No. 76. SATURDAY, July 15, 1786.

THIS day's paper I devote to correspondents. The first of the following letters I was particularly desirous to insert soon, as its subject is of that transient kind which might suffer from delay. In dress, as well as in character, there is often, in these times of change, "the Cynthia of the minute."

TO THE AUTHOR OF THE LOUNGER.

SIR,

Brown Square, Edinburgh,
July 6, 1786.

I understand that the gentlemen who formerly held the same sort of office which you now exercise among us, were in use to appoint certain deputies, to whom they

committed particular departments. As you, Sir, seem now to be so well established in yours, that you may possibly think of following their example, I make bold to solicit an appointment, or, failing of that, your patronage at least to an undertaking, of which this town seems to stand much in need, and for which I flatter myself I am tolerably well qualified.

One of your extensive observation, Mr Lounger, must have remarked, how defective we are in point of general or early information in dress, and how long it is before we accommodate ourselves universally to that perfect standard which the metropolis of England affords. We are often miserably in the rear of the fashion; and, except one or two favoured ladies, who have been accidentally in London, the bulk of our fine women don't get into the mode till it is quite upon the wane among our southern neighbours. The ostrich head did not make its appear

ance here till half a season after it had been worn in London. The other end of the ostrich was still later of reaching us. That was indeed partly owing to an accident; the first set (as it is a bulky article) was coming down by sea in a ship that was wrecked, and a friend of mine, who had the merit of the first commission, lost considerably in bottomry on the vessel. At this very moment I see pass my door a great many Brimstone ribbons, though it is two months since my letters from London inform me they were quite out there. As long ago as the Commemoration, there were none but Celestials present, not a single Brimstone in the Abbey.

This inconvenience, Sir, might easily be remedied, by a speedier communication of intelligence between the capitals of England and of Scotland; more especially if a public appointment were made of some person, from whom such intelli

gence could here be obtained, and who should be answerable for its authenticity. It is for this office, Mr Lounger, I venture to propose myself. I have been at a good deal of pains, Sir, to establish such a correspondence at London, and even at Paris, as I trust will enable me to supply myself, not only with intelligence, but with models of every article of dress, as soon as it grows into confirmed fashion; and I will take care to exhibit, at certain stated seasons, a set of Poupées, which I flatter myself will convey from my shopwindow a perfect idea of the reigning dress and undress of the fashionable world. At present, the little figures which are stationed there, are looked on merely as toys for children; but I hereby give notice, that, with your leave, Mr Lounger, I shall, on the first day of the ensuing race-week, convert them to a more dignified, as well as a more useful purpose; that they will then represent, on one side

of my window, a set of fashionably dressed gentlemen, and on the other a party of fashionably dressed ladies.

There never, I imagine, Sir, was a period when such a standard was of so much importance in this country. The proportion of the value of dress to that of the wearer, particularly in the fair sex, is wonderfully increased of late years in Edinburgh. Of the first I think I am a tolerably good judge, and can estimate, I believe, within a few shillings (supposing the underworks to be of the ordinary materials,) the value of any lady's apparel. Of the value of the lady herself I do not pretend to be a judge: in some instances, within my little experience, I have observed the estimate to differ considerably at two different periods, as it happened to be made by the lover or the husband; at the first, they bore a premium, as we say in business; at the latter, there was rather a discount. But taking things at an