Star.
London, England, 1819-01-07 00:00:00

OLD CUSTOMS!

At this season of the year, when a more than usual
mirth pervades all ranks, as it befitteth the rejoicing
of the truly Christian'heatts in this most Christian
country—at this season, when hilarious jocoseness is
universally encouraged, it may not be amiss amid the
pastimes of " 1-lunt the Slipper," " Blind Man's Buff,"
4, Playing the Game of Forfeits," and such like, to
suggest some amendment in the last, though not the
amusement prevalent in our evening circles; viz. The
Dance.—From the earliest periods of history, dancing
was the favourite method of expressing mirth and
cheerfulness in all social meetings. The barbarous
antics of wild savages :o their native yell—the jocund
hop and reel in a country village—the more refined
swimming and gliding of the minuet in the drawing-
room—all equally, though in different guise, express
tile sentiments of pleasure and heartfelt glee.
May an antiquated Spinster venture, without fear
of being deemed an intruder, to offer a few observa•
Lions on the subject of the dance ? Although the sea-
son is such as chills the blood within her old veins,
yet the recollection ci former times on a similar occa-
sion of rejoicing, imparts a glow, and the garrulity
natural to her sex and age impels her to speak.
Dancing, like ether arts, has been abused—and,
where it was intended for an innocent recreation only,
by the help of foreign masters who have introduced
the Fandangos, Boleras, and Waltzes, it has become
an absolute immorality, shocking to the eye. of the
modest Spinster of eighty-eight, who, although she
has passed the bloom of youth, still enjoys happiness
as it is reflected in others; and, anxious for the revival
of the innocence and e'egaice that marked the dance
of former times, she offers to their consideration a few
figures of country dances, copied verbatim from that
most excellent book published in the year 1719, en-
titled " The Dancing Master; the seventeenth edition,
containing 358 of the choicest old and new tunes now
used at Court and other public places."
4. Sir Fop.c,p's Aire
First mnn opens his snuff-box, then the tune begins—he offers
his box—his partner takes a pinch first, then he, and snuffs—then
closes his box and gives it two taps, and both dance carelessly.
Then Ist and ed n:an toss the right, then left knot of their wigs
—then clap their right and left hands on their sides. The women
do the same (at the same time), only they adjust their hair with
their light and left hands—dance carelessly, and turn single.
'Phan right 11...nds and left with the 2d couple—then all four
dan:e carelessly and east off.
" At' ra.„rfs Pad"—tnrztours Jul as many cc u.. 71.
first couple walk down the middle to the bottom by equal
stt•ps—this bottom couple walk up to the top on the outside at
the same time; the same over again: then Ist couple brush
hands four times, the 2d couple the same—the same four, back
to back, and stamp with their foot four times—then Ist couple
pace Into couples' plac:4—then Ist man and woman shake
hands across and keep their hold—the 2d ne:n and Ist woman
the same ; then trot half, and gallop half round—then trot half
rolled and gallop half back again—then turn single till done.
" fr..e:oed to Me (..net."_

The first woman take her partner by both hands and lead him
down the mithile : the lira man takes hi right kg ep and shakes
it, then his left, and cast off.
" list New ro;nri,,s."
The first man cast off and goes to the 31 woman and kiss her,
and rctuen to his place—the 3d man cast up and goes to the Ist
woman and kiis her, and cast off to his own place ; cross over,
meet and sett in the led cottplcs place and tui.a.
•On perusing these specimms, my readers will no
doubt join with me in the wish of establishing their
reputation ;—to the attainment of which end, I pro-
pose forwarding a petition, in the event of which I
do not despair of seeing them revived at the next
meeting of Congress, where the radiance emitted
from the magnammoni circle there assembled, will
confer as much splendour on them as graced them
in the Courts of George the First and Second. Sho.dd
such 'circumstance occur, it is not improbable I may
brush up my farthingale, and pin on my lappets once
again, before I make my first exit from this world's
great dr?Wing-room. A SpiN3rEa,
or DANCINC: iitriOSINTY IN nue TSAI 1750.

The annual display of Twelfth Cakes, in all their
tempting varieties, crowded the shops of the confec-
tioners and_ pastry-cooks, yesterday morning, and
from the diminished state of their " stock in trade"
towards the evening, it was evident that the old cus-
tom of drawing for king and Wen,' was still kept
up with unabated glee. In the Green-room of Drury-
lane Theatre, BADDELEY'S legacy cake and bowl of
punch afforded much merriment to the Corp Dye-1
tratique. •
The LORD CHANCELLOR will sit at Lincoln's-Inn-'
Hall to-morrow, for hearing Bankrupt Petitions.—
The first Seal before Term. is on the 16th, and the
second on the 20th instant. The Term commences
on the 23d.
'Monday the Sessions for the County of Middlesex
commence, at Hicks's Hall.
M. there will be an Admiralty Sessions held
in Justice Hall, Old Bailey, when two cases of mur-
der committed on the high seas will be tried. One
of them is a person connected with the gang of
smugglers, two of whom suffered death some years
ago, and their bodies are now hanging in chains at
Blackwall, for firing into a Revenue cutter and kill-
ing two Officers.
-Wednesday the Sessions will commence at the Old
Dailey. The calendar contains a numerous list of,
offenders, among whom we are sorry to observe above
twelve for uttering forged Bank-notes. None of the
other offences seem peculiarly aggravated.
Yesterday, a dashing Exquisite, dressed in the
.first style of Dandyism, uels charged at Union-Hall,
with an attempt to violate the person of a fine-look-
ing girl, about 17 years of age.—The complainant
stated, that the Frisoner, in the absence of his father
and mother, the former of whom is an eminent mer-
chant in the city, concealed himself in her bed-room,
and that on her entering it, he crept from his hiding-
place, and seizing her round the waist, threw her on
the bed; that she was a match for him, however, in
strength, and struggled successfully against him, but
that he did not de,ist from his attempt until a fellow-
servant, drawn to the place by her cries, had broken
a panel in the door, in endeavouring to force it and
rescue her from his gripe. Her master and mistress
having returned time shortly after, discharged both
her and her fellow-servant, which circumstance she,,
seemed to resent more than the treatment which she
received from the Dandy son.—The Magistrate re-
commended a compromise. The Dandy offered £5,
but the prosecutrix demanded £2O, which being re•
fused, the Magistrate advised her to indict him for
the assault at the Sessions.
Yesterday morning a whole sheep was carried of
from the. door of the shop of Mr. SADIUXL BEALE,
buttlicr, in the Borough of Southwark.