house is a booth, compared to
that of the Hay-market, and the play-house not so neat as that of
Lincoln's-Inn-fields; but then it must be owned, to their praise,
their tragedians are much beyond any of ours. I should hardly allow
Mrs O----d a better place than to be confidante to La ----. I have
seen the tragedy of Bajazet so well represented, that I think our
best actors can be only said to speak, but these to feel; and 'tis
certainly infinitely more moving to see a man appear unhappy, than to
hear him say that he is so, with a jolly face, and a stupid smirk in
his countenance.--_A propos_ of countenances, I must tell you
something of the French ladies; I have seen all the beauties, and
such--(I can't help making use of the coarse word) nauseous
creatures! so fantastically absurd in their dress! so monstrously
unnatural in their paints! their hair cut short, and curled round
their faces, and so loaded with powder, that it makes it look like
white wool! and on their cheeks to their chins, unmercifully laid on
a shining red japan, that glistens in a most flaming manner, so that
they seem to have no resemblance to human faces. I am apt to
believe, that they took the first hint of their dress from a fair
sheep newly ruddled. 'Tis with pleasure I recollect my dear pretty
country-women: and if I was writing to any body else, I should say,
that these grotesque daubers give me still a higher esteem of the
natural charms of dear Lady R----'s auburne (sic) hair, and the
lively colours of her unsullied complexion. I am, &c. &c.

_P. S._ I have met the Abbe here, who desires me to make his
compliments to you.

LET. L.

TO MR T----.

_Paris, Oct_. 16. O. S. 1718.

YOU see I'm just to my word, in writing to you from Paris, where I
was very much surprised to meet my sister; I need not add, very much
pleased. She as little expected to see me as I her (having not
received my late letters); and this meeting would shine under the
hand of de Seuderie; but I shall not imitate his style so far, as to
tell you how often we embraced, how she inquired, by what odd chance
I returned from Constantinople? And I answered her by asking, what
adventure brought her to Paris? To shorten the story, all questions,
and answers, and exclamations, and compliments being over, we agreed
upon running about together, and have seen Versailles, Trianon,
Marli, and St Cloud. We had an order for the water to play for our
diversion, an