Percival Leigh

“ To see them pacing to and fro in such smart Attire, with their showy pink, and green, and Forget-me-not Blue Parasols, I could fancy they were the London Fashions for June come out a walking. But many on Seats with tall well looking Gallants polled beside them, or bending down to converse with them with vast Attention and Politeness, whereat they seeming mightily pleased. ”

“ The Tunes played mostly Polkas and Waltzes, though now and then a Piece of Musique of a better Sort; but the Musique little more than an Excuse for a Number of People assembling to see and be seen. There all the World and his Wife; and me in all her Finery, and very well me looked. I did see gay Dresses and pretty Faces in greater Number than methinks I ever saw before at one Time. The Day very fair, and the Sun mining gloriously, and the bright coloured Silks and Muslins at a Distance between the Trees, did make a mighty pleasant Picture. ”

“ Methinks they do seem brought up to think too much of their Outsides, and to look on Display and Show as the Business of their Lives, which is a silly Schooling. I did mark some of their Mothers, old enough to know better, bedizened like the young Beauties, but looking four and glum, and plainly ill at ease in their Pride and Vanity. ”