Star.
London, England, 1831-04-15 00:00:00

&c. &c &c.

" The Ladies' head-dresses were principally ornamented
with feathers and flowers ; the Nina plume was remarkably
conspicuous. The caps, in general, narrow and high; and
those who wore their toupees in curls had them smaller than
usual. Many wore plain toupees, particularly the Queen
and Princesses. Very light powder aeents to have taken
place of the rage for Marechal. 'I he decorations for sleeves
were generally on gauze cuffs; for treble ruffles without,
breast-knots or breast-bows, except of diamonds. The
pouting handkerchief, for the neck, seems abolished, and
nature has again taken place of that preposterous fashion !
Tippets were quite full, and more open than usual. Ear-
rings very long—necklaces worn loose on the neck; most
ladies sported tuo watches!
" The new equipages most admired were those of the
Earls of Aldborough and Mexborough. The first had a deep
purple ground with an intermixture of silver spots, sur-
roended by a mosaic work of green, with straw-coloured
foliage ; the second a light gray ground, dotted with blue,
and bordered with festoons of variegated dyes. Among the
sedans, that of Lady W. Gordon, preceded by a running
footman, was considered the most elegant."
We read that on occasion of the drawing-room given at
St James's in honour of his Majesty's reoovcry, in March
1789, " Lady Howard's cap had a beautiful painting, on
satin, of Britannia praising heaven for the King's recovery,
with a suitable legend ; while that of Lady Lloyd had a
painting describing Britannia kneeling, and offering praises
for the event, richly ornamented with diamonds, blonde,
flowers, and feathers. In the front' DIEU nous le rend'
was embroidered in letters of gold." At a ball given at Court
on the same occasion the shoes of the Princeses are noticed
as unusually elegant, '• being of white, mosaicked all over)
with silver, and high polished steel heads; with a plate of
silver in the form of a shield towards the toe ; round the
quarters a deep spangled silver fringe. The shoes were
fastened with diamond bows." These must have produced
a matchless effeect in the pas grave of a minuet !

RUSSIAN POPULATION.—It is asserted that the Russian
empire has acquired 40 millions of inhabitants in the course
of a century.—Edinburgh Journal of Science.
A SERIOUS WITNESS.—A day or two ago, Mr. Charles
Phillips was examining a witness at the Old Bailey, respect-
ing some accounts, and the former, not easily understanding
the evidence, said to the witness, " Come, make it as clear
as possible ; give your evidence seriatim." "I am," said
the witness," a police constable, and I never was more serious
in my life."
DR. PARR'S OPINION OF THE LATE REV. ROBERT
HALL.—The late Dr. Parr, who frequently attended Mr.
Hall's lectures at Leicester, and bequeathed him a legacy,
said most tersely and appropriately, " Mr. Hall has, like
Bishop Taylor, the eloquence of an orator, the fancy of a
poet, the acuteness of a schoolman, the profoundness of a
philosopher, and the piety of a saint."—Christian's Ma-
gazine.
In November last, a clerk, named Air, in the banking-
house of Messrs. Brooks and Dixon, bankers, in Chan-
cery-lane, absconded with about 2,4001. of their cash. It was
speedily ascertained that he had sailed for New York.—
The American Consul advised that an affidavit of the debt,
and a power of attorney to an agent in New York to act for its
recovery, should immediately be sent out. This advice was
followed Air, on his arrival in New York, lodged his money
in a bank ; in a few days he was arrested and thrown into
prison for the debt, and an injunction was obtained from the
Court of Chancery to impound the money. Air had no al-
ternative but to submit to the restitution of the plunder, or
remain In prison. He preferred the former course, and was
discharged. Messrs. Brooks and Dixon have received from
their American agent upwards of 2,0001. of their loss.

THE ARMY.

