houses. There was not indeed much company in the boxes, but the pit was nearly filled, and the gallery appeared crowded. Each bench of the pit had a rail to the back of it, a convenience which I have before commended in the Dutch theatres. Persons of the greatest respectability and opulence in Holland do not think it unworthy of their dignity or fortunes to sit in the pit of the theatre, and they dress equally well for that part of the house as for the boxes. Most of the ladies in the pit, advanced in life, wore an astonishing quantity of diamonds. A lapidary might speak of their brilliancy and water, their size and value; but I can only fay that the profusion of precious stones was immense. A lady who sat near us wore a necklace composed of three rows of large diamonds, bracelets, and head pins equally superb; diamond ear-rings, and buckles; and on her fingers rings without number. I will not hazard any computation of what the ornament of her dress might be worth. Her jewels were set in an old-fashioned substantial style, and had probably
