1.  ’That a visit of ceremony at first coming and another at going away, are all that are expected or desired by ladies of quality and fashion—­except impertinents.

4.  ’That no person takes it ill that any one goes to another’s play or breakfast, and not theirs—­except captious nature.

5.  ’That no gentleman give his ticket for the balls to any but gentlewomen.  N.B.—­Unless he has none of his acquaintance.

6.  ’That gentlemen crowding before the ladies at the ball, show ill manners; and that none do so for the future—­except such as respect nobody but themselves.

9.  ’That the younger ladies take notice how many eyes observe them.  N.B.—­This does not extend to the Have-at-alls.

10.  ’That all whisperers of lies and scandal be taken for their authors.’

Really this law of Nash’s must have been repealed some time or other at Bath.  Still more that which follows:—­

11.  ’That repeaters of such lies and scandal be shunned by all company, except such as have been guilty of the same crime.’

There is a certain amount of satire in these Lycurgus statutes that shows Nash in the light of an observer of society; but, query, whether any frequenter of Bath would not have devised as good?

The dances of those days must have been somewhat tedious.  They began with a series of minuets, in which, of course, only one couple danced at a time, the most distinguished opening the ball.  These solemn performances lasted about two hours, and we can easily imagine that the rest of the company were delighted when the country dances, which included everybody, began.  The ball opened at six; the country dances began at eight:  at nine there was a lull for the gentlemen to offer their partners tea; in due course the dances were resumed, and at eleven Nash held up his hand to the musicians, and under no circumstances was the ball allowed to continue after that hour.  Nash well knew the value of early hours to invalids, and he would not destroy the healing reputation of Bath for the sake of a little more pleasure.  On one occasion the Princess Amelia implored him to allow one dance more.  The despot replied, that his laws were those of Lycurgus, and could not be abrogated for any one.  By this we see that the M.C. was already an autocrat in his kingdom.

Nor is it to be supposed that his majesty’s laws were confined to such merely professional arrangements.  Not a bit of it; in a very short time his impudence gave him undenied right of interference with the coats and gowns, the habits and manners, even the daily actions of his subjects, for so the visitors at Bath were compelled to become. Si parvis componere magna recibit, we may admit that the rise of Nash and that of Napoleon were owing to similar causes.  The French emperor found France in a state of disorder, with which sensible people were growing more and more disgusted; he offered to restore order and propriety;