That fine corps, the South Devon Yeomanry, paraded under their
commandant on Monday last, on Melbourne Down, where they were
inspected by Major Tonkin. Their new uniform is very elegant ;it is
that of the Red or Polish Lancers. The caps are much handsomer
than the shako of the Light Dragoons. The head-quarters, on per-
manent duty, will be at Newton Abbott. Captain Cary, of Tor Ab-
bey, commands the Torquay troop—Captain Lyon the Newton. The
Tcignmouth troop parade as usual. The whole of the corps will
assemble on the first and second weeks in May, with their new ap-
pointments.
The 31st Regiment of Foot and the Governorship of Scarborough
Castle, are vacant by the death of the Earl of Mulgrave.

PRESERVAnoN OF LIFE FROM SHIPWRECK.
Wednesday the Seventh Annual Meeting of the Subscribers to the
Royal National Institution for the preservation of lives from Shipwreck
was held at the house belonging to the Association in Austin-friars;
T. Wilson, Esq. in the Chair.
The Report of the Committee was read. It stated that during the
past year, the Society had granted to pawns who have meritoriously
exerted themselves in saving the lives of shipwrecked persons, the
sum of 4781. 10s. Some of the cases of preservation for which re-
wards had been given deserved peculiar attention. The St. George
Royal mail steam packet, on the 20th Nov. 'trust violently, during
a tremendous gale, on the St. Mary Rock, off the Isle of Man.
She immediately filled, and settled down forward. Sir Wil-
liam Hillary, Lieutenant Robinson, and a crew of fourteen men, went
off in the life-boat, and, after two hours exertion, succeeded in saving
the crew of the steam-boat and passengers, in all twenty-one persons,
from destruction. The Society awarded a gold medal to Sir W. Hil-
lary, Bart. and Lieutenant Robinson; a silver medal to Mr. Corlett
and J. Veredy, the coxswain, and twenty guineas to the lifeboat crew.
The next case of interest was that of the French brig, Le Bon Pere,
which, on the 6th of December, struck on the reef of rocks off Falmouth,
during a destructive gale. It was dark, and the cries of the crew for
assistance were appalling. Lieutenant W. James, R.N. of Newton,
St. klawes, hastened to the shore, stripped, and swam through a tre-
mendous surf; he had nearly reached the vessel, and was overcome,
and pulled back by means of a rope fastened round his body. He again
swam off, reached the vessel, and brought a rope on shore, by which
means the crew, ten in number, were saved. The gold medal was
awarded to Lieutenant %V. James. There were many other cues in
which the Coast Guard Service and fishermen had saved lives and
property to a great extent. The number of lives saved in last year by
persons rewarded by the Society, was 372 ; and, since the Society was
formed, 1,318 individuals have been saved from death by shipwreck,
by persons rewarded by the Institution. The Committee 'regretted that
the balance at the banker's was very low. In the lost year the
amount received, including dividends on Stock, donations, /U. and
with the balance on the 31st March, 1830, was 1,2781. 15s. 9d. The
balance at the bankers, on the 31st of last month, was 1561. 15s. Sd.
the remainder having been expended in maintaining life-boats, distri-
buting rewards, &c.
The Report was unanimously adopted, and thanks returned to the
Chairman and officers of the Institution. An adjournment then took
place.

THE NOBLEMEN AND Gk:NTLL:fiIEN'S CATCH CLUB
This institution was formed for the laudable purpose of encouraging
the vocal compositions of Englishmen, by awarding prizes for glees,
catches, &c. The senior member now is the venerable and highly-
respected Earl Forteacue, who was elected in 1779, more than half a
century ago. There was a numerous meeting of the Club on Tuesday
last, including the Duke of Argyll, the Duke of Dorset, Lord &bean,
Sir Andrew Barnard, Sir George Clerk, and a number of connoisseurs,
as well as the following professionals :—Messrs. Knyveit, Vaughan,
Lecte, Sale, Horncustle, Duruset, Evans, Greatorex, Clarke, T. Cooke,
C. Taylor, Nield, and Puny, Jun. it being the first inttoduction of the
latter, who sung the bass solos in " Who comes so dark ?" and " Cold
is Cadwallo's tongue," also, by desire, " The Maid of Llangollen," in
a manner that elicited the most encouraging marks of approbation. A
number of glees and catches were sung in the first style of excellence,
several of the amateur members taking a putt.