to do, falls asleep, and forgets them herself. The other night when we had been cut dancing, we both fell asleep without saying them; I awoke

about two in the morning, and remembering the omission waked my sister after much difficulty; she was in a dreadful passion, and absolutely beat me. Now, Sir, this is all Bath.

I will not make my letter too long, and therefore will only take another line to thank you for the music in your Magazines; perhaps if your tunes were more soft, more in the tone of love and melancholy, they would more generally please. I was in town about three years ago, when I remember hearing in the theatres a very sweet song and tune:

"My mother bids me bind my hair,
"With wreathes of rosy hue,
"Tie up my arms with ribbous rare,

"And lace my boddice blue."

I have neither been able to procure the tune or words of this song; perhaps if you were to give it in your Magazine, you might oblige more than,-Yours,

PHILOMELA.

HULKEM.

A TALE.

[Concluded from Page 95.]

HULKEM withdrew, and Ibrahim was called in. "Ibrahim," said the caliph sternly, "the first act of injustice which you commit will cost you your life. Let this be publicly proclaimed in Bagdad and without delay send Helim's wife to me." Ibrahim was struck mute, trembling like an aspen leaf; and in a few minutes Hulkem had the satisfaction of quitting Bagdad, with Helim's happy wife.

After two days journey he arrived with her at his house, where Helim and Hulkem's daughter were sitting under the shade of the palm trees, enjoying the cool breezes of the evening.

owe me no obligation; for I am the happiest
of all:" he ordered a palankiu and a horse to
felt satisfaction.
be got ready, and dismissed them with heart-

During this recital Hassan sat mute with his eyes fixed upon the ground; he beheld with down the checks of the happy couple; he was secret envy the tears of gratitude which flowed seized with rage at the encomiums of Hulkem's generosity, which flowed from the lips of Helim and his lovely wife. Wretch that I am, thought Hassan, I shall never become renowned whilst Hulkem lives! "Is Hulkem old?" abruptly questioned he his guests. "God preserve the life of the good old man; he is already eighty years old. God bless him for bis generosity and humanity."

unkindly; for they spoke of nothing but HulHassan dismissed his friends coldly, almost

"The great prophet has assistance for every unfortunate sufferer!" said Hulkem, trembling with joy, then removing the veil from the face of the happy woman, speechless with rapture, he gave her to Helim's bosom. The happy couple were so overpowered with joy,kem. Perhaps, thought he, when Hulkem is that they did not even take the least notice of the beneficent old man, who contemplated the beautiful scene with heavenly pleasure. At length, as they were going to throw them-bribes by presents. selves at Hulkem's feet, he embraced them, while tears of sympathy gushed from his eyes, and exclaimed: "I am indebted to you; you

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by himself, a close observer may discover faults in the old man, which are overlooked by the unfortunate wretches whom he flatters and

Hassan had a friend, whom long intimacy, habit, similarity of sentiments, and Hassan's love and generosity, had united to him by the

Hassau concealed a dagger in his bosom, and went in disguise to Hulkem's house. Whilst on the road, he met with none but happy people, who sang hymns in praise of Hulkem, their generous benefactor. His own name was not mentioned. Hassan's fary grew more violent every moment he seated himself on a bench near Hulkem's mansion: a slave offered him refreshments, but Hassan declined to accept them, enquiring of the slave where Huikem was? "He is not often here," replied the slave kindly, "but he will be here to-morrow."

The maid blushed at Hassan's applause, making a shake on the lute which must have broken the string, had not Hassan reininded her of the injury the instrument might receive. Hassau rose, and withdrawing into the palm-She now requested him to sing, and he acgrove, rambled to a crystal rill absorbed in thought here he sat down on the turf, then got up, seated himself again, got up a second

"I too, old friend, have great reason to be dissatisfied with Hulkem."

The old man smiled with marks of placid contentment, squeezing the young man's hand: "Come with me to my cottage, we must become better acquainted with each other; I see by your flashing eyes that you love truth. Come along with me, my cottage and all that I have is at your service."

They went into the cottage.

The old man was no other person but Hul kem himself; he beckoned to his daughter not to discover his name, whilst they seated themselves upon a simple sofa, Zulima taking a seat opposite to them to listen to their con.

versation.