The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-02-15 00:00:00

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NArriAN NOBalTr.
The description of Madame Daasatthses party, frinished a
few dap since, and taken trona The Philaelelplam drisertiaer,
is succeeded by the return compliments paid to that dials-
geisha reran...if during her continuance at the Cape. The
following is rime the same account, continued in the Ad-
seftiler of Thursday.
Previous to the

• -mem given by Madame

Mutat IN ts, there had been seveial otheis at which
we were guests ; but. as none of them quite equalled
her's in splendour and variety, I reserved the par-
ticular description for it. One of these was a din-
err given by General CHRISTOPIit, another a Jup-
per by Ft LIE FERRata, the Ordinator General, and
a third, a breeifist given by a French gentleman in
compliment to Lady DESSALINEL CHRISTOPHL'S
table was set under a large saloon ereifted purposely,
in the street, extending from one side of the way to
the other, and occupying about 300 feet in length.
There were about 150 guests, among whom were the
two French priests formerly mentioned. The break-
fast was served in elegant style at the gentleman's
country-house, about a mile from town. All the
Royal Family was there. Lady DRSIALI NES rode
i■ an old-fashioned low chariot, with three horses
abreast ; others rode in gigs and chairs. and some
on horseback. As the grin ire., did not find it con-
venient to come until three o cock in the afternoon.
we did not set down to 6reaifeat till that hour. As
they approached thetable, the General's hand played
some delightful music, which, in a great measnre.
allayed the passions of some of the Americans, who
having bees invited at ten o'clock, had nothing to
stay their stomachs, and who were now cursing and
swearing at the black gentry, for keeping them so
long from eating. A mu'atto lady, wife to Mutt-,
Commandant of th place (a white Frenchman), ap-
peared on this occasion in a complete suit of men's
clothes, and several other ladies rode on horseback
in the position that mea do, but with gowns iin.
These two odd, and, to me, strange appearances, I
afterwards found to be very common customs in
this country.

TM 15.

This day a dinner was given in honour of Lady
DISSALINES (who was nett day to depart from
town), by the merchants of the Cape, at the Thea-
tre. All the Americans were invited, and most of
them attended. .The Nobility, as usual, were pre-
sent. as also the band of music, and guard of sol-
diers. The table was laid in the form of V, with
one hundred aid sixty-eight covers, and two hun-
dred and forty dishes and vessels containing eatables.
Under each plate was placed a printed paper, con-
taining the following Latin words—Gaudete, Cites,
gaudet in media writs:.
This was tailed the first inurijbon, and had a
translation of it into French,;whicb, literally Eng-
lished, reads thus—Ciliates, he transported withjoy!
deliver uourseluts np to merriment ! Virtue wishes to rea
joiee amongst v', and tale part in one pleanires.
The second inscription was two lines of rhyme,
in French, and is thus translated—When the well-
beloved shall return to this plats, joy will soon appear
among cs.
The paper containing this pompous and fulsome
flattery was signed by its author, Stavin ; and,
after the dinner was finished. primed Verses adelsese-
ed to Madame DESCA LIME!. were distrilanted among,
the guests. Their author, SANS DI VEHTMOUNT,
then stationed himself behind the chair of Madame
IILSSALINes, and, upen silence being ordered, read
them aloud to the company, and was highly ap-
()Lauded. This particular mark of resra and
praise was highly gratifying to the feelings of the
Governor's Lady, who. perhaps, had never been.
eulogised so beore in her whole life. and who
thought that every word was true and sincere.—
Cmai r•,riit has not to be fooled; he listened atten-
tively to the verses, and, after they were finished,
put on .i sort of a cunning smile, as much as to tell
Sass nt VILMTMOVN r, that all that would nut save
his head.

After this a balloon was set off from the street in
front of the Theatre, but which unfortunately took
fire before it had risen any considerable distance.
hire works and rockets were also displayed, after
which the dancing commenced, and continued with
gaiety and cheerfulness, until an unfortunate acci-
d•mt occurred, that suspended the entertoinnienis
This was nothing more nor less than the bench, upon
which Madame Dssseti pits and Madame CHRIS..
roritt, with several others, were sitting, giving
way, which laid the r Ladys:nps sprawling upon
the flcor. The music and dancing immediately
ceased ; the whole company was in confusion and
uproar ; ir t4e hagriP resounded from all parts of the
room ; every countenance appeared sorrowful and
gloomy ; so ne ran this way with smelling bottles;
others ran that way with water, whilst others
hastened for physicians. lir fine, it was me of the
most laughable to ces I ever saw In my life, and
was concluded by a loud hone laugh from Lady
Dtssat.tnLs, indicating that she was not materially
hurt.

Now the idea, that the mere tumble of a gout
strapping negro wench should occasion so much
confusion and anxiety in so large an assembly was
laughable, and the contempt one would conceive to-
wards a corrwany that would so basely degrade them-
selves, as ttretrnd uneasiness upon the account of
it, may be easily imagined.

On the morning following, as was expeled,
Lady DiSSALINEI set off with her suite, for Go-
naives, where her husband then was. D ess AI.I as
himself had never been in the Cape during my !tay,
but his wife had been there about two months upon
a visit. As this is the last we shall see of Lady I)essa-
!,l es, I must not 'weber, without giving a descrip-
tion of her person and character. :the is about the
middling height for a woman, but a very thick,
clumsy, and vulgar looking person. She is of the
very darkest black, and her face is rather hand-
some. I ter disposition is very mild and gentle, and,
upon the whole, she is a good woman. She has a
strong prepossession in favour of the white French.
men, and has very often javed the lives of poor
wretches by going down upon her knees to her
husband, and imploring his mercy. During ber
residence at the Cape, the inhabitants were all lively
and chearful ; balls, parties, and other entertain-
ments were given almost every night ; but the mo-
ment she departed, sadness and sorrow were spread
all around ; the theatrical entertainments were dis-
continued, and no parries of pleasure or arnalment
were any where to be beard of; in floe, the French