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GEORGE III. 327 Indeed, if we may judge by the intellectual conversation over heard and accurately noted down by Miss Burney, 12 at Miss Monckton’s (Lady Cork) party, court ruffles were inconvenient to wear:— “ ‘ You can’t think how I am encumbered with these nasty ruffles,’ said Mrs. Hampden. “ ‘And I dined in them,’ says the other. ‘ Only think! “ ‘ Oh ! ’ answered Mrs. Hampden, ‘ it really puts me out of spirits.’ ” Both ladies were dressed for a party at Cumberland House, and ill at ease in the costume prescribed by etiquette. If this con versation was considered worth noting down, we may be excused for repeating it. Our history of English lace is now drawing to a close; but before quitting the subject, we must, however, make some allusion to the custom prevalent here, as in all countries, of using lace as a decoration to grave-clothes. In the chapter devoted to Greece, we have mentioned how much lace is still taken from the tombs of the Ionian Islands, washed, mended, or, more often, as a proof of its authenticity, sold in a most disgusting state to the purchaser. The custom was prevalent at Malta, as the lines of the dramatist testify:— “ 111 her best habit, as the custom is, . ' You know, in Malta, with all ceremonies She’s buried in the family monument, I’ the temple of St. John.” 13 At Palermo you may see the mummies thus adorned in the celebrated catacombs of the Capuchin convent. In Denmark, 15 Sweden, and the north of Europe, 16 the custom was general. The mass of lace in the tomb of the once fair Aurora Konigsmarck, at Quedlinburg, would in itself be a fortune. She sleeps clad in the richest point d’Angleterre, Malines, and guipure. 13 “ Recollections of Madame d’Ar- tie of flue guipure; not that lie was ever >, interred—his body had been seized by 13 Beaumont and Fletcher, “The his creditors for debt, and there it still Knight of Malta.” remains. 14 In coffins with glass tops. Some of The author of “ Letters from a La ym them date from 1700. Kussia ” (1775), describing the funeral of 15 In the vault of the Schleswig-Hol- a daughter of Prince Menzikoff, states stein family, at Sonderburg. she was dressed m a night-gown of silver 13 In the church of Revel lies the Due tissue, on her head a nne laced mob and de Oroy, a general of Charles XII., ar- a coronet; round her forehead a ribbon rayed in full costume, with a rich flowing embroidered with her name and age, &c.