al failure of the physical powers
of nature puts an end to the ability, though not to the love of
pleasure. Any thing, therefore, it may be well believed, which comes
between the French ladies and this mania for dancing, produces no
ordinary effect. One of our party observed at a ball, a French lady of
quality in the deepest mourning. On coming up to her, she remarked to
the English lady, with a face of much melancholy, that her situation was
indeed deplorable. "Look at me," said she, "these are the weeds for my
mother, who has only been two months dead. Do you see these odious black
gloves; they will not permit me to join in your amusements; but oh! how
the heart dances, when the feet can't." "Come, come," said another
female waltzer of fifty, whose round little body we had traced at
intervals, rolling and pirouetting about the room; "come, we forget that
the fast of Ash Wednesday begins at twelve. We may sup well before
twelve, but not a morsel after it. We have but one short hour to eat,
but we may dance, you know, all night."

By our acquaintance with the best society in Aix, we have enjoyed no
unfavourable opportunity of forming an idea of the present condition of
society in the south of France. One of the first circumstances which we
all remarked, and which has probably occurred to most who have
associated in French society, was the wide range over which the titles
of nobility extended. We indeed heard, that at Aix, where we resided,
and at Toulouse, there were to be found more of the old nobility than in
any other parts of France. These towns were, on account of the cheapness
of living, the depots of the emigrant gentlemen whose fortunes had been
reduced by the revolution, the receptacles of the ancient aristocracy of
France. Yet even making every allowance for this circumstance, when we
recollect the appearance and manners of many who were dignified by the
titles of Marquis, Counts and Barons, it was impossible not to feel
that, when compared with our own country, there was a kind of
profanation of the aristocracy; and I should not be much surprised, if
it was afterwards discovered, by some who would take the pains to
investigate the subject narrowly, that in these remote parts of the
kingdom, there subsisted a species of silent understood compact, by
which the parties agreed, that if the one was dignified by his friends
with the title of _Marquis_, he would in his turn make no scruple to
favour the other with t