BY THE REV. JOHN OWEN , A.M. LATE FELLOW OF CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE; AND RECTOR OF PAGLESHAM, ESSEX. VELUTI IN SPECULUM. THE STAGE . Eighth Edition . LONDON: PRINTED FOR L. B. SEELEY, FLEET STREET. 1817. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND BEILBY PORTEUS, D.D. LORD BISHOP OF LONDON , NOT MORE DISTINGUISHED BY HIS ELOQUENCE AS A PREACHER, HIS VIGILANCE AS A PRELATE, HIS SANCTITY AS A CHRISTIAN, AND HIS VARIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A SCHOLAR AND A MAN, THAN BY HIS INDEFATIGABLE EXERTIONS TO DETECT THE E

The following little Work was originally published in the Spring of 1804, under the assumed name of Theophilus Christian, Esq.  From the high commendation bestowed on it by the late Bishop Porteus, the Author was induced to avow himself in the second impression, and to prefix a Dedication, in which he endeavoured to do some justice to the merits of that Prelate, whose character he united with the public in revering, and whose patronage and friendship he had the honour to enjoy. The Author is not

I have often been surprised, that among the many descriptions which ingenious writers have given of places and people comparatively insignificant, no complete and systematic account has yet been written of the Fashionable World.  It is true, that our poets and caricaturists have honoured this people with a great share of their notice, and many particulars, not a little edifying, have been made known, through the medium of their admirable publications.  It is also true, that our prose-writers hav

SITUATION—BOUNDARIES—CLIMATE—SEASONS. Though I do not undertake to write a geographical account of the Fashionable World, yet I should think myself highly culpable were I to pass over this interesting part of the subject wholly in silence.  My readers must be at the same time cautioned, not to form their expectations of the geography of Fashion from that of other countries.  The fact is, that the whole community which sustains this appellation, extensive as it is, can scarcely be treated as havi

GOVERNMENT—LAWS, &c. The History of the Fashionable World is a sort of undertaking, which, to be accurately executed, would require abundantly more leisure and diligence than I could afford to bestow upon it: and I very much doubt, whether, after all, one reader out of a hundred would be at the pains of perusing it.  The fact is, that the members of this community are not sufficiently substantial to form historical pictures.  Their employments are not of a nature to make their memory an

RELIGION AND MORALITY. In attempting to give an account of the Religion of the people of Fashion, I feel myself not a little embarrassed.  It were, indeed, very much to be wished, that one of their own number would, in the name of the rest, draw up a confession of their faith.  This is, perhaps, expecting too much; and yet I cannot but think that it would be a very good employment for some of those modish priests, who pass so much of their time in the circles of Fashion.  They give every proof t

EDUCATION. No people in the universe expend larger sums upon the education of their children than people of Fashion.  It is a maxim with them to commence the great business of instruction in the very earliest period of life; and if the system of education corresponded with the pains bestowed upon it, and the price at which it is purchased, no persons would do more honour to society than the subjects of the Fashionable World.  As it is, they are not a little ornamental to a nation.  They are not,

MANNERS—LANGUAGE. The Manners of this people are remarkably artificial.  They appear to do every thing by rule; and not a word, a look, or a movement escapes them, but what has at one time or other been studied.  In every part of their demeanour they have reference to some invisible standard, which they call the Ton , or the Fashion, (from which latter term they have derived their appellation;) and by this mysterious talisman their manners, their dress, their language, and the whole of their beh

SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY A MAN OF FASHION. I. LO! where the party-giving dames,    Fair Fashion’s train, appear; Disclose the long-expected games,    And wake the modish year: The opera-warbler pours her throat, Responsive to the actor’s note,    The dear-bought harmony of Spring; While, beaming pleasure as they fly, Bright flambeaus through the murky sky    Their welcome fragrance fling. II. Where’er the rout’s full myriads close    The staircase and the door, Where’er thick files of be

HAPPINESS OF THE PEOPLE ESTIMATED. I trust my reader is by this time sufficiently acquainted with the general outline of Fashionable life: it would only be accumulating observations unnecessarily to enter further into the subject: I shall therefore devote the present chapter to a brief investigation of the state of happiness among a people who, it must be observed, claim to be considered—the happiest of their species . Happiness is, as moralists agree, a relative expression; and indicates the ex

DEFECT OF THE SYSTEM—PLANS OF REFORM—CONCLUSION. A system which does so little for the happiness of its members, as that which has been unfolded in the course of this work, must have some radical defect; and it is worthy of consideration, whether some steps should not be speedily taken, in order to discover the nature of that defect, and to provide a competent remedy for it. I am perfectly aware, that it would be most decorous, to let such a measure of enquiry originate in the community to which

THE CHRISTIAN MONITOR for the LAST DAYS; or a Caution to the professedly Religious, against the Corruptions of the latter Times, in Doctrine, Discipline, and Morals.  Second Edition, corrected.—8vo. 6 s. ALSO , THE HISTORY of the ORIGIN and FIRST TEN YEARS of the BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.  2 Vols.  Extra Boards.  Demy, 1 l. 4 s.   Royal, 1 l. 15 s. This Work contains an Authentic Account of the Origin of the Institution, and of the several Societies in connection with it: together with