This barbarous habit of denouncing the employment of an article, simply because it is the production of, or named from, an enemy, is still prevalent in the dominions of the Czar. If the thing be used, the name must be changed. Were we to follow the same fashion, no Englishman would condescend to put on a pair of "Russia ducks.” But I have fallen into modern illustrations of the beau. When that superb animal is being treated of by Dryden, the poet names the various characteristics of divers beaux, from whom Sir Fopling Flutter had derived his own united excellences, which made of him the recognized "Man of Mode." These are among them :— "His various modes from various fathers follow: Which wind ne'er blew, nor touch of hat profaned. Which, with a bag, casts all the hair before ;- And rises with a water-spaniel shake." ; I have elsewhere noticed that for a "beau" to comb his peruke was a matter of serious business; but it was even more. To do so in presence of a "belle" was to behave to her as became the very pink of politeness. "A wit's wig," says Wycherly's 'Ranger,' "has the privilege of being uncombed in the very playhouse, or in the presence'Ay," interrupts Dapperwit, "but not in the presence of his mistress; 'tis a greater neglect of her than himself. If she has smugg'd herself up for me, let me plume and flounce my peruke a little for her; there's ne'er a young fellow in town but will do as much for a mere stranger in the playhouse. Pray lend me your comb." "Well," says Ranger, "I would not have men of wit and courage make use of every fop's mean arts to keep or gain a mistress." Dapperwit. "But don't you see every day, though a man have ne'er so much wit and courage, his mistress will revolt to those fops who wear and comb perukes well. She comes! she comes pray, your comb!" and thereupon, snatching Ranger's comb, he commences drawing it through the wavy honours of his wig, in order to do honour to, and be seen doing it by, his "dear Miss Lucy." In such wise did Wycherly hold the mirror up to nature, as I find it in his Comedies, published by Richard Bentley, not of Old Burlington-street, but by his good ancestor, who, in 1694, tabernacled "at the Post House, in Russel-street, in Covent Garden, near the Piazza's," as it is written; and who delighted the then novel-reading world with such delectable novels as Zelinda,'' Count Brion,' 'The Happy Slave,' 'The Disorders of Love,' The Pilgrim,' in two parts, and 'The Princess of Montferrat.' And I can only express my admiration at the courage of our great-grandmothers, who learned what was unprofitable and not amusing at so vast an outlay of most patient labour. To one or two modern "beaux" of great celebrity I will now introduce you. Here is a jaunty, impudent, over-dressed gentleman approaching, who will admirably suit our purpose. Pray allow me:-"Gentle Reader, Beau Fielding." "Beau Fielding, Gentle Reader." BEAU FIELDING. "He pass'd his easy hours, instead of prayer, In madrigals and Philising the fair."-GARTH's Dispensary. GOLDSMITH once shed tears from his simple, unsophisticated eyes, as he passed through a village at night, and thought that the sleeping inhabitants were unconscious how great a man was journeying that way. I fancy that most people who pass the Reigate station are in a similarly ignorant state of unconsciousness, and are not at all aware that they are close upon the cradle of Orlando the Fair. I have heard the pleasant author of that pleasant story, 'Crewe Rise,' remark that the worthies of Suffolk count in greater numbers than the worthies of any other county. If worthiness be " greatness," ," in the sense of Jonathan Wild, Suffolk may envy Surrey such a son as Robert Fielding. The father of this incomparable youth was a cavalier squire, with something like £500 per annum to nourish his dignity. "Bob" was early entered at the Temple, where he behaved like a Templar; was too idle to study the constitution of England, but very actively worked at the ruin of his own. He thought Fleet-street vulgar, and removed to Scotland-yard, next door to the court, which then rioted at Whitehall. The "beauty" of his neighbour attracted the notice of that other scamp, Charles II.; and as Fielding was too handsome for anything, the King only made him a Justice of the Peace. The women however left him none; and their importuni ties induced him to abandon justice, and devote himself to wine, love-making, and living upon pensions from female purses. In a succeeding reign he gave up the Church, as he had before surrendered justice; and when James II. was King, Fielding assumed Romanism as a good speculation, and was especially zealous not only in protecting Popish chapels from the populace, but in giving asylum to the prettiest devotees of that faith who flew to his bosom for refuge. He stuck to his profession under William III.; that is, he made none at all; and as he was accounted of no religion, his friends had no difficulty in getting him nominated MajorGeneral. I think this must have been in the Horse Marines. The gallant officer was, at all events, never in fray more serious than with sleepy watchmen and slip-shod waiters, whom he ran through (he was an excellent runner, when peril pursued) with the most astonishing alacrity. He was the handsomest man and the most extravagantly splendid dresser of his day. When he passed down the Mall at the fashionable hour, there was a universal flutter and sensation. "O'Carroll," he would then say to his servant, "does my sword touch my right heel? Do the ladies ogle me ?" "Then, O'Carroll," would the beau exclaim aloud, "let them die of love, and be d-d!” "What a perfect gentleman! what a delicious creature!" chorused the ladies. "Ay, ay," said the beau, "look and die! look and die!" He was not kicked off the public promenade, but he was occasionally so ejected from the public stage. It was the habit or the fashion then for a portion of the audience to stand upon the stage, and the actors played, like mountebanks, in a crowd. It was further the habit of this super -were not lative beau to make remarks aloud upon the ladies in the boxes. The latter,-not the boxes, but the ladies,slow in flinging back retorts; and the players, enraged at being unheeded, would then fairly turn upon Fielding and turn him out, with the ceremony, or want of it, observed in ejecting ill-bred curs. But the beau was amply compensated for such treatment as this by the favour dealt to him by "officers and gentlemen." He was once being pursued by bailiffs sent after him by tailors whom he had ruined. As hare and hounds approached St. James's Palace, the officers on guard turned out, attacked the myrmidons of the law, pinked them all over till they looked like ribbed peppermint, and finally bore Fielding in triumph into the Palace! The equipage of "Orlando" was not less singular than he was himself. He kept a hired chariot, drawn by his own horses, and attended by two footmen in bright yellow coats and black sarsnet sashes. Maidens sighed as he rode by, and murmured "Adonis!" Admiring widows looked at him and exclaimed, "Handsome as Hercules!" He really did unite the most exquisite beauty both of feature and stature, with the most gigantic strength. Boys followed him in crowds, and hailed him father. He showered among them as many curses as blessings. "Did you never see a man before?" he once asked the foremost urchin of a youthful mob. "Never such a one as you, noble general," answered the lad, an embryo beau from Westminster School. Sirrah, I believe thee; there is a crown for thy wit." Mr. Isaac Bickerstaff states that the beau called himself an antediluvian, in respect of the insects which appeared in the world as men; and the 'Tatler' further says, that “he sometimes rode in an open tumbril of less size than ordinary, to show the largeness of his limbs and the grandeur of his personage to the greater advantage. At other sea |