University of Virginia Library

TO MRS. STORER.[1]

For your kind congratulations upon my arrival in
Europe, receive my thanks. Those only, who have
crossed the ocean, can realize the pleasure which is
felt at the sight of land. The inexperienced traveller
is more sensible of this, than those who frequently
traverse the ocean. I could scarcely realize that
thirty days had removed me so far distant from my
native shore; but the new objects which surrounded
me did not efface from my remembrance the dearer
ones which I left behind me. "And is this the country,
and are these the people, who so lately waged

a cruel war against us?" were reflections, which did
not escape me amidst all the beauty and grandeur,
which presented themselves to my eyes. You have
doubtless heard from my friends, that I was pleased
with England, and that I met with much civility and
politeness there, and a large share of it from your
connexions.

I am now resident in a country, to which many
Americans give the preference. The climate is said
to be more temperate and mild. I can pass no
judgment by comparison, but that there are more
fogs in both, than are agreeable to me. A North American,
however, has no right to complain of the
rigor of a climate, which, in the middle of January,
is as mild as our May; though I think the fall of
the year was near as cold as ours.

Do you know, my dear Madam, what a task you
have set me? a description of ladies!

"Catch, ere she change, the Cynthia of this minute."

To a lady of Mrs. Storer's discernment, the mere
superficial adorning of the sex would afford but little
satisfaction. Yet this is all I shall be able to recount
to her. A stranger in the country, not only to the
people but to the language, I cannot judge of mental
accomplishment, unless you will allow that dress
and appearance are the index of the mind. The
etiquette of this country requires the first visit from
the stranger. You will easily suppose, that I have
not been very fond of so awkward a situation as
going to visit ladies, merely to make my dumb compliments,

and receive them in return. I have declined
visiting several personages, to whom Mr. Adams
would have introduced me, upon this account. An
acquaintance with a gentleman by no means insures
to you a knowledge of his lady; for no one
will be so ill-bred as to suppose an intercourse between
them. It is from my observations of the
French ladies at the theatres and public walks, that
my chief knowledge of them is derived.

The dress of the French ladies is, like their manners,
light, airy, and genteel. They are easy in
their deportment, eloquent in their speech, their
voices soft and musical, and their attitude pleasing.
Habituated to frequent the theatres from their earliest
age, they become perfect mistresses of the art
of insinuation and the powers of persuasion. Intelligence
is communicated to every feature of the
face, and to every limb of the body; so that it may
with truth be said, every man of this nation is an
actor, and every woman an actress. It is not only
among the rich and polite, who attend the great
theatres, that this art is acquired, but there are a
dozen small theatres, to which all classes resort.
There are frequently given pieces at the opera, and
at the small theatres, where the actors speak not a
single word, but where the action alone will delineate
to you the story. I was at one of this kind last
evening. The story is too long to relate here; but
there was a terrible sea-storm in it; the rolling of
the sea, the mounting of the vessel upon the waves,
in which I coufd discern a lady and little child in the

utmost distress, the terrible claps of thunder and
flashes of lightning, which flew from one side of the
stage to the other, really worked me up to such a
pitch, that I trembled with terror. The vessel was
finally dashed upon the rocks, and the lady and
child were cast on a desert island.

The dancing on the stage is a great amusement
to me, and the dresses are beautifully fanciful. The
fashionable shape of the ladies here is, to be very
small at the bottom of the waist, and very large
round the shoulders,—a wasp's,—pardon me, ladies,
that I should make such a comparison, it is
only in shape, that I mean to resemble you to them.
You and I, Madam, must despair of being in the
mode.

I enclose to you the pattern of a stomacher, cape,
and forebody of a gown; different petticoats are
much worn, and then the stomacher must be of the
petticoat color, and the cape of the gown, as well as
the sleeves. Sometimes a false sleeve is made use
of to draw over the other, and, in that case, the cape
is like the gown. Gowns and petticoats are worn
without any trimming of any kind. That is reserved
for full dress only, when very large hoops
and negligees, with trains three yards long, are
worn. But these are not used, except at Court,
and then only upon public occasions; the Queen
herself, and the ladies of honor, dressing very plain
upon other days. Abby has made you a miniature
handkerchief, just to show you one mode; but caps,
bats, and handkerchiefs are as various as ladies' and
milliners' fancies can devise.

Thus, Madam, having displayed the mode to you,
be so good as to present Mr. Adams's and my regards
to Mr. Storer, and, in one word, to all who
inquire after your affectionate friend,