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eally frightful； or at best conveys nothing but ideas of disgust and aversion。 You know； that without this horrible masque no married lady is admitted at court； or in any polite assembly； and that it is a mark of distinction which no bourgeoise dare assume。 Ladies of fashion only have the privilege of exposing themselves in these ungracious colours。 As their faces are concealed under a false complexion； so their heads are covered with a vast load of false hair； which is frizzled on the forehead； so as exactly to resemble the wooly heads of the Guinea negroes。 As to the natural hue of it； this is a matter of no consequence； for powder makes every head of hair of the same colour； and no woman appears in this country； from the moment she rises till night； without being compleatly whitened。 Powder or meal was first used in Europe by the Poles； to conceal their scald heads； but the present fashion of using it； as well as the modish method of dressing the hair； must have been borrowed from the Hottentots； who grease their wooly heads with mutton suet and then paste it over with the powder called buchu。 In like manner； the hair of our fine ladies is frizzled into the appearance of negroes wool； and stiffened with an abominable paste of hog's grease； tallow； and white powder。 The present fashion； therefore； of painting the face； and adorning the head； adopted by the beau monde in France； is taken from those two polite nations the Chickesaws of America and the Hottentots of Africa。 On the whole； when I see one of those fine creatures sailing along； in her taudry robes of silk and gauze； frilled； and flounced； and furbelowed； with her false locks； her false jewels； her paint； her patches； and perfumes； I cannot help looking upon her as the vilest piece of sophistication that art ever produced。
This hideous masque of painting； though destructive of all beauty； is； however； favourable to natural homeliness and deformity。 It accustoms the eyes of the other sex； and in time reconciles them to frightfull objects； it disables them from perceiving any distinction of features between woman and woman； and； by reducing all faces to a level； gives every female an equal chance for an admirer； being in this particular analogous to the practice of the antient Lacedemonians； who were obliged to chuse their helpmates in the dark。 In what manner the insides of their heads are furnished； I would not presume to judge from the conversation of a very few to whom I have had access： but from the nature of their education； which I have heard described； and the natural vivacity of their tempers； I should expect neither sense； sentiment； nor discretion。 From the nursery they are allowed； and even encouraged； to say every thing that comes uppermost； by which means they acquire a volubility of tongue； and a set of phrases； which constitutes what is called polite conversation。 At the same time they obtain an absolute conquest over all sense of shame； or rather； they avoid acquiring this troublesome sensation； for it is certainly no innate idea。 Those who have not governesses at home； are sent； for a few years； to a convent； where they lay in a fund of superstition that serves them for life： but I never heard they had the least opportunity of cultivating the mind； of exercising the powers of reason； or of imbibing a taste for letters； or any rational or useful accomplishment。 After being taught to prattle； to dance and play at cards； they are deemed sufficiently qualified to appear in the grand monde； and to perform all the duties of that high rank and station in life。 In mentioning cards； I ought to observe； that they learn to play not barely for amusement； but also with a view to advantage； and； indeed； you seldom meet with a native of France； whether male or female； who is not a compleat gamester； well versed in all the subtleties and finesses of the art。 This is likewise the case all over Italy。 A lady of a great house in Piedmont； having four sons； makes no scruple to declare； that the first shall represent the family； the second enter into the army； the third into the church； and that she will breed the fourth a gamester。 These noble adventurers devote themselves in a particular manner to the entertainment of travellers from our country； because the English are supposed to be full of money； rash； incautious； and utterly ignorant of play。 But such a sharper is most dangerous； when he hunts in couple with a female。 I have known a French count and his wife； who found means to lay the most wary under contribution。 He was smooth； supple； officious； and attentive： she was young； handsome； unprincipled； and artful。 If the Englishman marked for prey was found upon his guard against the designs of the husband； then madam plied him on the side of gallantry。 She displayed all the attractions of her person。 She sung； danced； ogled； sighed； complimented； and complained。 If he was insensible to all her charms； she flattered his vanity； and piqued his pride； by extolling the wealth and generosity of the English； and if he proved deaf to all these insinuations she； as her last stake； endeavoured to interest his humanity and compassion。 She expatiated； with tears in her eyes； on the cruelty and indifference of her great relations； represented that her husband was no more than the cadet of a noble family ； that his provision was by no means suitable。 either to the dignity of his rank； or the generosity of his disposition： that he had a law…suit of great consequence depending； which had drained all his finances； and； finally； that they should be both ruined； if they could not find some generous friend； who would accommodate them with a sum of money to bring the cause to a determination。 Those who are not actuated by such scandalous motives； become gamesters from meer habit； and； having nothing more solid to engage their thoughts； or employ their time； consume the best part of their lives； in this worst of all dissipation。 I am not ignorant that there are exceptions from this general rule： I know that France has produced a Maintenon； a Sevigine； a Scuderi； a Dacier； and a Chatelet； but I would no more deduce the general character of the French ladies from these examples； than I would call a field of hemp a flower…garden。 because there might be in it a few lillies or renunculas planted by the hand of accident。
Woman has been defined a weaker man； but in this country the men are； in my opinion； more ridiculous and insignificant than the women。 They certainly are more disagreeable to a rational enquirer； because they are more troublesome。 Of all the coxcombs on the face of the earth； a French petit maitre is the most impertinent： and they are all petit maitres from the marquis who glitters in lace and embroidery； to the garcon barbier covered with meal； who struts with his hair in a long queue； and his hat under his arm。 I have already observed； that vanity is the great and universal mover among all ranks and degrees of people in this nation； and as they take no pains to conceal or controul it； they are hurried by it into the most ridiculous and indeed intolerable extrav