The Sun.
London, England, 1809-12-08 00:00:00

MADAME fEAbifiE b&OA,Ai3iliftt.

The Ladies of all parts of America are of opinion,.
that their fair countrywomen, natives,of Baltimore,
are educated exclusively to captivate men, by a co-
que-try, in which they are not surpassed by the
most insinuating Paris'ian belles. But has not envy
or jealousy some part in this reproach ? The fact
though the Ealtimore ladies, taken en masse, are
ndt so handsome, and perhaps not so correct, as
the ladies of the-other large cities. of the -Union,
their study froth their childhoOd to improve their
own persons,;. and to please the male part of the
creation, makes them always more successful in
matrimonial schemes. An old Prerieh beau, whO
has resided eighteen years in America, has proved,
to' the satistaaion of all amateurs, that considering
the population,. less number of old maids vegetate
in Baltimore than in NeW York, Pniladelphia, Bos-
ton, and Charleston. In general the BAtiinorian
belles resemble in.their manners and dress more the
"French 'than the English Ladies ; -and where morals
are not thought -of,' or MOdesty not valued as an ac-
complishment, the MAN TRAPS of the forward and
the bold are ;more dangerous, and to be avoided,
than the attra&ions of timid beauty,"and the charms
of blushing innocence.
Madame Jerome Buonaparre
.is one of -the most
lovely women .of which t.he city of. Baltimore. can
boast; .Since. deserted by her unworthy husband,
her conduct has been distinguished by its propriety,
and ,many are said to hive attempted persuading
her to accept a more honest and honourable partner.
From her refusals it was believed she had resolved
to die a Queen Dowager of Westphalia; or expect-
ed, 'perhaps, from the hands of . Napoleon; the'
ereCion of some Transatlantic prnici-)ality nro mo-
iara)" iii her own favour, or in favotii ot the son.
of Jerome, perfectly resembliug his t3ilitr, that is
to say, a baboon. But all'at 'once she has altered
her mind, renouncing au imaginary or artificial
'grandeur, for the eXpeetation of real felicity in
marriage, nut with a French* revoldtionary criminal
or. upStart usurper, but with a respettable English
G,:ntlemap, Mr. Oakeley.„ Secretary of the British
Legation to the United States of America'! •
• .
Even since he has polluted the House of Wurtem-
berg-bybhis poisonous conitedion, Jerome has been
impudent enough to Offer the wife, he had deserted
soine Nery valuable presents ; of late, hoWeVer, he
is 'sato to have ceased all correspondence .wiW her,
and all inquiries. about his son, tar whose support
his ikestpl4alian- Majesty has forgOt to make the
provision even of a ham.' It is singular enough,
that notwithstandi9g Buooaparte's aversion to the
English -shopkeepers, hls nephew was bOrn -a Cock-
. net, Maclaine Jerome being delivel'ed of her son,,
1. early in 1805, within the bills of mortality.

ROYAL OBSEQUIES IN AFAUCA.

Notwithstanding the information with which the
relations of travellers have Supplied us, re9peeting
the manners and customs of the African nations,.
r many particulars, unnoticed before; may be pointed.
out in the writings of new,authors. We translate
the foll Owing account. of the funerals of the Kings
'ot Dahomai; from Laborthe's naziels in Africa,'
}atcly, published in France
Nothing can be more barbarous than the cere-
monies with which the 'funeral-of a King of Da-
, homai are -attended. No sooner is the Soveretart
known to be dead, than eight men dig a grave, call-
ed Neptune's grave, about twelve feet deep and se-
ven long.
" A bed, adorned with the most precious stuffs

and jewels belonging to the late King, is then raised.
On its top a figure is plated, wrapped up in several
kinds of cloth.

i ---
‘‘ The eight men who have doglhe grave ascend
the bed ; on reaching which, their heads are cut
off, and their bodies are cast away in the fields, to
! become- the food of every bird or beast of prey.—
i The Monarch's wives then press forward,. and con-
i tend tor the
.honour of being enclosed in his grave,.
! and taking care of him. Only twenty-four are
i .chosen for that purpose, and the rest louJly beiboan
t their fate, on being deemed unwortliy‘,of so sacred
1 an office.
i " In' order to blind these fanhappy viElims ,to
I their fate, the grave is filled, for the pretended use
,
I'of the King, -witir.coral, ,brandy, tobacco, pipes,
,hats,•snuff-boxes of gold and silver, three gold-
beaded canes, and three others with silver heads.—
I The 24 women are then ordered to take great care
I of the King, to bathe him-with brandy, make itim
drink and smbke, and to burn.incenseevery second
: "day round his body. 'These direeitions are no sooner
ended .than they hasten to di,scend into the grave.=
In. 'order to increase the barbarity of this sacrifice,
1 their legs are broken with clubs as they are descend-
ing. The grave is then closed, and Covered unit
l:earth, and the firing of cannon begins and lasts fur
five days... , , , ,
" After the lapse 'of a certain number of days,
the great 'ceremony of the funerals is celebrated.—
' The European Factors, the tributary Kings, and the
Governots of the, conutry, are then obliged to
attend. , ' ,

The Europeani are expeOed to make presents,
consisting of brandy, -silks, hats; and cauris. The
latter, are the current coin of the land.
" Each
.tributary King gives four slaves of both
sexes, an ox, a ram, a pigeon, two ducks, and .1.4
pintS of. oil Of palm. - .
" Each of the GovernorS gives two Slaves of both
sexes, one horse, an dx, a ram, a pigeon, twelve
ducks; two hundred 'cutaches of cauzis, (the cabaChu
'is equal to Bs.:4d. sterling), a piece of:red and,
eight others of various Colours.,
". The slaves, horses, oxen, rams, pigeons, &c
are Olen sacrificed to the manes of the deCeased
King, and their remains are scattered in the fields,
to feed the wild beasts of the forests.''-

On Saturday morning, the market-house of Hills-
borough,' North of Ireland, was discovered to be nn-
fire, and, although every exertion was Made by the
inhabitauts of the town, stimulated by the presence
and aid of' the Marquis of Downshire, almost the
wholdol that handsome edifice haS been consuinecL
The building was undergoing a thorough repair, and
would have had a roof of 'the patent Cement, in_ the: 4
preparation of which, it is supposed, some , fire I.md
been communicated to one ul the Roots: