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authorRoger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org>2025-10-15 01:15:58 -0700
committerRoger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org>2025-10-15 01:15:58 -0700
commit3c91a5f89958eead3ca2e8b59faea084e0e3013b (patch)
treeb6e71e05060133dd7557129d685f65a7c3892f0c /old/files
initial commit of ebook 20001HEADmain
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+<!DOCTYPE html
+ PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+ "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" >
+
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en">
+ <head>
+ <title>
+ The English Spy by Bernard Blackmantle.
+ </title>
+ <style type="text/css">
+ <!--
+ body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify}
+ P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; }
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+ .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;}
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+ <body>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The English Spy, by Bernard Blackmantle
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The English Spy
+ An Original Work Characteristic, Satirical, And Humorous.
+ Comprising Scenes And Sketches In Every Rank Of Society,
+ Being Portraits Drawn From The Life
+
+Author: Bernard Blackmantle
+
+Illustrator: Robert Cruikshank
+
+Release Date: December 3, 2006 [EBook #20001]
+Last Updated: October 12, 2012
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ENGLISH SPY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+ <h1>
+ <i>THE</i>
+ </h1>
+ <h1>
+ <i>ENGLISH SPY</i>
+ </h1>
+ <blockquote>
+ <p>An Original Work CHARACTERISTIC, SATIRICAL, AND HUMOROUS. COMPRISING
+ SCENES AND SKETCHES IN EVERY RANK OF SOCIETY, BEING PORTRAITS DRAWN FROM
+ THE LIFE</p>
+ </blockquote>
+ <h2>
+ BY BERNARD BLACKMANTLE.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ THE ILLUSTRATIONS DESIGNED BY
+ </h3>
+ <h2>
+ ROBERT CRUIKSHANK.
+ </h2>
+ <blockquote>
+ <p>By Frolic, Mirth, and Fancy gay, Old Father Time is borne away. <br />LONDON:
+ PUBLISHED BY SHERWOOD, JONES, AND CO. PATERNOSTER-BOW. 1825.</p></blockquote>
+
+ <p><a name="image-0001" id="image-0001">
+ <!-- IMG --></a></p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/spy_spines.jpg" width="100%" alt="Spines" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br /> <a name="image-0002" id="image-0002">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/frontis.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/frontis-th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Frontispiece" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br /> <a name="image-0003" id="image-0003">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/titlepage.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/titlepage-th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Titlepage" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br /> <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <hr />
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <hr />
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <blockquote>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <br />
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> BERNARD BLACKMANTLE{*} TO THE REVIEWERS. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> THE ENGLISH SPY. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_INTR"> INTRODUCTION. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_PREF"> PREFACE, IN IMITATION OF SATIRE OF PERSIUS. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> A SHANDEAN SCENE, </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> ETONIAN. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> PORTRAITS IN MY DAME'S DINING-ROOM. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> FIVE PRINCIPAL ORDERS OF ETON </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> THE MONTEM ODE. May 20, 1823. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> THE DOUBTFUL POINT. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OLD ETONIAN. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> APOLLO'S VISIT TO ETON.{1} </a>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <br />
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> ETON MONTEM. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> FAREWELL TO ETON. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> MY VALE. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> FIVE CHARACTERISTIC ORDERS OF OXFORD. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> THE FRESHMAN. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> THE DINNER PARTY. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> COLLEGE SERVANTS. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> TAKING POSSESSION OF YOUR ROOMS. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> THE EXCURSION TO BAGLEY WOOD. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0022"> KENSINGTON GARDENS&mdash;SUNDAY EVENING. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0023"> THE OPERA. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> THE ROYAL SALOON. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <br />
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#spread"> THE SPREAD, OR WINE PARTY AT BRAZEN-NOSE. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Blink2H_4_0002"> THE OXFORD RAKE'S PROGRESS. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Blink2H_4_0003"> TOWN AND GOWN, AN OXFORD ROW. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Blink2H_4_0004"> THE STAGE COACH, </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Blink2H_4_0005"> THE PROPOSITION. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Blink2H_4_0006"> SKETCHES AT BRIGHTON. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Blink2H_4_0007"> CHARACTERS ON THE BEACH AND STEYNE, BRIGHTON.
+ </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Blink2H_4_0008"> METROPOLITAN SKETCHES. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Blink2H_4_0009"> VISIT TO WESTMINSTER HALL. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Blink2H_4_0010"> PROGRAMME. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Blink2H_CONC"> CONCLUSION OF VOLUME ONE. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_4_0001"> THE ENGLISH SPY. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_INTR"> INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND VOLUME. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_4_0003"> ODE, CONGRATULATORY AND ADVISIORY, </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_4_0004"> CYTHEREAN BEAUTIES. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_4_0005"> LADIES OF DISTINCTION, </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_4_0006"> THE WAKE; </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_4_0007"> THE CYPRIAN'S BALL, </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_4_0008"> THE PHILOSOPHY OF LAUGHTER; </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_4_0009"> THE WESTMINSTER SCHOLAR. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_4_0010"> ON FEASTERS AND FEASTING. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_4_0011"> A SUNDAY RAMBLE TO HIGHGATE, </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_4_0012"> THE STOCK EXCHANGE. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_4_0013"> THE LIFE, DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION
+ COMPANY. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_4_0014"> THE ISLE OF WIGHT. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_4_0015"> A CIRCULAR, </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Clink2H_4_0016"> PORTSMOUTH IN TIME OF PEACE. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2H_4_0001"> CHELTONIAN CHARACTERS. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2H_4_0003"> A SECOND ODE TO BERNARD BLACKMANTLE, ESQ.
+ </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2H_4_0004"> A TRIP TO THE SPAS. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2H_4_0006"> TRAVELLER'S HALL. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2H_4_0007"> AN EPISTLE TO BERNARD BLACKMANTLE, ESQ., </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2H_4_0008"> A VISIT TO GLOUCESTER AND BERKELEY. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2H_4_0009"> A DAY IN BRISTOL. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2H_4_0010"> SKETCHES IN BATH. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2H_4_0011"> SPORTSMAN'S HALL. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2H_4_0012"> THE BATTLE OF THE CHAIRS. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2H_4_0013"> SKETCHES IN BATH&mdash;CHAPTER II. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2H_4_0014"> WAGGERIES AT WORCESTER. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2H_4_0015"> BERNARD BLACKMANTLE TO HIS READERS. </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dlink2H_4_0016"> A SHORT ODE AT PARTING, </a>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <hr />
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <big><b>Illustrations</b></big>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <br />
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <big><b>[Color Plates in Bold Print]</b></big>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <br />
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0001"> Cover </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0002"> <b>Frontispiece</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0003"> Titlepage </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0004"> Page004 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0005"> Page007 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0006"> Page013 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0007"> Page018 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0008"> Page019 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0009"> Page021 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0010"> <b>Page025</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0011"> Page032 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0012"> Page 041 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0013"> Page042 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0014"> Page043 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0015"> Page048 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0016"> <b>Page049</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0017"> Page058 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0018"> Page059 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0019"> Page066 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0020"> Page088 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0021"> Page096 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0022"> Page096b </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0023"> <b>Page097</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0024"> Page105 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0025"> Page107 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0026"> Page109 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0027"> Page111 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0028"> <b>Page112</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0029"> Page113 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0030"> Page128 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0031"> Page129 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0032"> <b>Page131</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0033"> Page136 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0034"> Page149 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0035"> <b>Page151</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0036"> <b>Page153</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0037"> Page156 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0038"> Page157 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0039"> Page162 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0040"> Page164 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0041"> <b>Page165</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0042"> Page184 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0043"> Page185 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0044"> Page197 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#page199"> <b>Page199</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0045"> <b>Page205</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#image-0046"> Page220 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0001"> Page233 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0002"> <b>Page 235</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0003"> Page240 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0004"> Pge243 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0005"> <b>Page244</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0006"> Page245 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0007"> <b>Page247</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0008"> Page262 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0009"> <b>Page269</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0010"> <b>Page272</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0011"> Page273b </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0012"> Page274 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0013"> Page286 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0014"> Page291 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0015"> <b>Page296</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0016"> <b>Page298</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0017"> <b>Page303</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0018"> Page304 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0019"> <b>Page308</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0020"> Page313 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0021"> <b>Page323</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0022"> Page325 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0023"> Page326 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0024"> <b>Page329</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0025"> <b>Page331</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0026"> <b>Page335</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0027"> <b>Page 339</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0028"> <b>Page343</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0029"> <b>Page345</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0030"> <b>Page354</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0031"> <b>Page361</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0032"> Page363 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0033"> <b>Page364</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0034"> <b>Page365</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0035"> <b>Page366</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0036"> <b>Page367</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0037"> <b>Page369a</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0038"> <b>Page369b</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0039"> Page370 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Bimage-0040"> Page371 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0004"> <b>Page015</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0005"> Page021 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0006"> <b>Page029</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0007"> <b>Page030</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0008"> Page033 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0009"> <b>Page042</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0010"> Page055 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0011"> <b>Page056</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0012"> <b>Page062</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0013"> Page066 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0014"> <b>Page067</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0015"> <b>Page069</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0016"> <b>Page73</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0017"> <b>Page081</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0018"> <b>Page089</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0019"> Page89b </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0020"> Page109 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0021"> <b>Page125</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0022"> Page139 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0023"> <b>Page163</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0024"> Page179 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0025"> <b>Page184</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0026"> <b>Page189</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Cimage-0027"> Page 191 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0001"> <b>Page193</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#page203"> <b>Page203</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0002"> <b>Page207</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0003"> <b>Page210</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0004"> <b>Page214</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0005"> <b>Page217</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0006"> <b>Page219</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0007"> Page222 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0008"> <b>Page223</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0009"> <b>Page226</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0010"> <b>Page245</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0011"> <b>Page249</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0012"> <b>Page268</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0013"> <b>Page271</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0014"> <b>Page289</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0015"> Page291 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0016"> Page292 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0017"> <b>Page293</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0018"> Page294 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0019"> Page295 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0020"> Page300 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0021"> <b>Page303</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0022"> <b>Page312</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0023"> <b>Page315</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0024"> <b>Page321</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0025"> <b>Page327</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0026"> <b>Page332</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0027"> <b>Page335</b> </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0028"> Page338 </a>
+ </p>
+ <p class="toc">
+ <a href="#Dimage-0029"> Page343 </a>
+ </p>
+ </blockquote>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <hr />
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img alt="page002 (26K)" src="images/page002.jpg" width="100%" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ BERNARD BLACKMANTLE{*} TO THE REVIEWERS.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "But now, what Quixote of the age would care
+ To wage a war with dirt, and fight with air?"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Messieurs the Critics,
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ After twelve months of agreeable toil, made easy by unprecedented success,
+ the period has at length arrived when your high mightinesses will be able
+ to indulge your voracious appetites by feeding and fattening on the work
+ of death. Already does my prophetic spirit picture to itself the black
+ cloud of cormorants, swelling and puffing in the fulness of their
+ editorial pride, at the huge eccentric volume which has thus thrust itself
+ into extensive circulation without the usual <i>cringings</i> and <i>cravings</i>
+ to the <i>pick fault tribe</i>. But
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ I dare defy the venal crew that prates,
+ From tailor Place* to fustian Herald Thwaites.{**}
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ * The woolly editor of the Breeches Makers', alias the
+ "Westminster Review."
+
+ ** The thing who writes the leaden (leading) articles for
+ the Morning Herald.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Let me have good proof of your greediness to devour my labours, and I will
+ dish up such a meal for you in my next volume, as shall go nigh to produce
+ extermination by <i>surfeit</i>. One favour, alone, I crave&mdash;give me
+ <i>abuse</i> enough; let no squeamish pretences of respect for my
+ bookseller, or disguised qualms of apprehension for your own sacred
+ persons, deter the <i>natural</i> inclination of your hearts. The
+ slightest deviation from your <i>usual course</i> to independent writers&mdash;or
+ one step towards commendation from your <i>gang</i>, might induce the
+ public to believe I had <i>abandoned my character</i>, and become one of
+ your <i>honourable fraternity</i>-the very <i>suspicion of which</i> would
+ (to me) produce irretrievable ruin. <i>Your masters</i>, the <i>trading
+ brotherhood</i>, will (as usual) direct you in the course you should
+ pursue; whether to approve or condemn, as their <i>'peculiar interests</i>
+ may dictate. Most <i>sapient</i> sirs of the secret <i>bandit'</i> of the
+ screen, inquisitors of literature, raise all your <i>arms</i> and <i>heels</i>,
+ your <i>daggers, masks</i>, and <i>hatchets</i>, to revenge the daring of
+ an <i>open foe</i>, who thus boldly defies your <i>base</i> and <i>selfish
+ views</i>; for, basking at his ease in the sunshine of public patronage,
+ he feels that his heart is rendered invulnerable to your<i> poisoned
+ shafts</i>. Read, and you shall find I have not been parsimonious of the
+ means to grant you <i>food</i> and <i>pleasure</i>: errors there are, no
+ doubt, and plenty of them, grammatical and typographical, all of which I
+ might have corrected by an <i>errata</i> at the end of my volume; but I
+ disdain the wish to rob you of your office, and have therefore left them
+ just where I made them, without a single note to mark them out; for if all
+ the <i>thistles were rooted up</i>, what would become of the <i>asses?</i>
+ or of those
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Who pin their easy faith on critic's sleeve,
+ And, knowing nothing, ev'ry thing believe?"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Fully satisfied that swarms of <i>literary blow flies</i> will pounce upon
+ the errors with delight, and, buzzing with the ecstasy of infernal joy,
+ endeavour to hum their readers into a belief of the profundity of their
+ critic erudition;&mdash;I shall nevertheless, with Churchill, laughingly
+ exclaim&mdash;"Perish my muse"
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "If e'er her labours weaken to refine
+ The generous roughness of a nervous line."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Bernard Blackmantle.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <h2>
+ Contents Page Images
+ </h2>
+ <p>
+ <a href="images/contents-13.jpg"><big><b>[1]</b></big></a> &mdash; <a
+ href="images/contents-14.jpg"><big><b>[2]</b></big></a> &mdash; <a
+ href="images/contents-15.jpg"><big><b>[3]</b></big></a> &mdash; <a
+ href="images/contents-16.jpg"><big><b>[4]</b></big></a> &mdash; <a
+ href="images/contents-17.jpg"><big><b>[5]</b></big></a> &mdash; <a
+ href="images/contents-18.jpg"><big><b>[6]</b></big></a> <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+CONTENTS. Page
+ INTRODUCTION 3
+
+ PREFACE, IN IMITATION OF THE FIRST SATIRE OF
+ PERSIUS 5
+
+ REFLECTIONS, ADDRESSED TO THOSE WHO CAN
+ THINK.
+
+ Reflections of an Author&mdash;Weighty Reasons for writing&mdash;
+ Magister Artis Ingeniique Largitor Venter&mdash;Choice of Subject
+ considered&mdash;Advice of Index, the Bookseller&mdash;Of the Nature
+ of Prefaces&mdash;How to commence a new Work 7
+
+ A FEW THOUGHTS ON MYSELF 14
+
+ A SHANDEAN SCENE, BETWEEN LADY MARY OLD&mdash;
+ STYLE AND HORATIO HEARTLY 17
+
+ SCHOOL&mdash;BOY REMINISCENCES. ON EARLY FRIEND&mdash;
+ SHIP 22
+
+ CHARACTER OF BERNARD BLACKMANTLE. BY
+ HORATIO HEARTLY 25
+
+ ETON SKETCHES OF CHARACTER 32
+
+ THE FIVE PRINCIPAL ORDERS OF ETON&mdash;DOCTOR,
+ DAME, COLLEGER, OPPIDAN, AND CAD. A
+ Sketch taken opposite the Long Walk 42
+
+ ETON DAMES; AN ODE, NEITHER AMATORY, ILL&mdash;
+ NATURED, NOR PATHETIC 43
+
+ ELECTION SATURDAY.
+ A Peep at the Long Chambers&mdash;The Banquet&mdash;Reflections
+ on parting&mdash;Arrival of the Provost of King's College, Cam&mdash;
+ bridge, and the Pozers&mdash;The Captain's Oration&mdash;Busy Monday
+ &mdash;The Oppidan's Farewell&mdash;Examination and Election of the
+ Collegers who stand for King's&mdash;The aquatic Gala and Fire&mdash;
+ works&mdash;Oxonian Visitors&mdash;Night&mdash;Rambles in Eton&mdash;Transfor-
+ mations of Signs and Names&mdash;The Feast at the Christopher,
+ with a View of the Oppidan's Museum, and Eton Court of
+ Claims 58
+
+ AN ETON ELECTION SCENE 59
+
+ HERBERT STOCKHORE, THE MONTEM POET
+ LAUREATE.
+
+ A Sketch from the Life, as he appeared in the Montem
+ Procession of May, 1823. By Bernard Blackmantle and
+ Robert Transit 67
+
+ LIFE IN ETON; A College Chaunt in praise of private
+ Tutors 68
+
+ RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OLD ETONIAN 78
+
+ ETON MONTEM 96
+
+ FAREWELL TO ETON 105
+
+ MY VALE 108
+
+ THE FRESHMAN.
+ Reflections on leaving Eton University&mdash;A Whip&mdash;Sketches
+ on the Road&mdash;The Joneses of Jesus&mdash;Picturesque Appearance
+ of Oxford from the Distance&mdash;The Arrival&mdash;Welcome of an
+ Old Etonian&mdash;Visit to Dr. Dingyman&mdash;A University Don&mdash;
+ Presentation to the Big Wig&mdash;Ceremony of Matriculation 113
+
+ CHRIST CHURCH COLLEGE.
+ Architectural Reminiscences&mdash;Descriptive Remarks&mdash;Simi-
+ litude between the Characters of Cardinal Wolsey and
+ Napoleon 129
+
+ THE DINNER PARTY.
+ Bernard Blackmantle's Visit to Tom Echo&mdash;Oxford Phrase-
+ ology&mdash;Smuggled Dinners&mdash;A College Party described&mdash;
+ Topography of a Man's Room&mdash;Portrait of a Bachelor of Arts
+ &mdash;Hints to Freshmen&mdash;Customs of the University 132
+
+ COLLEGE SERVANTS.
+ Descriptive Sketch of a College Scout&mdash;Biography of Mark
+ Supple&mdash;Singular Invitation to a Spread 146
+
+ TAKING POSSESSION OF YOUR ROOMS.
+ Topography of a vacant College Larium&mdash;Anecdotes and
+ Propensities of Predecessors&mdash;A Long Shot&mdash;Scout's List of
+ Necessaries&mdash;Condolence of University Friends 151
+
+ THE EXCURSION TO BAGLEY WOOD 157
+
+ WESTERN ENTRANCE INTO THE METROPOLIS.
+ A descriptive Sketch.
+ General Views of the Author relative to Subject and Style
+ &mdash;Time and Place&mdash;Perspective Glimpse of the great City&mdash;
+ The Approach&mdash;Cockney Salutations&mdash;The Toll House&mdash;
+ Western Entrance to Cockney Land&mdash;Hyde Park&mdash;Sunday
+ Noon-Sketches of Character, Costume, and Scenery&mdash;The
+ Ride and Drive&mdash;Kensington Gardens&mdash;Belles and Beaux-
+ Stars and fallen Stars&mdash;Singularities of 1824-Tales of Ton-
+ On Dits and Anecdotes&mdash;Sunday Evening&mdash;High Life and
+ Low Life, the Contrast&mdash;Cockney Goths&mdash;Notes, Biographical,
+ Amorous, and Exquisite 164
+
+ THE OPERA.
+ The Man of Fashion&mdash;Fop's Alley&mdash;Modern Roué and
+ Frequenters&mdash;Characteristic Sketches in High Life&mdash;Blue
+ Stocking Illuminati&mdash;Motives and Manners&mdash;Meeting with
+ the Honourable Lillyman Lionise&mdash;Dinner at Long's&mdash;Visit
+ to the Opera&mdash;Joined by Bob Transit&mdash;A Peep into the
+ Green Room&mdash;Secrets behind the Curtain&mdash;Noble Amateurs
+ and Foreign Curiosities&mdash;Notes and Anecdotes by Horatio
+ Heartly 198
+
+ THE ROYAL SALOON.
+ Visit of Heartly, Lionise, and Transit&mdash;Description of the
+ Place&mdash;Sketches of Character&mdash;The Gambling Parsons&mdash;Horse
+ Chaunting, a true Anecdote&mdash;Bang and her Friends&mdash;Moll
+ Raffle and the Marquis W.&mdash;he Play Man&mdash;The Touter&mdash;
+ The Half-pay Officer&mdash;Charles Rattle, Esq.&mdash;Life of a modern
+ Roue&mdash;B&mdash;&mdash;&mdash; the Tailor&mdash;The Subject&mdash;Jarvey and Brooks
+ the Dissector&mdash;"Kill him when you want him" 205
+
+ THE SPREAD, OR WINE PARTY AT BRAZEN-NOSE.
+ A College Wine Party described&mdash;Singular Whim of
+ Horace Eglantine&mdash;Meeting of the Oxford Crackademonians
+ &mdash;Sketches of Eccentric Characters, drawn from the Life&mdash;
+ The Doctor's Daughter&mdash;an old Song&mdash;A Round of Sculls&mdash;
+ Epitaphs on the Living and the Dead&mdash;Tom Tick, a College
+ Tale&mdash;The Voyagers&mdash;Notes and Anecdotes 221
+
+ THE OXFORD RAKE'S PROGRESS 233
+
+ TOWN AND GOWN, AN OXFORD ROW.
+
+ Battle of the Togati and the Town&mdash;Raff&mdash;A Night&mdash;Scene in
+ the High-Street, Oxford&mdash;Description of the Combatants&mdash;
+ Attack of the Gownsmen upon the Mitre&mdash;Evolutions of the
+ Assailants&mdash;Manoeuvres of the Proctors and Bull&mdash;Dogs&mdash;
+ Perilous Condition of Blackmantle and his Associates, Eglan-
+ tine, Echo, and Transit&mdash;Snug Retreat of Lionise&mdash;The High&mdash;
+ Street after the Battle&mdash;Origin of the Argotiers, and Inven-
+ tion of Cant&mdash;phrases&mdash;History of the Intestine Wars and
+ Civil Broils of Oxford, from the Time of Alfred&mdash;Origin
+ of the late Strife&mdash;Ancient Ballad&mdash;Retreat of the Togati&mdash;
+ Reflections of a Freshman&mdash;Black Matins, or the Effect of
+ late Drinking upon early Risers&mdash;Visit to Golgotha, or the
+ Place of Sculls&mdash;Lecture from the Big&mdash;Wigs&mdash;Tom Echo
+ receives Sentence of Rustication 246
+
+ TOWNE AND GOWNE 263
+
+ THE STAGE COACH, OR THE TRIP TO BRIGHTON.
+ Improvements in Travelling&mdash;Contrast of ancient and
+ modern Conveyances and Coachmen&mdash;Project for a new Land
+ Steam Carriage&mdash;The Inn&mdash;yard at the Golden Cross, Charing
+ Cross&mdash;Mistakes of Passengers&mdash;Variety of Characters&mdash;Ad-
+ vantages of the Box&mdash;seat&mdash;Obstructions on the Road&mdash;A
+ Pull&mdash;up at the Elephant and Castle&mdash;Move on to Kennington
+ Common&mdash;New Churches&mdash;Civic Villas at Brixton&mdash;Modern
+ Taste in Architecture described&mdash;Arrival at Croydon; why
+ not now the King's Road?&mdash;The Joliffe Hounds&mdash;A Hunting
+ Leader&mdash;Anecdotes of the Horse, by Coachee&mdash;The new
+ Tunnel at Reigate&mdash;The Baron's Chamber&mdash;The Golden Ball
+ &mdash;the Silver Ball&mdash;and the Golden Calf&mdash;Entrance into
+ Brighton 274
+
+ THE PROPOSITION.
+ Family Secrets&mdash;Female Tactics&mdash;How to carry the Point 287
+
+ SKETCHES AT BRIGHTON.
+ The Pavilion Party&mdash;Interior described&mdash;Royal and Noble
+ Anecdotes&mdash;The King and Mathews 292
+
+ CHARACTERS ON THE BEACH AND STEYNE,
+ BRIGHTON.
+ On Bathing and Bathers&mdash;Advantages of Shampooing&mdash;
+ French Decency&mdash;Brighton Politeness&mdash;Sketches of Character
+ &mdash;The Banker's Widow&mdash;Miss J&mdash;&mdash;s&mdash;Mrs. F&mdash;&mdash;1&mdash;Peter
+ Paragraph, he London Correspondent&mdash;J&mdash;k S&mdash;&mdash;h&mdash;The
+ French Consul&mdash;Paphian Divinities&mdash;C&mdash;&mdash; L&mdash;&mdash;, Esq.
+ Squeeze into the Libraries&mdash;The new Plunging Bath&mdash;
+ Chain Pier&mdash;Cockney Comicalities&mdash;Royal Gardens&mdash;The
+ Club House 305
+
+ METROPOLITAN SKETCHES.
+ Heartly, Echo, and Transit start for a Spree&mdash;Scenes by
+ Daylight, Starlight, and Gaslight&mdash;Black Monday at Tatter&mdash;
+ sail's&mdash;The first Meeting after the Great St. Leger&mdash;Heroes of
+ the Turf paying and receiving&mdash;Dinner at Fishmongers' Hall
+ &mdash;Committee of Greeks&mdash;The Affair of the Cogged Dice&mdash;A
+ Regular Break&mdash;down&mdash;Rules for the New Club&mdash;The Daffy
+ Club, or a Musical Muster of the Fancy: striking Portraits&mdash;
+ Counting the Stars&mdash;Covent Garden, what it was and what it
+ is&mdash;The Finish&mdash;Anecdotes of Characters&mdash;The Hall of Infamy,
+ alias the Covent Garden Hell 327
+
+ VISIT TO WESTMINSTER HALL.
+ Worthies thereof&mdash;Legal Sketches of the Long Robe&mdash;An
+ Awkward Recognition&mdash;Visit to Banco Regis&mdash;Surrey Col&mdash;
+ legians giving a Lift to a Limb of the Law&mdash;Out of Rule and in
+ Rule&mdash;"Thus far shalt thou go, and no further"&mdash;Park
+ Rangers personified&mdash;Visit to the Life Academy, Somerset
+ House&mdash;R. A&mdash;ys of Genius reflecting on the true Line of
+ Beauty&mdash;Peep into the Green Rooms of the two Theatres Royal,
+ Drury Lane and Covent Garden&mdash;Bernard Blackmantle
+ reading his new Play and Farce&mdash;The City Ball at the Mansion
+ House&mdash;The Squeeze&mdash;Civic Characters&mdash;Return to Oxford&mdash;
+ Invite to Cambridge&mdash;Jemmy Gordon's Frolic&mdash;Term ends 355
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <h2>
+ Illustration Listing Page Images
+ </h2>
+ <p>
+ <a href="images/Illus-19.jpg"><big><b>[1]</b></big></a> &mdash; <a
+ href="images/Illus-20.jpg"><big><b>[2]</b></big></a> &mdash; <a
+ href="images/Illus-21.jpg"><big><b>[3]</b></big></a> &mdash; <a
+ href="images/Illus-22.jpg"><big><b>[4]</b></big></a> &mdash; <a
+ href="images/Illus-23.jpg"><big><b>[5]</b></big></a> &mdash; <a
+ href="images/Illus-24.jpg"><big><b>[6]</b></big></a> &mdash; <a
+ href="images/Illus-25.jpg"><big><b>[7]</b></big></a> &mdash; <a
+ href="images/Illus-26.jpg"><big><b>[8]</b></big></a> &mdash; <a
+ href="images/Illus-27.jpg"><big><b>[9]</b></big></a> &mdash; <a
+ href="images/Illus-28.jpg"><big><b>[10]</b></big></a> <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <h3>
+ ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE ENGLISH SPY.
+ </h3>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ (By R. CRUIKSHANK unless otherwise attributed)
+
+ We hope it will be generally admitted that few volumes have
+ a more decided claim upon the public patronage, in respect
+ to the novelty and variety of design, as well as the number
+ of illustrations, than the one here presented to the reader.
+ To speak of the choice humorous talent engaged in the work
+ would only be to re-echo the applauding sentiments of the
+ reviewers and admirers of rich graphic excellence.
+ Cruikshank and Rowlandson are names not unworthy a space
+ upon the same roll with Hogarth, Gilray, and Bunbury: to
+ exhibit scenes of character in real life, sketched upon the
+ spot, was an undertaking of no mean importance;
+ particularly, when it is remembered how great the difficulty
+ must have been in collecting together accurate portraits.
+ The work, it will be perceived, contains thirty-six Copper-
+ Plates, etched, aquainted, and coloured, by and under the
+ direction of the respective artists whose names appear to
+ the different subjects, the principal part of which are the
+ sole production of Mr. Robert Cruikshank. The Wood
+ Engravings, twenty-eight in number, besides the <i>Vignettes</i>,
+ (which are numerous), are equally full of merit; and will be
+ found, upon examination, to be every way worthy the superior
+ style of typographical excellence which characterises the
+ volume,
+
+ I.
+
+ THE FRONTISPIECE
+
+ Is intended to convey a general idea of the nature of the
+ work; combining, in rich classic taste, a variety of
+ subjects illustrative of the polished as well as the more
+ humble scenes of real life. It represents a Gothic Temple,
+ into which the artist, Mr. Robert Cruikshank, has introduced
+ a greater variety of characteristic subject than was ever
+ before compressed into one design. In the centre
+ compartment, at the top, we have a view of a Terrestrial
+ Heaven, where Music, Love, and gay Delight are all united to
+ lend additional grace to Fashion, and increase the splendour
+ of the revels of Terpsichore. In the niches, on each side,
+ are the twin genii, Poetry and Painting; while the
+ pedestals, right and left, present the protectors of their
+ country, the old Soldier and Sailor, retired upon pensions,
+ enjoying and regaling themselves on the bounty of their
+ King. In the centre of the Plate are three divisions
+ representing the King, Lords, and Commons in the full
+ exercise of their prerogatives. The figures on each side are
+ portraits of Bernard Blackmantle (the English Spy), and his
+ friend, Robert Transit (the artist), standing on projecting
+ pedestals, and playing with the world as a ball; not
+ doubting but for this piece of vanity, the world, or the
+ reviewers for them, will knock them about in return. On the
+ front of the pedestals are the arms of the Universities of
+ Oxford and Cambridge; and in the centre armorial shields of
+ the Cities of London and Westminster. The picture of a
+ modern Hell, in the centre, between the pedestals, has the
+ very appropriate emblems of Misery and Death, in the niches
+ on each side. Crowning the whole, the Genius of Wit is seen
+ astride of an eagle, demonstrative of strength, and wielding
+ in his hand the lash of Satire; an instrument which, in the
+ present work, has been used more as a corrective of we than
+ personal ill-nature.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ II.
+
+ THE FIVE PRINCIPAL ORDERS OF SOCIETY.
+ The King-Corinthian; an elegant Female-Composite; the
+ Nobleman-Doric; a Member of the University-Ionic; and the
+ Buck of Fashion-Tuscan. On the left hand may be seen a
+ specimen of the Exquisite, a new order in high estimation at
+ the west end of the Town; and on the right hand stands an
+ old order of some solidity in the eastern parts of the
+ Metropolis. Fashion, Taste, and Fame, are emblematical of
+ the varied pursuits of life; while the Army and Navy of the
+ country are the capitals that crown the superstructure,
+ combining the ornamental with the useful.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ III.
+
+ FIRST ABSENCE, OR THE SONS OF OLD ETONA
+ ANSWERING MORNING MUSTER-ROLL. 25
+ A view of the school-yard, Eton, at the time first Absence
+ is called, and just when the learned Doctor Keat is reviewing
+ the upper school. (Portraits.)
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ IV.
+
+ THE OPPIDAN'S MUSEUM, OR ETON COURT OF
+ CLAIMS AT THE CHRISTOPHER. 49
+ Bernard Blackmantle and Robert Transit sitting in judge-
+ ment after Election Saturday, apportioning the remuneration
+ money to the different claimants of the surrounding trophies.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ V.
+
+ ETON MONTEM, AND THE MOUNT, SALT HILL. 96
+ An accurate sketch of this ancient customary procession
+ made upon the spot.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ VI.
+
+ THE FIRST BOW TO ALMA MATER. 113
+ Bernard Blackmantle's Introduction to the Big Wig on his
+ Arrival at Oxford.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ VII.
+
+ FLOORING OF MERCURY, OR BURNING THE OAKS. 131
+ A scene in Tom Quadrangle, Oxford.
+
+ "If wits aright their tale of terror tell,
+ A little after great Mercurius fell,
+
+ ***
+
+ Gownsmen and Townsmen throng'd the water's edge
+ To gaze upon the dreadful sacrilege:
+
+ ***
+
+ &mdash;&mdash;&mdash;there with drooping mien a silent band
+ Canons and Bedmaker together stand:&mdash;
+
+ ***
+
+ In equal horror all alike were seen,
+ And shuddering scouts forgot to cap the Dean."
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ VIII.
+
+ COLLEGE COMFORTS. 151
+ Taking possession of your rooms. Bernard Blackmantle
+ taking possession of his rooms in Brazennose. Scout's list of
+ wants. Standing the quiz of the Togati Visible propensities
+ of your predecessor. The day of purification.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ IX.
+
+ CAP-ING A PROCTOR, OR OXFORD BULL-DOGS
+ DETECTING BRAZENNOSE SMUGGLERS. 152
+ Tom Echo and Horace Eglantine lowering the plate-basket,
+ after the College-gates are closed, to obtain a supply of fresh
+ provision, are detected by the Proctor and Town Marshal with
+ their Bull-Dogs: in their alarm the basket and its contents are
+ suddenly let fall upon the Proctor, who is not able to under-
+ stand the joke.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ X.
+
+ THE ARRIVAL, OR WESTERN ENTRANCE INTO
+ COCKNEY LAND. 164
+ Portrait of high and low life Dandies and Dandysettes.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XI.
+ THE GREEN-ROOM OF THE KING'S THEATRE, R
+ NOBLE AMATEURS VIEWING FOREIGN CURIOSITIES. 198
+ Portraits of ten noble and distinguished patrons of the
+ opera, with those of certain daughters of Terpsichore.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XII.
+ THE ROYAL SALOON IN PICCADILLY, OR AN HOUR
+ AFTER THE OPERA. 205
+ Heartly, Lionise, and Transit in search of Character&mdash;The
+ gambling Parsons&mdash;Legs and Leg-ees-Tats men and touters&mdash;
+ Moll Raffle and Bang.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XIII.
+
+ OXFORD TRANSPORTS, OR UNIVERSITY EXILES. 235
+ Albanians doing penance for past offences. A Scene sketched
+ from the Life. Horace Eglantine is proposing "the Study of
+ the Fathers," a favourite College toast, while Tom Echo is
+ enforcing Obedience to the President's proposition by finishing
+ off a Shirker. Dick Gradus having been declared absent, is
+ taking a cool nap with the Ice-pail in his arms and his head
+ resting upon a Greek Lexicon: in the left hand corner may
+ be seen a Scout bearing off a dead Man, (but not without hope
+ of Resurrection). Bob Transit and Bernard Blackmantle
+ occupy the situation on each side of Dick Gradus; in the
+ right-hand corner, Horace's servant is drawing the last Cork
+ from the parting bottle, which is to welcome in the peep o' day.
+ Injustice to the present authorities it should be stated,
+ that this is a Scene of other limes.&mdash;Vide A.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XIV.
+ SHOW SUNDAY, A VIEW IN THE BROAD WALK,
+ CHRIST CHURCH MEADOWS, OXFORD. 244
+ Portraits of the Togati and the town, including big wigs,
+ nobs, and dons. Among the more conspicuous are Dr. Kett,
+ Lord G. Grenville, Dr. Grovesnor, Alderman Fletcher, and
+ Mr. Swan.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XV.
+ TOWN AND GOWN. 246
+ Battle of the Togati and Town Raff of Oxford, a night scene.
+ &mdash;Bernard and his Friends, Horace and Tom, distributing
+ among the Bargees of St. Clement's.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XVI.
+
+ BLACK MATINS, OR THE EFFECTS OF LATE
+ DRINKING UPON EARLY RISERS. 269
+ A Most Imposing Scene.-Time seven o'clock in the Morn-
+ ing, the last bell has just tolled, and the University Men have
+ just turned out, while the hunting-frock, boots, and appear-
+ ance of some of the party, proclaim that they have just turned
+ in; all are eager to save fine and imposition, and not a few are
+ religiously disturbed in their Dreams. The admirable disorder
+ of the party is highly illustrative of the Effect produced by an
+ Evening Wine Party in College Rooms.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XVII.
+ GOLGOTHA, OR THE PLACE OF SCULLS. 272
+ Tom Echo receiving sentence of Rustication. The Big Wigs
+ in a Bustle. Lecture on disobedience and chorus of the
+ Synod. Reports from the Isle of Bull dogs. Running foul
+ of the Quicksands of Rustication after having passed Point
+ Failure and The Long Hope. Nearly blown up at Point
+ Nonplus, and obliged to lay by to refit.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XVIII.
+ THE EVENING PARTY AT THE PAVILION,
+ BRIGHTON. (BY O. M. BRIOHTY.) 296
+ Interior of the Yellow Room&mdash;Portraits of His Majesty,
+ the Duke of York, and Princess Augusta, Marquis and
+ Marchioness of Conyngham, Earl of Arran, Lord Francis
+ Conyngham, Lady Elizabeth and Sir H. Barnard, Sir H.
+ Turner, Sir W. Knighton, Sir E. Nagle, and Sir C. Paget,
+ sketched from the Life.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XIX.
+ THE KING AT HOME, OR MATHEWS AT CARLTON
+ HOUSE. 298
+ A scene founded on fact; including Portraits of the King,
+ Mathews, and other celebrated persons.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XX.
+ A FROLIC IN HIGH LIFE, OR, A VISIT TO BILLINGS-
+ GATE. 303
+ A very extraordinary whim of two very distinguished
+ females, whose Portraits will be easily recognised.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXI.
+ CHARACTERS ON THE STEYNE, BRIGHTON. 309
+ Portraits of illustrious, noble, and wealthy Visitors&mdash;The
+ Banker's Widow&mdash;A Bathing Group&mdash;The Chain Pier, &amp;c.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXII.
+ TOM ECHO LAID UP WITH THE HEDDINGTON
+ FEVER, OR AN OXONIAN VERY NEAR THE
+ WALL. 323
+ Symptoms of having been engaged too deeply in the study
+ of Hie fathers. Portrait of a well-known Esculapian chief.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXIII.
+
+ MONDAY AFTER THE GREAT ST. LEGER, OR
+ HEROES OF THE TURF PAYING AND RECEIVING
+ AT TATTERSALL'S. 329
+ This sketch was made upon the spot by my friend Transit,
+ on the Monday following the result of the last Great St. Leger
+ in 1823, when the Legs were, for the most part, in mourning
+ from the loss of their favourite Sherwood. Some long faces
+ will be easily recognized, and some few round ones, though
+ Barefoots, not easily be forgotten. The Tinkers were many
+ of them Levanters. Here may be seen the Peer and the Prig,
+ the Wise one and the Green one, the Pigeon and the Rook
+ amalgamated together. It is almost unnecessary to say, the
+ greater part of the characters are portraits.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXIV.
+
+ EXTERIOR OF FISHMONGERS'-HALL, ST. JAMES'S
+ STREET, WITH A VIEW OF A REGULAR BREAKDOWN. 331
+ Portraits of the Master Fishmonger, and many well-
+ known Greeks and Pigeons.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXV.
+
+ INTERIOR OF A MODERN HELL. (Vide the affair of
+ the cogged dice.) 334
+ Portraits of upwards of twenty well-known Punters and
+ Frequenters&mdash;Greeks and Pigeons, noble and ignoble&mdash;The
+ Fishmonger in a fright, or the gudgeon turned shark&mdash;Expose
+ of Saint Hugh's Bones&mdash;Secrets worth knowing. (See work.)
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXVI.
+ THE DAFFY CLUB, OR A MUSICAL MUSTER OF
+ THE FANCY. 339
+ Interior of Tom Belcher's Parlour. Heartly and Bob in
+ search of Character. Striking likenesses of Boxers, Betters,
+ &amp;c.&mdash;with a pen and ink Sketch of a Noted&mdash;one&mdash;a fine
+ School for Practical Experience. (For key to Portraits-
+ see work.)
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXVII.
+
+ PEEP 0' DAYS AND FAMILY MEN AT THE FINISH. 342
+ A Night Scene near Covent Garden&mdash;Coffee and comical
+ company.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXVIII.
+ FAMILY MEN AT FAULT, OR AN UNEXPECTED
+ VISIT FROM THE BISHOP AND HIS CHAPLAINS. 345
+ A Scene near Covent Garden, in which are introduced
+ certain well-known Characters and Bow-street Officers: in-
+ cluding Messrs. Bishop, Smith, Ruthven, and Townshend.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXIX.
+
+ THE HALL OF INFAMY, ALIAS OYSTER SALOON,
+ IN BRYDGES-STREET, OR NEW COVENT GARDEN HELL. 354
+ Portraits of the old Harridan and her Flask man Tom.
+ Sketches of Sharps and Flats, Green ones and Impures.
+ Done from the Life.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXX.
+
+ WESTMINSTER HALL. 361
+ Portraits of well-known Worthies of the Bar.&mdash;The Maiden
+ Brief.&mdash;Dick Gradus examining a Witness.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXXI.
+
+ SURREY COLLEGIANS GIVING A LIFT TO A LIMB
+ OF THE LAW. 364
+ Interior of the King's Bench Prison&mdash;Rough-drying a Lawyer.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXXII.
+ R-A-YS OF GENIUS REFLECTING ON THE TRUE
+ LINE OF BEAUTY AT THE LIFE ACADEMY,
+ SOMERSET HOUSE. (BY T. ROWLANDSON.) 365
+ Bob Transit's first appearance as a student. Sketching
+ from the Life. Outlines of character. How to grow rich but
+ not great. Secrets worth knowing, and Portraits of all the
+ Well-known.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXXIII.
+
+ BERNARD BLACKMANTLE READING HIS PLAY IN
+ THE GREEN-ROOM OF COVENT GARDEN THEATRE. 366
+ Portraits of Messrs. C. Kemble, Fawcett, Farley, Jones,
+ Farren, Grimaldi, Macready, Young, T. P. Cooke, Chapman,
+ Blanchard, Abbott, Cooper, Yates, and the English Spy;
+ Mrs. Davenport, Miss Chester, Miss M. Tree, Miss Love, and
+ Mrs. Davison.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXXIV.
+
+ BERNARD BLACKMANTLE READING HIS FARCE IN
+ THE GREEN ROOM OF THE THEATRE ROYAL,
+ DRURY LANE. (by T. Wageman.) 367
+ Portraits of Elliston, Dowton, Harley, Munden, Knight,
+ Liston, Oxberry, Sherwin, Gattie, Wallack, Terry, G. Smith,
+ and Barnard, Miss Stephens, Mrs. Orger, Madame Vestris,
+ Mrs. Harlowe, and the English Spy. The Likenesses are all
+ studies from the life.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXXV.
+ THE CITY BALL AT THE MANSION HOUSE. 368
+ Portraits of the Duke of Sussex, the Lord Mayor (Waith-
+ man) and Lady Mayoress, the Sheriffs Laurie and Whittaker,
+ Aldermen Wood and Curtis, Sir Richard Phillips, Messrs.
+ Hone, Patten, with other well-known Characters.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ XXXVI.
+ JEMMY GORDON'S FROLIC. 369
+ A Cambridge tale. Vide Peter House.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ ILLUSTRATIONS ON WOOD
+
+ FROM ORIGINAL DESIGNS BY CRUIKSHANK, ROWLANDSON,
+ GILRAY, AND FINLAY, ENGRAVED BY BONNER AND HUGHES.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ VIGNETTE ON TITLE PAGE.
+ Old Father Time borne away on the shoulders of the Genii,
+ Frolic, Mirth, and Fancy.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1. The Author's Chamber&mdash;Index, the bookseller, and Ber-
+ nard Blackmantle, projecting a new work
+
+ 2. Horatio Heartly reading the "English Spy" to Lady
+ Mary Oldstyle 17
+
+ 3. A correct view of Eton College from the playing-fields 32
+
+ 4. The five principal orders of Eton&mdash;Doctor, Dame,
+ Colleger, Oppidan, and Cad. A Sketch taken opposite the
+ Long Walk 42
+
+ 5. The Cloisters, Eton College 58
+
+ 6. Herbert Stockhore, the Montem Poet Laureate, a Sketch
+ from the Life as he appeared in the Montem Procession of
+ May, 1823 59
+
+ 7. Accurate View of the Interior of Eton College Hall 96
+
+ 8. Interior of Eton School Room 105
+
+ 9. The Oxonian reclining, an emblematical design 111
+
+ 10. Five characteristic orders of Oxford 113
+
+ 11. Portrait of Mr. B&mdash;the classical Alma Mater Coachman
+ of Oxford 128
+
+ 12. View of Christchurch College 129
+
+ 13. A Bachelor of Arts drinking of the Pierian Spring 136
+
+ 14. View of Bagley Wood with the Gipsy party. An
+ extraordinary fine specimen of art, by Bonner. 157
+
+ 15. Mother Goose, a portrait 162
+
+ 16. Kensington Gardons, Sunday Evening. Portraits of
+ well-known fashionable eccentricities 164
+
+ 17. Vignette.&mdash;he Subject and the Resurrection Jarvey,
+ or "Kill him when you want him" 220
+
+ 18. Albanians starting for a spree, or Tom Tick on the road
+ to Jericho 233
+
+ 19. Waiting for bail 240
+
+ 20. The Don and the fair of St. Clement's. An Oxford
+ scene 243
+
+ 21. The University Rake's Progress 273
+
+ 22. The newly invented Steam Coach 274
+
+ 23. View of the Pavilion, Brighton, from the London Road 286
+
+ 24. A Night Scene, or, a rum start near B&mdash;&mdash; H&mdash;&mdash;l 304
+
+ 25. The Widow's ultimatum. A cutting joke, with a most
+ affecting catastrophe 313
+
+ 26. College Frolics, or catching Urals at Ch. Ch. 325
+
+ 27. Roues rusticating in Surrey, or, the first glimpse of
+ Banco Regis 363
+
+ 28. Term, ends&mdash;Adieu to fagging&mdash;The High-street, Oxford
+ &mdash;The Togati in a bustle&mdash;The merry good bye 370
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE ENGLISH SPY.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Nor rank, nor order, nor condition,
+ Imperial, lowly, or patrician,
+ Shall, when they see this volume, cry,
+ "The satirist has pass'd us by:"
+ But, with good humour, view our page
+ Depict the manners of the age.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_INTR" id="link2H_INTR">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ INTRODUCTION.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "The proper study of mankind is man."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ A RHAPSODY.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Life's busy scene I sing! Its countenance, and form, and varied hue, drawn
+ within the compass of the eye. No tedious voyage, or weary pilgrimage o'er
+ burning deserts, or tempestuous seas, my progress marks, to trace great
+ nature's sources to the fount, and bare her secrets to the common view.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ In search of wonders, let the learn'd embark,
+ From lordly Elgin, to lamented Park,
+ To find out what I perhaps some river's course,
+ Or antique fragments of a marble horse;
+ While I, more humble, local scenes portray,
+ And paint the men and manners of the day.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Life's a theatre, man the chief actor, and the source from which the
+ dramatist must cull his choicest beauties, painting up to nature the
+ varied scenes which mark the changeful courses of her motley groups. Here
+ she opes her volume to the view of contemplative minds, and spreads her
+ treasures forth, decked in all the variegated tints that Flora, goddess of
+ the flowery mead and silvery dell, with many coloured hue, besprinkles the
+ luxuriant land.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Here, reader, will we travel forth, and in our journey make survey of all
+ that's interesting and instructive. Man's but the creature of a little
+ hour, the phantom of a transitory life; prone to every ill, subject to
+ every woe; and oft the more eccentric in his sphere, as rare abilities may
+ gild his brow, setting form, law, and order at defiance. His glass a third
+ decayed 'fore reason shines, and ere perfection crowns maturity, he sinks
+ forgotten in his parent dust. Such then is man, uncertain as the wind, by
+ nature formed the creature of caprice, and as Atropos wills, day by day,
+ we number to our loss some mirth-enlivening soul, whose talents gave a
+ lustre to the scene.-Serious and solemn, thoughts be hence away!
+ imagination wills that playful satire reign:&mdash;by sportive fancy led,
+ we take the field.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0004" id="image-0004">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page004.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page004 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[4]</span> <a name="link2H_PREF" id="link2H_PREF">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ PREFACE, IN IMITATION OF THE FIRST SATIRE OF PERSIUS.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE AUTHOR AND HIS FRIEND.
+ </h3>
+ <p>
+ Author. However dangerous, or however vain, I am resolved.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Friend. You'll not offend again?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Author. I will, by Jove!
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Friend. Take my advice, reflect; Who'll buy your sketches?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Author. Many, I expect.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Friend. I fear but few, unless, Munchausen-like, You've something strange,
+ that will the public strike: Men with six heads, or monsters with twelve
+ tails, Who patter flash, for nothing else prevails In this dull age.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Author. Then my success is certain; I think you'll say so when I draw the
+ curtain, And, presto! place before your wond'ring eyes A race of beings
+ that must 'cite surprise; The strangest compound truth and contradiction
+ Owe to dame Nature, or the pen of Action; Where wit and folly, pride and
+ modest worth, Go hand in hand, or jostle at a birth; Where prince, peer,
+ peasant, politician meet, And beard each other in the public street; <span
+ class="pagenum">[6]</span> Where ancient forms, though still admired, Are
+ phantoms that have long expired; Where science droops 'fore sovereign
+ folly, And arts are sick with melancholy; Where knaves gain wealth, and
+ honest fellows, By hunger pinch'd, blow knav'ry's bellows; Where wonder
+ rises upon wonder&mdash;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Friend. Hold! Or you may leave no wonders to be told. Your book, to sell,
+ must have a subtle plot&mdash;Mark the Great Unknown, wily ***** ****:
+ Print in America, publish at Milan; There's nothing like this
+ Scotch-Athenian plan, To hoax the cockney lack-brains.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Author. It shall be: Books, like Madeira, much improve at sea; 'Tis said
+ it clears them from the mist and smell Of modern Athens, so says sage
+ Cadell, Whose dismal tales of shipwreck, stress of weather, Sets all
+ divine <i>Nonsensia</i> mad together; And, when they get the dear-bought
+ novel home, "They love it for the dangers it has overcome."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Friend. I like your plan: "art sure there's no offence?"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Author. None that's intended to wound common-sense. For your uncommon
+ knaves who rule the town, Your M.P.'s, M.D.'s, R.A.'s and silk gown,
+ Empirics in all arts, every degree, Just Satire whispers are fair game for
+ me.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Friend. The critic host beware!
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Author. Wherefore, I pray? "The cat will mew, the dog will have his day."
+ Let them bark on! who heeds their currish note Knows not the world&mdash;they
+ howl, for food, by rote.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0005" id="image-0005">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page007.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page007 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[7]</span> REFLECTIONS, ADDRESSED TO THOSE WHO CAN
+ THINK.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Reflections of an Author&mdash;Weighty Reasons for writing&mdash;
+ Magister artis ingeniique largitor Venter&mdash;Choice of Subject
+ considered&mdash;Advice of Index, the Book-seller&mdash;Of the Nature
+ of Prefaces&mdash;How to commence a new Work.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Author (solus). I must write&mdash;my last sovereign has long since been
+ transferred to the safe keeping of mine hostess, to whom I have the honor
+ to be obliged. I just caught a glance of her inflexible countenance this
+ morning in passing the parlour door; and methought I could perceive the
+ demon aspect of suspicion again spreading his corrosive murky hue over her
+ furrowed front. The enlivening appearance of my golden ambassador had for
+ a few days procured me a faint smile of complacency; but the spell is
+ past, and I shall again be doomed to the humiliation <span class="pagenum">[8]</span>
+ of hearing Mrs Martha Bridget's morning lectures on the necessity of
+ punctuality. Well, she must be quieted, (i.e.) promise crammed,
+ (satisfied, under existing circumstances, is impossible): I know it will
+ require no little skill to obtain fresh supplies from her stores, without
+ the master-key which unlocks the flinty heart; but <i>nil desperandum</i>,
+ he who can brave a formidable army of critics, in pursuit of the bubble
+ fame, may at least hope to find wit enough to quiet the interested
+ apprehensions of an old woman. And yet how mortifying is the very
+ suspicion of inattention and disrespect. I have rung six times for my
+ breakfast, and as many more for my boots, before either have made their
+ appearance; the first has indeed just arrived, with a lame apology from
+ mine hostess, that the gentleman on the first floor is a very impetuous
+ fellow, requires prompt attention, gives a great deal of trouble&mdash;but&mdash;then
+ he pays a great deal of money, and above all, is very punctual: here is my
+ <i>quietus</i> at once; the last sentence admits of no reply from a
+ pennyless author. My breakfast table is but the spectre of former times;&mdash;no
+ eggs on each side of my cup, or a plate of fresh Lynn shrimps, with an
+ inviting salt odour, that would create an appetite in the stomach of an
+ invalid; a choice bit of dried salmon, or a fresh cut off the roll of some
+ violet-scented Epping butter;&mdash;all have disappeared; nay, even the
+ usual allowance of cream has degenerated into skimmed milk, and that is
+ supplied in such cautious quantities, that I can scarce eke it out to
+ colour my three cups of inspiring bohea.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ (A knock at the door.) That single rap at the street door is very like the
+ loud determined knock of a dun. The servant is ascending the stairs&mdash;it
+ must be so&mdash;she advances upon the second flight;&mdash;good heavens,
+ how stupid!&mdash;I particularly told her I should not be in town to any
+ of these people for a month. The inattention of servants is unbearable;
+ they can tell fibs <span class="pagenum">[9]</span> enough to suit their
+ own purposes, but a little white one to serve a gentleman lodger, to put
+ off an impertinent tradesman, or save him from the toils of a sheriffs
+ officer, is sure to be marred in the relation, or altogether forgotten.
+ I'll lock my chamber door, however, by way of precaution. (Servant
+ knocking.) "What do you want?" "Mr. Index, sir, the little gentleman in
+ black." "Show him up, Betty, directly." The key is instantly turned; the
+ door set wide open; and I am again seated in comfort at my table: the
+ solicitude, fear, and anxiety, attendant upon the apprehensions of
+ surprise, a bailiff, and a prison, all vanish in a moment.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "My dear Index, you are welcome; the last person I expected, although the
+ first I could have wished to have seen: to what fortunate circumstance am
+ I to attribute the honor of this friendly visit?"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Business, sir; I am a man of business: your last publication has sold
+ pretty well, considering how dreadfully it was cut up in the reviews; I
+ have some intention of reprinting a short edition, if you are not too
+ exorbitant in your demands; not that I think the whole number will be
+ sold, but there is a chance of clearing the expenses. A portrait by
+ Wageman, the announcement of a second edition, with additions, may help it
+ off; but then these additional costs will prevent my rewarding your merits
+ to the extent I am sensible you deserve."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Name your own terms, Index, for after all you know it must come to that,
+ and I am satisfied you will be as liberal as you can afford." Put in this
+ way, the most penurious of the speculating tribe in paper and print would
+ have strained a point, to overcome their natural infirmity: with Index it
+ was otherwise; nature had formed him with a truly liberal heart: the
+ practice of the trade, and the necessary caution attendant upon
+ bookselling speculations, only operated as a check to the noble-minded
+ generosity of the <span class="pagenum">[10]</span> man, without
+ implanting in his bosom the avarice and extortion generally pursued by his
+ brethren.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The immediate subject of his visit arranged to our mutual satisfaction, I
+ ventured to inquire what style of work was most likely to interest the
+ taste of the town. 'The town itself&mdash;satire, sir, fashionable satire.
+ If you mean to grow rich by writing in the present day, you must first
+ learn to be satirical; use the lash, sir, as all the great men have done
+ before you, and then, like Canning in the Cabinet, or Gifford and Jeffery
+ as reviewers, or Byron and Southey as poets, you will be followed more
+ from the fear of your pen than from the splendour of your talents, the
+ consistency of your conduct, or the morality of your principles. Sir, if
+ you can but use the tomahawk skilfully, your fortune is certain. '<i>Sic
+ itur ad astra</i>.' Read Blackwood's Noctea Ambrosiance. Take the town by
+ surprise, folly by the ears; 'the glory, jest, and riddle of the world' is
+ man; use your knowledge of this ancient volume rightly, and you may soon
+ mount the car of fortune, and drive at random wherever your fancy
+ dictates. Bear in mind the Greek proverb, '<i>Mega biblion, mega kakon</i>.'
+ In your remarks, select such persons who, from their elevated situations
+ in society, ought to be above reproof, and whose vices are, therefore,
+ more worthy of public condemnation:
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ '&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;Ridiculum acri
+ Fortius ac melius magnas plerumque secat res.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ By this means you will benefit the state, and improve the morals of
+ society. The most wholesome truths may be told with pleasantry. Satire, to
+ be severe, needs not to be scurrilous. The approval of the judicious will
+ always follow the ridicule which is directed against error, ignorance, and
+ folly."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ How long little Index might have continued in this strain I know not, if I
+ had not ventured to suggest <span class="pagenum">[11]</span> that the
+ course he pointed out was one of great difficulty, and considerable
+ personal hazard; that to arrive at fortune by such means, an author must
+ risk the sacrifice of many old connexions, and incur no inconsiderable
+ dangers; that great caution would be necessary to escape the fangs of the
+ forensic tribe, and that in voluntarily thrusting his nose into such a
+ nest of hornets, it would be hardly possible to escape being severely
+ stung in retaliation. "<i>Pulchrum est accusari ah accusandis</i>," said
+ my friend, the bookseller, "who has suffered more by the fashionable world
+ than yourself? Have you not dissipated a splendid patrimony in a series of
+ the most liberal entertainments? Has not your generous board been graced
+ with the presence of royalty? and the banquet enriched by the attendant
+ stars of nobility, from the duke to the right honorable knight commander.
+ And have you not since felt the most cruel neglect from these your early
+ associates, and much obliged friends, with no crime but poverty, with no
+ reproach but the want of prudence? Have you not experienced ingratitude
+ and persecution in every shape that human baseness could find ingenuity to
+ inflict? And can you hesitate to avail yourself of the noble revenge in
+ your power, when it combines the advantages of being morally profitable
+ both to yourself and society?
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ '&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;Velat materna tempora myrto.'
+ Virg.
+
+ 'When Vice the shelter of a mask disdain'd,
+ When Folly triumph'd, and a Nero reign'd,
+ Petronius rose satiric, yet polite,
+ And show'd the glaring monster full in sight;
+ To public mirth exposed the imperial beast,
+ And made his wanton court the common jest.'"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ With this quotation, delivered with good emphasis, little Index bade me
+ good morning, and left me impressed with no mean opinion of his
+ friendship, <span class="pagenum">[12]</span> and with an increased
+ admiration of his knowledge of the world.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But how (thought I) am I to profit by his advice? In what shape shall I
+ commence my eccentric course? A good general at the head of a large army,
+ on the eve of a general battle, with the enemy full in view, feels less
+ embarrassment than a young author finds in marshalling his crude ideas,
+ and placing the raw recruits of the brain in any thing like respectable
+ order. For the title, that is quite a matter of business, and depends more
+ upon the bookseller's opinion of what may be thought attractive than any
+ affinity it may possess to the work itself. Dedications are, thanks to the
+ economy of fashion, out of date: great men have long since been laughed
+ into good sense in that particular. A preface (if there be one) should
+ partake something of the spirit of the work; for if it be not brief,
+ lively, and humorous, it is ten to one but your reader falls asleep before
+ he enters upon chapter the first, and when he wakes, fears to renew his
+ application, lest he should be again caught napping. Long introductions
+ are like lengthy prayers before meals to hungry men, they are mumbled over
+ with unintelligible rapidity, or altogether omitted, for the more solid
+ gratifications of the stomach, or the enjoyments of the mind. In what
+ fantastic shape and countenance then shall an author appear to obtain
+ general approbation? or in what costume is he most likely to insure
+ success?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ If he assumes a fierce and haughty front, his readers are perhaps offended
+ with his temerity, and the critics enraged at his assurance. If he affects
+ a modest sneaking posture, and humbly implores their high mightinesses to
+ grant him one poor sprig of laurel, he is treated slightingly, and
+ despised, as a pitiful fellow who wants that essential ingredient in the
+ composition of a man of talent and good breeding, ycleped by the moderns
+ confidence. If he speaks of <span class="pagenum">[13]</span> the
+ excellence of his subject, he creates doubts both with his readers and
+ reviewers, who will use their endeavours to convince him he has not a
+ correct knowledge of his own abilities. But if, like a well bred man at
+ court, he enters the drawing-room of literature in good taste, neither too
+ mean nor too gaudy, too bold or too formal, makes his bow with the air and
+ finish of a scholar and a gentleman, and passes on to his place, unheedful
+ of remark (because unconscious of offence), he is sure to command respect,
+ if he does not excite admiration.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Accept then, reader, this colloquial chapter, as the author's apology for
+ a preface, an imaginary short conference, or letter of introduction, which
+ brings you acquainted with the eccentric writer of this volume; and as in
+ all well regulated society a person is expected to give some account of
+ himself before he is placed upon terms of intimacy with the family, you
+ shall in the next page receive a brief sketch of the characteristics of
+ the author.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0006" id="image-0006">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page013.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page013 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[13]</span> A FEW THOUGHTS ON MYSELF.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The early biography of a man of genius is seldom, if ever, accurately
+ given to the public eye, unless, indeed, he is one of those <i>rara avis</i>
+ who, with the advantages of great qualifications, inherits high ancestral
+ distinctions. But if, as is generally the case, from obscurity of birth
+ and humble life he rises into notice by the force and exertion of his
+ talents, the associates of his brighter fortunes know but little of the
+ difficulties which have obstructed his progress, or the toils and fatigues
+ he has endured, to arrive at that enviable point from which the temple of
+ Fame, and the road to fortune, may be contemplated with some chance of
+ enjoyment and success. Unwilling to speak of himself, lest he should incur
+ the charge of vanity or egotism, he modestly trusts to the partial pen of
+ friendship, or the conjectural pen of the commentator, to do justice to
+ events which no quill could relate so well as his own, and which, if
+ impartially and sensibly written, must advance him in the estimation of
+ society, and convince the world that with the mastery of the great secret
+ in his power, he was not more capable of appreciating the characters of
+ the age than familiar with the lights and shadows of his own.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Honour and shame from no condition rise;
+ Act well your part, there all the honour lies."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The reader will, no doubt, anticipate that the name of Bernard Blackmantle
+ is an assumed quaint cognomen, and perhaps be not less suspicious of the
+ author's right and title to the honorary distinction annexed: <span
+ class="pagenum">[14]</span> let him beware how he indulges in such
+ chimeras, before he has fully entered into the spirit of the volume before
+ him, lest, on perusal, conviction should compel him to retract the
+ ungracious thought. To be plain, he is not desirous of any higher honorary
+ distinction than the good opinion of his readers. And now, sons and
+ daughters of Fashion! ye cameleon race of giddy elves, who flutter on the
+ margin of the whirlpool, or float upon the surface of the silvery stream,
+ and, hurried forwards by the impetus of the current, leave yourselves but
+ little time for reflection, one glance will convince you that you are
+ addressed by an old acquaintance, and, heretofore, constant attendant upon
+ all the gay varieties of life; of this be assured, that, although retired
+ from the fascinating scene, where gay Delight her portal open throws to
+ Folly's throng, he is no surly misanthrope, or gloomy seceder, whose
+ jaundiced mind, or clouded imagination, is a prey to disappointment, envy,
+ or to care. In retracing the brighter moments of life, the festive scenes
+ of past times, the never to be forgotten pleasures of his halcyon days,
+ when youth, and health, and fortune, blest his lot, he has no tongue for
+ scandal&mdash;no pen for malice&mdash;no revenge to gratify, but is only
+ desirous of attempting a true portraiture of men and manners, in the
+ higher and more polished scenes of life. If, in the journey through these
+ hitherto unexplored regions of fancy, ought should cross his path that
+ might give pain to worthy bosoms, he would sooner turn aside than be
+ compelled to embody the uncandid thought.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Unknowing and unknown, the hardy Muse
+ "Boldly defies all mean and partial views;
+ "With honest freedom plays the critic's part,
+ "And praises, as she censures, from the heart."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ And now, having said nearly as much as I think prudent of myself, and
+ considerably more than my <span class="pagenum">[17]</span> bookseller
+ usually allows by way of prefatory matter, I shall conclude this chapter
+ by informing the reader of some facts, with which I ought to have
+ commenced it, namely&mdash;For my parents, it must suffice that my father
+ was a man of talent, my mother accomplished and esteemed, and, what is
+ more to their honour, they were affectionate and kind: peace to their
+ manes! I was very early in life bereft of both; educated at one of the
+ public schools, I was, in due time, sent to matriculate at Oxford, where,
+ reader, I propose to commence my Eccentric Tour.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0007" id="image-0007">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page016.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page016 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0008" id="image-0008">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page017.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page017 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ A SHANDEAN SCENE,
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ BETWEEN LADY MARY OLDSTYLE AND HORATIO HEARTLY.
+ </h3>
+ <p>
+ "I know him well," said Horatio, with a half-suppressed sigh, as he
+ finished the introductory chapter to the first volume of the English Spy,
+ or Colloquial Sketches of Men and Manners. "He is no misanthrope," said my
+ aunt, taking off her spectacles to wipe away the pearly drop which
+ meek-eyed pity gave to the recollection of scenes long passed. Horatio
+ paused&mdash;the book dropped instinctively upon his knee, as his raised
+ eye involuntarily caught the benign aspect of virtue and intelligence,
+ softened by the crystal gems of feeling. "I wish I knew where he lived,"
+ said my aunt. "I'll find him out," said Horatio;-"Do," said my aunt, "and
+ tell him an old friend of his father's, on whom fortune has deigned to
+ smile in the winter of her days, would feign extend to him as much of
+ worldly happiness as can be derived from the enjoyment of worldly
+ treasure." <span class="pagenum">[18]</span> By that sort of magical
+ attraction which imperceptibly links together the souls of kindred
+ spirits, Horatio's chair had made an angular movement, of at least six
+ degrees, in a direction nearer to his venerable relation: no lover ever
+ pressed with more fervency of affection the yielding hand of his soul's
+ deity, than did the grateful nephew, at this moment, clasp within his
+ eager grasp the aged palm of bounteous charity. "I wish he may accept your
+ kind offer," said Horatio. "And why should he not?" said my aunt, with a
+ half inclination of extricating her hand, and a penetrating glance of
+ doubt, directed full in the face of the speaker: "I know not," said
+ Horatio, (hesitating, as if fearful of giving offence), "but,"-"But what?"
+ said my aunt;-"But I fear his natural love of independence, and
+ eccentricity of mind, will admit of no constraint, which his high sense of
+ honor will anticipate must be partially the case whenever he submits
+ himself to accept the favors of even such generous hearts as yours." "He
+ would feel no such thing," said my aunt. "He could not resist the
+ impression," said Horatio; "your liberality would, I know, be calculated
+ to dispossess him of the painful sensation; but if the inherent pride of
+ the man could be subdued, or calmed into acquiescence, by breathing the
+ enchanting air of friendship, the weight of gratitude, the secret monitor
+ of fine-wrought minds, would overpower his tongue, and leave him, in his
+ own estimation, a pauper of the poorest class." "Then I'll adopt another
+ mode," said my aunt; "and though I hate the affectation of secret
+ charities, because I think the donor of a generous action is well entitled
+ to his reward, both here and hereafter,&mdash;I'll hand out some way,
+ anonymously or otherwise, to indulge my humour of serving him." "You are
+ an angel!" said Horatio, with his eyes fixed on the ground&mdash;(the
+ spirit of the angel of benevolence,&mdash;quoth Reason, whispering in his
+ ear, would have been <span class="pagenum">[19]</span> a better metaphor,&mdash;certainly
+ inhabits the aged bosom of your father's sister). Horatio's upraised eye
+ rested on the wrinkled front of his antique relative, just as the
+ corrective thought gleamed in visionary brightness o'er his brain; the
+ poetic inspiration of the moment fled like the passing meteor, but the
+ feeling which excited it remained engrafted on his memory for ever. "How
+ shall we find him out, my dear Horatio?" said my aunt, her whole
+ countenance animated with delight at the last flattering ejaculation of
+ her nephew-"where shall we seek him?&mdash;I'll order the carriage
+ directly." The glow of pleasure and anticipatory gratification, which at
+ this moment beamed in the countenance of the old lady, brought back the
+ circling current of health to the cheeks of age, and, with the blush of
+ honest feeling, dispelled the stains of time; the furrowed streaks of care
+ vanished from her front, and left her whole frame proportionably
+ invigorated.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ If the mere contemplation of a generous action can thus inspire the young,
+ and give new life to age, what a load of misery and deformity might not
+ the sons and daughters of nature divest themselves of, by following the
+ inherent dictates of benevolence! Reflection, whenever he deigned to
+ penetrate the pericranium of my cousin Horatio, took entire possession of
+ the citadel, and left him not even the smallest loophole for the
+ observation of any passing event. He was just fixed in one of these
+ abstracted reveries of the mind, traversing over the halcyon scenes of his
+ collegiate days, and re-associating himself with his early friend, the
+ author of the eccentric volume then in his hand, when the above monition
+ sprung from his heart, like the crystal stream that sparkles in the air,
+ when first it bursts through the mineral bondage of the womb of nature.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "You are right," said my aunt. Horatio started with surprise, almost
+ unconscious of her presence, or <span class="pagenum">[20]</span> what he
+ had said to deserve her approbation. "True happiness," she continued, "is
+ the offspring of generosity and virtue, and never inhabits a bosom where
+ worldly interest and selfish principles are allowed to predominate. There
+ are many who possess all the requisites for the enjoyment of true
+ happiness, who, from the prejudices of education, or the mistaken pride of
+ ancestry, have never experienced the celestial rapture: they have never
+ been amalgamated with society, are strangers to poverty themselves, and
+ cannot comprehend its operation upon others; born and moving in a sphere
+ where the chilling blasts of indigence never penetrate, or the clouds of
+ adversity appal, they have no conception of the more delightful
+ gratification which springs from the source of all earthly happiness, the
+ pleasure and ability of administering to the wants and comforts of our
+ fellow creatures."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Yours is the true philosophy of nature, aunt," said Horatio, "where
+ principle and practice may be seen, arm in arm, like the twin sisters,
+ Charity and Virtue,&mdash;a pair of antique curiosities much sought after,
+ but rarely found amid the assemblage of <i>virtu</i> in the collections of
+ your modern people of fashion."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "I'll alter my will to-morrow morning," thought my aunt; "this boy
+ deserves to be as rich in acres as he already is in benevolence: he shall
+ have the Leicestershire estate added to what I have already bequeathed
+ him, by way of codicil."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "You would be delighted with my friend Bernard, aunt," said Horatio, "that
+ is, when he is in good spirits; but you must not judge of him by the
+ common standard of estimation: if, on the first introduction, he should
+ happen to be in one of those lively humours when his whole countenance is
+ lighted up with the brilliancy of genius, you would be enraptured by the
+ sallies of his wit, and the solidity of his reasoning; but if, on the
+ contrary, he should unfortunately <span class="pagenum">[21]</span> be in
+ one of those abstracted moods when all terrestrial objects are equally
+ indifferent, you will, I fear, form no very favourable opinion of his
+ merit. He is an eccentric in every respect, and must not be judged of by
+ the acquaintance of an hour. We were boys together at Eton, and the
+ associations of youth ripened with maturity into the most sincere friendly
+ attachment, which was materially assisted by the similarity of our
+ dispositions and pursuits, during our residence at college. Your kind
+ notice of my poor friend, aunt, has revived the fondest recollections of
+ my life&mdash;the joyous scenes of infancy, when the young heart, free
+ from the trammels of the world, and buoyant as the bird of spring, wings
+ along the flowery path of pleasure, plucking at will the sweets of nature,
+ and decking his infant brow with wreaths of fresh gathered wild flowers."
+ Horatio paused, not for want of subject, but a train of recollections
+ overpowered his memory, producing an unspeakable sensation, which for a
+ moment choked his utterance.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "There is a blank in this work, which you shall fill up," said my aunt;
+ "you must perform the office of an impartial historian for your friend,
+ and before we proceed farther with this volume, give me the history of
+ your school-boy days."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0009" id="image-0009">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page021.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page021 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[22]</span> SCHOOL-BOY REMINISCENCES.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ ON EARLY FRIENDSHIP.
+
+ In many a strain of grief and joy
+ My youthful spirit sung to thee;
+ But I am now no more a boy,
+ And there's a gulf 'twixt thee and me.
+ Time on my brow has set his seal;
+ I start to find myself a man,
+ And know that I no more shall feel
+ As only boyhood's spirit can.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ ETONIAN.
+ </h2>
+ <p>
+ There is an imperceptible but powerfully connecting link in our early
+ associations and school-boy friendships, which is very difficult to
+ describe, but exceedingly grateful to reflect on; particularly when the
+ retrospective affords a view of early attachments ripened into perfection
+ with maturity, and cementing firmly with increasing years. Youth is the
+ period of frankness and of zeal, when the young heart, buoyant with hope
+ and cheering prospects, fills with joy, and expands in all the brightness
+ of fancy's variety. The ambition, lures, and conflicting interests of the
+ world, have as yet made no inroad upon the mind; the bosom is a stranger
+ to misery, the tongue to deceit, the eye glows with all the luxuriance of
+ pleasure, and the whole countenance presents an animated picture of health
+ and intelligence illumined with delight. The playfulness or incaution of
+ youth may demand correction, or produce momentary pain; but the tears of
+ <span class="pagenum">[23]</span> infancy fall like the summer dew upon
+ the verdant slope, which the first gleam of the returning sun kisses away,
+ and leaves the face of nature tinged with a blush of exquisite brilliancy,
+ but with no trace of the sparkling moisture which lately veiled its
+ beauty. This is the glittering period of life, when the gay perspective of
+ the future seems clothed in every attractive hue, and the objects of this
+ world assume a grace divine: then it is that happiness, borne on the wings
+ of innocence and light-hearted mirth, attends our every step, and seems to
+ wait obedient to our will.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ What a painful reverse may not the retrospective view afford! how unlike
+ is the finished picture to the inspiring sketch. The one breathing the
+ soft air of nature, and sparkling in brilliant tints of variegated hues,
+ serene, clear, and transparent, like the magic pencilling of the heavenly
+ Claude, shedding ambrosial sweets around. The reverse indistinct, and
+ overpowered with gloomy shadows, a mixture of the terrific and the
+ marvellous, like the stormy and convulsive scenes of the mighty genius of
+ Salvator Rosa, with here and there a flash of wildest eccentricity, that
+ only serves to render more visible the murky deformity of the whole.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Horatio had just finished his introductory rhapsody, when the door opened,
+ and my aunt's servant entered with tea and toast: the simmering of the
+ water round the heated tube of the urn, tingling in the ears of Heartly,
+ broke the thread of his narration. There was a pause of nearly a minute,
+ while John was busy in arranging the equipage. "You should have waited
+ till I had rung, John," said my aunt. "Please your ladyship," said John,
+ "you directed me always to bring tea in at six precisely, without waiting
+ for orders." My aunt looked puzzled: "You are right, John, I did; and
+ (addressing Horatio) the fault of the interruption must therefore rest
+ with me." Horatio bowed; the compliment was too flattering to be <span
+ class="pagenum">[24]</span> misunderstood. "Draw the curtains, John," said
+ my aunt, "and make up the fire: we can help ourselves to what we want&mdash;you
+ need not wait; and do not interrupt us again until you are rung for."
+ "This is very mysterious," thought John, as he closed to the drawing-room
+ door; and he related what he thought to my lady's maid, when he returned
+ to the servants' hall. "You are, no conjurer, John," said Mrs. Margaret,
+ with an oblique inclination of the head, half amorous and half conceited&mdash;"the
+ old lady's will has been signed and sealed these three years; I was
+ present when it was made&mdash;ay, and I signed it too, and what's more, I
+ knows all its contents; there are some people in the world (viewing
+ herself in an opposite looking-glass) who may be very differently
+ circumstanced some day or other." John's heart had long felt a sort of
+ fluttering inclination to unburthen itself, by linking destinies with the
+ merry Mrs. Margaret; the prospect of a handsome legacy, or perhaps an
+ annuity, gave an additional spur to John's affectionate feelings, and that
+ night he resolved to put the question. All this Mrs. Margaret had
+ anticipated, and as she was now on the verge of forty, she very prudently
+ thought there was no time to lose. "They are a pair of oddities,"
+ continued the waiting-maid; "I have sometimes surprised them both crying,
+ as if their hearts would break, over a new book: I suppose they have got
+ something very interesting, as my lady calls it and Mr. Horatio is
+ sermonizing as usual."&mdash;Mrs Margaret was not far wrong in her
+ conjecture, for when my aunt and Horatio were again alone, she rallied him
+ on the serious complexion of his style.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0010" id="image-0010">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page025.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page025-th.jpg" alt="Page025" width="100%" /><br />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[25]</span> CHARACTER OF BERNARD BLACKMANTLE. BY
+ HORATIO HEARTLY.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ You shall have it from his own pen, said Horatio. In my portfolio, I have
+ preserved certain scraps of Bernard's that will best speak his character;
+ prose and poetry, descriptive and colloquial, Hudibrastic and pastoral,
+ trifles in every costume of literary fancy, according with the peculiar
+ humour of the author at the time of their inditing, from these you shall
+ judge my eccentric friend better than by any commendation of mine. I shall
+ merely preface these early offerings of his genius with a simple narrative
+ of our school-boy intimacy.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ I had been about three months at Eton, and had grown somewhat familiar
+ with the characters of my associates, and the peculiarities of their
+ phraseology and pursuits, when our dame's party was increased by the
+ arrival of Bernard Blackmantle. It is usual with the sons of old Etona, on
+ the arrival of a fresh subject, to play off a number of school-boy
+ witticisms and practical jokes, which though they may produce a little
+ mortification in the first instance, tend in no small degree to display
+ the qualifications of mind possessed by their new associate, and give him
+ a familiarity with his companions and their customs, which otherwise would
+ take more time, and subject the stranger to much greater inconvenience.
+ Bernard underwent all the initiatory school ceremonies and <span
+ class="pagenum">[26]</span> humiliations with great coolness, but not
+ without some display of that personal courage and true nobleness of mind,
+ which advances the new comer in the estimation of his school-fellows.
+ First impressions are almost always indelible: there was a frankness and
+ sincerity in his manner, and an archness and vivacity in his countenance
+ and conversation, that imperceptibly attached me to the young stranger. We
+ were soon the most inseparable cons,{1} the depositors of each other's
+ youthful secrets, and the mutual participators in every passing sport and
+ pleasure.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Naturally cheerful, Bernard became highly popular with our miniature
+ world; there was however one subject which, whenever it was incautiously
+ started by his companions, always excited a flood of tears, and for a time
+ spread a gloomy abstraction over his mind. Bernard had from his very
+ infancy been launched into the ocean of life without a knowledge of his
+ admiral{2} but not without experiencing all that a mother's fondness could
+ supply: when others recapitulated the enjoyments of their paternal home,
+ and painted with all the glow of youthful ardour the anticipated pleasures
+ of the holidays, the tear would trickle down his crimsoned cheek; and
+ quickly stealing away to some sequestered spot, his throbbing bosom was
+ relieved by many a flood of woe. That some protecting spirit watched over
+ his actions, and directed his course, he was well assured, but as yet he
+ had never been able to comprehend the mystery with which he was
+ surrounded. His questions on this point to his mother it was evident gave
+ her pain, and were always met by some evasive answer. He had been early
+ taught to keep his own secret, but the prying curiosity of an Eton
+ school-boy was not easily satisfied, and too often rendered the task one
+ of great pain and difficulty. On these occasions I would seek
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 Friends.
+
+ 2 The Eton phrase for father.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[27]</span> him out, and as the subject was one of
+ too tender a nature for the tongue of friendship to dwell upon, endeavour
+ to divert his thoughts by engaging him in some enlivening sport. His
+ amiable manners and generous heart had endeared him to all, and in a short
+ time his delicate feelings were respected, and the slightest allusion to
+ ambiguity of birth cautiously avoided by all his associates, who, whatever
+ might be their suspicions, thought his brilliant qualifications more than
+ compensated for any want of ancestral distinction.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The following portrait of my friend is from the pen of our elegant con,
+ Horace Eglantine.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ A PORTRAIT.
+
+ A heart fill'd with friendship and love,
+ A brain free from passion's excess,
+ A mind a mean action above,
+ A hand to relieve keen distress.
+ Poverty smiled on his birth,
+ And gave what all riches exceeds,
+ Wit, honesty, wisdom, and worth;
+ A soul to effect noble needs.
+ Legitimates bow at his shrine;
+ Unfetter'd he sprung into life;
+ When vigour with love doth combine
+ To free nature from priestcraft and strife.
+ No ancient escutcheon he claim'd,
+ Crimson'd with rapine and blood;
+ He titles and baubles disdain'd,
+ Yet his pedigree traced from the flood.
+ Ennobled by all that is bright
+ In the wreath of terrestrial fame,
+ Genius her pure ray of light
+ Spreads a halo to circle his name.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The main-spring of all his actions was a social disposition, which
+ embraced a most comprehensive view <span class="pagenum">[28]</span> of
+ the duties of good fellowship. He was equally popular with all parties, by
+ never declaring for any particular one: with the cricketers he was
+ accounted a hard swipe{3} an active field{4} and a stout bowler;{5} in a
+ water party he was a stroke{6} of the ten oar; at foot-ball, in the
+ playing fields, or a leap across Chalvey ditch, he was not thought small
+ beer{7} of; and he has been known to have bagged three sparrows after a
+ toodle{8} of three miles. His equals loved him for his social qualities,
+ and courted his acquaintance as the <i>sine qua non</i> of society; and
+ the younger members of the school looked up to him for protection and
+ assistance. If power was abused by the upper boys, Bernard was appealed to
+ as the mediator between the fag{9} and his master. His grants of
+ liberties{10} to the commonalty were indiscriminate and profuse, while his
+ influence was always exerted to obtain the same privileges for his
+ numerous proteges from the more close aristocrats.{11} He was always to be
+ seen attended by a shoal of dependents of every form in the school, some
+ to get their lessons construed, and others to further claims to their
+ respective stations in
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 3 A good bat-man.
+
+ 4 To run well, or keep a good look out.
+
+ 5 Strong and expert.
+
+ 6 A first rate waterman.
+
+ 7 Not thought meanly of. Sometimes this phrase is used in
+ derision, as, he does not think small beer of himself.
+
+ 8 A walk.
+
+ 9 Any sixth or fifth form boy can fag an Oppidan underling:
+ the collegers are exempted from this custom.
+
+ 10 The liberties, or college bounds, are marked by stones
+ placed in different situations; grants of liberties are
+ licences given by the head boys to the juniors to break
+ bounds, or rather to except them from the disagreeable
+ necessity of shirking, (i. e.) hiding from fear of being
+ reported to the masters.
+
+ 11 To that interesting original miscellany, the 'Etonian,' I
+ am indebted for several valuable hints relative to early
+ scenes. The characters are all drawn from observation, with
+ here and there a slight deviation, or heightening touch, the
+ rather to disguise and free them from aught of personal
+ offence, than any intentional departure from truth and
+ nature.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[29]</span> the next cricket match or water
+ expedition. The duck and green pea suppers at Surley Hall would have lost
+ half their relish without the enlivening smiles and smart repartees of
+ Bernard Blackmantle. The preparations for the glorious fourth of June were
+ always submitted to his superior skill and direction. His fiat could
+ decide the claims of the rival boats, in their choice of jackets, hats,
+ and favors; and the judicious arrangement of the fire-works was another
+ proof of his taste. Let it not, however, be thought that his other
+ avocations so entirely monopolized him as to preclude a due attention to
+ study. Had it been so, his success with the [Greek phrase] would never
+ have been so complete: his desire to be able to confer obligations on his
+ schoolfellows induced Bernard to husband carefully every hour which he
+ spent at home; a decent scholarship, and much general knowledge, was the
+ reward of this plan. The treasure-house of his memory was well stored, and
+ his reputation as an orator gave promise of future excellence. His
+ classical attainments, if not florid, were liberal, and free from
+ pedantry. His proficiency in English literature was universally
+ acknowledged, and his love of the poets amounted to enthusiasm. He was
+ formed for all the bustle of variegated life, and his conversation was
+ crystallized with the sparkling attractions of wit and humour. Subject to
+ the weakness to which genius is ever liable, he was both eccentric and
+ wayward, but he had the good sense to guard his failing from general
+ observation; and although he often shot his arrows anonymously, he never
+ dipt them in the gall of prejudice or ill-nature. I have dwelt upon his
+ character with pleasure, because there are very few who know him
+ intimately. With a happy versatility of talents, he is neither lonesome in
+ his solitude, nor over joyous in a crowd. For his literary attainments,
+ they must be judged of by their fruits. I cannot better conclude my
+ attempt <span class="pagenum">[30]</span> to describe his qualifications
+ than by offering his first essay to your notice, a school-boy tribute to
+ friendship.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ TRUE FRIENDSHIP.
+
+ 'Infido scurræ distabit amicus.'
+ Horace.
+
+ How very seldom do we find
+ A relish in the human mind
+ For friendship pure and real;
+ How few its approbation seek,
+ How oft we count its censures weak,
+ Disguising what we feel.
+ Adulation lives to please,
+ Truth dies the victim of disease,
+ Forgotten by the world:
+ The flattery of the fool delights
+ The wise, rebuke our pride affrights,
+ And virtue's banner's furl'd.
+ Wherefore do we censure fate,
+ When she withholds the perfect state
+ Of friendship from our grasp,
+ If we ourselves have not the power,
+ The mind to enjoy the blessed hour,
+ The fleeting treasure clasp?
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ This (I have reason to believe his first poetical essay) was presented me
+ on my birthday, when we had been about two years together at Eton: a short
+ time afterwards I surprised him one morning writing in his bedroom; my
+ curiosity was not a little excited by the celerity with which I observed
+ he endeavoured to conceal his papers. "I must see what you are about,
+ Bernard," said I. "Treason, Horatio," replied the young author. "Would you
+ wish to be implicated, or become a confederate? If so, take the oath of
+ secrecy, and read." Judge of my surprise, when, on casting my eye over his
+ lucubrations, I perceived he had been sketching the portraits of the
+ group, with <span class="pagenum">[31]</span> whom we were in daily
+ association at our dame's. As I perceive by a glance at his work that most
+ of his early friends have parts assigned them in his colloquial scenes, I
+ consider the preservation of this trifle important, as it will furnish a
+ key to the characters.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img alt="page031 (23K)" src="images/page031.jpg" width="100%" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br /> <a name="image-0011" id="image-0011">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page032.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page032 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[32]</span> ETON SKETCHES OF CHARACTER.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ '&mdash;&mdash;I'll paint for grown up people's knowledge,
+ The manners, customs, and affairs of college.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ PORTRAITS IN MY DAME'S DINING-ROOM.
+ </h2>
+ <p>
+ At the head of the large table on the right hand you will perceive the
+ Honourable Lilyman Lionise, the second son of a nobleman, whose ancient
+ patrimony has been nearly dissipated between his evening parties at the
+ club-houses, in French hazard, or Rouge et noir, and his morning
+ speculations with his betting book at Tattersall's, Newmarket, or the
+ Fives-court; whose industry in getting into debt is only exceeded by his
+ indifference about getting out; whose acquired property (during his
+ minority) and personals have long since been knocked down by the hammer of
+ the auctioneer, under direction of the sheriff, to pay off some gambling
+ bond in preference to his honest creditor; yet who still flourishes a
+ fashionable gem of the first water, and condescends to lend the lustre of
+ <span class="pagenum">[33]</span> his name, when he has nothing else to
+ lend, that he may secure the advantage of a real loan in return. His
+ patrimonial acres and heirlooms remain indeed untouched, because the court
+ of chancery have deemed it necessary to appoint a receiver to secure their
+ faithful transmission to the next heir.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The son has imbibed a smattering of all the bad qualities of his sire,
+ without possessing one ray of the brilliant qualifications for which he is
+ distinguished. Proud without property, and sarcastic without being witty,
+ ill temper he mistakes for superior carriage, and haughtiness for dignity:
+ his study is his toilet, and his mind, like his face, is a vacuity neither
+ sensible, intelligent, nor agreeable. He has few associates, for few will
+ accept him for a companion. With his superiors in rank, his precedent
+ honorary distinction yields him no consideration; with his equals, it
+ places him upon too familiar a footing; while with his inferiors, it
+ renders him tyrannical and unbearable. His mornings, between school hours,
+ are spent in frequent change of dress, and his afternoons in a lounge à la
+ Bond-street, annoying the modest females and tradesmen's daughters of
+ Eton; his evenings (after absence{1} is called) at home, in solitary
+ dissipation over his box of liqueurs, or in making others uncomfortable by
+ his rudeness and overbearing dictation. He is disliked by the dame,
+ detested by the servants, and shunned by his schoolfellows, and yet he is
+ our captain, a <i>Sextile, a Roue</i>, and above all, an honourable.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Tom Echo. A little to the left of the Exquisite, you may perceive Tom's
+ merry countenance shedding good-humour around him. He is the only one who
+ can
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 <i>Absence</i> is called several times in the course of the
+ day, to prevent the boys straying away to any great distance
+ from the college, and at night to secure them in quarters at
+ the dames' houses: if a boy neglects to answer to his name,
+ or is too late for the call, inquiry is immediately made at
+ his dame's, and a very satisfactory apology must be offered
+ to prevent punishment.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ manage the <i>Sextile</i> with effect: Tom is always ready with a tart
+ reply to his sarcasm, or a <i>cut</i> at his consequence. Tom is the
+ eldest son of one of the most respectable whig families in the kingdom,
+ whose ancestors have frequently refused a peerage, from an inherent
+ democratical but constitutional jealousy of the crown. Independence and
+ Tom were nursery friends, and his generous, noble-hearted conduct renders
+ him an universal favorite with the school. Then, after holidays, Tom
+ always returns with such a rich collection of fox-hunting stories and
+ sporting anecdotes, and gives sock{2} so graciously, that he is the very
+ life of dame &mdash;&mdash;&mdash;'s party. There is to be sure one
+ drawback to Tom's good qualities, but it is the natural attendant upon a
+ high flow of animal spirits: if any mischief is on foot, Tom is certain to
+ be concerned, and ten to one but he is the chief contriver: to be seen in
+ his company, either a short time previous to, or quickly afterwards,
+ although perfectly innocent, is sure to create a suspicion of guilt with
+ the masters, which not unusually involves his companions in trouble, and
+ sometimes in unmerited punishment. Tom's philosophy is to live well, study
+ little, drink hard, and laugh immoderately. He is not deficient in sense,
+ but he wants application and excitement: he has been taught from infancy
+ to feel himself perfectly independent of the world, and at home every
+ where: nature has implanted in his bosom the characteristic benevolence of
+ his ancestry, and he stands among us a being whom every one loves and
+ admires, without any very distinguishing trait of learning, wit, or
+ superior qualification, to command the respect he excites. If any one
+ tells a good story or makes a laughable pun, Tom retails it for a week,
+ and all the school have the advantage of hearing and enjoying it. Any
+ proposition for a boat party, cricketing, or a toodle into Windsor, or
+ along the banks of the Thames
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 2 Good cheer; any nicety, as pastry, &amp;c.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[35]</span> on a sporting excursion, is sure to meet
+ a willing response from him. He is second to none in a charitable
+ subscription for a poor <i>Cad</i>, or the widow of a drowned <i>Bargee</i>;
+ his heart ever reverberates the echo of pleasure, and his tongue only
+ falters to the echo of deceit.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Horace Eglantine is placed just opposite to Lily man Lionise, a
+ calm-looking head, with blue eyes and brown hair, which flows in ringlets
+ of curls over his shoulders. Horace is the son of a city banker, by the
+ second daughter of an English earl, a young gentleman of considerable
+ expectations, and very amusing qualifications. Horace is a strange
+ composition of all the good-natured whimsicalities of human nature,
+ happily blended together without any very conspicuous counteracting
+ foible. Facetious, lively, and poetical, the cream of every thing that is
+ agreeable, society cannot be dull if Horace lends his presence. His
+ imitations of Anacreon, and the soft bard of Erin, have on many occasions
+ puzzled the cognoscenti of Eton. Like Moore too, he both composes and
+ performs his own songs. The following little specimen of his powers will
+ record one of those pleasant impositions with which he sometimes enlivens
+ a winter's evening:
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ TO ELIZA.
+
+ Oh think not the smile and the glow of delight,
+ With youth's rosy hue, shall for ever be seen:
+
+ Frosty age will o'ercloud, with his mantle of night,
+ The brightest and fairest of nature's gay scene.
+
+ Or think while you trip, like some aerial sprite,
+ To pleasure's soft notes on the dew-spangled mead,
+
+ That the rose of thy cheek, or thine eyes' starry light,
+ Shall sink into earth, and thy spirit be freed.
+
+ Then round the gay circle we'll frolic awhile,
+ And the light of young love shall the fleet hour bless
+
+ While the pure rays of friendship our eve-tide beguile,
+ Above fortune's frowns and the chills of distress
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[36]</span> The most provoking punster and poet that
+ ever turned the serious and sentimental into broad humour. Every quaint
+ remark affords a pun or an epigram, and every serious sentence gives birth
+ to some merry couplet. Such is the facility with which he strings together
+ puns and rhyme, that in the course of half an hour he has been known to
+ wager, and win it&mdash;that he made a couplet and a pun on every one
+ present, to the number of fifty. Nothing annoys the exquisite <i>Sextile</i>
+ so much as this tormenting talent of Horace; he is always shirking him,
+ and yet continually falling in his way. For some time, while Horace was in
+ the fourth form, these little <i>jeu-d'esprits</i> were circulated
+ privately, and smuggled up in half suppressed laughs; but being now high
+ on the fifth, Horace is no longer in fear of <i>fagging</i>, and therefore
+ gives free license to his tongue in many a witty jest, which "sets the
+ table in a roar."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Dick Gradus. In a snug corner, at a side table, observe that
+ shrewd-looking little fellow poring over his book; his features seem
+ represented by acute angles, and his head, which appears too heavy for his
+ body, represents all the thoughtfulness of age, like an ancient fragment
+ of Phidias or Praxiteles placed upon new shoulders by some modern bust
+ carver. Dick is the son of an eminent solicitor in a borough town, who has
+ raised himself into wealth and consequence by a strict attention to the
+ principles of interest: sharp practice, heavy mortgages, loans on annuity,
+ and post obits, have strengthened his list of possessions till his
+ influence is extended over half the county. The proprietor of the borough,
+ a good humoured sporting extravagant, has been compelled to yield his
+ influence in St. Stephen's to old Gradus, that he may preserve his
+ character at Newmarket, and continue his pack and fox-hunting festivities
+ at home. The representation of the place is now disposed of to the best
+ bidder, but the ambition of the father has long since determined upon
+ sending his son (when of age) <span class="pagenum">[37]</span> into
+ parliament&mdash;a promising candidate for the "loaves and fishes."
+ Richard Gradus, M.P.&mdash;you may almost perceive the senatorial honor
+ stamped upon the brow of the young aspirant; he has been early initiated
+ into the value of time and money; his lessons of thrift have been
+ practically illustrated by watching the operations of the law in his
+ father's office; his application to learning is not the result of an
+ innate love of literature, or the ambition of excelling his compeers, but
+ a cold, stiff, and formal desire to collect together materials for the
+ storehouse of his memory, that will enable him to pursue his interested
+ views and future operations on society with every prospect of success.
+ Genius has no participation in his studies: his knowledge of Greek and
+ Latin is grammatical and pedantic; he reads Livy, Tacitus, Sallust, Cæsar,
+ Xenophon, Thucydides, in their original language; boasts of his learning
+ with a haughty mien and scornful look of self-importance, and thinks this
+ school-boy exercise of memory, this mechanism of the mind, is to determine
+ the line between genius and stupidity; and has never taken into
+ consideration that the mere linguist, destitute of native powers, with his
+ absurd parade of scholastic knowledge, is a solitary barren plant, when
+ opposed to the higher occupations of the mind, to the flights of fancy,
+ the daring combinations of genius, and the sublime pictures of
+ imagination. Dick is an isolated being, a book-worm, who never embarks in
+ any party of pleasure, from the fear of expense; he has no talents for
+ general conversation, while his ridiculous affectation of learning
+ subjects him to a constant and annoying fire from the batteries of Etonian
+ wit. Still, however, Dick perseveres in his course, till his blanched
+ cheeks and cadaverous aspect, from close study and want of proper
+ exercise, proclaim the loss of health, and the probable establishment of
+ some pulmonary affection that may, before he scarcely reaches maturity,
+ blight the ambitious hopes of his father, and consign <span class="pagenum">[38]</span>
+ the son "to that bourne from whence no traveller returns."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Horatio Heartly. At the lower end of the room, observe a serene-looking
+ head displaying all the quiet character of a youthful portrait by the
+ divine Raphael, joined to the inspiring sensibility which flashes from the
+ almost breathing countenance and penetrating brilliancy of eye, that
+ distinguishes a Guido. That is my bosom friend, my more than brother, my
+ mentor and my guide. Horatio is an orphan, the son of a general officer,
+ whose crimsoned stream of life was dried up by an eastern sun, while he
+ was yet a lisping infant. His mother, lovely, young, and rich in conjugal
+ attachment, fell a blighted corse in early widowhood, and left Horatio, an
+ unprotected bud of virtuous love, to the fostering care of Lady Mary
+ Oldstyle, a widowed sister of the general's, not less rich in worldly
+ wealth than in true benevolence of heart, and the celestial glow of pure
+ affection. Heartly is a happy combination of all the good-humoured
+ particles of human nature blended together, with sense, feeling, and
+ judgment. Learned without affectation, and liberal without being profuse,
+ he has found out the secret of attaching all the school to himself,
+ without exciting any sensation of envy, or supplanting prior friendships.
+ Horatio is among the alumni of Eton the king of good fellows: there is not
+ a boy in the school, colleger, or oppidan, but what would fight a long
+ hour to defend him from insult; no&mdash;nor a sparkling eye among the
+ enchanting daughters of old <i>Etona</i> that does not twinkle with
+ pleasure at the elegant congée, and amiable attentions, which he always
+ pays at the shrine of female accomplishment. Generous to a fault, his
+ purse&mdash;which the bounty of his aunt keeps well supplied&mdash;is a
+ public bank, <i>pro bono publico</i>. His parties to <i>sock</i> are
+ always distinguished by an excellent selection, good taste, and superior
+ style. In all the varied school sports and pastimes, his manly form and
+ vigorous constitution gain him a superior <span class="pagenum">[39]</span>
+ station among his compeers, which his cheerful disposition enables him to
+ turn to general advantage. Nor is he in less estimation with the masters,
+ who are loud in their praises of his assiduity and proficiency in school
+ pursuits. Horatio is not exactly a genius: there is nothing of that wild
+ eccentricity of thought and action which betokens the vivid flights of
+ imagination, or the meteoric brightness of inspiration; his actions are
+ distinguished by coolness, intrepidity, and good sense. He does not
+ pretend to second sight, or a knowledge of futurity; but on the present
+ and the past there are few who can reason with more cogency of remark, or
+ with more classic elegance of diction: with such a concentration of
+ qualities, it is not wonderful that his influence extends through every
+ gradation of the juvenile band. His particular attachments are not
+ numerous; but those who have experienced the sincerity of his private
+ friendship must always remain his debtor&mdash;from deficiency of
+ expression; among the most obliged of whom is&mdash;the author.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Bob Transit. Bob has no fixed situation; therefore it would be in vain to
+ attempt to say where he may be found: sometimes he is placed next to
+ Bernard, and between him and Heartly, with whom he generally associates;
+ at other times he takes his situation at the side table, or fills up a
+ spare corner opposite to Dick Gradus, or the exquisite, either of whom he
+ annoys, during dinner, by sketching their portraits in caricature upon the
+ cover of his Latin Grammar, with their mouths crammed full of victuals, or
+ in the act of swallowing hot pudding: nor does the dame sometimes escape
+ him; the whole table have frequently been convulsed with laughter at Bob's
+ comic representation of Miss &mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;'s devout phiz,
+ as exhibited during the preparatory ceremony of a dinner grace: the soul
+ of whim, and source of fun and frolic, Bob is no mean auxiliary to a merry
+ party, or the exhilarating pleasure of a broad grin. <span class="pagenum">[40]</span>
+ Bob's <i>admiral</i> is an R.A. of very high repute; who, having
+ surmounted all the difficulties of obscure origin and limited education,
+ by the brilliancy of his talents, has determined to give his son the
+ advantage of early instruction and liberal information, as a prelude to
+ his advancement in the arts. Talent is not often hereditary (or at least
+ in succession); but the facility of Transit's pencil is astonishing: with
+ the rapidity of a Fuseli he sketches the human figure in all its various
+ attitudes, and produces in his hasty drawings so much force of effect and
+ truth of character, that the subject can never be mistaken. His humour is
+ irresistible, and is strongly characterized by all the eccentricity and
+ wit of a Gilhay, turning the most trifling incidents into laughable
+ burlesque. Between him and Horace Eglantine there exists a sort of
+ copartnership in the sister arts of poetry and painting: Horace rhymes,
+ and Bob illustrates; and very few in the school of any note have at one
+ time or other escaped this combination of epigram and caricature. Bob has
+ an eye to real life, and is formed for all the bustle of the varied scene.
+ Facetious, witty, and quaint, with all the singularity of genius in his
+ composition, these juvenile <i>jeux d'esprits</i> of his pencil may be
+ regarded as the rays of promise, which streak with golden tints the
+ blushing horizon of the morn of youth.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ As Bob is not over studious, or attached to the Latin and Greek languages,
+ he generally manages to get any difficult lesson construed by an agreement
+ with some more learned and assiduous associate; the <i>quid pro quo</i> on
+ these occasions being always punctually paid on his part by a humorous
+ sketch of the head master calling first absence, taken from a snug,
+ oblique view in the school-yard, or a burlesque on some of the fellows or
+ inhabitants of Eton. In this way Bob contrives to pass school muster,
+ although these specimens of talent have, on more than one occasion,
+ brought him to the block. It must however <span class="pagenum">[41]</span>
+ be admitted, that in all these flights of fancy his pencil is never
+ disgraced by any malignancy of motive, or the slightest exhibition of
+ personal spleen. Good humour is his motto; pleasure his pursuit: and if he
+ should not prove a Porson or an Elmsley, he gives every promise of being
+ equally eminent with a Bunbury, Gillray, or a Rowlandson.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Varied groups are disposed around the room, and make up the back ground of
+ my picture. Many of these are yet too young to particularize, and others
+ have nothing sufficiently characteristic to deserve it; some who have not
+ yet committed their first fault, and many who are continually in error;
+ others who pursue the straight beaten track to scholastic knowledge, and
+ trudge on like learned dromedaries. Two or three there are who follow in
+ no sphere-eccentric stars, shooting from space to space; some few
+ mischievous wags, who delight in a good joke, and will run the risk of
+ punishment at any time to enjoy it; with here and there a little twinkling
+ gem, like twilight planets, just emerging from the misty veil of nature.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ These form my dame's dinner party. Reader, do not judge them harshly from
+ this hasty sketch: take into your consideration their youth and
+ inexperience; and if they do not improve upon acquaintance, and increase
+ in estimation with their years, the fault must in justice rather be
+ attributed to the author than to any deficiency in their respective
+ merits.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0012" id="image-0012">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page041.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page 041 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[42]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ THE FIVE PRINCIPAL ORDERS OF ETON, DOCTOR, DAME, COLLEGER, OPPIDAN, AND
+ CAD. A SKETCH TAKEN OPPOSITE THE LONG WALK.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0013" id="image-0013">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page042.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page042 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0014" id="image-0014">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page043.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page043 " />
+ </div>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ ETON DAMES*; AN ODE, NEITHER AMATORY,
+ ILL-NATURED, NOR PATHETIC.
+
+ Let Oxford beaux, to am'rous belles,
+ Love's warm epistles write;
+ Or Cambridge youths, in classic dells,
+ Invoke the shadowy night.
+
+ * The above <i>jeu-d'esprit</i> made its appearance on one of
+ those joyous occasions, when the sons of old Etona return
+ from Oxford and Cambridge, filled with filial regard for
+ early scenes and school-boy friendships, to commemorate a
+ college election. It was, at the time, purposely attributed
+ to some of these waggish visitors, a sort of privileged
+ race, who never fail of indulging in numerous good-humoured
+ freaks with the inhabitants of Eton, to show off to the
+ rising generation the pleasantries, whims, and improvements
+ of a college life. The subject is one of great delicacy, but
+ it will, I hope, be admitted by the merry dames themselves,
+ that my friend Bernard has in this, as in every other
+ instance, endeavoured to preserve the strongest traits of
+ truth and character, without indulging in offensive satire,
+ or departing from propriety and decorum.&mdash;Horatio Heartly.
+<span class="pagenum">[44]</span>
+
+ Let Cockney poets boast their flames,
+ Of ' Vicked Cupit' patter:
+ Be mine a verse on Eton Dames&mdash;
+ A more substantial matter.
+ I care not if the Graces three
+ Have here withheld perfection:
+ Brown, black, or fair, the same to me,&mdash;
+ E'en age is no objection.
+ A pleasing squint, or but one eye,
+ Will do as well as any;
+ A mouth between a laugh and cry,
+ Or wrinkled, as my granny.
+ A hobbling gait, or a wooden leg,
+ Or locks of silvery gray;
+ Or name her Madge, or Poll, or Peg,
+ She still shall have my lay.
+ Perfection centres in the mind,
+ The gen'rous must acknowledge:
+ Then, Muse, be candid, just, and kind,
+ To Dames of Eton College.*
+
+ * The independent students, commonly called <i>Oppidans</i>, are
+ very numerous: they are boarded at private houses in the
+ environs of the college; the presiding masters and
+ mistresses of which have from time immemorial enjoyed the
+ title of <i>Domine</i> and <i>Dame</i>: the average number of
+ <i>Oppidans</i> is from three hundred to three hundred and fifty.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ FIVE PRINCIPAL ORDERS OF ETON
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ <span class="pagenum">[45]</span>
+ </h3>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ PROEM.
+
+ Said Truth to the Muse, as they wander'd along,
+ "Prithee, Muse, spur your Pegasus into a song;
+ Let the subject be lively,&mdash;how like you the Belles?"
+ Said the Muse, "he's no sportsman that kisses and tells.
+
+ But in females delighting, suppose we stop here,
+ And do you bid the Dames of old Eton appear;
+ In your mirror their merits, with candour, survey,
+ And I'll sing their worth in my very best Lay."
+ No sooner 'twas said, than agreed:&mdash;it was done,
+ Wing'd Mercury summon'd them every one.
+
+ MISS A***LO.
+
+ First, deck'd in the height of the fashion, a belle,
+ An angel, ere Chronos had tipt her with snow,
+ Advanced to the goddess, and said, "you may tell,
+ That in Eton, there's no better table, you know;"
+ And by Truth 'twas admitted, "her generous board
+ Is rich, in whatever the seasons afford."
+
+</pre>
+ <hr />
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Of ancients, a pair next presented themselves,
+ When in popp'd some waggish Oxonian elves,
+ Who spoke of times past, of short commons, and cheese,
+ And told tales, which did much the old ladies displease.
+ "Good morning," said Truth, as the dames pass'd him by:
+ Young stomachs, if stinted, are sure to outcry.
+
+ MRS. R******U.
+
+ On her <i>Domine</i> leaning came dame B******u,
+ The oldest in college, deck'd in rich furbelow.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[46]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ She curtsied around to the <i>Oppidan</i> band,
+ But not one said a word, and but few gave a hand.
+ Truth whisper'd the Muse,, who, as sly, shook her head,
+ Saying, "where little's told, 'tis soon mended, it's
+ said."
+
+ MRS. G******E.
+
+ When S******e appear'd, what a shout rent the air!
+ The spruce widow affords the most excellent cheer;
+ For comfort in quarters there's nothing can beat her,
+ So up rose the lads with a welcome to greet her:
+ The muse with true gallantry led her to place,
+ And Truth said good humour was writ in her face.
+
+ MRS. D****N.
+ With a face (once divine), and a figure still smart,
+ And a grace that defies even Time's fatal dart,
+ Dame D****n advanced, made her curtsy, and smiled:
+ Truth welcomed the fair, the grave, witty, and wild;
+ All, all gave their votes, and some said they knew
+ That her numbers by no measure equall'd her due.
+
+ MISS S******S.
+
+ "By my hopes," said the Muse, "here's a rare jolly pair,
+ A right merry frontispiece, comely and fair,
+ To good living and quarters." "You're right," nodded Truth.
+ A welcome approval was mark'd in each youth.
+ And 'twas no little praise among numbers like theirs,
+ To meet a unanimous welcome up stairs.
+
+ Miss L******d.
+ Lavater, though sometimes in error, you'll find
+ May be here quoted safely; the face tells the mind.
+ Good humour and happiness live in her eye.
+ Her motto's contentment you'll easily spy.
+ five principal orders of eton
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[47]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ A chair for Miss L******d Truth placed near the Muse;
+ For beauty to rhyme can fresh spirit infuse.
+
+ MRS. V******Y.
+
+ V******y, in weeds led and angel along,
+ Accomplish'd and pretty, who blush'd at the throng.
+ The old dame seem'd to say, and i'faith she might well,
+ "Sons of Eton, when saw you a handsomer belle?"
+ If any intended the widow to sneer,
+ Miss A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;won their favor, and banish'd the jeer.
+
+ Three sisters, famed for various parts,
+ One clerks, and one makes savoury tarts;
+ While t'other, bless her dinner face,
+ Cuts up the viands with a grace,
+ Advanced, and met a cheerful greeting
+ From all who glorify good eating.
+
+ MRS. W. H****R.
+
+ With a smile, <i>à la confident</i>, came Mrs. H,
+ Whose Domine writing to Eton's sons teach:
+ In college, the handiest man you can find
+ For improvements of all sorts, both building and mind:
+ He seem'd on good terms with himself, but the Muse
+ Said, "the Dame claim'd a welcome which none could refuse."
+
+ DAME A****S.
+
+ Dame A****s, respected by all, made her way
+ Through the throng that assembled at Eton that day.
+ Old Chronos had wrinkled her forehead, 'tis true;
+ Yet her countenance beam'd in a rich, mellow hue
+ Of good humour and worth; 'twas a pleasure to mark
+ How the dame was applauded by each Eton spark.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[48]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ MISS b*******K.
+
+ Long and loud were the plaudits the lady to cheer,
+ Whom the doctor had treated somewhat cavalier:
+ "Too young," said the ancient, "the proverb is trite;
+ Age and wisdom, good doctor, not always unite."
+ "For prudence and worth," said Truth, "I'll be bound
+ She may challenge the Dames of old Eton around."
+
+ A crowd pressing forward, the day growing late,
+ Truth whisper'd the Muse, "we had better retreat;
+ For though 'mong the dames we are free from disasters,
+ I know not how well we may fare with the masters.
+ There's Carter, and Yonge, Knapp, Green, and Dupuis,*
+ All coming this way with their ladies, I see.
+ Our visit, you know, was alone to the belles;
+ The masters may sing, if they please, of themselves.
+ Truth mounted a cloud, and the Poet his nag,
+ And these whims sent next day by the post-office bag.
+
+ * Lower, and assistant masters, who keep boarding-houses.
+ Until lately this practice was not permitted; but it must be
+ confessed that it is a salutary arrangement, as it not only
+ tends to keep the youth in a better state of subjection, but
+ in many instances is calculated to increase their progress
+ in study, by enabling them to receive private instruction.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0015" id="image-0015">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page048.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page048 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0016" id="image-0016">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page049.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page049-th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page049" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br /> <span class="pagenum">[50]</span> ELECTION SATURDAY.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ A Peep at the Long Chambers&mdash;The Banquet&mdash;Reflections on
+ parting&mdash;Arrival of the Provost of King's College,
+ Cambridge, and the Pozers&mdash;The Captain's Oration&mdash;Busy
+ Monday&mdash;The Oppidan's Farewell&mdash;Examination and Election of
+ the Collegers who stand for King's&mdash;The aquatic Gala and
+ Fireworks&mdash;Oxonian Visitors&mdash;Night&mdash;Rambles in Eton&mdash;
+ Transformations of Signs and Names&mdash;The Feast at the
+ Christopher, with a View of THE OPPIDAN'S MUSEUM, AND ETON
+ COURT OF CLAIMS.
+
+ Now from the schools pour forth a num'rous train,
+ Light-hearted, buoyant as the summer breeze,
+ To deck thy bosom, Eton: now each face
+ Anticipation brightens with delight,
+ While many a fancied bliss floats gaily
+ O'er the ardent mind, chaste as the Nautilus,
+ Spreading her pearly spangles to the sun:
+ The joyous welcome of parental love,
+ The heart-inspiring kiss a sister yields,
+ A brother's greeting, and the cheering smiles
+ Of relatives and friends, and aged domestics,
+ Time-honor'd for their probity and zeal,
+ Whose silvery locks recall to mem'ry's view
+ Some playful scene of earliest childhood,
+ When frolic, mirth, and gambol led the way,
+ Ere reason gave sobriety of thought.-
+ Now bear the busy <i>Cads</i> the new-lopt bough
+ Of beech-tree to the dormitories,
+ While active Collegers the foliage raise
+ Against the chamber walls. A classic grove
+ Springs as by magic art, cool and refreshing,
+ A luxury by nature's self supply'd,
+ Delicious shelter from the dog-star's ray.
+ In thought profound the studious <i>Sextile</i> mark
+ In learned converse with some ancient sage,
+ Whose aid he seeks to meet the dread Provost.
+ The captain fearless seeks the ancient stand,
+ Where old Etona's sons, beneath time's altar-piece,*
+ Have immemorial welcomed <i>Granta's</i> chief.
+ In College-hall the merry cook prepares
+ The choicest viands for the master's banquet:
+ A graceful, healthy throng surround the board,
+ And temp'rance, love, and harmony, prevail.
+ Now busy dames are in high bustle caught,
+ Preparing for each oppidan's departure;
+ And servants, like wing'd Mercury, must fly
+ O'er Windsor bridge to hail the London coach.
+ Adieus on ev'ry side, farewell, farewell,
+ Rings in each passing ear; yet, nor regret
+ Nor sorrow marks the face, but all elate
+ With cheerful tongue and brighten'd eye, unite
+ To hail with joy Etona's holiday.
+ Now comes the trial of who stands for King's,
+ Examinations difficult and deep
+ The Provost and his pozers to o'ercome.
+ To this succeeds the grand aquatic gala,
+ A spectacle of most imposing import,
+ Where, robed in every costume of the world,
+ The gay youth direct the glittering prow;
+ A fleet of well-trimm'd barks upon the bosom
+ Of old father Thames, glide on to pleasure's note:
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[51]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ The expert victors are received with cheers,
+ And the dark canopy of night's illumin'd
+ With a grand display of brilliant fires.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ * Shortly after the arrival of the Provost, he proceeds
+ through the cloisters, where he is met by the captain, or
+ head boy of the school, who speaks a long Latin oration
+ before him, standing under the clock.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ To an old Etonian the last week in July brings with it recollections of
+ delight that time and circumstances can never wholly efface. If, beneath
+ the broad umbrage of the refreshing grove, he seeks relief from care and
+ sultry heat, memory recalls to his imagination the scenes of his boyhood,
+ the ever pleasing recollections of infancy, when he reclined upon the
+ flowery bosom of old father Thames, or sought amusement in the healthful
+ exercise of bathing, or calmly listened to the murmuring ripple of the
+ waters, or joined the merry group in gently plying of the splashing oar.
+ With what eager delight are these reminiscences of youth dwelt on! With
+ what mingled sensations of hope, fear, and regret, do we revert to the
+ happy period of life when, like the favorite flower of the month, our
+ minds and actions rivalled the lily in her purity! Who, that has ever
+ tasted of the inspiring delight which springs from associations of
+ scholastic friendships and amusements, but would eagerly quit the bustle
+ of the great world to indulge in the enjoyment of the pure and unalloyed
+ felicity which is yet to be found among the alumni of Eton?&mdash;Election
+ Saturday&mdash;the very sound reverberates the echo of pleasure, and in a
+ moment places me (in imagination) in the centre of the long chambers of
+ Eton, walking beneath the grateful foliage of the beech-tree, with which
+ those dormitories are always decorated previous to election Saturday. I
+ can almost fancy that I hear the rattle of the carriage wheels, and see
+ the four horses smoking beneath the lodge-window of Eton college, that
+ conveys the provost of King's to attend examination and election. Then too
+ I can figure the classic band who wait to <span class="pagenum">[52]</span>
+ receive him; the dignified little doctor leading the way, followed by the
+ steady, calm-visaged lower master, Carter; then comes benedict Yonge, and
+ after him a space intervenes, where one should have been of rare
+ qualities, but he is absent; then follows good-humoured Heath, and Knapp,
+ who loves the rattle of a coach, and pleasant, clever Hawtry, and careful
+ Okes, and that shrewd sapper, Green, followed by medium Dupuis, and the
+ intelligent Chapman: these form his classic escort to the cloisters. But
+ who shall paint the captain's envied feelings, the proud triumph of his
+ assiduity and skill? To him the honourable office of public orator is
+ assigned; with modest reverence he speaks the Latin oration, standing, as
+ is the custom from time immemorial, under the clock. There too he receives
+ the bright reward, the approbation of the Provost of King's college, and
+ the procession moves forward to the College-hall to partake of the
+ generous banquet. On Sunday the Provost of King's remains a guest with his
+ compeer of Eton. But busy Monday arrives, and hundreds of Oxonians and
+ Cantabs pour in to witness the speeches of the boys, and pay a tribute of
+ respect to their former masters. The exhibition this day takes place in
+ the upper school, and consists of sixth form oppidans and collegers. How
+ well can I remember the animated picture Eton presents on such occasions:
+ shoals of juvenile oppidans, who are not yet of an age to have been
+ elected of any particular school-party, marching forth from their dames'
+ houses, linked arm in arm, parading down the street with an air and gaiety
+ that implies some newly acquired consequence, or liberty of conduct. Every
+ where a holiday face presents itself, and good humour lisps upon every
+ tongue. Here may be seen a youthful group, all anxiety and bustle,
+ trudging after some well-known <i>Cad</i>, who creeps along towards the
+ Windsor coach-office, loaded with portmanteaus, carpet bags, and <span
+ class="pagenum">[53]</span> boxes, like a Norfolk caravan at Christmas
+ time; while the youthful proprietors of the bulky stock, all anxiety and
+ desire to reach their relatives and friends, are hurrying him on, and do
+ not fail to spur the <i>elephant</i> with many a cutting gibe, at his slow
+ progression. Within doors the dames are all bustle, collecting, arranging,
+ and packing up the wardrobes of their respective boarders; servants flying
+ from the hall to the attic, and endangering their necks in their passage
+ down again, from anxiety to meet the breathless impetuosity of their
+ parting guests. Books of all classes, huddled into a heap, may be seen in
+ the corner of each bedroom, making <i>sock</i> for the mice till the
+ return of their purveyors with lots of plum-cake and savoury tarts. The
+ more mature are now busily engaged in settling the fashion of their
+ costume for the approaching gala; in receiving a visit from an elder
+ brother, or a young Oxonian, formerly of Eton, who has arrived post to
+ take <i>sock</i> with him, and enjoy the approaching festivities. Here a
+ venerable domestic, whose silver locks are the truest emblem of his trusty
+ services, arrives with the favorite pony to convey home the infant heir
+ and hope of some noble house.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Now is Garraway as lively as my lord mayor's steward at a Guildhall
+ feast-day; and the active note of preparation for the good things of this
+ world rings through the oaken chambers of the Christopher. Not even the <i>sanctum
+ sanctorum</i> is forgotten, where, in times long past, I have quaffed my
+ jug of Bulstrode, "in cool grot," removed from the scorching heat of a
+ July day, and enjoyed many a good joke, secure from the prying
+ observations of the <i>domine</i>. One, and one only, class of persons
+ wear a sorrowful face upon these joyous occasions, and these are the
+ confectioners and fruitresses of Eton; with them, election Saturday and
+ busy Monday are like the herald to a Jewish black fast, or a stock
+ exchange holiday: they may as well <i>sport their oaks</i> (to use an
+ Oxford phrase) till the <span class="pagenum">[54]</span> return of the
+ oppidans to school, for they seldom see the colour of a customer's cash
+ till the, to them, happy period arrives.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ On the succeeding days the examinations of the collegers proceed
+ regularly; then follows the election of new candidates, and the severe
+ trial of those who stand for King's. These scholastic arrangements
+ generally conclude on the Wednesday night, or Thursday morning, and then
+ Pleasure mounts her variegated car, and drives wherever Fancy may direct.
+ Formerly I find seven or eight scholars went to King's;{*} but in
+ consequence of the fellows of Eton holding pluralities, the means are
+ impoverished, and the number consequently reduced to two or three: this is
+ the more to be regretted, on account of the very severe and irrecoverable
+ disappointment the scholars experience in losing their election, merely on
+ account of age; as at nineteen they are superannuated, and cannot
+ afterwards receive any essential benefit from the college.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Not the blue waves of the Engia, covered with the gay feluccas of the
+ Greeks, and spreading their glittering streamers in the sun; nor the more
+ lovely
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ * This noble seminary of learning was founded by Hen. VI. in
+ 1440. Its establishment was then on a limited scale; it has
+ long since been enlarged, and now consists of a provost,
+ vice-provost, six fellows, two schoolmasters, with their
+ assistants, seventy scholars, seven clerks, and ten
+ choristers, besides various inferior officers and servants.
+ The annual election of scholars to King's College,
+ Cambridge, takes place about the end of July, or the
+ beginning of August, when the twelve senior scholars are put
+ on the roll to succeed, but they are not removed till
+ vacancies occur; the average number of which is about nine
+ in two years. At nineteen years of age the scholars are
+ superannuated. Eton sends, also, two scholars to Merton
+ College, Oxford, where they are denominated post-masters,
+ and has likewise a few exhibitions of twenty-one guineas
+ each for its superannuated scholars. The scholars elected to
+ King's succeed to fellowships at three years' standing.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[55]</span> Adriatic, swelling her translucent bosom
+ to the gentle motion of the gondolier, and bearing on her surface the
+ splendid cars and magnificent pageant of the Doge of Venice, marrying her
+ waters to the sea, can to an English bosom yield half the delight the
+ grand aquatic Eton gala affords; where, decked in every costume fancy can
+ devise, may be seen the noble youth of Britain, her rising statesmen,
+ warriors, and judges, the future guardians of her liberties, wealth, and
+ commerce, all vying with each other in loyal devotion to celebrate the
+ sovereign's natal day.{*} Then doth thy silvery bosom, father Thames,
+ present a spectacle truly delightful; a transparent mirror, studded with
+ gems and stars and splendid pageantry, reflecting a thousand brilliant
+ variegated hues; while, upon thy flowery margin, the loveliest daughters
+ of the land press the green velvet of luxuriant nature, outrivalling in
+ charms of colour, form, and beauty, the rose, the lily, and the graceful
+ pine. There too may be seen the accomplished and the gay youth labouring
+ for pleasure at the healthful oar, while with experienced skill the expert
+ helmsman directs through all thy fragrant windings the trim bark to
+ victory. The race determined, the bright star of eve, outrivalled by the
+ pyrotechnic <i>artiste</i>, hides his diminished head. Now sallies forth
+ the gay Oxonian from the Christopher, ripe with the rare Falernian of mine
+ host, to have his frolic gambol with old friends. Pale Luna, through her
+ misty veil, smiles at these harmless pleasantries, and lends the merry
+ group her aid to smuggle signs, alter names, and play off a thousand
+ fantastic vagaries; while the Eton Townsman, robed in
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ * The grand aquatic gala, which terminates the week's festi-
+ vities at Eton, and concludes the water excursions for the
+ season, was originally fixed in honour of his late majesty's
+ birthday, and would have been altered to the period of his
+ successor's, but the time would not accord, the twelfth day
+ of August being vacation.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[50]</span> peaceful slumber, dreams not of the
+ change his house has undergone, and wakes to find a double transformation;
+ his <i>Angel</i> vanished, or exchanged for the rude semblance of an
+ Oxford <i>Bear</i>, with a cognomen thereto appended, as foreign to his
+ family nomenclature "as he to Hercules." In the morning the dames are
+ wailing the loss of their polished knockers; and the barber-surgeon mourns
+ the absence of his obtrusive pole. The optician's glasses have been
+ removed to the door of some prying <i>domine</i>; and the large tin cocked
+ hat has been seized by some midnight giant, who has also claimed old
+ Crispin's three-leagued boot. The golden fish has leaped into the Thames.
+ The landlord of the Lamb bleats loudly for his fleece. The grocer cares
+ not a fig for the loss of his sugar-loaves, but laughs, and takes it as a
+ currant joke. Old Duplicate is resolved to have his balls restored with
+ interest; and the lady mother of the black doll is quite pale in the face
+ with sorrow for the loss of her child. Mine host of the vine looks as sour
+ as his own grapes, before they were fresh gilded; and spruce master
+ Pigtail, the tobacconist, complains that his large roll of real Virginia
+ has been chopped into short cut. But these are by far the least tormenting
+ jokes. That good-humoured Cad, Jem Miller, finds the honorary distinction
+ of private tutor added to his name. Dame &mdash;&mdash;s, an
+ irreproachable spinster of forty, discovers that of Mr. Probe,
+ man-midwife, appended to her own. Mr. Primefit, the Eton Stultz, is
+ changed into Botch, the cobbler. Diodorus Drowsy, D.D., of Windsor, is
+ re-christened Diggory Drenchall, common brewer; and the amiable Mrs.
+ Margaret Sweet, the Eton pastry-cook and confectioner, finds her name
+ united in bands of brass with Mr. Benjamin Bittertart, the baker. The
+ celebrated Christopher Caustic, Esq., surgeon, has the mortification to
+ find his Esculapian dormitory decorated with the sign-board of Mr.
+ Slaughtercalf, a German butcher; while his handsome brass pestle <span
+ class="pagenum">[57]</span> and mortar, with the gilt Galen's head
+ annexed, have been waggishly transferred to the house of some Eton Dickey
+ Gossip, barber and dentist. Mr. Index, the bookseller, changes names with
+ old Frank Finis, the sexton. The elegant door plate of Miss Caroline
+ Cypher, spinster, is placed on the right side of Nicodemus
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Number, B.A., and fellow of Eton, with this note annexed: "New rule of
+ Addition, according to Cocker." Old Amen, the parish clerk, is united to
+ Miss Bridget Silence, the pew opener; and Theophilus White, M.D. changes
+ place with Mr. Sable, the undertaker. But we shall become too grave if we
+ proceed deeper with this subject. There is no end to the whimsical
+ alterations and ludicrous changes that take place upon these occasions,
+ when scarce a sign or door plate in Eton escapes some pantomimic
+ transformation.*
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ * Representations to the masters or authorities are scarcely
+ ever necessary to redress these whimsical grievances, as the
+ injured parties are always remunerated. The next day the
+ spoils and trophies are arranged in due form in a certain
+ snug sanctum sanctorum, the cellar of a favorite inn, well
+ known by the name of the <i>Oppidan's</i> Museum; for a view of
+ which see the sketch made on the spot by my friend Bob
+ Transit. Here the merry wags are to be found in council,
+ holding a court of claims, to which all the tradesmen who
+ have suffered any loss are successively summoned; and after
+ pointing out from among the motley collection the article
+ they claim, and the price it originally cost, they are
+ handsomely remunerated, or the sign replaced. The good
+ people of Eton generally choose the former, as it not only
+ enable them to sport a new sign, but to put a little profit
+ upon the cost price of the old one. The trophies thus
+ acquired are then packed up in hampers, and despatched to
+ Oxford, where they are on similar occasions not unfrequently
+ displayed, or hung up, in lieu of some well-known sign, such
+ as the Mitre, &amp;c. which has been removed during the night.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[58]</span> <a name="image-0017" id="image-0017">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page058.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page058 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ The following jeu-d'esprits issued upon the interference of the
+ authorities at the conclusion of the last Election. The "dance of thirty
+ sovereigns" is an allusion to the fine imposed, which was given to the
+ poor.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ A Ladder Dance.
+ A moving golden Fish.
+ The Fall of Grapes, during a heavy storm.
+ The Cock'd Hat Combat.
+ A March to the Workhouse.
+ Bird-cage Duett, by Messrs. C***** and B****.
+ A public Breakfast, with a dance by thirty sovereigns.
+ Glee&mdash;"When shall we three meet again."
+ The Barber's Hornpipe, by the learned D****.
+ The Turk's Head Revel.
+ Saint Christopher's March.
+ The Committee in Danger.
+ The Cloisters, Eton
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0018" id="image-0018">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page059.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page059 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[59]</span> HERBERT STOCKHORE, THE MONTEM POET
+ LAUREATE. A SKETCH FROM THE LIFE,
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ As he appeared in the Montent Procession of May, 1823.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ BY BERNARD BLACKMANTLE, AND ROBERT TRANSIT
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Bending beneath a weight of time,
+ And crippled as his Montem ode,
+ We found the humble son of rhyme
+
+ Busy beside the public road.
+ Nor laurel'd wreath or harp had he,
+
+ To deck his brow or touch the note
+ That wakes the soul to sympathy.
+
+ His face was piteous as his coat,
+ 'Twas motley strange; e'en nature's self,
+
+ In wild, eccentric, playful mood,
+ Had, for her pastime, form'd the elf,
+
+ A being scarcely understood&mdash;
+ Half idiot, harmless; yet a gleam
+
+ Of sense, and whim, and shrewdness, broke
+ The current of his wildest stream;
+
+ And pity sigh'd as madness spoke.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[60]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Lavater, Lawrence, Camper, here
+
+ Philosophy new light had caught:
+ Judged by your doctrines 'twould appear
+
+ The facial line denoted thought.{1}
+ But say, what system e'er shall trace
+
+ By scalp or visage mental worth?
+ The ideot's form, the maniac's face,
+
+ Are shared alike by all on earth.
+ "Comparative Anatomy&mdash;"
+
+ If, Stockhore, 'twas to thee apply'd,
+ 'Twould set the doubting Gallist free,
+
+ And Spurzheim's idle tales deride.
+ But hence with visionary scheme,
+
+ Though Bell, or Abernethy, write;
+ Be Herbert Stockhore all my theme,
+
+ The laureate's praises I indite;
+ He erst who sung in Montem's praise,
+
+ And, Thespis like, from out his cart
+ Recited his extempore lays,
+
+ On Eton's sons, in costume smart,
+ Who told of captains bold and grand,
+
+ Lieutenants, marshals, seeking <i>salt</i>;
+ Of colonels, majors, cap in hand,
+
+ Who bade e'en majesty to halt;
+
+ 1 It is hardly possible to conceive a more intelligent,
+ venerable looking head, than poor Herbert Stockhore
+ presents; a fine capacious forehead, rising like a
+ promontory of knowledge, from a bold outline of countenance,
+ every feature decisive, breathing serenity and
+ thoughtfulness, with here and there a few straggling locks
+ of silvery gray, which, like the time-discoloured moss upon
+ some ancient battlements, are the true emblems of antiquity:
+ the eye alone is generally dull and sunken in the visage,
+ but during his temporary gleams of sanity, or fancied
+ flights of poetical inspiration, it is unusually bright and
+ animated. According to professor Camper, I should think the
+ facial line would make an angle of eighty or ninety degrees;
+ and, judging upon the principles laid down by Lavater, poor
+ Herbert might pass for a Solon. Of his bumps, or
+ phrenological protuberances, I did not take particular
+ notice, but I have no doubt they would be found, upon
+ examination, equally illustrative of such visionary systems.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[61]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Told how the ensign nobly waved
+
+ The colours on the famous hill;
+ And names from dull oblivion saved,
+
+ Who ne'er the niche of fame can fill:
+ Who, like to Campbell, lends his name.{2}
+
+ To many a whim he ne'er did write;
+ When witty scholars, to their shame,
+
+ 'Gainst masters hurl a satire trite.{3}
+ But fare thee well, Ad Montem's bard,{4}
+
+ Farewell, my mem'ry's early friend
+
+ 2 The author of "the Pleasures of Hope," and the editor of
+ the New Monthly; but-"<i>Tardè, quo credita lodunt,
+ credimus</i>."
+
+ 3 It has long been the custom at Eton, particularly during
+ Montem, to give Herbert Stockhore the credit of many a
+ satirical whim, which he, poor fellow, could as easily have
+ penned as to have written a Greek ode. These squibs are
+ sometimes very humorous, and are purposely written in
+ doggrel verse to escape detection by the masters, who are
+ not unfrequently the principal porsons alluded to.
+
+ 4 The following laughable production was sold by poor
+ Herbert Stockhore during the last Montem: we hardly think we
+ need apologise for introducing this specimen of his muse:
+ any account of Eton characteristics must have been held
+ deficient without it.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE MONTEM ODE. May 20, 1823.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Muses attend! the British channel flock o'er,
+ Call'd by your most obedient servant, Stockhore.
+ Aid me, O, aid me, while I touch the string;
+ Montem and Captain Barnard's praise I sing;
+ Captain Barnard, the youth so noble and bright,
+ That none dare dispute his worthy right
+ To that gay laurel which his brother wore,
+ In times that 1 remember long before.
+ What are Olympic honours compared to thine,
+ 0 Captain, when Majesty does combine
+ With heroes, their wives, sons and daughters great,
+ To visit this extremely splendid fête.
+ Enough! I feel a sudden inspiration fill
+ My bowels; just as if the tolling bell
+ Had sent forth sounds a floating all along the air
+ Just such Parnassian sounds, though deaf, I'm sure I hear.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[62]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ May misery never press thee hard,
+ Ne'er may disease thy steps attend:
+ Listen, ye gents; rude Boreas hold your tongue!
+ The pomp advances, and my lyre is strung.
+ First comes Marshal Thackeray,
+ Dress'd out in crack array;
+ Ar'nt he a whacker, eh?
+ His way he picks,
+ Follow'd by six,
+ Like a hen by her chicks:
+
+ Enough! he's gone.
+ As this martial Marshall
+ Is to music partial,
+ The bandsmen march all
+
+ His heels upon.
+ He who hits the balls such thumps,
+ King of cricket-bats and stumps,&mdash;
+ Barnard comes;
+ Sound the drums&mdash;
+
+ Silence! he's past.
+ Eight fair pages,
+ Of different ages,
+
+ Follow fast.
+ Next comes the Serjeant-Major,
+ Who, like an old stager,
+
+ Without need of bridle
+ Walks steadily; the same
+ Dolphin Major by name,
+
+ Major Dolphin by title.
+ Next struts Serjeant Brown,
+ Very gay you must own;
+ With gallant Mr. Hughes,
+ In well-polish'd shoes;
+ Then Sampson, who tramps on,
+ Strong as his namesake.
+ Then comes Webb, who don't dread
+ To die for his fame's sake.
+ Next shall I sing
+ Of Serjeant King,
+ And Horace Walpole,
+ Holding a tall pole,
+ Who follows King and Antrobus,
+ Though he's "pulchrior ambobus."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[63]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Be all thy wants by those supply'd,
+ Whom charity ne'er fail'd to move{5}:
+
+ 5 This eccentric creature has for many years subsisted
+ entirely upon the bounty of the Etonians, and the
+ inhabitants of Windsor and Eton, who never fail to
+ administer to his wants, and liberally supply him with many
+ little comforts in return for his harmless pleasantries.
+
+ Then to Salthill speed on,
+ While the troops they lead on;
+ Both Mr. Beadon,
+ And Serjeant Mitford,
+ Who's ready to fi't for't.
+ Then Mr. Carter follows a'ter;
+ And Denman,
+ Worth ten men,
+ Like a Knight of the Garter;
+ And Cumberbatch,
+ Without a match,
+ Tell me, who can be smarter?
+ Then Colonel Hand,
+ Monstrous grand,
+ Closes the band.
+ Pass on, you nameless crowd,
+ Pass on. The Ensign proud
+ Comes near. Let all that can see
+ Behold the Ensign Dansey;
+ See with what elegance he
+ Waves the flag&mdash;to please the fancy.
+ Pass on, gay crowd; Le Mann, the big,
+ Bright with gold as a guinea-pig,
+ The big, the stout, the fierce Le Mann,
+ Walks like a valiant gentleman.
+ But take care of your pockets,
+ Here's Salt-bearer Platt,
+ With a bag in his hand,
+ And a plume in his hat;
+ A handsomer youth, sure small-clothes ne'er put on,
+ Though very near rival'd by elegant Sutton.
+
+ Thus then has pass'd this grand procession,
+ In most magnificent progression.
+ Farewell you gay and happy throng!
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[64]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Etona's motto, crest, and pride,
+ Is feeling, courage, friendship, love.
+
+ Farewell my Muse! farewell my song'
+ Farewell Salthill! farewell brave Captain;
+ As ever uniform was clapt in;
+ Since Fortune's kind, pray do not mock her;
+ Your humble poet,
+
+ HERBERT STOCKHORE.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Herbert Stockhore was originally a bricklayer, and now resides at a little
+ house which he has built for himself, and called Mount Pleasant, in a lane
+ leading from Windsor to the Meadows. He has a wife and daughter, honest,
+ industrious people, who reside with him, and are by no means displeased at
+ the visit of a stranger to their eccentric relative. Some idea of the old
+ man's amusing qualifications may be conceived from the following
+ description, to which I have added the account he gives of his heraldic
+ bearings. It must be recollected that the Etonians encourage these whims
+ in the poor old man, and never lose an opportunity of impressing Stockhore
+ with a belief in the magnificent powers of his genius.&mdash;After we had
+ heard him recite several of his unconnected extempore rhapsodies, we were
+ to be indulged with the Montem ode; this the old man insisted should be
+ spoken in his gala dress; nor could all the entreaties of his wife and
+ daughter, joined to those of myself and friend (fearful of appearing
+ obtrusive), dissuade old Herbert from his design. He appeared quite
+ frantic with joy when the dame brought forth from an upper apartment these
+ insignia of his laureateship; the careful manner in which they were folded
+ up and kept clean gave us to understand that the good woman herself set
+ some store by them. The wife and daughter now proceeded to robe the
+ laureate bard: the first garment which was placed over his shoulders, and
+ came below his waist, was a species of tunic made out of patches of
+ bed-furniture, trimmed in the most fantastic manner with fragments of
+ worsted fringe of all colors. Over this he wore an old military jacket, of
+ a very ancient date in respect to costume, and trimmed like the robe with
+ fringe of every variety. A pair of loose trowsers of the same materials as
+ the tunic were also displayed; but the fashion of the poet's head-dress
+ exceeded all the rest for whimsicality: round an old soldier's cap a sheet
+ of pasteboard was bent to a spiral form, rising about fourteen inches, and
+ covered with some pieces of chintz bed-furniture of a very rich pattern;
+ in five separate circles, was disposed as many different colors of
+ fringes; some worsted twisted, to resemble feathers, was suspended from
+ the side; and the whole had the most grotesque appearance, more nearly
+ resembling the papal crown in similitude than any thing else I can
+ conceive. <span class="pagenum">[65]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Poor harmless soul, thy merry stave
+ Shall live when nobler poets bend;
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The poor old fellow seemed elated to a degree. We had sent for a little
+ ale for him, but were informed he was not accustomed to drink much of any
+ strong liquor. After a glass, Herbert recited with great gesture and
+ action, but in a very imperfect manner, the Montem ode; and then for a few
+ minutes seemed quite exhausted. During this exhibition my friend Transit
+ was engaged in sketching his portrait, a circumstance that appeared to
+ give great pleasure to the wife and daughter, who earnestly requested, if
+ it was published, to be favored with a copy. We had now become quite
+ familiar with the old man, and went with him to view his Montem car and
+ Arabian pony, as he called them, in a stable adjoining the house. On our
+ return, my friend Transit observed that his cart required painting, and
+ should be decorated with some appropriate emblem. Herbert appeared to
+ understand the idea, and immediately proceeded to give us a history of his
+ heraldic bearings, or, as he said, what his coat of arms should be, which,
+ he assured us, the gentlemen of Eton had subscribed for, and were having
+ prepared at the Heralds' College in London, on purpose for him to display
+ next Montem. "My grand-father," said Stockhore, "was a hatter, therefore I
+ am entitled to the beaver in the first quarter of my shield. My
+ grandfather by my mother's side was a farmer, therefore I should have the
+ wheat-sheaf on the other part. My own father was a pipe-maker, and that
+ gives me a noble ornament, the cross pipes and glasses, the emblems of
+ good fellowship. Now my wife's father was a tailor, and that yields me a
+ goose: those are the bearings of the four quarters of my shield. Now, sir,
+ I am a poet&mdash;ay, the poet laureate of Montem; and that gives me a
+ right to the winged horse for my crest. There's a coat of arms for you,"
+ said poor Herbert; "why, it would beat every thing but the king's; ay, and
+ his too, if it wasn't for the lion and crown." The attention we paid to
+ this whim pleased the poor creature mightily; he was all animation and
+ delight. But the day was fast declining: so, after making the poor people
+ a trifling present for the trouble we had given them, my friend Transit
+ and myself took our farewell of poor Herbert, not, I confess, without
+ regret; for I think the reader will perceive by this brief sketch thero is
+ great character and amusement in his harmless whims. I have been thus
+ particular in my description of him, because he is always at Montem time
+ an object of much curiosity; and to every Etonian of the last thirty
+ years, his peculiarities must have frequently afforded amusement. <span
+ class="pagenum">[66]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ And when Atropos to the grave
+ Thy silvery locks of gray shall send,
+
+ Etona's sons shall sing thy fame,
+ <i>Ad Montem</i> still thy verse resound,
+
+ Still live an ever cherish'd name,
+ As long as <i>salt</i>{2} and sock abound.
+
+ 2 Salt is the name given to the money collected at Montem.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0019" id="image-0019">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page066.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page066 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE DOUBTFUL POINT.
+ </h2>
+ <p>
+ "Why should I not read it," thought Horatio, hesitating, with the MSS. of
+ Life in Eton half opened in his hand. A little Chesterfield deity, called
+ Prudence, whispered&mdash;"Caution." "Well, Miss Hypocrisy," quoth the
+ Student, "what serious offence shall I commit against propriety or
+ morality by reading a whimsical jeu-d'esprit, penned to explain the
+ peculiar lingual localisms of Eton, and display her chief characteristic
+ follies." "It is slang," said Prudence. "Granted," said Horatio: "but he
+ who undertakes to depict real life must not expect to make a pleasing or a
+ correct picture, without the due proportions of light and shade. 'Vice to
+ be hated needs but to be seen.' Playful satire may do more towards
+ correcting the evil than all the dull lessons of sober-tongued morality
+ can ever hope to effect." Candour, who just then happened to make a
+ passing call, was appointed referee; and, without hesitation, agreed
+ decidedly with Horatio.{1}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 Life at Eton will not, I hope, be construed into any
+ intention of the author's to follow in the track of any
+ previous publication: his object is faithfully to delineate
+ character, not to encourage vulgar phraseology, or
+ promulgate immoral sentiment.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[67]</span> LIFE IN ETON;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ A COLLEGE CHAUNT IN PRAISE OF PRIVATE
+ TUTORS.{1}
+
+ Time hallowed shades, and noble names,
+ Etonian classic bowers;
+ Pros,{2} masters, fellows, and good dames,{3}
+ Where pass'd my school-boy hours;
+
+ 1 Private tutor, in the Eton school phrase, is another term
+ for a <i>Cad</i>, a fellow who lurks about college, and assists
+ in all <i>sprees</i> and sports by providing dogs, fishing
+ tackle, guns, horses, bulls for baiting, a badger, or in
+ promoting any other interdicted, or un-lawful pastime. A
+ dozen or more of these well known characters may be seen
+ loitering in front of the college every morning, making
+ their arrangement with their pupils, the <i>Oppidans</i>, for a
+ day's sport, to commence the moment school is over. They
+ formerly used to occupy a seat on the low wall, in front of
+ the college, but the present headmaster has recently
+ interfered to expel this assemblage; they still, however,
+ carry on their destructive intercourse with youth, by
+ walking about, and watching their opportunity for
+ communication. The merits of these worthies are here
+ faithfully related, and will be instantly recognised by any
+ Etonian of the last thirty years.
+
+ 2 <i>PROS</i>. Eton college is governed by a provost, vice-
+ provost, six fellows, a steward of the courts, head-master,
+ and a lower, or second master; to which is added, nine
+ assistant masters, and five extra ones, appointed to teach
+ French, writing, drawing, fencing, and dancing. The school
+ has materially increased in numbers within the last few
+ years, and now contains nearly five hundred scholars, sons
+ of noblemen and gentlemen, and may be truly said to be the
+ chief nursery for the culture of the flower of the British
+ nation.&mdash;See note to page 54.
+
+ 3 <i>DAMES</i>. The appellation given to the females who keep
+ boarding-houses in Eton. These houses, although out of the
+ college walls, are subject to the surveillance of the head
+ master and fellows, to whom all references and complaints
+ are made.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+<span class="pagenum">[69]</span>
+ Come list', while I with con,{4} and sock{5}
+ And chaunt,{6} both ripe and mellow,
+ Tell how you knowledge stores unlock,
+
+ To make a clever fellow.{7}
+ For Greek and Latin, classic stuff,
+
+ Let tug muttons{8}compose it;
+ Give oppidans{9} but blunt{10 }enough,
+
+ What odds to them who knows it.
+ A dapper dog,{11} a right coolfish,{12}
+
+ Who snugly dines on pewter;
+ Quaffs Bulstrode ale,{13} and takes his dish.
+
+ 4 CON. A con is a companion, or friend; as, "you are
+ cons of late."
+
+ 5 SOCK signifies eating or drinking niceties; as, pastry,
+ jellies, Bishop, &amp;c.
+
+ 6 CHAUNT, a good song; to versify.
+
+ 7 This is not intended as an imputation on the learned
+ fellows of Eton college, but must be taken in the vulgar
+ acceptation&mdash;you're a clever fellow, &amp;c.
+
+ 8 TUG MUTTONS, or Tugs, collegers, foundation scholars; an
+ appellation given to them by the oppidans, in derision of
+ the custom which has prevailed from the earliest period, and
+ is still continued, of living entirely on roast mutton; from
+ January to December no other description of meat is ever
+ served up at College table in the hall. There are seventy of
+ these young gentlemen on the foundation who, if they miss
+ their election when they are nineteen, lose all the benefits
+ of a fellowship.
+
+ 9 OPPIDANS, independent scholars not on the foundation.
+
+ 10 BLUNT, London slang (for money), in use here.
+
+ 11 A DAPPER DOC, any thing smart, or pleasing, as, "Ay,
+ that's dapper," or, "you are a dapper dog."
+
+ 12 A RIGHT COOL FISH, one who is not particular what he says
+ or does.
+
+ 13 BULSTRODE ALE, a beverage in great request at the
+ Christopher. When the effects were sold at Bulstrode,
+ Garraway purchased a small stock of this famous old ale,
+ which by some miraculous process he has continued to serve
+ out in plentiful quantities ever since. The joke has of late
+ been rather against mine host of the Christopher, who,
+ however, to do him justice, has an excellent tap, which is
+ now called the queen's, from some since purchased at
+ Windsor: this is sold in small quarts, at one shilling per
+ jug.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+<span class="pagenum">[70]</span>
+ In private with his tutor.{14}
+ In lieu of ancient learned lore,
+
+ Which might his brain bewilder,
+ Rum college slang he patters o'er,
+
+ With cads{15 }who chouse{16} the guilder.
+ Who's truly learn'd must read mankind,
+
+ Truth's axiom inculcates:
+ The world's a volume to the mind,
+
+ Instructive more than pulpits.{17}
+ Come fill the bowl with <i>Bishop</i> up,
+
+ <i>Clods,{18} Fags,{19} and Skugs{20} and Muttons{21}</i>;
+ When <i>absence</i>{22} calls ye into sup,
+
+ Drink, drink to me, ye gluttons.
+ I'll teach ye how to kill dull care,
+
+ Improve your box of knowledge,{23}
+
+ 14 Many of the young noblemen and gentlemen at Eton are
+ accompanied by private tutors, who live with them to
+ expedite their studies; they are generally of the College,
+ and recommended by the head master for their superior
+ endowments.
+
+ 15 CAD, a man of all work, for dirty purposes, yclept
+ private tutor. See note 1, page 68.
+
+ 16 CHOUSE the GUILDER. Chouse or chousing is generally
+ applied to any transaction in which they think they may have
+ been cheated or overcharged.
+
+ Guilder is a cant term for gold.
+
+ 17 Nothing in the slightest degree unorthodox is meant to
+ be inferred from this reasoning, but simply the sentiment
+ of this quotation-'The proper study of mankind is man.'
+
+ 18 CLODS, as, "you clod," a town boy, or any one not an
+ Etonian, no matter how respectable.
+
+ 19 FAGS, boys in the lower classes. Every fifth form boy has
+ his fag.
+
+ 20 SCUG or SKUG, a lower boy in the school, relating to
+
+ sluggish. 21 MUTTONS. See note 8.
+
+ 22 ABSENCE. At three-quarters past eight in summer, and
+ earlier in winter, several of the masters proceed to the
+ different dames' houses, and call absence, when every boy is
+ compelled to be instantly in quarters for the night, on pain
+ of the most severe punishment.
+
+ 23 BOX of KNOWLEDGE, the pericranium.
+
+ With all that's witty, choice, and rare,
+
+ 'Fore all the <i>Slugs</i>{24} of college.
+ Of private tutors, vulgo Cads,
+
+ A list I mean to tender;
+ The qualities of all the lads,
+
+ Their prices to a <i>bender</i>.{25}
+ First, Shampo Carter{26} doffs his <i>tile</i>,
+
+ To dive, to fish, or fire;
+ There's few can better time beguile,
+
+ And none in sporting higher.
+
+ 24 SLUGS of College, an offensive appellation applied to the
+ fellows of Eton by the townsmen.
+
+ 25 BENDER, a sixpence.
+
+ 26 Note from Bernard Blackmantle, M.A. to Shampo Carter and
+ Co. P.T.'s:&mdash;
+
+ MESSIEURS THE CADS OF ETON, In handing down to posterity
+ your multifarious merits and brilliant qualifications, you
+ will perceive I have not forgotten the signal services and
+ delightful gratifications so often afforded me in the days
+ of my youth. Be assured, most assiduous worthies, that I am
+ fully sensible of all your merits, and can appreciate justly
+ your great usefulness to the rising generation. You are the
+ sappers and miners of knowledge, who attack and destroy the
+ citadel of sense before it is scarcely defensible. It is no
+ fault of yours if the stripling of Eton is not, at eighteen,
+ well initiated into all the mysteries of life, excepting
+ only the, to him, mysterious volumes of the classics. To do
+ justice to all was not within the limits of my work; I have
+ therefore selected from among you the most distinguished
+ names, and I flatter myself, in so doing, I have omitted
+ very few of any note; if, however, any efficient member of
+ your brotherhood should have been unintentionally passed by,
+ he has only to forward an authenticated copy of his
+ biography and peculiar merits to the publisher, to meet with
+ insertion in a second edition.
+
+ Bernard Blackmantle.
+
+ Bill Carter is, after all, a very useful fellow, if it was
+ only in teaching the young Etonians to swim, which he does,
+ by permission of the head master.
+
+ Tile, a hat.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+<span class="pagenum">[72]</span>
+ Joe Cannon, or my lord's a gun,{27}
+ A regular nine pounder;
+ To man a boat, stands number one,
+
+ And ne'er was known to flounder.
+ There's Foxey Hall{28} can throw the line
+ With any Walton angler;
+ To tell his worth would task the Nine,
+
+ Or pose a Cambridge wrangler.
+ Next, Pickey Powell{29} at a ball
+
+ Is master of the wicket;
+ Can well deliver at a call
+
+ A trite essay on cricket.
+ Jem Flowers {30} baits a badger well,
+
+ For a bull <i>hank, or tyke</i>, sir;
+ And as an out and out bred <i>swell</i>,{31}
+
+ Was never seen his like.
+
+ 27 A GUN&mdash;"He's a great gun," a good fellow, a knowing one.
+ Joe is a first rate waterman, and by the Etonians styled
+ "Admiral of the fleet."
+
+ 28 "Not a better fellow than Jack Hall among the Cads," said
+ an old Etonian, "or a more expert angler." Barb, Gudgeon,
+ Dace, and Chub, seem to bite at his bidding; and if they
+ should be a little shy, why Jack knows how to "go to work
+ with the net."
+
+ 29 Who, that has been at Eton, and enjoyed the manly and
+ invigorating exercise of cricket, has not repeatedly heard
+ Jem Powell in tones of exultation say, "Only see me '<i>liver
+ thin here</i> ball, my young master?" And, in good truth, Jem
+ is right, for very few can excel him in that particular: and
+ then (when Jem is <i>Bacchi plenis</i>,) who can withstand his
+ <i>quart of sovereigns</i>. On such occasions Jem is seen
+ marching up and down before the door of his house, with a
+ silver quart tankard filled with gold&mdash;the savings of many
+ years of industry.
+
+ 30 Jem Flowers is an old soldier; and, in marshalling the
+ forces for a bull or a badger-bait, displays all the tactics
+ of an experienced general officer. Caleb Baldwin would no
+ more bear comparison with Jem than a flea does to an
+ elephant.
+
+ 31 When it is remembered how near Eton is to London, and how
+ frequent the communication, it will appear astonishing, but
+ highly creditable to the authorities, that so little of the
+ current slang of the day is to be met with here.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[73]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ There's Jolly Jem,{32} who keeps his punt,
+
+ And dogs to raise the siller;
+ Of <i>cads</i>, the captain of the hunt,
+
+ A right and tight good miller.
+ Next Barney Groves,{33} a learned wight,
+
+ The impounder of cattle,
+ Dilates on birth and common right,
+
+ And threats <i>black slugs</i> with battle.
+ Big George {34} can teach the use of fives,
+
+ Or pick up a prime terrier;
+ Or <i>spar</i>, or keep the game alive,
+
+ With beagle, bull, or harrier.
+ Savager{35} keeps a decent nag,
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 32 Jem Miller was originally a tailor; but having dropt a
+ stitch or two in early life, <i>listed</i> into a sporting
+ regiment of Cads some years since; and being a better shot
+ at hares and partridges than he was considered at the <i>heavy
+ goose</i>, has been promoted to the rank of captain of the
+ private tutors. Jem is a true jolly fellow; his house
+ exhibits a fine picture of what a sportsman's hall should
+ be, decorated with all the emblems of fishing, fowling, and
+ hunting, disposed around in great taste.
+
+ 33 Barney Groves, the haughward, or impounder of stray
+ cattle at Eton, is one of the most singular characters I
+ have ever met with. Among the ignorant Barney is looked up
+ to as the fountain of local and legal information; and it is
+ highly ludicrous to hear him expatiate on his favourite
+ theme of "our birthrights and common rights;" tracing the
+ first from the creation, and deducing argument in favor of
+ his opinions on the second from doomsday book, through all
+ the intricate windings of the modern inclosure acts. Barney
+ is a great stickler for reform in College, and does not
+ hesitate to attack the fellows of Eton (whom he denominates
+ black slugs), on holding pluralities, and keeping the good
+ things to themselves. As Barney's avocation compels him to
+ travel wide, he is never interrupted by water; for in summer
+ or winter he readily wades through the deepest places; he is
+ consequently a very efficient person in a sporting party.
+
+ 34 George Williams, a well-known dog fancier, who also
+ teaches the art and science of pugilism.
+
+ 35 Savager, a livery-stable keeper, who formerly used to
+ keep a good tandem or two for hire, but on the interference
+ of the head master, who interdicted such amusements as
+ dangerous, they have been put down in Eton.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[74]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ But's very shy of lending,
+ Since she put down her tandem <i>drag</i>,{36}
+
+ For fear of Keates offending.
+ But if you want to splash along
+
+ In glory with a <i>ginger</i>,{37}
+ Or in a Stanhope come it strong,
+
+ Try Isaac Clegg,{38} of Windsor.
+ If o'er old father Thames you'd glide,
+
+ And cut the silvery stream;
+ With Hester's{39} eight oars mock the tide,
+
+ He well deserves a <i>theme</i>.
+ There's Charley Miller, and George Hall,{40}
+
+ Can beasts and birds restore, sir;
+ And though they cannot bark or squall,
+
+ Look livelier than before, sir.
+ Handy Jack's {41} a general blade,
+
+ There's none like Garraway, sir;
+ Boats, ducks, or dogs, are all his trade,
+
+ He'll fit you to a say, sir.
+
+ 36 DR A G, London slang for tilbury, dennet, Stanhope, &amp;c.
+
+ 37 A GINGER, a showy, fast horse.
+
+ 38 Isaac Clegg is in great repute for his excellent turn
+ outs, and prime nags; and, living in Windsor, he is out of
+ the jurisdiction of the head master.
+
+ 39 Hester's boats are always kept in excellent trim. At
+ Eton exercise on the water is much practised, and many of
+ the scholars are very expert watermen: they have recently
+ taken to boats of an amazing length, forty feet and upwards,
+ which, manned with eight oars, move with great celerity.
+ Every Saturday evening the scholars are permitted to assume
+ fancy dresses; but the practice is now principally confined
+ to the steersman; the rest simply adopting sailors' costume,
+ except on the fourth of June, or election Saturday, when
+ there is always a grand gala, a band of music, and
+ fireworks, on the island in the Thames.
+
+ 40 Miller and Hall, two famous preservers of birds and
+ animals; an art in high repute among the Etonians.
+
+ 41 A famous boatman, duck-hunter, dog-fighter; or,
+ according to the London phrase&mdash;good at everything.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[75]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Tom New {42} in manly sports is old,
+
+ A tailor, and a trump, sir;
+ And <i>odd Fish Bill</i>,{43} at sight of gold,
+
+ Will steer clear of the bump,"{44} sir.
+ A list of <i>worthies</i>, learn'd and great
+
+ In every art and science,
+ That noble youths should emulate,
+
+ To set laws at defiance:
+ The church, the senate, and the bar,
+
+ By these in ethics grounded,
+ Must prove a meteoric star,
+
+ Of brilliancy compounded.
+ Ye lights of Eton, rising suns,
+
+ Of all that's great and godly;
+ The nation's hope, and dread of <i>duns</i>,
+
+ Let all your acts be <i>motley</i>.
+ Learn arts like these, ye oppidan,
+
+ If you'd astonish greatly
+ The senate, or the great divan,
+
+ With classics pure, and stately.
+ Give Greek and Latin to the wind,
+
+ Bid pedagogues defiance:
+ These are the rules to grace the mind
+
+ With the true gems of science.
+
+ 42 Tom New, a great cricketer.
+
+ 43 Bill Fish, a waterman who attends the youngest boys in
+ their excursions.
+
+ 44 The BUMP, to run against each other in the race.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ APOLLO'S VISIT TO ETON.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[76]</span> This whimsical production appeared
+ originally in 1819, in an Eton miscellany entitled the College Magazine;
+ the poetry of which was afterwards selected, and only fifty copies struck
+ off: these have been carefully suppressed, principally we believe on
+ account of this article, as it contains nothing that we conceive can be
+ deemed offensive, and has allusions to almost all the distinguished
+ scholars of that period, besides including the principal contributors to
+ the Etonian, a recent popular work: we have with some difficulty filled up
+ the blanks with real names; and, at the suggestion of several old
+ Etonians, incorporated it with the present work, as a fair criterion of
+ the promising character of the school at this particular period.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The practice of thus distinguishing the rising talents of Eton is somewhat
+ ancient. We have before us a copy of verses dated 1620, in which Waller,
+ the poet, and other celebrated characters of his time, are particularised.
+ At a still more recent period, during the mastership of the celebrated
+ Doctor Barnard, the present earl of Carlisle, whose classical taste is
+ universally admitted, distinguished himself not less than his compeers, by
+ some very elegant lines: those on the late Right Hon. C. J. Fox we are
+ induced to extract as a strong proof of the noble earl's early penetration
+ and foresight.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "How will my Fox, alone, by strength of parts.
+ Shake the loud senate, animate the hearts
+ Of fearful statesmen? while around you stand
+ Both Peers and Commons listening your command.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[77]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ While <i>Tully's</i> sense its weight to you affords,
+ His nervous sweetness shall adorn your words.
+ What praise to Pitt,{1} to Townshend, e'er was due,
+ In future times, my Pox, shall wait on you."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ At a subsequent period, the leading characters of the school were
+ spiritedly drawn in a periodical newspaper, called the World, then edited
+ by Major Topham, and the Rev. Mr. East, who is still, I believe, living,
+ and preaches occasionally at Whitehall. From that publication, now very
+ scarce, I have selected the following as the most amusing, and relating to
+ distinguished persons.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 The great Earl of Chatham.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OLD ETONIAN.
+ </h2>
+ <p>
+ The Lords Littleton&mdash;father and son, formed two opposite characters
+ in their times. The former had a distinguished turn for pastoral poetry,
+ and wrote some things at Eton with all the enthusiasm of early years, and
+ yet with all the judgment of advanced life. The latter showed there, in
+ some traits of disposition, what was to be expected from him; but he too
+ loved the Muses, and cultivated them.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ He there too displayed the strange contraries of being an ardent admirer
+ of the virtues of classic times, while he was cheating at chuck and
+ all-fours; and though he affected every species of irreligion, was, in
+ fact, afraid of his own shadow.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The whole North Family have, in succession, adorned this school with their
+ talents&mdash;which in the different branches were various, but all of
+ mark and vivacity. To the younger part, Dampier was the tutor; who, having
+ a little disagreement with Frank North on the hundred steps coming down
+ from the terrace, at Windsor, they adjusted it, by Frank North's rolling
+ his tutor very quickly down the whole of them. The tutor has since risen
+ to some eminence in the church.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lord Cholmondeley was early in life a boy of great parts, and they have
+ continued so ever since, though not lively ones. Earl of Buckingham was a
+ plain good scholar, but <span class="pagenum">[79]</span> would have been
+ better at any other school, for he was no poet, and verse is here one of
+ the first requisites; besides, he had an impediment in his speech, which,
+ in the hurry of repeating a lesson before a number of boys, was always
+ increased. It was inculcated to him by his dame&mdash;that he must look
+ upon himself as the reverse of a woman in every thing, and not hold&mdash;that
+ whoever "<i>deliberates is lost</i>."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lord Harrington was a boy of much natural spirit. In the great rebellion,
+ under <i>Forster</i>, when all the boys threw their books into the Thames,
+ and marched to Salt Hill, he was amongst the foremost. At that place each
+ took an oath, or rather swore, he would be d&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;d if ever
+ he returned to school again.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ When, therefore, he came to London to the old Lord Harrington's, and sent
+ up his name, his father would only speak to him at the door, insisting, at
+ the same time, on his immediate return. "Sir," said the son, "consider I
+ shall be d&mdash;d if I do!" "And I" answered the father, "will be d&mdash;d
+ if you don't!"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Yes, my lord," replied the son, "but you will be d&mdash;d together I do
+ or no!"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The Storers. Anthony and Tom, for West Indians, were better scholars than
+ usually fell to the share of those <i>children of the sun</i>, who were,
+ in general, too gay to be great. The name of the elder stands to this day
+ at the head of many good exercises; from which succeeding genius has
+ stolen, and been praised for it.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Tom had an odd capability of running round a room on the edge of the
+ wainscot, a strange power of holding by the foot: an art which, in lower
+ life, might have been serviceable to him in the showing it. And Anthony,
+ likewise, amongst better and more brilliant qualifications, had the
+ reputation of being amongst the best dancers of the age. In a political
+ line, perhaps, he did not <i>dance attendance</i> to much purpose.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Harry Conway, brother to the present Marquis of <span class="pagenum">[80]</span>
+ Hertford, though younger in point of learning, was older than his brother,
+ Lord Beauchamp; but he was not so forward as to show this preeminence: a
+ somewhat of modesty, a consciousness of being younger, always kept him
+ back from displaying it. In fact, they were perfectly unlike two Irish
+ boys&mdash;the Wades, who followed them, and who, because the younger was
+ taller, used to fight about which was the eldest.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Pepys. A name well known for Barnard's commendation of it, and for his
+ exercises in the <i>Musæ Etonenses</i>. He was amongst the best poets that
+ Eton ever produced.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Kirkshaw, son to the late doctor, of Leeds, and since fellow of Trinity
+ College. When his father would have taken him away, he made a singular
+ request that he might stay a year longer, not wishing to be made a man so
+ early.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Many satiric Latin poems bear his name at Eton, and he continued that turn
+ afterwards at Cambridge. He was remarkable for a very large head; but it
+ should likewise be added, there was a good deal in it.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ On this head, his father used to hold forth in the country. He was,
+ without a figure, the head of the school, and was afterwards in the caput
+ at the university.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Wyndham, under Barnard, distinguished himself very early as a scholar, and
+ for a logical acuteness, which does not often fall to the share of a boy.
+ He was distinguished too both by land and by water; for while he was
+ amongst the most informed of his time, in school hours, in the playing
+ fields, on the water, with the celebrated boatman, my guinea piper at
+ cricket, or in rowing, he was always the foremost. He used to boast, that
+ he should in time be as good a boxer as his father was, though he used to
+ add, that never could be exactly known, as he could not decently have a <i>set-to</i>
+ with him.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[81]</span> Fawkener, the major, was captain of the
+ school; and in those days was famed for the "<i>suaviter in modo</i>," and
+ for a turn for gallantry with the Windsor milliners, which he pursued up
+ the hundred steps, and over the terrace there. As this turn frequently
+ made him overrun the hours of absence, on his return he was found out, and
+ flogged the next morning; but this abated not his zeal in the cause of
+ gallantry, as he held it to be, like <i>Ovid</i>, whom he was always
+ reading, suffering in a fair cause.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Fawkener, Everard, minor, with the same turn for pleasure as his brother,
+ but more open and ingenuous in his manner, more unreserved in his
+ behaviour, then manifested, what he has since been, the bon vivant of
+ every society, and was then as since, the admired companion in every
+ party.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Prideaux was remarkable for being the gravest boy of his time, and for
+ having the longest chin. Had he followed the ancient "<i>Sapientem pascere
+ Barbam</i>," there would in fact have been no end of it. With this turn,
+ however, his time was not quite thrown away, nor his gravity. In
+ conjunction with Dampier, Langley, and Serjeant, who were styled the
+ learned Cons, he composed a very long English poem, in the same metre as
+ the Bath Guide, and of which it was then held a favour to get a copy. He
+ had so much of advanced life about him, that the masters always looked
+ upon him as a man; and this serious manner followed him through his
+ pastimes. He was fond of billiards; but he was so long in making his
+ stroke, that no boy could bear to play with him: when the game, therefore,
+ went against him, like Fabius-<i>Cunctando restituit rem</i>; and they
+ gave it up rather than beat him.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Hulse. Amongst the best tennis-players that Eton ever sent up to Windsor,
+ where he always was. As a poet he distinguished himself greatly, by
+ winning one of the medals given by Sir John Dalrymple. His <span
+ class="pagenum">[82]</span> exercise on this occasion was the subject of
+ much praise to Doctor Forster, then master, and of much envy to his
+ contemporaries in the sixth form, who said it was given to him because he
+ was head boy.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ These were his arts; besides which he had as many tricks as any boy ever
+ had. He had nothing when præpositer, and of course ruling under boys, of
+ dignity about him, or of what might enforce his authority. When he ought
+ to have been angry, some monkey trick always came across him, and he would
+ make a serious complaint against a little boy, in a hop, step, and a jump.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Montague. Having a great predecessor before him under the appellation of "<i>Mad
+ Montague</i>" had always a consolatory comparison in this way in his
+ favor. In truth, at times he wanted it, for he was what has been termed a
+ genius: but he was likewise so in talent. He was an admirable poet, and
+ had a neatness of expression seldom discoverable at such early years. In
+ proof, may be brought a line from a Latin poem on Cricket:
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "<i>Clavigeri fallit verbera&mdash;virga cadit</i>."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ And another on scraping a man down at the <i>Robin Hood</i>:
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "<i>Radit arenosam pes inimicus humum</i>."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The scratching of the foot on the sandy floor is admirable.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ During a vacation, Lord Sandwich took him to Holland; and he sported on
+ his return a Dutch-built coat for many weeks. The boys used to call him <i>Mynheer
+ Montague</i>; but his common habit of oddity soon got the better of his
+ coat.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ He rose to be a young man of great promise, as to abilities; and died too
+ immaturely for his fame.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Tickell, the elder. <i>Manu magis quam capite</i> should have been his
+ motto. By natural instinct he loved <span class="pagenum">[83]</span>
+ fighting, and knew not what fear was. He went amongst his school-fellows
+ by the name of Hannibal, and Old Tough. A brother school-fellow of his, no
+ less a man than the Marquis of Buckingham, met, and recognised him again
+ in Ireland, and with the most marked solicitude of friendship, did every
+ thing but assist him, in obtaining a troop of dragoons, which he had much
+ at heart.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Tickell, minor, should then have had the eulogy of how much elder art thou
+ than thy years! In those early days his exercises, read publicly in
+ school, gave the anticipation of what time and advancing years have
+ brought forth. He was an admirable scholar, and a poet from nature;
+ forcible, neat, and discriminating. The fame of his grandsire, the Tickell
+ of Addison, was not hurt by the descent to him.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ His sister, who was the beauty of Windsor castle, and the admiration of
+ all, early excited a passion in a boy then at school, who afterwards
+ married her. Of this sister he was very fond; but he was not less so of
+ another female at Windsor, a regard since terminated in a better way with
+ his present wife.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ His pamphlet of <i>Anticipation</i>, it is said, placed him where he since
+ was, under the auspices of Lord North; but his abilities were of better
+ quality, and deserved a better situation for their employment.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lord Plymouth, then Lord Windsor, had to boast some distinctions, which
+ kept him aloof from the boys of his time. He was of that inordinate size
+ that, like Falstaff, four square yards on even ground were so many miles
+ to him; and the struggles which he underwent to raise himself when down
+ might have been matter of instruction to a minority member. In the
+ entrance to his Dame's gate much circumspection was necessary; for, like
+ some good men out of power, he found it difficult to get in.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ When in school, or otherwise, he was not undeserving of praise, either as
+ to temper or <span class="pagenum">[84]</span> scholarship; and whether
+ out of the excellence of his Christianity, or that of good humour, he was
+ not very adverse to good living; and he continued so ever after.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lord Leicester had the reputation of good scholarship, and not
+ undeservedly. In regard to poetry, however, he was sometimes apt to break
+ the eighth commandment, and prove lie read more the Musee Etonenses than
+ his prayer-book. Inheriting it from Lord Townshend, the father of
+ caricaturists, he there pursued, with nearly equal ability, that turn for
+ satiric drawing. The master, the tutors, slender Prior, and fat Roberts,&mdash;all
+ felt in rotation the effects of his pencil.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ There too, as well as since, he had a most venerable affection for
+ heraldry, and the same love of collecting together old titles, and
+ obsolete mottos. Once in the military, he had, it may be said, a turn for
+ arms. In a zeal of this kind he once got over the natural mildness of his
+ temper, and was heard to exclaim&mdash;"There are two griffins in my
+ family that have been missing these three centuries, and by G-, I'll have
+ iliem back again!"-This passion was afterwards improved into so perfect a
+ knowledge, that in the creation of peers he was applied to, that every due
+ ceremonial might be observed; and he never failed in his recollection on
+ these antiquated subjects.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Tom Plummer gave then a specimen of that quickness and vivacity of parts
+ for which he was afterwards famed. But not as a scholar, not as a poet,
+ was he quick alone; he was quick too in the wrong ends of things, as well
+ as the right, with a plausible account to follow it.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ In fact, he was born for the law; clear, discriminating, judicious, alive,
+ and with a noble impartiality to all sides of questions, and which none
+ could defend better. This goes, however, only to the powers of his head;
+ in those of the heart no one, and in the best <span class="pagenum">[85]</span>
+ and tenderest qualities of it, ever stood better. He was liked
+ universally, and should be so; for no man was ever more meritorious for
+ being good, as he who had all the abilities which sometimes make a man
+ otherwise.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ In the progress of life mind changes often, and body almost always. Both
+ these rules, however, he lived to contradict; for his talents and his
+ qualities retained their virtue; and when a boy he was as tall as when a
+ man, and apparently the same.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Capel Loft. In the language of Eton the word gig comprehended all that was
+ ridiculous, all that was to be laughed at, and plagued to death; and of
+ all gigs that was, or ever will be, this gentleman, while a boy, was the
+ greatest.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ He was like nothing, "in the heavens above, or the waters under the
+ earth;" and therefore he was surrounded by a mob of boys whenever he
+ appeared. These days of popularity were not pleasant. Luckily, however,
+ for himself, he found some refuge from persecution in his scholarship.
+ This scholarship was much above the rate, and out of the manner of common
+ boys.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ As a poet, he possessed fluency and facility, but not the strongest
+ imagination. As a classic, he was admirable; and his prose themes upon
+ different subjects displayed an acquaintance with the Latin idiom and
+ phraseology seldom acquired even by scholastic life, and the practice of
+ later years. Beyond this, he read much of everything that appeared, knew
+ every thing, and was acquainted with every better publication of the
+ times.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Even then he studied law, politics, divinity; and could have written well
+ upon those subjects.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ These talents have served him since more effectually than they did then;
+ more as man than boy:
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ For at school he was a kind of Gray Beard: he neither ran, played, jumped,
+ swam, or fought, as <span class="pagenum">[86]</span> other boys do. The
+ descriptions of puerile years, so beautifully given by <i>Gray</i>, in his
+ ode:
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Who, foremost, now delight to cleave,
+ With pliant arm, thy glassy wave?
+ The captive linnet which enthrall?
+ What idle progeny succeed,
+ To chase the rolling circle's speed,
+ Or urge the flying ball?"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ All these would have been, and were, as non-descriptive of him as they
+ would have been of the lord chancellor of England, with a dark brow and
+ commanding mien, determining a cause of the first interest to this
+ country. Added to this, in personal appearance he was most unfavored; and
+ exemplified the Irish definition of an open countenance&mdash;a mouth from
+ ear to ear.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lord Hinchinbroke, from the earliest period of infancy, had all the marks
+ of the Montagu family. He had a good head, and a red head, and a Roman
+ nose, and a turn to the <i>ars amatoria</i> of Ovid, and all the writers
+ who may have written on love. As it was in the beginning&mdash;may be said
+ now.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Though in point of scholarship he was not in the very first line, the
+ descendant of Lord Sandwich could not but have ability, and he had it; but
+ this was so mixed with the wanderings of the heart, the vivacity of
+ youthful imagination, and a turn to pleasure, that a steady pursuit of any
+ one object of a literary turn could not be expected.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But it was his praise that he went far in a short time; sometimes too far;
+ for Barnard had to exercise himself, and his red right arm, as the
+ vengeful poet expresses it, very frequently on the latter end of his
+ lordship's excursions.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ In one of these excursions to Windsor, he had the good or ill fortune to
+ engage in a little amorous amement with a young lady, the consequence of
+ <span class="pagenum">[87]</span> which was an application to Lucina for
+ assistance. Of this doctor Barnard was informed, and though the remedy did
+ not seem tending towards a cure, he was brought up immediately to be
+ flogged.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ He bore this better than his master, who cried out, after some few lashes&mdash;"Psha!
+ what signifies my flogging him for being like his father? What's bred in
+ the bone will never get out of the flesh."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Gibbs. Some men are overtaken by the law, and some few overtake it
+ themselves. In this small, but happy number, may be placed the name in
+ question; and a name of better promise, whether of man or boy, can
+ scarcely be found any where.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ At school he was on the foundation; and though amongst the Collegers,
+ where the views of future life, and hope of better days, arising from
+ their own industry, make learning a necessity, yet to that he added the
+ better qualities of genius and talent.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ As a classical scholar, he was admirable in both languages. As a poet, he
+ was natural, ready, and yet distinguished. Amongst the best exercises of
+ the time, his were to be reckoned, and are yet remembered with praise. For
+ the medals given by Sir John Dalrymple for the best Latin poem, he was a
+ candidate; but though his production was publicly read by doctor Forster,
+ and well spoken of, he was obliged to give way to the superiority of
+ another on that occasion.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Describing the winding of the Thames through its banks, it had this
+ beautiful line:
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "<i>Rodit arundineas facili sinuamine ripas&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;</i>"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Perfect as to the picture, and beautiful as to the flowing of the poetry.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ He had the good fortune and the good temper to be liked by every body of
+ his own age; and he was not enough found out of bounds, or trespassing
+ against "sacred order," to be disliked by those of greater age who were
+ set over him.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[88]</span> After passing through all the different
+ forms at Eton, he was removed to Cambridge; where he distinguished himself
+ not less than at school in trials for different literary honors.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ There he became assistant tutor to Sir Peter Burrell, who then listened to
+ his instructions, and has not since forgotten them.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ As a tutor, he was somewhat young; but the suavity of his manners took
+ away the comparison of equality; and his real knowledge rendered him
+ capable of instructing those who might be even older than himself.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0020" id="image-0020">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page088.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page088 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ APOLLO'S VISIT TO ETON.{1}
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ T'other night, as Apollo was quaffing a gill
+ With his pupils, the Muses, from Helicon's rill,
+ (For all circles of rank in Parnassus agree
+ In preferring cold water to coffee or tea)
+ The discourse turned as usual on critical matters,
+ And the last stirring news from the kingdom of letters.
+ But when poets, and critics, and wits, and what not,
+ From Jeffery and Byron, to Stoddart and Stott,{2}
+ Had received their due portion of consideration,
+ Cried Apollo, "Pray, ladies, how goes education?
+ For I own my poor brain's been so muddled of late,
+ In transacting the greater affairs of the state;
+ And so long every day in the courts I've been stewing,
+ I've had no time to think what the children were doing.
+ There's my favorite Byron my presence inviting,
+ And Milman, and Coleridge, and Moore, have been writing;
+ And my ears at this moment confoundedly tingle,
+ From the squabbling of Blackwood with Cleghorn and Pringle:
+ But as all their disputes seem at length at an end,
+ And the poets my levee have ceased to attend;
+ Since the weather's improving, and lengthen'd the days,
+ For a visit to Eton I'll order my chaise:
+
+ 1 This poem, the reader will perceive, is an humble
+ imitation of Leigh Hunt's "Feast of the Poets;" and the
+ lines distinguished by asterisks are borrowed or altered
+ from the original.
+
+ 2 A writer in "The Morning Post," mentioned by Lord Byron,
+ in his "English Bards and Scotch Reviewers."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[90]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ There's my sister Diana my day coach to drive,
+ And I'll send the new Canto to keep you alive.
+ So my business all settled, and absence supply'd,
+ For an earthly excursion to-morrow I'll ride."
+ Thus spoke king Apollo; the Muses assented;
+ And the god went to bed most bepraised and contented.
+ 'Twas on Saturday morning, near half past eleven,
+ When a god, like a devil,4 came driving from heaven,
+ And with postboys, and footmen, and liveries blazing,
+ Soon set half the country a gaping and gazing.
+ When the carriage drove into the Christopher yard,
+ How the waiters all bustled, and Garraway stared;
+ And the hostlers and boot-catchers wonder'd, and swore
+ "They'd ne'er seen such a start in their lifetime before!"
+ I could tell how, as soon as his chariot drew nigh,
+ Every cloud disappear'd from the face of the sky;
+ And the birds in the hedges more tunefully sung,
+ And the bells in St. George's spontaneously rung;
+ And the people, all seized with divine inspiration,
+ Couldn't talk without rhyming and versification.
+ But such matters, though vastly important, I ween,
+ Are too long for the limits of your magazine.
+
+ Now it soon got abroad that Apollo was come,
+ And intended to be, for that evening, "at home;"
+ And that cards would be issued, and tickets be given,
+ To all scholars and wits, for a dinner at seven.
+ So he'd scarcely sat clown, when a legion came pouring
+ Of would-be-thought scholars, his favor imploring.
+ First, Buller stept in, with a lengthy oration
+ About "scandalous usage," and "hard situation:"
+ And such treatment as never, since Eton was started,
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[91]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Had been shown to a genius, like him, "broken-hearted."
+ He'd " no doubt but his friends in Parnassus must know
+ How his fine declamation was laugh'd at below;
+ And how Keate, like a blockhead ungifted with brains,
+ Had neglected to grant him a prize for his pains.
+ He was sure, if such conduct continued much longer,
+ The school must grow weaker, and indolence stronger;
+ That the rights of sixth form would be laid in the dust,
+ And the school after that, he thought, tumble it must.
+ But he knew that Apollo was learned and wise,
+ And he hoped that his godship would give him a prize;
+ Or, at least, to make up for his mortification,
+ Would invite him to dinner without hesitation."
+ Now Apollo, it seems, had some little pretence
+ To a trifling proportion of wisdom and sense:
+ So without ever asking the spark to be seated,
+ He thus cut short his hopes, and his projects defeated.
+ "After all, Mr. Buller, you've deign'd to repeat,
+ I'm afraid that you'll think me as stupid as Keate:
+ But to wave all disputes on your talents and knowledge,
+ Pray what have you done as the captain of college?
+ Have you patronized learning, or sapping commended?
+ Have you e'er to your fags, or their studies, attended?
+ To the school have you given of merit a sample,
+ And directed by precept, or led by example?"
+
+</pre>
+ <hr />
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ What Apollo said more I'm forbidden to say,
+ But Buller dined not at his table that day.
+ Next, a smart little gentleman march'd with a stare up,
+ A smoothing his neckcloth, and patting his hair up;
+ And with bows and grimaces quadrillers might follow,
+ Said, " he own'd that his face was unknown to Apollo;
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[92]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ But he held in hand what must be his apology,
+ A short treatise he'd written on <i>British Geology</i>;
+ And this journal, he hoped, of his studies last week,
+ In philosophy, chemistry, logic, and Greek,
+ Might appear on perusal: but not to go far
+ In proclaiming his merits&mdash;his name was Tom Carr:
+ And for proofs of his talents, deserts, and what not,
+ He appeal'd to Miss Baillie, Lord Byron, and Scott."
+ Here his speech was cut short by a hubbub below,
+ And in walk'd Messrs. Maturin, Cookesly, and Co.,
+ And begg'd leave to present to his majesty's finger&mdash;
+ If he'd please to accept&mdash;No. 5 of the Linger.{5}
+ Mr. Maturin "hoped he the columns would view
+ With unprejudiced judgment, and give them their due,
+ Nor believe all the lies, which perhaps he had seen,
+ In that vile publication, that base magazine,{6}
+ Which had dared to impeach his most chaste lucubrations,
+ Of obscenity, nonsense, and such accusations.
+ Nay, that impudent work had asserted downright,
+ That chalk differ'd from cheese, and that black wasn't white;
+ But he hoped he might meet with his majesty's favor;"
+ And thus, hemming and hawing, he closed his palaver.
+
+ Now the god condescended to look at the papers,
+ But the first word he found in them gave him the vapours:
+ For the eyes of Apollo, ye gods! 'twas a word
+ Quite unfit to be written, and more to be heard;
+ 'Twas a word which a bargeman would tremble to utter,
+ And it put his poor majesty all in a flutter;
+ But collecting his courage, his laurels he shook,
+ And around on the company cast such a look,
+ That e'en Turin and Dumpling slank off to the door,
+ And the Lion was far too much frighten'd to roar;
+
+ 5 An Eton periodical of the time.
+
+ 6 The College Magazine.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[93]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ While poor Carr was attack'd with such qualms at the breast,
+ That he took up his journal, and fled with the rest.
+
+ When the tumult subsided, and peace 'gan to follow,
+ Goddard enter'd the room, with three cards for Apollo,
+ And some papers which, hardly five minutes before,
+ Three respectable gownsmen had left at the door.
+ With a smile of good humour the god look'd at each,
+ For he found that they came from Blunt, Chapman, and Neech.{7}
+ Blunt sent him a treatise of science profound,
+ Showing how rotten eggs were distinguish'd from sound;
+ Some "Remarks on Debates," and some long-winded stories,
+ Of society Whigs, and society Tories;
+ And six sheets and a half of a sage dissertation,
+ On the present most wicked and dull generation.
+ From Chapman came lectures on Monk, and on piety;
+ On Simeon, and learning, and plays, and sobriety;
+ With most clear illustrations, and critical notes,
+ On his own right exclusive of canvassing votes.
+ From Neech came a medley of prose and of rhyme,
+ Satires, epigrams, sonnets, and sermons sublime;
+ But he'd chosen all customs and rules to reverse,
+ For his satires were prose, and las sermons were verse.
+ Phoebus look'd at the papers, commended all three,
+ And sent word he'd be happy to see them to tea.
+
+ The affairs of the morning thus happily o'er,
+ Phoebus pull'd from his pocket twelve tickets or more,
+ Which the waiters were ordered forthwith to disperse
+ 'Mongst the most approved scribblers in prose and in verse:
+ 'Mongst the gentlemen honor'd with cards, let me see,
+ There was Howard, and Coleridge, and Wood, and Lavie,
+ The society's props; Curzon, major and minor,
+
+ 7 Principal contributors to the Etonian.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[94]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Bowen, Hennicker, Webbe, were invited to dinner:
+ The theologist Buxton, and Petit, were seen,
+ And philosopher Jenyns, and Donald Maclean;
+ Bulteel too, and Dykes; but it happen'd (oh shame!)
+ That, though many were ask'd, very few of them came.
+ As for Coleridge, he "knew not what right Phobus had,
+ d&mdash;n me, To set up for a judge in a christian academy;
+ And he'd not condescend to submit his Latinity,
+ Nor his verses, nor Greek, to a heathen divinity.
+ For his part, he should think his advice an affront,
+ Full as bad as the libels of Chapman and Blunt.
+ He'd no doubt but his dinner might be very good,
+ But he'd not go and taste it&mdash;be d&mdash;d if he would."
+
+ Dean fear'd that his pupils their minds should defile,
+ And Maclean was engaged to the duke of Argyll;
+ In a deep fit of lethargy Petit had sunk,
+ And theologist Buxton with <i>Bishop</i> was drunk;
+ Bulteel too, and Dykes, much against their own will,
+ Had been both pre-engaged to a party to mill;
+ And philosopher Jenyns was bent on his knees,
+ To electrify spiders, and galvanize fleas.
+ But the rest all accepted the god's invitation,
+ And made haste to prepare for this jollification.
+
+ Now the dinner was handsome as dinner could be,
+ But to tell every dish is too tedious for me;
+ Such a task, at the best, would be irksome and long,
+ And, besides, I must haste to the end of my song.
+ 'Tis enough to relate that, the better to dine,
+ Jove sent them some nectar, and Bacchus some wine.
+ From Minerva came olives to crown the dessert,
+ And from Helicon water was sent most alert,
+ Of which Howard, 'tis said, drank so long and so deep,
+ That he almost fell into poetical sleep.{8}
+
+ When the cloth was removed, and the bottle went round,
+
+ "Nec fonte labra prolui C'aballino,
+ Nec in bicipiti sommasse Parnasso."
+ Persius.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[95]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Wit, glee, and good humour, began to abound,
+ Though Lord Chesterfield would not have call'd them polite,
+ For they all often burst into laughter outright.
+
+</pre>
+ <hr />
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ But swift flew the moments of rapture and glee,
+ And too early, alas! they were summon'd to tea.
+ With looks most demure, each prepared with a speech,
+ At the table were seated Blunt, Chapman, and Neech.
+ Phobus stopt their orations, with dignity free,
+ And with easy politeness shook hands with all three;
+ And the party proceeded, increased to a host,
+ To discuss bread and butter, tea, coffee, and toast.
+ As their numbers grew larger, more loud grew their mirth,
+ And Apollo from heav'n drew its raptures to earth:
+ With divine inspiration he kindled each mind,
+ Till their wit, like their sugar, grew double refined;
+ And an evening, enliven'd by conviviality,
+ Proved how much they were pleased by the god's hospitality.
+
+ Thalia.{9}
+
+ 9 This poem is attributed to J. Moultrie, Esq. of Trinity
+ college, Cambridge.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0021" id="image-0021">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page095.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page095 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0022" id="image-0022">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page096.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page096 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ ETON MONTEM.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Stand by, old Cant, while I admire
+ The young and gay, with souls of fire,
+ Unloose the cheerful heart.
+ Hence with thy puritanic zeal;
+ True virtue is to grant and feel&mdash;
+ A bliss thou'lt ne'er impart.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ I love thee, Montem,&mdash;love thee, by all the brightest recollections
+ of my youth, for the inspiring pleasures which thy triennial pageant
+ revives in my heart: joined with thy merry throng, I can forget the cares
+ and disappointments of the world; and, tripping gaily with the
+ light-hearted, youthful band, cast off the gloom of envy and of worldly
+ pursuit, reassociating myself with the joyous scenes of my boyhood. Nay,
+ more, I hold thee in higher veneration than ever did antiquarian worship
+ the relics of <i>virtu</i>.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0023" id="image-0023">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page097.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page097-th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page097" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br /> <span class="pagenum">[97]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Destruction light upon the impious hand that would abridge thy ancient
+ charter;&mdash;be all thy children, father Etona, doubly-armed to defend
+ thy ancient honors;&mdash;let no modern Goth presume to violate thy sacred
+ rights; but to the end of time may future generations retain the spirit of
+ thy present race; and often as the happy period comes, new pleasures wait
+ upon the Eton Montem.{1}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 The ancient custom, celebrated at Eton every third year,
+ on Whit-Tuesday, and which bears the title of The Montem,
+ appears to have defied antiquarian research, as far as
+ relates to its original institution. It consiste of a
+ procession to a small tumulus on the southern side of the
+ Bath road, which has given the name of Salt-Hill to the
+ spot, now better known by the splendid inns that are
+ established there. The chief object of this celebration,
+ however, is to collect money for salt, according to the
+ language of the day, from all persons who assemble to see
+ the show, nor does it fail to be exacted from travellers on
+ the road, and even at the private residences within a
+ certain, but no inconsiderable, range of the spot. The
+ scholars appointed to collect the money are called <i>salt-
+ bearers</i>; they are arrayed in fancy dresses, and are
+ attended by others called scouts, of a similar, but less
+ showy appearance. Tickets are given to such persons as have
+ paid their contributions, to secure them from any further
+ demand. This ceremony is always very numerously attended by
+ Etonians, and has frequently been honored with the presence
+ of his late Majesty, and the different branches of the Royal
+ Family. The sum collected on the occasion has sometimes
+ exceeded 800L., and is given to the senior scholar, who is
+ called Captain of the School. This procession appears to be
+ coeval with the foundation; and it is the opinion of Mr.
+ Lysons, that it was a ceremonial of the Bairn, or Boy-
+ Bishop. He states, that it originally took place on the 6th
+ of December, the festival of St. Nicholas, the patron of
+ children; being the day on which it was customary at
+ Salisbury, and in other places where the ceremony was
+ observed, to elect the Boy-Bishop from among the children
+ belonging to the cathedral. This mock dignity lasted till
+ Innocents' day; and, during the intermediate time, the boy
+ performed various episcopal functions. If it happened that
+ he died before the allotted period of this extraordinary
+ mummery had expired, he was buried with all the ceremonials
+ which were used at the funerals of prelates. In the
+ voluminous collections relating to antiquities, bequeathed
+ by Mr. Cole, who was himself of Eton and King's colleges, to
+ the British Museum, is a note which
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[98]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ mentions that the ceremony of the Bairn or Boy-Bishop was to
+ be observed by charter, and that Geoffry Blythe, Bishop of
+ Lichfield, who died in 1530, bequeathed several ornaments
+ to those colleges, for the dress of the bairn-bishop. But on
+ what authority this industrious antiquary gives the
+ information, which, if correct, would put an end to all
+ doubt on the subject, does not appear. But, after all, why
+ may not this custom be supposed to have originated in a
+ procession to perform an annual mass at the altar of some
+ saint, to whom a small chapel might have been dedicated on
+ the mount called Salt-Hill; a ceremony very common in
+ Catholic countries, as such an altar is a frequent appendage
+ to their towns and populous villages? As for the selling of
+ salt, it may be considered as a natural accompaniment, when
+ its emblematical character, as to its use in the ceremonies
+ of the Roman Church, is contemplated. Till the time of
+ Doctor Barnard, the procession of the Montem was every two
+ years, and on the first or second Tuesday in February. It
+ consisted of something of a military array. The boys in the
+ remove, fourth, and inferior forms, marched in a long file
+ of two and two, with white poles in their hands, while the
+ sixth and fifth form boys walked on their flanks as
+ officers, and habited in all the variety of dress, each of
+ them having a boy of the inferior forms, smartly equipped,
+ attending on him as a footman. The second boy in the school
+ led the procession in a military dress, with a truncheon in
+ his hand, and bore for the day the title of Marshal: then
+ followed the Captain, supported by his Chaplain, the head
+ scholar of the fifth form, dressed in a suit of black, with
+ a large bushy wig, and a broad beaver decorated with a
+ twisted silk hatband and rose, the fashionable distinction
+ of the dignified clergy of that day. It was his office to
+ read certain Latin prayers on the mount at Salt-Hill The
+ third boy of the school brought up the rear as Lieutenant.
+ One of the higher classes, whose qualification was his
+ activity, was chosen Ensign, and carried the colours, which
+ were emblazoned with the college arms, and the motto, <i>Pro
+ mort el monte</i>. This flag, before the procession left the
+ college, he flourished in the school-yard with all the
+ dexterity displayed at Astley's and places of similar
+ exhibition. The same ceremony was repeated after prayers, on
+ the mount. The regiment dined in the inns at Salt-Hill, and
+ then returned to the college; and its dismission in the
+ school-yard was announced by the universal drawing of all
+ the swords. Those who bore the title of commissioned
+ officers were exclusively on the foundation, and carried
+ spontoons; the rest were considered as Serjeants and
+ corporals, and a most curious assemblage of figures they
+ exhibited. The two principal salt-bearers consisted of an
+ oppidan and a colleger: the former was generally some
+ nobleman, whose figure and personal connexions might advance
+ the interests of the collections. They were dressed like
+ running footmen, and carried, each of them, a silk bag to
+ receive the contributions, in which was a small quantity of
+ salt. During Doctor Barnard's mastership, the ceremony was
+ made triennial, the time changed from February to Whit-
+ Tuesday, and several of its absurdities retrenched. An
+ ancient and savage custom of hunting a ram by the foundation
+ scholars, on Saturday in the election week, was abolished in
+ the earlier part of the last century. The curious twisted
+ clubs with which these collegiate hunters were armed on the
+ occasion are still to be seen in antiquarian collections.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[99]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ What coronation, tournament, or courtly pageant, can outshine thy splendid
+ innocence and delightful gaiety? what regal banquet yields half the pure
+ enjoyment the sons of old Etona experience, when, after months of busy
+ preparation, the happy morn arrives ushered in with the inspiring notes of
+ "<i>Auld lang syne</i>" from the well-chosen band in the college
+ breakfast-room? Then, too, the crowds of admiring spectators, the angel
+ host of captivating beauties with their starry orbs of light, and
+ luxuriant tresses, curling in playful elegance around a face beaming with
+ divinity, or falling in admired negligence over bosoms of alabastrine
+ whiteness and unspotted purity within! Grey-bearded wisdom and the
+ peerless great, the stars of honor in the field and state, the pulpit and
+ the bar, send forth their brightest ornaments to grace Etona's holiday.
+ Oxford and Cambridge, too, lend their classic aid, and many a grateful son
+ of <i>Alma Mater</i> returns to acknowledge his obligations to his early
+ tutors and swell the number of the mirthful host. Here may be seen,
+ concentrated in the quadrangle, the costume of every nation, in all the
+ gay variety that fancy can devise: the Persian spangled robe, and the
+ embroidered Greek vest; the graceful Spanish, and the picturesque Italian,
+ the Roman toga and the tunic, and the rich old English suit. Pages in red
+ frocks, and marshals in their satin <span class="pagenum">[100]</span>
+ doublets; white wands and splendid turbans, plumes, and velvet hats, all
+ hastening with a ready zeal to obey the call of the muster-roll. The
+ captain with his retinue retires to pay his court to the provost; while,
+ in the doctor's study, may be seen, gathered around the dignitary, a few
+ of those great names who honor Eton and owe their honor to her classic
+ tutors. Twelve o'clock strikes, and the procession is now marshalled in
+ the quadrangle in sight of the privileged circle, princes, dukes, peers,
+ and doctors with their ladies. Here does the ensign first display his
+ skill in public, and the Montem banner is flourished in horizontal
+ revolutions about the head and waist with every grace of elegance and ease
+ which the result of three months' practice and no little strength can
+ accomplish.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Twelve o'clock strikes, and the procession moves forward to the playing
+ fields on its route to Salt-Hill. Now look the venerable spires and
+ antique towers of Eton like to some chieftain's baronial castle in the
+ feudal times, and the proud captain represents the hero marching forth at
+ the head of his parti-coloured vassals!
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The gallant display of rank and fashion and beauty follow in their
+ splendid equipages by slow progressive movement, like the delightful
+ lingering, inch by inch approach to St. James's palace on a full
+ court-day. The place itself is calculated to impress the mind with
+ sentiments of veneration and of heart-moving reminiscences; seated in the
+ bosom of one of the richest landscapes in the kingdom, where on the height
+ majestic Windsor lifts its royal brow; calmly magnificent, over-looking,
+ from his round tower, the surrounding country, and waving his kingly
+ banner in the air: 'tis the high court of English chivalry, the
+ birth-place, the residence, and the mausoleum of her kings, and "i' the
+ olden time," the prison of her captured monarchs. "At once, the
+ sovereign's and <span class="pagenum">[101]</span> the muses' seat," rich
+ beyond almost any other district in palaces, and fanes, and villas, in all
+ the "pomp of patriarchal forests," and gently-swelling hills, and noble
+ streams, and waving harvests; there Denham wrote, and Pope breathed the
+ soft note of pastoral inspiration; and there too the immortal bard of Avon
+ chose the scene in which to wind the snares of love around his
+ fat-encumbered knight. Who can visit the spot without thinking of Datchet
+ mead and the buck-basket of sweet Anne Page and Master Slender, and mine
+ host of the Garter, and all the rest of that merry, intriguing crew? And
+ now having reached the foot of the mount and old druidical barrow, the
+ flag is again waved amid the cheers of the surrounding thousands who line
+ its sides, and in their carriages environ its ancient base.{2} Now the
+ salt-bearers and the pages bank their collections in one common stock, and
+ the juvenile band partake of the captain's banquet, and drink success to
+ his future prospects in Botham's port. Then, too, old Herbertus Stockhore&mdash;he
+ must not be forgotten; I have already introduced him to your notice in p.
+ 59, and my friend Bob Transit has illustrated the sketch with his
+ portrait; yet here he demands notice in his official character, and
+ perhaps I cannot do better than quote the humorous account given of him by
+ the elegant pen of an old Etonian {3}
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Who is that buffoon that travesties the travesty? Who is that old cripple
+ alighted from his donkey-cart, who dispenses doggrel and grimaces in all
+ the glory of plush and printed calico?"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "That, my most noble cynic, is a prodigious personage. Shall birth-days
+ and coronations be recorded in immortal odes, and Montem not have its
+ minstrel 1 He, sir, is Herbertus Stockhore; who first called upon his muse
+ in the good old days of Paul Whitehead,&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 2 See plate of the Montem, sketched on the spot.
+
+ 3 See Knight's Quarterly Magazine, No. II.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[102]</span> run a race with Pye through all the
+ sublimities of lyres and fires,&mdash;and is now hobbling to his grave,
+ after having sung fourteen Montems, the only existing example of a
+ legitimate laureate.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "He ascended his heaven of invention, before the vulgar arts of reading
+ and writing, which are banishing all poetry from the world, could clip his
+ wings. He was an adventurous soldier in his boyhood; but, having addicted
+ himself to matrimony and the muses, settled as a bricklayer's labourer at
+ Windsor. His meditations on the house-tops soon grew into form and
+ substance; and, about the year 1780, he aspired, with all the impudence of
+ Shad well, and a little of the pride of Petrarch, to the laurel-crown of
+ Eton. From that day he has worn his honors on his 'Cibberian forehead'
+ without a rival."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "And what is his style of composition?"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Vastly naïve and original;&mdash;though the character of the age is
+ sometimes impressed upon his productions. For the first three odes, ere
+ the school of Pope was extinct, he was a compiler of regular couplets such
+ as&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Ye dames of honor and lords of high renown,
+ Who come to visit us at Eton town.'"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ During the next nine years, when the remembrance of Collins and Gray was
+ working a glorious change in the popular mind, he ascended to Pindarics,
+ and closed his lyrics with some such pious invocation as this:&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'And now we'll sing
+ God save the king,
+
+ And send him long to reign,
+ That he may come
+ To have some fun
+ At Montem once again. '
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ During the first twelve years of the present century, the influence of the
+ Lake school was visible in his <span class="pagenum">[103]</span>
+ productions. In my great work I shall give an elaborate dissertation on
+ his imitations of the high-priests of that worship; but I must now content
+ myself with a single illustration:&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'There's ensign Ronnell, tall and proud,
+ Doth stand upon the hill,
+ And waves the flag to all the crowd,
+ Who much admire his skill.
+ And here I sit upon my ass,
+ Who lops his shaggy ears;
+ Mild thing! he lets the gentry pass,
+ Nor heeds the carriages and peel's.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ He was once infected (but it was a venial sin) by the heresies of the
+ cockney school; and was betrayed, by the contagion of evil example, into
+ the following conceits:
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 'Behold admiral Keato of the terrestrial crew, Who teaches Greek, Latin,
+ and likewise Hebrew; He has taught Captain Dampier, the first in the race,
+ Swirling his hat with a feathery grace, Cookson the marshal, and
+ Willoughby, of size, Making minor serjeant-majors in looking-glass eyes.'
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But he at length returned to his own pure and original style; and, like
+ the dying swan, he sings the sweeter as he is approaching the land where
+ the voice of his minstrelsy shall no more be heard. There is a calm
+ melancholy in the close of his present ode which is very pathetic, and
+ almost Shakspearian:&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Farewell you gay and happy throng!
+ Farewell my muse! farewell my song!
+ Farewell Salt-hill! farewell brave captain.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Yet, may it be long before he goes hence and is no more seen! May he limp,
+ like his rhymes, for at least a dozen years; for National schools have
+ utterly annihilated our hopes of a successor!"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "I will not attempt to reason with you," said the inquirer, "about the
+ pleasures of Montem;&mdash;but to an <span class="pagenum">[104]</span>
+ Etonian it is enough that it brings pure and ennobling recollections&mdash;calls
+ up associations of hope and happiness&mdash;and makes even the wise feel
+ that there is something better than wisdom, and the great that there is
+ something nobler than greatness. And then the faces that come about us at
+ such a time, with their tales of old friendships or generous rivalries. I
+ have seen to-day fifty fellows of whom I remember only the nick-names;&mdash;they
+ are now degenerated into scheming M.P.'s, or clever lawyers, or portly
+ doctors; -but at Montera they leave the plodding world of reality for one
+ day, and regain the dignities of sixth-form Etonians." {4}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 4 To enumerate all the distinguished persons educated at
+ Eton would be no easy task; many of the greatest ornaments
+ of our country have laid the foundation of all their
+ literary and scientific wealth within the towers of this
+ venerable edifice. Bishops Fleetwood and Pearson, the
+ learned John Hales, Dr. Stanhope, Sir Robert Walpole, the
+ great Earl Camden, Outred the mathematician, Boyle the
+ philosopher, Waller the poet, the illustrious Earl of
+ Chatham, Lord Lyttelton, Gray the poet, and an endless list
+ of shining characters have owned Eton for their scholastic
+ nursery: not to mention the various existing literati who
+ have received their education at this celebrated college.
+ The local situation of Eton is romantic and pleasing; there
+ is a monastic gloom about the building, finely contrasting
+ with the beauty of the surrounding scenery, which
+ irresistibly enchains the eye and heart.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0024" id="image-0024">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page105.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page105 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[105]</span> <a name="link2H_4_0014"
+ id="link2H_4_0014">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ FAREWELL TO ETON.
+ </h2>
+ <p>
+ Horatio had just concluded the last sentence of the description of the
+ Eton Montem, when my aunt, who had now exceeded her usual retiring time by
+ at least half an hour, made a sudden start, upon hearing the chimes of the
+ old castle clock proclaim a notice of the midnight hour. "Heavens! boy,"
+ said Lady Mary Oldstyle, "what rakes we are! I believe we must abandon all
+ intention of inviting your friend Bernard here; for should his
+ conversation prove half as entertaining as these miscellaneous whims and
+ scraps of his early years, we should, I fear, often encroach upon the
+ midnight lamp." "You forget, aunt," replied Horatio, "that the swallow has
+ already commenced his spring habitation beneath the housings of our
+ bed-room window, that the long summer evenings will soon be here, and then
+ how delightful would be the society of an intelligent friend to accompany
+ us in our evening perambulations through the park, to chat away half an
+ hour with in the hermitage, or to hold converse on your favourite subject
+ botany, and run through all the varieties of the <i>camelia japonica</i>,
+ or the <i>magnolia fuscata</i>; then too, I will confess, my own
+ selfishness in the proposition, the pleasure of my friend's company in my
+ fishing excursions, would divest my favourite amusement of its solitary
+ character." <span class="pagenum">[106]</span> My aunt nodded assent, drew
+ the cowl of her ancient silk cloak over the back part of her head, and,
+ with a half-closed eye, muttered out, in tones of sympathy, her fullest
+ accordance in the proposed arrangement. "I have only one more trifle to
+ read," said Horatio, "before I conclude the history of our school-boy
+ days." "We had better have the bed-candles," said my aunt. "You had better
+ hear the conclusion, aunt," said Horatio, "and then we can commence the
+ English Spy with the evening of to-morrow." My aunt wanted but little
+ excitement to accede to the request, and that little was much exceeded in
+ the promise of Horatio's reading Bernard's new work on the succeeding
+ evening, when she had calculated on being left in solitary singleness by
+ her nephew's visit to the county ball. "You must know, aunt," said
+ Horatio, "that it has been a custom, from time immemorial at Eton, for
+ every scholar to write a farewell ode on his leaving, which is presented
+ to the head master, and is called a Vale; in addition, some of the most
+ distinguished characters employ first-rate artists to paint their
+ portraits, which, as a tribute of respect, they present to the principal.
+ Dr. Barnard had nearly a hundred of these grateful faces hanging in his
+ sanctum sanctorum, and the present master bids fair to rival his learned
+ and respected predecessor. <span class="pagenum">[107]</span> My friend's
+ Vale, like every other production of his pen, is marked by the
+ distinguishing characteristic eccentricity of his mind. The idea, I
+ suspect, was suggested by the Earl of Carlisle's elegant verses, to which
+ he has previously alluded; you will perceive he has again touched upon the
+ peculiarities of his associates, the <i>dramatis persono</i> of 'the
+ English Spy,' and endeavoured, in prophetic verse, to unfold the secrets
+ of futurity, as it relates to their dispositions, prospects, and pursuits
+ in life."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0025" id="image-0025">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page107.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page107 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ MY VALE.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ In infancy oft' by observance we trace
+ What life's future page may unfold;
+ Who the senate, the bar, or the pulpit may grace,
+
+ Who'll obtain wreathe of fame or of gold.
+ My Vale, should my muse prove but willing and free,
+
+ Parting sorrows to chase from my brain,
+ Shall in metre prophetic, on some two or three,
+
+ Indulge in her whimsical vein.
+ First Keate let me give to thy talents and worth,
+
+ A tribute that all will approve;
+ When Atropos shall sever thy life's thread on earth
+
+ Thou shalt fall rich in honor and love.
+ Revered as respected thy memory last,
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[108]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Long, long, as Etona is known,
+ Engraved on the hearts of thy scholars, the blast
+
+ Of detraction ne'er sully thy stone.
+ Others too I could name and as worthy of note,
+
+ But my Vale 'twould too lengthy extend:
+ Sage <i>Domine</i> all,&mdash;all deserving my vote,
+ Who the tutor combine with the friend.
+ But a truce with these ancients, the young I must seek,
+
+ The juvenile friends of my heart,
+ Of secrets hid in futurity speak,
+
+ And tell how they'll each play their part.
+ First Heartly, the warmth of thy generous heart
+
+ Shall expand with maturity's years;
+ New joys to the ag'd and the poor thou'lt impart,
+
+ And dry up pale Misery's tears.
+ Next honest Tom Echo, the giddy and gay,
+
+ In sports shall all others excel;
+ And the sound of his horn, with "Ho! boys, hark&mdash;away!"
+ Re-echo his worth through life's dell.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[109]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Horace Eglantine deep at Pierian spring
+ Inspiration poetic shall quaff,
+ In numbers majestic with Shakespeare to sing,
+
+ Or in Lyrics with Pindar to laugh.
+ Little Gradus, sage Dick, you'll a senator see,
+
+ But a lawyer in every sense,
+ Whose personal interest must paramount be,
+
+ No matter whate'er his pretence.
+ The exquisite Lilyman Lionise mark,
+
+ Of fashion the fool and the sport;
+ With the gamesters a dupe, he shall drop like a spark,
+
+ Forgot by the blaze of the court.
+ Bob Transit,&mdash;if prudent, respected and rich
+
+ By his talent shall rise into note;
+ And in Fame's honor'd temple be sure of a niche,
+
+ By each R.A.'s unanimous vote.
+ Bernard Blackmantle's fortune alone is in doubt,
+
+ For prophets ne'er tell of themselves;
+ But one thing his heart has a long time found out,
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[110]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Tis his love for Etonian elves.
+ For the college, and dames, and the dear playing fields
+
+ Where science and friendship preside,
+ For the spot which the balm of true happiness yields,
+
+ As each day by its fellow doth glide.
+ Adieu, honor'd masters! kind dames, fare thee well!
+
+ Ye light-hearted spirits adieu!
+ How feeble my Vale&mdash;my griev'd feelings to tell
+ As Etona declines from my view.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <a name="image-0026" id="image-0026"></a> <br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img alt="page109 (28K)" src="images/page109.jpg" width="100%" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <a name="image-0027" id="image-0027">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page110.jpg" alt="Page110" width="100%" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[112]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Men are my subject, and not fictions vain;
+ Oxford my chaunt, and satire is my strain."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0028" id="image-0028">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page112.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page112-th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page112" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br /> <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ FIVE CHARACTERISTIC ORDERS OF OXFORD.
+ </h2>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0029" id="image-0029">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page113.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page113 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[113]</span> <a name="link2H_4_0017"
+ id="link2H_4_0017">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE FRESHMAN.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Reflections on leaving Eton&mdash;A University Whip&mdash;Sketches on
+ the Road&mdash;The Joneses of Jesus&mdash;Picturesque Appearance of
+ Oxford from the Distance&mdash;The Arrival&mdash;Welcome of an Old
+ Etonian&mdash;Visit to Dr. Dingyman&mdash;A University Don&mdash;
+ Presentation to the Big Wig&mdash;Ceremony of Matriculation.
+
+ "Yes; if there be one sacred scene of ease,
+ Where reason yet may dawn, and virtue please;
+ Where ancient science bursts again to view
+ With mightier truths, which Athens never knew,
+ One spot to order, peace, religion dear;
+ Rise, honest pride, nor blush to claim it here."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Who shall attempt to describe the sensations of a young and ardent mind
+ just bursting from the trammels of scholastic discipline to breathe the
+ purer air of classic freedom&mdash;to leap at once from <span
+ class="pagenum">[114]</span> boyhood and subjection into maturity and
+ unrestricted liberty of conduct; or who can paint the heart's agitation,
+ the conflicting passions which prevail when the important moment arrives
+ that is to separate him from the associates of his infancy; from the
+ endearing friendships of his earliest years; from his schoolboy sports and
+ pastimes (often the most grateful recollections of a riper period); or
+ from those ancient spires and familiar scenes to which his heart is wedded
+ in its purest and earliest love.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Reader, if you have ever tasted of the delightful cup of youthful
+ friendship, and pressed with all the glow of early and sincere attachment
+ the venerable hand of a kind instructor, or met the wistful eye and hearty
+ grasp of parting schoolfellows, and ancient dames, and obliging servants,
+ you will easily discover how embarrassing a task it must be to depict in
+ words the agitating sensations which at such a moment spread their varied
+ influence over the mind. I had taken care to secure the box seat of the
+ old Oxford, that on my approach I might enjoy an uninterrupted view of the
+ classic turrets and lofty spires of sacred {Academus}. Contemplation had
+ fixed his seal upon my young lips for the first ten miles of my journey.
+ Abstracted and thoughtful, I had scarce turned my eye to admire the
+ beauties of the surrounding scenery, or lent my ear to the busy hum of my
+ fellow passengers' conversation, when a sudden action of the coach, which
+ produced a sensation of alarm, first broke the gloomy mist that had
+ encompassed me. After my fears had subsided, I inquired of the coachman
+ what was the name of the place we had arrived at, and was answered
+ Henley.-"Stony Henley, sir," said our driver: "you might have discovered
+ that by the <i>bit of a shake</i> we just now experienced. I'll bet a <i>bullfinch</i>{1}
+ that you know the place well enough, my young master, before you've been
+ two terms at Oxford."
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 A sovereign.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[115]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ This familiarity of style struck me as deserving reprehension; but I
+ reflected this classic Jehu was perhaps licensed by the light-hearted sons
+ of <i>Alma Mater</i> in these liberties of speech. Suspending therefore my
+ indignation, I proceeded,&mdash;"And why so?" said I inquisitively:&mdash;"Why
+ I know when I was an under graduate{2} of &mdash;&mdash;, where my father
+ was principal, I used to keep a good <i>prad</i> here for a bolt to the
+ village,{3} and then I had a fresh hack always on the road to help me back
+ to chapel prayers."{4} The nonchalance of the speaker, and the easy
+ indifference with which he alluded to his former situation in life, struck
+ me with astonishment, and created a curiosity to know more of his
+ adventures; he had, I found, brought himself to his present degradation by
+ a passion for gaming and driving, which had usurped every just and moral
+ feeling. His father, I have since learned, felt his conduct deeply, and
+ had been dead some time. His venerable mother having advanced him all her
+ remaining property, was now reduced to a dependence upon the benevolence
+ of a few liberal-minded Oxford friends, and this son of the once
+ celebrated head of&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;college was now so lost to
+ every sense of shame that he preferred the Oxford road to exhibit himself
+ on in his new character of a {university whip}.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 2 The circumstances here narrated are unfortunately too
+ notorious to require further explanation: the character,
+ drawn from the life, forms the vignette to this chapter.
+
+ 3 A cant phrase for a stolen run to the metropolis. No
+ unusual circumstance with a gay Oxonian, some of whom have
+ been known to ride the same horse the whole distance and
+ back again after prayers, and before daylight the next
+ morning.
+
+ 4 When (to use the Oxford phrase) a man is confined to
+ chapel, or compelled to attend chapel prayers, it is a
+ dangerous risk to be missing,&mdash;a severe imposition and
+ sometimes rustication is sure to be the penalty.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[116]</span> Immediately behind me on the roof of
+ the vehicle sat a rosy-looking little gentleman, the rotundity of whose
+ figure proclaimed him a man of some substance; he was habited in a suit of
+ clerical mixture, with the true orthodox hat and rosette in front, the
+ broadness of its brim serving to throw a fine mellow shadow over the upper
+ part of a countenance, which would have formed a choice study for the
+ luxuriant pencil of some modern Rubens; the eyes were partially obscured
+ in the deep recesses of an overhanging brow, and a high fat cheek, and the
+ whole figure brought to my recollection a representation I had somewhere
+ seen of Silenus reproving his Bacchanals: the picture was the more
+ striking by the contrasted subjects it was opposed to: on one side was a
+ spare-looking stripling, of about the age of eighteen, with lank hair
+ brushed smoothly over his forehead, and a demure, half-idiot-looking
+ countenance, that seemed to catch what little expression it had from the
+ reflection of its sire, for such I discovered was the ancient's affinity
+ to this cadaverous importation from North Wales. The father, a Welsh
+ rector of at least one hundred and fifty pounds per annum, was conveying
+ his eldest born to the care of the principal of Jesus, of which college
+ the family of the Joneses{5} had been a leading name since the time of
+ their great ancestor Hugh ap Price, son of Rees ap Rees, a wealthy burgess
+ of Brecknock, who founded this college for the sole use of the sons of
+ Cambria, in 1571.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 5 DAVID JONES OR, WINE AND WORSTED.
+
+ Hugh Morgan, cousin of that Hugh
+ Whose cousin was, the Lord knows who,
+ Was likewise, as the story runs,
+ Tenth cousin of one David Jones.
+ David, well stored with classic knowledge,
+ Was sent betimes to Jesus College;
+ Paternal bounty left him clear
+ For life one hundred pounds a year;
+ And Jones was deem'd another Croesus
+ Among the Commoners of Jesus.
+ It boots not here to quote tradition,
+ In proof of David's erudition;&mdash;
+ He could unfold the mystery high,
+ Of Paulo-posts, and verbs in u;
+ Scan Virgil, and, in mathematics,
+ Prove that straight lines were not quadratics.
+ All Oxford hail'd the youth's <i>ingressus</i>,
+ And wond'ring Welshmen cried "Cot pless us!"
+ It happen'd that his cousin Hugh
+ Through Oxford pass'd, to Cambria due,
+ And from his erudite relation
+ Receiv'd a written invitation.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[117]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Hugh to the college gate repair'd,
+ And ask'd for Jones;&mdash;the porter stared!
+ "Jones! Sir," quoth he, "discriminate:
+ Of Mr. Joneses there be eight."
+ "Ay, but 'tis David Jones," quoth Hugh;
+ Quoth porter, "We've six Davids too."
+ "Cot's flesh!" cries Morgan, "cease your mockings,
+ My David Jones wears worsted stockings!"
+ Quoth porter, "Which it is, Heaven knows,
+ For all the eight wear worsted hose."
+ "My Cot!" says Hugh, "I'm ask'd to dine
+ With cousin Jones, and quaff his wine."
+ "That one word 'wine' is worth a dozen,"
+ Quoth porter, "now I know your cousin;
+ The wine has stood you, sir, in more stead
+ Than David, or the hose of worsted;
+ You'll find your friend at number nine&mdash;
+ We've but one Jones that quaffs his wine."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ All these particulars I gleaned from the rapid delivery of the Welsh
+ rector, who betrayed no little anxiety to discover if I was of the
+ university; how long I had been matriculated; what was my opinion of the
+ schools, and above all, if the same system of extravagance was pursued by
+ the students, and under-graduates. Too cautious to confess myself a
+ freshman, I was therefore compelled to close the inquiry with a simple
+ negative to his early questions, and an avowal of my ignorance in the last
+ particular. The deficiency was, however, readily supplied by an old
+ gentleman, who sat on the other side of the reverend Mr. Jones. I had
+ taken <span class="pagenum">[118]</span> him, in the first instance, for a
+ doctor of laws, physic, or divinity, by the studied neatness of his dress,
+ the powdered head, and ancient appendage of a <i>queue</i>; with a
+ measured manner of delivery, joined to an affected solemnity of carriage,
+ and authoritative style. He knew every body, from the Vice-Chancellor to
+ the scout; ran through a long tirade against driving and drinking, which
+ he described as the capital sins of the sons of <i>Alma Mater</i>,
+ complimented the old rector on his choice of a college for his son, and
+ concluded with lamenting the great extravagance of the young men of the
+ present day, whose affection for long credit compelled honest tradesmen to
+ make out long bills to meet the loss of interest they sustain by dunning
+ and delay. "Observe, sir," said he,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "The youth of England in our happy age!
+ See, to their view what varied pleasure springs,
+ Cards, tennis, hilliards, and ten thousand things;
+ 'Tis theirs the coat with neater grace to wear,
+ Or tie the neckcloth with a royal air:
+ The rapid race of wild expense to run;
+ To drive the tandem or the chaise and one;
+ To float along the Isis, or to fly
+ In haste to Abingdon,&mdash;who knows not why?
+ To gaze in shops, and saunter hours away
+ In raising bills, they never think to pay:
+ Then deep carouse, and raise their glee the more,
+ While angry duns assault th' unheeding door,
+ And feed the best old man that ever trod,
+ The merry poacher who defies his God."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "You forget the long purses, Sir E&mdash;," said our classical Jehu,
+ "which some of the Oxford tradesmen have acquired by these long practices
+ of the university, Sir E&mdash;." The little Welsh rector bowed with
+ astonishment, while his rustic scion stared with wild alarm to find
+ himself for the first time in his life in company with a man of title. A
+ wink from coachee accompanied with an action of his <i>rein angle</i>
+ against my side, followed by a suppressed laugh, prepared me <span
+ class="pagenum">[119]</span> for some important communications relative to
+ my fellow traveller. "An old <i>snyder</i>,"{6} whispered Jehu, "who was
+ once mayor of Oxford, and they do say was knighted by mistake,&mdash;' a
+ thing of shreds and patches,'
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Who, by short skirts and little capes,
+ Items for buckram, twist, and tapes, '
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ has, in his time, fine drawn half the university; but having retired from
+ the seat of trade, now seeks the seat of the Muses, and writes fustian
+ rhymes and bell-men's odes at Christmas time: a mere clod, but a great man
+ with the corporation."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ We had now arrived on the heights within a short distance of the city of
+ Oxford, and I had the gratification for the first time to obtain a glance
+ of sacred <i>Academus</i> peeping from between the elm groves in which she
+ is embowered, to view those turrets which were to be the future scene of
+ all my hopes and fears. Never shall I forget the sensations,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "&mdash;&mdash;When first these glistening eyes survey'd
+ Majestic Oxford's hundred towers display'd;
+ And silver Isis rolling at her feet
+ Adorn the sage's and the poet's seat:
+ Saw Radcliffe's dome in classic beauty rear'd,
+ And learning's stores in Bodley's pile revered;
+ First view'd, with humble awe, the steps that stray'd
+ Slow in the gloom of academic shade,
+ Or framed in thought, with fancy's magic wand,
+ Wise Bacon's arch; thy bower, fair Rosamond."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ In the bosom of a delightful valley, surrounded by the most luxuriant
+ meadows, and environed by gently swelling hills, smiling in all the pride
+ of cultivated beauty, on every side diversified by hanging wood, stands
+ the fair city of learning and the arts. The two great roads from the
+ capital converge upon the small church of St. Clement, in the eastern
+ suburb, from whence, advancing in a westerly direction, you <span
+ class="pagenum">[120]</span> arrive at Magdalen bridge, so named from the
+ college adjoining, whose lofty graceful tower is considered a fine
+ specimen of architecture. The prospect of the city from this point is
+ singularly grand and captivating; on the left, the botanical garden, with
+ its handsome portal; beyond, steeples and towers of every varied form
+ shooting up in different degrees of elevation. The view of the High-street
+ is magnificent, and must impress the youthful mind with sentiments of awe
+ and veneration. Its picturesque curve and expansive width, the noble
+ assemblage of public and private edifices in all the pride of varied art,
+ not rising in splendid uniformity, but producing an enchantingly varied
+ whole, the entire perspective of which admits of no European rival&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "The awful tow'rs which seem for science made;
+ The solemn chapels, which to prayer invite,
+ Whose storied windows shed a holy light&mdash;"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ the colleges of Queen's and All Souls', with the churches of St. Mary and
+ All Saints' on the northern side of the street, and the venerable front of
+ University College on the south, present at every step objects for
+ contemplation and delight. Whirling up this graceful curvature, we
+ alighted at the Mitre, an inn in the front of the High-street, inclining
+ towards Carfax. A number of under graduates in their academicals were
+ posted round the door, or lounging on the opposite side, to watch the
+ arrival of the coach, and amuse themselves with quizzing the passengers.
+ Among the foremost of the group, and not the least active, was my old
+ schoolfellow and con, Tom Echo, now of Christ Church. The recognition was
+ instantaneous; the welcome a hearty one, in the true Etonian style; and
+ the first connected sentence an invitation to dinner. "I shall make a
+ party on purpose to introduce you, old chap," said Tom, "that is, <span
+ class="pagenum">[121]</span> as soon as you have made your bow to the <i>big
+ wig</i>:{7} but I say, old fellow, where are you entered 1 we are most of
+ us overflowingly full here." I quickly satisfied his curiosity upon that
+ point, by informing him I had been for some time enrolled upon the list of
+ the foundation of Brazennose, and had received orders to come up and enter
+ myself. Our conversation now turned upon the necessary ceremonies of
+ matriculation.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Tom's face was enlivened to a degree when I showed him my letter of
+ introduction to Dr. Dingyman, of L-n college. "What, the opposition
+ member, the Oxford Palladio? Why, you might just as well expect to move
+ the Temple of the Winds from Athens to Oxford, without displacing a
+ fragment, as to hope the doctor will present you to the vice-chancellor.&mdash;It
+ won't do. We must find you some more tractable personage; some
+ good-humoured nob that stands well with the principals, tells funny
+ stories to their ladies, and drinks his three bottles like a true son of
+ orthodoxy." "For Heaven's sake! my dear fellow, if you do not wish to be
+ pointed at, booked for an eccentric, or suspected of being profound,
+ abandon all intention of being introduced through that medium. A first
+ interview with that singular man will produce an examination that would
+ far exceed the perils of the <i>great go</i>{8}-he will try your
+ proficiency by the chart and scale of truth." "Be that as it may, Tom,"
+ said I, not a little alarmed by the account I had heard of the person to
+ whom I was to owe my first introduction to alma mater, "I shall make the
+ attempt; and should I fail, I shall yet hope to avail myself of your
+ proffered kindness."
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 7 A BIG WIG. Head of a college.
+ A DON. A learned man.
+ A NOB. A fellow of a college.
+
+ 8 The principal examining school.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[122]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ After partaking of some refreshment, and adjusting my dress, we sallied
+ forth to lionise, as Tom called it, which is the Oxford term for gazing
+ about, usually applied to strangers. Proceeding a little way along the
+ high street from the Mitre, and turning up the first opening on our left
+ hand, we stood before the gateway of Lincoln college. Here Tom shook
+ hands, wished me a safe passport through what he was pleased to term the "<i>Oxonia
+ purgata</i>" and left me, after receiving my promise to join the dinner
+ party at Christ Church.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ I had never felt so awkwardly in my life before: the apprehensions I was
+ under of a severe examination; the difficulty of encountering a man whose
+ superior learning and endowments of mind had rendered him the envy of the
+ University, and above all, his reputed eccentricity of manners, created
+ fears that almost palsied my tongue when I approached the hall to announce
+ my arrival. If my ideas of the person had thus confounded me, my terrors
+ were doubly increased upon entering his chamber: shelves groaning with
+ ponderous folios and quartos of the most esteemed Latin and Greek authors,
+ fragments of Grecian and Roman architecture, were disposed around the
+ room; on the table lay a copy of Stuart's Athens, with a portfolio of
+ drawings from Palladio and Vitruvius, and Pozzo's perspective. In a moment
+ the doctor entered, and, advancing towards me, seized my hand before I
+ could scarcely articulate my respects. "I am glad to see you&mdash;be
+ seated&mdash;you are of Eton, I read, an ancient name and highly respected
+ here&mdash;what works have you been lately reading?" I immediately ran
+ through the list of our best school classics, at which I perceived the
+ doctor smiled. "You have been treated, I perceive, like all who have
+ preceded you: the bigotry of scholastic prejudices is intolerable. I have
+ been for fifty years labouring to remove the veil, and have yet contrived
+ <span class="pagenum">[123]</span> to raise only one corner of it.
+ Nothing," continued the doctor, "has stinted the growth and hindered the
+ improvement of sound learning more than a superstitious reverence for the
+ ancients; by which it is presumed that their works form the summit of all
+ learning, and that nothing can be added to their discoveries. Under this
+ absurd and ridiculous prejudice, all the universities of Europe have
+ laboured for many years, and are only just beginning to see their error,
+ by the encouragement of natural philosophy. Experimental learning is the
+ only mode by which the juvenile mind should be trained and exercised, in
+ order to bring all its faculties to their proper action: instead of being
+ involved in the mists of antiquity." Can it be possible, thought I, this
+ is the person of whom my friend Tom gave such a curious account? Can this
+ be the man who is described as a being always buried in abstracted
+ thoughtfulness on the architer cural remains of antiquity, whose opinions
+ are said never to harmonize with those of other heads of colleges; who is
+ described as eccentric, because he has a singular veneration for truth,
+ and an utter abhorrence of the dogmas of scholastic prejudice 1 There are
+ some few characters in the most elevated situations of life, who possess
+ the amiable secret of attaching every one to them who have the honour of
+ being admitted into their presence, without losing one particle of
+ dignity, by their courteous manner. This agreeable qualification the
+ doctor appeared to possess in an eminent degree. I had not been five
+ minutes in his company before I felt as perfectly unembarrassed as if I
+ had known him intimately for twelve months. It could not be the result of
+ confidence on my part, for no poor fellow ever felt more abashed upon a
+ first entrance; and must therefore only be attributable to that
+ indescribable condescension of easy intercourse which is the sure
+ characteristic of a superior mind.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[124]</span> After inquiring who was to be my tutor,
+ and finding I was not yet fixed in that particular, I was requested to
+ construe one of the easiest passages in the Æneid; my next task was to
+ read a few paragraphs of monkish Latin from a little white book, which I
+ found contained the university statutes: having acquitted myself in this
+ to the apparent satisfaction of the doctor, he next proceeded to give me
+ his advice upon my future conduct and pursuits in the university; remarked
+ that his old friend, my father, could not have selected a more unfortunate
+ person to usher me into notice: that his habits were those of a recluse,
+ and his associations confined almost within the walls of his own college;
+ but that his good wishes for the son of an old friend and schoolfellow
+ would, on this occasion, induce him to present me, in person, to the
+ principal of Brazennose, of whom he took occasion to speak in the highest
+ possible terms. Having ordered me a sandwich and a glass of wine for my
+ refreshment, he left me to adjust his dress, preparatory to our visit to
+ the dignitary. During his absence I employed the interval in amusing
+ myself with a small octavo volume, entitled the "Oxford Spy:" the singular
+ coincidence of the following extract according so completely with the
+ previous remarks of the doctor, induced me to believe it was his
+ production; but in this suspicion, I have since been informed, I was in
+ error, the work being written by Shergold Boone, Esq. a young member of
+ the university.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Thus I remember, ere these scenes I saw,
+ But hope had drawn them, such as hope will draw,
+ A shrewd old man, on Isis' margin bred,
+ Smiled at my warmth, and shook his wig, and said:
+ 'Youth will be sanguine, but before you go,
+ Learn these plain rules, and treasure, when you know.
+ Wisdom is innate in the gown and band;
+ Their wearers are the wisest of the land.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[125]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Science, except in Oxford, is a dream;
+ In all things heads of houses are supreme {9}
+ Proctors are perfect whosoe'er they be;
+ Logic is reason in epitome:
+ Examiners, like kings, can do no wrong;
+ All modern learning is not worth a song:
+ Passive obedience is the rule of right;
+ To argue or oppose is treason quite:{10}
+ Mere common sense would make the system fall:
+ Things are worth nothing; words are all in all."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ On his return, the ancient glanced at the work I had been reading, and
+ observing the passage I have just quoted, continued his remarks upon the
+ discipline of the schools.&mdash;"In the new formed system of which we
+ boast," said the master, "the philosophy which has enlightened the world
+ is omitted or passed over in a superficial way, and the student is
+ exercised in narrow and contracted rounds of education, in which his whole
+ labour is consumed, and his whole time employed, with little improvement
+ or useful knowledge. He has neither time nor inclination to attend the
+ public lectures in the several departments of philosophy; nor is he
+ qualified for that attendance. All that he does, or is required to do, is
+ to prepare himself to pass through these contracted rounds; to write a
+ theme, or point an epigram; but when he enters upon life, action, or
+ profession, both the little go, and the great go, he will find to be a by
+ go; for he will find that he has gone by the best part of useful and
+ substantial learning;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 9 Know all men by these presents, that children in the uni-
+ versities eat pap and go in leading strings till they are
+ fourscore. &mdash;Terro Filius.
+
+ 10 In a work quaintly entitled "Phantasm of an University,"
+ there occurs this sweeping paragraph, written in the true
+ spirit of radical reform: "Great advantages might be
+ obtained by gradually transforming Christ Church into a
+ college of civil polity and languages; Magdalen, Queen's,
+ University, into colleges of moral philosophy; New and
+ Trinity into colleges of fine arts; and the five halls into
+ colleges of agriculture and manufactures."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[126]</span> or that it has gone by him: to recover
+ which he must repair from this famous seat of learning to the institutions
+ of the metropolis, or in the provincial towns. I have just given you these
+ hints, that you may escape the errors of our system, and be enabled to
+ avoid the pomp of learning which is without the power, and acquire the
+ power of knowledge without the pomp." Here ended the lecture, and my
+ venerable conductor and myself made the best of our way to pay our
+ respects to the principal of my future residence.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Arrived here&mdash;the principal, a man of great dignity, received us with
+ all due form, and appeared exceedingly pleased with the visit of my
+ conductor; my introduction was much improved by a letter from the head
+ master of Eton, who, I have no doubt, said more in my favour than I
+ deserved. The appointment of a tutor was the next step, and for this
+ purpose I was introduced to Mr. Jay, a smart-looking little man, very
+ polite and very portly, with whom I retired to display my proficiency in
+ classical knowledge, by a repetition of nearly the same passages in Homer
+ and Virgil I had construed previously with the learned doctor; the next
+ arrangement was the sending for a tailor, who quickly produced my
+ academical robes and cap, in the which, I must confess, I at first felt
+ rather awkward. I was now hurried to the vice-chancellor's house adjoining
+ Pembroke college, where I had the honour of a presentation to that
+ dignitary; a mild-looking man of small stature, with the most affable and
+ graceful manners, dignified, and yet free from the slightest tinge of <i>hauteur</i>.
+ His reception of my tutor was friendly and unembarrassing; his inquiries
+ relative to myself directed solely to my proficiency in the classics, of
+ which I had again to give some specimens; I was then directed to subscribe
+ my name in a large folio album, which proved to contain the thirty-nine
+ articles, not one <span class="pagenum">[127]</span> sentence of which I
+ had ever read; but it was too late for hesitation, and I remembered Tom
+ Echo had informed me I should have to attest to a great deal of nonsense,
+ which no one ever took the pains to understand. The remainder of this
+ formal initiation was soon despatched: I separately abjured the damnable
+ doctrines of the pope, swore allegiance to the king, and vowed to preserve
+ the statutes and privileges of the society I was then admitted into; paid
+ my appointed fees, made my bow to the vice-chancellor, and now concluded
+ that the ceremony of the <i>togati</i> was all over: in this, however, I
+ was mistaken; my tutor requesting some conference with me at his rooms,
+ thither we proceeded, and arranged the plan of my future studies; then
+ followed a few general hints relative to conduct, the most important of
+ which was my obeisance to the dignitaries, by capping{11} whenever I met
+ them; the importance of a strict attendance to the lectures of logic,
+ mathematics, and divinity, to the certain number of twenty in each term; a
+ regular list of the tradesmen whom I was requested to patronize; and,
+ lastly, the entry of my name upon the college books and payment of the
+ necessary <i>caution money</i>.{12} <i>Entering</i> keeps one term; but as
+ rooms were vacant, I was fortunate in obtaining an immediate appointment.
+ As the day was now far advanced, I deemed it better to return to my inn
+ and dress for the dinner party at Christ Church.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 11 Capping&mdash;by the students and under graduates is touching
+ the cap to the vice-chancollor, proctors, fellows, &amp;c. when
+ passing. At Christ Church tradesmen and servants must walk
+ bareheaded through the quadrangle when the dean, canons,
+ censors, or tutors are present. At Pembroke this order is
+ rigidly enforced, even in wet weather. At Brazennose neither
+ servants nor tradesmen connected with the college are
+ allowed to enter it otherwise. It is not long since a
+ certain bookseller was discommoned for wearing his hat in B-
+ n-e quadrangle, and literally ruined in consequence.
+
+ 12 Caution money&mdash;a sum of money deposited in the hands of
+ the treasurer or bursar by every member on his name being
+ entered upon the college books, as a security for the
+ payment of all bills and expenses contracted by him within
+ the walls of the college. This money is returned when the
+ party takes his degree or name off the books; and no man can
+ do either of these without receipts in full from the butler,
+ manciple, and cook of their respective colleges.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[128]</span> <a name="image-0030" id="image-0030">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page128.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page128 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0031" id="image-0031">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page129.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page129 " />
+ </div>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+<span class="pagenum">[129]</span> Architectural Reminiscences&mdash;Descriptive Remarks&mdash;Similitude
+ between the Characters of Cardinal Wolsey and Napoleon.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ It was past five o'clock when I arrived before the majestic towers of
+ Christ Church.&mdash;The retiring sun brightening the horizon with streaks
+ of gold at parting, shed a rich glow over the scene that could not fail to
+ rivet my attention to the spot. Not all the fatigues of the day, nor the
+ peculiarities of my new situation, had, in the least, abated my admiration
+ of architectural beauties. The noble octagonal tower in the enriched
+ Gothic style, rising like a colossal <span class="pagenum">[130]</span>
+ monument of art among the varied groups of spires, domes, and turrets,
+ which from a distance impress the traveller with favourable ideas of the
+ magnificence of Oxford, first attracted my notice, and recalled to my
+ memory two names that to me appear to be nearly associated (by comparison)
+ with each other, Wolsey and Napoleon; both gifted by nature with almost
+ all the brightest qualifications of great minds; both arriving at the
+ highest point of human grandeur from the most humble situations; equally
+ the patrons of learning, science, and the arts; and both equally
+ unfortunate, the victims of ambition: both persecuted exiles; yet, further
+ I may add, that both have left behind them a fame which brightens with
+ increasing years, and must continue to do as every passing day removes the
+ mist of prejudice from the eyes of man. Such were the thoughts that rushed
+ upon my mind as I stood gazing on the splendid fabric before me, from the
+ western side of St. Aidates, unheedful of the merry laughter-loving group
+ of students and under-graduates, who, lounging under the vaulted gateway,
+ were amusing themselves at my expense in quizzing a freshman in the act of
+ lionising. The tower contains the celebrated <i>Magnus Thomas</i>, recast
+ from the great bell of Osney abbey, by whose deep note at the hour of nine
+ in the evening the students are summoned to their respective colleges. The
+ upper part of the tower displays in the bracketed canopies and carved
+ enrichments the skilful hand of Sir Christopher Wren, whose fame was much
+ enhanced by the erection of the gorgeous turrets which project on each
+ side of the gateway.{1} Not caring to endure a closer attack of the <i>togati</i>,
+ who had now approached me, I crossed and entered the great quadrangle, or,
+ according to Oxford phraseology, <i>Tom Quad</i>. The irregular nature of
+ the buildings here by no means assimilate with the elegance of the
+ exterior entrance.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 It was here, in Lord Orford's opinion, that he "caught the
+ graces of the true Gothic taste."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0032" id="image-0032">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page131.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page131-th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page131" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[131]</span> The eastern, northern, and part of the
+ southern sides of the quadrangle are, I have been since informed,
+ inhabited by the dean and canons; the western by students. The broad
+ terrace in front of the buildings, the extent of the arena, and the
+ circular basin of water in the centre, render this an agreeable promenade.&mdash;I
+ had almost forgotten the deity of the place (I hope not symbolical), a
+ leaden Mercury{2}; the gift of Dr. John Radcliffe, which rises from the
+ centre of the basin, on the spot where once stood the sacred cross of St.
+ Frideswide, and the pulpit of the reformer, Wickliffe.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 2 Since pulled down and destroyed.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE DINNER PARTY.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Bernard Blackmantles Visit to Tom Echo&mdash;-Oxford Phraseology-
+ Smuggled Dinners&mdash;A College Party described&mdash;Topography of a
+ Man's Boom&mdash;Portrait of a Bachelor of Arts&mdash;Hints to
+ Freshmen&mdash;Customs of the University.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[132]</span> "When first the freshman, bashful,
+ blooming, young, Blessings which here attend not handmaids long, Assumes
+ that cap, which franchises the man, And feels beneath the gown dilate his
+ span; When he has stood with modest glance, shy fear, And stiff-starch'd
+ band before our prime vizier, And sworn to articles he scarcely knew, And
+ forsworn doctrines to his creed all new: Through fancy's painted glass he
+ fondly sees Monastic turrets, patriarchal trees, The cloist'ral arches'
+ awe-inspiring shade, The High-street sonnetized by Wordsworth's jade, His
+ raptured view a paradise regards, Nurseling of hope! he builds on paper
+ cards."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ On the western side of Tom Quad, up one flight of stairs, by the porter's
+ aid I discovered the battered oaken door which led to the <i>larium</i> of
+ my friend Echo: that this venerable bulwark had sustained many a brave
+ attack from besiegers was visible in the numerous bruises and imprints of
+ hammers, crowbars, and other weapons, which had covered its surface with
+ many an indented scar. The utmost caution was apparent in the wary
+ scout,{1}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 A Scout, at Christ Church, performs the same duties for
+ ten or twelve students as a butler and valet in a
+ gentleman's family. There are no women bedmakers at any
+ college except Christ Church, that duty being performed by
+ the scout.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[133]</span> who admitted me; a necessary
+ precaution, as I afterwards found, to prevent the prying eye of some
+ inquisitive domine, whose nose has a sort of instinctive attraction in the
+ discovery of smuggled dinners.{2}
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Within I found assembled half a dozen good-humoured faces, all young, and
+ all evidently partaking of the high flow of spirits and animated vivacity
+ of the generous hearted Tom Echo. A college introduction is one of little
+ ceremony, the surname alone being used,&mdash;a practice, which, to escape
+ quizzing, must also be followed on your card. "Here, old fellows," said
+ Tom, taking me by the hand, and leading me forwards to his companions,
+ "allow me to introduce an ex{3}-college man,&mdash;Blackmantle of
+ Brazennose, a freshman{4} and an Etonian: so, lay to him, boys; he's just
+ broke loose from the Land of Sheepishness,{5} passed Pupils Straits{6} and
+ the Isle of Matriculation{7} to follow Dads Will,{8} in the Port of
+ Stuffs{9}; from which, if he can steer clear of the Fields of
+ Temptation{10}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 2 Smuggled dinners are private parties in a student's room,
+ when the dinner is brought into college from a tavern:
+ various are the ingenious stratagems of the togati to elude
+ the vigilance of the authorities: trunks, packing-boxes,
+ violoncello-cases, and hampers are not unfrequently directed
+ as if from a waggon or coach-office, and brought into
+ college on the shoulders of some porter. Tin cans of soup
+ are drawn up by means of a string from the back windows in
+ the adjoining street. It is not long since Mr. C- of Christ
+ Church was expelled for having a dinner smuggled into
+ college precisely in the manner adopted by Tom Echo.
+
+ 3 A University man who is visiting in a college of which he
+ is
+
+ not a member.
+
+ 4 The usual phrase for initiating a freshman on his first
+ appearance in a party or frisk.
+
+ 5 Land of Sheepishness&mdash;School-boy's bondage.
+
+ 6 Pupil's Straits&mdash;Interval between restraint and liberty.
+
+ 7 Isle of Matriculation&mdash;First entrance into the University.
+
+ 8 Dad's Will&mdash;Parental authority.
+
+ 9 Port for Stay's&mdash;Assumption of commoner's gown.
+
+ 10 Fields of Temptation&mdash;The attractions held out to him.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[134]</span> he hopes to make the <i>Land of Promise</i>,{11}
+ anchor his bark in the <i>Isthmus of Grace</i>,{12} and lay up snugly for
+ life on the <i>Land of Incumbents</i>."{13} "For heaven's sake, Tom," said
+ I," speak in some intelligible language; it's hardly fair to fire off your
+ battery of Oxonian wit upon a poor freshman at first sight." At this
+ moment a rap at the <i>oak</i> announced an addition to our party, and in
+ bounded that light-hearted child of whim, Horace Eglantine:&mdash;"What,
+ Blackmantle here? Why then, Tom, we can form as complete a trio as ever
+ got <i>bosky</i>{14} with <i>bishop</i>{15} in <i>the province of Bacchus</i>,{16}!
+ Why, what a plague, my old fellow, has given you that rueful-looking
+ countenance? I am sure you was not plucked upon <i>Maro Common</i> or <i>Homer
+ Downs</i>{17} in passing examination with the big wig this morning; or has
+ Tom been frisking{18} you already with some of his jokes about the <i>straits
+ of independency</i>{19}; the <i>waste of ready</i>{20}; the dynasty of
+ Venus,{21} or the quicksands of rustication{22}.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 11 Land of Promise&mdash;The fair expectations of a steady novice
+ in Oxford.
+
+ 12 Isthmus of Grace&mdash;Obtainment of the grace of one's
+ college.
+
+ 13 Land of Incumbents&mdash;Good livings.
+
+ 14 Bosky is the term used in Oxford to express the style of
+ being "half seas over."
+
+ 15 Bishop&mdash;A good orthodox mead composed of port wine and
+ roasted oranges or lemons.
+
+ 16 Province of Bacchus&mdash;Inebriety.
+
+ 17 Maro Common and Homer Downs allude to the Æneid of
+ Virgil and the Iliad of Homer&mdash;two books chiefly studied for
+ the little-go or responsions.
+
+ 18 Frisking&mdash;Hoaxing.
+
+ 19 Straits of Independency&mdash;Frontiers of extravagance.
+
+ 20 Waste of Ready, including in it Hoyle's Dominions&mdash;
+ Course of gambling, including Loo tables.
+
+ 21 Dynasty of Venus&mdash;Indiscriminate love and misguided
+ affections.
+
+ 22 Quicksands of Rustication&mdash;On which our hero may at any
+ time run foul when inclined to visit a new county.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[135]</span> Cheer up, old fellow! you are not half
+ way through the ceremony of initiation yet. We must brighten up that
+ solemn phiz of yours, and give you a lesson or two on college principles?
+ If I had been thrown upon some newly-discovered country, among a race of
+ wild Indians, I could not have been more perplexed and confounded than I
+ now felt in endeavouring to rally, and appear to comprehend this peculiar
+ phraseology.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A conversation now ensuing between a gentleman commoner, whom the party
+ designated Pontius Pilate{23} and Tom Echo, relative to the comparative
+ merits of their hunters, afforded me an opportunity of surveying the <i>larium</i>
+ of my friend; the entrance to which was through a short passage, that
+ served the varied purposes of an ante-room or vestibule, and a scout's
+ pantry and boot-closet. On the right was the sleeping-room, and at the
+ foot of a neat French bed I could perceive the wine bin, surrounded by a
+ regiment of <i>dead men</i>{24} who had, no doubt, departed this life like
+ heroes in some battle of Bacchanalian sculls. The principal chamber, the
+ very <i>penetrale</i> of the Muses, was about six yards square, and low,
+ with a rich carved oaken wainscoting, reaching to the ceiling; the
+ monastic gloom being materially increased by two narrow loopholes,
+ intended for windows, but scarcely yielding sufficient light to enable the
+ student to read his <i>Scapula or Lexicon</i>{25} with the advantage of a
+ meridian sun: the fire-place was immensely wide, emblematical, no doubt,
+ of the capacious stomachs of the good fathers and fellows, the ancient
+ inhabitants of this <i>sanctum</i>; but the most singularly-striking
+ characteristic was the modern decorations, introduced by the present
+ occupant.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 23 A quaint cognomen applied to him from the rapidity with
+ which he boasted of repeating the Nicene Creed,&mdash;i.e.
+ offering a bet that no would give any man as far as "Pontius
+ Pilate," and beat him before he got to the "resurrection of
+ the dead."
+
+ 24 Dead Men&mdash;Empty bottles.
+
+ 25 Scapula, Hederic, and Lexicon, the principal
+ Dictionaries in use for studying Greek.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[136]</span> Over the fire-place hung a caricature
+ portrait of a well-known Bachelor of Arts, drinking at the <i>Pierian
+ spring, versus</i> gulping down the contents of a Pembroke <i>overman</i>,{26}
+ sketched by the facetious pencil of the humorist, Rowlandson.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0033" id="image-0033">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page136.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page136 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ ECCÈ SIGNUM.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ I could not help laughing to observe on the one side of this jolly
+ personage a portrait of the little female Giovanni Vestris, under which
+ some wag had inscribed, "<i>A Mistress of Hearts</i>," and on the other a
+ full-length of Jackson the pugilist, with this motto&mdash;"A striking
+ likeness of a fancy lecturer."
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 26 An Herman&mdash;At Pembroke, a large silver tankard, holding
+ two quarts and half a pint, so called from the donor, Mr.
+ George Overman. The late John Hudson, the college tonsor
+ and <i>common room man</i>,{*} was famous for having several
+ times, for trifling wagers, drank a full overman of strong
+ beer off at a draught. A Tun, another vessel in use at
+ Pembroke, is a half pint silver cup. A Whistler, a silver
+ pint tankard also in use there, was the gift of Mr. Anthony
+ Whistler, a cotemporary with Shenstone.
+
+ * Common room man, a servant who is entirely employed in
+ attending upon the members of the common room.
+
+ Junior common room, a room in every college, except Christ
+ Church, set apart for the junior members to drink wine in
+ and read the newspapers.
+
+ N.B. There is but one common room at Christ Church; none but
+ masters of arts and noblemen can be members of it,&mdash;the
+ latter but seldom attend. The last who attended was the late
+ Duke of Dorset. All common rooms are regularly furnished
+ with newspapers and magazines.
+
+ <i>Curator of the common rooms</i>.-A senior master of arts, who
+ buys the wine and inspects the accounts.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[137]</span> In the centre of the opposite side hung
+ the portrait of an old <i>scout</i>, formerly of Brazennose, whose head
+ now forms the admission ticket to the college club. Right and left were
+ disposed the plaster busts of Aristotle and Cicero; the former noseless,
+ and the latter with his eyes painted black, and a huge pair of mustachios
+ annexed. A few volumes of the Latin and Greek classics were thrown into a
+ heap in one corner of the room, while numerous modern sporting
+ publications usurped their places on the book shelves, richly gilt and
+ bound in calf, but not lettered. The hunting cap, whip, and red coat were
+ hung up like a trophy between two foxes' tails, which served the purpose
+ of bell pulls. At this moment, my topographical observations were
+ disturbed by the arrival of the scout with candles, and two
+ strange-looking fellows in smock frocks, bringing in, as I supposed, a
+ piano forte, but which, upon being placed on the table, proved to be a
+ mere case: the top being taken off, the sides and ends let down in
+ opposite directions, and the cloth pulled out straight, displayed an
+ elegant dinner, smoking hot, and arranged in as much form as if the
+ college butler had superintended the feast. "Come, old fellow," said Tom,
+ "turn to&mdash;no ceremony. I hope, Jem," addressing his scout, "you took
+ care that no <span class="pagenum">[138]</span> college telegraph{27} was
+ at work while you were smuggling the dinner in." "I made certain sure of
+ that, sir," said Jem; "for I placed Captain Cook{28} sentinel at one
+ corner of the quadrangle, and old Brady at the other, with directions to
+ whistle, as a signal, if they saw any of the <i>dons</i> upon the look
+ out."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Finding we were not likely to be interrupted by the <i>domine</i>, Tom
+ took the chair. The fellows in the smock frocks threw off their disguises,
+ and proved to be two genteelly dressed waiters from one of the inns.
+ "Close the oak, Jem," said Horace Eglantine, "and take care no one knocks
+ in{29} before we have knocked down the contents of your master's musical
+ melange." "<i>Punning</i> as usual, Eglantine," said the Honourable Mr.
+ Sparkle, a gentleman commoner. "Yes; and <i>pun</i>-ishing too, old
+ fellow!" said Horace. "Where's the <i>cold tankard</i>,{30} Echo?
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 27 A college telegraph&mdash;A servant of a college, who carries
+ an account of every trifling offence committed, either by
+ gentlemen or servants, to the college officers.
+
+ 28 Well-known characters in Christ Church.
+
+ 29 Knocking in&mdash;Going into college after half-past ten at
+ night. The names of the gentlemen who knock in are entered
+ by the porter in a book kept for that purpose, and the next
+ morning it is carried to the dean and censors, who generally
+ call upon the parties so offending to account for being out
+ of college at so late an hour. A frequent recurrence of this
+ practice will sometimes draw from the dean a very severe
+ reprimand.
+
+ Knocking in money&mdash;Fines levied for knocking into college at
+ improper hours: the first fine is fixed at half-past ten,
+ and increased every half hour afterwards. These fines are
+ entered on the batter book, and charged among the battels
+ and decrements,* a portion of which is paid to the porter
+ quarterly, for being knocked up.
+
+ 30 Cold tankard&mdash;A summer beverage, used at dinner, made of
+ brandy, cider, or perry, lemons cut in slices, cold water,
+ sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and the herbs balm and burridge.
+ Sometimes sherry or port wine is substituted for cider. The
+ tankard is put into a pitcher, which is iced in a tub,
+ procured from the confectioners.
+
+ * Decrements.&mdash;The use of knives, folks, spoons, and other
+ necessaries, with the firing, &amp;c. for the hall and chapel.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[139]</span> We must give our old <i>con</i>,
+ Blackmantle, a warm reception." "Sure, that's a Paddyism"{31} said a young
+ Irish student. "Nothing of the sort," replied Horace: "are we not all here
+ the sons of Isis (Ices)? and tell me where will you find a group of warmer
+ hearted souls?" "Bravo! bravo!" shouted the party. "That fellow Eglantine
+ will create another <i>Pun</i>-ic war," said Sparkle. "I move that we have
+ him crossed in the buttery{32} for making us laugh during dinner, to the
+ great injury of our digestive organs, and the danger of suffocation."
+ "What! deprive an Englishman of his right to battel{33}" said Echo: "No; I
+ would sooner inflict the orthodox fine of a double bumper of <i>bishop</i>."
+ "Bravo!" said Horace: "then I plead guilty, and swallow the imposition."
+ "I'll thank you for a cut out of the back of that <i>lion</i>,"{34}
+ tittered a man opposite. With all the natural timidity of the hare whom he
+ thus particularised, I was proceeding to help him, when Echo inquired if
+ he should send me the breast of a swiss {35} and the facetious Eglantine,
+ to increase my confusion, requested to be allowed to cut me a slice off
+ the wing of a wool bird.{36}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 31 A Paddyism is called in this university a "Thorpism" from
+ Mr. Thorp, formerly a hosier of some note in the city. He
+ was famous for making blunders and coining new words, was
+ very fond of making long speeches, and when upon <i>the toe</i>,
+ never failed to convulse his hearers with laughter.
+
+ 32 Crossed in the buttery&mdash;not allowed to battel, a
+ punishment for missing lecture. By being frequently crossed,
+ a man will lose his term.
+
+ 33 Battels&mdash;Bread, butter, cheese, salt, eggs, &amp;c.
+
+ 34 A lion&mdash;a hare.
+
+ 35 Siciss&mdash;a pheasant.
+
+ 36 Wing of a wool bird&mdash;Shoulder of lamb.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[140]</span> To have remonstrated against this
+ species of persecution would, I knew, only increase my difficulties;
+ summoning, therefore, all the gaiety I was master of to my aid, I appeared
+ to participate in the joke, like many a modern <i>roué</i>, laughing in
+ unison without comprehending the essence of the whim, merely because it
+ was the fashion. What a helpless race, old father Etona, are thine
+ (thought I), when first they assume the Oxford man; spite of thy fostering
+ care and classic skill, thy offspring are here little better than
+ cawkers{37} or wild Indians. "Is there no glossary of university wit,"
+ said I, "to be purchased here, by which the fresh may be instructed in the
+ art of conversation; no <i>Lexicon Balatronicum</i> of college eloquence,
+ by which the ignorant may be enlightened?" "Plenty, old fellow," said
+ Echo: "old Grose is exploded; but, never fear, I will introduce you to the
+ <i>Dictionnaire Universel</i>,{38} which may always be consulted, at our
+ <i>old grandmammas</i>' in St. Clement's, or Eglantine can introduce you
+ at Vincent's,{39} where better known as the poor curate of H&mdash;&mdash;,
+ crossed the channel.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 37 Cawker&mdash;an Eton phrase for a stranger or novice.
+
+ 38 Dictionnaire Universel&mdash;a standing toast in the common
+ room at&mdash;&mdash;-College.
+
+ The origin of the toast is as follows: When Buonaparte was
+ at Elba, Dr. E-, one of the wealthy senior Fellows of &mdash;&mdash;
+ College.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Soon after his arrival at Paris, as he was walking through the streets of
+ that city, he was accosted by an elegantly dressed Cyprian, to whom he
+ made a profound bow, and told her (in English), that he was not
+ sufficiently acquainted with the French language to comprehend what she
+ had said to him, expressing his regret that he had not his French and
+ English dictionary with him. Scarcely had he pronounced the word
+ dictionary, when the lady, by a most astonishing display, which in England
+ would have disgraced the lowest of the frail sisterhood, exclaimed,
+ "Behold the Dictionnaire Universel, which has been opened by the learned
+ of all nations."{39} Dr. E&mdash;, on his return from France, related this
+ anecdote in the common room at &mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-, and the
+ Dictionnaire universel has ever since been a standing toast there.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 39 A well known respectable bookseller near Brazennose, who
+ has published a whimsical trifle under the title of "Oxford
+ in Epitome" very serviceable to freshmen. You may purchase
+ "Oxford in Epitome," with a Key accompaniment explaining the
+ whole art and mystery of the <i>finished style</i>.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[141]</span> After a dissertation upon <i>new
+ college puddings</i>,{40} rather a choice dish, an elegant dessert and
+ ices was introduced from Jubbers.{41} The glass now circulated freely, and
+ the open-hearted mirth of my companions gave me a tolerable idea of many
+ of the leading eccentricities of a collegian's life. The Oxford toast, the
+ college divinity, was, I found, a Miss W-, whose father is a wealthy
+ horse-dealer, and whom all agreed was a very amiable and beautiful girl. I
+ discovered that Sadler, Randal, and Crabbe were rum ones for prime hacks&mdash;that
+ the <i>Esculapii dii</i> of the university, the demi-gods of medicine and
+ surgery, were Messrs. Wall and Tuckwell&mdash;that all proctors were
+ tyrants, and their men savage bull dogs&mdash;that good wine was seldom to
+ be bought in Oxford by students&mdash;and pretty girls were always to be
+ met at Bagley Wood&mdash;that rowing a fellow{42} was considered good
+ sport, and an idle master{43} a jolly dog&mdash;that all tradesmen were
+ duns, and all gownsmen suffering innocents&mdash;and lastly.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 40 New College puddings&mdash;a favourite dish with freshmen,
+ made of grated biscuit, eggs, suet, moist sugar, currants
+ and lemon-peel, rolled into balls of an oblong shape, fried
+ in boiling fat, and moistened with brandy.
+
+ 41 A celebrated Oxford pastry-cook.
+
+ 42 Rowing a fellow&mdash;going with a party in the dead of the
+ night to a man's room, nailing or screwing his oak up, so as
+ it cannot be opened on the inside, knocking at his door,
+ calling out fire, and when he comes to the door, burning a
+ quantity of shavings, taken from halfpenny faggots dipped in
+ oil from the staircase lamps, so as to impress him with an
+ idea that the staircase, in which his rooms are, is on fire.
+ And when he is frightened almost out of his senses, setting
+ up a most hideous horse-laugh and running away. This joke
+ is practised chiefly upon quiet timid men.
+
+ 43 An idle master&mdash;a Master of Arts on the foundation, who
+ does not take pupils.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[142]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ I was informed that a freshman was a scamp without seasoning&mdash;and a
+ fellow of no spirit till he had been pulled up before the big wig and
+ suffered imposition{44} fine, and rustication.{45}
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ It was now half an hour since old <i>Magnus Thomas</i> had tolled his
+ heavy note, most of the party were a little cut,{46} and the salt pits of
+ attic wit had long since been drained to the very bottom&mdash;Sparkle
+ proposed an adjournment to the Temple of Bacchus,{47} while Echo and a man
+ of Trinity set forth for the plains of Betteris.{48} Pleading the fatigues
+ of the day, and promising to attend a spread{49} on the morrow to be given
+ by Horace Eglantine, I was permitted to depart to my inn, having first
+ received a caution from Echo to steer clear of the Don Peninsula{50} and
+ the seat of magistracy.{51}
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ On regaining my inn, I was not a little surprised to hear the smirking
+ barmaid announce me by my christian and surname, directing the waiter to
+ place candles for Mr. Bernard Blackmantle in the <i>sanctum</i>. How the
+ deuce, thought I, have these people discovered my family nomenclature, or
+ are we here under the same system of <i>espionage</i> as the puerile
+ inhabitants of France, where every hotel-keeper, waiter, and servant, down
+ to the very shoe-black, is a spy upon your actions, and a creature in the
+ pay of the police{52} "Pray, waiter," said I, "why is this snug little
+ _larium__ designated the sanctum_?"
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 44 Imposition&mdash;translations set by the Principal for absence
+ and other errors.
+
+ 45 Rustication is the term applied to temporary dismissal
+ for non-observance of college discipline.
+
+ 46 A little cut&mdash;half seas over.
+
+ 47 Temple of Bacchus&mdash;some favourite inn.
+
+ 48 Plains of Betteris&mdash;the diversion of billiards.
+
+ 49 A spread&mdash;a wine party.
+
+ 50 The Don Peninsula&mdash;the range of all who wear long black
+ hanging sleeves, and bear the name of Domini.
+
+ 51 Seat of magistracy&mdash;proctor's authority.
+
+ 52 The tact of the Oxford tradesmen in this particular is
+ very ingenious.&mdash;The strength of a man's account is always
+ regulated by the report they receive on his entering, from
+ some college friend, respecting the wealth of his relations,
+ or the weight of his expectancies.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[143]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Because it's extra-proctorial, sir: none of the town <i>raff</i> are ever
+ admitted into it, and the marshal and his bull dogs never think of
+ intruding here. With your leave, sir, I'll send in master&mdash;he will
+ explain things better; and mayhap, sir, as you are fresh, he may give you
+ a little useful information." "Do so,&mdash;send me in a bottle of old
+ Madeira and two glasses, and tell your master I shall be happy to see
+ him." In a few moments I was honoured with the company of mine host of the
+ Mitre, who, to do him justice, was a more humorous fellow than I had
+ anticipated. Not quite so ceremonious as he of the Christopher at Eton, or
+ the superlative of a Bond-street <i>restaurateur</i>; but with an
+ unembarrassed roughness, yet respectful demeanour, that partook more of
+ the sturdy English farmer, or an old weather-beaten sportsman, than the
+ picture I had figured to myself of the polished landlord of the principal
+ inn in the sacred city of learning. We are too much the creatures of
+ prejudice in this life, and first impressions are not unfrequently the
+ first faults which we unthinkingly commit against the reputation of a new
+ acquaintance. Master Peake was, I discovered, a fellow of infinite jest,
+ an old fox-hunter, and a true sportsman; and supposing me, from my
+ introduction by Tom Echo to his house, to be as fond of a good horse, a
+ hard run, and a black bottle, as my friend, he had eagerly sought an
+ opportunity for this early introduction. "No man in the country, sir,"
+ said Peake, "can boast of a better horse or a better wife: I always leave
+ the management of the bishop's cap to the petticoat; for look ye, sir,
+ gown against gown is the true orthodox system, I believe.&mdash;When I
+ kept the Blue Pig{53} by the Town Hall, the big wigs used to grunt a
+ little now and then about the gemmen of the university getting <i>bosky</i>
+ in a <i>pig-sty</i>; so, egad, I thought I would fix them at last, and
+ removed here; for I knew it would be deemed sacrilegious to attack the
+ mitre, or hazard a pun upon the head of the church.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 53 The Blue Boar, since shut up.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[144]</span> If ever you should be <i>tiled</i> up
+ in <i>Eager heaven</i>,{54} there's not a kinder hearted soul in
+ Christendom than Mrs. Peake: Dr. Wall says that he thinks she has saved
+ more gentlemen's lives in this university by good nursing and sending them
+ niceties, than all the material medicals put together. You'll excuse me,
+ sir, but as you are fresh, take care to avoid the <i>gulls</i>{55}; they
+ fly about here in large flocks, I assure you, and do no little mischief at
+ times." "I never understood that gulls were birds of prey," said I.&mdash;"Only
+ in Oxford, sir; and here, I assure you, they bite like hawks, and pick
+ many a poor young gentleman as bare before his three years are expired, as
+ the crows would a dead sheep upon a common. Every thing depends upon your
+ obtaining an honest scout, and that's a sort of <i>haro ravis</i> (I think
+ they call the bird) here." Suppressing my laughter at my host's Latinity,
+ I thought this a fair opportunity to make some inquiries relative to this
+ important officer in a college establishment.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "I suppose you know most of these ambassadors of the togati belonging to
+ the different colleges'?" "I think I do, sir," said Peake, "if you mean
+ the scouts; but I never heard them called by that name before. If you are
+ of Christ Church, I should recommend Dick Cook, or, as he is generally
+ called, Gentleman Cook, as the most finished, spritely, honest fellow of
+ the whole. Dick's a trump, and no telegraph,&mdash;up to every frisk, and
+ down to every move of the domini, thorough bred, and no want of courage?"
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 54 Æager haven&mdash;laid up in the depot of invalids.
+
+ 55 Gulls&mdash;knowing ones who are always on the look out for
+ freshmen.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[145]</span> "But not having the honour of being
+ entered there, I cannot avail myself of Dick's services: pray tell me, who
+ is there at Brazennose that a young fellow can make a confidant of?" "Why,
+ the very best old fellow in the world,&mdash;nothing like him in Oxford,&mdash;rather
+ aged, to be sure, but a good one to go, and a rum one to look at;&mdash;I
+ have known Mark Supple these fifty years, and never heard a gentleman give
+ him a bad word: shall I send for him, sir? he's the very man to put you <i>up
+ to a thing or two</i>, and finish you off in prime style." "In the
+ morning, I'll see him, and if he answers your recommendation, engage with
+ him: "for, thought I, such a man will be very essential, if it is only to
+ act as interpreter to a young novice like myself.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The conversation now turned to sporting varieties, by which I discovered
+ mine host was a leading character in the neighbouring hunts; knew every
+ sportsman in the field, and in the course of half an hour, carried me over
+ Godrington's manors, Moystoris district, and Somerset range,{56} taking
+ many a bold leap in his progress, and never losing <i>sight of the dogs</i>.
+ "We shall try your mettle, sir," said he, "if we catch you out for a day's
+ sport; and if you are not quite mounted at present to your mind, I have
+ always a spare nag in the stable for the use of a freshman."
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 56 The three packs of hounds contiguous to Oxford.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Though I did not relish the concluding appellation, coming from a
+ tavern-keeper, I could not help thanking Peake for his liberal offer; yet
+ without any intention of risking my neck in a steeple chase. The interview
+ had, however, been productive of some amusement and considerable
+ information. The bottle was now nearly finished; filling my last glass, I
+ drank success to the Mitre, promised to patronise the landlord, praise the
+ hostess, coquet with the little cherry-cheek, chirping lass in the bar,
+ and kiss as many of the chamber-maids as I could persuade to let me.
+ Wishing mine host a good night, and ringing for my bed-candle, I proceeded
+ to put the last part of my promise into immediate execution.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ COLLEGE SERVANTS.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Descriptive Sketch of a College Scout&mdash;Biography of Mark
+ Supple&mdash;Singular Invitation to a Spread.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The next morning, early, while at breakfast, I received a visit from Mr.
+ Mark Supple, the <i>scout</i>, of whom mine host of the Mitre had on the
+ preceding night spoken so highly. There was nothing certainly very
+ prepossessing in his exterior appearance; and if he had not previously
+ been eulogised as the most estimable of college servants, I should not
+ have caught the impression from a first glance. He was somewhere about
+ sixty years of age, of diminutive stature and spare habit, a lean brother
+ with a scarlet countenance, impregnated with tints of many a varied hue,
+ in which however the richness of the ruby and the soft purple of the
+ ultramarine evidently predominated. His forehead was nearly flat; upon his
+ eyebrows and over his <i>os frontis</i> and scalp, a few straggling
+ straight hairs were extended as an apology for a wig, but which was much
+ more like a discarded crow's nest turned upside down. Immense black bushy
+ eyebrows overhung a pair of the queerest looking oculars I had ever seen;
+ below which sprung forth what had once been, no doubt, a nose, and perhaps
+ in youth an elegant feature; but, Heaven help the wearer! it was now grown
+ into such a strange form, and presented so many choice exuberances, that
+ one might have supposed it was the original Bardolph's, and charged with
+ the additional sins of every succeeding generation. The loss of his <span
+ class="pagenum">[146]</span> teeth had caused the other lip to retire
+ inwards, and consequently the lower one projected forth, supported by a
+ huge chin, like the basin or receiver round the crater of a volcano.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ His costume was of a fashion admirably corresponding with his person. It
+ might once have graced a dean, or, perhaps, a bishop, but it was evident
+ the present wearer was not by when the <i>artiste</i> of the needle took
+ his measure or instructions. Three men of Mark's bulk might very well have
+ been buttoned up in the upper habiliment; and as for the <i>inexpressibles</i>,
+ they hung round his <i>ultimatum</i> like the petticoat trowsers of a
+ Dutch smuggler: then for the colour, it might once have been sable or a
+ clerical mixture; but what with the powder which the collar bore evidence
+ it had once been accustomed to, and the weather-beaten trials it had since
+ undergone, it was quite impossible to specify. The <i>beaver</i> was in
+ excellent keeping, <i>en suite</i>, except, perhaps, from the constant
+ application of the hand to pay due respect to the dignitaries, it was here
+ and there enriched with some more shining qualities. I at first suspected
+ this ancient visitor was a hoax of my friend Tom Echo's, who had concerted
+ the scheme with the landlord; but a little conversation with the object of
+ my surprise soon convinced me it was the genuine Mark Supple, the true
+ college <i>scout</i>, and no counterfeit.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "The welcome of Isis to you, sir," said the old man. "The domini of the
+ bishops cap here gave me a hint you wished to see me.&mdash;I have the
+ honour to be Mark Supple, sir, senior scout of Brazennose, and as well
+ known to all the members of the university for the last fifty years, as
+ Magdalen bridge, or old Magnus Thomas. The first of your name, sir, I
+ think, who have been of Oxford&mdash;don't trace any of the Blackmantles
+ here antecedent&mdash;turned over my list this morning before I came&mdash;got
+ them all arranged, sir, take notice, in chronological order, from the
+ friars of <span class="pagenum">[148]</span> Oseny abbey down to the
+ university of bucks of 1824&mdash;very entertaining, sir, take notice&mdash;many
+ a glorious name peeping out here and there&mdash;very happy to enrol the
+ first of the Blackmantles in my remembrancer, and hope to add M. A. and M.
+ S. S. which signifies honour to you, as master of arts, and glory to your
+ humble servant, Mark Supple Scout&mdash;always put my own initials against
+ the gentleman's names whom I have attended, take notice." The singularity
+ of the ancient's climax amused me exceedingly&mdash;there was something
+ truly original in the phrase: the person and manners of the man were in
+ perfect keeping. "You must have seen great changes here, Mark," said I;
+ "were you always of Brazennose?" "I was born of Christ Church, sir, take
+ notice, where my father was college barber, and my mother a bed-maker; but
+ the students of that period insisted upon it that I was so like to a
+ certain old big wig, whose Christian name was Mark, that I most
+ censoriously obtained the appellation from at least a hundred godfathers,
+ to the no small annoyance of the dignitary, take notice. My first
+ occupation, when a child, was carrying billet doux from the students of
+ Christ Church to the tradesmen's daughters of Oxford, or the nuns of St.
+ Clement's, where a less important personage might have excited suspicion
+ and lost his situation. From a college Mercury, I became a college devil,
+ and was promoted to the chief situation in <i>glorio</i>,{1} alias <i>hell</i>,
+ where I continued for some time a shining character, and sharpened the
+ edge of many a cutting thing, take notice. Here, some wag having a design
+ upon my reputation, put a large piece of cobbler's wax into the dean's
+ boots one morning, which so irritated the <i>big wig</i> that I was
+ instantly expelled college, discommoned, and blown up at point non plus,
+ take notice.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 Glorio.&mdash;A place in Christ Church called the scout's
+ pantry, where the boots and shoes and knives are cleaned,
+ and a small quantity of Geneva, or Bill Holland's double, is
+ daily consumed during term time.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[149]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Having saved a trifle, I now commenced stable-keeper, bought a few prime
+ hacks, and mounted some of the best tandem turn outs in Oxford, take
+ notice: but not having wherewithal to stand tick, and being much averse to
+ dunning, I was soon sold up, and got a birth in Brazennose as college
+ scout, where I have now been upwards of forty years, take notice. No
+ gentleman could ever say old Mark Supple deceived him. I have run many
+ risks for the gown; never cared for the town; always stuck up for my
+ college, and never telegraphed the big wigs in my life, take notice."&mdash;"Is
+ your name Blackmantle?" said a sharp-looking little fellow, in a grey
+ frock livery, advancing up to me with as much <i>sang froid</i> as if I
+ had been one of the honest fraternity of college servants. Being answered
+ in the affirmative, and receiving at the same time a look that convinced
+ him I was not pleased with his boldness, he placed the following note in
+ my hand and retired.{2}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 2 The usual style of invitation to a college wine party or
+ spread.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0034" id="image-0034">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page149.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page149 " />
+ </div>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ The above is an exact copy of a note received from a man of
+ Brazennose.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[159]</span> Handing the note to old Mark&mdash;"Pray,"
+ said I, not a little confused by the elegance of the composition, "is this
+ the usual style of college invitations?" Mark mounted his spectacles, and
+ having deciphered the contents, assured me with great gravity that it was
+ very polite indeed, and considering where it came from, unusually civil.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Another specimen of college ceremony, thought I;&mdash;"But come, Mark,
+ let us forth and survey my rooms." We were soon within-side the gates of
+ Brazennose; and Mark having obtained the key, we proceeded to explore the
+ forsaken chamber of the Muses.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0035" id="image-0035">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page151.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img alt="page151-th (83K)" src="images/page151-th.jpg" width="100%" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ TAKING POSSESSION OF YOUR ROOMS.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Topography of a vacant College Larium&mdash;Anecdotes and
+ Propensities of Predecessors&mdash;A long Shot&mdash;Scout's List of
+ Necessaries&mdash;Condolence of University Friends.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Ascending a dark stone staircase till the oaken beams of the roof
+ proclaimed we had reached the domiciliary abode of genius, I found myself
+ in the centre of my future habitation, an attic on the third floor: I much
+ doubt if poor Belzoni, when he discovered the Egyptian sepulchre, could
+ have exhibited more astonishment. The old bed-maker, and the scout of my
+ predecessor, had prepared the apartment for my reception by gutting it of
+ every thing useful to the value of a cloak pin: the former was engaged in
+ sweeping up the dust, which, from the clouds that surrounded us, would not
+ appear to have been disturbed for six months before at least. I had nearly
+ broken my shins, on my first entrance, over the fire-shovel and bucket,
+ and I was now in more danger of being choked with filth. "Who inhabited
+ this delightful place before, Mark?" "A mad wag, but a generous gentleman,
+ Sir, take notice, one Charles Rattle, Esq., who was expelled college for
+ smuggling, take notice: the proctor, with the town marshal and his bull
+ dogs, detected him and two others one night drawing up some fresh
+ provision in the college plate-basket. Mr. Rattle, in his fright, dropped
+ the fair nun of St. Clement's plump upon the proctor, who could not
+ understand the joke; but, having recovered <span class="pagenum">[152]</span>
+ his legs, entered the college, and found one of the fair sisters concealed
+ in Mr. Rattle's room, take notice. In consequence he was next day pulled
+ up before the big wigs, when, refusing to make a suitable apology, he
+ received sentence of expulsion, take notice." "He must have been a
+ genius," quoth I, "and a very eccentric one too, from the relics he has
+ left behind of his favourite propensities." In one corner of the room lay
+ deposited a heap of lumber, thrown together, as a printer would say, in <i>pie</i>,
+ composed of broken tables, broken bottles, trunks, noseless bellows, books
+ of all descriptions, a pair of <i>muffles</i>, and the cap of sacred
+ academus with a hole through the crown (emblematical, I should think, of
+ the pericranium it had once covered), and stuck upon the leg of a broken
+ chair. The rats, those very agreeable visitors of ancient habitations,
+ were seen scampering away upon our entrance, and the ceiling was elegantly
+ decorated with the smoke of a candle in a great variety of ornamented
+ designs, consisting of caricatures of dignitaries and the Christian names
+ of favourite damsels. There was poor Cicero, with a smashed crown, turned
+ upside down in the fire-place, and a map of Oxford hanging in tatters
+ above it; a portrait of Tom Crib was in the space adjoining the window,
+ not one whole pane of which had survived the general wreck; but what most
+ puzzled me was the appearance of the cupboard door: the bottom hinge had
+ given way, and it hung suspended by one joint in an oblique direction,
+ exhibiting, on an inside face, a circle chalked for a target and
+ perforated with numerous holes This door was in a right line with the
+ bedroom, and, when thrown open, covered a loop-hole of a window that
+ looked across the quadrangle directly into the principal's apartments.{1}
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0036" id="image-0036">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page153.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page153-th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page153" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[153]</span> It was in this way (as Mark informed
+ me) my predecessor amused himself in a morning by lying in bed and firing
+ at the target, till, unhappily, on one occasion the ball passed through a
+ hole in the door, the loop-hole window, and, crossing the quadrangle,
+ entered whizzing past the dignitary's ear and that of his family who were
+ at breakfast with him into the back of the chair he had but a moment
+ before providentially quitted to take a book from his library shelves.1
+ The affair occasioned a strict search, and the door in question bore too
+ strong an evidence to escape detection; Rattle was rusticated for a term,
+ but, returning the same singular character, was always in some scrape or
+ other till his final expulsion. Having given the necessary orders for
+ repairs, Mark made one of his best bows, and produced a long scroll of
+ paper, on which was written a list of necessaries?{2} "which," said the
+ ancient, "take notice, every gentleman provides on his taking possession
+ of his rooms." "And every gentleman's scout claims upon his leaving, take
+ notice" said I. Mark bowed assent.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ I had now both seen and heard enough of college comforts to wish myself
+ safe back again at Eton in the snug, clean, sanded dormitory of my old
+ dame. Looking first at my purse and then at the list of necessaries, I
+ could not resist a sigh on perceiving my <i>new guinea</i>{3} to be
+ already in danger, that it would require some caution to steer clear of
+ the forest of debt,{4} and keep out of <i>south jeopardy</i>,{5} and some
+ talent to gain the <i>new settlements</i>{6} or prevent my being
+ ultimately laid up in the <i>river tick</i>{7} condemned in the <i>Vice-Chancellor's
+ court</i>,{8} and consigned, for the benefit of the captors, to <i>fort
+ marshal</i>.{9}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 The circumstance here alluded to actually occurred some
+ time since, when G- C-n and Lord C-e nearly shot Dr.
+ Capplestone of Oriel and his predecessor, Dr. Eveleigh: the
+ former was expelled in consequence.
+
+ 2 A list of necessaries consists of all the necessary
+ culinary articles, tea equipage, brooms, brushes, pails, &amp;c.
+ &amp;c. &amp;c.
+
+ 3 New guinea&mdash;First possession of income.
+
+ 4 Forest of debt&mdash;payment of debts.
+
+ 5 South jeopardy&mdash;terrors of insolvency.
+
+ 6 Next settlements&mdash;final reckoning.
+
+ 7 River tick&mdash;springing out of standing debts, which only==>
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 8 Vice-Chancellor's court&mdash;creditor's last shift.
+
+ 9 Fort marshal&mdash;university marshal's post, charge themselves
+ at the expiration of three years by leaving the lake of
+ credit, and meandering through the haunts of a hundred
+ creditors.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[154]</span> "Rather romantic, but not elegant,"
+ said some voices at the door, which, on turning my head, I discovered to
+ be my two friends, Echo and Eglantine, who, suspecting the state of the
+ rooms, from the known character of the previous occupier, had followed me
+ up stairs to enjoy the pleasure of quizzing a novice. "A snug appointment
+ this, old fellow," said Echo. "Very airy and contemplative" rejoined
+ Eglantine, pointing first to the broken window, and after to the mutilated
+ remains of books and furniture. "Quite the larium of a man of genius,"
+ continued the former, "and very fine scope for the exhibition of improved
+ taste." "And an excellent opportunity for raillery," quoth I. "Well, old
+ fellow," said Tom, "I wish you safe through <i>dun territory</i>{10} and
+ the <i>preserve of long bills</i>{11}: if you are not pretty well <i>blunted</i>,{12}
+ the first start will try <i>your wind.</i>" "Courage, Blackmantle," said
+ Eglantine, "we must not have you laid up here in the <i>marshes of
+ impediment</i>{13} with all the horrors of <i>east jeopardy</i>,{14} as if
+ you was lost in the <i>cave of antiquity</i>{15}: rally, my old fellow,
+ for <i>the long hope</i>,{16}shoot past <i>mounts</i>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 10 Dun territory&mdash;circle of creditors to be paid.
+
+ 11 Preserve of long bills&mdash;stock of debts to be discharged.
+
+ 12 Blunted&mdash;London slang for plenty of money.
+
+ 13 Marshes of impediment&mdash;troublesome preparation for the
+ schools.
+
+ 14 East jeopardy&mdash;terrors of anticipation.
+
+ 15 Cave of antiquity&mdash;depot of old authors.
+
+ 16 The long hope&mdash;Johnson defines "a Hope" to be any sloping
+ plain between two ridges of mountains. Here it is the symbol
+ of long expectations in studying for a degree.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[155]</span> <i>Aldrich and Euclid</i>,{17} the <i>Roman
+ tumuli</i>{18} and <i>Point Failure</i>{19} and then, having gained <i>Fount
+ Stagira</i>{20} pass easily through <i>Littlego Vale</i>,{21} reach the
+ summit of the <i>Pindaric heights</i>{22} and set yourself down easy in
+ the <i>temple of Bacchus</i>{23} and the <i>region of rejoicing"{24} "Or
+ if you should fall a sacrifice in the district of {sappers</i>,{25} old
+ fellow!" said Echo, "or founder in <i>Dodd's sound</i>,{26} why, you can
+ retreat to <i>Cam Roads</i>,{27} or lay up for life in the <i>Bay of
+ Condolence</i>."{28} "For heaven's sake, let us leave the <i>Gulf of
+ Misery</i>," said I, alluding to the state of my rooms, "and bend our
+ course where some more amusing novelty presents itself." "To Bagley wood,"
+ said Echo, "to break cover and introduce you to the Egyptians; only I must
+ give my scout directions first to see the old bookseller{29} and have my
+ <i>imposition</i>{30} ready for being absent from chapel this morning, or
+ else I shall be favoured with another
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 17 Mount Aldrich, mount Euclid&mdash;logic and mathematics.
+
+ 18 Tumuli raised by the Romans&mdash;difficulties offered by Livy
+ and Tacitus in the studies for first class honours.
+
+ 19 Point Failure&mdash;catastrophe of plucking.
+
+ 20 Fount Stagira&mdash;fount named after the birth-place of Aris-
+ totle.
+
+ 21 Littlego Vale&mdash;orderly step to the first examination.
+
+ 22 Pindaric heights&mdash;study of Pindar's odes.
+
+ 23 Temple of Bacchus&mdash;merry-making after getting a liceat.
+
+ 24 Region of rejoicing&mdash;joy attendant on success in the
+ schools.
+
+ 25 District of sabers&mdash;track of those who sap at their quarto
+ and folio volumes.
+
+ 26 Dodd's sound&mdash;where the candidate will have to
+ acknowledge the receipt of a certificate empowering him to
+ float down Bachelor Creek.
+
+ 27 Cam Roads&mdash;retreat to Cambridge by way of a change.
+
+ 28 Bay of Condolence&mdash;where we console our friends, if
+ plucked, and left at a nonplus.
+
+ 29 A well-known bookseller in Oxford generally called
+ imposition G-, from his preparing translations for the
+ members of the university.
+
+ 30 Imposition&mdash;see prick bill.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[156]</span> visit from the <i>prick bill</i>."{31}
+ "Agreed," said Eglantine, "and Blackmantle and myself will, in the
+ meantime, visit Sadler, and engage a couple of his prime hacks to
+ accompany you."
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 31 Prick bills&mdash;at Christ Church, junior students who prick
+ with a pin the names of those gentlemen who are at chapel.
+ Immediately after the service, the bills, with the noblemen
+ and gentlemen commoners' names, are taken to the dean; those
+ with the students and commoners' names, to the acting censor
+ for the week; and the bachelors' bills to the sub-dean, who
+ generally inform the prick bills what impositions shall be
+ set those gentlemen who absented themselves from chapel:
+ these are written upon strips of paper and carried to the
+ gentlemen by the prick bill's scouts.
+
+ Copy of an original imposition.
+
+ "Sp 259 particular M M C. P. B."&mdash;Signifies translate No. 259
+ Spectator to the word "particular" by Monday morning at
+ chapel time.&mdash;Prick bill.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0037" id="image-0037">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page156.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page156 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0038" id="image-0038">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page157.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page157 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE EXCURSION TO BAGLEY WOOD.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Oxford Scholars and Oxford Livery Men&mdash;How to insure a good
+ Horse and prevent Accidents&mdash;Description of Bagley Wood&mdash;A
+ Freshman breaking cover&mdash;Interview with the Egyptian&mdash;
+ Secrets of Futurity unveiled&mdash;Abingdon Beauties&mdash;Singular
+ Anecdote and History of Mother Goose.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[157]</span> The ride to Bagley Wood introduced me
+ to some new features of a college life, not the least entertaining of
+ which was the dialogue before starting between my friend Eglantine, the
+ livery-stable keeper, and his man, where we went to engage the horses.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Eglan. (to the ostler) Well, Dick, what sort of a stud, hey? any thing
+ rum, a ginger or a miller, three legs or five, got by Whirlwind out of
+ Skyscraper? Come, fig out two lively ones.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Dick. I mun see measter first, zur, before I lets any gentleman take a nag
+ out o' yard. It's more as my place is worth to act otherwise.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Eglan. What coming Tip-street over us, hey, Dick? <span class="pagenum">[158]</span>
+ <i>frisking the freshman</i> here, old fellow? (pointing to me). It won't
+ do&mdash;no go, Dick&mdash;he's my friend, a <i>cawker</i> to be sure, but
+ must not <i>stand Sam</i> to an <i>Oxford raff</i>, or a Yorkshire <i>Johnny
+ Raw</i>.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Dick. I axes pardon, zur. I didna mean any such thing, but ever since you
+ rode the grey tit last, she's never been out o' stall.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Eglan. Not surprised at that, Dick. Never crossed a greater slug in my
+ life&mdash;She's only fit to carry a dean or a bishop&mdash;No go in her.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Dick. No, zur, measter zays as how you took it all out on her.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Eglan. Why, I did give her a winder, Dick, to be sure, only one day's
+ hunting, though, a good hard run over Somerset range, not above sixty
+ miles out and home.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Dick. Ay, I thought as how you'd been in some break-neck tumble-down
+ country, zur, for Tit's knuckels showed she'd had a somerset or two.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Eglan. Well, blister the mare, Dick! there's <i>half a bull</i> for your
+ trouble: now put us on the right scent for a good one: any thing young and
+ fresh, sprightly and shewy?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Dick. Why, there be such a one to be zure, zur, but you munna split on me,
+ or I shall get the zack for telling on ye. If you'll sken yon stable at
+ end o' the yard, there be two prime tits just com'd in from Abingdon fair,
+ thorough-bred and devils to go, but measter won't let 'em out.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Eglan. Won't he? here he comes, and we'll try what a little persuasion
+ will do. (Enter Livery Man.) Well, old fellow, I've brought you a new
+ friend, Blackmantle of Brazennose: what sort of <i>praxis</i> can you give
+ us for a trot to Bagley Wood, a short ride for something shewy to <i>lionise</i>
+ a bit?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Livery M. Nothing new, sir, and you know all the stud pretty well
+ (knowingly). Suppose you try the grey mare you rode t'other day, and I'll
+ find a quiet one for your friend.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[159]</span> Eglan. If I do, I am a <i>black horse</i>.
+ She's no paces, nothing <i>but a shuffle</i>, not a <i>leg to stand on</i>.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Livery M. Every one as good as the principal of All-Souls. Not a better
+ bred thing in Oxford, and all horses here gallop by instinct, as every
+ body knows, but they can't go for ever, and when gentlemen ride steeple
+ chases of sixty miles or more right a-head, they ought to find their own
+ horse-flesh.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Eglan. What coming <i>crabb</i> over us, old fellow, hey 1 Very well, I
+ shall bolt and try Randall, and that's all about it. Come along,
+ Blackmantle.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ My friend's threat of withdrawing his patronage had immediately the
+ desired effect. Horace's judgment in horse-flesh was universally admitted,
+ and the knowing dealer, although he had suffered in one instance by hard
+ riding, yet deeply calculated on retrieving his loss by some unsuspecting
+ Freshman, or other university Nimrod in the circle of Eglantine's
+ acquaintance. By this time Echo had arrived, and we were soon mounted on
+ the two fresh purchases which the honest Yorkshireman had so
+ disinterestedly pointed out; and which, to do him justice, deserved the
+ eulogium he had given us on their merits. One circumstance must not
+ however be forgotten, which was the following notice posted at the end of
+ the yard. "To prevent accidents, gentlemen pay <i>before mounting</i>."
+ "How the deuce can this practice of paying beforehand prevent accidents?"
+ said I. "You're fresh, old fellow," said Echo, "or you'd understand after
+ a man breaks his neck he fears no duns. Now you know by accident what old
+ Humanity there means."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Bagley is about two miles and a half from Oxford on the Abingdon road, an
+ exceedingly pleasant ride, leaving the sacred city and passing over the
+ old bridge where formerly was situated the study or observatory of the
+ celebrated Friar Bacon. Not an object in the shape of a petticoat escaped
+ some raillery, and scarcely <span class="pagenum">[160]</span> a town <i>raff</i>
+ but what met with a corresponding display of university wit, and called
+ forth many a cutting joke: the place itself is an extensive wood on the
+ summit of a hill, which commands a glorious panoramic view of Oxford and
+ the surrounding country richly diversified in hill and dale, and sacred
+ spires shooting their varied forms on high above the domes, and minarets,
+ and towers of Rhedycina. This spot, the favourite haunt of the Oxonians,
+ is covered for many miles with the most luxuriant foliage, affording the
+ cool retreat, the love embowered shades, over which Prudence spreads the
+ friendly veil. Here many an amorous couple have in softest dalliance met,
+ and sighed, and frolicked, free from suspicion's eye beneath the broad
+ umbrageous canopy of Nature; here too is the favourite retreat of the
+ devotees of Cypriani, the spicy grove of assignations where the velvet
+ sleeves of the Proctor never shake with terror in the wind, and the savage
+ form of the university <i>bull dog</i> is unknown.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A party of wandering English Arabs had pitched their tents on the brow of
+ the hill just under the first cluster of trees, and materially increased
+ the romantic appearance of the scene. The group consisted of men, women,
+ and children, a tilted cart with two or three asses, and a lurcher who
+ announced our approach. My companions were, I soon found, well known to
+ the females, who familiarly approached our party, while the male animals
+ as condescendingly betook themselves into the recesses of the wood. "Black
+ Nan," said Echo, "and her daughter, the gypsy beauty, the Bagley
+ brunette."&mdash;"Shall I tell your honour's fortune?" said the elder of
+ the two, approaching me; while Eglantine, who had already dismounted and
+ given his horse to one of the brown urchins of the party, had encircled
+ the waist of the younger sibyl, and was tickling her into a trot in an
+ opposite direction. "Ay do, Nan," <span class="pagenum">[161]</span> said
+ Echo, "cast his nativity, open the book of fate, and tell the boy his
+ future destiny." It would be the height of absurdity to repeat half the
+ nonsense this oracle of Bagley uttered relative to my future fortunes; but
+ with the cunning peculiar to her cast, she discovered I was fresh, and
+ what tormented me more, (although on her part it was no doubt accidental)
+ alluded to an amour in which my heart was much interested with a little
+ divinity in the neighbourhood of Eton. This hint was sufficient to give
+ Tom his cue, and I was doomed to be pestered for the remainder of the day
+ with questions and raillery on my progress in the court of Love. On our
+ quitting the old gypsy woman, a pair of buxom damsels came in sight,
+ advancing from the Abingdon road; they were no doubt like ourselves, I
+ thought, come to consult the oracle of Bagley, or, perhaps, were the
+ daughters of some respectable farmer who owned the adjoining land. All
+ these doubts were, however, of short duration; for Tom Echo no sooner
+ caught sight of their faces, than away he bounded towards them like a
+ young colt in all the frolic of untamed playfulness, and before I could
+ reach him, one of the ladies was rolling on the green carpet of luxuriant
+ Nature. In the deep bosom of Bagley Wood, impervious to the eye of
+ authority, many a sportive scene occurs which would alarm the ethics of
+ the solemn sages of the cloistered college. They were, I discovered,
+ sisters, too early abandoned by an unfeeling parent to poverty, and thus
+ became an easy prey to the licentious and the giddy, who, in the pursuit
+ of pleasure, never contemplate the attendant misery which is sure to
+ follow the victim of seduction. There was something romantic in their
+ story: they were daughters of the celebrated Mother Goose, whose person
+ must have been familiar to every Oxonian for the last sixty years prior to
+ her decease, which occurred but a short time since Of <span class="pagenum">[162]</span>
+ this woman's history I have since gleaned some curious particulars, the
+ most remarkable of which (contained in the annexed note) have been
+ authenticated by living witnesses.{1} Her portrait, by a member of All
+ Souls, is admirable, and is here faithfully copied.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0039" id="image-0039">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page162.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page162 " />
+ </div>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 "<i>Mother Goose</i>," formerly a procuress, and one of the
+ most abandoned of her profession. When from her advanced
+ age, and the loss of her eye-sight, she could no longer
+ obtain money by seducing females from the path of virtue,
+ she married a man of the name of H., (commonly called
+ Gentleman H.) and for years was led by him to the students'
+ apartments in the different colleges with baskets of the
+ choicest flowers. Her ancient, clean, and neat appearance,
+ her singular address, and, above all, the circumstance of
+ her being blind, never failed of procuring her at least ten
+ times the price of her posy, and which was frequently
+ doubled when she informed the young gentlemen of the
+ generosity, benevolence, and charity of their grandfathers,
+ fathers, or uncles whom she knew when they were at college.
+ She had several illegitimate children, all females, and all
+ were sacrificed by their unnatural mother, except one, who
+ was taken away from her at a very tender age by the child's
+ father's parents. When of age, this child inherited her
+ father's property, and is now (I believe) the wife of an
+ Irish nobleman, and to this time is unconscious that Mother
+ Goose, of Oxford, gave her birth. The person who was
+ instrumental in removing the child is still living in
+ Oxford, and will testify to the authenticity of the fact
+ here related. His present majesty never passed through
+ Oxford without presenting Mother Goose with a donation, but
+ of course without knowing her early history.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[163]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Having, as Echo expressed it, now broke cover, and being advanced one step
+ in the study of the fathers, we prepared to quit the Abingdon fair and
+ rural shades of Bagley on our return to Oxford, something lighter in
+ pocket, and a little too in morality. We raced the whole of the distance
+ home, to the great peril of several groups of town raff whom we passed in
+ our way. On our arrival my friends had each certain lectures to attend, or
+ college duties to perform. An idle Freshman, there was yet three hours
+ good before the invitation to the spread, and as kind fortune willed it to
+ amuse the time, a packet arrived from Horatio Heartley. He had been
+ spending the winter in town with his aunt, Lady Mary Oldstyle, and had,
+ with his usual tact, been sketching the varied groups which form the
+ circle of fashionable life. It was part of the agreement between us, when
+ leaving each other at Eton, that we should thus communicate the
+ characteristic traits of the society we were about to amalgamate with. He
+ has, in the phraseology of the day, just come out, and certainly appears
+ to have made the best use of his time.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ === <a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ KENSINGTON GARDENS&mdash;SUNDAY EVENING.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ Singularities of 1824.
+ </h3>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0040" id="image-0040">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page164.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page164 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[164]</span> WESTERN ENTRANCE INTO THE METROPOLIS; A
+ DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ General Views of the Author relative to Subject and Style&mdash;
+ Time and Place&mdash;Perspective Glimpse of the great City&mdash;The
+ Approach&mdash;Cockney Salutations&mdash;The Toll House&mdash;Western
+ Entrance to Cockney Land&mdash;Hyde Park&mdash;Sunday Noon&mdash;
+ Sketches of Character, Costume, and Scenery&mdash;The Ride and
+ Drive&mdash;Kensington Gardens&mdash;Belles and Beaux&mdash;Stars and
+ Fallen Stars&mdash;Singularities of 1824&mdash;Tales of Ton&mdash;On Dits
+ and Anecdotes&mdash;Sunday Evening&mdash;High Life and Low Life, the
+ Contrast&mdash;Cockney Goths&mdash;Notes, Biographical, Amorous, and
+ Exquisite.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0041" id="image-0041">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page165.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page165-th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page165" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Its wealth and fashion, wit and folly,
+ Pleasures, whims, and melancholy:
+ Of all the charming belles and beaux
+ Who line the parks, in double rows;
+ Of princes, peers, their equipage,
+ The splendour of the present age;
+ Of west-end fops, and crusty cits,
+ Who drive their gigs, or sport their tits;
+ With all the groups we mean to dash on
+ Who form the busy world of fashion:
+ Proceeding onwards to the city,
+ With sketches, humorous and witty.
+ The man of business, and the Change,
+ Will come within our satire's range:
+ Nor rank, nor order, nor condition,
+ Imperial, lowly, or patrician,
+ Shall, when they see this volume, cry&mdash;
+ "The satirist has pass'd us by,"
+ But with good humour view our page
+ Depict the manners of the age.
+ Our style shall, like our subject, be
+ Distinguished by variety;
+ Familiar, brief we could say too&mdash;
+ (It shall be whimsical and new),
+ But reader that we leave to you.
+
+ 'Twas morn, the genial sun of May
+ O'er nature spread a cheerful ray,
+ When Cockney Land, clothed in her best,
+ We saw, approaching from the west,
+ And 'mid her steeples straight and tall
+ Espied the dome of famed St. Paul,
+ Surrounded with a cloud of smoke
+ From many a kitchen chimney broke;
+ A nuisance since consumed below
+ By bill of Michael Angelo.{1}
+ The coach o'er stones was heard to rattle,
+
+ 1 M. A. Taylor's act for compelling all large factories,
+ which have steam and other apparatus, to consume their own
+ smoke.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[166]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ The guard his bugle tuned for battle,
+ The horses snorted with delight,
+ As Piccadilly came in sight.
+ On either side the road was lined
+ With vehicles of ev'ry kind,
+ And as the rapid wheel went round,
+ There seem'd scarce room to clear the ground.
+ "Gate-gate-push on&mdash;how do&mdash;well met&mdash;
+ Pull up&mdash;my tits are on the fret&mdash;
+ The number&mdash;lost it&mdash;tip then straight,
+ That covey vants to bilk the gate."
+ The toll-house welcome this to town.
+ Your prime, flash, bang up, fly, or down,
+ A tidy team of prads,&mdash;your castor's
+ Quite a Joliffe tile,&mdash;my master.
+ Thus buck and coachee greet each other,
+ And seem familiar as a brother.
+ No Chinese wall, or rude barrier,
+ Obstructs the view, or entrance here;
+ Nor fee or passport,&mdash;save the warder,
+ Who draws to keep the roads in order;
+ No questions ask'd, but all that please
+ May pass and repass at their ease.
+
+ In cockney land, the seventh day
+ Is famous for a grand display
+ Of modes, of finery, and dress,
+ Of cit, west-ender, and noblesse,
+ Who in Hyde Park crowd like a fair
+ To stare, and lounge, and take the air,
+ Or ride or drive, or walk, and chat
+ On fashions, scandal, and all that.&mdash;
+ Here, reader, with your leave, will we
+ Commence our London history.
+ 'Twas Sunday, and the park was full
+ With Mistress, John, and Master Bull,
+ And all their little fry.
+ The crowd pour in from all approaches,
+ Tilb'ries, dennets, gigs, and coaches;
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[167]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ The bells rung merrily.
+ Old dowagers, their fubsy faces{2}
+ Painted to eclipse the Graces,
+ Pop their noddles out
+ Of some old family affair
+ That's neither chariot, coach, or chair,
+ Well known at ev'ry rout.
+ But bless me, who's that coach and six?
+ "That, sir, is Mister Billy Wicks,
+ A great light o' the city,
+ Tallow-chandler, and lord mayor{3};
+ Miss Flambeau Wicks's are the fair,
+ Who're drest so very pretty.
+ It's only for a year you know
+ He keeps up such a flashy show;
+ And then he's melted down.
+ The man upon that half-starved nag{4}
+ Is an Ex-S&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;ff, a strange wag,
+ Half flash, and half a clown.
+ But see with artful lures and wiles
+ The Paphian goddess, Mrs. G***s,{5}
+
+ 2 There are from twenty to thirty of these well known relics
+ of antiquity who regularly frequent the park, and attend all
+ the fashionable routs,&mdash;perfumed and painted with the
+ utmost extravagance: if the wind sets in your face, they may
+ be scented at least a dozen carriages off.
+
+ 3 It is really ludicrous to observe the ridiculous pride of
+ some of these ephemeral things;&mdash;during their mayoralty, the
+ gaudy city vehicle with four richly caparisoned horses is
+ constantly in the drive, with six or eight persons crammed
+ into it like a family waggon, and bedizened out in all the
+ colours of the rainbow;&mdash;ask for them six months after, and
+ you shall find them more suitably employed, packing rags,
+ oranges, or red herrings.
+
+ 4 This man is such a strange compound of folly and
+ eccentricity, that he is eternally in hot water with some
+ one or other.
+
+ 5 Mrs. Fanny G-1-s, the ci-devant wife of a corn merchant,
+ a celebrated courtezan, who sports a splendid equipage, and
+ has long figured upon town as a star of the first order in
+ the Cyprian hemisphere. She has some excellent qualities,
+ as poor M&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-n can vouch; for when the fickle goddess
+ Fortune left him in the lurch, she has a handsome annuity
+ from a sporting peer, who was once the favoured swain.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[168]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ From out her carriage peeps;
+ She nods to am'rous Mrs. D&mdash;&mdash;-,{6}
+ Who bends with most sublime congee,
+ While ruin'd&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-sleeps.
+ Who follows 1 'tis the hopeful son
+ Of the proud Earl of H&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-n,
+ Who stole the parson's wife.{7}
+ The Earl of H&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-and flame,
+ For cabriolets she's the dame,{8}
+ A dasher, on my life.
+ Jack T&mdash;&mdash;-1 shows his pleasant face{9};
+ A royal likeness here you'll trace,
+ You'd swear he was a Guelph.
+ See Lady Mary's U&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;walk,{10}
+ And though but aide-de-camp to York,
+ An Adonis with himself,
+
+ 6 Mrs. D&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-, alias Mrs. B-k-y, alias Miss Montague,
+ the wife of poor Jem B-k-y, the greater his misfortune,&mdash;a
+ well known Paphian queen, one of five sisters, who are all
+ equally notorious, and whose history is well known. She is
+ now the favoured sultana of a ci-devant banker, whose name
+ she assumes, to the disgrace of himself and family.
+
+ 7 The clerical cornuto recovered, in a crim. con. action,
+ four thousand pounds for the loss of his frail rib, from
+ this hopeful sprig of nobility.
+
+ 8 Mrs. S&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, a most voluptuous lady, the discarded chère
+ amie of the late Lord F-1-d, said to be the best carriage
+ woman in the park: she lies in the Earl of H&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-
+ &mdash;'s cabriolet most delightfully stretched out at full
+ length, and in this elegant posture is driven through the
+ park.
+
+ 9 Captain T&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;l of the guards, whose powerful similitude
+ to the reigning family of England is not more generally
+ admitted than his good-humoured qualities are universally
+ admired.
+
+ 10 The Hon. General U&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-, aide-de-camp to the Duke of
+ York, whose intrigue with Lady Mary&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;was, we have
+ heard, a planned affair to entrap a very different person.
+ Be that as it may, it answered the purpose, and did not
+ disturb the friendship of the parties. The honourable
+ general has obtained the appellation of the Park Adonis,
+ from his attractive figure and known gallantries.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[169]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-y mark, a batter'd beau,{11}
+ Who'll still the fatal dice-box throw
+ Till not a guinea's left.
+ Beyond's the brothers B&mdash;&mdash;-e,{12}
+ Of gold and acres quite as free,
+ By gaming too bereft.
+ Here trips commercial dandy Ra-k-s,{13}
+
+ 11 Lord A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;y, the babe of honour&mdash;once the gayest of
+ the gay, where fashion holds her bright enchanting court;
+ now wrinkled and depressed, and plucked of every feather, by
+ merciless Greek banditti. Such is the infatuation of play,
+ that he still continues to linger round the fatal table, and
+ finds a pleasure in recounting his enormous losses. A&mdash;-y,
+ who is certainly one of the most polished men in the
+ world, was the leader of the dandy club, or the unique four,
+ composed of Beau Brummell, Sir Henry Mildmay, and Henry
+ Pierrepoint, the Ambassador, as he is generally termed. When
+ the celebrated dandy ball was given to his Majesty (then
+ Prince of Wales), on that occasion the prince seemed
+ disposed to cut Brummell, who, in revenge, coolly
+ observed to A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;y, when he was gone,&mdash;"Big Ben was vulgar
+ as usual." This was reported at Carlton House, and led to
+ the disgrace of the exquisite.&mdash;Shortly afterwards he met the
+ Prince and A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;y in public, arm in arm, when the former,
+ desirous of avoiding him, quitted the baron: Brummell, who
+ observed his motive, said loud enough to be heard by the
+ prince,&mdash;"Who is that fat friend of yours?" This expression
+ sealed his doom; he was never afterwards permitted the
+ honour of meeting the parties at the palace. The story of
+ "George, ring the bell," and the reported conduct of the
+ prince, who is said to have obeyed the request and ordered
+ Mr. Brummell's carriage, is, we have strong reasons for
+ thinking, altogether a fiction: Brummell knew the dignity of
+ his host too well to have dared such an insult. The king
+ since generously sent him 300L. when he heard of his
+ distress at Calais. Brummell was the son of a tavern-keeper
+ in St. James's, and is still living at Calais.
+
+ 12 The brothers are part of a flock of R&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;r geese, who
+ have afforded fine plucking for the Greeks. Parson Ambrose,
+ the high priest of Pandemonium, had a leg of one and a wing
+ of the other devilled for supper one night at the Gothic
+ Hall. They have cut but a lame figure ever since.
+
+ 13 A quaint cognomen given to the city banker by the west-
+ end beaux;&mdash;he is a very amiable man.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[170]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Who never plays for heavy stakes,
+ But looks to the main chance.
+ There's Georgy W-b-ll, all the go,{14}
+ The mould of fashion,&mdash;the court beau,
+ Since Brummell fled to France:
+ His bright brass harness, and the gray,
+ The well known black cabriolet,
+ Is always latest there;
+ The reason,&mdash;George, with Captain P&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;
+ The lady-killing coterie,
+ Come late&mdash;to catch the fair.
+ See W-s-r, who with pious love,{15}
+ For her, who's sainted now above,
+ A sister kindly takes;
+ So, as the ancient proverb tells,
+ "The best of husbands, modern belles,
+ Are your reformed rakes."
+ In splendid mis'ry down the ride
+ Alone,&mdash;see ****** lady glide,{16}
+ Neglected for a&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;.
+ What's fame, or titles, wealth's increase,
+ Compared unto the bosom's peace?
+ They're bubbles,&mdash;nothing more.
+
+ 14 George, although a <i>roué</i> of the most superlative order,
+ is not deficient in good sense and agreeable qualifications.
+ Since poor Beau Brummell's removal from the hemisphere of
+ fashion, George has certainly shone a planet of the first
+ magnitude: among the fair he is also considered like his
+ friend, Captain P-r-y, a perfect lady-killer:&mdash;many a little
+ milliner's girl has had cause to regret the seductive notes
+ of A.Z.B. Limmer's Hotel.
+
+ 15 The Marquis of W-c-t-r has, since his first wife's death,
+ married her sister.&mdash;Reformation, we are happy to perceive,
+ is the order of the day. The failure of Howard and Gibbs
+ involved more than one noble family in embarrassments.
+
+ 16 The amours of this child of fortune are notorious both on
+ the continent and in this country. It is very often the
+ misfortune of great men to be degraded by great profligacy
+ of conduct: the poor lady is a suffering angel.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[171]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Observe yon graceful modest group{17}
+ Who look like chaste Diana's troop,
+ The Ladies Molineaux;
+ With Sefton, the Nimrod of peers,
+ As old in honesty,&mdash;as years,
+ A stanch true buff' and blue.
+ "What portly looking man is that
+ In plain blue coat,&mdash;to whom each hat
+ Is moved in ride and walk!"
+ That pleasant fellow, be it known,
+ Is heir presumptive to the throne,
+ 'Tis Frederick of York.{18}
+ A better, kinder hearted soul
+ You will not And, upon the whole,
+ Within the British isle.
+ But see where P-t's wife appears,{19}
+ Who changed, though rather late in years,
+ For honest George Ar-le.
+ Now by my faith it gives me pain
+
+ 17 The female branches of the Sefton family are superior to
+ the slightest breath of calumny, and present an example to
+ the peerage worthy of more general imitation.
+
+ 18 No member of the present royal family displays more
+ agreeable qualifications in society than the heir
+ presumptive.&mdash;Un-affected, affable, and free, the duke may be
+ seen daily pacing St. James's-street, Pall-mall, or the
+ Park, very often wholly un-attended: as his person is
+ familiar to the public, he never experiences the slightest
+ inconvenience from curiosity, and he is so generally
+ beloved, that none pass him who know him without paying
+ their tribute of respect. In all the private relations of
+ life he is a most estimable man,&mdash;in his public situation
+ indefatigable, prompt, and attentive to the meanest applica-
+ tion.
+
+ 19 A more lamentable instance of the profligacy of the age
+ cannot be found than in the history of the transaction which
+ produced this exchange of wives and persons. A wag of the
+ day published a new list of promotions headed as follows,&mdash;
+ Lady B&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;n to be Lady A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;r P-t,&mdash;by exchange&mdash;Lady P-t
+ to be Duchess of A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;e,&mdash;by promotion&mdash;Lady Charlotte W&mdash;y
+ to be Lady P-t, vice Lady P-t, promoted.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[172]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ To see thee, cruel Lady J-,{20}
+ Regret the golden Ball.
+ Tis useless now:&mdash;"the fox and grapes"
+ Remember, and avoid the apes
+ Which wait an old maid's fall.
+ Gay lady H&mdash;&mdash;-e's twinkling star{21}
+
+ 20 It is not long since that, inspired by love or ambition,
+ a wealthy commoner sought the promise of the fair hand of
+ Lady J-, nor was the consent of her noble father (influenced
+ by certain weighty reasons*) wanting to complete the
+ anticipated happiness of the suitor.&mdash;All the preliminary
+ forms were arranged,&mdash;jointure and pin money liberally
+ fixed,&mdash;some legal objections as to a covenant of forfeiture
+ overcame, a suitable establishment provided. The happy day
+ was fixed, when&mdash;"mark inconstant fickle woman"&mdash;the evening
+ previous to completion (to the surprise of all the town),
+ she changed her mind; she had reconsidered the subject!&mdash;The
+ man was wealthy, and attractive in person; but then&mdash;
+ insupportable objection&mdash;he was a mere plebeian, a common
+ esquire, and his name was odious,&mdash;Lady J- B-1,&mdash;she could
+ never endure it: the degrading thought produced a fainting
+ fit,&mdash;the recovery a positive refusal,&mdash;the circumstance a
+ week's amusement to the fashionable world. Reflection and
+ disappointment succeeded, and a revival was more than once
+ spoken of; but the recent marriage of the bachelor put an
+ end to all conjecture, and the poor lady was for some time
+ left to bewail in secret her single destiny. Who can say,
+ when a lady has the golden ball at her foot, where she may
+ kick it? Circumstances which have occurred since the above
+ was written prove that the lady has anticipated our advice.
+
+ 21 Her ladyship's crimson vis-à-vis and her tall footman
+ are both highly attractive&mdash;there are no seats in the
+ vehicle&mdash;the fair owner reclines on a splendid crimson velvet
+ divan or cushion. She must now be considered a beauty of the
+ last century, being already turned of fifty: still she
+ continued to flourish in the annals of&mdash;fashion, until
+ within the last few years; when she ceased to go abroad for
+ amusement, finding it more convenient to purchase it at
+ home. As her parties in Grosvenor-square are of the most
+ splendid description, and her dinners (where she is the
+ presiding deity, and the only one) are frequent, and
+ unrivalled for a display of the "savoir vivre," her ladyship
+ can always draw on the gratitude of her guests for that
+ homage to hospitality which she must cease to expect to her
+ charms, "now in the sear and yellow leaf:"&mdash;she is a M-nn-
+ rs-"verbum sal." Speaking of M-nn-ra, where is the portly
+ John (the Regent's double, as he was called some few years
+ since), and the amiable duchess, who bestowed her hand and
+ fortune upon him?&mdash;but, n'importe.
+
+ * The marquis is said to have shown some aversion in the
+ first instance, till H-s B-1 sent his rent roll for his
+ inspection: this was immediately returned with a very
+ satisfactory reply, but accompanied with a more embarrassing
+ request, namely, a sight of his pedigree.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[173]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Glimmers in eclipse,&mdash;afar's
+ The light of former time.
+ In gorgeous pride and vis-à-vis,{22}
+ A-b-y's orange livry see,
+ The gayest in the clime.
+ Camac and wife, in chariot green,
+ Constant as turtle-doves are seen,
+ With two bronze slaves behind;
+ Next H-tf-d's comely, widow'd dame,{23}
+ With am'rous G&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, a favourite name,
+ When G&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;was true and kind.
+
+ 22 "The gorgeous A-b-y in the sun-flower's pride." This
+ lady's vis-à-vis by far the most splendidly rich on town.
+ Her footmen (of which there are four on drawing-room days)
+ are a proper emblem of that gaudy flower&mdash;bright yellow
+ liveries, black lower garments, spangled and studded. There
+ is a general keeping in this gorgeous equipage, which is
+ highly creditable to the taste of the marchioness, for the
+ marquis, "good easy man," (though a Bruce), he is too much
+ engaged preserving his game at Ro-er-n park, and keeping up
+ the game in St. Stephen's (where his influence is
+ represented by no less than eight "sound men and true"), to
+ attend to these trifling circumstances. This, with a well
+ paid rental of upwards of £100,000 per annum, makes the life
+ of this happy pair pass in an uninterrupted stream of
+ fashionable felicity.
+
+ 23 The marchioness is said to bear the neglect of a certain
+ capricious friend with much cool philosophy. Soon after the
+ intimacy had ceased, they met by accident. On the sofa, by
+ the side of the inconstant, sat the reigning favourite; the
+ marchioness placed herself (uninvited) on the opposite side:
+ astonishment seized the ****; he rose, made a very graceful
+ bow to one of the ladies, and coolly observed to the
+ marchesa&mdash;"If this conduct is repeated, I must decline
+ meeting you in public." This was the cut royal.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[174]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ See S-b-y's peeress, whom each fool
+ Of fashion meets in Sunday school,{24}
+ To chat in learned lore;
+ Where rhyming peers, and letter'd beaus,
+ Blue stocking belles to love dispose,
+ And wit is deem'd a bore.
+ With brave Sir Ronald, toe to toe,
+ See Mrs. M-h-l A-g-lo,{25}
+ Superb equestriana.
+ Next&mdash;that voluptuous little dame,{26}
+ Who sets the dandy world in flame,
+ The female Giovanni.
+ Erin's sprightly beauteous belle,
+ Gay Lady G-t-m, and her swell
+ The Yorkshire Whiskerandoes.{27}
+
+ 24 The dulness of the marchioness's Sunday evening conver-
+ saziones have obtained them the fashionable appellation of
+ the Sunday-school. Lord Byron thought it highly dangerous
+ for any wit to accept a second invitation, lest he should be
+ inoculated with ennui.
+
+ 23 Mrs. M- A-g-e, a very amiable and accomplished woman,
+ sister to Sir H-y V-ne T-p-t. She is considered the best
+ female equestrian in the ride.
+
+ 26 A consideration for the delicacy of our fair readers
+ will not allow us to enter upon the numerous amours of this
+ favourite of Apollo and the Muses, and not less celebrated
+ intriguant. She may, however, have ample justice entailed
+ upon her under another head. Latterly, since the police have
+ been so active in suppressing the gaming houses, a small
+ party have met with security and profit for a little chicken
+ hazard in Curzon-street, at which Mr. C-t has occasionally
+ acted as croupier and banker. Elliston used to say, when
+ informed of the sudden indisposition or absence of a certain
+ little actress and singer-"Ay, I understand; she has a more
+ profitable engagement than mine this evening." The amorous
+ trio, Cl-g-t, Charles H-r-s, and the exquisite Master G-e,
+ may not have cause to complain of neglect. The first of
+ these gentlemen has lately, we understand, been very
+ successful at play; we trust experience will teach him
+ prudence.
+
+ 27 His lordship commands the York hussars, in defence of
+ whose whiskers he sometime since made a Quixotic attack upon
+ a public writer. As he is full six feet high, and we are not
+ quite five, prudence bids us place our finger on our lip.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[175]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Pale Lambton, he who loves and hates
+ By turns, what Pitts, or Pit, creates,
+ Led by the Whig fandangoes.
+ Sound folly's trumpet, fashion's drums,&mdash;
+ Here great A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;y W&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;ce comes,{28}
+ 'Mong tailors, a red button.
+ With luminarious nose and cheeks,
+ Which love of much good living speaks,
+ Observe the city glutton:
+ Sir W-m, admiral of yachts,
+ Of turtles, capons, port, and pots,
+ In curricle so big.
+ Jack F-r follows;&mdash;Jack's a wag,{29}
+
+ 28 A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;y W&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;o, Esq. otherwise the renowned Billy
+ Button, the son and heir to the honours, fortune, and
+ shopboard of the late Billy Button of Bedford-street, Covent
+ Garden. The latter property he appears to have transferred
+ to the front of the old brown landau, where the aged
+ coachman, with nose as flat as the ace of clubs, sits,
+ transfixed and rigid as the curls of his caxon, from three
+ till six every Sunday evening, urging on a cabbage-fed pair
+ of ancient prods, which no exertion of the venerable Jehu
+ has been able for the last seven years to provoke into a
+ trot from Hyde park gate to that of Cumberland and back
+ again. The contents of the vehicle are equally an
+ exhibition. Billy, with two watches hung by one chain,
+ undergoing the revolutionary movements of buckets in a
+ well, and his eye-glass set round with false pearls, are
+ admirably "en suite" with his bugle optics. The frowsy
+ madam in faded finery, with all the little Buttons, attended
+ by a red-haired poor relation from Inverness (who is at once
+ their governess and their victim), form the happy tenantry
+ of this moving closet. No less than three, crests surmount
+ the arms of this descendant of Wallace the Great. A waggish
+ Hibernian, some few months since, added a fourth, by
+ chalking a goose proper, crested with a cabbage, which was
+ observed and laughed at by every one in the park except the
+ purblind possessor of the vehicle, who was too busy in
+ looking at himself.
+
+ 29 Honest Jack is no longer an M.P., to the great regret of
+ the admirers of senatorial humours. Some few years since,
+ being Btuehi plenus, he reeled into St. Stephen's chapel a
+ little out of a perpendicular; when the then dignified Abbot
+ having called him to order, he boldly and vociferously
+ asserted that "Jack F-r of Rose-Hill was not to be set down
+ by any little fellow in a wig. "This offence against the
+ person and high office of the Abbot of St. Stephen's brought
+ honest Jack upon his knees, to get relieved from a
+ troublesome serjeant attendant of the chapel. Knowing his
+ own infirmities, and fearing perhaps that he might be com-
+ pelled to make another compulsory prayer, Jack resigned his
+ pretensions to senatorial honors at the last general
+ election. His chief amusement, when in town, is the watching
+ and tormenting the little marchandes des modes who cross
+ over or pass in the neighbourhood of Regent-street&mdash;he is,
+ however, perfectly harmless. 30 An unlucky accident,
+ occasioned by little Th-d the wine merchant overturning F-z-y
+ in his tandem, compelled the latter to sell out of the
+ army, but not without having lost a leg in the service. A
+ determined patriot, he was still resolved to serve his
+ country. A barrister on one leg might be thought ominous of
+ his client's cause, or afford food for the raillery of his
+ opponent. The bar was therefore rejected. But the church
+ opened her arms to receive the dismembered son of Mars (a
+ parson with a cork leg, or two wooden ones, or indeed
+ without a leg to stand on, was not un-orthodox), and F-z-y
+ was soon inducted to a valuable benefice. He is now, we
+ believe, a pluralist, and, if report be true, has shown
+ something of the old soldier in his method of retaining
+ them. F-y married Miss Wy-d-m, the daughter of Mrs. H-s, who
+ was the admired of his brother, L-d P-. He is generally
+ termed the fighting parson, and considered one of the best
+ judges of a horse in town: he sometimes does a little
+ business in that way among the young ones.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[176]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ A jolly dog, who sports his nag,
+ Or queers the Speaker's wig:
+ To Venus, Jack is stanch and true;
+ To Bacchus pays devotion too,
+ But likes not bully Mars.
+ Next him, some guardsmen, exquisite,-
+ A well-dress'd troop;&mdash;but as to fight,
+ It may leave ugly scars.
+ Here a church militant is seen,{30}
+ Who'd rather fight than preach I ween,
+ Once major, now a parson;
+ With one leg in the grave, he'll laugh,
+ Chant up a pard, or quaintly chaff,
+ To keep life's pleasant farce on.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[177]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Lord Arthur Hill his Arab sports,
+ And gentle-usher to the courts:
+ See Horace and Kang C-k,{31}
+ Who, with the modern Mokamna
+ C-m-e, must ever bear the sway
+ For ugliness of look.
+ A pair of ancients you may spy,{32}
+ Sir Edward and Sir Carnaby,
+ From Brighton just set free;
+ The jesters of our lord the king,
+ Who loves a joke, and aids the thing
+ In many a sportive way.
+ A motley group come rattling on,{33}
+
+ 31 Horace S-y-r, gentleman usher to the king, and K-g C-k,
+ said to be the ugliest man in the British army: in the park
+ he is rivalled only by C-c. For the benefit of all the
+ married ladies, we would recommend both of these
+ singularities to wear the veil in public.
+
+ 32 Sir Ed-d N-g-e. His present majesty is not less fond of a
+ pleasant joke than his laughter-loving predecessor, Charles
+ II. The Puke of Clarence, while at the Pavilion (a short
+ time since), admired a favourite grey pony of Sir E-d N-e's;
+ in praise of whose qualities the baronet was justly liberal.
+ After the party had returned to the palace, the duke, in
+ concert with the k-g, slily gave directions to have the pony
+ painted and disfigured (by spotting him with water colour
+ and attaching a long tail), and then brought on the lawn. In
+ this state he was shown to Sir E&mdash;, as one every way
+ superior to his own. After examining him minutely, the old
+ baronet found great fault with the pony; and being, at the
+ duke's request, induced to mount him, objected to all his
+ paces, observing that he was not half equal to his grey. The
+ king was amazingly amused with the sagacity of the good-
+ humoured baronet, and laughed heartily at the astonishment
+ he expressed when convinced of the deception practised upon
+ him. Sir C-n-y H-s-ne, although a constant visitor at the
+ Pavilion, is not particularly celebrated for any attractive
+ qualification, unless it be his unlimited love of little
+ ladies. He is known to all the horse dealers round London,
+ from his constant inquiries for a "nice quiet little horse
+ to carry a lady;" but we never heard of his making a
+ purchase.
+
+ 33 The middle order of society was formerly in England the
+ most virtuous of the three&mdash;folly and vice reared their
+ standard and recruited their ranks in the highest and the
+ lowest; but the medium being now lost, all is in the
+ extreme. The superlative dandy inhabitant of a first floor
+ from the ground in Bond-street, and the finished inhabitant
+ of a first floor from heaven (who lives by diving) in Fleet-
+ street, are in kindness and habits precisely the same.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[178]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Who ape the style and dress of ton,
+ And Scarce are worth review;
+ Yet forced to note the silly elves,
+ Who take such pains to note themselves,
+ We'll take a name or two.
+ H-s-ly, a thing of shreds and patches,{34}
+ Whose manners with his calling matches,
+ That is, he's a mere goose.
+ Old St-z of France, a worthy peer,
+ From shopboard rais'd him to a sphere
+ Of ornament and use.
+ The double dandy, fashion's fool,
+ The lubin log of Liverpool,
+ Fat Mister A-p-ll,
+ Upon his cob, just twelve hands high,
+ A mountain on a mouse you'll spy
+ Trotting towards the Mall.
+ Sir *&mdash;&mdash;-*-, the chicken man,{35}
+
+ 34 Young Priment, as he is generally termed, the once
+ dashing foreman and cutter out, now co-partner of the
+ renowned Baron St-z, recently made a peer of France. Who
+ would not be a tailor (St-z has retired with a fortune of
+ £100,000. )! Lord de C-ff-d, some time since objecting to
+ certain items in his son's bill from St-z, as being too
+ highly charged, said, "Tell Mr. S- I will not pay him, if it
+ costs me a thousand pounds to resist it. " St-z, on hearing
+ this, said, "Tell his lordship that he shall pay the
+ charge, if it costs me ten thousand to make him." H-s-ly
+ with some little satisfaction was displaying to a customer
+ the Prince of C-b-g's bill for three months (on the occasion
+ of his Highness's new field-marshal's suit, we suppose):
+ "Here," said he, "see what we have done for him: his
+ quarter's tailor's bill now comes to more than his annual
+ income formerly amounted to." Mr. H-s-ly sports a bit of
+ blood, a dennet, and a filly; and, for a tailor, is a
+ superfine sort of dandy, but with a strong scent of the shop
+ about him.
+
+ 35 The redoubtable general's penchant for little girls has
+ obtained him the tender appellation of the chicken man.
+ Many of these <i>petits amours</i> are carried on in the assumed
+ name of Sir Lewis N-t-n, aided by the skill and ingenuity
+ of Captain *-. Youth may plead whim and novelty for low
+ intrigue; but the aged beau can only resort to it from
+ vitiated habit.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[179]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ With pimp *-a-t in the van,
+ The Spy of an old Spy;
+ Who beat up for recruits in town,
+ Mong little girls, in chequer'd gown,
+ Of ages rather shy.
+ That mild, complacent-looking face,{36}
+ Who sits his bit of blood with grace,
+ Is tragic Charley Young:
+ With dowager savant a beau,
+ Who'll spout, or tales relate, you know,
+ Nobility among.
+ "Sure such a pair was never seen"
+ By nature form'd so sharp and keen
+ As H-ds-n and Jack L-g;
+ Or two who've play'd their cards so well,
+ As many a pluck'd roué can tell,
+ Whose purses once were strong:
+ Both deal in pipes&mdash;and by the nose
+ Have led to many a green horn's woes
+ A few gay bucks to Surrey,
+ Where Marshal Jones commands in chief
+ A squadron, who to find relief
+ Are always in a hurry.
+ They're folloiv'd by a merry set&mdash;
+ Cl-m-ris, L-n-x, young B-d-t,
+ Whom they may shortly follow.
+ That tall dismember'd dandy mark,
+ Who strolls dejected through the park,
+ With cheeks so lank and hollow;
+ That's Badger B-t-e, poet A&mdash;
+ The mighty author of "To-day,"
+
+ 36 This truly respectable actor is highly estimated among a
+ large circle of polished society; where his amusing talents
+ and gentlemanly demeanour render him a most entertaining
+ and agreeable companion.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[180]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Forgotten of "To-morrow;"
+ A superficial wit, who 'll write
+ For Shandy little books of spite,
+ When cash he wants to borrow.
+ The pious soul who 's driving by,
+ And at the poet looks so shy,
+ Is parson A- the gambler;{37}
+ His deaf-lugg'd daddy a known blade
+ In Pandemonium's fruitful trade,
+ 'Mong Paphians a rambler.
+ Augusta H-ke (or C-i) moves
+ Along the path&mdash;her little doves&mdash;
+ Decoys, upon each arm.
+ Where 's Jehu Martin, four-in-hand,
+ An exile in a foreign land
+ From fear of legal charm.
+ A pensioner of Cyprian queen,
+ The Bond-street tailor here is seen,
+ The tally-ho so gay.
+ Next P&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;s,{38} who by little goes,
+
+ 37 The parson is so well known, and has been so plentifully
+ be-spattered on all sides, that we shall, with true orthodox
+ charity, leave him with a strong recommendation to the
+ notice of the society for the suppression of vice, with this
+ trite remark, "<i>Vide hic et ubique</i>."
+
+ 38 This man, who is now reported to be worth three hundred
+ thousand pounds, was originally a piece-broker in Bedford-
+ bury, and afterwards kept a low public house in Vinegar-
+ yard, Drury-lane; from whence he merged into an illegal
+ lottery speculation in Northumberland-street, Strand, where
+ he realized a considerable sum by insurances and little
+ goes; from this spot he was transplanted to Norris-street,
+ in the Haymarket, managing partner in a gaming-house, when,
+ after a run of ill luck, an affair occurred that would have
+ occasioned some legal difficulty but for the oath of a
+ pastry-cook's wife, who proved an alibi, in return for which
+ act of kindness he afterwards made her his wife. Obtaining
+ possession of the rooms in Pall-Mall (then the celebrated
+ E. O. tables, and the property of W-, the husband, by a sham
+ warrant), the latter became extremely jealous; and, to make
+ all comfortable, our hero, to use his own phrase, generously
+ bought the mure and coll.&mdash;Mrs. W&mdash;and her son&mdash;both since
+ dead: the latter rose to very high rank in an honourable
+ profession. The old campaigner has now turned pious, and
+ recently erected and endowed a chapel. He used to boast he
+ had more promissory notes of gambling dupes than would be
+ sufficient to cover the whole of Pall-Mall; he may with
+ justice add, that he can command bank notes enough to cover
+ Cavendish-square.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[181]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ And west-end hells, to fortune rose
+ By many a subtle way.
+ Patron of bull-baits, racings, fights,
+ A chief of black-legg'd low delights&mdash;
+ 'Tis the new m&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;s, F-k;
+ Time was, his heavy vulgar gait,
+ With one of highest regal state
+ Took precedence of rank:
+ But now, a little in disgrace
+ Since J-e usurp'd his m&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;'s place,
+ A stranger he's at court;
+ Unlike the greatest and the best
+ Who went before, his feather'd nest
+ Is well enrich'd by sport.
+ F-1-y disastrous, honour's child;
+ L-t-he the giddy, gay, and wild,
+ And sportive little Jack;
+ The prince of dandies join the throng,
+ Where Gwydir spanks his fours along,
+ The silvery grays or black.
+ The charming F-te, and Colonel B-,{39}
+ Snugly in close carriage see
+ With crimson coats behind:
+ And Mrs. C&mdash;, the Christmas belle,
+
+ 39 We shall not follow the colonel's example, or we could
+ give some extracts from the letters of a. female
+ corespondent of his that would be both curious and
+ interesting; but <i>n'importe</i>, consideration for the lady
+ alone prevents the publication. In town he is always
+ discovered by a group of would-be exquisites, the satellites
+ of the Jupiter of B-k-y C-t-e at Gl-r; or at Ch&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-m
+ they have some name; but here they are more fortunate, for
+ o'er them oblivion throws the friendly veil.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[182]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ With banker's clerk, a tale must tell
+ To all who are not blind.
+ Ah! Poodle Byng appears in view,{40}
+ Who gives at whist a point or two
+ To dowagers in years.
+ And see where ev'ry body notes
+ The star of fashion, Romeo Coates{41}
+ The amateur appears:
+ But where! ah! where, say, shall I tell
+ Are the brass cocks and cockle shell?
+ Ill hazard, rouge et noir
+ If it but speak, can tales relate
+ Of many an equipage's fate,
+ And may of many more.
+ Ye rude canaille, make way, make way,
+ The Countess and the Count&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;,{42}
+
+ 40 This gentleman is generally designated by the name of
+ "the whist man:" he holds a situation in the secretary of
+ state's office, and is in particular favour with all the old
+ dowagers, at whose card parties it is said he is generally
+ fortunate. He has recently been honoured with the situation
+ of grand chamberlain to their black majesties of the
+ Sandwich isles.
+
+ 41 Poor Borneo's brilliancy is somewhat in eclipse, and
+ though not quite a fallen star, he must not run on black too
+ long,&mdash;lest his diamond-hilted sword should be the price of
+ his folly.
+
+ 42 The Countess of &mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-is the daughter of
+ Governor J&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-; her mother's name was Patty F-d, the
+ daughter of an auctioneer who was the predecessor of the
+ present Mr. Christie's father. Patty, then a very beautiful
+ woman, went with him to India, and was a most faithfull and
+ attentive companion.&mdash;On the voyage home with J&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-
+ &mdash;&mdash;-and her three children, by him, the present countess,
+ and her brothers James and George, they touched at the Cape,
+ where the old governor most ungratefully fell in love with a
+ young Portuguese lady, whom he married and brought to
+ England in the same ship with his former associate, whom he
+ soon after completely abandoned, settling 500L. a year upon
+ her for the support of herself and daughter; his two sons,
+ James and George, he provided with writerships in the
+ company's service, and sent to India. James died young, and
+ George returned to England in a few years, worth 180,000
+ pounds.&mdash;He lingered in a very infirm state of health, the
+ effects of the climate and Mrs. M-, alias Madame Haut Gout;
+ and at his death, being a bachelor, he left the present
+ countess, his sister who lived with him, the whole of his
+ property. There are various tales circulated in the
+ fashionable world relative to the origin and family of the
+ count, who has certainly been a most fortunate man: he is
+ chiefly indebted for success with the countess to his skill
+ as an amateur on the flute, rather than to his paternal
+ estates. The patron of foreigners, he takes an active part
+ in the affairs of the Opera-house.&mdash;Poor Tori having given
+ some offence in this quarter, was by his influence kept out
+ of an engagement; but it would appear he received some
+ amends, by the following extract from a fashionable paper of
+ the day.
+
+ A certain fashionable&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;l, who was thought to be <i>au
+ comble de bonheur</i>, has lately been much tormented with that
+ green-eyed monster, Jealousy, in the shape of an opera
+ singer. <i>Plutôt mourir que changer</i>, was thought to be the
+ motto of the pretty round-faced English&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;s; but,
+ alas! like the original, it was written on the sands of
+ disappointment, and was scarcely read by the admiring
+ husband, before his joy was dashed by the prophetic wave,
+ and the inscription erased by a favoured son of Apollo.
+ <i>L'oreille est le chemin du cour</i>: so thought the &mdash;&mdash;&mdash;l,
+ and forbade the &mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;s to hold converse with Monsieur
+ T.; but <i>les femmes peuvent tout, parce-qu'elles gouvernent
+ ceux qui gouvernent tous</i>. A meeting took place in
+ Grosvenor-square, and, amid the interchange of doux yeux,
+ the &mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-l arrived: a desperate scuffle ensued; the
+ intruder was banished the house, and, as he left the door,
+ is said to have whistled the old French proverb of <i>Le bon
+ temps viendra</i>. This affair has created no little amusement
+ among the <i>beau monde</i>. All the dowagers are fully agreed on
+ one point, that <i>l'amour est une passion qui vient souvent
+ sans qu'on s'en apperçoîve, et, qui s'en va aussi de même</i>.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[183]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Who play <i>de prettee</i> flute,
+ Who charm <i>une petit</i> English ninnie,
+ Till all the Joueur J&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;'s guinea
+ Him <i>pochée en culotte</i>.
+ Who follows? 'tis the Signor Tori,
+ 'Bout whom the gossips tell a story,
+ With some who've gone before:
+ "The bird in yonder cage confined
+ Can sing of lovers young and kind,"
+ But there, he'll sing no more.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[184]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Lord L&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;looks disconsolate,{}43
+ No news from Spain I think of late,
+ Per favour M&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;i.
+ Ne'er heed, my lord, you still may find
+ Some opera damsel true and kind,
+ Who'll prove less coy and naughty.
+ "Now by the pricking of my thumbs,
+ There's something wicked this way comes,"
+ 'Tis A-'s false dame,{44}
+ Who at Almack's, or in the park,
+ With whispers charms a clucal spark,
+ To blight his wreath of fame.
+ Observe, where princely Devonshire,{45}
+
+ 43 His lordship, though not quite so deeply smitten as the
+ now happy swain, had, we believe, a little __penchant for
+ the charming little daughter of Terpsichore. "What news
+ from Spain, my lord, this morning?" said Sir C. A. to Lord
+ L&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;"I have no connexion with the foreign office,"
+ replied his lordship.&mdash;"I beg pardon, my lord, but I am sure
+ I met a Spanish messenger quitting your house as I entered
+ it." On the turf, his lordship's four year old (versus five)
+ speculations with Cove B-n have given him a notoriety that
+ will, we think, prevent his ruining himself at Newmarket.
+ Like the immortal F-e, he is one of the opera directors, and
+ has a great inclination for foreign curiosities. Vide the
+ following extract.&mdash;
+
+ "The New Corps de Ballot at the Opera this season, 1823, is
+ entirely composed of Parisian elegantes, selected with great
+ taste by Lord L&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-, whose judgment in these matters is
+ perfectly con amore. In a letter to a noble friend on
+ this subject, Lord L&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;says that he has seen, felt, and
+ (ap-) proved them all&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;to be excellent artistes with
+ very finished movements."
+ </pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[185]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Certain ridiculous reports have long been current in the
+ fashionable world, relative to a mysterious family affair,
+ which would preclude the noble duke's entering into the
+ state of matrimony: it is hardly necessary to say they have
+ no foundation in truth. The duke was certainly born in the
+ same house and at nearly the same time (in Florence) when
+ Lady E. F-st-r, since Duchess of D-, was delivered of a
+ child&mdash;but that offspring is living, and, much to the present
+ duke's honour, affectionately regarded by him. The duke was
+ for some years abroad after coming to his title, owing, it
+ is said, to an unpleasant affair arising out of a whist
+ party at a great house, which was composed of a Prince,
+ Lords L&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;and Y&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;th, another foreign Prince, and a
+ Colonel B-, of whom no one has heard much since.&mdash;A noble
+ mansion in Piccadilly was there and then assigned to the
+ colonel, who at the request of the -e, who had long wished
+ to possess it as a temporary residence, during some
+ intended repairs at the great house, re-conveyed it to
+ the&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;. On the receipt of a note from Y- the next
+ morning, claiming the amount of the duke's losses, he
+ started with surprise at the immense sums, and being now
+ perfectly recovered from the overpowering effects of the
+ bottle, hastened with all speed to take the opinions of two
+ well-known sporting peers, whose honour has never been
+ questioned, Lords F-y and S-n; they, upon a review of the
+ circumstances, advised that the money should not be paid,
+ but that all matters in dispute should be referred to a
+ third peer, Earl G-y, who was not a sporting man: to this
+ effect a note was written to the applicant, but not before
+ some communication had taken place with a very high
+ personage; the consequence was that no demand was ever
+ afterwards made to the referee. Lord G- C- afterwards re-
+ purchased the great house with the consent of the duke from
+ the fortunate holder, as he did not like it to be
+ dismembered from the family. We believe this circumstance
+ had a most salutary effect in preventing any return of a
+ propensity for play.
+
+ 44 Charley loves good place and wine,
+ And Charley loves good brandy,
+ And Charley's wife is thought divine,
+ By many a Jack a dandy.
+ PARODY ON AN OLD NURSERY RHYME.
+
+ {45} A CHARACTER OF DEVONSHIRE.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0042" id="image-0042">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a name="image-0043" id="image-0043">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page184.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page184 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page185.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page185 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[186]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ In action, heart, and mind, a peer,
+ Avoids the public gaze;
+ Graceful, yet simple in attire,
+ You'd take him for a plain esquire;
+ "His acts best speak his praise."
+ That queer, plain, yellow chariot, mark,
+ Which drives so rapid through the park,
+ The servants clothed in gray&mdash;
+ That's George, incog.&mdash;George who? George-king,{46}
+ Of whom near treason 'tis to sing,
+ In this our sportive lay.
+ Kings like their subjects should have air
+ And exercise, without the stare
+ Which the state show attends;
+ I love to see in public place
+ The monarch, who'll his people face,
+ And meet like private friends.
+ So may the crown of this our isle
+ Re ever welcomed with a smile,
+ And, George, that smile be thine!
+ Then when the time,&mdash;and come it must,
+ That crowns and sceptres shall be dust,
+ Thou shalt thy race outshine,
+ Shalt live in good men's hearts, and tears,
+ From age to age, while mem'ry rears
+ The proud historic shrine.
+
+ 46 FROM THE DIARY OF A POLITICIAN.
+ "Through Manchester-square took a canter just now,
+ Met the old yellow chariot, and made a low bow;
+ This did of course, thinking 'twas loyal and civil,
+ But got such a look,&mdash;oh! 'twas black as the devil.
+ How unlucky!&mdash;incog, he was traveling about,
+ And I like a noodle must go find him out!
+ Mem. When next by the old yellow chariot I ride,
+ To remember there is nothing princely inside."
+ Tom Moore,
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[187]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ What rueful-looking knight is that,{47}
+ With sunken eye and silken hat,
+
+ 47 Lord P-r-m, the delicate dandy.
+
+ Laced up in stays to show his waist,
+ And highly rouged to show his taste,
+ His whiskers meeting 'neath his chin,
+ With gooseberry eye and ghastly grin,
+ With mincing steps, conceited phrase,
+ Such as insipid P- displays:
+ These are the requisites to shine
+ A dandy, exquisite, divine.
+
+ Ancient Dandies.&mdash;A Confession.
+ The Doctor{*}, as we learn, once said,
+ To Mistress Thrale&mdash;
+ Howe'er a man be stoutly made,
+ And free from ail,
+ In flesh and bone, and colour thrive,
+ "He's going down at 35."
+ Yet Horace could his vigour muster
+ And would not till a later lustre f
+ One single inch of ground surrender
+ To any swain in Cupid's calendar.
+ But one I think a jot too low,
+ And t'other is too high, I know.
+ Yet, what I've found, I'll freely state&mdash;
+ The thing may do till.&mdash;
+ But that's a job&mdash;for then, in truth,
+ One's but a clumsy sort of youth:
+ And maugre looks, some evil tongue
+ Will say the Dandy is not young:&mdash;
+ For 'mid the yellow and the sear, {**}
+ Though here and there a leaf be green
+ No more the summer of the year
+ It is, than when one swallow's seen.
+
+ * Johnson.
+ t&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-fuge suspicari
+ Cujus octavum trepidavit otas
+ Claudere lustrum.&mdash;Od. 4.1. ii.
+ Now tottering on to forty years,
+ My age forbids all jealous fears.
+
+ ** "My May of life is fallen into
+ the sear and yellow leaf."&mdash;Macbeth.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[188]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Pinch'd in behind and 'fore?
+ Whose visage, like La Mancha's chief,
+ Seems the pale frontispiece to grief,
+ As if 'twould ne'er laugh more:
+ Whose dress and person both defy
+ The poet's pen, the painter's eye,
+ 'Tis <i>outre tout nature</i>.
+ His Arab charger swings his tail,
+ Curvets and prances to the gale
+ Like Death's pale horse,&mdash;
+ And neighing proudly seems to say,
+ Here Fashion's vot'ries must pay
+ Homage of course:
+ Tis P-h-m, whom Mrs. H-g-s
+ At opera and play-house dodges
+ Since he gain'd Josephine;
+ Tailors adorn a thousand ways,
+ And (though Time won't) men may make Slays;
+ The dentist, barber, make repairs,
+ New teeth supply, and colour hairs;
+ But art can ne'er return the Spring&mdash;
+ And spite of all that she can do,
+ <i>A Beau's</i> a very wretched thing
+ At 42!
+
+ The late Princess Charlotte issued an order, interdicting
+ any one of her household appearing before her with frightful
+ fringes to their leaden heads. In consequence of this cruel
+ command, P-r-m, being one of the lords of the bed-chamber,
+ was compelled to curtail his immense whiskers. A very
+ feeling ode appeared upon the occasion, entitled My
+ Whiskers, dedicated to the princess; it was never printed,
+ but attributed to Thomas Moore. The Kiss, or Lady Francis W-
+ W-'s Frolic, had nearly produced a fatal catastrophe. How
+ would poor Lady Anne W-m have borne such a misfortune? or
+ what purling stream would have received the divine form of
+ the charming Mrs. H-d-s? But alas! he escaped little W-'s
+ ball, only to prove man's base ingratitude, for he has
+ since cut with both these beauties for the interesting
+ little Josephine, the protégée of T&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;y B-t, and the
+ sister of the female Giovanni.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[189]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Ye madly vicious, can it be!
+ A mother sunk in infamy,
+ To sell her child is seen.
+ Let Bow-street annals, and Tom B-t,{48}
+ Who paid the mill'ner, tell the rest,
+ It suits not with our page;
+ Just satire while she censures,&mdash;feels,&mdash;
+ Verse spreads the vice when it reveals
+ The foulness of the age.
+ 'Tis half-past five, and fashion's train
+ No longer in Hyde Park remain,
+ Bon ton cries hence, away;
+ The low-bred, vulgar, Sunday throng,
+ Who dine at two, are ranged along
+ On both sides of the way;
+ With various views, these honest folk
+ Descant on fashions, quiz and joke,
+ Or mark a shy cock down{49};
+ For many a star in fashion's sphere
+ Can only once a week appear
+ In public haunts of town,
+ Lest those two ever watchful friends,
+ The step-brothers, whom sheriff sends,
+ John Doe and Richard Roe,
+ A taking pair should deign to borrow,
+ To wit, until All Souls, the morrow,
+ The body of a beau;
+
+ 48 Poor Tom B-t has paid dear for his protection of
+ the Josephine: fifteen hundred pounds for millinery in
+ twelve months is a very moderate expenditure for so young a
+ lady of fashion. It is, to be sure, rather provoking that
+ such an ape as Lord &mdash;&mdash;&mdash;should take command of the
+ frigate, and sail away in defiance of the chartered party,
+ the moment she was well found and rigged for a cruize. See
+ Common Plea Reports, 1823
+
+ 49 The Sunday men, as they are facetiously called in the
+ fashionable world, are not now so numerous as formerly: the
+ facility of a trip across the Channel enables many a shy
+ cock to evade the scrutinizing eye and affectionate
+ attachment of the law.
+
+ But Sunday sets the pris'ner free,
+ He shows in Park, and laughs with glee
+ At creditors and Bum.
+ Then who of any taste can bear
+ The coarse, low jest and vulgar stare
+ Of all the city scum,
+ Of fat Sir Gobble, Mistress Fig,
+ In buggy, sulky, coach, or gig,
+ With Dobbin in the shay?
+ At ev'ry step some odious face,
+ Of true mechanic cut, will place
+ Themselves plump in your way.
+ Now onward to the Serpentine,
+ A river straight as any line,
+ Near Kensington, let's walk;
+ Or through her palace gardens stray,
+ Where elegantes of the day
+ Ogle, congee, and talk.
+ Here imperial fashion reigns,
+ Here high bred belles meet courtly swains
+ By assignation.
+ Made at Almack's, Argyle, or rout,
+ While Lady Mother walks about
+ In perturbation,
+ Watching her false peer, or to make
+ A Benedict of some high rake,
+ To miss a titled prize.
+ Here, cameleon-colour'd, see
+ Beauty in bright variety,
+ Such as a god might prize.
+ Here, too, like the bird of Juno,
+ Fancy's a gaudy group, that you know,
+ Of gay <i>marchands des modes</i>.
+ Haberdashers, milliners, fops
+ From city desks, or Bond-street shops,
+ And belles from Oxford-road,
+ Crowds here, commingled, pass and gaze,
+ And please themselves a thousand ways;
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[191]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Some read the naughty rhymes
+ Which are on ev'ry alcove writ,
+ Immodest, lewd attempt at wit,
+ Disgraceful to the times.
+ Here Scotland's dandy Irish Earl,{50}
+ With Noblet on his arm would whirl,
+ And frolic in this sphere;
+ With mulberry coat, and pink cossacks,
+ The red-hair'd Thane the fair attacks,
+ F-'s ever on the leer;
+ And when alone, to every belle
+ The am'rous beau love's tale will tell,
+ Intent upon their ruin.
+ Beware, Macduff, the fallen stars!
+ Venus aggrieved will fly to Mars;
+ There's mischief brewing.
+ What mountain of a fair is that,
+ Whose jewels, lace, and Spanish hat,
+ Proclaim her high degree,
+ With a tall, meagre-looking man,
+ Who bears her reticule and fan?
+ That was Maria D-,
+ Now the first favourite at court,
+
+ 50 His lordship is equally celebrated in the wars of Mars
+ and Venus, as a general in the service of Spain. When Lord
+ M-d-ff, in the desperate bombardment of Matagorda (an old
+ fort in the Bay of Cadiz), the falling of a fragment of the
+ rock, struck by a shell, broke, his great toe; in this
+ wounded state he was carried about the alameda in a cherubim
+ chair by two bare-legged gallegos, to receive the
+ condolations of the grandees, and, we regret to add, the
+ unfeeling jeers of the British, who made no scruple to
+ assert that his lordship had, as usual, "put his foot in
+ it." The noble general would no doubt have added another
+ leaf to bis laurel under the auspices of the ex-smuggler,
+ late illustrissimo general Ballasteros, had not he suddenly
+ become a willing captive to the soul-subduing charms of the
+ beauteous Antonia of Terrifa, of whose history and
+ melancholy death we may speak hereafter. On a late occasion,
+ he has been honoured with the star of the Guelphic order
+ (when, for the first time in his life, he went on his
+ knees), as some amends for his sudden dismissal from the
+ bed-chamber. Noblet, who has long since been placed upon the
+ pension list, has recently retired, and is succeeded by a
+ charming little Parisian actress who lives in the New Road,
+ and plays with the French company now at Tottenham-street
+ theatre. Lord L&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-has also a little interest in the
+ same concern. His lordship's <i>affaires des cour</i> with
+ Antonia, Noblet, and M&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-, though perfectly
+ platonic, have proved more expensive than the most
+ determined votary to female attractions ever endured: for
+ the gratification of this innocent passion, Marr's{*} mighty
+ pines have bit the dust, and friendly purses bled.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[192]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ And, if we may believe report,
+ She holds the golden key
+ Of the backstairs, and can command
+ A potent influence in the land,
+ But K&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;N best can tell;
+ Tis most clear, no ill betide us,
+ Near the Georgium sidus
+ This planet likes to dwell.
+ Lovely as light, when morning breaks{51}
+ Above the hills in golden streaks,
+ Observe yon blushing rose,
+ Uxbridge, the theme of ev'ry tongue,
+ The sylph that charms the ag'd and young,
+ Where grace and virtue glows.
+ Gay Lady H-e her lounge may take,{52}
+ Reclining near the Indian lake.,
+ And think she's quite secure;
+
+ 51 The beautiful little countess, the charming goddess of
+ the golden locks, was a Miss Campbell, a near relation of
+ the Duke of Argyll. She is a most amiable and interesting
+ elegante.
+
+ 52 Although Lord L-e is the constant attendant of Lady H-,
+ report says the attachment is merely platonic. His lordship
+ was once smitten with her sister; and having thero suffered
+ the most cruel disappointment, consoles himself for his loss
+ in the sympathizing society of Lady H&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;.
+
+ * Marr Forest, belonging to his lordship, producing the
+ finest mast pines in the empire; the noble earl has lately
+ cut many scores of them ami some old friends, rather than
+ balk his fancy.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[193]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ As well might C-1-ft hope to pass
+ Upon the town his C&mdash;&mdash;-r lass
+ For genuine and pure.
+ See Warwick's charming countess glide,{53}
+ With constant Harry by her side,
+ Along the gay <i>parterre</i>;
+ And look where the loud laugh proclaims
+ The cits and their cameleon dames,
+ The gaudy Cheapside fair,
+ Drest in all colours o' the shop,
+ Fashion'd for the Easter hop,
+ To grace the civic feast,
+ Where the great Lord Mayor presides
+ O'er tallow, ribands, rags, and hides,
+ The sultan o' the east.
+ The would-be poet, Ch-s L-h,{54}
+ Comes saunt'ring with his graces three,
+ The little gay coquettes.
+ After, view the Cyprian corps
+ Of well-known traders, many score,
+ From Bang to Angel M-tz,
+ A heedless, giddy, laughing crew,
+ Who'd seem as if they never knew
+ Of want or fell despair;
+ Yet if unveil'd the heart might be,
+ You'd find the demon, Misery,
+ Had ta'en possession there.
+ Think not that satire will excuse,
+ Ye frail, though fair; or that the muse
+ Will silent pass ye by:
+ To you a chapter she'll devote,
+ Where all of fashionable note
+
+ 53 Lady Sarah Saville, afterwards Lady Monson, now Countess
+ of Warwick, a most beautiful, amiable, and accomplished
+ woman. By constant "Harry" is meant her present earl.
+
+ 54 See Amatory Poems by Ch-os L-h. We could indulge our
+ readers with a curious account of the demolition of the
+ Paphian car at Covent Garden theatre, but the story is
+ somewhat musty.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[194]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Shall find their history.
+ "Vice to be hated, needs but be seen;"
+ And thus shall ev'ry Paphian queen
+ Be held to public view;
+ And though protected by a throne,
+ The gallant and his Miss be shown
+ In colours just and true.
+ The countess of ten thousand see,{55}
+ The dear delightful Savante B-,
+ Who once was sold and bought:
+ The magic-lantern well displays
+ The scenes of long forgotten days,
+ And gives new birth to thought.
+ Nay, start not, here we'll not relate
+ The break-neck story gossips prate
+ Within the Em'rald Isle:
+ No spirit gray, or black, or brown,
+ We'll conjure up, with hideous frown,
+ To chase the dimpled smile.
+ In fleeting numbers, as we pass,
+ We find these shadows in our glass,
+ We move, and they're no more.
+ But see where chief of folly's train,
+
+ 55 The beautiful and accomplished countess is a lovely
+ daughter of Hibernia; her maiden name was P-r, and her
+ father an Irish magistrate of high respectability. Her first
+ matrimonial alliance with Captain F-r proved unfortunate; an
+ early separation was the consequence, which was effected
+ through the intervention of a kind friend, Captain J-s of
+ the 11th. Shortly afterwards her fine person and superior
+ endowments of mind made an impression upon the earl that
+ nothing but the entire possession of the lady could allay.
+ The affair of Lord A- and Mrs. B- is too well known to need
+ repetition&mdash;it could not succeed a second time. Abelard F-
+ having paid the debt of nature, there was no impediment but
+ a visit to the temple of Hymen, on which point the lady was
+ determined; and the yielding suitor, wounded to the vital
+ part, most readily complied. It is due to the countess to
+ admit, that since her present elevation, her conduct has
+ been exemplary and highly praiseworthy.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[195]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Conceited, simple, rash, and vain,
+ Comes lib'ral master G-e,{56}
+ A dandy, half-fledged exquisite,
+ Who paid nine thousand pounds a night
+ To female Giovanni.
+ Reader, I think I hear you say,
+ "What pleasure had he for his pay?"
+ Upon my word, not any;
+ For soon as V-t-s got the cash,
+ She set off with a splendid dash
+ From Op'ra to Paris;
+ Left Cl-t and this simple fool,{67}
+ Who no doubt's been an easy tool,
+ To spend it with Charles H-s.
+ See, Carolina comes in view,
+ A Lamb, from merry Melbourne's ewe,
+ Who scaped the fatal knife.
+ H-ll-d's blue stocking rib appears,
+ Who makes amends in latter years
+ For early cause of strife.
+ Catullus George, the red-hair'd bard,
+ Whose rhymes, pedantic, crude, and hard,
+ He calls translations,
+ Follows the fair; a nibbling mouse
+ From Westminster, by Cam Hobhouse
+ Expell'd his station.
+ Now twilight, with his veil of gray,
+ The stars of fashion frights away
+ The carriage homeward rolls along
+ To music-party, cards and song,
+
+ 56 A very singular adventure, which occurred in 1823. The
+ enamoured swain, after settling an annuity of seven hundred
+ pounds per annum upon the fair inconstant, had the
+ mortification to find himself abandoned on the very night
+ the deeds were completed, the lady having made a precipitate
+ retreat, with a more favoured lover, to Paris. The affair
+ soon became known, and some friends interfered, when the
+ deeds were cancelled.
+
+ 57 Captain citizen Cl-t, an exquisite of the first order,
+ for a long time the favourite of the reigning sultana.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[196]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ And many a gay delight.
+ The Goths of Essex-street may groan,{58}
+ Turn up their eyes, and inward moan,
+ They dare not here intrude;
+ Dare not attack the rich and great,
+ The titled vicious of the state,
+ The dissolute and lewd.
+ Vice only is, in some folks' eyes,
+ Immoral, when in rags she lies,
+ By poverty subdued;
+ But deck her forth in gaudy vest,
+ With courtly state and titled crest,
+ She's every thing that's good.
+ "Doth Kalpho break the Sabbath-day?
+ Why, Kalpho hath no funds to pay;
+ How dare he trespass then?
+ How dare he eat, or drink, or sleep,
+ Or shave, or wash, or laugh, or weep,
+ Or look like other men?"
+ My lord his concerts gives, 'tis true,
+ The Speaker holds his levee too,
+ And Fashion cards and dices;
+ But these are trifles to the sin
+ Of selling apples, joints, or gin&mdash;
+
+ 58 The present times have very properly been stigmatized as
+ the age of cant. The increase of the puritans, the
+ smooth-faced evangelical, and the lank-haired sectarian,
+ with their pious love-meetings and bible associations, have
+ at last roused the slumbering spirit of the constituted
+ authorities, who are now making the most vigorous efforts to
+ impede the progress of these anti-national and hypocritical
+ fanatics, who, mistaking the true dictates of religion and
+ benevolence, have, in their inflamed zeal, endeavoured to
+ extirpate every species of innocent recreation, and have
+ laid formidable siege to honest-hearted mirth and rustic
+ revelry. "I am no prophet, nor the son of one; "but if
+ ever the noble institutions of my country suffer any
+ revolutionary change, it is my humble opinion it will result
+ from these sainted associations, from these pious opposers
+ of our national characteristics, and the noblest institution
+ of our country, the foundation stone of our honour and
+ glory, the established church of England. There is (in my
+ opinion) more mischief to be apprehended to the state from
+ the humbug of piety than from all the violence of froth,
+ political demagogues, or the open-mouthed howl of the most
+ hungry radicals. Let it be understood I speak not against
+ toleration in its most extended sense, but war only with
+ hypocrisy and fanaticism, with those of whom Juvenal has
+ written&mdash;"<i>Qui aurios simulant el baechemalia vivinit</i>."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[197]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Low, execrable vices.
+ Cease, persecutors, mock reclaimers,
+ Ye jaundiced few, ye legal maimers
+ Of the lone, poor, and meek;
+ Ye moral fishers for stray gudgeons,
+ Ye sainted host of old curmudgeons,
+ Who ne'er the wealthy seek!
+ If moralists ye would appear,
+ Attack vice in its highest sphere,
+ The cause of all the strife;
+ The spring and source from whence does flow
+ Pollution o'er the plains below,
+ Through all degrees of life.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0044" id="image-0044">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page197.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page197 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE OPERA.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ The Man of Fashion&mdash;Fop's Alley&mdash;Modern roué and
+ Frequenters&mdash;Characteristic Sketches in High Life&mdash;Blue
+ Stocking Illuminati&mdash;Motives and Mariners&mdash;Meeting with the
+ Honourable Lillyman Lionise&mdash;Dinner at Long's&mdash;Visit to the
+ Opera&mdash;Joined by Bob Transit&mdash;A Peep into the Green Room&mdash;
+ Secrets behind the Curtain&mdash;Noble Amateurs and Foreign
+ Curiosities&mdash;Notes and Anecdotes by Horatio Heartly.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[198]</span> The Opera, to the man of fashion, is
+ the only tolerable place of public amusement in which the varied orders of
+ society are permitted to participate. Here, lolling at his ease, in a snug
+ box on the first circle, in dignified security from the vulgar gaze, he
+ surveys the congregated mass who fill the arena of the house, deigns
+ occasionally a condescending nod of recognition to some less fortunate <i>roué</i>,
+ or younger brother of a titled family, who is forcing his way through the
+ well-united phalanx of vulgar faces that guard the entrance to <i>Fop's
+ Alley</i>; or, if he should be in a state of single blessedness, inclines
+ his head a little forward to cast round an inquiring glance, a sort of
+ preliminary overture, to some fascinating daughter of fashion, whose
+ attention he wishes to engage for an amorous interchange of significant
+ looks and melting expressions during the last act of the opera. For the
+ first, he would not be thought so <i>outré</i> as to witness it&mdash;the
+ attempt would require a sacrifice of the dessert and Madeira, and
+ completely revolutionize <span class="pagenum">[199]</span> the regularity
+ of his dinner arrangement. The divertissement he surveys from the side
+ wings of the stage, to which privilege he is entitled as an annual
+ subscriber; trifles a little badinage with some well-known operatic
+ intriguant, or favourite danseusej approves the finished movements of the
+ male artistes, inquires of the manager or committee the forthcoming
+ novelties, strolls into the green room to make his selection of a
+ well-turned ankle or a graceful shape, and, having made an appointment for
+ some non play night, makes one of the distinguished group of operatic
+ cognoscenti who form the circle of taste in the centre of the stage on the
+ fall of the curtain.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="page199" id="page199"></a> <br /> <a href="images/page199.jpg">ENLARGE
+ TO FULL SIZE</a><br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img alt="page199-th (73K)" src="images/page199-th.jpg" width="100%" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ This is one, and, perhaps, the most conspicuous portrait of an opera
+ frequenter; but there are a variety of characters in the same school all
+ equally worthy of a descriptive notice, and each differing in contour and
+ force of chiaroscuro as much as the one thousand and one family maps which
+ annually cover the walls of the Royal Academy, to the exclusion of
+ meritorious performances in a more elevated branch of art. The Dowager
+ Duchess of A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash; retains her box to dispose of her
+ unmarried daughters, and enjoy the gratification of meeting in public the
+ once flattering groups of noble expectants who formerly paid their ready
+ homage to her charms and courted her approving smile; but then her ducal
+ spouse was high in favour, and in office, and now these "summer flies o'
+ the court" are equally steady in their devotion to his successor, and can
+ scarcely find memory or opportunity to recognise the relict of their late
+ ministerial patron. Lord E&mdash;&mdash;&mdash; and the Marchioness of R.&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;
+ subscribe for a box between them, enjoying the proprietorship in alternate
+ weeks. During the Marchesa's periods of occupation you will perceive Lady
+ H., and the whole of the blue stocking illuminati, irradiating from this
+ point, like the tributary stars round some major planet, forming <span
+ class="pagenum">[200]</span> a grand constellation of attraction. Here new
+ novels, juvenile poets, and romantic tourists receive their fiat, and here
+ too the characters of one half the fashionable world undergo the fiery
+ ordeal of scrutinization, and are censured or applauded more in accordance
+ with the prevailing on dits of the day, or the fabrications of the club,
+ than with any regard to feeling, truth, or decorum. The following week-,
+ how changed the scene!&mdash;the venerable head of the highly-respected
+ Lord E&mdash;&mdash;&mdash; graces the corner, like a Corinthian capital
+ finely chiseled by the divine hand of Praxiteles; the busy tongue of
+ scandal is dormant for a term, and in her place the Solons of the land, in
+ solemn thoughtfulness, attend the sage injunctions of their learned chief.
+ Too enfeebled by age and previous exertion to undergo the fatigues of
+ parliamentary duty, the baron here receives the visits of his former
+ colleagues, and snatching half an hour from his favourite recreation,
+ gives a decided turn to the politics of a party by the cogency of his
+ reasoning and the brilliancy of his arguments. The Earl of F&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;has
+ a grand box on the ground tier, for the double purpose of admiring the
+ chaste evolutions of the sylphic daughters of Terpsichore, and of being
+ observed himself by all the followers of the cameleon-like, capricious
+ goddess, Fashion.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The G&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;B&mdash;&mdash;-, the wealthy commoner,
+ Fortune's favoured child, retains a box in the best situation, if not on
+ purpose, yet in fact, to annoy all those within hearing, by the noisy
+ humour of his Bacchanalian friends, who reel in at the end of the first
+ act of the opera, full primed with the choicest treasures of his well
+ stocked bins, to quiz the young and modest, insult the aged and
+ respectable, and annihilate the anticipated pleasures of the scientific
+ and devotees of harmony, by the coarseness of their attempts at wit, the
+ overpowering clamour of their conversation, and <span class="pagenum">[201]</span>
+ the loud laugh and vain pretence to taste and critic skill.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The ministerialists may be easily traced by their affectation of
+ consequence, and a certain air of authority joined to a demi-official
+ royal livery, which always distinguishes the corps politique, and is
+ equally shared by their highly plumed female partners. The opposition are
+ equally discernible by outward and visible signs, such as an assumed
+ nonchalance, or apparent independence of carriage, that but ill suits the
+ ambitious views of the wearer, and sits as uneasily upon them as their
+ measures would do upon the shoulders of the nation. Added to which, you
+ will never see them alone; never view them enjoying the passing scene,
+ happy in the society of their accomplished wives and daughters, but
+ always, like restless and perturbed spirits, congregating together in
+ conclave, upon some new measure wherewith to sow division in the nation,
+ and shake the council of the state. And yet to both these parties a box at
+ the opera is as indispensable as to the finished courtezan, who here
+ spreads her seductive lures to catch the eye, and inveigle the heart of
+ the inexperienced and unwary.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But what has all this to do with the opera? or where will this romantic
+ correspondent of mine terminate his satirical sketch? I think I hear you
+ exclaim. A great deal more, Mr. Collegian, than your philosophy can
+ imagine: you know, I am nothing if not characteristic; and this, I assure
+ you, is a true portrait of the place and its frequenters. I dare say, you
+ would have expected my young imagination to have been encompassed with
+ delight, amid the mirth-inspiring compositions of Corelli, Mozart, or
+ Rossini, warbled forth by that enchanting siren, De Begnis, the scientific
+ Pasta, the modest Caradori, or the astonishing Catalani:&mdash;Heaven
+ enlighten your unsuspicious mind! Attention to the merits of the <span
+ class="pagenum">[202]</span> performance is the last thing any fashionable
+ of the present day would think of devoting his time to. No, no, my dear
+ Bernard, the opera is a sort of high 'Change, where the court circle and
+ people of ton meet to speculate in various ways, and often drive as hard a
+ bargain for some purpose of interest or aggrandisement, as the plebeian
+ host of all nations, who form the busy group in the grand civic temple of
+ commerce on Cornbill. You know, I have (as the phrase is), just come out,
+ and of course am led about like a university lion, by the more experienced
+ votaries of ton. An accident threw the honourable Lillyman Lionise into my
+ way the other morning; it was the first time we had met since we were at
+ Eton: he was sauntering away the tedious hour in the Arcade, in search of
+ a specific for ennui, was pleased to compliment me on possessing the
+ universal panacea, linked arms immediately, complained of being devilishly
+ cut over night, proposed an adjournment to Long's&mdash;a light dinner&mdash;maintenon
+ cutlets&mdash;some of the Queensberry hock{1} (a century and a half old)&mdash;ice-punch-six
+ whin's from an odoriferous hookah&mdash;one cup of renovating fluid
+ (impregnated with the Parisian aromatic {2}); and then, having
+ reembellished our persons, sported{3} a figure at the opera. In the grand
+ entrance, we enlisted Bob Transit, between whom and the honourable, I
+ congratulated myself on being in a fair way to be enlightened. Bob knows
+ every body&mdash;the exquisite was not so general in his information; but
+ then he occasionally furnished some little anecdote of the surrounding
+ elegantes, relative to affairs de l'amour, or pointed out the superlative
+ of the haut class, without which much of the interesting would have
+ escaped my notice.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 The late Duke of Queensberry's famous old hock, which
+ since his decease was sold by auction.
+
+ 2 A Parisian preparation, which gives a peculiar high
+ flavour and sparkling effect to coffee.
+
+ 3 An Oxford phrase.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[203]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ In this society, I made my first appearance in the green room; a little,
+ narrow, pink saloon at the back of the stage, where the dancers congregate
+ and practise before an immense looking-glass previous to their appearance
+ in public.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ To a fellow of warm imagination and vigorous constitution, such a scene is
+ calculated to create sensations that must send the circling current into
+ rapid motion, and animate the heart with thrilling raptures of delight.
+ Before the mirror, in all the grace of youthful loveliness and perfect
+ symmetry of form, the divine little fairy sprite, the all-conquering
+ Andalusian Venus, Mercandotti, was exhibiting her soft, plump,
+ love-inspiring person in pirouétte: before her stood the now happy swain,
+ the elegant H&mdash;&mdash;&mdash; B-, on whose shoulder rested the Earl
+ of Fe-, admiring with equal ecstasy the finished movements of his
+ accomplished protégée{4}; on the right hand of the earl stood the single
+ duke of D&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;e, quizzing the
+ little daughter of Terpsichore through his eye-glass; on the opposite of
+ the circle was seen the noble
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 4 It was very generally circulated, and for some time
+ believed, that the charming little Andalusian Venus was the
+ natural daughter of the Earl of F-e: a report which had not
+ a shadow of truth in its foundation, but arose entirely out
+ of the continued interest the earl took in the welfare of
+ the lady from the time of her infancy, at which early period
+ she was exhibited on the stage of the principal theatre in
+ Cadiz as an infant prodigy; and being afterwards carried
+ round (as is the custom in Spain) to receive the personal
+ approval and trifling presents of the grandees, excited such
+ general admiration as a beautiful child, that the Earl of F-
+ e, then Lord M- and a general officer in the service of
+ Spain, adopted the child, and liberally advanced funds for
+ her future maintenance and instruction, extending his bounty
+ and protection up to the moment of her fortunate marriage
+ with her present husband. It is due to the lady to add, that
+ in every instance her conduct has been marked by the
+ strictest sense of propriety, and that too in situations
+ where, it is said, every attraction was offered to have
+ induced a very opposite course.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[204]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ musical amateur B&mdash;&mdash;-h, supported by the director De R-s on one
+ hand, and the communicative manager, John Ebers, of Bond-street, on the
+ other; in a snug corner on the right hand of the mirror was seated one of
+ his majesty's most honourable privy council, the Earl of W&mdash;&mdash;-d,
+ with a double Dollond's operatic magnifier in his hand, studying nature
+ from this most delightful of all miniature models. "A most perfect
+ divinity," whispered the exquisite. "A glorious fine study," said Transit,&mdash;and,
+ pulling out his card-case and pencil, retired to one corner of the room,
+ to make a mem., as he called it, of the scene. (See Plate.) "Who the deuce
+ is that eccentric-looking creature with the Marquis of Hertford?" said I.
+ "Hush," replied the exquisite, "for heaven's sake, don't expose yourself!
+ Not to know the superlative roué of the age, the all-accomplished
+ Petersham, would set you down for a barbarian at once." "And who," said I,
+ "is the amiable fair bending before the admiring Worter?" "An old and very
+ dear acquaintance of the Earl of F-e, Mademoiselle Noblet, who, it is
+ said, displays much cool philosophy at the inconstancy of her once
+ enamoured swain, consoling herself for his loss, in the enjoyment of a
+ splendid annuity." A host of other bewitching forms led my young fancy
+ captive by turns, as my eye travelled round the magic circle of delight:
+ some were, I found, of that yielding spirit, which can pity the young
+ heart's fond desire; with others had secured honourable protection: and if
+ his companion's report was to be credited, there were very few among the
+ enchanting spirits before yet with whom that happiness which springs from
+ virtuous pure affection was to be anticipated. If was no place to
+ moralize, but, to you who know my buoyancy of spirit, and susceptibility
+ of mind, I must confess, the reflection produced a momentary pang of the
+ keenest misery.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0045" id="image-0045">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page205.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page205-th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page205" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br /> <a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE ROYAL SALOON.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Visit of Heartly, Lionise, and Transit&mdash;Description of the
+ Place&mdash;Sketches of Character&mdash;The Gambling Parsons&mdash;Horse
+ Chaunting, a true Anecdote&mdash;Bang and her Friends&mdash;Moll Raffle
+ and the Marquis W.&mdash;The Play Man&mdash;The Touter&mdash;The Half-pay
+ Officer&mdash;Charles Rattle, Esq.&mdash;Life of a modern Roué-B&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;
+ the Tailor&mdash;The Subject&mdash;Jarvey and Brooks the Dissector&mdash;
+ "Kill him when you want him"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[205]</span> After the opera, Bob Transit proposed
+ an adjournment to the Royal Saloon, in Piccadilly, a place of fashionable
+ resort (said Bob) for shell-fish and sharks, Greeks and pigeons, Cyprians
+ and citizens, noble and ignoble&mdash;in short, a mighty rendezvous, where
+ every variety of character is to be found, from the finished sharper to
+ the finished gentleman; a scene pregnant with subject for the pencil of
+ the humorist, and full of the richest materials for the close observer of
+ men and manners. Hither we retired to make a night of it, or rather to
+ consume the hours between midnight and morning's dawn. The place itself is
+ fitted up in a very novel and attractive style of decoration, admirably
+ calculated for a saloon of pleasure and refreshment; but more resembling a
+ Turkish kiosk than an English tavern. On the ground floor, which is of an
+ oblong form and very spacious, are a number of divisions enclosed on each
+ side with rich damask curtains, having each a table and seats for the
+ reception of supper or drinking parties; at the extreme end, and <span
+ class="pagenum">[206]</span> on each side, mirrors of unusual large
+ dimensions give an infinity of perspective, which greatly increases the
+ magnificence of the place. In the centre of the room are pedestals
+ supporting elegant vases filled with choice exotics. A light and tasteful
+ trellis-work surrounds a gallery above, which forms a promenade round the
+ room, the walls being painted to resemble a conservatory, in which the
+ most luxuriant shrubs are seen spreading their delightful foliage over a
+ spacious dome, from the centre of which is suspended a magnificent
+ chandelier. Here are placed, at stated distances, rustic tables, for the
+ accommodation of those who choose coffee and tea; and leading from this,
+ on each side, are several little snug private boudoirs for select parties,
+ perfectly secure from the prying eye of vulgar curiosity, and where only
+ the privileged few are ever permitted to enter. It was in this place,
+ surrounded by well-known Greeks, with whom he appeared to be on the most
+ intimate terms, that Transit pointed out to my notice the eccentric Vicar
+ of K**, the now invisible author of L****, whose aphorisms and conduct
+ bear not the slightest affinity to each other&mdash;nor was he the only
+ clerical present; at the head of a jolly party, at an adjoining table, sat
+ the ruby-faced Parson John A&mdash;&mdash;-e, late proprietor of the
+ notorious Gothic Hall, in Pall Mall, a man of first rate wit and talent,
+ but of the lowest and most depraved habits. "The Divine is a character"
+ said Bob, "who, according to the phraseology of the ring, is 'good at
+ every thing:' as he came into the world without being duly licensed, so he
+ thinks himself privileged to pursue the most unlicensed conduct in his
+ passage through it. As a specimen of his ingenuity in horse-dealing, I'll
+ give you an anecdote.&mdash;It is not long since that the parson invited a
+ party of bucks to dinner, at his snug little villa on the banks of the
+ Thames, near Richmond, in Surrey. Previous to the repast, the reverend
+ <span class="pagenum">[207]</span> led his visitors forth to admire the
+ gardens and surrounding scenery, when just at the moment they had reached
+ the outer gate, a fine noble-looking horse was driven past in a tilbury by
+ a servant in a smart livery.&mdash;'What a magnificent animal!' said the
+ parson; 'the finest action I ever beheld in my life: there's a horse to
+ make a man's fortune in the park, and excite the envy and notice of all
+ the town.' 'Who does he belong to?' said a young baronet of the party, who
+ had just come out. 'I'll inquire,' said the parson: 'the very thing for
+ you, Sir John.' Away posts the reverend, bawling after the servant, 'Will
+ your master sell that horse, my man?' 'I can't say, sir,' said the fellow,
+ 'but I can inquire, and let you know.' 'Do, my lad, and tell him a
+ gentleman here will give a handsome price for him.' Away trots the
+ servant, and the party proceed to dinner. As soon as the dessert is
+ brought in, and the third glass circulated, the conversation is renewed
+ relative to the horse&mdash;the whole party agree in extolling his
+ qualities; when, just in the nick of time, the servant arrives to say his
+ master being aged and infirm, the animal is somewhat too spirited for him,
+ and if the gentleman likes, he may have him for one hundred guineas. 'A
+ mere trifle,' vociferates the company. 'Cheap as Rivington's second-hand
+ sermons,' said the parson. The baronet writes a check for the money, and
+ generously gives the groom a guinea for his trouble&mdash;drives home in
+ high glee&mdash;and sends his servant down next morning to the parson's
+ for his new purchase&mdash;orders the horse to be put into his splendid
+ new tilbury, built under the direction of Sir John Lade&mdash;just reaches
+ Grosvenor-gate from Hamilton-place in safety, when the horse shows
+ symptoms of being a miller. Baronet, nothing daunted, touches him smartly
+ under the flank, when up he goes on his fore-quarters, smashes the tilbury
+ into ten thousand pieces, bolts away with the traces and shafts, and
+ leaves the baronet with a broken head <span class="pagenum">[208]</span>
+ on one side of the road, and his servant with a broken arm on the other.
+ 'Where the devil did you get that quiet one from, Sir John!' said the
+ Honourable Fitzroy St&mdash;&mdash;-e, whom the accident had brought to
+ the spot.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 'The parson bought him of an old gentleman at Richmond yesterday for me.'
+ 'Done, brown as a berry,' said Fitzroy: 'I sold him only on Saturday last
+ to the reverend myself for twenty pounds as an incurable miller. Why the
+ old clerical's turned coper{1}&mdash;;a new way of raising the wind&mdash;letting
+ his friends down easy&mdash;gave you a good dinner, I suppose, Sir John,
+ and took this method of drawing the bustle{2} for it: an old trick of the
+ reverend's.' After this it is hardly necessary to say, the servant was a
+ confederate, and the whole affair nothing more or less than a true
+ orthodox farce of horse chaunting,{3} got up for the express purpose of
+ raising a temporary supply."{4}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 A horse-dealer.
+
+ 2 Money.
+
+ 3 Tricking persons into the purchase of unsound or vicious
+ horses.
+
+ 4 A practice by no means uncommon among a certain
+ description of dashing characters, who find chaunting a
+ horse to a green one, a snug accidental party at chicken
+ hazard, or a confederacy to entrap some inexperienced bird
+ of fashion, where he may be plucked by Greek banditti, pay
+ exceedingly well for these occasional dinner parties.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ At this moment our attention was engaged by the entrance of a party of
+ exquisites and elegantes, dressed in the very extreme of opera costume,
+ who directed their steps to the regions above us. "I'll bet a hundred,"
+ said the honourable, "I know that leg," eyeing a divine little foot and a
+ finely turned ankle that was just then discernible from beneath a rich
+ pink drapery, as the possessor ascended the gallery of the conservatory,
+ lounging on the arm of the Irish Earl of C&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;; " the
+ best leg in England, and not a bad figure for an ancient," continued
+ Lionise: "that is the celebrated Mrs. Bertram, alias Bang&mdash;everybody
+ <span class="pagenum">[209]</span> knows Bang; that is, every body in the
+ fashionable world. She must have been a most delightful creature when she
+ first came out, and has continued longer in bloom than any of the present
+ houris of the west; but I forgot you were fresh, and only in training,
+ Heartly&mdash;I must introduce you to Bang: you will never arrive at any
+ eminence among the haut classe unless you can call these beauties by
+ name." "And who the deuce is Bang?" said I: "not that elegantly-dressed
+ female whom I see tripping up the gallery stairs yonder, preceded by
+ several other delightful faces." "The same, my dear fellow: a fallen star,
+ to be sure, but yet a planet round whose orbit move certain other little
+ twinkling luminaries whose attractive glimmerings are very likely to
+ enlighten your obscure sentimentality. Bang was the daughter of a
+ bathing-woman at Brighton, from whence she eloped early in life with a
+ navy lieutenant-has since been well known as a dasher of the first water
+ upon the pave&mdash;regularly sports her carriage in the drive&mdash;and
+ has numbered among her protectors, at various times, the Marquis W&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;,
+ Lord A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, Colonel C&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, and, lastly,
+ a descendant of the mighty Wallace, who, in an auto-biographical sketch,
+ boasts of his intimacy with this fascinating cyprian. She has, however,
+ one qualification, which is not usually found among those of her class&mdash;she
+ has had the prudence to preserve a great portion of her liberal
+ allowances, and is now perfectly independent of the world. We must visit
+ one of her evening parties in the neighbourhood of Euston-square, when she
+ invites a select circle of her professional sisters to a ball and supper,
+ to which entertainment her male visitors are expected to contribute
+ liberally. She has fixed upon the earl, I should think, more for the
+ honour of the title than with any pecuniary hopes, his dissipation having
+ left him scarce enough to keep up appearances." "The amiable who precedes
+ her," said I, "is of the same class, I <span class="pagenum">[210]</span>
+ presume&mdash;precisely, and equally notorious." "That is the celebrated
+ Mrs. L&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, better known as Moll Raffle, from the
+ circumstance of her being actually raffled for, some years since, by the
+ officers of the seventh dragoons, when they were quartered at Rochester:
+ like her female friend, she is a woman of fortune, said to be worth
+ eighteen hundred per annum, with which she has recently purchased herself
+ a Spanish cavalier for a husband. A curious anecdote is related of Moll
+ and her once kind friend, the Marquis of W&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;,
+ who is said to have given her a bond for seven thousand pounds, on a
+ certain great house, not a mile from Hyde-park corner, which he has since
+ assigned to a fortunate general, the present possessor; who, thinking his
+ title complete, proceeded to take possession, but found his entry disputed
+ by the lady, to whom he was eventually compelled to pay the forfeiture of
+ the bond. Come along, my boy," said Lionise; "I'll introduce you at once
+ to the whole party, and then you can make your own selection." "Not at
+ present: I came here for general observation, not private intrigue, and
+ must confess I have seldom found a more diversified scene."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "I beg pardon, gentlemen," said an easy good-looking fellow, with
+ something rather imposing in his manner&mdash;"Shall I intrude here?&mdash;will
+ 'you permit me to take a seat in your box?" "By all means," replied I;
+ Bob, at the same moment, pressing his elbow into my side, and the
+ exquisite raising his glass very significantly to his eye, the stranger
+ continued&mdash;"A very charming saloon this, gentlemen, and the company
+ very superior to the general assemblage at such places: my friend, the
+ Earl of C&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, yonder, I perceive, amorously engaged;
+ Lord P&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, too, graces the upper regions with the
+ delightful Josephine: really this is quite the café royal of London; the
+ accommodation, too, admirable&mdash;not merely confined to refreshments; I
+ am told there are excellent billiard <span class="pagenum">[211]</span>
+ tables, and snug little private rooms for a quiet rubber, or a little
+ chicken hazard. Do you play, gentlemen? very happy to set you for a main
+ or two, by way of killing time." That one word, play, let me at once into
+ the secret of our new acquaintance's character, and fully explained the
+ distant reception and cautious bearing of my associates. My positive
+ refusal to accommodate produced a very polite bow, and the party
+ immediately retired to reconnoitre among some less suspicious visitants.
+ "A nibble," said Transit, "from an ivory turner."{5} "By the honour of my
+ ancestry," said Lionise, "a very finished sharper; I remember Lord F&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;
+ pointing him out to me at the last Newmarket spring meeting, when we met
+ him, arm in arm, with a sporting baronet. What the fellow was, nobody
+ knows; but he claims a military title&mdash;captain, of course&mdash;perhaps
+ has formerly held a lieutenancy in a militia regiment: he now commands a
+ corps of sappers on the Greek staff, and when he honoured us with a call
+ just now was on the recruiting service, I should think; but our friend,
+ Heartly, here, would not stand drill, so he has marched off on the forlorn
+ hope, and is now, you may perceive, concerting some new scheme with a
+ worthy brother touter,{6} who is on the half pay of the British army, and
+ receives full pay in the service of the Greeks. We must make a descent
+ into hell some night," said Transit, "and sport a few crowns at roulette
+ or rouge et noir, to give Heartly his degree. We shall proceed regularly
+ upon college principles, old fellow: first, we will visit the Little Go in
+ King-street, and then drop into the Great Go, alias Watiers, in
+ Piccadilly; after which we can sup in Crockford's pandemonium among
+ parliamentary pigeons, unfledged
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 5 A tats man, a proficient with the bones, one who knows
+ every chance upon the dice.
+
+ 6 A decoy, who seduces the young or inexperienced to the
+ gaming table, and receives a per centage upon their losses.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[212]</span> ensigns of the guards, broken down
+ titled legs, and ci-devant bankers, fishmongers, and lightermen; and here
+ comes the very fellow to introduce us&mdash;an old college chum, Charles
+ Rattle, who was expelled Brazennose for smuggling, and who has since been
+ pretty well plucked by merciless Greek banditti and Newmarket jockeys, but
+ who bears his losses with the temper of a philosopher, and still pursues
+ the destructive vice with all the infatuation of the most ardent devotee."
+ "How d'ye do, old fellows?&mdash;how d'ye do? Who would have thought to
+ have met the philosopher (pointing to me) at such a place as this, among
+ the impures of both sexes, legs and leg-ees? Come to sport a little blunt
+ with the table or the traders, hey! Heartly? Always suspected you was no
+ puritan, although you wear such a sentimental visage. Well, old fellows, I
+ am glad to see you, however,&mdash;come, a bottle of Champagne, for I have
+ just cast off all my real troubles&mdash;had a fine run of luck to-night&mdash;broke
+ the bank, and bolted with all the cash. Just in the nick of time-off for
+ Epsom to-morrow&mdash;double my bets upon the Derby, and if the thing
+ comes off right, I'll give somebody a thousand or two to tie me up from
+ playing again above five pounds stakes as long as I live. The best thing
+ you ever heard in your life&mdash;a double to do. Ned C&mdash;&mdash;-d
+ having heard I had just received a few thousands, by the sale of the
+ Yorkshire acres, planned it with Colonel T&mdash;&mdash;- to introduce me
+ to the new club, where a regular plant was to be made, by some of his
+ myrmidons, to clear me out, by first letting me win a few thousands, when
+ they were to pounce upon me, double the stakes, and finish me off in prime
+ style, fleecing me out of every guinea&mdash;very good-trick and tie, you
+ know, is fair play&mdash;and for this very honest service, my friend, the
+ colonel, was to receive a commission, or per centage, in proportion to my
+ losses: the very last man in the world that the old pike could <span
+ class="pagenum">[213]</span> have baited for in that way&mdash;the
+ colonel's down a little, to be sure, but not so low as to turn confederate
+ to a leg&mdash;so suppressed his indignation at the proposition, and lent
+ himself to the scheme, informing me of the whole circumstances&mdash;well,
+ all right&mdash;we determined to give the old one a benefit&mdash;dined
+ with him to-day&mdash;a very snug party&mdash;devilish good dinner&mdash;superb
+ wines&mdash;drank freely&mdash;punished his claret&mdash;and having
+ knocked about Saint Hugh's bones{7} until I was five thousand in pocket,
+ politely took my leave, without giving the parties their revenge. Never
+ saw a finer scene in the course of my life-such queer looks, and long
+ faces, and smothered wailings when they found themselves done by a brace
+ of gudgeons, whom they had calculated upon picking to the very bones!
+ Come, old fellows, a toast: Here's Fishmonger's Hall, and may every
+ suspected gudgeon prove a shark."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The bottle now circulated freely, and the open-hearted Rattle delighted us
+ with the relation of some college anecdotes, which I shall reserve for a
+ hearty laugh when we meet. The company continued to increase with the
+ appearance of morning; and here might be seen the abandoned profligate,
+ with his licentious female companion, completing the night's debauch by
+ the free use of intoxicating liquors&mdash;the ruined spendthrift, fresh
+ from the gaming-table, loudly calling for wine, to drown the remembrance
+ of his folly, and abusing the drowsy waiter only to give utterance to his
+ irritated feelings. In a snug corner might be seen a party of sober,
+ quiet-looking gentlemen, taking their lobster and bucellas, whose first
+ appearance would impress you with the belief of their respectability, but
+ whom, upon inquiry, you would discover to be Greek banditti, retired
+ hither to divide their ill gotten spoils. It was among a party of this
+ description that Rattle pointed out a celebrated writer, whose lively
+ style and accurate description of
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 7 Saint Hugh's bones, a cant phrase for dice.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[214]</span> men and manners display no common mind.
+ Yet here he was seen associated with the most depraved of the human
+ species&mdash;the gambler by profession, the common cheat! What wonder
+ that such connexions should have compelled him for a time to become an
+ exile to his country, and on his return involved him in a transaction that
+ has ended in irretrievable ruin and disgrace? "By the honour of my
+ ancestry," said Lionise, "yonder is that delectable creature, old Crony,
+ the dinner many that is the most surprising animal we have yet found among
+ the modern discoveries&mdash;polite to and point&mdash;always well dressed&mdash;keeps
+ the best society&mdash;or, I should say, the best society keeps him: to an
+ amazing fund of the newest on dits and anecdotes of ton, always ready cut
+ and dried, he joins a smattering of the classics, and chops logic with the
+ learned that he may carve their more substantial fare gratis; has a memory
+ tenacious as a chief judge on matter of invitation, and a stomach
+ capacious as a city alderman in doing honour to the feast; pretends to be
+ a connoisseur in wines, although he never possessed above one bottle at a
+ time in his cellaret, I should think, in the whole course of his life;
+ talks about works of art and virtu as if Sir Joshua Reynolds had been his
+ nurse&mdash;Claude his intimate acquaintance&mdash;or Praxiteles his great
+ great grandfather. The fellow affects a most dignified contempt for the
+ canaille, because, in truth, they never invite him to dinner&mdash;is on
+ the free list of all the theatres, from having formerly been freely hiss'd
+ upon their boards&mdash;a retired tragedy king on a small pension, with a
+ republican stomach, who still enacts the starved apothecary at home, from
+ penury, and liberally crams his voracious paunch, stuffing like Father
+ Paul, when at the table of others. With these habits, he has just managed
+ to scrape together some sixty pounds per annum, upon which, by good
+ management, he contrives to live like an emperor; for instance, he keeps a
+ regular book of <span class="pagenum">[215]</span> invitations, numbers
+ his friends according to the days of the year, and divides and subdivides
+ them in accordance with their habits and pursuits, so that an unexpected
+ invitation requires a reference to his journal: if you invite him for
+ Saturday next, he will turn to his tablets, apologise for a previous
+ engagement, run his eye eagerly down the column for an occasional
+ absentee, and then invite himself for some day in the ensuing week, to
+ which your politeness cannot fail to accede. You will meet him in London,
+ Brighton, Bath, Cheltenham, and Margate during the fashionable periods; at
+ all of which places he has his stated number of dinner friends, where his
+ presence is as regularly looked for as the appearance of the swallow.
+ Among the play men he is useful as a looker on, to make one at the table
+ when they are thin of customers, or to drink a young one into a proper
+ state for plucking: in other society he coins compliments for the fair
+ lady of the mansion, extols his host's taste and good fellowship at table,
+ tells a smutty story to amuse the <i>bon vivants</i> in their cups, or
+ recites a nursery rhyme to send the children quietly to bed; and in this
+ manner Crony manages to come in for a good dinner every day of his life.
+ Call on him for a song, and he'll give you, what he calls, a free
+ translation of a Latin ode, by old Walter de Mapes, Archdeacon of Oxford
+ in the eleventh century, a true <i>gourmands</i> prayer&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 Mihi est propositum in tabernâ mon.'
+ I'll try and hum you Crony's English version of the
+ CANTILENA.
+
+ 'I'll in a tavern end my days, midst boon companions merry,
+ Place at my lips a lusty flask replete with sparkling sherry,
+ That angels, hov'ring round, may cry, when I lie dead as door-nail,
+ 'Rise, genial deacon, rise, and drink of the well of life eternal.'
+
+</pre>
+ <hr />
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ <span class="pagenum">[216]</span>
+ 'Various implements belong to ev'ry occupation;
+ Give me an haunch of venison&mdash;and a fig for inspiration!
+ Verses and odes without good cheer, I never could indite 'em;
+ Sure he who meagre, days devised is d&mdash;&mdash;-d ad infinitum!
+
+</pre>
+ <hr />
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Mysteries and prophetic truths, I never could unfold 'em
+ Without a flagon of good wine and a slice of cold ham;
+ But when I've drained my liquor out, and eat what's in the dish up,
+ Though I am but an arch-deacon, I can preach like an arch-
+ bishop.'"
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+"A good orthodox ode," said Transit, "and admirably suited to the
+performer, who, after all, it must be allowed, is a very entertaining
+fellow, and well worthy of his dinner, from the additional amusement he
+affords. I remember meeting him in company with the late Lord Coleraine,
+the once celebrated Colonel George Hanger, when he related an anecdote
+of the humorist, which his lordship freely admitted to be founded on
+fact. As I have never seen it in print, or heard it related by any one
+since, you shall have it instanter: It is well known that our present
+laughter-loving monarch was, in earlier years, often surrounded, when in
+private, by a coruscation of wit and talent, which included not only the
+most distinguished persons in the state, but also some celebrated bon
+vivants and amateur vocalists, among whom the names of the Duke of
+Orleans, Earl of Derby, Charles James Fox, Richard Brinsley Sheridan,
+the facetious poet lauréat to the celebrated Beefsteak club, Tom
+Hewardine, Sir John Moore, Mr Brownlow, Captain Thompson, Bate Dudley,
+Captain Morris, and Colonel George Hanger, formed the most conspicuous
+characters at the princely anacreontic board. But
+
+ 'Who would be grave&mdash;when wine can save
+ The heaviest soul from thinking,
+ And magic grapes give angel's shapes
+ To every girl we're drinking!'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[217]</span> It was on one of these festive
+ occasions, when whim, and wit, and sparkling wine combined to render the
+ festive scene the 'Feast of reason and the flow of soul,' that the Prince
+ of Wales invited himself and his brother, the Duke of York, to dine with
+ George Hanger. An honour so unlooked for, and one for which George was so
+ little prepared (as he then resided in obscure lodgings near Soho-square),
+ quite overpowered the Colonel, who, however, quickly recovering his
+ surprise, assured his royal highness of the very high sense he entertained
+ of the honour intended him, but lamented it was not in his power to
+ receive him, and his illustrious brother, in a manner suitable to their
+ royal dignity. 'You only wish to save your viands, George,' said the
+ prince: 'we shall certainly dine with you on the day appointed; and
+ whether you reside on the first floor or the third, never mind&mdash;the
+ feast will not be the less agreeable from the altitude of the apartment,
+ or the plainness of the repast.' Thus encouraged, George was determined to
+ indulge in a joke with his royal visitors. On the appointed day, the
+ prince and duke arrived, and were shown up stairs to George's apartments,
+ on the second floor, where a very tasteful banquet was set out, but more
+ distinguished by neatness than splendour: after keeping his illustrious
+ guests waiting a considerable period beyond the time agreed on, by way of
+ sharpening their appetites, the prince good-humouredly inquired what he
+ meant to give them for dinner?' Only one dish,' said George; 'but that one
+ will, I flatter myself, be a novelty to my royal guests, and prove highly
+ palatable.' 'And what may that be?' said the prince. 'The wing of a
+ wool-bird,' replied the facetious colonel. It was in vain the prince and
+ duke conjectured what this strange title could import, when George
+ appeared before them with a tremendous large red baking dish, <span
+ class="pagenum">[218]</span> smoking hot, in which was supported a fine
+ well-browned shoulder of mutton, dropping its rich gravy over some crisp
+ potatoes. The prince and his brother enjoyed the joke amazingly, and they
+ have since been heard to declare, they never ate a heartier meal in their
+ life, or one (from its novelty to them in the state in which it was served
+ up), which they have relished more. George had, however, reserved a <i>bonne
+ bouche</i>, in a superb dessert and most exquisite wines, for which the
+ prince had heard he was famous, and which was, perhaps, the principal
+ incitement to the honour conferred."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ After a night spent in the utmost hilarity, heightened by the vivacity and
+ good-humour of my associates, to which might be added, the full
+ gratification of my prevailing <i>penchant</i> for the observance of
+ character, we were on the point of departing, when Transit, ever on the
+ alert in search of variety, observed a figure whom (in his phrase) he had
+ long wished to book; in a few moments a sketch of this eccentric personage
+ was before us. "That is the greatest original we have yet seen," said our
+ friend Bob: "he is now in the honourable situation of croupier to one of
+ the most notorious hells in the metropolis. This poor devil was once a
+ master tailor of some respectability, until getting connected with a gang
+ of sharpers, he was eventually fleeced of all his little property: his
+ good-natured qualifications, and the harmless pleasantries with which he
+ abounds, pointed him out as a very proper person to act as a confederate
+ to the more wealthy legs; from a pigeon he became a bird of prey, was
+ enlisted into the corps, and regularly initiated into all the diabolical
+ mysteries of the black art. For some time he figured as a decoy upon the
+ town, dressed in the first style of fashion, and driving an unusually fine
+ horse and elegant Stanhope, until a circumstance, arising out of a <span
+ class="pagenum">[219]</span> joke played off upon him by his companions,
+ when in a state of intoxication, made him so notorious, that his
+ usefulness in that situation was entirely frustrated, and, consequently,
+ he has since been employed within doors, in the more sacred mysteries of
+ the Greek temple. The gentleman I mean is yonder, with the Joliffe tile
+ and sharp indented countenance: his real name is B&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;;
+ but he has now obtained the humorous cognomen of 'The subject' from having
+ been, while in a state of inebriety, half stripped, put into a sack, and
+ in this manner conveyed to the door of Mr. Brooks, the celebrated
+ anatomist in Blenheim-street, by a hackney night-coachman, who was known
+ to the party as the resurrection Jarvey. On his being deposited in this
+ state at the lecturer's door, by honest Jehu, who offered him for sale,
+ the surgeon proceeded to examine his subject, when, untying the sack, he
+ discovered the man was breathing: 'Why, you scoundrel,' said the irritable
+ anatomist, 'the man's not dead.' 'Not dead!' re-echoed coachee, laughing
+ at the joke, 'Why, then, kill him when you want him!' The consequence of
+ this frolic had, however, nearly proved more serious than the projectors
+ anticipated: the anatomist, suspecting it was some trick to enter his
+ house for burglarious purposes, gave the alarm, when Jarvey made his
+ escape; but poor B&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;was secured, and conveyed the next
+ morning to Marlborough-street, where it required all the ingenuity of a
+ celebrated Old Bailey solicitor to prevent his being committed for the
+ attempt to rob a bonehouse."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ After this anecdote, we all agreed to separate. Transit would fain have
+ led us to the Covent-garden finish, which he describes as being unusually
+ rich in character; but this was deferred until another night, when I shall
+ introduce you to some new acquaintances.&mdash;Adieu. Lady Mary Oldstyle
+ and the D'Almaine family are off to-morrow for Brighton, from which place
+ expect some few descriptive sketches.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Horatio Heartly.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="image-0046" id="image-0046">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page220.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page220 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <hr />
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br /> <a name="spread" id="spread"></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img alt="page221 (157K)" src="images/page221.jpg" width="100%" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br />
+ </p>
+ <h2>
+ THE SPREAD,{1} OR WINE PARTY AT BRAZEN-NOSE.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Hear, Momus, hoar! blithe sprite, whose dimpling cheek
+ Of quips, and cranks ironic, seems to speak,
+ Who lovest learned victims, and whose shrine
+ Groans with the weight of victims asinine.
+ Nod with assent! thy lemon juice infuse!
+ Though of male sex, I woo thee for a Muse."
+
+ <i>A College Wine Party described&mdash;Singular Whim of Horace
+ Eglantine&mdash;Meeting of the Oxford Crackademonians&mdash;Sketches
+ of eccentric Characters, drawn from the Life&mdash;The Doctor's
+ Daughter&mdash;An old Song&mdash;A Round of Sculls&mdash;Epitaphs on the
+ Living and the Dead&mdash;Tom Tick, a College Tale&mdash;The Voyagers
+ &mdash;Notes and Anecdotes.</i>
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ A college wine party I could very well conceive from the specimen I had
+ already of my companion's frolicsome humours, was not unlikely to produce
+ some departure from college rules which might eventually involve me in <i>rustication,
+ fine</i>, or <i>imposition</i>. To avoid it was impossible; it was the
+ first invitation of an early friend, and must be obeyed. The anticipation
+ of a bilious head-ache on the morrow, or perhaps a first appearance
+ before, or lecture from, the vice-chancellor, principal, or proctor, made
+ me somewhat tardy in my appearance at the <i>spread</i>. The butler was
+ just marching a second
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 A spread. A wine party of from thirty to one hundred and
+ twenty persons. The party who gives the spread generally
+ invites all the under-graduates he is acquainted with; a
+ dessert is ordered either from Jubber's, or Sadler's, for
+ the number invited, for which he is charged at per head.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[221]</span> reinforcement of <i>black men, or heavy
+ artillery</i> from the college magazine, across the quadrangle, for the
+ use of the dignitaries' table; when I, a poor solitary <i>freshman</i>,
+ advanced with sentimental awe and fearful stride beneath the arched
+ entrance of Brazen-nose. Where Eglantine's rooms were situated I had no
+ means of knowing, his card supplying only the name of his college; to make
+ some inquiry would be necessary, but of whom, not a creature but what
+ appeared much too busily employed, as they ran to and fro laden with wine
+ and viands, to answer the interrogatories of a stranger. I was on the
+ point of retreating to obtain the requisite information from the waiter at
+ the Mitre, when old Mark Supple made his appearance, with "Your servant,
+ sir: I have been in search of you at your inn, by command of Mr.
+ Eglantine, <i>take notice</i>&mdash;who with a large party of friends are
+ waiting your company to a <i>spread</i>." "A large party, Mark?" said I,
+ suspecting there was some secret drama in rehearsal, in which I was to
+ play a principal part. "A very large party, sir, and a very extraordinary
+ one too, <i>take notice</i>&mdash;such a collection as I never saw before
+ within the walls of a college&mdash;living curiosities, <i>take notice</i>&mdash;all
+ the <i>comicals</i> of Oxford brought together,{2} and this 2 This
+ adventure, strange as it may appear, actually occurred a short time since,
+ when Mr. J*****n of Brazen-nose invited the characters here named to an
+ entertainment in the College. Sir Richard Steele, when on a visit to
+ Edinburgh, indulged in a similar freak: he made a splendid feast, and
+ whilst the servants were wondering for what great personages it was
+ intended, he sent them into the streets, to collect all the eccentrics,
+ beggars, and poor people, that chance might throw in their way, and invite
+ them to his house. A pretty large party being mustered, they were well
+ plied with whiskey-punch and wine; when, forgetting their cares, and free
+ from all restraint, they gave loose to every peculiarity of their
+ respective characters. When the entertainment was over, Sir Richard
+ declared, that besides the pleasure of filling so many hungry bellies, and
+ enjoying an hour of rich amusement, he had gleaned from them humour enough
+ to form a good comedy, or at least a farce.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ THE SPREAD, OR WINE PARTY AT BRAZEN-NOSE 223
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ is what Mr. Eglantine calls his <i>museum of character</i>, but which I
+ should call a <i>regiment of caricatures, take notice</i>&mdash;but I
+ heard him say, that he had invited them on purpose to surprise you; that
+ he knew you was fond of eccentricity, and that he thought he had prepared
+ a great treat. I only wish he may get rid of them as easily as he brought
+ them there, for if the bull-dogs should gain scent of them there would be
+ a pretty row, <i>take notice</i>." Mark's information, instead of
+ producing the alarm he evidently anticipated, had completely dispelled all
+ previous fears, and operated like the prologue to a rich comedy, from
+ which I expected to derive considerable merriment: following, therefore,
+ my conductor up one flight of stairs on the opposite side of the space
+ from which I had entered, I found myself at the closed <i>oak</i> of my
+ friend. "Mr. Eglantine is giving them a <i>chaunt</i>" said Mark, who had
+ applied his ear to the key-hole of the door: "we must wait till the song
+ is over, or you will be fined in a double bumper of <i>bishop</i>, for
+ interrupting the <i>stave, take notice</i>." Curiosity prompted me to
+ follow Mark's example, when I overheard Horace chanting part of an old
+ satirical ballad on John Wilkes, to the tune of the Dragon of Wantley;
+ commencing with&mdash;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ And ballads I have heard rehearsed By harmonists itinerant, Who modern
+ worthies celebrate, Yet scarcely make a dinner on't. Some of whom sprang
+ from noble race, And some were in a pig-sty born, Dependent upon royal
+ grace Or triple tree of Tyburn.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ CHORUS. John Wilkes he was for Middlesex, They chose him knight of the
+ shire: He made a fool of alderman Bull, And call'd parson Home a liar.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[224]</span> The moment silence was obtained, old
+ Mark gave three distinct knocks at the door, when Horace himself appeared,
+ and we were immediately admitted to the temple of the Muses; where, seated
+ round a long table, appeared a variety of characters that would have
+ rivalled (from description) the Beggars' Club in St. Giles's&mdash;the
+ Covent-Garden Finish&mdash;or the once celebrated Peep o' day boys in
+ Fleet-lane. At the upper end of the table were Tom Echo and Bob Transit,
+ the first smoking his cigar, the second sketching the portraits of the
+ motley group around him on the back of his address cards; at the lower end
+ of the room, on each side of the chair from which Eglantine had just risen
+ to welcome me, sat little Dick Gradus, looking as knowing as an Old Bailey
+ counsel dissecting a burglary case, and the honourable Lillyman Lionise,
+ the Eton <i>exquisite</i>, looking as delicate and frightened as if his
+ whole system of ethics was likely to be revolutionized by this night's
+ entertainment. To such a society a formal introduction was of course
+ deemed essential; and this favour Horace undertook by recommending me to
+ the particular notice of the <i>crackademonians</i> (as he was pleased to
+ designate the elegant assemblage by whom we were then surrounded), in the
+ following oration: "Most noble <i>cracks</i>, and worthy cousin <i>trumps</i>&mdash;permit
+ me to introduce a brother of the <i>togati, fresh</i> as a new-blown rose,
+ and innocent as the lilies of St. Clement's. Be unto him, as ye have been
+ to all gownsmen from the beginning, ever ready to promote his wishes,
+ whether for spree or sport, in term or out of term&mdash;against the <i>Inquisition</i>
+ and their <i>bull-dogs</i>&mdash;the town <i>raff</i> and the <i>bargees</i>&mdash;well
+ <i>blunted or stiver cramped</i>&mdash;against <i>dun or don&mdash;nob or
+ big wig</i>&mdash;so may you never want a bumper of <i>bishop</i>: and
+ thus do I commend him to your merry keeping." "Full charges, boys," said
+ Echo, "fill up their glasses, Count Dennett{3}; 3 Count Dennett,
+ hair-dresser at Corpus and Oriel Colleges, a very eccentric man, who has
+ saved considerable property; celebrated for making bishops' wigs, playing
+ at cribbage, and psalm-singing.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[225]</span>Here's Brother Blackmantle of
+ Brazen-nose." "A speech, a speech!" vociferated all the party. "Yes,
+ worthy brother <i>cracks</i>," replied I, "you shall have a speech, the
+ very acme of oratory; a brief speech, composed by no less a personage than
+ the great Lexicographer himself, and always used by him on such occasions
+ at the club in Ivy-lane. Here's all your healths, and <i>Esto perpétua</i>."
+ "Bravo!" said Eglantine;" the boy improves. Now a toast, a university lass&mdash;come,
+ boys, The Doctor's Daughter; and then a song from Crotchet C&mdash;ss."{4}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ BURTON ALE.
+ AN ANCIENT OXFORD DITTY.
+
+ Of all the belles who Christ Church bless,
+ None's like the doctor's daughter{5};
+ Who hates affected squeamishness
+ Almost as much as water.
+ Unlike your modern dames, afraid
+ Of Bacchus's caresses;
+ She far exceeds the stoutest maid
+ Of excellent queen Bess's.
+
+ Hers were the days, says she, good lack,
+ The days to drink and munch in;
+ When butts of Burton, tuns of sack,
+ Wash'd down an ox for luncheon.
+ Confound your <i>nimpy-pimpy</i> lass,
+ Who faints and fumes at liquor;
+ Give me the girl that takes her glass
+ Like Moses and the vicar.
+
+ 4 Mr. C&mdash;ss, otherwise Crotchet C&mdash;ss, bachelor of music,
+ and organist of Christ Church College, St. John's College,
+ and St. Mary's Church. An excellent musician, and a jolly
+ companion: he published, some time since, a volume of
+ chants.
+
+ 5 A once celebrated university toast, with whose
+ eccentricities we could fill a volume; but having received
+ an intimation that it would be unpleasant to the lady's
+ feelings, we gallantly forbear.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[226]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ True emblem of immortal ale,
+ So famed in British lingo;
+ Stout, beady, and a little <i>stale</i>&mdash;
+ Long live the Burton stingo!
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "A vulgar ditty, by my faith," said the exquisite, "in the true English
+ style, all <i>fol de rol</i>, and a vile chorus to split the tympanum of
+ one's auricular organs: do, for heaven's sake, Echo, let us have some <i>divertissement</i>
+ of a less boisterous character." "Agreed," said Eglantine, winking at
+ Echo; "we'll have a <i>round of sculls</i>. Every man shall sing a song,
+ write a poetical epitaph on his right hand companion, or drink off a
+ double dose of rum booze."{6} "Then I shall be confoundedly <i>cut</i>,"
+ said Dick Gradus, "for I never yet could chant a stave or make a couplet
+ in my life." "And I protest against a practice," said Lionise, "that has a
+ tendency to trifle with one's <i>transitory tortures</i>." "No appeal from
+ the chair," said Eglantine: "another bumper, boys; here's The Fair <i>Nuns
+ of St. Clement's</i>." "To which I beg leave to add," said Echo, "by way
+ of rider, their favourite pursuit, <i>The Study of the Fathers</i>." By
+ the time these toasts had been duly honoured, some of the party displayed
+ symptoms of being <i>moderately cut</i>, when Echo commenced by reciting
+ his epitaph on his next friend, Bob Transit:&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Here rests a wag, whose pencil drew
+ Life's characters of varied hue,
+ Bob Transit&mdash;famed in humour's sphere
+ For many a transitory year.
+ Though dead, still in the "English Spy"
+ He'll live for ever to the eye.
+ Here uncle White{7} reclines in peace,
+ Secure from nephew and from niece.
+
+ 6 Rum booze&mdash;Flip made of white or port wine, the yolks of
+ eggs, sugar and nutmeg.
+
+ 7 Uncle White, a venerable bed-maker of All Souls' College,
+ eighty-three years of age; has been in the service of the
+ college nearly seventy years: is always dressed in black,
+ and wears very largo silver knee and shoe-buckles; his hair,
+ which is milk-white, is in general tastefully curled: he is
+ known "to, and called uncle by, every inhabitant of the
+ university, and obtained the cog-nomen from his having an
+ incredible number of nephews and nieces in Oxford. In
+ appearance he somewhat resembles a clergyman of the old
+ school.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[227]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Of All-Souls' he, alive or dead;
+ Of milk-white name, the milk-white head.
+ By Uncle White.
+ Here lies Billy Chadwell,{8}
+ Who perform'd the duties of a dad well.
+
+ BY BILLY CHADWELL.
+ Ye maggots, now's your time to crow:
+ Old Boggy Hastings{9} rests below.
+
+ BY BOGGY HASTINGS.
+ A grosser man ne'er mix'd with stones
+ Than lies beneath&mdash;'Tis Figgy Jones.{10}
+
+ BY FIGGY JONES.
+ Here Marquis Wickens{11} lies incrust,
+ In clay-cold consecrated dust:
+ No more he'll brew, or pastry bake;
+ His sun is set&mdash;himself a cake.
+
+ 8 Billy Chadwell, of psalm-singing notoriety, since dead;
+ would imitate syncope so admirably, as to deceive a whole
+ room full of company&mdash;in an instant he would become pale,
+ motionless, and ghastly as death; the action of his heart
+ has even appeared to be diminished: his sham fits, if
+ possible, exceeded his fainting. He was very quarrelsome
+ when in his cups; and when he had aggravated any one to the
+ utmost, to save himself from a severe beating would
+ apparently fall into a most dreadful fit, which never failed
+ to disarm his adversary of his rage, and to excite the
+ compassion of every by-stander.
+
+ 9 Old Boggy Hastings supplies members of the university and
+ college servants who are anglers with worms and maggots.
+
+ 10 Tommy J***s, alias Figgy Jones, an opulent grocer in the
+ High-street, and a common-councilman in high favour with the
+ lower orders of the freemen; a sporting character.
+
+ 11 Marquis Wickens formerly a confectioner, and now a
+ common brewer. He accumulated considerable property as a
+ confectioner, from placing his daughters, who were pretty
+ genteel girls, behind his counter, where they attracted a
+ great many gownsmen to the shop. No tradesman ever gained a
+ fortune more rapidly than this man: as soon as he found
+ himself inde-pendent of the university, he gave up his shop,
+ bought the Sun Inn, built a brewhouse, and is now gaining as
+ much money by selling beer as he formerly did by
+ confectionery.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[228]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ BY MARQUIS WICKENS.
+ Ye <i>roués</i> all, be sad and mute;
+ Who now shall cut the stylish suit?
+ <i>Buck</i> Sheffield's{12 }gone&mdash;Ye Oxford men,
+ Where shall ye meet his like again?
+
+ BY BUCK SHEFFIELD.
+ MacLean{13} or <i>Tackle</i>, which you will,
+ In quiet sleeps beneath this hill.
+ Ye anglers, bend with one accord;
+ The stranger is no more abroad.
+
+ BY MACLEAN.
+ Here rests a punster, Jemmy Wheeler{14}
+ In wit and whim a wholesale dealer;
+ Unbound by care, he others bound,
+ And now lies gathered underground.
+
+ 12 Sheffield, better known by the name of Buck Sheffield, a
+ master tailor and a member of the common council.
+
+ 13 MacLean, an old bacchanalian Scotchman, better known by
+ the name of Tackle: a tall thin man, who speaks the broad
+ Scotch dialect; makes and mends fishing-tackle for members
+ of the university; makes bows and arrows for those who
+ belong to the Archery Society; is an indifferent musician,
+ occasionally amuses under-graduates in their apartments by
+ playing to them country dances and marches on the flute or
+ violin. He published his Life a short time since, in a thin
+ octavo pamphlet, entitled "The Stranger Abroad, or The
+ History of Myself," by MacLean.
+
+ 14 Jemmy Wheeler of Magpie-lane, a bookbinder, of punning
+ celebrity; has published two or three excellent versified
+ puns in the Oxford Herald. He is a young man of good natural
+ abilities,
+but unfortunately applies them occasionally to a loose purpose.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[229]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ BY JEMMY WHEELER.
+ A speedy-man, by nimble foe,
+ Lies buried in the earth below:
+ The Baron Perkins,{15} Mercury
+ To all the university.
+ Men of New College, mourn his fate,
+ Who <i>early</i> died by drinking <i>late</i>.
+
+ BY BARON PERKINS.
+ Ye Oxford <i>duns</i>, you're done at last;
+ Here Smiler W&mdash;&mdash;d{16} is laid fast.
+ No more his <i>oak</i> ye need assail;
+ He's book'd inside a wooden jail.
+
+ BY SMILER W&mdash;&mdash; OF C&mdash;&mdash; COLLEGE.
+ A thing called exquisite rests here:
+ For human nature's sake I hope,
+ Without uncharitable trope,
+ 'Twill ne'er among us more appear.
+
+ 15 William Perkins, alias Baron Perkins, alias the Baron, a
+ very jovial watchman of Holywell, the New College speedy-
+ man,{*} and factotum to New College.
+
+ 16 Mr. W&mdash;&mdash;d, alias Smiler W&mdash;&mdash;d, a commoner of
+ &mdash;&mdash;. This gentleman is always laughing or smiling; is
+ long-winded, and consequently pestered with <i>duns</i>, who are
+ sometimes much chagrined by repeated disappointments; but
+ let them be ever so crusty, he never fails in laughing them
+ into a good humour before they leave his room.
+
+ It was over Smiler's oak in&mdash;&mdash;, that some wag had printed
+ and stuck up the following notice:
+
+ Men traps and spring guns
+ Set here to catch <i>duns</i>.
+
+ * A <i>speedy-man</i> at New College is a person employed to take
+ a letter to the master of Winchester school from the warden
+ of New College, acquaint-ing him that a fellowship or
+ scholarship is become vacant in the college, and requiring
+ him to send forthwith the next senior boy. The speedy-man
+ always performs his journey on foot, and within a given
+ time.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[230]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ BY LILLYMAN LIONISE.
+ Here rests a poet&mdash;heaven keep him quiet,
+ For when above he lived a life of riot;
+ Enjoy'd his joke, and drank his share of wine&mdash;
+ A mad wag he, one Horace Eglantine.{17}
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The good old orthodox beverage now began to display its potent effects
+ upon the heads and understandings of the party. All restraint being
+ completely banished by the effect of the liquor, every one indulged in
+ their characteristic eccentricities. Dick Gradus pleaded his utter
+ incapability to sing or produce an impromptu rhyme, but was allowed to
+ substitute a prose epitaph on the renowned school-master of Magdalen
+ parish, Fatty T&mdash;b,{18} who lay snoring under the table. "It shall be
+ read over him in lieu of burial service," said Echo. "Agreed, agreed,"
+ vociferated all the party; and Jemmy
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 17 This whim of tagging rhymes and epitaphs, adopted by
+ Horace Eglantine, is of no mean authority. During the
+ convivial administration of Lord North, when the ministerial
+ dinners were composed of such men as the Lords Sandwich,
+ Weymouth, Thurlow, Richard Rigby, &amp;c, various pleasantries
+ passed current for which the present time would be deemed
+ too refined. Among others, it was the whim of the day to
+ call upon each member, after the cloth was drawn, to tag a
+ rhyme to the name of his left hand neighbour. It was first
+ proposed by Lord Sandwich, to raise a laugh against the
+ facetious Lord North, who happened to sit next to a Mr.
+ Mellagen, a name deemed incapable of a rhyme. Luckily,
+ however, for Lord North, that gentleman had just informed
+ him of an accident that had befallen him near the pump in
+ Pall Mall; when, therefore, it came to his turn, he wrote
+ the following distich:&mdash;
+
+ Oh! pity poor Mr. Mellagen,
+ Who walking along Pall Mall,
+ Hurt his foot when down he fell,
+ And fears he won't get well again.
+
+ 18 Fatty T&mdash;&mdash;, better known as the sixpenny schoolmaster:
+ a little fat man, remarkable for his love of good living.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[231]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Jumps,{19} the parish clerk of Saint Peter's, was instantly mounted on a
+ chair, at the head of the defunct schoolmaster, to recite the following
+ whim:&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Epitaph on a Glutton.
+
+ Beneath this table lie the remains of Fatty T***;
+ Who more than performed the duties of
+ An excellent eater, an unparalleled drinker, and
+ A truly admirable sleeper.
+ His stomach was as disinterested
+ As his appetite was good; so that
+ His impartial tooth alike chewed
+ The mutton of the poor,and
+ The turtle of the rich.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 19 James James, alias Jemmy Jumps, alias the Oxford Caleb
+ Quotum, a stay-maker, and parish-clerk of Saint Peter le
+ Bailey&mdash;plays the violin to parties on water excursions,
+ attends public-house balls&mdash;is bellows-blower and factotum
+ at the music-room&mdash;attends as porter to the Philharmonic and
+ Oxford Choral Societies&mdash;is constable of the race-course
+ and race balls&mdash;a bill distributor and a deputy collector of
+ poor rates&mdash;calls his wife his <i>solio</i>. He often amuses his
+ companions at public-houses by reciting comic tales in
+ verse. A woman who had lost a relative desired Jemmy
+ Jumps to get a brick grave built. On digging up a piece
+ of ground which had not been opened for many years, he
+ discovered a very good brick grave, and, to his great joy,
+ also discovered that its occupant had long since mouldered
+ into dust. He cleaned the grave out, procured some reddle
+ and water, brushed the bricks over with it, and informed
+ the person that he had a most excellent <i>second-hand grave
+ to sell as good as new</i>, and if she thought it would suit
+ her poor departed friend, would let her have it at half the
+ price of a new one: this was too good an offer to be
+ rejected; but Jemmy found, on measuring the coffin, that his
+ second-hand grave was too short, and consequently was
+ obliged to dig the earth away from the end of the grave and
+ beat the bricks in with a beetle, before it would admit its
+ new tenant.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[232]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ He was a zealous opposer of the Aqua-<i>arian</i> heresy,
+ A steady devourer of beef-steaks,
+ A stanch and devout advocate for <i>spiced bishop</i>,
+ A firm friend to Bill Holland's <i>double X</i>, and
+ An active disseminator of the bottle,
+ He was ever uneasy unless employed upon
+ The good things of this world; and
+ The interment of a <i>swiss</i> or lion,
+ Or the dissolution of a pasty,
+ Was his great delight.
+ He died
+ Full of drink and victuals,
+ In the undiminished enjoyment of his digestive faculties,
+ In the forty-fifth year of his appetite.
+ The collegians inscribed this memento,
+ In perpetual remembrance of
+ His <i>pieous</i> knife and fork.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "Very well for a <i>trencher</i> man," said Horace; "now we must have a
+ recitation from Strasburg.{20} Come, you jolly old teacher of Hebrew,
+ mount the rostrum, and "give us a taste of your quality." "Ay, or by
+ heavens we'll baptize him with a bumper of bishop," said Echo. "For
+ conscience sake, mishter Echo, conshider vat it is you're about; I can no
+ more shpeek in English than I can turn Christian&mdash;I've drank so much
+ of your red port to-day as voud make anoder Red Sea." "Ay, and you shall
+ be drowned in it, you old <i>Sheenie</i>," said Tom, "if you don't give us
+ a speech." "A speech, a speech!" resounded from all
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ {20} Strasburg, an eccentric Jew, who gave lessons in Hebrew
+ to members of the university.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[233]</span>the yet living subjects of the party.
+ "Veil, if I musht, I musht; but I musht do it by shubstitute then; my old
+ friend, Mark Supple here, vill give you the history of Tom Tick." To this
+ Echo assented, on account of the allusions it bore to the Albanians, some
+ of whom were of the party. Old Mark, mounted on the chair at the upper end
+ of the table, proceeded with the tale.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0001" id="Bimage-0001">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page233.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page233 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Blink2H_4_0002" id="Blink2H_4_0002">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE OXFORD RAKE'S PROGRESS.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Tom was a tailor's heir,
+ A dashing blade,
+ Whose sire in trade
+ Enough had made,
+ By cribbage, short skirts, and little capes,
+ Long bills, and items for buckram, tapes,
+ Buttons, twist, and small ware;
+ Which swell a bill out so delightfully,
+ Or perhaps I should say frightfully,
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[234]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ That is, if it related to myself.
+ Suffice it to be told
+ In wealth he roll'd,
+ And being a fellow of some spirit,
+ Set up his coach;
+ To 'scape reproach,
+ He put the tailor on the shelf,
+ And thought to make his boy a man of merit.
+ On old Etona's classic ground,
+ Tom's infant years in circling round
+ Were spent 'mid Greek and Latin;
+ The boy had parts both gay and bright,
+ A merry, mad, facetious sprite,
+ With heart as soft as satin.
+ For sport or spree Tom never lack'd;
+ A <i>con</i>{21} with all, his sock he crack'd
+ With <i>oppidan</i> or gownsman:
+ Could <i>smug</i> a sign, or quiz the <i>dame</i>,
+ Or row, or ride, or poach for game,
+ With <i>cads</i>, or Eton townsmen.
+ Tom's <i>admiral</i> design'd,
+ Most dads are blind
+ To youthful folly,
+ That Tom should be a man of learning,
+ To show his parent's great discerning,
+ A parson rich and jolly.
+ To Oxford Tom in due time went,
+ Upon degree D.D. intent,
+ But more intent on ruin:
+ <i>A Freshman</i>, steering for the <i>Port of Stuff's</i>,{22}
+ Round <i>Isle Matricula</i>, and <i>Isthmus of Grace</i>,
+ Intent on living well and little doing.
+ Here Tom came out a dashing blood,
+ Kept Doll at Woodstock, and a stud
+ For hunting, race, or tandem;
+ Could <i>bag</i> a proctor, <i>floor a raff</i>,
+ Or stifle e'en a <i>hull-dog's gaff</i>,
+ Get <i>bosky</i>, drive at random.
+
+ 21 Eton phraseology&mdash;A friend.
+
+ 22 Oxford phraseology&mdash;All these terms have been explained
+ in an earlier part of the work.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[235]</span> <a name="Bimage-0002" id="Bimage-0002">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page235.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page235th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page 235" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ But long before the first term ended,
+ Tom was inform'd, unless he mended,
+ He'd better change his college.
+ Which said, the <i>Don</i> was hobbling to the shelf
+ Where college butler keeps his book of <i>Battell</i>;
+ Tom nimbly ran, erased his name himself,
+ To save the scandal of the students' prattle.
+ In Oxford, be it known, there is a place
+ Where all the mad wags in disgrace
+ Retire to improve their knowledge;
+ The town <i>raff</i> call it <i>Botany Bay</i>,
+ Its inmates <i>exiles, convicts</i>, and they say
+ Saint Alban takes the student refugees:
+ Here Tom, to 'scape <i>Point Non plus</i>, took his seat
+ After a <i>waste of ready</i>&mdash;found his feet
+ Safe on the shores of indolence and ease;
+ Here, 'mid choice spirits, in the <i>Isle of Flip</i>,
+ Dad's will, and <i>sapping</i>, valued not young <i>snip</i>;
+ Scapula, Homer, Lexicon, laid by,
+ Join'd the peep-of-day boys in full cry.{23}
+ A saving sire a sad son makes
+ This adage suits most modern rakes,
+
+ 23 It was in the actual participation of these bacchanalian
+ orgies, during the latter days of Dr. W&mdash;&mdash;y, the former
+ head of the Hall, when infirmities prevented his exercising
+ the necessary watchful-ness over the buoyant spirits
+ committed to his charge, that my friend Bob Transit and
+ myself were initiated into the mysteries of the Albanians.
+ The accompanying scene, so faithfully delineated by his
+ humorous pencil, will be fresh in the recollection of the
+ <i>choice spirits</i> who mingled in the joyous revelry. To
+ particularise character would be to "betray the secrets of
+ the prison-house," and is besides wholly unnecessary, every
+ figure round the board being a portrait; kindred souls,
+ whose merrie laughter-loving countenances and jovial
+ propensities, will be readily recognised by every son of
+ <i>Alma Mater</i> who was at Oxford during the last days of the
+ <i>beaux esprits</i> of Alban Hall. (<i>See Plate</i>.) In justice to
+ the learned Grecian who now presides, it should be told,
+ that these scenes are altogether suppressed.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[236]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ And Tom above all others.
+ I should have told before, he was an only child,
+ And therefore privileged to be gay and wild,
+ Having no brothers,
+ Whom his example might mislead
+ Into extravagance, or deed
+ Ridiculous and foolish.
+ Three tedious years in Oxford spent,
+ In midnight brawl and merriment,
+ Tom bid adieu to college,
+ To cassock-robe of orthodox,
+ To construe and decline&mdash;the box,
+ Supreme in stable knowledge;
+ To dash on all within the ring,
+ Bet high, play deep, or rioting,
+ At Long's to sport his figure
+ In honour's cause, some small affair
+ Give modern bucks a finish'd air,
+ Tom pull'd the fatal trigger.
+ He kill'd his friend&mdash;but then remark,
+ His friend had kill'd another spark,
+ So 'twas but trick and tie.
+ The cause of quarrel no one knew,
+ Not even Tom,&mdash;away he flew,
+ Till time and forms of law,
+ To fashionable vices blind,
+ Excuses for the guilty find,
+ Call murder a <i>faux pas</i>.
+ The tinsell'd coat next struck his pride,
+ How dashing in the Park to ride
+ A cornet of dragoons;
+ Upon a charger, thorough bred,
+ To show off with a high plumed head,
+ The gaze of Legs and Spoons;
+ To rein him up in all his paces,
+ Then splash the passing trav'lers' faces,
+ And spur and caper by;
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[237]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Get drunk at mess, then sally out
+ To Lisle-street fair, or beat a scout,
+ Or black a waiter's eye.
+ Of all the clubs,&mdash;the Clippers, Screws,
+ The Fly-by-nights, Four Horse, and Blues,
+ The Daffy, Snugs, and Peep-o-day,
+ Tom's an elect; at all the Hells,
+ At Bolton-Row, with tip-top swells,
+ And Tat's men, deep he'd play.
+ His debts oft paid by Snyder's{24} pelf,
+ Who paid at last a debt himself,
+ Which all that live must pay.
+ Tom book'd{25} the old one snug inside,
+ Wore sables, look'd demure and sigh'd
+ Some few short hours away;
+ Till from the funeral return'd,
+ Then Tom with expectation burn'd
+ To hear his father's will:&mdash;
+ "Twice twenty thousand pounds in cash,"&mdash;
+ "That's prime," quoth Tom, "to cut a dash
+ "At races or a mill,"&mdash;
+ "All my leaseholds, house and plate,
+ My pictures and freehold estate,
+ I give my darling heir;
+ Not doubting but, as I in trade
+ By careful means this sum have made,
+ He'll double it with care."&mdash;
+ "Ay, that I will, I'll hit the nick,
+ Seven's the main,&mdash;here Ned and Dick
+ Bring down my blue and buff;
+ Take off the hatband, banish grief,
+ 'Tis time to turn o'er a new leaf,
+ Sorrow's but idle stuff."
+ Fame, trumpet-tongued, Tom's wealth reports,
+ His name is blazon'd at the courts
+ Of Carlton and the Fives.
+ His equipage, his greys, his dress,
+ His polish'd self, so like <i>noblesse</i>,
+ "Is ruin's sure perquise."
+
+ 24 Flash for tailor.
+
+ 25 Screwed up in his coffin.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[238]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Beau Brummell's bow had not the grace,
+ Alvanly stood eclipsed in face,
+ The <i>Roués</i> all were mute,
+ So exquisite, so chaste, unique,
+ The mark for every Leg and Greek,
+ Who play the concave suit.{26}
+ At Almack's, paradise o' the West,
+ Tom's hand by prince and peer is press'd,
+ And fashion cries supreme.
+ His Op'ra box, and little quean,
+ To lounge, to see, and to be seen,
+ Makes life a pleasant dream.
+ Such dreams, alas! are transient light,
+ A glow of brightness and delight,
+ That wakes to years of pain.
+ Tom's round of pleasure soon was o'er,
+ And clam'rous <i>duns</i> assail the door
+ When credit's on the wane.
+ His riches pay his folly's price,
+ And vanish soon a sacrifice,
+ Then friendly comrades fly;
+ His ev'ry foible dragg'd to light,
+ And faults (unheeded) crowd in sight,
+ Asham'd to show his face.
+ Beset by tradesmen, lawyers, <i>bums</i>,{21}
+ He sinks where fashion never comes,
+ A wealthier takes his place.
+ <i>Beat at all points, floor'd, and clean'd out</i>,
+ Tom yet resolv'd to brave it out,
+
+ 36 Cards cut in a peculiar manner, to enable the Leg to
+ fleece his Pigeon securely.
+
+ 27 "Persons employed by the sheriff to hunt and seize human
+ prey: they are always bound in sureties for the due
+ execution of their office, and thence are called <i>Bound
+ Bailiff's</i>, which the common people have corrupted into a
+ much more homely ex-pression&mdash;<i>to wit, Bum-Bailiffs or
+ Bums</i>."&mdash;l <i>Black Com</i>. 346.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[239]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ If die he must, die game.
+ Some few months o'er, again he strays
+ 'Midst scenes of former halcyon days,
+ On other projects bent;
+ No more ambitious of a name,
+ Or mere unprofitable fame,
+ On gain he's now intent,
+ To deal a flush, or cog a die,
+ Or plan a deep confed'racy
+ To pluck a pigeon bare.
+ Elected by the Legs a brother,
+ His plan is to entrap some other
+ In Greeting's fatal snare.
+ Here for a time his arts succeed,
+ But vice like his, it is decreed,
+ Can never triumph long:
+ A noble, who had been his prey,
+ Convey'd the well cogg'd bones away,
+ Exposed them to the throng.
+ Now blown, "his occupation's" o'er,
+ Indictments, actions, on him pour,
+ His ill got wealth must fly;
+ And faster than it came, the law
+ Can fraud's last ill got shilling draw,
+ Tom's pocket soon drain'd dry.
+ Again at sea, a wreck, struck down,
+ By fickle fortune and the town,
+ Without the means to bolt.
+ His days in bed, for fear of Bums,
+ At night among the Legs he comes,
+ Who gibe him for a dolt.
+ He's cut, and comrades, one by one,
+ Avoid him as they would a dun.
+ Here finishes our tale&mdash;
+ Tom Tick, the life, the soul, the whim
+ Of courts and fashion when in trim,
+ Is left&mdash;
+ WAITING FOR BAIL.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[240]</span> <a name="Bimage-0003" id="Bimage-0003">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page240.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page240 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ By the time old Mark Supple had finished his somewhat lengthy tale, the
+ major part of the motley group of eccentrics who surrounded us were
+ terribly cut: the garrulous organ of Jack Milburn was unable to articulate
+ a word; <i>Goose</i> B&mdash;&mdash;l, the gourmand, was crammed full, and
+ looked, as he lay in the arms of Morpheus, like a fat citizen on the night
+ of a lord mayor's dinner&mdash;a lump of inanimate mortality. In one
+ corner lay a poor little Grecian, papa Chrysanthus Demetriades, whom Tom
+ Echo had plied with bishop till he fell off his chair; Count Dennet was
+ safely deposited beside him; and old Will Stewart,{28} the poacher, was
+ just humming himself to sleep with the fag end of an old ballad as he sat
+ upon the ground
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 28 Portraits of the three last-mentioned eccentrics will be
+ found in page 245, sketched from the life.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[241]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ resting his back against the defunct Grecian. A diminutive little cripple,
+ Johnny Holloway, was sleeping between his legs, upon whose head Tom had
+ fixed a wig of immense size, crowned with an opera hat and a fox's tail
+ for a feather. "Now to bury the dead," said Eglantine; "let in the lads,
+ Mark." "Now we shall have a little sport, old fellows," said Echo: "come,
+ Transit, where are your paints and brushes?" In a minute the whole party
+ were most industriously engaged in disfiguring the objects around us by
+ painting their faces, some to resemble tattooing, while others were
+ decorated with black eyes, huge mustachios, and different embellishments,
+ until it would have been impossible for friend or relation to have
+ recognised any one of their visages. This ceremony being completed, old
+ Mark introduced a new collection of worthies, who had been previously
+ instructed for the sport; these were, I found, no other than the
+ well-known Oxford <i>cads</i>, Marston Will, Tom Webb, Harry Bell, and
+ Dick Rymal,{29} all out and outers, as Echo reported, for a spree with the
+ gown, who had been regaled at some neighbouring public house by Eglantine,
+ to be in readiness for the wind-up of his eccentric entertainment; to the
+ pious care of these worthies were consigned the strange-looking mortals
+ who surrounded us. The plan was, I found, to carry them out quietly
+ between two men, deposit them in a cart which they had in waiting, and
+ having taken them to the water-side, place them in a barge and send them
+ drifting down the water in the night to Iffley, where their consternation
+ on recovering the next morning and strange appearance would be sure to
+ create a source of merriment both for the city and university. The
+ instructions were most punctually obeyed, and the amusement the freak
+ afterwards afforded the good people of Oxford will not very
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 29 Well-known sporting cads, who are always ready to do a
+ good turn for the <i>togati</i>, either for sport or spree.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[242]</span>quickly be forgotten. Thus ended the
+ spread&mdash;and now having taken more than my usual quantity of wine, and
+ being withal fatigued by the varied amusements of the evening, I would
+ fain have retired to rest: but this, I found, would be contrary to good
+ fellowship, and not at all in accordance with <i>college principles</i>.
+ "We must have a spree" said Echo, "by way of finish, the rum ones are all
+ shipped off safely by this time&mdash;suppose we introduce Blackmantle to
+ our <i>grandmamma</i>, and the pretty <i>Nuns</i> of St. Clement's."
+ "Soho, my good fellows," said Transit; "we had better defer our visit in
+ that direction until the night is more advanced. The old don{30} of&mdash;&mdash;,
+ remember, celebrates the Paphian mysteries in that quarter occasionally,
+ and we may not always be able to <i>shirk</i> him as effectually as on the
+ other evening, when Echo and myself were snugly enjoying a <i>tête-a-tête</i>
+ with Maria B&mdash;&mdash;and little Agnes S&mdash;&mdash;{31}; we
+ accidentally caught a glimpse of <i>old Morality</i> cautiously toddling
+ after the pious Mrs. A&mdash;ms, <i>vide-licet</i> of arts,{32} a lady who
+ has been regularly matriculated at this university, and taken up her
+ degrees some years since. It was too rich a bit to lose, and although at
+ the risk of discovery, I booked it immediately <i>eo instunti. 'Exegi
+ monumentum aere perennius</i>'&mdash;and here it is."
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 30 We all must reverence dons; and I'm about
+ To talk of dons&mdash;irreverently I doubt.
+ For many a priest, when sombre evening gray
+ Mantles the sky, o'er maudlin bridge will stray&mdash;
+ Forget his oaths, his office, and his fame,
+ And mix in company I will not name.
+
+ <i>Aphrodisiacal Licenses</i>.
+ 31 Paphian divinities in high repute at Oxford.
+
+ 32 Pretty much in the same sense, probably, in which Moore's
+ gifted leman Fanny is by him designated Mistress of Arts.
+
+ And oh!&mdash;if a fellow like me
+ May confer a diploma of hearts,
+ With my lip thus I seal your degree,
+ My divine little Mistress of Arts.
+
+ For an account of Fan's proficiency in astronomy, ethics,
+ (not the Nicomachean), and eloquence, see Moore's Epistles,
+ vol. ii. p. 155.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[243]</span> <a name="Bimage-0004" id="Bimage-0004">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page243.jpg" width="100%" alt="Pge243 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ "An excellent likeness, i'faith, is it," said Eglantine; whose eyes
+ twinkled like stars amid the wind-driven clouds, and whose half clipped
+ words and unsteady motion sufficiently evinced that he had paid due
+ attention to the old laws of potation. "There's nothing like the <i>cloth</i>
+ for comfort, old fellows; remember what a man of Christ Church wrote to
+ George Colman when he was studying for the law.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Turn parson, Colman, that's the way to thrive;
+ Your parsons are the happiest men alive.
+ Judges, there are but twelve; and never more,
+ But stalls untold, and Bishops twenty-four.
+ Of pride and claret, sloth and venison full,
+ Yon prelate mark, right reverend and dull!
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[244]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ He ne'er, good man, need pensive vigils keep
+ To preach his audience once a week to sleep;
+ On rich preferment battens at his ease,
+ Nor sweats for tithes, as lawyers toil for fees.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ If Colman had turned parson he would have had a bishoprick long since, and
+ rivalled that jolly old ancient Walter de Mapes. Then what an honour he
+ would have been to the church; no drowsy epistles spun out in lengthened
+ phrase,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Like to the quondam student, named of yore,
+ Who with Aristotle calmly choked a boar;'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ but true orthodox wit: the real light of grace would have fallen from his
+ lips and charmed the crowded aisle; the rich epigrammatic style, the true
+ creed of the churchman; no fear of canting innovations or evangelical
+ sceptics; but all would have proceeded harmoniously, ay, and piously too&mdash;for
+ true piety consists not in purgation of the body, but in purity of mind.
+ Then if we could but have witnessed Colman filling the chair in one of our
+ common rooms, enlivening with his genius, wit, and social conversation the
+ learned <i>dromedaries</i> of the Sanctum, and dispelling the habitual
+ gloom of a College Hospitium, what chance would the sectarians of Wesley,
+ or the infatuated followers even of that arch rhapsodist, Irving, have
+ with the attractive eloquence and sound reasoning of true wit?" "Bravo!
+ bravo!"vociferated the party. "An excellent defence of the church," said
+ Echo, "for which Eglantine deserves to be inducted to a valuable benefice;
+ suppose we adjourn before the college gates are closed, and install him
+ under the Mitre." A proposition that met with a ready acquiescence from
+ all present.{33}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 33 The genius of wit, mirth, and social enjoyment, can never
+ find more sincere worshippers than an Oxford wine-party
+ seated round the festive board; here the sallies of youth,
+ unchecked by care, the gaiety of hearts made glad with wine
+ and revelry, the brilliant flashes of genius, and the eye
+ beaming with delight, are found in the highest perfection.
+ The merits of the society to which the youthful aspirant for
+ fame and glory happens to belong often afford the embryo
+ poet the theme of his song. Impromptu parodies on old and
+ popular songs often add greatly to the enjoy-ment of the
+ convivial party. The discipline of the university prohibits
+ late hours; and the evenings devoted to enjoyment are not
+ often disgraced by excess.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0005" id="Bimage-0005">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page244.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page244th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page244" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br /> <span class="pagenum">[245]</span> <a name="Bimage-0006"
+ id="Bimage-0006">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page245.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page245 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Blink2H_4_0003" id="Blink2H_4_0003">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ TOWN AND GOWN, AN OXFORD ROW.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Battle of the Togati and the Town-Raff&mdash;A Night-Scene in the
+ High-Street, Oxford&mdash;Description of the Combatants&mdash;Attack
+ of the Gunsmen upon the Mitre&mdash;Evolutions of the
+ Assailants&mdash;Manoeuvres of the Proctors and Bull Dogs&mdash;
+ Perilous Condition of Blackmantle and his associates,
+ Eglantine, Echo, and Transit&mdash;Snug Retreat of Lionise&mdash;The
+ High-Street after the Battle&mdash;Origin of the Argotiers, and
+ Invention of Cant-phrases&mdash;History of the Intestine Wars and
+ Civil Broils of Oxford, from the Time of Alfred&mdash;Origin of
+ the late Strife&mdash;Ancient Ballad&mdash;Retreat of the Togati&mdash;
+ Reflections of a Freshman&mdash;Black Matins, or the Effect of
+ late Drinking upon early Risers&mdash;Visit to Golgotha, or the
+ Place of Sculls&mdash;Lecture from the Big-Wigs&mdash;Tom Echo
+ receives Sentence of Rustication.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0007" id="Bimage-0007">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page247.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page247th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page247" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The clocks of Oxford were echoing each other in proclaiming the hour of
+ midnight, when Eglantine led the way by opening the door of his <i>hospitium</i>
+ to descend into the quadrangle of Brazen-nose. "Steady, steady, old
+ fellows," said Horace; "remember the don on the first-floor&mdash;hush,
+ all be silent as the grave till you pass his oak." "Let us <i>row</i> him&mdash;let
+ us fumigate the old fellow," said Echo; "this is the night of
+ purification, lads&mdash;bring some pipes, and a little frankincense,
+ Mark." And in this laudable <span class="pagenum">[247]</span>enterprise
+ of blowing asafoetida smoke through the don's key-hole the whole party
+ were about to be instantly engaged, when an accidental slip of Eglantine's
+ spoiled the joke. While in the act of remonstrating with his jovial
+ companions on the dangerous consequences attending detection, the scholar
+ sustained a fall which left him suddenly deposited against the oak of the
+ crabbed old Master of Arts, who inhabited rooms on the top of the lower
+ staircase; fortunately, the dignitary had on that evening carried home
+ more <i>liquor</i> than <i>learning</i> from the common room, and was at
+ the time of the accident almost as sound asleep as the original founder.
+ "There lies the domini of the feast," said Echo, "knocked down in true
+ orthodox style by the bishop&mdash;follow your leader, boys; and take care
+ of your craniums, or you may chance to get a few phreno-lo-lo-logi-cal
+ bu-lps&mdash;I begin to feel that hard study has somewhat impaired my
+ artic-tic-u-u-la-tion, but then I can always raise a
+ per-pendic-dic-u-u-lar, you see&mdash;always good at mathemat-tics. D&mdash;n
+ Aristotle, and the rest of the saints! say I: you see what comes of being
+ logical." All of which exultation over poor Eglantine's disaster, Echo had
+ the caution to make while steadying himself by keeping fast hold of one of
+ the balustrades on the landing; which that arch wag Transit perceiving,
+ managed to cut nearly through with a knife, and then putting his foot
+ against it sent Tom suddenly oft in a flying leap after his companion, to
+ the uproarious mirth of the whole party. By the time our two friends had
+ recovered their legs, we were all in marching order for the Mitre; working
+ in sinuosities along, for not one of the party could have moved at right
+ angles to any given point, or have counted six street lamps without at
+ least multiplying them to a dozen. In a word, they were ripe for any
+ spree, full of frolic, and bent on mischief; witness the piling a huge
+ load of coals <span class="pagenum">[248]</span>against one man's door,
+ screwing up the oak of another, and <i>milling the glaze</i> of a third,
+ before we quitted the precincts of Brazen-nose, which we did separately,
+ to escape observation from the Cerberus who guarded the portal.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ It is in a college wine-party that the true character of your early
+ associates are easily discoverable: out of the excesses of the table very
+ often spring the truest impressions, the first, but indelible affection
+ which links kindred spirits together in after-time, and cements with
+ increasing years into the most inviolable friendship. Here the sallies of
+ youth, unchecked by care, or fettered by restraint, give loose to mirth
+ and revelry; and the brilliancy of genius and the warm-hearted gaiety of
+ pure delight are found in the highest perfection.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The blue light of heaven illumined the magnificent square of Radcliffe,
+ when we passed from beneath the porch of Brazen-nose, and tipping with her
+ silvery light the surrounding architecture, lent additional beauty to the
+ solemn splendour of the scene. Sophisticated as my faculties certainly
+ were by the copious libations and occurrences of the day, I could yet
+ admire with reverential awe the imposing grandeur by which I was
+ surrounded.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A wayward being from my infancy, not the least mark of my eccentricity is
+ the peculiar humour in which I find myself when I have sacrificed too
+ freely to the jolly god: unlike the major part of mankind, my temperament,
+ instead of being invigorated and enlivened by the sparkling juice of the
+ grape, loses its wonted nerve and elasticity; a sombre gloominess pervades
+ the system, the pulse becomes nervous and languid, the spirits flagging
+ and depressed, and the mind full of chimerical apprehensions and <i>ennui</i>.
+ It was in this mood that Eglantine found me ruminating on the noble works
+ before me, while resting against a part of the pile of Radcliffe library,
+ contemplating <span class="pagenum">[249]</span>the elegant crocketed
+ pinnacles of All Souls, the delicately taper spire of St. Mary's, and the
+ clustered enrichments and imperial canopies of masonry, and splendid
+ traceries which every where strike the eye: all of which objects were
+ rendered trebly impressive from the stillness of the night, and the
+ flittering light by which they were illumined. I had enough of wine and
+ frolic, and had hoped to have <i>shirked</i> the party and stolen quietly
+ to my lodgings, there to indulge in my lucubrations on the scene I had
+ witnessed, and note in my journal, according to my usual practice, the
+ more prominent events of the day, when Horace commenced with&mdash;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Where the devil, old fellow, have you been hiding yourself? I've been
+ hunting you some time. A little <i>cut</i>, I suppose: never mind, my boy,
+ you'll be better presently. Here's glorious sport on foot; don't you hear
+ the war-cry?" At this moment a buzz of distant voices broke upon the ear
+ like the mingled shouts of an election tumult. "There they are, old
+ fellow: come, buckle on your armour&mdash;we must try your mettle
+ to-night. All the university are out&mdash;a glorious row&mdash;come
+ along, no shirking&mdash;-the <i>togati</i> against the town raff&mdash;remember
+ the sacred cause, my boy." And in this way, spite of all remonstrance, was
+ I dragged through the lane and enlisted with the rest of my companions
+ into a corps of university men who were just forming themselves in the
+ High-street to repel the daring attack of the very scum of the city, who
+ had ill-treated and beaten some gownsmen in the neighbourhood of St.
+ Thomas's, and had the temerity to follow and assail them in their retreat
+ to the High-street with every description of villanous epithet, and still
+ more offensive and destructive missiles. "Stand fast there, old fellows,"
+ said Echo; who, although <i>devilishly cut</i>, seemed to be the leader of
+ the division. "Where's old Mark Supple?" "Here I am sir, <i>take notice</i>"
+ said the old scout, who appeared as active as <span class="pagenum">[250]</span>an
+ American rifleman. "Will Peake send us the bludgeons?" "He won't open his
+ doors, sir, for anybody, <i>take notice</i>." "Then down with the Mitre,
+ my hearties;" and instantly a rope was thrown across the <i>bishop's cap</i>
+ by old Mark, and the tin sign, lamp, and all came tumbling into the
+ street, smashed into a thousand pieces.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ PEAKE (looking out of an upper window in his night-cap). Doey be quiet,
+ and go along, for God's zake, gentlemen! I shall be <i>ruinated and
+ discommoned</i> if I open my door to any body.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ TOM ECHO. You infernal old fox-hunter! if you don't doff your knowledge
+ bag and come to the door, we'll mill all your glaze, burst open your
+ gates, and hamstring all your horses.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ MRS. PEAKE (in her night-gown). Stand out of the way, Peake; let me speak
+ to the gentlemen. Gentlemen, doey, gentlemen, consider my reputation, and
+ the reputation of ray house. O dear, gentlemen, doey go somewhere else&mdash;we've
+ no sticks here, I azzure ye, and we're all in bed. Doey go, gentlemen,
+ pray do.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ TRANSIT. Dame Peake, if you don't open your doors directly, we'll break
+ them open, and unkennel that old bagg'd fox, your husband, and drink all
+ the black strap in your cellar, and&mdash;and play the devil with the
+ maids.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ MRS. PEAKE. Don'te say so, don'te say so, Mr. Transit; I know you to be a
+ quiet, peaceable gentleman, and I am zure you will befriend me: doey
+ persuade 'em to go away, pray do,
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[251]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ MARK SUPPLE. Dame Peake
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ MRS. PEAKE. Oh, Mr. Mark Supple, are you there I talk to the gentlemen,
+ Mr. Mark, pray do.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ MARK SUPPLE. It's no use, dame Peake; they won't be gammon'd, take notice.
+ If you have any old broom-handles, throw 'em out directly, and if not,
+ throw all the brooms you have in the house out of window&mdash;throw out
+ all your sticks&mdash;throw Peake out. I'm for the gown, <i>take notice</i>.
+ Down with the town! down with the town!
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ BILL MAGS. (The waiter, at a lower window.) Hist, hist, Mr. Echo; Mr.
+ Eglantine, hist, hist; master's gone to the back of the house with all the
+ sticks he can muster; and here's an old kitchen-chair you can break up and
+ make bludgeons of (throwing the chair out of window), and here's the
+ cook's rolling-pin, and I'll go and forage for more ammunition.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ HORACE EGLANTINE. You're a right good fellow, Bill; and I'll pay you
+ before I do your master; and the Brazen-nose men shall make your fortune.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ TOM ECHO. But where's the academicals I sent old Captain Cook for 1 We
+ shall be beating one another in the dark without caps and gowns.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ CAPTAIN COOK. (A scout of Christ Church.) Here I be, zur. That old rogue,
+ Dick Shirley, refuses to send any gowns; he says he has nothing but
+ noblemen's gowns and gold tufts in his house.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[252]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ THE HON. LILLYMAN LIONISE. By the honour of my ancestry, that fellow shall
+ never draw another stitch for Christ Church as long as he lives. Come
+ along, captain: by the honour of my ancestry, we'll uncase the old <i>snyder</i>;
+ we'll have gowns, I warrant me, noble or not noble, gold tufts or no
+ tufts. Come along, Cook.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ In a few moments old Captain Cook and the exquisite returned loaded with
+ gowns and caps, having got in at the window and completely cleared the
+ tailor's shop of all his academicals, in spite of his threats or
+ remonstrances. In the interim, old Mark Supple and Echo had succeeded in
+ obtaining a supply of broom-handles and other weapons of defence; when the
+ insignia of the university, the toga and cap, were soon distributed
+ indiscriminately: the numbers of the university men increased every
+ moment; and the yell of the town raff seemed to gain strength with every
+ step as they approached the scene of action. Gown! gown! Town! town! were
+ the only sounds heard in every direction; and the clamour and the tumult
+ of voices were enough to shake the city with dismay. The authorities were
+ by no means idle; but neither proctors or pro's, or marshal, or bull-dogs,
+ or even deans, dons, and dignitaries, for such there were, who strained
+ their every effort to quell the disturbance, were at all attended to, and
+ many who came as peace-makers were compelled in their own defence to take
+ an active part in the fray.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ From the bottom of the High-street to the end of the corn-market, and
+ across again through St. Aldate's to the old bridge, every where the more
+ peaceable and respectable citizens might be seen popping their noddles out
+ of window, and rubbing their half-closed eyes with affright, to learn the
+ cause of the alarming strife.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[253]</span>Of the strong band of university men who
+ rushed on eager for the coming fray, a number of them were fresh
+ light-hearted Etonians and old Westminsters, who having just arrived to
+ place themselves under the sacred banners of Academus, thought their
+ honour and their courage both concerned in defending the <i>togati</i>:
+ most of these youthful zealots had as usual, at the beginning of a term,
+ been lodged in the different inns and houses of the city, and from having
+ drank somewhat freely of the welcome cup with old schoolfellows and new
+ friends, were just ripe for mischief, unheedful of the consequences or the
+ cause.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ On the other hand, the original fomenters of the strife had recruited
+ their forces with herds of the lowest rabble gathered from the purlieus of
+ their patron saints, St. Clement and St. Thomas, and the shores of the
+ Charwell,&mdash;the bargees, and butchers, and labourers, and scum of the
+ suburbians: a huge conglomerated mass of thick sculls, and broad backs,
+ and strengthy arms, and sturdy legs, and throats bawling for revenge, and
+ hearts bursting with wrathful ire, rendered still more frantic and
+ desperate by the magic influence of their accustomed war-whoop. These
+ formed the base barbarian race of Oxford truands,{1} including every vile
+ thing that passes under the generic name of raff. From college to college
+ the mania spread with the rapidity of an epidemic wind; and scholars,
+ students, and fellows were every where in motion: here a stout bachelor of
+ arts might be seen knocking down the ancient Cerberus who opposed his
+ passage; there the iron-bound college gates were forced open by the united
+ power of the youthful inmates. In another quarter might be seen the heir
+ of some noble family risking his neck in the headlong leap {2}; and near
+ him, a party of the <i>togati</i> scaling the sacred battlements with as
+ much energetic zeal as the ancient crusaders would have displayed against
+ the ferocious Saracens.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 The French <i>truands</i> were beggars, who under the pretence
+ of asking alms committed the most atrocious crimes and
+ excesses.
+
+ 2 It was on one of these occasions that the celebrated
+ Charles James Fox made that illustrious leap from the window
+ of Hertford College.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[254]</span>Scouts flying in every direction to
+ procure caps and gowns, and scholars dropping from towers and windows by
+ bell-ropes and <i>sheet-ladders</i>; every countenance exhibiting as much
+ ardour and frenzied zeal, as if the consuming elements of earth and fire
+ threatened the demolition of the sacred city of Rhedycina.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ It was on the spot where once stood the ancient conduit of Carfax, flanked
+ on the one side by the venerable church of St. Martin and the colonnade of
+ the old butter-market, and on the other by the town-hall, from the central
+ point of which terminate, south, west, and north, St. Aldate's, the
+ butcher-row, and the corn-market, that the scene exhibited its more
+ substantial character. It was here the assailants first caught sight of
+ each other; and the yell, and noise, and deafening shouts became terrific.
+ In a moment all was fury and confusion: in the onset the gown, confident
+ and daring, had evidently the advantage, and the retiring raff fell back
+ in dismay; while the advancing and victorious party laid about them with
+ their quarter-staves, and knuckles drawing blood, or teeth, or cracking
+ crowns at every blow, until they had driven them back to the end of the
+ corn-market. It was now that the strong arm and still stronger science of
+ the sturdy bachelors of Brazen-nose, and the square-built, athletic sons
+ of Cambria, the Jones's of Jesus, proved themselves of sterling mettle,
+ and bore the brunt of the battle with unexampled courage: at this instant
+ a second reinforcement arriving from the canals and wharfs on the banks of
+ the Isis, having forced their way by George-lane, brought timely
+ assistance to the town raff, and enabled them again to rally and present
+ so formidable an appearance, <span class="pagenum">[255]</span>that the <i>togati</i>
+ deemed it prudent to retreat upon their reserve, who were every moment
+ accumulating in immense numbers in the High-street: to this spot the
+ townsmen, exulting in their trifling advantage, had the temerity to follow
+ and renew the conflict, and here they sustained the most signal defeat:
+ for the men of Christ Church, and Pembroke, and St. Mary's Hall, and
+ Oriel, and Corpus Christi, had united their forces in the rear; while the
+ front of the gown had fallen back upon the effective Trinitarians, and
+ Albanians, and Wadhamites, and men of Magdalen, who had by this time
+ roused them from their monastic towers and cells to fight the holy war,
+ and defend their classic brotherhood: nor was this all the advantages the
+ gown had to boast of, for the <i>scouts</i>, ever true to their masters,
+ had summoned the lads of the fancy, and Marston Will, and Harry Bell, and
+ a host of out and outers, came up to the scratch, and floored many a <i>youkel</i>
+ with their <i>bunch of fives</i>. It was at this period that the conflict
+ assumed its most appalling feature, for the townsmen were completely
+ hemmed into the centre, and fought with determined courage, presenting a
+ hollow square, two fronts of which were fully engaged with the infuriated
+ gown. Long and fearful was the struggle for mastery, and many and vain the
+ attempts of the townsmen to retreat, until the old Oxford night coach, in
+ its way up the High-street to the Star Inn in the corn-market, was
+ compelled to force its passage through the conflicting parties; when the
+ bull-dogs and the constables, headed by marshal Holliday and old Jack
+ Smith, united their forces, and following the vehicle, opened a passage
+ into the very centre of the battle, where they had for some time to
+ sustain the perilous attacks of oaths, and blows, and kicks from both
+ parties, until having fairly wedged themselves between the combatants,
+ they succeeded by threats and entreaties, and seizing a few of the
+ ringleaders on <span class="pagenum">[256]</span>both sides, to cause a
+ dispersion, and restore by degrees the peace of the city.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ It was, however, some hours before the struggle had completely subsided, a
+ running fight being kept up by the various straggling parties in their
+ retreat; and at intervals the fearful cry of Town and Gown would resound
+ from some plebeian alley or murky lane as an unfortunate wight of the
+ adverse faction was discovered stealing homewards, covered with mud and
+ scars. Of my college friends and merry companions in the fray, Tom Echo
+ alone remained visible, and he had (in his own phraseology) <i>dropped his
+ sash</i>: according to Hudibras, he looked
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "As men of inward light are wont
+ To turn their opticks in upon't;"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ or, in plain English, had an <i>invisible</i> eye. The "<i>disjecta
+ fragmenta</i>" of his academical robe presented a most pitiful appearance;
+ it was of the ragged sort, like the <i>mendicula impluviata</i> of
+ Plautus, and his under habiliments bore evident marks of his having bitten
+ the dust (i.e. mud) beneath the ponderous arm of some heroic blacksmith or
+ bargee; but yet he was lively, and what with blows and exertion, perfectly
+ sobered. "What, Blackmantle? and alive, old fellow? Well clone, my hearty;
+ I saw you set to with that fresh water devil from Charwell, the old
+ Bargee, and a pretty milling you gave him. I had intended to have seconded
+ you, but just as I was making up, a son of Vulcan let fly his
+ sledge-hammer slap at my <i>smeller</i>, and stopped up one of my <i>oculars</i>,
+ so I was obliged to turn to and finish him off; and when I had completed
+ the job, you had bolted; not, however, without leaving your marks behind
+ you. But where's Eglantine? where's Transit? where's the Honourable? By my
+ soul the <i>roué</i> can handle his <i>mauleys</i> well; I saw him floor
+ one of the raff in very prime style. But come along, my hearty; we must
+ walk over the <span class="pagenum">[257]</span>field of battle and look
+ after the wounded: I am desperately afraid that Eglantine is <i>booked
+ inside</i>&mdash;saw him surrounded by the <i>bull-dogs</i>&mdash;made a
+ desperate effort to rescue him&mdash;and had some difficulty to clear
+ myself; but never mind, ''tis the fortune of war,' and there's very good
+ lodging in the castle. Surely there's Mark Supple with some one on his
+ back. What, Mark, is that you?" "No, sir&mdash;yes, sir&mdash;I mean, sir,
+ it's a gentleman of our college&mdash;O dearey me, I thought it had been a
+ proctor or a bull-dog&mdash;for Heaven's sake, help, sir! here's Mr.
+ Transit quite senseless, <i>take notice</i>&mdash;picked him up in a
+ doorway in Lincoln-lane, bleeding like a pig, <i>take notice</i>.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ O dear, O dear, what a night this has been! We shall all be sent to the
+ castle, and perhaps transported for manslaughter. For Heaven's sake, Mr.
+ Echo, help! bear his head up&mdash;take hold of his feet, Mr. Blackmantle,
+ and I'll go before, and ring at Dr. Tuckwell's bell, <i>take notice</i>."
+ In this way poor Transit was conveyed to the surgery, where, after
+ cleansing him from the blood and dirt, and the application of some
+ aromatics, he soon recovered, and happily had not sustained any very
+ serious injury. From old Mark we learned that Eglantine was a captive to
+ the bull-dogs, and safely deposited in the castle along with Marston Will,
+ who had fought nobly in his defence: of Lionise we could gain no other
+ tidings than that Mark had seen him at the end of the fray climbing up to
+ the first floor window of a tradesman's house in the High-street, whose
+ daughter it was well known he had a little intrigue with, and where, as we
+ concluded, he had found a balsam for his wounds, and shelter for the
+ night. It was nearly three o'clock when I regained my lodging and found
+ Mags, the waiter of the Mitre, on the look-out for me: Echo had
+ accompanied me home, and in our way we had picked up a wounded man of
+ University College, who had suffered severely in the contest. It was
+ worthy <span class="pagenum">[258]</span>the pencil of a Hogarth to have
+ depicted the appearance of the High-street after the contest, when we were
+ cautiously perambulating from end to end in search of absent friends, and
+ fearing at every step the approach of the proctors or their bull-dogs: the
+ lamps were almost all smashed, and the burners dangling to and fro with
+ the wind, the greater part extinguished, or just emitting sufficient light
+ to make night horrible. On the lamp-irons might be seen what at first
+ sight was most appalling, the figure of some hero of the <i>togati</i>
+ dangling by the neck, but which, on nearer approach, proved to be only the
+ dismembered academical of some gentleman-commoner hung up as a trophy by
+ the town raff. Broken windows and shutters torn from their hinges, and
+ missiles of every description covering the ground, from the terrific
+ Scotch paving-pebble torn up from the roads, to the spokes of
+ coach-wheels, and the oaken batons, and fragments of lanterns belonging to
+ the town watch, skirts of coats, and caps, and remnants of <i>togas</i>
+ both silken and worsted, bespoke the quality of the heroes of the fray;
+ while here and there a poor terrified wretch was exposing his addle head
+ to the mildews of the night-damp, fearing a revival of the contest, or
+ anxiously watching the return of husband, brother, father, or son.{3}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 3 This picture of an Oxford row is not, as the general
+ reader might imagine, the mere fiction of the novelist, but
+ the true description of a contest which occurred some few
+ years since; the leading features of which will be (although
+ the names have been, except in one or two instances,
+ studiously suppressed) easily recognised by many of the
+ present sons of Alma Mater who shared in the perils and
+ glory of the battle. To those who are strangers to the
+ sacred city, and these casual effervescences of juvenile
+ spirit, the admirable graphic view of the scene by my friend
+ Bob Transit (see plate) will convey a very correct idea.
+
+ To the credit of the more respectable and wealthy class of
+ Oxford citizens it should be told, they are now too sensible
+ of their own interest, and, besides, too well-informed to
+ mix with these civil disturbances; the lower orders,
+ therefore, finding themselves unequal to the contest without
+ their support, submit to the <i>togati</i>; and thus the civil
+ wars that have raged in Oxford with very little interruption
+ from the days of Alfred seem for the present extinguished.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[259]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ On our arrival at the Mitre, poor Mrs. Peake, half frightened to death,
+ was up and busy in administering to the sufferers various consolatory
+ draughts composed of bishop, and flesh and blood{4} and <i>rumbooze</i>;
+ while the chambermaids, and Peake, and the waiters were flying about the
+ house with warm water, and basins, and towels, to the relief of the
+ numerous applicants, who all seemed anxious to wash away the dirty
+ remembrances of the disgusting scene.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Hitherto I had been so busily engaged in defending myself and preserving
+ my friends, that I had not a moment for reflection. It has been well
+ observed, that "place an Englishman in the field of battle, no matter what
+ his political feelings, he will fight like a lion, by instinct, or the
+ mere force of example;" so with the narrator of this contest. I had not,
+ up to this time, the least knowledge of the original cause of the row. I
+ have naturally an aversion to pugilistic contests and tumultuous sports,
+ and yet I found by certain bruises, and bumps, and stains of blood, and
+ stiffness of joints, and exhaustion, and the loss of my upper garment,
+ which I had then only just discovered, that I must have borne a <i>pretty
+ considerable</i>{5} part in the contest, and carried away no small share
+ of victorious laurels, since I had escaped without any very visible
+ demonstration of my adversaries' prowess; but for this I must acknowledge
+ myself indebted to my late private tutor the Eton cad, Joe Cannon, whose
+ fancy lectures on noseology, and the science of the milling system, had
+ enabled me to
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 4 Brandy and port wine, half and half.
+
+ 5 An Oxford phrase.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[260]</span>defend my bread-basket, cover up my
+ peepers, and keep my nob out of chancery{6}: a merit that all
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 6 The use of a peculiar cant phraseology for different
+ classes, it would appear, originated with the Argoliers, a
+ species of French beggars or monkish impostors, who were
+ notorious for every thing that was bad and infamous: these
+ people assumed the form of a regular government, elected a
+ king, established a fixed code of laws, and invented a
+ language peculiar to themselves, constructed probably by
+ some of the debauched and licentious youths, who, abandoning
+ their scholastic studies, associated with these vagabonds.
+ In the poetical life of the French robber Cartouche, a
+ humorous account is given of the origin of the word <i>Argot</i>;
+ and the same author has also compiled a dictionary of the
+ language then in use by these people, which is annexed to
+ the work. Hannan, in his very singular work, published in
+ 1566, entitled "A Caveat, or Warning for Common Cursitors
+ (runners), vulgarly called Vagabones," has described a
+ number of the words then in use, among what he humorously
+ calls the "lued lousey language of these lewtering beskes
+ and lasy lovrels." And it will be remembered that at that
+ time many of the students of our universities were among
+ these cursitors, as we find by an old statute of the xxii of
+ Hen. VIII.; "that scholars at the universities begging
+ without licence, were to be punished like common cursi-
+ tors." The vagabonds of Spain are equally celebrated for
+ their use of a peculiar slang or cant, as will be seen on
+ reference to a very curious work of Rafael Frianoro,
+ entitled" <i>Il Vagabondo, overo sferzo de bianti e
+ Vagabondi</i>." <i>Viterbo</i>, 1620, 12mo. As also in those
+ excellent novels, "Lazarillo do Tormes," and "Guzman de
+ Alfarache." The <i>Romany</i> or gipsies' dialect is given with
+ the history of that singular people by Mr. Grellman; an
+ English translation of which was published in 1787, by
+ Roper, in quarto: from those works, Grose principally
+ compiled his "Lexicon Ballatronicum." In the present day we
+ have many professors of slang, and in more ways than one,
+ too many of cant; the greater part of whom are dull
+ impostors, who rather invent strange terms to astonish the
+ vulgar than adhere to the peculiar phrases of the persons
+ they attempt to describe. It has long been matter of regret
+ with the better order of English sporting men, that the
+ pugilistic contests and turf events of the day are not
+ written in plain English, "which all those who run might
+ read," instead of being rendered almost unintelligible by
+ being narrated in the language of beggars, thieves, and
+ pickpockets&mdash;a jargon as free from true wit as it is full of
+ obscenity.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[261]</span>Keate's{7} learning would not have
+ compensated for under the peculiar circumstances in which I was placed.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ It was now that the mischief was done, and many a sound head was cracked,
+ and many a courageous heart was smarting 'neath their wounds in the gloomy
+ dungeons of the castle, or waiting in their rooms the probing instrument
+ and plasters of Messrs. Wall, or Kidd, or Bourne, that a few of us, who
+ had escaped tolerably well, and were seated round a bowl of bishop in the
+ snug <i>sanctum sanctorum</i> of the Mitre, began to inquire of each other
+ the origin of the fray. After a variety of conjectures and vague reports,
+ each at variance with the other, and evidently deficient in the most
+ remote connexion with the true cause of the strife, it was agreed to
+ submit the question to the waiter, as a neutral observer, who assured us
+ that the whole affair arose out of a trifling circumstance, originating
+ with some mischievous boys, who, having watched two gownsmen into a
+ cyprian temple in the neighbourhood of Saint Thomas, circulated a false
+ report that they had carried thither the wives of two respectable
+ mechanics. Without taking the trouble to inquire into the truth or
+ falsehood of the accusation, the door was immediately beset; the old cry
+ of Town and Gown vociferated in every direction; and the unfortunate
+ wights compelled to seek their safety by an ignominious flight through a
+ back door and over the meadows. The tumult once raised, it was not to be
+ appeased without some victim, and for this purpose they thought proper to
+ attack a party of the <i>togati</i>, who were returning home from a little
+ private sport with a well-known fancy lecturer: the opportunity was a good
+ one to show-off, a regular fight commenced, and the raff were floored in
+ every direction, until their numbers increasing beyond all
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 7 The highly respected and learned head-master of Eton
+ College.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[262]</span> comparison, the university men were
+ compelled to raise the cry of Gown, and fly for succour and defence to the
+ High-street: in this way had a few mischievous boys contrived to embroil
+ the town and university in one of the most severe intestine struggles ever
+ remembered.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0008" id="Bimage-0008">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page262.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page262 " />
+ </div>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ <i>A true chronicle of ye bloodie fighte betweene the Clerkes
+ of and Scholairs of Oxenforde, and the Townsmen of the
+ Citie, who were crowdinge rounde the Easterne Gaite to see
+ the Kinge enter in his progresse wostwarde.</i>
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[263]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Sir Gierke of Oxenforde, prepare Your robis riche, and noble cheere. Ye
+ kinge with alle his courtlie trane Is spurring on your plaice to gane. And
+ heere ye trumpet's merrie note, His neare approache proclaims, I wote; Ye
+ doctors, proctors, scholairs, go, And fore youre sovereigne bend ye lowe.
+ Now comes the kinge in grande arraie; And the scholairs presse alonge the
+ waye, Till ye Easterne gaite was thronged so rounde, That passage coulde
+ no where be founde. Then the sheriffe's men their upraised speares Did
+ plye about the people's eares. And woe the day; the rabble route Their
+ speares did breake like glasse aboute. Then the doctors, proctors, for the
+ kinge, Most lustilie for roome did singe; But thoughe theye bawled out
+ amaine, No passage throughe the crowde coulde gane. Ye Northern gownsmen,
+ a bold race, Now swore they'd quicklie free the plaice; With stalwart
+ gripe, and beadle's staffe Theye clefte the townsmen's sculls in half.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[264]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ And now the wrathful rabble rave, And quick returne withe club and stave;
+ And heades righte learn'd in classic lore Felt as they'd never felt
+ before. Now fierce and bloody growes the fraye: In vaine the mayore and
+ sheriffe praye For peace&mdash;to cool the townsmens' ire, Intreatie but
+ impelles the fire. Downe with the Towne! the scholairs cry; Downe with the
+ Gowne! the towne reply. Loud rattle the caps of the clerkes in aire, And
+ the citizens many a sortie beare; And many a churchman fought his waye,
+ Like a heroe in the bloodie fraye. And one right portlie father slewe Of
+ rabble townsmen not a fewe. And now 'mid the battle's strife and din There
+ came to the Easterne gate, The heralde of our lorde the kinge, With his
+ merrie men all in state. "God help us!" quoth the courtlie childe, "What
+ means this noise within? With joye the people have run wilde." And so he
+ peeped him in, And throughe the wicker-gate he spied, And marvelled much
+ thereat, The streets withe crimson current dyed, And Towne and Gowne laide
+ flat. Then he called his merrie men aloud, To bringe him a ladder
+ straighte; The trumpet sounds&mdash;the warlike crowde In a moment forget
+ theire hate. Up rise the wounded, down theire arms Both Towne and Gowne do
+ lie; The kinge's approache ye people charmes, And alle looke merrilie. For
+ howe'er Towne and Gowne may fighte, Yet bothe are true to ye kinge. So on
+ bothe may learning and honour lighte, Let all men gailie singe.{1}
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[265]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 The above imitation of the style of the ancient ballad is
+ founded on traditional circumstances said to have occurred
+ when the pacific king James visited Oxford.&mdash;<i>Bernard
+ Blackmantle</i>.
+
+ <i>Intestine broils and civil wars of Oxford</i>.&mdash;Anthony Wood,
+ the faithful historian of Oxford, gives an account of a
+ quarrel between the partisans of St. Guinbald and the
+ residents of Oxford, in the days of Alfred, on his
+ refounding the university, A.D. 886. After his death the
+ continual inroads of the Danes kept the Oxonians in
+ perpetual alarm, and in the year 979 they destroyed the town
+ by fire, and repeated their outrage upon the new built town
+ in 1002. Seven years after, Swein, the Danish leader, was
+ repulsed by the inhabitants in a similar attempt, who took
+ vengeance on their im-placable enemy by a general massacre
+ on the feast of St. Brice. In the civil commotions under the
+ Saxon prince, Oxford had again its full share of the evils
+ of war. After the death of Harold, William the Conqueror was
+ bravely opposed by the citizens in his attempt to enter
+ Oxford, which effecting by force, he was so much exas-
+ perated at their attachment to Harold, that he bestowed the
+ government of the town on Robert de Oilgo, a Norman, with
+ permission to build a castle to keep his Oxford subjects in
+ awe. The disturbances during the reign of Stephen and his
+ successor were frequent, and in the reign of John, A. D.
+ 1209, an unfortunate occurrence threatened the entire
+ destruction of Oxford as a seat of learning. A student,
+ engaged in thoughtless diversion, killed a woman, and fled
+ from justice. A band of citizens, with the mayor at their
+ head, surrounded the hall to which he belonged, and demanded
+ the offender; on being informed of his absence, the lawless
+ multitude seized three of the students, who were entirely
+ unconnected with the transaction, and ob-tained an order
+ from the weak king (whose dislike to the clergy is known),
+ to put the innocent persons to death&mdash;an order which was but
+ too promptly obeyed. The scholars, justly en-raged by this
+ treatment, quitted Oxford, some to Cambridge and Reading,
+ and others to Maidstone, in Kent. The offended students also
+ applied to the Pope, who laid the city under an interdict
+ and discharged all professors from teaching in it. This step
+ completely humbled the citizens, who sent a deputation of
+ the most respectable to wait on the Pope's legate (then at
+ Westminster) to acknowledge their rashness and request
+ mercy; the legate (Nicholas, Bishop of Tusculum, ) granted
+ their petition only on the most humiliating terms. The mayor
+ and corporation were en-joined, by way of penance, to
+ proceed annually, on the day dedicated to St. Nicholas, to
+ all the parish churches bare-headed, with hempen halters
+ round their necks, and whips in their hands, on their bare
+ feet, and in their' shirts, and there pray the benefit of
+ absolution from the priests, repeating the penitential
+ psalms, and to pay a mark of silver per annum to the
+ students of the hall peculiarly injured; in addition to
+ which they were, on the recurrence of the same day, to
+ entertain one hundred poor scholars "<i>honestis
+ refectionibus</i>," the abbot of Evesham yearly paying sixteen
+ shillings towards the festival expense A part of this
+ ceremony, but without the degrading marks of it, is
+ continued to this day. Henry III. occasionally resided at
+ Oxford, and held there many parliaments and councils: in the
+ reign of this king the university flourished to an
+ unexampled degree, the number of students being estimated at
+ fifteen thousand. Its popularity was about this time also
+ greatly increased from the circumstance of not less than one
+ thousand students quitting the learned institutions of
+ Paris, and repairing to Oxford for instruction; but these
+ foreigners introduced so dangerous a levity of manners, that
+ the Pope deemed it necessary to send his legate for the
+ purpose of reforming " certain flagrant corruptions of the
+ place." The legate was at first treated with much affected
+ civility, but an occasion for quarrel being soon found, he
+ would, in all probability, have been sacrificed upon the
+ spot, had he not hidden himself in a belfry from the fury of
+ the assailants. This tumult was, by the exercise of some
+ strong measures, speedily appeased; but the number of
+ students was at this period infinitely too great to preserve
+ due subordination. They divided themselves into parties,
+ among which the north and south countrymen were the most
+ violent, and their quarrels harassing and perpetual.
+ According to the rude temper of the age, these disputes were
+ not settled by argument, but by dint of blows; and the peace
+ of the city was in this way so often endangered, that the
+ king thought it expedient to add to the civil power two
+ aldermen and eight burgesses assistant, together with two
+ bailiffs. From petty and intestine broils, the students
+ appear to have acquired a disposition for political inter-
+ ference. When Prince Edward, returning from Paris, marched
+ with an army towards Wales, coming to Oxford he was by the
+ burghers refused admittance, "on occasion of the tumults now
+ prevailing among the barons:" he quartered his soldiers in
+ the adjacent villages, and "lodged himself that night in the
+ royal palace of Magdalen," the next morning proceeding on
+ his intended journey; but the scholars, who were shut in the
+ town, being desirous to salute a prince whom they loved so
+ much, first assembled round <i>Smith-gate</i>, and demanded to be
+ let into the fields, which being refused by one of the
+ bailiffs, they returned to their hostels for arms and broke
+ open the gate, whereupon the mayor arrested many of them,
+ and, on the chancellor's request, was so far from releasing
+ them that he ordered the citizens to bring out their banners
+ and display them in the midst of the street; and then
+ embattling them, commanded a sudden onset on the rest of the
+ scholars remaining in the town; and much blood-shed had been
+ committed had not a scholar, by the sound of the school-bell
+ in Saint Mary's church, given notice of the danger that
+ threatened the students, then at dinner. On this alarm they
+ straightways armed and went out, and in a tremendous
+ conflict subdued and put the townsmen to flight. In
+ consequence of this tumult, the king required the scholars
+ to retire from the city during the time of holding his
+ parliament; the chief part of the students accordingly
+ repaired to Northampton, where, shortly after the insurgent
+ barons had fortified themselves, on the king's laying siege
+ to the place, the scholars, offended by their late removal,
+ joined with the nobility, and repaired to arms under their
+ own standard, behaving in the fight with conspicuous
+ gallantry, and greatly increasing the wrath of the king;
+ who, however, on the place being subdued, was restrained
+ from pur-suing them to extremities, from prudential motives.
+ As the kingdom became more settled, the disturbances were
+ less frequent, and within the last century assumed the
+ character of sportive rows rather than malicious feuds. On a
+ recent lamentable occasion (now happily forgotten) the
+ political feelings of the Gown and Town in some measure
+ revived the spirit of the "olden time;" but since then Peace
+ has waved her olive-branch over the city of Oxford, and
+ perfect harmony, let us hope, will exist between Town and
+ Gown for evermore.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[266]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The veil of night was more than half drawn, ere the youthful inmates of
+ the Mitre retired to rest; and many of the party were compelled to put up
+ with sorry accommodation, such was the influx of <span class="pagenum">[267]</span>gownsmen
+ who, shut out of lodging and college, had sought this refuge to wait the
+ approaching morn;&mdash;a morn big with the fate of many a scholastic woe&mdash;of
+ lectures and reprovals from tutors, and fines and impositions and
+ denunciations from principals, of proctorial reports to the
+ vice-chancellor, and examinations before the <i>big wigs</i>, and
+ sentences of expulsion <span class="pagenum">[268]</span>and rustication:
+ coming evils which, by anticipation, kept many a man awake upon his
+ pillow, spite of the perilous fatigue which weighed so heavy upon the
+ exhausted frame. The freshman had little to fear: he could plead his
+ ignorance of college rules, or escape notice altogether, from not having
+ yet domiciled within the walls of a college. Although I had little to
+ expect from the apprehension of any of these troubles, as my person was,
+ from my short residence, most likely unknown to any of the authorities&mdash;yet
+ did Morpheus refuse his soporific balsam to the mind&mdash;I could not
+ help thinking of my young and giddy companions, of the kind-hearted
+ Eglantine, immured within the walls of a dungeon; of the noble-spirited
+ Echo, maltreated and disfigured by the temporary loss of an eye; of the
+ facetious Bob Transit, so bruised and exhausted, that a long illness might
+ be expected; and, lastly, of our Eton sextile, the incomparable exquisite
+ Lionise, who, if discovered in his dangerous frolic, would, perhaps, have
+ to leap out of a first floor window at the risk of his neck, sustain an
+ action for damages, and his expulsion from college at the same time.
+ Little Dick Gradus, with his usual cunning, had shirked us at the
+ commencement of hostilities; and the Honourable Mr. Sparkle had been
+ carried home to his lodging, early in the fray, more overcome by hard
+ drinking than hard fighting, and there safely put to bed by the
+ indefatigable Mark Supple, to whose friendly zeal and more effective arm
+ we were all much indebted. In this reflective mood, I had watched the
+ retiring shadows of the night gradually disperse before the gray-eyed
+ morn, and had just caught a glimpse of the golden streaks which illumine
+ the face of day, when my o'er-wearied spirit sank to rest.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0009" id="Bimage-0009">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page269.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page269th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page269" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A little before seven o'clock I was awoke by Echo, who came into my room
+ to borrow some clean linen, to enable him to attend chapel prayers at
+ Christ Church. Judge my surprise when I perceived my one-eyed <span
+ class="pagenum">[269]</span>warrior completely restored to his full sight,
+ and not the least appearance of any participation in the affair of the
+ previous night. "What? you can't comprehend how I managed my black optic?
+ hey, old fellow," said Echo; "you shall hear: knocked up Transit, and made
+ him send for his colours, and paint it over&mdash;looks quite natural,
+ don't it?&mdash;defy the big wigs to find it out&mdash;and if I can but
+ make all right by a sop to the old Cerberus at the gate, and <i>queer</i>
+ the <i>prick bills</i> at chapel prayers, I hope to escape the <i>quick-sands
+ of rustication</i>, and pass safely through the <i>creek of proctorial
+ jeopardy</i>. If you're fond of fun, old fellow, jump up and view the
+ Christ Church men proceeding to <i>black matins</i> this morning. After
+ the Roysten hunt yesterday&mdash;the dinner at the Black Bear at Woodstock&mdash;and
+ the <i>Town and Gown row</i> of last night, there will be a motley
+ procession this morning, I'll bet a hundred." The opportunity was a rare
+ one to view the effect of late drinking upon early risers (see Plate);
+ slipping on my academicals, therefore, I accompanied my friend Tom to
+ morning prayers,&mdash;a circumstance, as I have since been informed,
+ which would have involved me in very serious disgrace, had the appearance
+ of an <i>ex college</i> man at vespers attracted the notice of any of the
+ big wigs. Fortunately, however, I escaped the prying eyes of authority,
+ which, on these occasions, are sometimes as much under the dominion of
+ Morpheus&mdash;and literally walk in their sleep from custom&mdash;as the
+ young and inexperienced betray the influence of some more seductive charm.
+ The very bell that called the drowsy student from his bed seemed to rise
+ and fall in accordant sympathy with the lethargic humour that prevailed,
+ tolling in slow and half-sounding notes scarcely audible beyond the
+ college gates. The broken light, that shed its misty hue through the
+ monastic aisle of painted windows and clustered columns, gave an increased
+ appearance of drowsiness to the scene; while the chilling air of the <span
+ class="pagenum">[270]</span>morning nipped the young and dissolute, as it
+ fell in hazy dews upon the bare-headed sons of <i>alma mater</i>, within
+ many of whose bosoms the fires of the previous night's debauch were but
+ scarce extinguished. Then came the lazy unwashed <i>scout</i>, crawling
+ along the quadrangle, rubbing his heavy eyes, and cursing his hard fate to
+ be thus compelled to give early notice to some slumbering student of the
+ hour of seven, waking him from dreams of bliss, by thundering at his <i>oak</i>
+ the summons to <i>black matins</i>. Now crept the youthful band along the
+ avenue, and one by one the drowsy congregation stole through the Gothic
+ ante-chamber that leads to Christ Church chapel, like unwilling victims to
+ some pious sacrifice. Here a lengthened yawn proclaimed the want of rest,
+ and near a tremulous step and heavy half-closed eye was observed, pacing
+ across the marble floor, with hand pressed to his <i>os frontis</i>, as if
+ a thousand odd and sickly fantasies inhabited that chamber of the muses.
+ Now two friends might be seen, supporting a third, whose ghastly aspect
+ bespoke him fresh in the sacred mysteries of college parties and of
+ Bacchus; but who had, nevertheless, undergone a tolerable seasoning on the
+ previous night. There a jolly Nimrod, who had just cleared the college
+ walls, and reached his rooms time enough to cover his hunting frock and
+ boots with his academicals, was seen racing along, to 'scape the <i>prick
+ bill's</i> report, with his round hunting cap in his hand, in lieu of the
+ square tufted trencher of the schools. Night-caps thrown off in the entry&mdash;shoes
+ and stockings tied in the aisle&mdash;a red slipper and the black jockey
+ boot decorating one pair of legs was no uncommon sight; while on every
+ side rushed forward the anxious group with gowns on one arm, or trailing
+ after them, or loosely thrown around the shoulders to escape tribulation,
+ with here and there a sentimental-looking personage of portly habit and
+ solemn gait moving slowly on, filled up the motley picture. The prayers
+ were, indeed, brief, and <span class="pagenum">[271]</span>hurried through
+ with a rapidity that, I dare say, is never complained of by the <i>togati</i>;
+ but is certainly little calculated to impress the youthful mind with any
+ serious respect for these relics of monkish custom, which, after all, must
+ be considered more in the light of a punishment for those who are
+ compelled to attend than any necessary or instructive service connected
+ with the true interests of orthodoxy. In a quarter of an hour the whole
+ group had dispersed to their respective rooms, and within the five minutes
+ next ensuing, I should suppose, the greater part were again comfortably
+ deposited beneath their bedclothes, snoozing away the time till ten or
+ twelve, to make up for these inroads on the slumbers of the previous
+ night. A few hours spent in my friend's rooms, lolling on the sofa, while
+ the scout prepared breakfast, and Tom decorated his person, brought the
+ awful hour of the morning, when all who had taken any very conspicuous
+ share in the events of the previous night were likely to hear of their
+ misdoings, and receive a summons to appear before the vice-chancellor in
+ the Divinity school, better known by the name of <i>Golgotha</i>, or the
+ place of skulls, (see Plate); where, on this occasion, he was expected to
+ meet the big wigs, to confer on some important measures necessary for the
+ future peace and welfare of the university. The usual time had elapsed for
+ these unpleasant visitations, and Echo was chuckling finely at his
+ dexterity in evading the eye of authority, nor was I a little pleased to
+ have escaped myself, when a single rap at the oak, not unlike the hard
+ determined thump of an inflexible dun, in one moment revived all our worst
+ apprehensions, and, unfortunately, with too much reason for the alarm. The
+ proctors had marked poor Tom, and traced him out, and this visit was from
+ one of their bull-dogs, bringing a summons for Echo to attend before the
+ vice-chancellor and dignitaries. "What's to be done, old fellow?" said
+ Echo; "I shall be <span class="pagenum">[272]</span>expelled to a
+ certainty&mdash;and, if I don't strike my own name off the books at the
+ buttery hatch, shall be prevented making a retreat to Cam roads.&mdash;You're
+ out of the scrape, that's clear, and that affords me some hope; for as you
+ are fresh, your word will pass for something in extenuation, or arrest of
+ judgment." After some little time spent in anticipating the charges likely
+ to be brought against him, and arranging the best mode of defence, it was
+ agreed that Echo should proceed forthwith to <i>Golgotha</i>, and there,
+ with undaunted front, meet his accusers; while I was to proceed to Transit
+ and Lionise, and having instructed them in the story we had planned, meet
+ him at the <i>place of skulls</i>, fully prepared to establish, by the
+ most incontrovertible and consistent evidence, that we were not the
+ aggressors in the row. A little persuasion was necessary to convince both
+ our friends that their presence would be essential to Echo's acquittal;
+ they had too many just qualms, and fears, and prejudices of this
+ inquisitorial court not to dread perhaps detection, and a severe reprimand
+ themselves: having, however, succeeded in this point, we all three
+ compared notes, and proceeded to where the vice-chancellor and certain
+ heads of houses sat in solemn judgment on the trembling <i>togati</i>.
+ Echo was already under examination; one of the <i>bull-dogs</i> had sworn
+ particularly to Tom's being a most active leader in the fray of the
+ previous night; and having, in the contest, suffered a complete
+ disorganization of his lower jaw, with the total loss of sundry of his <i>front
+ rails</i>, he took this opportunity of affixing the honour of the deed to
+ my unlucky friend, expecting, no doubt, a very handsome recompense would
+ be awarded him by the court. Expostulation was in vain: Transit, Lionise,
+ and myself were successively called in and examined very minutely, and
+ although we all agreed to a letter in our story, and made a very clever
+ <span class="pagenum">[273]</span>defence of the culprit, we yet had the
+ mortification to hear from little Dodd, who kept the door, and who is
+ always best pleased when he can convey unpleasant tidings to the Gown,
+ that Echo had received sentence of rustication for the remainder of the
+ term; and that Eglantine, in consideration of the imprisonment he had
+ already undergone, and some favourable circumstances in his case, was let
+ off with a fine and imposition.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0010" id="Bimage-0010">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page272.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page272.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page273 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ Thus ended the row of the <i>Town and Gown</i>, as far as our party was
+ personally concerned; but many of the members of the different colleges
+ were equally unfortunate in meeting the heavy censures and judgments of
+ authority. I have just taken possession of my <i>hospitium</i>, and set
+ down with a determination <i>to fagg</i>; do, therefore, keep your
+ promise, and enliven the dull routine of college studies with some account
+ of the world at Brighton.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Bernard Blackmantle.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ On what dread perils doth the youth adventure,
+ Who dares within the Fellows' Bog to enter.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0011" id="Bimage-0011">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page273.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page273 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0012" id="Bimage-0012">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page274.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page274 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Blink2H_4_0004" id="Blink2H_4_0004">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE STAGE COACH,
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ OR THE TRIP TO BRIGHTON.
+ </h3>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ <i>Improvements in Travelling&mdash;Contrast of ancient and modern
+ Conveyances and Coachmen&mdash;Project for a new Land Steam
+ Carriage&mdash;The Inn-yard at the Golden Cross, Charing Cross&mdash;
+ Mistakes of Pas-sengers&mdash;Variety of Characters&mdash;Advantages
+ of the Box-seat&mdash;Obstructions on the Road&mdash;A Pull-up at the
+ Elephant and Castle&mdash;Move on to Kensington Common&mdash;Hew
+ Churches&mdash;Civic Villas at Brixton&mdash;Modern Taste in
+ Architecture described-Arrival at Croydon; why not now the
+ King's Road?&mdash;The Joliffe Hounds&mdash;A Hunting Leader&mdash;
+ Anecdotes of the Horse, by Coachee&mdash;The new Tunnel at
+ Reigate&mdash;The Baron's Chamber&mdash;The Golden Ball&mdash;the Silver
+ Ball&mdash;and the Golden Calf&mdash;Entrance into Brighton.</i>
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[275]</span> That every age is an improved edition
+ of the former I am not (recollecting the splendid relics of antiquity)
+ prepared to admit; but that the present is particularly distinguished for
+ discoveries in science, and vast improvements in mechanical arts, every
+ accurate observer must allow: the <i>prodigious</i> inventions of late
+ years cannot fail in due time of producing that perfectibility, the great
+ consummation denominated the Millennium. Of all other improvements,
+ perhaps the most conspicuous are in the powers of motion as connected with
+ the mode and means of travelling. With what astonishment, were it possible
+ to reanimate the clay-cold relics, would our ancestors survey the
+ accelerated perfection to which coaching is brought in the present day!
+ The journey from London to Brighton, for instance, was, half-a-century
+ since, completed at great risk in twenty-four hours, over a rough road
+ that threatened destruction at every turn; and required the most laborious
+ exertion to reach the summit of precipices that are now, like a ruined
+ spendthrift, cut through and through: the declivities too have
+ disappeared, and from its level face, the whole country would appear to
+ have undergone another revolutionary change, even to the horses, harness,
+ and the driver of the vehicle. In such a country as this, where a
+ disposition to activity and a rambling propensity to seek their fortunes
+ forms one of the most distinguishing characteristics, it was to be
+ expected that travelling would be brought to great perfection; but the
+ most sanguine in this particular could never have anticipated the rapidity
+ with which we are now whirled from one end of the kingdom to the other;
+ fifty-two miles in five hours and a quarter, five changes of horses, and
+ the same coachman to whisk you back again to supper over the same ground,
+ and within the limits of the same day. No <i>ruts or quarterings</i> now&mdash;all
+ level as a bowling-green&mdash;half-bred blood cattle&mdash;bright brass
+ harness&mdash;<i>minute and a half time</i> to change&mdash;and a
+ well-bred gentlemanly fellow for a coachman, who amuses you <span
+ class="pagenum">[276]</span>with a volume of anecdotes, if you are
+ fortunate enough to secure the box-seat, or touches his hat with the <i>congee</i>
+ of a courtier, as he pockets your tributary shilling at parting. No
+ necessity either for settling your worldly affairs, or taking an
+ affectionate farewell of a long string of relations before starting;
+ travelling being now brought to a security unparalleled, and letters
+ patent having passed the great seal of England to ensure, by means of <i>safety
+ coaches</i>, the lives of her rambling subjects. There requires but one
+ other invention to render the whole perfect, and that, if we may believe
+ the newspapers, is very near completion&mdash;a coach to go without
+ horses: to this I beg leave to propose, the steam apparatus might be made
+ applicable to all the purposes of a portable kitchen. The coachman,
+ instead of being a good judge of horse-flesh, to be selected from a first
+ rate London tavern for his proficiency in cooking, a known prime hand at
+ decomposing a turtle; instead of a book of roads, in the inside pocket
+ should be placed a copy of Mrs. Glasse on Cookery, or Dr. Kitchener on
+ Culinaries; where the fore-boot now is might be constructed a glazed
+ larder, filled with all the good things in season: then too the
+ accommodation to invalids, the back seat of the coach, might be made
+ applicable to all the purposes of a shampooing or vapour bath&mdash;no
+ occasion for Molineux or his black rival Mahomed; book your patients
+ inside back seat in London, wrap them up in blankets, and give directions
+ to the cook to keep up a good steam thermometer during the journey, 120°,
+ and you may deliver them safe at Brighton, properly hashed and reduced for
+ any further medical experiments. (See Engraving, p. 274.) The
+ accommodation to fat citizens, and western <i>gourmands</i>, would be
+ excellent, the very height of luxury and refinement&mdash;inhaling the
+ salubrious breeze one moment, and gurgling down the glutinous calipash the
+ next; no <span class="pagenum">[277]</span>exactions of impudent waiters,
+ or imposing landlords, or complaints of dying from hunger, or choking from
+ the want of time to masticate; but every wish gratified and every sense
+ employed. Then how jovial and pleasant it would appear to see perched up
+ in front a John Bull-looking fellow in a snow-white jacket, with a
+ night-cap and apron of the same, a carving-knife in a case by his side,
+ and a poker in his hand to stir up the steam-furnace, or singe a
+ highwayman's wig, should any one attack the coach; this indeed would be an
+ improvement worthy of the age, and call forth the warmest and most
+ grateful tributes of applause from all ranks in society. For myself, I
+ have always endeavoured to read "men more than books," and have ever found
+ an endless diversity of character, a never-failing source of study and
+ amusement in a trip to a watering-place: perched on the top in summer, or
+ pinched inside in winter of a stage-coach, here, at leisure and unknown, I
+ can watch the varied groups of all nations as they roam about for profit
+ or for pleasure, and note their varieties as they pass away like the
+ retiring landscape, never perhaps to meet the eye again.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The excursion to Brighton was no sooner finally arranged, than declining
+ the proffered seat in D'Almaine's travelling carriage, I packed up my
+ portmanteau, and gave directions to my servant to book me outside at the
+ Golden Cross, by the seven o'clock morning coach, for Brighton; taking
+ care to secure the box-seat, by the payment of an extra shilling to the
+ porter.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ An inn-yard, particularly such a well-frequented one as the Golden Cross,
+ Charing Cross, affords the greatest variety of character and entertainment
+ to a humorist. Vehicles to all parts of the kingdom, and from the
+ inscription on the Dover coaches, I might add to all parts of the world,
+ <i>via Paris</i>. "Does that coach go the whole way to France?" said an
+ <span class="pagenum">[278]</span>unsuspecting little piece of female
+ simplicity to me, as I stood lolling on the steps at the coach-office
+ door. "Certainly," replied I, unthinkingly. "O, then I suppose," said the
+ speaker, "they have finished the projected chain-pier from Dover to
+ Calais." "France and England united? nothing more impossible," quoth I,
+ correcting the impression I had unintentionally created. "Are you going by
+ the Brighton, mam?" "Yes, I be." "Can't <i>take</i> all that luggage."
+ "Then you sha'n't _take_ me." "Don't wish to be __taken for a waggon-man."
+ "No, but by Jasus, friend, you are a wag-on-her," said a merry-faced
+ Hibernian, standing by. "Have you paid down the <i>dust</i>, mam?"
+ inquired the last speaker. "I have paid for my place, sir," said the lady;
+ "and I shall lose two, if I don't go." "Then by the powers, cookey, you
+ had better pay for one and a half, and that will include luggage, and then
+ you'll be a half gainer by the bargain." "What a cursed narrow hole this
+ is for a decent-sized man to cram himself in at?" muttered an enormous
+ bulky citizen, sticking half-way in the coach-door, and panting for breath
+ from the violence of his exertions to drag his hind-quarters after him.
+ "Take these hampers on the top, Jack," said the porter below to the man
+ loading the coach, and quietly rested the baskets across the projecting <i>ultimatum</i>
+ of the fat citizen (to the no little amusement of the bystanders), who
+ through his legs vociferated, "I'll indict you, fellows; I'll be&mdash;&mdash;if
+ I don't, under Dick Martin's act." "It must be then, my jewel," said the
+ waggish Hibernian, "for overloading a mule." "Do we take <i>the whole</i>
+ of you to-day, sir?" said coachee, assisting to push him in. "What do you
+ mean by <i>the whole</i>? I am only one man." "A master tailor," said
+ coachee, aside, "he must be then, with the <i>pickings</i> of nine poor
+ journeymen in his paunch." "Ish tere any room outshide te coach?" bawled
+ out a black-headed little Israelite; "ve shall be all shmotered vithin,
+ <span class="pagenum">[279]</span>tish hot day; here are too peepels
+ inshite, vat each might fill a coach by temselves." "All right&mdash;all
+ right; take care of your heads, gemmen, going under the gateway; give the
+ bearing rein of the near leader one twist more, and pole up the off
+ wheeler a link or two. All right, Tom&mdash;all right&mdash;stand away
+ from the horses' heads, there&mdash;ehewt, fee'e't!"&mdash;smack goes the
+ whip, and away goes the Brighton Times like a Congreve rocket, filled with
+ all manner of combustibles.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The box-seat has one considerable advantage&mdash;it exempts you from the
+ inquisitive and oftentimes impertinent conversation of a mixed group of
+ stage-coach passengers; in addition to which, if you are fond of driving,
+ a foible of mine, I confess, it affords an opportunity for an extra lesson
+ on the noble art of <i>handling the ribbons</i>, and at the same time puts
+ you in possession of all the topographical, descriptive, and anecdotal
+ matter relative to the resident gentry and the road.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The first two miles from the place of starting is generally occupied in
+ clearing obstructions on the road, taking up old maids at their own
+ houses, with pug-dogs, pattens, and parrots, or pert young misses at their
+ papas' shop-doors; whose mammas take this opportunity of delaying a
+ coach-load of people to display their maternal tenderness at parting,
+ while the junior branches of the family hover round the vehicle, and
+ assail your ears with lisping out their eternal "good b'yes," and the old
+ hairless head of the family is seen slyly <i>tipping</i> coachee an extra
+ shilling to take care of his darling girl. The Elephant and Castle
+ produces another <i>pull-up</i>, and here a branch-coach brings a load of
+ lumber from the city, which, while the porter is stowing away, gives time
+ to exhibit the <i>lions</i> who are leaving London in every direction.
+ King's Bench rulers with needy habiliments, and lingering looks, sighing
+ for term-time and <span class="pagenum">[280]</span>a <i>horse</i>,{1} on
+ one side the road, and Jews, newsmen, and <i>touters</i>, on the other;
+ who nearly <i>give away</i> their goods, if you believe them, for the good
+ of the nation, or force you into a coach travelling in direct opposition
+ to the road for which you have been booked, and in which your luggage may
+ by such mischance happily precede you at least half a day. At length all
+ again is declared right, the supervisor delivers his <i>way-bill</i>, and
+ forward moves the coach, at a somewhat brisker pace, to Kennington Common.
+ I shall not detain my readers here with a long dull account of the
+ unfortunate rebels who suffered on this spot in 1745; but rather direct
+ their attention to a neat Protestant church, which has recently been
+ erected on the space between the two roads leading to Croydon and Sutton,
+ the portico of which is in fine architectural taste, and the whole
+ building a very great accommodation and distinguished ornament to the
+ neighbourhood. About half a mile farther, on the rise of Brixton hill, is
+ another newly erected church, the portico in the style of a Greek temple,
+ and in an equally commanding situation: from this to Croydon, ten miles,
+ you have a tolerable specimen of civic taste in rural architecture.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ On both sides of the road may be seen a variety of incongruous edifices,
+ called villas and cottage <i>ornées</i>, peeping up in all the pride of a
+ retired linen-draper, or the consequential authority of a man in office,
+ in as many varied styles of architecture as of dispositions in the
+ different proprietors, and all exhibiting (in their possessors' opinion)
+ claims to the purest and most refined taste.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ For example, the basement story is in the Chinese or Venetian style, the
+ first floor in that of the florid Gothic, with tiles and a pediment <i>à-la-Nash</i>,
+ at the Bank; a doorway with inclined jambs, and a hieroglyphic <i>à-la-Greek</i>:
+ a gable-ended glass <i>lean to</i> on
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 A day-rule, so called.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[281]</span>one side, about big enough for a
+ dog-kennel, is called a green-house, while a similar erection on the other
+ affords retirement for the <i>tit</i> and tilbury; the door of which is
+ always set wide open in fine weather, to display to passers-by the
+ splendid equipage of the occupier. The parterre in front (green as the
+ jaundiced eye of their less fortunate brother tradesmen) is enriched with
+ some dozens of vermilion-coloured flower-pots mounted on a japanned
+ verdigris frame, sending forth odoriferous, balmy, and enchanting gales to
+ the grateful olfactory organs, from the half-withered stems of pining and
+ consumptive geraniums; to complete the picture, two unique plaster casts
+ of naked figures, the Apollo Belvidere and the Venus de Medici, at most a
+ foot in altitude, are placed on clumsy wooden pedestals of three times
+ that height before the parlour-windows, painted in a chaste flesh-colour,
+ and guarded by a Whitechapel bull-cdog, who, like another Cerberus, sits
+ growling at the gate to fright away the child of poverty, and insult the
+ less wealthy pedestrian.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Happy country! where every man can consult his own taste, and build
+ according to his own fancy, amalgamating in one structure all the known
+ orders and varieties, Persian, Egyptian, Athenian, and European.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Croydon in 1573 contained the <i>archiepiscopal palace</i> of the
+ celebrated Archbishop Parker, who, as well as his successor Whitgift, here
+ had frequently the honour to entertain Queen Elizabeth and her court: the
+ manor since the reign of William the Conqueror has belonged to the
+ Archbishops of Canterbury. The church is a venerable structure, and the
+ stately tower, embowered with woods and flanked by the Surrey hills, a
+ most picturesque and commanding object; the interior contains some
+ monuments of antiquity well worthy the attention of the curious. The town
+ itself has little worthy of note except the hospital, <span class="pagenum">[282]</span>founded
+ by Archbishop Whitgift for a warder and twenty poor men and women, decayed
+ housekeepers of Croyden and Lambeth: a very comfortable and well-endowed
+ retirement.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "This was formerly the King's road," said coachee, "but the radicals
+ having thought proper to insult his majesty on his passing through to
+ Brighton during the affair of the late Queen, he has ever since gone by
+ the way of Sutton: a circumstance that has at least operated to produce
+ one christian virtue among the inhabitants, namely, that of humility;
+ before this there was no <i>getting change</i> for a civil sentence from
+ them."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ To Merstham seven miles, the road winds through a bleak valley called
+ Smithem Bottom, till recently the favourite resort of the cockney gunners
+ for rabbit-shooting; but whether from the noise of their harmless
+ double-barrel <i>Nocks</i>, or the more dreadful carnage of the Croydon
+ poachers, these animals are now exceedingly scarce in this neighbourhood.
+ Just as we came in sight of Merstham, the distant view halloo of the
+ huntsman broke upon our ears, when the near-leader rising upon his
+ haunches and neighing with delight at the inspiring sound, gave us to
+ understand that he had not always been used to a life of drudgery, but in
+ earlier times had most likely carried some daring Nimrod to the field, and
+ bounded with fiery courage o'er hedge and gate, through dell and brake,
+ outstripping the fleeting wind to gain the honour of <i>the brush</i>. Ere
+ we had gained the village, reynard and the whole field broke over the road
+ in their scarlet frocks, and dogs and horses made a dash away for a
+ steeple chase across the country, led by the worthy-hearted owner of the
+ pack, the jolly fox-hunting Colonel, Hilton Jolliffe, whose residence caps
+ the summit of the hill. From hence to Reigate, four miles farther, there
+ was no circumstance or object of interest, if I except a very romantic
+ tale coachee <span class="pagenum">[283]</span>narrated of his hunting
+ leader, who had of course been bred in the stud of royalty itself, and had
+ since been the property of two or three sporting peers, when, having put
+ out a _spavin_, during the last hunting season, he was sold for a
+ __machiner; but being since fired and turned out, he had come up all
+ right, and was now, according to coachee's disinterested opinion, one of
+ the best hunters in the kingdom. As I was not exactly the customer coachee
+ was looking for, being at the time pretty well mounted, I thought it
+ better to indulge him in the joke, particularly as any doubt on my part
+ might have soured the whip, and made him sullen for the rest of the
+ journey.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ At Reigate a trifling accident happened to one of the springs of the
+ coach, which detained us half an hour, and enabled me to pay a visit to
+ the celebrated sand cavern, where, it is reported, the Barons met, during
+ the reign of King John, to hold their councils and draw up that great <i>palladium</i>
+ of English liberty, <i>Magna Charta</i>, which was afterwards signed at
+ Runnymede.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ There was something awful about this stupendous excavation that impressed
+ me with solemn thoughtfulness; it lies about sixty feet from the surface
+ of the earth, and is divided into three apartments with arched roofs, the
+ farthest of which is designated the Barons' Chamber. Time flowed back upon
+ my memory as I sat in the niches hewn out in the sides of the cavern, and
+ meditation deep usurped my mind as I dwelt on the recollections of
+ history; on the
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Majestic forms, and men of other times,
+ Retired to fan the patriotic fire,
+ Which, bursting forth at Runnymede,
+ With rays of glory lightened all the land!"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Near to the mouth of this cavern stands the remains of Holms Castle,
+ celebrated in the history of the civil wars between Charles the First and
+ his parliament; and on the site of an ancient monastic establishment,
+ <span class="pagenum">[284]</span>near to the spot, has been erected a
+ handsome modern mansion called the Priory of Holmsdale, the name of the
+ valley in which the town is situate. Returning to the inn I observed the
+ new tunnel, which we had previously passed under, a recent work of great
+ labour and expense, which saves a considerable distance in the approach to
+ the town; it has been principally effected by a wealthy innkeeper, and
+ certainly adds much to the advantage and beauty of the place. Coachee had
+ now made all right, and his anxious passengers were again replaced in
+ their former situations to proceed on our journey. The next stage, ten
+ miles, to Crawley, a picturesque place, afforded little variety, if I
+ except an immense elm which stands by the side of the road as you enter,
+ and has a door in front to admit the curious into its hollow trunk. Our
+ next post was Cuckfield, nine miles, where I did not discover any thing
+ worthy of narration; from this to Brighton, twelve miles, coachee amused
+ me with some anecdotes of persons whom we passed upon the road. A handsome
+ chariot, with a most divine little creature in the inside, and a
+ good-looking <i>roué</i>, with huge mustachios, first attracted my notice:
+ "that is the golden Ball," said coachee, "and his new wife; he often <i>rolls
+ down</i> this road for a day or two&mdash;spends his cash like an emperor&mdash;and
+ before he was <i>tied up</i> used to tip pretty freely for <i>handling the
+ ribbons</i>, but that's all up now, for <i>Mamsell</i> Mercandotti finds
+ him better amusement. A gem-man who often comes down with me says his
+ father was a slopseller in Ratcliffe Highway, and afterwards marrying the
+ widow of Admiral Hughes, a rich old West India nabob, he left this young
+ gemman the bulk of his property, and a very worthy fellow he is: but we've
+ another rich fellow that's rather notorious at Brighton, which we
+ distinguish by the name of the <i>silver Ball</i>, only he's a bit of a <i>screw</i>,
+ and has lately <span class="pagenum">[285]</span>got himself into a scrape
+ about a pretty actress, from which circumstance they have changed his name
+ to the <i>Foote Ball</i>. I suppose you guess where I am now," said
+ coachee, tipping me one of his knowing winks. "Do you see that machine
+ before us, a sort of cabriolet, with two horses drove in a curricle bar?
+ that is another <i>swell</i> who is very fond of Brighton, a Jew gentleman
+ of the name of Solomon, whom the wags have made a Christian of by the new
+ appellation of the <i>golden calf</i>; but his godfathers were never more
+ out in their lives, for in <i>splitting a bob</i>, it's my opinion, he'd
+ bother all Bevis Marks and the Stock Exchange into the bargain." In this
+ way we trotted along, gathering good air and information at every step,
+ until we were in sight of Brighton Downs, a long chain of hills, which
+ appear on either side; with their undulating surfaces covered with the
+ sweet herb wild thyme, and diversified by the numerous flocks of
+ South-down sheep grazing on their loftiest summits. After winding through
+ the romantic valley of Preston, the white-fronted houses and glazed bricks
+ of Brighton break upon the sight, sparkling in the sun-beams, with a
+ distant glimpse of the sea, appearing, at first sight, to rise above the
+ town like a blue mountain in the distance: we entered the place along what
+ is called the London Road, with a view of the Pavilion before us, the
+ favourite abode of royalty, shooting its minaret towers and glass dome
+ upwards in the most grotesque character, not unlike the representations of
+ the Kremlin at Moscow; exciting, at the first glance, among the
+ passengers, the most varied and amusing sallies of witticisms and
+ conjectures.&mdash;Having procured a sketch of it from this view, I shall
+ leave you to contemplate, while I retire to my inn and make the necessary
+ arrangements for refreshment and future habitation.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ By way of postscript, I enclose you a very entertaining scene I witnessed
+ between D'Almaine and <span class="pagenum">[286]</span>his wife the night
+ previous to my journey: they are strange creatures; but you love
+ eccentrics, and may be amused with this little drama, which formed the
+ motive for my visit.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Horatio Heartly.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0013" id="Bimage-0013">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page286.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page286 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Blink2H_4_0005" id="Blink2H_4_0005">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE PROPOSITION.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ <i>Family Secrets&mdash;Female Tactics&mdash;How to carry the Point.</i>
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[287]</span>"It was ever thus, D'Almaine," said Lady
+ Mary; "always hesitating between a natural liberality of disposition, and
+ a cold, calculating, acquired parsimony, that has never increased our
+ fortune in the sum of sixpence, or added in the slightest degree to our
+ domestic comforts." "All the <i>prejudice of education</i>" said
+ D'Almaine, good-humouredly; "my old uncle, the banker, to whose bounty we
+ are both much indebted, my dear, early inculcated these notions of thrift
+ into the brain of a certain lighthearted young gentleman, whose buoyant
+ spirits sometimes led him a little beyond the <i>barrier of prudence</i>,
+ and too often left him environed with difficulties in the <i>marshes of
+ impediment</i>. 'Look before you leap,' was a wise saw of the old
+ gentleman's; and 'be just before you're generous,' a proverb that never
+ failed to accompany a temporary supply, or an additional demand upon his
+ generosity."&mdash;"Hang your old uncle!" replied Lady Mary, pouting and
+ trying to look ill-tempered in the face of Lord Henry's good-natured
+ remonstrance,&mdash;"I never ask a favour for myself, or solicit you to
+ take the recreation necessary to your own health and that of your family,
+ but I am pestered with the revised musty maxims of your dead old uncle. He
+ has been consigned to the earth these ten years, and <span class="pagenum">[288]</span>if
+ it were not for the ten thousand per annum he left us, ought long since to
+ have shared the fate of his ancestry, whose names were never heard more of
+ than the tributary tablet imparts to the eye of curiosity in a country
+ church, and within whose limits all inquiry ends." "Gratitude, Lady Mary,
+ if not respect for my feelings, should preserve that good man's name from
+ reproach." Lord Henry's eye was unusually expressive&mdash;he continued:&mdash;"The
+ coronet that graces your own soul-inspiring face would lack the lustre of
+ its present brilliancy, but for the generous bequest of the old city
+ banker, whose <i>plum</i> was the <i>sweetest windfall</i> that ever dropt
+ into the empty purse of the poor possessor of an ancient baronial title.
+ The old battlements of Crackenbury have stood many a siege, 'tis true; but
+ that formidable engine of modern warfare, the <i>catapulta</i> of the
+ auctioneer, had, but for him, proved more destructive to its walls than
+ the battering-ram and hoarse cannonades of ancient rebels."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[288]</span>When a woman is foiled at argument, she
+ generally has recourse to finesse. Lady Mary had made up her mind to carry
+ her point; finding therefore the right column of her vengeance turned by
+ the smart attack of D'Almaine's raillery, she was determined to out-flank
+ him with her whole park of well-appointed artillery, consisting of all
+ those endearing, solicitous looks and expressions, that can melt the most
+ obdurate heart, and command a victory over the most experienced general.
+ It was in vain that Lord Henry urged the unusual heavy expenses of the
+ season in town,&mdash;the four hundred paid for the box at the opera,&mdash;or
+ the seven hundred for the greys and the new barouche,&mdash;the pending
+ demand from Messrs. Rundell's for the new service of plate,&mdash;and the
+ splendid alterations and additions just made to the old family hall,&mdash;with
+ <span class="pagenum">[289]</span>numerous other most provoking items
+ which the old steward had conjured up, as if on purpose, to abridge the
+ pleasures of Lady Mary's intended tour. "It was very <i>distressing</i>&mdash;she
+ heartily wished there was no such thing as money in the world&mdash;it
+ made people very miserable&mdash;they were a much happier couple, she
+ contended, when they were merely Honourables, and lived upon a paltry two
+ thousand and the expectancy&mdash;there never was any difficulty then
+ about money transactions, and a proposition for a trip to a watering-place
+ was always hailed with pleasure."&mdash;"True, Lady Mary; but then you
+ forget we travelled in a stage coach, with your maid on the outside, while
+ my man servant, with a led-horse, followed or preceded us. Then, we were
+ content with lodgings on the West-cliff, and the use of a kitchen: now, we
+ require a splendid establishment, must travel in our own chariot, occupy
+ half a mews with our horses, and fill half a good-sized barrack with our
+ servants. Then, we could live snug, accept an invitation to dinner with a
+ commoner, and walk or ride about as we pleased, without being pointed at
+ as <i>lions</i> or <i>raro aves</i> just broke loose from the great state
+ aviary at St. James's." "We shall scarcely be discovered," said Lady Mary,
+ "among the stars that surround the regal planet."&mdash;"We shall be much
+ mortified then," said Lord Henry, facetiously.&mdash;"You are very
+ provoking, D'Almaine. I know your turf speculations have proved fortunate
+ of late: I witnessed Sir Charles paying you a large sum the other morning;
+ and I have good reason for thinking you have been successful at the club,
+ for I have not heard your usual morning salutation to your valet, who
+ generally on the occasion of your losses receives more checks than are
+ payable at your bankers. You shall advance me a portion of your winnings,
+ in return for which I promise you good health, good society, and, perhaps,
+ if the stars <i>shoot <span class="pagenum">[290]</span>rightly</i>, a
+ good place for our second son. In these days of peace, the distaff can
+ effect more than the field-marshal's baton."&mdash;"Always provided," said
+ my sire (clapping his hand upon his <i>os frontis</i>), "that nothing else
+ <i>shoots out</i> of such condescensions."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "But why has Brighton the preference as a watering place?" said Lord
+ Henry: "the Isle of Wight is, in my opinion, more retired; Southampton
+ more select; Tunbridge Wells more rural; and Worthing more social."&mdash;"True,
+ D'Almaine; but I am not yet so old and woe-begone, so out of conceit with
+ myself, or misanthropic with the world, to choose either the retired, the
+ select, the rural, or the social. I love the bustle of society, enjoy the
+ promenade on the Steyne, and the varied character that nightly fills the
+ libraries; I read men, not books, and above all I enjoy the world of
+ fashion. Where the King is, there is concentrated all that is delightful
+ in society. Your retired dowagers and Opposition peers may congregate in
+ rural retirement, and sigh with envy at the enchanting splendour of the
+ court circle; those only who have felt its cheering influence can speak of
+ its inspiring pleasures; and all who have participated in the elegant
+ scene will laugh at the whispers of malignity and the innuendoes of
+ disappointment, which are ever pregnant with some newly invented <i>on dit</i>
+ of scandalous tendency, to libel a circle of whom they know nothing but by
+ report; and that report, in nine instances out of ten, 'the weak invention
+ of the enemy.'" "Bravo, Lady Mary; your spirited defence of the Pavilion
+ party does honour to your heart, and displays as much good sense as honest
+ feeling; but a little interest, methinks, lurks about it for all that: I
+ have not forgotten the honour we received on our last visit; and you, I
+ can perceive, anticipate a renewal of the same gratifying condescension;
+ so give James his instructions, and let him proceed to Brighton to-morrow
+ to make the necessary arrangements for our arrival."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[291]</span>Thus ended the colloquy in the usual
+ family manner, when well-bred men entertain something more than mere
+ respect for their elegant and accomplished partners.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0014" id="Bimage-0014">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page291.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page291 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Blink2H_4_0006" id="Blink2H_4_0006">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ SKETCHES AT BRIGHTON.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ <i>The Pavilion Party&mdash;Interior described&mdash;Royal and Noble
+ Anecdotes&mdash;King and Mathews</i>.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[292]</span>I had preceded D'Almaine and the
+ Countess only a few hours in my arrival at Brighton; you know the vivacity
+ and enchanting humour which ever animates that little divinity, and will
+ not therefore be surprised to hear, on her name being announced at the
+ Pavilion, we were honoured with a royal invitation to an evening party. I
+ had long sighed for an opportunity to view the interior of that eccentric
+ building; but to have enjoyed such a treat, made doubly attractive by the
+ presence of the King, reposing from the toils of state in his favourite
+ retreat, and surrounded by the select circle of his private friends, was
+ more than my most sanguine expectations could have led me to conjecture.
+ Suspending, therefore, my curiosity until the morrow, relative to the
+ Steyne, the beach, the libraries, and the characters, I made a desperate
+ effort in embellishing, to look unusually stylish, and as usual, never
+ succeeded so ill in my life. Our residence on the Grand Parade is scarcely
+ a hundred yards from, and overlooks the Pavilion&mdash;a circumstance
+ which had quite escaped my recollection; for with all the natural anxiety
+ of a young and ardent mind, I had fully equipped myself before the Count
+ had even thought of entering his dressing-room. Half-an-hour's lounge at
+ the projecting window of our new habitation, on a tine summer's evening,
+ gave me an opportunity of remarking the <span class="pagenum">[293]</span>singular
+ appearance the front of this building presents:
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "If minarets, rising together, provoke
+ From the lips of the vulgar the old-fashioned joke&mdash;
+
+ '<i>De gustibus non est</i> (I think) <i>disputandum</i>'
+ The taste is plebeian that quizzes at random."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ There is really something very romantic in the style of its architecture,
+ and by no means inelegant; perhaps it is better suited for the peculiar
+ situation of this marine palace than a more classical or accredited order
+ would be. It has been likened, on its first appearance, to a chess-board;
+ but, in my thinking, it more nearly resembles that soul-inspiring scene,
+ the splendid banquet table, decorated in the best style of modern
+ grandeur, and covered with the usual plate and glass enrichments: for
+ instance, the central dome represents the water magnum, the towers right
+ and left, with their pointed spires, champagne bottles, the square
+ compartments on each side are exactly like the form of our fashionable
+ liqueur stands, the clock tower resembles the centre ornament of a
+ plateau, the various small spires so many enriched <i>candelabra</i>, the
+ glass dome a superb dessert dish; but
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Don't expect, my dear boy, I can similies find
+ For a heap of similitudes so undefined.
+ And why should I censure tastes not my concern?
+ 'Tis as well for the arts that all tastes have their turn."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ If I had written for three hours on the subject, I could not have been
+ more explicit; you have only to arrange the articles in the order
+ enumerated, and you have a model of the upper part of the building before
+ you. At nine o'clock we made our <i>entré</i> into the Pavilion, westward,
+ passing through the vestibule and hall, when we entered one of the most
+ superb apartments that art or fancy can devise, whether for richness of
+ effect, decoration, and design: this is <span class="pagenum">[294]</span>called
+ the <i>Chinese Gallery</i>, one hundred and sixty-two feet in length by
+ seventeen feet in breadth, and is divided into five compartments, the
+ centre being illumined with a light of stained glass, on which is
+ represented the God of Thunder, as described in the Chinese mythology,
+ surrounded by the imperial five-clawed dragons, supporting pendent
+ lanterns, ornamented with corresponding devices. The ceiling or cove is
+ the colour of peach blossom; and a Chinese canopy is suspended round from
+ the lower compartment with tassels, bells, &amp;c.: the furniture and
+ other decorations, such as cabinets, chimney-piece, trophies, and banners,
+ which are in the gallery, are all in strict accordance with the Chinese
+ taste; while on every side the embellishments present twisted dragons,
+ pagodas, and mythological devices of birds, flowers, insects, statues,
+ formed from a yellow marble; and a rich collection of Oriental china. The
+ extreme compartments north and south are occupied by chased brass
+ staircases, the lateral ornaments of which are serpents, and the balusters
+ resemble bamboo. In the north division is the <i>fum</i>{1} or Chinese
+ bird of royalty: this gallery opens into the music room, an apartment
+ forty-two feet square, with two recesses of ten feet each, and rising in
+ height forty-one feet, to a dome thirty feet in diameter. The magnificence
+ and imposing grandeur of effect surpasses all effort at detail. It
+ presented a scene of enchantment which brought to recollection the florid
+ descriptions, in the Persian Tales, of the palaces of the genii: the
+ prevailing decoration is executed in green gold, and produces a most
+ singularly splendid effect. On the walls are twelve highly finished
+ paintings, views in China, principally near Pekin, imitative of the
+ crimson japan.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 The fum is said to be found in no part of the world but
+ China. It is described as of most admirable beauty; and
+ their absence for any time from the imperial city regarded
+ as an omen of misfortune to the royal family. The emperor
+ and mandarins have the semblance of these birds embroidered
+ on their vestments.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[295]</span>The dome appears to be excavated out of
+ a rock of solid gold, and is supported by an octagonal base, ornamented
+ with the richest Chinese devices; at each angle of the room is a
+ pagoda-tower, formed of the most costly materials in glass and china, with
+ lamps attached; beneath the dome and base is a splendid canopy, supported
+ by columns of crimson and gold, with twisted serpents of enormous size,
+ and terrific expression surrounding them. A magnificent organ, by
+ Sinclair, the largest and best in the kingdom, occupies the north recess,
+ twenty feet in width, length, and height: there are two entrances to this
+ room, one from the <i>Egyptian gallery</i>, and another from the yellow
+ drawing-room, each under a rich canopy, supported by gold columns. A
+ beautiful chimney-piece of white statuary marble, and an immense mirror,
+ with splendid draperies of blue, red, and yellow satin, rare china jars,
+ and ornaments in ormolu, increase the dazzling brilliancy of the
+ apartment. As this was my first appearance in the palace, the Countess,
+ very considerately, proposed to Sir H&mdash;&mdash;T&mdash;&mdash;, who
+ conducted us, that we should walk through the other public apartments,
+ before we were ushered into the presence chamber&mdash;a proposition the
+ good-natured equerry very readily complied with. Repassing, therefore, the
+ whole length of the Chinese gallery, the southern extremity communicates
+ with the <i>Royal Banqueting Room</i>, sixty feet in length, by forty-two
+ in breadth: the walls are bounded at the height of twenty-three feet by a
+ cornice, apparently inlaid with pearls and gold, from which spring four
+ ecliptic arches, supported by golden columns, surmounted with a dome,
+ rising to a height of forty-five feet, and constructed to represent an
+ eastern sky; beneath which is seen spreading the broad umbrageous foliage
+ of the luxuriant plantain, bearing its fruit and displaying, in all the
+ progressive stages, <span class="pagenum">[296]</span>the different
+ varieties, from the early blossom to maturity: curious Chinese symbols are
+ suspended from the trunk, and connect themselves with a grand lustre,
+ rising to a height of thirty feet, and reflecting the most varied and
+ magical effect, being multiplied by other lustres, in the several angles
+ adjoining. The walls are decorated with groups of figures, nearly the size
+ of life, portraying the costume of the higher classes of the Chinese;
+ domestic episodes, painted on a ground of imitative pearl, richly wrought,
+ in all the varied designs of Chinese mythology. The furniture is of the
+ most costly description&mdash;rose-wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and
+ enriched with <i>or molu</i> chasings of the most elegant design; the
+ effect of which is admirably contrasted with the rich glossy jars of blue
+ porcelain, of English manufacture, and magnificent brilliancy. Centrally,
+ between these magnificent apartments, is the Rotunda or Saloon; an oblong
+ interior of fifty-five feet in length, the decoration chaste and classical
+ in the extreme, being simply white and gold, the enriched cornice being
+ supported by columns and pilasters, and the whole decoration uniting
+ coolness with simplicity. The passages to some of the minor apartments are
+ unique in their style of embellishment, which appears to be of polished
+ white marble, but is, in fact, nothing but a superior Dutch tile, cemented
+ smoothly, in plaster of Paris, and highly varnished. There are many other
+ private and anterooms to the west of the Chinese gallery, the decorations
+ of which are more simple, but in a corresponding style. We had now arrived
+ at the <i>Yellow Room (see Plate</i>), where we understood his Majesty
+ would receive his evening party.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0015" id="Bimage-0015">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page296.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page296th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page296" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The apartment is fifty-six feet in length, by twenty in breadth, and is
+ hung round with a rich fluted drapery of yellow satin, suspended from the
+ ceiling, and representing a magnificent Chinese tent, from the centre of
+ which hangs a chandelier of <span class="pagenum">[237]</span>the most
+ splendid design, the light of which is diffused through painted glasses,
+ resembling in shape and colour every variety of the tulip, exciting the
+ greatest admiration. The chimney-piece is Chinese, the stove formed by <i>chimera</i>
+ chased in <i>or molu</i>, the figures above being models or automatons, of
+ nearly the size of life, dressed in splendid costume, occasionally moving
+ their heads and arms. The furniture of the room is of a similar character
+ to those already described, except the seats, which are ottomans of yellow
+ velvet, the window draperies being of the same splendid material. It was
+ in this truly royal apartment we had the honour of waiting the approach of
+ his Majesty, who entered, at about a quarter before ten, apparently in the
+ enjoyment of the most excellent health and highest spirits. He was
+ preceded by Sir A. F. Barnard and Lord Francis Conyngham, the grooms in
+ waiting, and entered with the Princess Augusta leaning on his arm, the
+ left of her royal highness being supported by the Duke of York; the
+ Marquis of Conyngham followed, leading in his Marchioness; and the
+ beautiful and accomplished Lady Elizabeth honoured Sir William Knighton as
+ her conductor. The old Earl of Arran came hobbling on his crutches,
+ dreadfully afflicted with the gout. Sir C. Paget, that merry son of
+ Neptune, with Sir E. Nagle, followed; the rear being brought up by the
+ fascinating Countess of Warwick and her ever constant earl. <i>(See
+ Plate.)</i> Do not imagine, my dear Bernard, that I shall so far outrage
+ the honourable feelings of a gentleman as to relate every word, look, or
+ action, of this illustrious party, for the rude ear of eager curiosity.
+ Those only who have witnessed the Monarch in private life, freed from the
+ weight of state affairs, and necessary regal accompaniments, can form a
+ correct judgment of the unaffected goodness of his heart; the easy
+ affability, and pliant condescension, with which he can divest <span
+ class="pagenum">[298]</span>every one around him of any feeling of
+ restraint&mdash;the uncommon sprightliness and vivacity he displays in
+ conversation&mdash;the life and soul of all that is elegant and classical,
+ and the willing participator and promoter of a good joke. Suffice it to
+ say, the reception was flattering in the extreme, the entertainment
+ conversational and highly intellectual. The moments flew so quickly, that
+ I could have wished the hour of eleven, the period of the King's retiring,
+ had been extended to the noontide of the morrow. But is this all, I think
+ I can hear you say, this friend of my heart dares to repose with me on a
+ subject so agreeable? No&mdash;you shall have a few <i>on dits</i>, but
+ nothing touching on the scandalous; gleanings, from Sir E&mdash;&mdash;
+ and Sir C&mdash;&mdash;, the jesters of our sovereign lord the King; but
+ nothing that might excite a blush in the cheek of the lovely Countess, to
+ whom I was indebted for the honour and delight I on that occasion
+ experienced. Imprimis:&mdash;I know you are intimate with that inimitable
+ child of whim, Charles Mathews. He is in high estimation with royalty, I
+ assure you; and annually receives the King's command to deliver a
+ selection from his popular entertainments before him&mdash;an amusement of
+ which his Majesty speaks in terms of the warmest admiration. On the last
+ occasion, a little <i>scena</i> occurred that must have been highly
+ amusing; as it displays at once the kind recollections of the King, and
+ his amiable disposition. As I had it from Sir C&mdash;&mdash;, you may
+ depend upon its authenticity. I shall denominate it the King at Home, or
+ Mathews in Carlton Palace. <i>(See Plate.)</i>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0016" id="Bimage-0016">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page298.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page298th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page298" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Previous to Mathews leaving this country for America, he exhibited a
+ selection from his popular entertainments, by command of his Majesty, at
+ Carlton Palace.&mdash;A party of not more than six or eight persons were
+ present, including the Princess Augusta and the Marchioness of Conyngham.
+ During <span class="pagenum">[299]</span>the entertainment (with which the
+ King appeared much delighted), Mathews introduced his imitations of
+ various performers on the British stage, and was proceeding with John
+ Kemble in the Stranger, when he was interrupted by the King, who, in the
+ most affable manner, observed that his general imitations were excellent,
+ and such as no one who had ever seen the characters could fail to
+ recognise; but he thought the comedian's portrait of John Kemble somewhat
+ too boisterous.&mdash;"He is an old friend, and I might add, tutor of
+ mine," observed his Majesty: "when I was Prince of Wales he often favoured
+ me with his company. I will give you an imitation of John Kemble," said
+ the good-humoured monarch. Mathews was electrified. The lords of the
+ bed-chamber eyed each other with surprise. The King rose and prefaced his
+ imitations by observing, "I once requested John Kemble to take a pinch of
+ snuff with me, and for this purpose placed my box on the table before him,
+ saying 'Kemble, oblige (obleege) me by taking a pinch of snuff' He took a
+ pinch, and then addressed me thus:&mdash;(Here his Majesty assumed the
+ peculiar carriage of Mr. Kemble.) 'I thank your Royal Highness for your
+ snuff, but, in future, do extend your royal jaws a little wider, and say
+ Oblige.'" The anecdote was given with the most powerful similitude to the
+ actor's voice and manners, and had an astonishing effect on the party
+ present. It is a circumstance equally worthy of the King and the scholar.
+ Mathews, at the conclusion, requested permission to offer an original
+ anecdote of Kemble, which had some affinity to the foregoing. Kemble had
+ been for many years the intimate friend of the Earl of Aberdeen. On one
+ occasion he had called on that nobleman during his morning's ride, and
+ left Mrs. Kemble in the carriage at the door. John and the noble earl were
+ closely engaged on some literary subject a very long time, while Mrs.
+ Kemble was <span class="pagenum">[300]</span>shivering in the carriage (it
+ being very cold weather). At length her patience being exhausted, she
+ directed her servant to inform his master that she was waiting, and feared
+ the cold weather would bring on an attack of the rheumatism. The fellow
+ proceeded to the door of the earl's study, and delivered his message,
+ leaving out the final letter in rheumatism.&mdash;This he had repeated
+ three several times, by direction of his mistress, before he could obtain
+ an answer. At length, Kemble, roused from his subject by the importunities
+ of the servant, replied, somewhat petulantly, "Tell your mistress I shall
+ not come, and, fellow, do you in future say '<i>tism</i>."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Among the party assembled on this occasion was the favoured son of
+ Esculapius, Sir W&mdash;&mdash; K&mdash;&mdash;, the secret of whose
+ elevation to the highest confidence of royalty is one of those mysteries
+ of the age which it is in vain to attempt to unravel, and which, perhaps,
+ cannot be known to more than two persons in existence: great and
+ irresistible, however, must that influence be, whether moral or physical,
+ which could obtain such dominion over the mind as to throw into the shade
+ the claims of rank and courtly <i>lions</i>, and place an humble disciple
+ of Esculapius on the very summit of royal favour. Of his gentlemanly and
+ amusing talents in society every one must speak in terms of the highest
+ praise, and equally flattering are the reports of his medical skill; but
+ many are the fleeting causes and conjectures assigned for his supremacy&mdash;reports
+ which may not be written here, lest I assist in the courtly prattle of
+ misrepresentation. Sir W&mdash;&mdash; was, I believe, the executor of an
+ old and highly-favoured confidential secretary; might not <i>certain
+ circumstances</i> arising out of that trust have paved the way to his
+ elevation? If the intense merits of the individual have raised him to the
+ dazzling <span class="pagenum">[301]</span>height, the world cannot value
+ them too highly, and sufficiently extol the discrimination of the first
+ sovereign and first gentleman of the age who could discover and reward
+ desert with such distinguished honour. But if his elevation is the result
+ of any sacrifice of principle, or of any courtly intrigue to remove a once
+ equally fortunate rival, and pave his path with gold, there are few who
+ would envy the favoured minion: against such suspicion, however, we have
+ the evidence of a life of honour, and the general estimation of society.
+ Of his predecessor, and the causes for his removal, I have heard some
+ curious anecdotes, but these you shall have when we meet. A very good
+ story is in circulation here among the court circle relative to the
+ eccentric Lady C&mdash;&mdash; L&mdash;&mdash;, and a young marchioness,
+ who, spite of the remonstrances of her friends and the general good taste
+ of the ladies in that particular, recently selected an old man for a
+ husband, in preference to a choice of at least twenty young and titled,
+ dashing <i>roués</i>: the whim and caprice of the former is notorious,
+ while the life and animation of the little marchioness renders her the
+ brightest star of attraction in the hemisphere of fashion. "I should like
+ to see Billingsgate, amazingly," said the marchioness to her eccentric
+ friend, while reading a humorous article on the subject in the Morning
+ Chronicle. "It must be entertaining to hear the peculiar phraseology and
+ observe the humorous vulgarities of these <i>naiades</i>, if one could do
+ so <i>incog</i>." "And why not, my dear?" said Lady C&mdash;&mdash;; "you
+ know there never was a female Quixote in existence among the petticoat
+ blue-stockings, from Lady Wortley Montague to Lady Morgan, who was more
+ deeply affected with the Tom and Jerry <i>mania</i> than I am: leave all
+ to me, and I'll answer for taking you there safely, enjoying the scene
+ securely, and escaping without chance of detection." With Lady <span
+ class="pagenum">[302]</span>C&mdash;&mdash; a whim of this description is
+ by no means unusual, and the necessary attendance of a confidential
+ servant to protect, in case of danger, a very essential personage. To this
+ Mercury, Lady C&mdash;&mdash; confided her plan; giving directions for the
+ completion of it on the morning of the morrow, and instructing him to
+ obtain disguises from his wife, who is an upper servant in the family, for
+ the use of the ladies. John, although perfectly free from any alarm on
+ account of Lady C&mdash;&mdash;, should the whim become known, was not so
+ easy in respect to the young and attractive marchioness, whose consort,
+ should any thing unpleasant occur, John wisely calculated, might interfere
+ to remove him from his situation. With this resolve he prudently
+ communicated the ladies' intention to a confidential friend of the
+ marquis, who, on receiving an intimation of their intentions, laughed at
+ the whim, and determined to humour the joke, by attending the place,
+ properly disguised, to watch at a distance the frolic of the ladies. The
+ next morning, at the appointed hour, the footman brought a hackney-coach
+ to the door, and the ladies were quickly conveyed to the scene of action,
+ followed (unknowingly) by the marquis and his friend. Here they amused
+ themselves for some time in walking about and observing the bustle and
+ variety of the, to them, very novel scene; soon, however, fatigued with
+ the mobbing, thrusting, and filthiness, which is characteristic of the
+ place, the marchioness was for returning, remarking to her friend that she
+ had as yet heard none of that singular broad humour for which these nymphs
+ of the fish-market were so celebrated. "Then you shall have a specimen
+ directly," said Lady C&mdash;&mdash;, "if I can provoke it; only prepare
+ your ethics and your ears for a slight shock; "and immediately approaching
+ an old fresh-water dragon, who sat behind an adjoining stall, with a
+ countenance spirited in the <span class="pagenum">[303]</span>extreme, and
+ glowing with all the beautiful varieties of the ultra-marine and
+ vermilion, produced by the all-potent properties of Hodge's full-proof,
+ she proceeded to cheapen the head and shoulders of a fine fish that lay in
+ front of her, forcing her fingers under the gills, according to the
+ approved custom of good housewives, to ascertain if it was fresh.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0017" id="Bimage-0017">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page303.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page303th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page303" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ After a parley as to price, Lady C&mdash;&mdash; hinted that she doubted
+ its being perfectly sweet: the very suspicion of vending an unsavoury
+ article roused the old she-dragon at once into one of the most terrific
+ passions imaginable, and directing all her ire against the ladies, she
+ poured forth a volley of abuse fiery and appalling as the lava of a
+ volcano, which concluded as follows.&mdash;"Not sweet, you &mdash;&mdash;,"
+ said the offended deity; "how can I answer for its sweetness, when you
+ have been tickling his gills with your stinking paws 1 " <i>(See Plate.)</i>
+ The marchioness retreated at the first burst of the storm, but Lady C&mdash;&mdash;continued
+ to provoke the old naiad of the shambles, till she had fully satisfied her
+ humour. Again safely escorted home by the liveried Mercury, the ladies
+ thought to have enjoyed their joke in perfect security; but what was their
+ astonishment, when on meeting the marquis and a select party at dinner, to
+ find the identical fish served up at their own table, and the marquis
+ amusing his friends by relating the whole circumstances of the frolic, as
+ having occurred to two ladies of distinction during the laughter-loving
+ days of Charles the Second. I need not animadvert upon the peculiar
+ situation of the ladies, who, blushing through a crimson veil of the
+ deepest hue, bore the raillery of the party assembled with as much good
+ sense as good nature; acknowledging the frolic, and joining in the laugh
+ the joke produced. Beneath, you have one of our facetious friend Bob
+ Transit's humorous sketches of an incident said to have occurred near B&mdash;&mdash;
+ H&mdash;&mdash;: in which an eccentric <span class="pagenum">[304]</span>lady
+ chose to call up the servants in the dead of the night, order out the
+ carriage, and mounting the box herself, insisted upon giving the footman,
+ who had been somewhat tardy in leaving his bed, a gentle airing in his
+ shirt.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0018" id="Bimage-0018">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page304.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page304 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Blink2H_4_0007" id="Blink2H_4_0007">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ CHARACTERS ON THE BEACH AND STEYNE, BRIGHTON.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ <i>On Bathing and Bathers&mdash;Advantages of Shampooing&mdash;French
+ Decency&mdash;Brighton Politeness&mdash;Sketches of Character&mdash;The
+ Banker's Widow&mdash;Miss Jefferies&mdash;Mrs. F&mdash;&mdash;l&mdash;Peter
+ Paragraph, the London Correspondent&mdash;Jack Smith&mdash;The
+ French Consul&mdash;Paphian Divinities&mdash;C&mdash;&mdash; L&mdash;&mdash;, Esq.&mdash;
+ Squeeze into the Libraries&mdash;The new Plunging Bath&mdash;Chain
+ Pier&mdash;Cockney Comicalities&mdash;Royal Gardens&mdash;The Club House.</i>
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[305]</span>The next morning early I proceeded to
+ the beach to enjoy the delightful and invigorating pleasure of
+ sea-bathing. The clean pebble shore extending, as it does here, for a long
+ distance beneath the east cliff, is a great advantage to those who, from
+ indisposition or luxury, seek a dip in the ocean. One practice struck me
+ as being a little objectionable, namely, the machines of the males and
+ females being placed not only within sight of each other, but actually
+ close alongside; by which circumstance, the sportive nymphs sometimes
+ display more of nature's charms to the eager gaze of her wanton sons than
+ befits me to tell, or decency to dwell on. I could not, however, with all
+ the purity of my ethics, help envying a robust fellow who was assisting in
+ clucking the dear unencumbered creatures under the rising wave.{1}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 Some of the female bathers are very adventurous, and from
+ the great drawback of water many accidents have occurred.
+ I was much amused one morning with three sisters, in the
+ machine adjoining mine, continually crying out to a male
+ attendant "to push on, and not be afraid of the
+ consequences; we can all swim well," said one of the Miss
+ B&mdash;&mdash;'s (well known as the <i>marine graces</i>). "But my machine
+ a'n't water-tight," replied the bathing-man, "and if I
+ trust it any farther in, I shall never be able to get it out
+ again." A Frenchman who came down to bathe with his wife and
+ sister insisted upon using the same machine with the ladies;
+ the bathing-women remonstrated, but <i>monsieur</i> retorted very
+ fairly thus&mdash;"<i>Mon dieu I vat is dat vat you tell me about
+ décence. Tromperie</i>&mdash;shall I no dip <i>mon femme a sour</i>
+ myself vith quite as much <i>bienséance</i> as dat vulgar brute
+ vat I see ducking de ladies yondere?"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[306]</span>The naiads of the deep are a strange
+ race of mortals, half fish and half human, with a masculine coarseness of
+ manner that, I am told, has been faithfully copied from their great
+ original, the once celebrated Martha Gun. It is not unusual for these
+ women to continue in the water up to their waists for four hours at a
+ time, without suffering the least affection of cold or rheumatism, and
+ living to a great age. A dingy empiric has invented a new system of <i>humbug</i>
+ which is in great repute here, and is called <i>shampooing</i>; a sort of
+ stewing alive by steam, sweetened by being forced through odoriferous
+ herbs, and undergoing the pleasant sensation of being dabbed all the while
+ with pads of flannels through holes in the wet blankets that surround you,
+ until the cartilaginous substances of your joints are made as pliable as
+ the ligaments of boiled calves' feet, your whole system relaxed and
+ unnerved, and your trembling legs as useless in supporting your body as a
+ pair of boots would be without the usual quantity of flesh and bone within
+ them. The Steyne affords excellent subject for the study of character, and
+ the pencil of the humorist; the walks round are paved with brick, which,
+ when the thermometer is something above eighty-six in the shade (the case
+ just now), is very like pacing your parched feet over the pantiles of a
+ Turkish stove. There is, indeed, a <span class="pagenum">[307]</span>grass-plot
+ within the rails, but the luxury of walking upon it is reserved for the
+ fishermen of the place exclusively, except on some extraordinary occasion,
+ when the whole rabble of the town are let loose to annoy the visitants by
+ puffing tobacco smoke in their faces, or jostling and insulting them with
+ coarse ribaldry, until the genteel and decent are compelled to quit the
+ promenade. I have had two or three such specimens of Brighton manners
+ while staying here, and could only wish I had the assistance of about
+ twenty of the <i>Oxford</i>togati<i>, Trinitarians, or Bachelors of
+ Brazennose. I think we should hit upon some expedient to tame these
+ brutes, and teach them civilized conduct&mdash;an Herculean labour which
+ the town authorities seem afraid to attempt. The easy distance between
+ this and the metropolis, with the great advantages of expeditious
+ travelling, enable the multitudinous population of London to pour forth
+ its motley groups, in greater variety than at any other watering place,
+ Margate excepted, with, however, this difference in favour of the former,
+ that the mixture had more of the sprinkling of fashion about them, here
+ and there a name of note, a splendid equipage, or a dazzling star, to
+ illumine the dull nomenclatures in the library books of the Johnson's, the
+ Thomson's, the Brown's, and the Levi's. The last-mentioned fraternity
+ congregate here in shoals, usurp all the best lodgings, at the windows of
+ which they are to be seen soliciting notice, with their hooked noses,
+ copper countenances, and inquisitive eyes, decked out in all the faded
+ finery of Petticoat-lane, or Bevis Marks; while the heads of the houses of
+ Israel run down on a Saturday, after the Stock Exchange closes, and often
+ do as much business here on the Sabbath, in gambling speculations for the
+ </i>account day<i>, as they have done all the week before in London. Here,
+ too, you have the felicity to meet your tailor in his tandem, your <span
+ class="pagenum">[308]</span>butcher on his </i>trotter<i>, your shoemaker
+ in a </i>fly<i>, and your wine-merchant with his bit of blood, his girl,
+ and tilbury, making a greater splash than yourself, and pleasantly
+ pointing you out to observation as a long-winded one, a great gambler, or
+ some other such gratuitous return for your ill-bestowed patronage. To
+ amalgamate with such </i>canaille<i> is impossible&mdash;you are therefore
+ driven into seclusion, or compelled to confine your visits and amusements
+ to nearly the same circle you have just left London to be relieved from.
+ Among the "observed" of the present time, the great star of attraction is
+ the rich Banker's widow, who occupies the corner house of the Grand
+ Parade, eclipsing in splendid equipages and attendants an Eastern nabob,
+ or royalty itself. Good fortune threw old Crony in my way, just as I had
+ caught a glimpse of the widow's cap: you know his dry sarcastic humour and
+ tenacious memory, and perhaps I ought to add, my inquisitive disposition.
+ From him I gleaned a sketch of the widow's history, adorned with a few
+ comments, which gallantry to the fair sex will not allow me to repeat. She
+ had just joined conversation with the Marquis of H&mdash;&mdash;, who was
+ attended by Jackson, the pugilist; an illustrious personage and a noble
+ earl were on her left; while behind the </i>jolie<i> dame, at a respectful
+ distance, paced two liveried emblems of her deceased husband's bounty,
+ clad in the sad habiliments of woe, and looking as merry as mutes at a
+ rich man's funeral. </i>(See Plate.)
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0019" id="Bimage-0019">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page308.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page308th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page308" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "She has the reputation of being very charitable," said I. "She has,"
+ responded Crony; "but the total neglect of poor Wewitzer, in the hour of
+ penury and sickness, is no proof of her feeling, much less of her
+ generosity. I have known her long," continued Crony, "from her earliest
+ days of obscurity and indigence to these of unexampled prosperity, and I
+ never could agree with common report in that particular." I dare say I
+ looked at this moment very <span class="pagenum">[309]</span>significantly;
+ for Crony, without waiting my request, continued his history. "Her father
+ was the gay and dissolute Jack Kinnear, well known in Dublin for his
+ eccentricities about the time of the Rebellion, in which affair he made
+ himself so conspicuous that he was compelled to expatriate, and fled to
+ England by way of Liverpool; where his means soon failing, Jack, never at
+ a loss, took up the profession of an actor, and succeeded admirably. His
+ animated style and attractive person are still spoken of with delight by
+ many of the old inhabitants of Carlisle, Rochdale, Kendal, and the
+ neighbouring towns of Lancashire, where he first made his appearance in an
+ itinerant company, then under the management of a man of the name of
+ Bibby, and in whose house, under very peculiar circumstances, our heroine
+ was born; but
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Merit and worth from no condition rise;
+ Act well your part&mdash;there all the honour lies.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[309]</span>That little Harriet was a child of much
+ promise there is no doubt, playing, in her mother's name, at a very early
+ period, all the juvenile parts in Bibby's company with great <i>éclat</i>
+ until she attained the age of eighteen, when her abilities procured her a
+ situation to fill the first parts in genteel comedy in the theatres-royal
+ Manchester and Liverpool. From this time her fame increased rapidly, which
+ was not a little enhanced by her attractive person, and consequent number
+ of admirers; for even among the cotton lords of Manchester a fine-grown,
+ raven-locked, black-eyed brunette, arch, playful, and clever, could not
+ fail to create sensations of desire: but at this time the affections of
+ the lady were fixed on a son of Thespis, then a member of the same
+ company, and to whom she was shortly afterwards betrothed; but the
+ marriage, from some capricious cause or other, was never consummated: the
+ actor, well-known as Scotch Grant, is now much reduced in life, and a
+ member of <span class="pagenum">[310]</span>one of the minor companies of
+ the metropolis. On her quitting Liverpool, in 1794, she played at the
+ Stafford theatre during the election contest, where, having the
+ good-fortune to form an intimacy with the Hortons, a highly-respectable
+ family then resident there, and great friends of Sheridan, they succeeded,
+ on the return of that gentleman to parliament for the borough of Stafford,
+ to obtain from him an engagement for our heroine at the theatre-royal
+ Drury Lane, of which he was at that time proprietor. 'Brevity is the soul
+ of wit,'" said Crony: "I shall not attempt to enumerate all the parts she
+ played there; suffice it to say, she was successful, and became a great
+ favourite with the public. It was here she first attracted the notice of
+ the rich old banker, who having just discarded another actress, Mrs. M&mdash;&mdash;r,
+ whom he had kept some time, on account of an intimacy he discovered with
+ the lady and P&mdash;&mdash;e, the oboe player, he made certain
+ propositions, accompanied with such liberal presents, that the fair
+ yielded to the all-powerful influence, not of love, but gold; and having,
+ through the interference of poor W&mdash;&mdash;, secured to herself a
+ settlement which made her independent for life, threw out the well-planned
+ story of the lottery ticket, as a 'tub to the whale': a stratagem that,
+ for some time, succeeded admirably, until a malicious wag belonging to the
+ company undertook to solve the riddle of her prosperity, by pretending to
+ bet a wager of one hundred, that the lady had actually gained twenty
+ thousand pounds by the lottery, and he would name the ticket: with this
+ excuse, for what otherwise might have been deemed impertinent, he put the
+ question, and out of the reply developed the whole affair. All London now
+ rung with the splendour of her equipage, the extent of her charities, and
+ the liberality of her conduct to an old actor and a young female friend,
+ Miss S&mdash;&mdash;n, who was invariably seen with <span class="pagenum">[311]</span>her
+ in public. Such was the notoriety of the intimacy, that the three married
+ daughters of the banker, all persons of title and the highest
+ respectability, thought it right to question their father, relative to the
+ truth of the reports in circulation. Whatever might have been their
+ apprehensions, their fears were quieted by the information, that the lady
+ in question was a natural daughter, born previous to the alliance to which
+ they owed their birth: this assurance not only induced the parties to
+ admit her to their presence, but she was also introduced to, and became
+ intimate with, the wife of the man to whom she owes her present good
+ fortune. It was now, that, feeling herself secure, she displayed that
+ capricious feeling which has since marked her character: poor W&mdash;&mdash;r,
+ her mentor and defender, was on some mere pretence abandoned, and a sturdy
+ blustering fellow, in the same profession, substituted for the sincere
+ adviser, the witty and agreeable companion: it was to R&mdash;&mdash;d she
+ sent a present of one thousand pounds, for a single ticket, on his benefit
+ night. But her ambition had not yet attained its highest point: the
+ banker's wife died, and our fortunate heroine was elected to her place
+ while yet the clay-cold corse of her predecessor remained above ground; a
+ circumstance, which brought down a heavy calamity on the clerical who
+ performed the marriage rites,{2} but which was remedied by an annuity from
+ the banker. From this period, the haughty bearing of the lady exceeded all
+ bounds; the splendour of her establishment, the extravagance of her
+ parties, and the munificence of her charities, trumpeted forth by that
+ many-tongued oracle, the public press, eclipsed the brilliancy of the
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 2 Saturnine B&mdash;&mdash;n, the author of 'the stage,' a Poem, on
+ hearing the day after her marriage with the banker, a
+ conversation relative to her age, said he was sure the
+ party were all in error, as there could be no doubt the lady
+ was on the previous night <i>under age</i>.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[312]</span>royal banquets, and outshone the
+ greatest and wealthiest of the stars of fashion. About this time, her
+ hitherto inseparable companion made a slip with a certain amorous manager;
+ and such was the indignation of our moral heroine on the discovery, that
+ she spurned the unfortunate from her for ever, and actually turned the
+ offending spark out of doors herself, accompanying the act with a very
+ unladylike demonstration of her vengeance. B&mdash;&mdash;d, her most
+ obsequious servant, died suddenly. Poor Dr. J&mdash;&mdash; A&mdash;&mdash;s,
+ who gave up a highly respectable and increasing practice, in Greek-street,
+ Soho, as a physician, to attend, exclusively, on the 'geud auld mon' and
+ his rib, met such a return for his kindness and attention, that he
+ committed suicide. Her next friend, a Mr. G&mdash;&mdash;n, a very
+ handsome young man, who was induced to quit his situation in the bank for
+ the office of private secretary, made a mistake one night, and eloped with
+ the female confidante of the banker's wife, a crime for which the
+ perpetrator could never hope to meet with forgiveness. It is not a little
+ singular," said Crony, "that almost all her intimate acquaintances have,
+ sooner or later, fallen into disrepute with their patroness, and felt how
+ weak is the reliance upon the capricious and the wayward." On the death of
+ the old banker, our heroine had so wheedled the dotard, that he left her,
+ to the surprise of the world, the whole of his immense property,
+ recommending only certain legacies, and leaving an honourable and
+ high-minded family dependent upon her bountiful consideration. "I could
+ relate some very extraordinary anecdotes arising out of that
+ circumstance," said Crony; "but you must be content with one, farcical in
+ the extreme, which fully displays the lady's affection for her former
+ profession, and shows she is a perfect mistress of stage effect. On the
+ removal of the shrivelled remains of the old dotard for interment, his
+ affectionate rib accompanied the <span class="pagenum">[313]</span>procession,
+ and when they rested for the night at an inn on the road, guarded them in
+ death as she had done in the close of life, by sleeping on a sofa in the
+ same room. Cruel, cruel separation! what a scene for the revival of 'grief
+ à la mode!' "But she is unhappy with all her wealth," said the cynic.
+ "Careless as some portion of our nobility are in their choice of
+ companions for their sports or pleasures, they have yet too much
+ consideration left of what is due to their rank, their wives, and
+ daughters, not to hesitate before they receive&mdash;&mdash;. But never
+ mind," said Crony; "you know the rest. You must have heard of a recent
+ calamity which threatened the lady; and on which that mad wag, John Bull,
+ let fly some cutting jokes. A very sagacious police magistrate,
+ accompanied by one of his <i>indefatigables</i>, went to <i>inspect the
+ premises</i>, accompanied by a gentleman of the faculty; but, after all
+ their united efforts to unravel the mystery, it turned out a mere <i>scratch</i>,
+ a very flat affair.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0020" id="Bimage-0020">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page313.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page313 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[314]</span>"I think," said Crony, "we have now
+ arrived at the ultimatum of the widow's history, and may as well take a
+ turn or two up the Steyne, to look out for other character. The ancient
+ female you perceive yonder, leaning on her tall gold-headed cane, is Miss
+ J&mdash;&mdash;s, a maid of honour to the late Queen Charlotte, and the
+ particular friend of Mrs. F&mdash;&mdash;l: said to be the only one left
+ out of eight persons, who accompanied two celebrated personages, many
+ years since, in a stolen matrimonial speculation to Calais.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ She is as highly respected as her friend Mrs. F&mdash;&mdash;l is beloved
+ here." "Who the deuce is that strange looking character yonder, enveloped
+ in a boat-cloak, and muffled up to the eyes with a black handkerchief?"
+ "That is a very important personage in a watering place, I assure you,"
+ replied Crony; "being no other than the celebrated Peter Paragraph, the
+ London correspondent to the Morning Post, who involves, to use his own
+ phrase, the whole hemisphere of fashion in his mystifications and reports:
+ informs the readers of that paper how many rays of sunshine have
+ exhilarated the Brightonians during the week, furnishes a correct journal
+ of fogs, rains, storms, shipwrecks, and hazy mists; and, above all,
+ announces the arrivals and departures, mixing up royal and noble
+ fashionables and <i>kitchen stuff'</i> in the same beautiful obscurity of
+ diction. Peter was formerly a <i>friseur</i>; but has long since quitted
+ the shaving and cutting profession for the more profitable calling of
+ collector of <i>on dits</i> and <i>puffs extraordinaire</i>. The
+ swaggering broad-shouldered blade who follows near him, with a
+ frontispiece like the red lion, is the well-known radical, Jack S&mdash;&mdash;h,
+ now agent to the French consul for this place, and the unsuccessful
+ candidate for the <i>independent</i> borough of Shoreham." "A complete
+ eccentric, by all my hopes of pleasure! Crony, who are those two dashing
+ divinities, who come tripping along so lively yonder?" "Daughters of <span
+ class="pagenum">[315]</span>pleasure," replied the cynic; "a pair of
+ justly celebrated paphians, west-end comets, who have come here, no doubt,
+ with the double view of profit and amusement. The plump looking dame on
+ the right, is Aug&mdash;ta C&mdash;ri, (otherwise lady H&mdash;&mdash;e);
+ so called after the P&mdash;n&mdash;ss A&mdash;&mdash;a, her godmamma. Her
+ father, old Ab&mdash;t, one of Q&mdash;&mdash;n C&mdash;&mdash;te's <i>original</i>
+ German pages, brought up a large family in respectability, under the
+ fostering protection of his royal mistress. Aug&mdash;&mdash;ta, at the
+ early age of fifteen, eloped from St. James's, on a matrimonial
+ speculation with a young musician, Mr. An&mdash;&mdash;y C&mdash;&mdash;,
+ (himself a boy of 18)! From such a union what could be expected? a mother
+ at 16, and a neglected dishonoured wife, before she had counted many years
+ of womanhood. If she fell an unresisting victim to the seduction which her
+ youth, beauty, and musical talents attracted, '<i>her stars were more to
+ blame than she.</i>' Let it be recorded, however, that her conduct as wife
+ and mother was free from reproach, until a <i>depraved, unnatural</i> man
+ (who by the way has since fled the country) set her the example of
+ licentiousness.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Amongst her earliest admirers, was the wealthy citizen, Mr. S&mdash;&mdash;
+ M&mdash;&mdash;, a bon vivant, a <i>five-bottle</i> man (who has, not
+ unaptly, been since nominated a representative in p&mdash;&mdash;l for one
+ of the <i>cinque ports</i>).
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ To this witty man's generous care she is indebted for an annuity, which,
+ with common prudence, ought to secure her from want during her own life.
+ On her departure from this lover, which proceeded entirely from her own
+ caprice and restless extravagance, the vain Aug&mdash;ta launched at once
+ into all the dangerous pleasures of a cyprian life. The court, the city,
+ and the <i>'change</i>, paid homage to her charms. One high in the r&mdash;&mdash;l
+ h&mdash;&mdash;h&mdash;&mdash;id wore her chains for many months; and it
+ was probably more in the spirit of revenge for open neglect, than
+ admiration of such a <span class="pagenum">[316]</span>faded beau, that
+ lady G&mdash;&mdash; B&mdash;&mdash; admitted the E&mdash;&mdash; of B&mdash;&mdash;e
+ to usurp the husband's place and privilege.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ It is extraordinary that the circumstance just mentioned, which was
+ notorious, was not brought forward in mitigation of the damages for the
+ loss of conjugal joys; and which a jury of citizens, with a tender feeling
+ for their own honour, valued at ten thousand pounds. My lord G&mdash;&mdash;
+ B&mdash;&mdash; pocketed the injury and the ten thousand,; and his noble
+ substitute has since made the 'amende honorable' to public morals, by
+ uniting his destinies with an amiable woman, the daughter of a doctor of
+ music, and a beauty of the sister country, who does honour to the rank to
+ which she has been so unexpectedly elevated.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Mrs. C&mdash;&mdash;i had no acquaintance of her own sex in the world of
+ gaiety but one; the beautiful, interesting, Mademoiselle St. M&mdash;g&mdash;te,
+ then (1812 and 1813) in the zenith of her charms. The gentle Ad&mdash;l&mdash;de,
+ whose sylph-like form, graceful movements, and highly polished manner,
+ delighted all who knew her, formed a strange and striking contrast to the
+ short, fat, bustling, salacious Aug&mdash;ta, whose boisterous bon-mots,
+ and horse-laughical bursts, astonished rather than charmed. Both, however,
+ found abundance of admirers to their several tastes. It was early in the
+ spring of 1814 that the subject of this article had the good or evil
+ fortune to attract the eye of a noble lord of some notoriety, who pounced
+ on his plump prey with more of the amorous assurance of the bird of Jove
+ than the cautious hoverings of the wary H&mdash;ke. Love like his admitted
+ of no delay. Preliminaries were soon arranged, under the auspices of that
+ experienced matron, Madame D'E&mdash;v&mdash;e, whose address, in this
+ delicate negotiation, extorted from his lordship's generosity, besides a
+ cheque on H&mdash;&mdash;d and
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ G&mdash;bbs for a cool hundred, the payment of 'brother Martin's' old
+ score, of long standing, for bed and board at Madame's house of business,
+ little St. Martin's-<span class="pagenum">[317]</span>street. The public
+ have been amused with the ridiculous story of the mock marriage; but
+ whatever were his faults or follies, and he is since called to his
+ account, his l&mdash;ds&mdash;p stands guiltless of this. 'Tis true, her
+ 'ladyship' asserted, nay, we believe, swore as much; but she is known to
+ possess such boundless imaginative faculties, that her nearest and dearest
+ friends have never yet been able to detect her in the weakness of uttering
+ a palpable truth. The assumption of the name and title arose out of a
+ circumstance so strange, so ridiculous, and so unsavoury, that, with all
+ our 'gusto' for fun, we must omit it: suffice it to say, that it
+ originated in&mdash;what?&mdash;gentle reader&mdash;in a dose of physic!!!
+ For further particulars, apply to Mrs. C&mdash;&mdash;l, of the C&mdash;s&mdash;le
+ S&mdash;t&mdash;h&mdash;ll. After this strange event, which imparted to
+ her ladyship all the honours of the coronet, Mrs. C&mdash;&mdash;i was to
+ be seen in the park, from day to day; the envy of every less fortunate
+ Dolly, and the horror of the few friends which folly left her lordly dupe.
+ In this state of doubtful felicity her ladyship rolled on (for she almost
+ lived in her carriage) for three years; when, alas! by some cruel caprice
+ of love, or some detected intrigue, or from the holy scruples of his
+ lordship's Reverend adviser, Padre Ambrosio, this connexion was suddenly
+ dissolved at Paris; when Mrs. C&mdash;&mdash;, no longer acknowledged as
+ my lady, was at an hour's notice packed off in the Dilly for Dover, and
+ her jewels, in half the time, packed up in their casket and despatched to
+ Lafitte's, in order to raise the ways and means for the peer and his
+ ghostly confessor!
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Her ladyship's next attempt at notoriety was her grand masked ball at the
+ Argyll rooms in 1818; an entertainment which, for elegant display and
+ superior arrangement, did great credit to her taste, or to that of her
+ broad-shouldered Milesian friend, to whom it is said the management of the
+ whole was committed. The expense of this act of folly has been variously
+ <span class="pagenum">[318]</span>estimated; and the honour of defraying
+ it gratuitously allotted to an illustrious commander, whose former
+ weakness and culpability has been amply redeemed by years of truly r&mdash;&mdash;l
+ benevolence and public service. We can state, however, that neither the
+ purse or person of the royal D&mdash;&mdash;contributed to the <i>éclat</i>
+ of the <i>fête</i>. An amorous Hebrew city clerk, who had long '<i>looked
+ and loved</i>' at humble distance, taking advantage of his uncle's absence
+ on the continent in a <i>diamond hunting</i> speculation, having left the
+ immediate jewel of His soul, his cash, at home, the enamoured youth seized
+ the very 'nick o' time,' furnished half the funds for the night, for half
+ a morning's conversation in Upper Y&mdash;street: her ladyship's
+ indefatigable industry furnished the other moiety in a couple of days. A
+ Mr. Z&mdash;ch&mdash;y contributed fifty, which coming to the ears of his
+ sandy-haired lassie, his own paid forfeit of his folly, to their almost
+ total abstraction from the thick head to which they project with asinine
+ pride. Since this splash in the whirlpool of fashionable folly, her
+ 'ladyship,' for she clings to the rank with all the tenacity of a fencible
+ field officer, has lived in comparative retirement near E&mdash;dg&mdash;e
+ R&mdash;d, nursing a bantling of the new era, and singing '<i>John
+ Anderson my Joe</i>' to her now 'gude man;' only occasionally relapsing
+ into former gaieties by a sly trip to Box Hill or Virginia Water with the
+ grandson of a barber, a flush but gawky boy, who, forgetting that it is to
+ the talents and judicial virtues of his honoured sire he owes his
+ elevation, rejects that proud and wholesome example; and, by his arrogance
+ and vanity, excites pity for the father and contempt for the son. Her
+ ladyship, who by her own confession has been 'just nine and twenty' for
+ the last ten years, may still boast of her conquests. Her amour with the
+ <i>yellow dwarf</i> of G&mdash;vs&mdash;r P&mdash;e is too good to be
+ lost. They are followed by one, who, time was, would have chased them
+ round the Steyne <span class="pagenum">[319]</span>and into cover with all
+ the spirit of a true sportsman; but his days of revelry are past,&mdash;that
+ is the celebrated <i>roué</i>, C&mdash;&mdash; L&mdash;&mdash;, a '<i>trifle
+ light as air,</i>' yet in nature's spite a very ultra in the pursuit of
+ gallantry. To record the number of frail fair ones to whose charms he
+ owned ephemeral homage would fill a volume. The wantons wife whose vices
+ sunk her from the drawing-room to the lobby; the{4} kitchen wench, whose
+ pretty face and lewd ambition raised her to it; the romance bewildered{5}
+ Miss, and the rude unlettered {6} villager, the hardened drunken
+ profligate, and the timid half-ruined victim (the almost infant Jenny!)
+ have all in turn tasted his bounty and his wine, have each been honoured
+ with a page in his trifles: of his caresses he wisely was more chary.
+ Which of the frail sisterhood has not had a ride in G&mdash;&mdash; L&mdash;&mdash;'s
+ worn out in the service 1 and which in its day might be said to roll
+ mechanically from C&mdash;&mdash;L&mdash;&mdash;to C&mdash;&mdash;s-s&mdash;t,
+ with almost instinctive precision. But his days of poesy and nights of
+ folly are now past!
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Honest C&mdash;&mdash;has taken the hint from nature, and retired, at
+ once, from the republics of Venus and of letters. A kind, a generous, and
+ a susceptible heart like his must long ere this have found, in the arms of
+ an amiable wife, those unfading and honourable joys which, reflection must
+ convince him, were not to be extracted from those foul and polluted
+ sources from whence he sought and drew a short-lived pleasure."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ You know Crony's affection for a good dinner, and will not therefore be
+ surprised that I had the honour of his company this day; but i'faith he
+ deserved his reward for the cheerfulness and amusement with which he
+ contrived to kill time.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 3 Lady B&mdash;&mdash;e.
+
+ 4 Mrs. H&mdash;&mdash;y.
+
+ 5 Louisa V&mdash;&mdash;e.
+
+ 6 Mrs. S&mdash;d&mdash;s.
+
+ 7 Mrs. S&mdash;mm&mdash;ns.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[320]</span>In the evening it was proposed to visit
+ the libraries; but as these places of public resort are not always
+ eligible for the appearance of a star, Crony and myself were despatched
+ first to reconnoitre and report to the Countess our opinions of the
+ assembled group. The association of society has perhaps undergone a
+ greater change in England within the last thirty years than any other of
+ our peculiar characteristics; at least, I should guess so from Crony's
+ descriptions of the persons who formerly honoured the libraries with their
+ presence; but whose names (if they now condescend to subscribe) are
+ entered in a separate book, that they may not be defiled by appearing in
+ the same column with the plebeian host of the three nations who form the
+ united family of Great Britain. "Ay, sir," said Crony, with a sigh that
+ bespoke the bitterness of reflection, "I remember when this spot
+ (Luccombe's library) was the resort of all the beauty and brilliancy that
+ once illumined the hemisphere of Calton palace,&mdash;the satellites of
+ the heir apparent, the brave, the witty, and the gay,&mdash;the
+ soul-inspiring, mirthful band, whose talents gave a splendid lustre to the
+ orb of royalty, far surpassing the most costly jewel in his princely
+ coronet. But they are gone, struck to the earth by the desolating hand of
+ the avenger Death, and have left no traces of their genius upon the minds
+ of their successors."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Of the motley assemblage which now surrounds us it would be difficult to
+ attempt a picture. The pencil of a Cruikshank or a Rowlandson might indeed
+ convey some idea; but all weaker hands would find the subject
+ overpowering. A mob of manufacturers, melting hot, elbowing one another
+ into ill-humour, by their anxiety to teach their offspring the fashionable
+ vice of gaming; giving the pretty innocents a taste for <i>loo</i>, which
+ generally ends in <i>loo</i>-sening what little purity of principle the
+ prejudice of education has left upon their intellect. In our more
+ fashionable <i>hells</i>, wine and choice <i>liqueurs</i> are the
+ stimulants <span class="pagenum">[321]</span>to vice; here, the seduction
+ consists in the strumming of an ill-toned piano, to the squeaking of some
+ poor discordant whom poverty compels to public exposure; and who,
+ generally being of the softer sex, pity protects from the severity of
+ critical remark. I need not say our report to the Dalmaines was
+ unfavourable; and the divine little countess, frustrated in her intentions
+ of honouring the libraries with her presence, determined upon promenading
+ up the West Cliff, attended by old Crony and myself. The bright-eyed
+ goddess of the night emitted a ray of more than usual brilliancy, and o'er
+ the blue waters of the deep spread forth a silvery and refulgent lustre,
+ that lent a charm of magical inspiration to the rippling waves. For what
+ of nature's mighty works can more delight, than
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ '&mdash;&mdash;Circling ocean, when the swell
+ By zephyrs borne from off the main,
+ Heaves to the breeze, and sinks again?'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The deep murmuring of the hollow surge as it rolls over the pebble beach,
+ the fresh current of saline air that braces and invigorates, and the
+ uninterrupted view of the watery expanse, are attractions of delight and
+ contemplation which are nowhere to be enjoyed in greater perfection than
+ at Brighton. The serenity of the evening induced us to pass the barrier of
+ the chain-pier, and bend our steps towards the projecting extremity of
+ that ingenious structure. An old Welsh harper was touching his instrument
+ with more than usual skill for an itinerant professor, while the plaintive
+ notes of the air he tuned accorded with the solemnity of the surrounding
+ scene. "I could pass an evening here," said the countess, in a somewhat
+ contemplative mood, "in the society of kindred spirits, with more
+ delightful gratification than among the giddy throng who meet at
+ Almack's." Crony bowed to the ground, overpowered by the <span
+ class="pagenum">[322]</span>compliment; while your humble servant, less
+ obsequious, but equally conscious of the flattering honour, advanced my
+ left foot sideways, drew up my right longitudinally, and touched my beaver
+ with a <i>congée</i>, that convinced me I had not forgotten the early
+ instructions of our old Eton posture-master, the all-accomplished Signor
+ Angelo. "A __wery hextonishing vurk, this here pier," said a fat, little
+ squab of a citizen, sideling up to Crony like a full-grown porpoise; "<i>wery
+ hexpensive</i>, and <i>wery huseless, I thinks</i>" continued the
+ intruder. Crony reared his crest in silent indignation, while his visage
+ betokened an approaching storm; but a significant look from the countess
+ gave him the hint that some amusement might be derived from the <i>animal</i>;
+ who, without understanding the contempt he excited, proceeded&mdash;"<i>Vun</i>
+ of the new <i>bubble</i> companies' <i>specks, I supposes, vat old daddy
+ Boreas vill blow avay sum night in a hurrikin</i>. It puts me <i>wery</i>
+ much in mind of a two bottle man." "Why so?" said Crony. "Bekause it's
+ only half seas <i>hover</i>." This little civic <i>jeu d'esprit</i> made
+ his peace with us by producing a hearty laugh, in which he did not fail to
+ join in unison. "But are you aware of the usefulness and national
+ importance of the projector's plans? said Crony. "Not I," responded the
+ citizen: "I hates all projections of breweries, bridges, buildings, and
+ boring companies, from the Golden-lane speck to the Vaterloo; from thence
+ up to the new street, and down to the tunnel under the Thames, vich my
+ banker, Sir William Curtis, says, is the greatest bore in London." "But
+ humanity, sir," said Crony, "has, I hope, some influence with you; and
+ this undertaking is intended not only for the healthful pleasure of the
+ Brighton visitors, but for the convenience of vessels in distress, and the
+ landing of passengers in bad weather." "Ay, there it is,&mdash;that's
+ hexactly vat I thought; to help our rich people more easily out of <span
+ class="pagenum">[323]</span>the country, and bring a set of poor
+ half-starved foreigners in: vy, I'm told it's to be carried right across
+ the channel in time, and then the few good ones ve have left vill be
+ marching off to the enemy." This conceit amused the countess exceedingly,
+ and was followed by many other equally strange expressions and
+ conjectures; among which, Crony contrived to persuade him that great
+ amusement was to be derived in bobbing for mackerel and turbot with the
+ line: a pleasure combining so much of profit in expectancy that the old
+ citizen was, at last, induced to admit the utility of the chain-pier.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Retracing our steps towards the Steyne, we had one more good laugh at our
+ companion's credulity, who expressed great anxiety to know what the huge
+ wheel was intended for, which is at the corner by the barrier, and throws
+ up water for the use of the town; but which, Crony very promptly assured
+ him, was the grand action of the improved roasting apparatus at the York
+ hotel. We now bade farewell to our amusing companion, and proceeded to
+ view the new plunging bath at the bottom of East-street, built in the form
+ of an amphitheatre, and surrounded by dressing-rooms, with a fountain in
+ the centre, from which a continued supply of salt-water is obtained. The
+ advantages may be great in bad weather; but to my mind there is nothing
+ like the open sea, particularly as confined water is always additionally
+ cold. On our arrival at home, a parcel from London brought the enclosed
+ from Tom Echo, upon whom the sentence of rustication has, I fear, been
+ productive of fresh follies.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0021" id="Bimage-0021">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page323.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page323th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page323" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Dear Heartily,
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Having cut college for a <i>bolt</i> to the <i>village</i>,{8} I expected
+ to have found you in the <i>bay of condolence</i>,{9} but hear you left
+ your <i>moorings</i> lately
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 8 London, so called at Oxford.
+
+ 9 The consolation afforded by friends when <i>plucked</i> or
+ rusticated.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[324]</span>to <i>waste the ready</i> among the <i>sharks</i>
+ at Brighton. Though not quite at <i>point nonplus</i>, I am very near the
+ <i>united kingdoms</i> of <i>Sans Souci and Sans Sixsous</i>,{10} and
+ shall bring to, and wait for company, in the province of Bacchus. I have
+ only just quitted <i>Æager Haven</i>, and been very near the <i>Wall</i>{11};
+ have sustained another dreadful fire from <i>Convocation Castle,</i>{12}
+ which had nigh shattered my <i>fore-lights</i>, and was very near being <i>blown
+ up</i> in attempting to pass the <i>Long Hope</i>.{13} If you wish to save
+ an old Etonian from <i>east jeopardy</i>,{14} set sail directly, and tow
+ me out of the <i>river Tick</i> into the <i>region of rejoicing</i>; then
+ will we get <i>bosky</i> together, sing old songs, tell merry tales, and
+ <i>spree</i> and <i>sport</i> on the <i>states of Independency</i>.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Yours truly,
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The <i>Oxford rustic</i>,
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ London.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ TOM ECHO.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ P. S. I should not have cut so suddenly, but joined Bob Transit and
+ Eglantine in giving two of the old big wigs a flying leap t'other evening,
+ as they left Christ Church Hall, in return for rusticating me:&mdash;to
+ escape suspicion, broke away by the mail. I know your affection for a good
+ joke, so induced Bob to book it, and let me have the sketch, which I here
+ enclose.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 10 Riddance of cares, and, ultimately, of sixpences.
+
+ 11 The depot of invalids; Dr. Wall being a celebrated
+ surgeon, whose skill is proverbial in the cure of the
+ Headington or Bagley fever. For a view of poor Tom during
+ his suffering&mdash;<i>(see plate by Bob Transit.)</i>
+
+ 12 The House of Convocation in Oxford, when the twenty-five
+ heads of Colleges and the masters meet to transact and
+ investigate university affairs.
+
+ 13 The symbol of long expectation in studying for a degree.
+
+ 14 Terrors of anticipation. The remaining phrases have all
+ been explained in an earlier part of the Work.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[325]</span> <a name="Bimage-0022" id="Bimage-0022">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page325.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page325 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ Mad as the D'Almaine's must think me for obeying such a summons, I have
+ just bade them adieu, and am off to-morrow, by the earliest coach, for
+ London. The only place I have omitted to notice, in my sketches of
+ Brighton, is the Club House on the Steyne Parade, where a few <i>old rooks</i>
+ congregate, to keep a sharp look-out for an unsuspecting <i>green one</i>,
+ or a wealthy <i>pigeon</i>, who, if once <i>netted</i>, seldom succeeds in
+ quitting the trap without being plucked of a few of his feathers. The
+ greatest improvement to a place barren of foliage and the agreeable
+ retirement of overshadowed walks, is the Royal Gardens, on the level at
+ the extremity of the town, in a line with the Steyne enclosures as you
+ enter from the London road. The taste, variety, and accommodation
+ displayed in this elegant place of amusement, renders it certainly the
+ most attractive of public gardens, while the arrangements are calculated
+ to gratify all <span class="pagenum">[326]</span>classes of society
+ without the danger of too crowded an assemblage. Let us see you when term
+ ends; and in the interim expect a long account of sprees and sports in the
+ village.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Horatio Heartly.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0023" id="Bimage-0023">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page326.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page326 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Blink2H_4_0008" id="Blink2H_4_0008">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ METROPOLITAN SKETCHES.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ <i>Heartly, Echo, and Transit start for a Spree&mdash;Scenes by
+ Daylight, Starlight, and Gaslight&mdash;Black Mon-day at
+ Tattersall's&mdash;The first Meeting after the Great St. Leger&mdash;
+ Heroes of the Turf paying and receiving&mdash;Dinner at
+ Fishmongers' Hall&mdash;Com-mittee of Greeks&mdash;The Affair of the
+ Cogged Dice&mdash;A regular Break-down&mdash;Rules for the New Club&mdash;
+ The Daffy Club, or a musical Muster of the Fancy: striking
+ Portraits&mdash;Counting the Stars&mdash;Covent Garden, what it was,
+ and what it is&mdash;The Finish&mdash;Anecdotes of Characters&mdash;The
+ Hall of Infamy, alias the Covent Garden Hell.</i>
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Of all the scenes where rich and varied character is to be found in the
+ metropolis and its environs, none can exceed that emporium for sharps and
+ flats, famed Tattersall's, whether for buying a good horse, betting a
+ round sum, or, in the sporting phrase, learning how to make the best of
+ every thing. "Shall we take a <i>tooddle</i> up to Hyde-park corner?" said
+ Echo; "this is the settling day for all bets made upon the great Doncaster
+ St. Léger, when the <i>swells book up</i>, and the knowing ones <i>draw</i>
+ their <i>bussel</i>:&mdash;<i>Black</i> Monday, as Sir John Lade terms it,
+ when the event has not come off right." "A noble opportunity," replied
+ Transit, "for a picture of turf curiosities. Come, Heartly, throw
+ philosophy aside, and let us set forth for a day's enjoyment, and then to
+ finish with a night of frolic. An occasional spree is as necessary to the
+ relaxation of the mind, as exercise is to <span class="pagenum">[328]</span>ensure
+ health. The true secret to make life pleasant, and study profitable, is to
+ be able to throw off our cares as we do our morning gowns, and, when we
+ sally forth to the world, derive fresh spirit, vigour, and information
+ from cheerful companions, good air, and new objects. High 'Change among
+ the heroes of the turf presents ample food for the humorist; while the
+ strange contrast of character and countenance affords the man of, feeling
+ and discernment subject for amusement and future contemplation." It was in
+ the midst of one of the most numerous meetings ever remembered at
+ Tattersall's, when Barefoot won the race, contrary to the general
+ expectation of the knowing ones, that we made our <i>entré</i>. With Echo
+ every sporting character was better known than his college tutor, and not
+ a few kept an eye upon the boy, with hopes, no doubt, of hereafter
+ benefiting by his inexperience, when, having got the whip-hand of his
+ juvenile restrictions, he starts forth to the world a man of fashion and
+ consequence, with an unencumbered property of fifteen thousand per annum,
+ besides expectancies. "Here's a game of chess for you, Transit," said
+ Echo; "why, every move upon the board is a character, and not one but what
+ is worth booking. Observe the arch slyness of the jockey yonder,
+ ear-wigging his patron, a young blood of the fancy, into a <i>good thing</i>;
+ particularising all the capabilities and qualities of the different horses
+ named, and making the event (in his own estimation) as <i>sure as the Bank
+ of England</i>:&mdash;how finely contrasted with the easy indifference of
+ the dignified sportsman near him, who leaves all to chance, spite of the
+ significant nods and winks from a regular <i>artiste</i> near him, who
+ never suffers him to make a bet out of the ring, if it is possible to
+ prevent him, by throwing in a little suspicion, in order that he and his
+ friends may have the plucking of their victim exclusively. The
+ portly-looking man in the left-hand corner <i>(see <span class="pagenum">[329]</span>plate)</i>
+ is Mr. Tanfield, one of the greatest betting men on the turf; who can lose
+ and pay twenty thousand without moving a muscle, and pocket the like sum
+ without indulging in a smile; always steady as old Time, and never giving
+ away a chance, but carefully keeping his eye upon Cocker (i. e. his book),
+ to see how the odds stand, and working away by that system which is well
+ understood under the term management. In front of him is the sporting Earl
+ of Sefton, and that highly-esteemed son of Nimrod, Colonel Hilton Joliffe,&mdash;men
+ of the strictest probity, and hence often appointed referees on matters in
+ dispute.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0024" id="Bimage-0024">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page329.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page329th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page329" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lawyer L&mdash;&mdash;, and little Wise-man, are settling their
+ differences with <i>bluff</i> Bland, who carries all his bets in his
+ memory till he reaches home, because a book upon the spot would be
+ useless. In the right-hand corner, just in front of old General B&mdash;&mdash;n,
+ is John Gully, once the pugilist, but now a man of considerable property,
+ which has been principally acquired by his knowledge of calculation, and
+ strict attention to honourable conduct: there are few men on the turf more
+ respected, and very few among those who keep <i>betting</i> books whose
+ conduct will command the same approbation. The old beau in the corner is
+ Sir Lumley S&mdash;&mdash;n, who, without the means to bet much, still
+ loves to linger near the scene of former extravagance." "A good disciple
+ of Lavater," said Transit, "might tell the good or ill fortunes of those
+ around him, by a slight observance of their countenances. See that
+ merry-looking, ruby-faced fellow just leaving the door of the
+ subscription-room: can any body doubt that he has <i>come off all right</i>?&mdash;or
+ who would dispute that yon pallid-cheeked gentleman, with a long face and
+ quivering lip, betrays, by the agitation of his nerves, the extent of his
+ sufferings? The peer with a solemn visage tears out his last check, turns
+ upon his heel, whistles a tune, and sets against the gross amount of his
+ losses another mortgage of <span class="pagenum">[330]</span>the family
+ acres, or a <i>post obit</i> upon some expectancy: the regular sporting
+ man, the out and outer, turns to his book&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'For there he finds, <i>no matter who has won</i>,{1}
+ Whichever animal, or mare, or colt;
+ Nay, though each horse that started for't should bolt,
+ Or all at once fall lame, or die, or stray,
+ He yet must pocket hundreds by the day.'"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Two or three amusing scenes took place among those who wanted, and those
+ who had nothing to give, but yet were too honourable to <i>levant</i>:
+ many exhibited outward and visible signs of inward grief. A man of metal
+ dropped his last sovereign with a sigh, but chafed a little about false
+ reports of chaunting up a losing horse, doing the <i>thing neatly</i>,
+ keeping the secret, and other such like delicate innuendoes, which among
+ sporting men pass current, provided the losers pay promptly. Several, who
+ had gone beyond their depth, were recommended to the consideration of the
+ humane, in hopes that time might yet bring them about. We had now passed
+ more than two hours among the motley group, when Tom, having exchanged the
+ time o'day with most of his sporting friends, proposed an adjournment to
+ <i>Fishmongers' Hall</i>, or, as he prefaced it, with a visit to the New
+ Club in St. James's-street; to which resort of Greeks and gudgeons we
+ immediately proceeded.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0025" id="Bimage-0025">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page331.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page331th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page331" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ We had just turned the corner of St. James's-street, and were preparing to
+ ascend the steps which lead to the New Club, as Crockford's establishment
+ is termed, when old Crony accosted me.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 To all but betting men, this must appear impossible; but
+ management is every thing; and with a knowledge of the
+ secret, according to turf logic, it is one hundred to one
+ against calculation, and, by turf mathematics, five hundred
+ to one against any event coming right upon the square. In
+ the sporting phrase, 'turf men never back any thing to win;'
+ they have no favourites, unless there is a X; and their
+ common practice is to accommodate all, by taking the odds,
+ till betting is reduced to a <i>certainty</i>.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[331]</span>He had it seems come off by the Brighton
+ ten o'clock coach, and was now, "according to his usual custom i' the
+ afternoon," on the look-out for an <i>invite</i> to a good dinner and a
+ bottle. As I knew he would prove an agreeable, if not a very useful
+ companion in our present enterprise, I did not hesitate to present him to
+ Echo and Transit, who, upon my very flattering introduction, received him
+ graciously; although Bob hinted he was rather <i>too old</i> for a <i>play-fellow</i>,
+ and Echo whispered me to keep a <i>sharp lookout</i>, as he strongly
+ suspected he was a <i>staff officer</i> of the <i>new Greek corps of
+ Sappers and Miners</i>. In London you can neither rob nor be robbed
+ genteelly without a formal introduction: how Echo had contrived it I know
+ not, but we were very politely ushered into the grand club-room, a
+ splendid apartment of considerable extent, with a bow-window in front,
+ exactly facing White's.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ To speak correctly of the elegance and taste displayed in the decorations
+ and furniture, not omitting the costly sideboard of richly-chased plate, I
+ can only say it rivalled any thing I had ever before witnessed, and was
+ calculated to impress the young mind with the most extravagant ideas of
+ the wealth and magnificence of the members or <i>committee</i>. The
+ Honourable Mr. B&mdash;&mdash;, one of the brothers of the Earl of R&mdash;&mdash;,
+ was the <i>procureur</i> to whom, I found, we were indebted, for the
+ present <i>honour</i>&mdash;a gay man, of some fashionable notoriety,
+ whose fortune is said to have suffered severely by his attachment to the
+ <i>orthodox orgies</i> at the once celebrated Gothic Hall, when Parson
+ John Ambrose used to officiate as the presiding minister. "Here he is a
+ member of the committee," said Crony, "and, with his brother and the old
+ Lord F&mdash;&mdash;, the Marquis H&mdash;&mdash;, Colonel C&mdash;&mdash;,
+ and the Earl of G&mdash;&mdash;, forms the <i>secret directory</i> of the
+ New Club, which is considered almost as good a thing as a Mexican mine;
+ for, if report speaks truly, the amount <span class="pagenum">[332]</span>of
+ the profits in the last season exceeded one hundred thousand pounds, after
+ payment of expenses." A sudden crash in the street at this moment drew the
+ attention of all to the window, where an accident presented a very ominous
+ warning to those within <i>(see plate)</i>. "A regular break down," said
+ Echo. "<i>Floored</i>" said Transit, "<i>but not much the matter</i>." "I
+ beg your pardon, sir," said a wry-mouthed portly-looking gentleman, who
+ stood next to Bob; "it is a very <i>awkward</i> circumstance to have
+ occurred just here: I'll bet ten to one it spoils all the <i>play</i>
+ to-night; and if any of those newspaper fellows get to hear of it, <i>Fishmongers'
+ Hall</i> and its members will figure in print again to-morrow;" and with
+ that he bustled off to the street to assist in re-producing a <i>move</i>
+ with all possible celerity. "Who the deuce was the queer-looking <i>cawker</i>?"
+ we all at once inquired of Crony. "What, gentlemen! not know the
+ director-general, the accomplished commander-in-chief, the thrice-renowned
+ Cocker Crockford? (so named from his admirable tact at calculation): why,
+ I thought every one who had witnessed a horse-race, or a boxing-match, or
+ betted a guinea at Tattersall's, must have known the <i>director</i>, who
+ has been a notorious character among the sporting circles for the last
+ thirty years: and, if truth be told, is not the worst of a bad lot. About
+ five-and-twenty years since I remember him," said Crony, "keeping a snug
+ little fishmonger's shop, at the corner of Essex-street, in the Strand,
+ where I have often betted a guinea with him on a trotting match, for he
+ was then fond of <i>the thing</i>, and attended the races and fights in
+ company with old Jerry Cloves, the lighterman, who is now as well <i>breeched</i>
+ as himself. It is a very extraordinary fact," continued Crony, "and one
+ which certainly excites suspicion, that almost all those who have made
+ large fortunes by the turf or play are men of obscure origin, who, but a
+ few years since, were not worth a guinea, <span class="pagenum">[333]</span>while
+ those by whom they have risen are now reduced to beggary." How many
+ representatives of noble houses, and splendid patrimonies, handed down
+ with increasing care from generation, to generation, have been ruined and
+ dissipated by this pernicious vice! &mdash;the gay and inexperienced
+ nipped in the very bud of life, and plunged into irretrievable misery&mdash;while
+ the high-spirited and the noble-minded victims to false honour, too often
+ seek a refuge from despair in the grave of the suicide! Such were the
+ reflections that oppressed my mind while contemplating the scene before
+ me: I was, however, roused from my reverie by Crony's continuation of the
+ <i>director's</i> history. "He bears the character of an honourable man,"
+ said our Mentor, "among the play world, and has the credit of being
+ scrupulously particular in all matters of play and pay. For the fashion of
+ his manners, they might be much improved, certainly; but for generosity
+ and a kind action, there are very few among the <i>Greeks</i> who excel
+ the old fishmonger. He was formerly associated with T&mdash;l-r and others
+ in the French Hazard Bank, at Watier's Club House, corner of Bolton-row;
+ but T&mdash;l-r, having purchased the house without the knowledge of his
+ partners, wanted so many exclusive advantages for himself, that the
+ director withdrew, just in time to save himself from the obloquy of an
+ affair which occurred shortly afterwards, in which certain persons were
+ charged with using false dice. The complainant, a young sprig of fashion,
+ seized the <i>unhallowed bones</i>, and bore them off in triumph to a
+ stick shop in the neighbourhood; where, for some time afterwards, they
+ were exhibited to the gaze of many a fashionable dupe. The circumstance
+ produced more than one good effect&mdash;it prevented a return of any
+ disposition to play on the part of the detector, and closed the house for
+ ever since." After the dinner, which was served up in a princely style, we
+ were invited by the Honourable to <span class="pagenum">[334]</span>view
+ the upper apartment, called the Grand Saloon, a true picture of which
+ accompanies this, from the pencil of my friend, Bob Transit, and into
+ which he has contrived to introduce the affair of the cogged dice <i>(see
+ plate)</i>, a licence always allowable to poets and painters in the union
+ of time and place. The characters here will speak for themselves.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0026" id="Bimage-0026">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page335.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page335th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page335" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ They are all sketches from the life, and as like the originals as the
+ reflection of their persons would be in a looking-glass. By the
+ frequenters of such places they will be immediately recognised; while to
+ the uninitiated the family cognomen is of little consequence, and is
+ omitted, as it might give pain to worthy bosoms who are not yet
+ irrecoverably lost. By the strict rules of <i>Fishmongers' Hall</i>, the
+ members of Brookes', White's, Boodle's, the Cocoa Tree, Alfred and
+ Travellers' clubs only are admissible; but this restriction is not always
+ enforced, particularly where there is a chance of a <i>good bite</i>. The
+ principal game played here is French Hazard, the director and friends
+ supplying the bank, the premium for which, with what the box-money
+ produces, forms no inconsiderable source of profit. It is ridiculous to
+ suppose any unfair practices are ever resorted to in the general game; in
+ a mixed company they would be easily detected, and must end in the ruin of
+ the house: but the chances of the game, calculation, and superior play,
+ give proficients every advantage, and should teach the inexperienced
+ caution. "It is heart-rending," said Crony, whom I had smuggled into one
+ corner of the room, for the purpose of enjoying his remarks free from
+ observation, "to observe the progress of the unfortunate votaries to this
+ destructive vice, as they gradually proceed through the various stages of
+ its seductive influence. The young and thoughtless are delighted with the
+ fascination of the scene: to the more profligate sensualist it affords an
+ opportunity of enjoying the choicest <i>liqueurs</i>, coffee, and wines,
+ <span class="pagenum">[335]</span>free of expense; and, although he may
+ have no money to lose himself, he can do the house a <i>good turn</i>, by
+ introducing some <i>pigeon</i> who has <i>just come out</i>; and he is
+ therefore always a welcome visitor. At Crockford's, all games where the
+ aid of mechanism would be necessary are cautiously avoided, not from any
+ moral dislike to <i>Rouge et Noir or Roulette</i>, but from the
+ apprehension of an occasional visit from the police, and the danger
+ attending the discovery of such apparatus, which, from its bulk, cannot
+ easily be concealed. In the space of an hour Echo had lost all the money
+ he possessed, and had given his I O U for a very considerable sum;
+ although frequently urged to desist by Transit, who, with all his love of
+ life and frolic, is yet a decided enemy to gaming. One excess generally
+ leads to another. From Tattersall's we had passed to Crockford's; and on
+ quitting the latter it was proposed we should visit Tom Belcher's, the
+ Castle Tavern, Holborn, particularly as on this night there was a weekly
+ musical muster of the <i>fancy</i>, yclept the <i>Daffy Club</i>; a scene
+ rich in promise for the pencil of our friend Bob, of sporting information
+ to Echo, and full of characteristic subject for the observation of the
+ English Spy&mdash;of that eccentric being, of whom, I hope, I may continue
+ to sing '<i>esto perpétua</i>!'
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Life is, with him, a golden dream,
+ A milky way, where all's serene.
+ Wit's treasured stores his humour wait,&mdash;
+ His volume, man in every state,&mdash;
+ From grave to gay, from rich to poor,
+ From gilded dome to rustic door.
+ Through all degrees life's varied page,
+ He shows the manners of the age.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The Daffy Club presents to the eye of a calm observer a fund of
+ entertainment; to the merry mad-wag who is fond of <i>life</i>, blowing
+ his <i>steamer</i>, and drinking <i>blue ruin</i>, until all is blue
+ before him, a <span class="pagenum">[336]</span>source of infinite
+ amusement; the convivial finds his antidote to the rubs and jeers of this
+ world in a rum chaunt; while the out and outer may here open his mag-azine
+ of tooth-powder, cause a grand explosion, and never fear to meet a
+ broadside in return. The knowing cove finds his account in looking out for
+ the green ones, and the greens find their head sometimes a little heavier,
+ and their pockets lighter, by an accidental rencontre with the fancy. To
+ see the place in perfection, a stranger should choose the night previous
+ to some important mill, when our host of the Castle plays second, and all
+ the lads are mustered to <i>stump up</i> their blunt, or to catch the
+ important <i>whisper</i> where the <i>scene of action</i> is likely to be
+ (for there is always due caution used in the disclosure), to take a peep
+ at the pugilists present, and trot off as well satisfied as if he had
+ partaken of a splendid banquet with the Great Mogul.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The long room is neatly fitted up, and lighted with gas; and the numerous
+ sporting subjects, elegantly framed and glazed, have rather an imposing
+ effect upon the entrance of the visitor, and among which may be recognised
+ animated likenesses of the late renowned Jem Belcher, and his daring
+ competitor (that inordinate glutton) Burke. The fine whole-length portrait
+ of Mr. Jackson stands between those of the Champion and Tom Belcher; the
+ father of the present race of boxers, old Joe Ward; the Jew phenomenon,
+ Dutch Sam; Bob Gregson, in water colours, by the late John Emery, of
+ Covent Garden theatre; the scientific contest between Humphreys and
+ Mendoza; also the battle between Crib and Jem Belcher; a finely executed
+ portrait of the late tremendous Molineux; portraits of Gulley, Randall,
+ Harmer, Turner, Painter, Tom Owen, and Scroggins, with a variety of other
+ subjects connected with the turf, chase, &amp;c, including a good likeness
+ of the dog Trusty, the champion of the canine race in fifty battles, and
+ the favourite <span class="pagenum">[337]</span>animal of Jem Belcher, the
+ gift of Lord Camelford&mdash;the whole forming a characteristic trait of
+ the sporting world. The long table, or the ring, as it is facetiously
+ termed, is where the <i>old slanders</i> generally perch themselves to
+ receive the visits of the swells, and give each other the office relative
+ to passing events: and what set of men are better able to speak of society
+ in all its various ramifications, from the cabinet-counsellor to the <i>cosey
+ costermonger</i>? Jemmy Soares, the president, must be considered a <i>downy
+ one</i>; having served five apprenticeships to the office of sheriffs
+ representative, and is as good a fellow in his way as ever <i>tapped a shy
+ one</i> upon the shoulder-joint, or let fly a <i>ca sa</i> at your goods
+ and chattels. Lucky Bob is a fellow of another stamp, "a <i>nation good
+ vice</i>" as ever was attached to the house of <i>Brunswick</i>. Then
+ comes our host, a civil, well-behaved man, without any of the exterior
+ appearance of the ruffian, or perhaps I should say of his profession, and
+ with all the good-natured qualifications for a peaceable citizen, and an
+ obliging, merry landlord: next to him you will perceive the <i>immortal
+ typo</i>, the all-accomplished Pierce Egan; an eccentric in his way, both
+ in manner and person, but not deficient in that peculiar species of wit
+ which fits him for the high office of historian of the ring. The ironical
+ praise of Blackwood he has the good sense to turn to a right account,
+ laughs at their satire, and pretends to believe it is all meant in <i>right-down
+ earnest</i> approbation of his extraordinary merits. For a long while
+ after his great instructor's neglect of his friends, Pierce kept
+ undisturbed possession of the throne; but recently competitors have shown
+ themselves in the field <i>well found</i> in all particulars, and carrying
+ such witty and weighty ammunition wherewithal, that they more than
+ threaten "to push the hero from his stool."{1} Tom 1 The editors of the
+ Annals of Sporting, and Bell's Life in London, are both fellows of
+ infinite wit.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[338]</span>Spring, who is fond of <i>cocking</i> as
+ well as fighting, is seen with his bag in the right-hand corner, chaffing
+ with the Duck-lane doss man; while Lawyer L&mdash;&mdash;e, a true
+ sportsman, whether for the turf or chase, is betting the odds with brother
+ Adey, Greek against Greek. Behind them are seen the heroes Scroggins and
+ Turner; and at the opposite end of the table, a Wake-ful one, but a
+ grosser man than either, and something of the <i>levanter</i>: the
+ bald-headed stag on his right goes by the quaint cognomen of the <i>Japan
+ oracle</i>, from the retentive memory he possesses on all sporting and
+ pugilistic events. The old waiter is a picture every frequenter will
+ recognise, and the smoking a dozer no unusual bit of a spree. Here, my
+ dear Bernard, you have before you a true portrait of the celebrated
+ Daffy{2} Club, done from the life by our
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 2 The great lexicographer of the fancy gives the following
+ definition of the word Daffy. The phrase was coined at
+ the mint of the Fancy, and has since passed current without
+ ever being overhauled as queer. The Colossus of
+ Literature, after all his nous and acute researches to
+ explain the synonyms of the English language, does not
+ appear to have been down to the interpretation of Daffy; nor
+ indeed does Bailey or Sheridan seem at all fly to it; and
+ even slang Grose has no touch of its extensive
+ signification. The squeamish Fair One who takes it on the
+ sly, merely to cure the vapours, politely names it to her
+ friends as White Wine. The Swell chaffs it as Blue Ruin,
+ to elevate his notions. The Laundress loves dearly a drain
+ of Ould Tom, from its strength to comfort her inside. The
+ drag Fiddler can toss off a quartern of Max without making a
+ wry mug. The Costermonger illumines his ideas with a
+ flash of lightning.' The hoarse Cyprian owes her existence
+ to copious draughts of Jacky. The Link-boy and Mud Larks,
+ in joining their browns together, are for some Stark Naked.
+ And the Out and Outers, from the addition of bitters to it,
+ in order to sharpen up a dissipated and damaged Victualling
+ Office, cannot take any thing but Fuller's Earth. Much it
+ should seem, therefore, depends upon a name; and as a soft
+ sound is at all times pleasing to the listener&mdash;to have
+ denominated this Sporting Society the Gin Club would not
+ only have proved barbarous to the ear, but the vulgarity of
+ the chant might have deprived it of many of its elegant
+ friends. It is a subject, however, which it must be
+ admitted has a good deal of Taste belonging to it&mdash;and as a
+ Sporting Man would be nothing if he was not flash, the Daffy
+ Club meet under the above title.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[339]</span>mutual friend, Bob Transit (see plate),
+ in closing my account of which I have only to say, we were not
+ disappointed in our search after variety, and came away high in spirits,
+ and perfectly satisfied with the good-humour and social intercourse of our
+ eccentric associates.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0027" id="Bimage-0027">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page339.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page339th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page339" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The sad, the sober, and the sentimental were all gone to roost, before our
+ merry trio sallied forth from the Castle Tavern, ripe for any sport or
+ spree. Of all the bucks in this buckish age, your London buck is the only
+ true fellow of spirit; with him life never begins too early, or finishes
+ too late; how many of the west-end <i>roués</i> ride twenty miles out, in
+ a cold morning, to meet the hounds, and after a hard day's run mount their
+ hack and ride twenty miles home to have the pleasure of enjoying their own
+ fire-side, or of relating the hair-breadth perils and escapes they have
+ encountered, to their less active associates at Long's or Stevens's, the
+ Cider Cellar, or the Coal-hole! The general introduction of gas throws too
+ clear a light upon many dark transactions and midnight frolics to allow
+ the repetition of the scenes of former times: here and there to be sure an
+ odd nook, or a dark cranny, is yet left unenlightened; but the leading
+ streets of the metropolis are, for the most part, too well illuminated to
+ allow the <i>spreeish</i> or the <i>sprightly</i> to carry on their jokes
+ in security, or bolt away with safety when a charley thinks proper to set
+ his <i>child a crying</i>.{3} We had crossed the road, in the direction of
+ Chancery-lane, expecting to have met with a hackney <i>rattler</i>, but
+ not one was to be found upon the stand, when Bob espied the broad <i>tilt</i>
+ of a <i>jarvey perched</i> upon his <i>shop-board</i>, and impelling
+ along, with no little labour of the whip, a pair of <i>anatomies</i>,
+ whose external appearance showed they
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 3 Springing his rattle.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[340]</span>had benefited very little by the opening
+ of the ports for oats, or the digestive operation of the new corn-bill.
+ "Hired, old Jarvey?" said Echo, fixing himself in the road before the
+ fiery charioteer. "No, but tired, young Davey," replied the dragsman.
+ "Take a fare to Covent Garden?" "Not if I knows it," was the knowing
+ reply; "so stir your stumps, my tight one, or I shall drive over you."
+ "You had better take us," said Transit. "I tell you I won't; I am a day
+ man, going home, and I don't take night jobs." "But I tell you, you must,"
+ said Echo; "so round with your drag, and we'll make your last day a long
+ day, and give you the benefit of resurrection into the bargain." "Why,
+ look ye, my jolly masters, if you're up to a lark of that 'ere sort, take
+ care you don't get a floorer; I've got a rum customer inside what I'm
+ giving a lift to for love&mdash;only Josh Hudson, the miller; and if he
+ should chance to wake, I think he'll be for dusting some of your jackets."
+ "What, my friend Josh inside?" vociferated Echo, "then it's all right: go
+ it, my hearties; mount the box one on each hand, and make him drive us to
+ the Finish&mdash;while I settle the matter with the inside passenger."
+ Josh, who had all this time been taking <i>forty winks</i>, while on his
+ road to his crony Belcher's, soon recognised his patron, Echo; and jarvey,
+ finding that all remonstrance was useless, thought it better to make a
+ "virtue of necessity;" so turning his machine to the right about, he, in
+ due time, deposited us in the purlieus of Covent Garden. The hoarse note
+ of the drowsy night-guard reverberated through the long aisle of the
+ now-forsaken piazzas, as the trembling flame of the parish lamp,
+ flittering in its half-exhausted jet, proclaimed the approach of day; the
+ heavy rumbling of the gardeners' carts, laden with vegetables for the
+ ensuing market, alone disturbed the quiet of the adjoining streets. In a
+ dark angle might be seen the houseless wanderer, or the abandoned
+ profligate, <span class="pagenum">[341]</span>gathered up like a lump of
+ rags in a corner, and shivering with the nipping air. The gloom which
+ surrounded us had, for a moment, chilled the wild exuberance of my
+ companions' mirth; and it is more than probable we should have suspended
+ our visit to the <i>Finish</i>, at least for that night, had not the
+ jocund note of some uproarious Bacchanalian assailed our ears with the
+ well-known college chant of old Walter de Mapes, "<i>Mihi est propositum
+ in tabernâ mori</i>," which being given in G major, was re-echoed from one
+ end to the other of the arched piazza: at a little distance we perceived
+ the jovial singer reeling forwards, or rather working his way, from right
+ to left, in sinuosities, along, or according to nautical phrase, upon
+ __tack and half tack, bearing up to windward, in habiliments black as a
+ crow, with the exception of his neckcloth and under vest; but judge our
+ surprise and delight, when, upon nearer approach, we discovered the <i>bon
+ vivant</i> to be no other than our old friend Crony, who had been
+ sacrificing to the jolly god with those choice spirits the members of the
+ Beefsteak Club,{4} who meet in a room built expressly
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 4 This Club, which may boast among its members some of the
+ most distinguished names of the age, including royalty
+ itself, owed its origin to the talents of those celebrated
+ artists Richards and Loutherbourg, whose scenic performances
+ were in those days often exhibited to a select number of the
+ nobility and gentry, patrons of the drama and the arts, in
+ the painting-room of the theatre, previous to their being
+ displayed to the public. It was on one of those occasions
+ that some noblemen surprised the artist cooking his beef-
+ steak for luncheon in his painting-room, and kindly
+ partaking of the <i>déjeuné à la fourchette</i>, with him,
+ suggested and established the Beef-steak Club, which was
+ originally, and up to the time of the fire, held in an
+ apart-ment over the old Theatre Royal, Covent Garden; but
+ since that period the members have been accommodated by Mr.
+ Arnold, who built the present room expressly for their use.
+ In page 216 of this work, allusion will be found by name to
+ some of the brilliant wits who graced this festive board,
+ and gave a lustre to the feast. In the old place of
+ meeting the identical gridiron on which Richards and
+ Loutherbourg operated was to be seen attached to the
+ ceiling, emblematical of the origin of the society, which
+ may now be considered as the only relic left of that social
+ intercourse which formerly existed in so many shapes between
+ those who were distinguished for their noble birth and
+ wealth, and the poorer, but equally illustrious, of the
+ children of Genius. It would be an act of injustice to the
+ present race of scenic artists to close this note without
+ acknowledging their more than equal merits to their
+ predecessors: the Grieves (father and sons), Phillips,
+ Marinari, Wilson, Tomkins, and Stanfield, are all names of
+ high talent; but the novelty of their art has, from its
+ general cultivation, lost much of this peculiar attraction.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[342]</span>for them over the audience part of the
+ English Opera House. The ruby glow of the old boy's countenance shone like
+ an omen of the merry humour of his mind. "What, out for a spree, boys, or
+ just bailed from the watch-house, which is it? the alpha or omega, for
+ they generally follow one another?" "Then you are in time for the <i>equivoque</i>,
+ Crony," said Echo; "so enlist him, Transit;" and without more ceremony,
+ Crony was marched off, __vi et armis, to the _Finish_, a coffee-house in
+ James-street, Covent Garden, where the <i>peep-o'-day boys</i> and <i>family
+ men</i> meet to conclude the night's debauch <i>(see plate)</i>; "<i>Video
+ meliora proboque, Détériora sequoi</i>;" you will exclaim, and 'tis
+ granted; but
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "<i>Lusus animo debent aliquando dari,
+ Ad cogitandum melior ut red eat sibi</i>,"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ says Phodrus, and be the poet's apology mine, for I am neither afraid or
+ ashamed to confess myself an admirer of life in all its variegated lights
+ and shadows, deriving my amusement from the great source of knowledge, the
+ study of that eccentric volume&mdash;man. The new police act has, in some
+ measure, abated the extent of these nuisances, the low coffee-shops of the
+ metropolis, which were, for the greater part, little better than a
+ rendezvous for thieves of every description, depots both for the <span
+ class="pagenum">[343]</span>plunder and the plunderer; where, if an
+ unthinking or profligate victim once entered, he seldom came out without
+ experiencing treatment which operated like a severe lesson, that would
+ leave its moral upon his mind as long as he continued an inhabitant of the
+ terrestrial world.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0028" id="Bimage-0028">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page343.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page343th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page343" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The attempt to describe the party around us baffled even the descriptive
+ powers of old Crony; some few, indeed, were known to the man of the world
+ as reputed sharpers,&mdash;fellows who are always to be found lingering
+ about houses of such resort, to catch the inexperienced; when, having
+ sacrificed their victim either by gambling, cheating, or swindling, they
+ divide the profits with the keeper of the house, without whose assistance
+ they could not hope to arrive at the necessary information, or be enabled
+ to continue their frauds with impunity; but, thus protected, they have a
+ ready witness at hand to speak to their character, without the suspicion
+ of his being a confederate in their villany. Here might be seen the woman
+ of pleasure, lost to every sense of her sex's shame, consuming the
+ remaining portion of the night by a wasteful expenditure of her
+ ill-acquired gains upon some abandoned profligate, bearing, indeed, the
+ outward form of man, but presenting a most degrading spectacle&mdash;a
+ wretch so lost to all sense of honour and manhood as meanly to subsist on
+ the wages of prostitution. One or two characters I must not omit: observe
+ the fair Cyprian with the ermine tippet, seated on the right of a
+ well-known <i>billiard sharp</i>, who made his escape from Dublin for
+ having dived a little too deep into the pockets of his brother emeralders;
+ here he passes for a swell, and has abandoned his former profession for
+ the more honest union of callings, a pimp and playman, in other words, a
+ finished <i>Greek</i>. The lady was the <i>chère amie</i> of the
+ unfortunate youth Hayward (designated as the modern Macheath), who
+ suffered an ignominious death. He was betrayed and sold to the <span
+ class="pagenum">[344]</span>officers by this very woman, upon whom he had
+ lavished the earnings of his infamy, when endeavouring to secrete himself
+ from the searching eye of justice. The unhappy female on the other side
+ was early in life seduced by the once celebrated Lord B&mdash;&mdash;, by
+ whose title, to his lasting infamy, she is still known: what she might
+ have been, but for his arts, reflection too often compels her to
+ acknowledge, when sober and sinking under her load of misery; at other
+ times she has recourse to liquor to drown her complicated misfortunes;
+ when wild and infuriated, she more nearly resembles a demon than a woman,
+ spreading forth terror and destruction upon all around; in this state she
+ is often brought to the police-office, where the humanity of the
+ magistrates, softened perhaps by a recollection of her wrongs, generally
+ operates to procure for her some very trifling and lenient sentence.{5}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 5 THE LIFE OF A WOMAN OF THE TOWN.
+
+ Ah! what avails how once appear'd the fair,
+ When from gay equipage she falls obscure?
+
+ In vain she moves her livid lips in prayer;
+ What man so mean to recollect the poor?
+
+ From place to place, by unfee'd bailiffs drove,
+ As fainting fawns from thirsty bloodhounds fly;
+
+ See the sad remnants of unhallow'd love
+ In prisons perish, or on dunghills die.
+
+ Pimps and dependents once her beauties praised,
+ And on those beauties, vermin-like, they fed;
+
+ From wretchedness the crew her bounty raised,
+ When by her spoils enrich'd&mdash;deny her bread.
+
+ Through street to street she wends, as want betides,
+ Like Shore's sad wife, in winter's dismal hours;
+
+ The bleak winds piercing her unnourish'd sides,
+ Her houseless head dripping with drizzy showers.
+
+ Sickly she strolls amidst the miry lane,
+ While streaming spouts dash on her unclothed neck;
+
+ By famine pinch'd, pinch'd by disease-bred pain,
+ Contrition's portrait, and rash beauty's wreck.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[345]</span>We had now passed from the first
+ receptacle to an inner and more elegant apartment, where we could be
+ accommodated with suitable refreshments, wine, spirits, or, in fact, any
+ thing we pleased to order and were disposed to pay for; a practice at most
+ of these early coffee-houses, as they are denominated. The company in this
+ room were, as far as appearances went, of rather a better order; but an
+ event soon occurred which convinced us that their morality was perhaps
+ more exceptionable than the motley group which filled the outer chamber. A
+ bevy of damsels were singing, flirting, and drinking, to amuse their
+ companions,&mdash;when all at once the doors were forced open, and in
+ rushed three of the principal officers of Bow-street, the indefatigable
+ Bishop, the determined Smith, and the resolute Ruthven (see plate), all
+ armed and prepared for some dreadful encounter: in an instant their
+ followers had possessed themselves of the doors&mdash;flight, therefore,
+ was in vain; and Bob Transit, in attempting it, narrowly escaped an
+ awkward crack on the crania from old Jack Townshend, who being past active
+ service, was posted at the entrance with the beak himself, to do garrison
+ duty.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0029" id="Bimage-0029">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page345.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page345th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page345" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "<i>The traps! the traps!</i>" vociferated some one in the adjoining room;
+ "<i>Douse the glims! stash it&mdash;stash it!</i>" was the general
+ exclamation in ours: but before the party could effect their purpose, the
+ principals were in safe custody: and the reader (i.e. pocket-book)
+ containing all the stolen property, preserved from the flames by the wary
+ eye and prompt arm of the <i>indefatigable</i> Bishop. Before any one was
+ allowed to depart the room, a general muster and search took place, in
+ which poor Bob Transit felt most awkward, as some voluptuous sketches
+ found in his pocket called forth
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ She dies; sad outcast! heart-broke by remorse;
+ Pale, stretch'd against th' inhospitable doors;
+ While gathering gossips taunt the flesh less corse,
+ And thank their gods <i>that they were never w&mdash;res!</i>
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[346]</span>the severe animadversion of his worship,
+ the beak, who lamented that such fine talent should be thus immorally
+ applied: with this brief lecture, and a caution for the future, we were
+ allowed to escape; while almost all the rest, male and female, were
+ marched off to an adjoining watch-house, to abide the public examination
+ and fiat of the morrow. Of all the party, old Crony was the most sensibly
+ affected by the late rencontre; twenty bottles of soda-water could not
+ have produced a more important change. His conversation and appearance
+ had, in an instant, recovered their wonted steadiness; and before we were
+ half across the market, Crony was moralizing upon the dangers of the scene
+ from which we had so recently and fortunately escaped. But hearts young
+ and buoyant as ours, when lighted up by the fire of enterprise, and
+ provoked to action by potent charges of the grape, were not to be dashed
+ by one repulse, or compelled to beat a retreat at the first brush with a
+ reconnoitring party; we had sallied forth in pursuit of a spree, and
+ frolic we were determined upon,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "While misty night, with silent pace,
+ Steals gradual o'er the wanton chase."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ There is something very romantic in prowling the streets of the metropolis
+ at midnight, in quest of adventure; at least, so my companions insisted,
+ and I had embarked too deeply in the night's debauch to moralize upon its
+ consequences. How many a sober-looking face demure when morning dawns
+ would blush to meet the accusing spirit of the night, dressed out in all
+ the fantasies of whim and eccentricity with which the rosy god of midnight
+ revelry clothes his laughter-loving bacchanals&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "While sleep attendant at her drowsy fane,
+ Parent of ease, envelopes all your train!"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The lamentations of old Crony brought to mind the <span class="pagenum">[347]</span>complaints
+ of honest Jack Falstaff against his associates. "There is no truth in
+ villanous man!" said our monitor. "I remember when a gentleman might have
+ reeled round the environs of Covent Garden, in and out of every
+ establishment, from the Bedford to Mother Butlers, without having his
+ pleasures broken in upon by the irruptions of Bow-street mohawks, or his
+ person endangered by any association he chose to mix with; but we are
+ returning to the times of the <i>Roundheads</i> and the <i>Puritans; cant,</i>
+ vile hypocritical <i>cant</i>, has bitten the ear of authority, and the
+ great officers of the state are infected with the Jesuitical mania.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Man is a ship that sails with adverse winds,
+ And has no haven till he land at death.
+ Then, when he thinks his hands fast grasp the bank,
+ Conies a rude billow betwixt him and safety,
+ And beats him back into the deep again.'"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "I subscribe to none of their fooleries," said I; "for I am of the true
+ orthodox&mdash;love my king, my girl, my friend, and my bottle: a truce
+ with all their raven croakings; they would overload mortality, and press
+ our shoulders with too great a weight of dismal miseries. But come, my
+ boys, we who have free souls, let us to the banquet, while yet Sol's fiery
+ charioteer lies sleeping at his eastern palace in the lap of Thetis&mdash;let
+ us chant carols of mirth to old Jove or bully Mars; and, like chaste
+ votaries, perform our orgies at the shrine of Venus, ere yet Aurora tears
+ aside the curtain that conceals our revels." In this way we rallied our
+ cameleon-selves, until we again found shelter from the dews of night in
+ Carpenter's coffee-house; a small, but well-conducted place, standing at
+ the east end of the market, which opens between two and three o'clock in
+ the morning, for the accommodation of those who are hourly arriving with
+ waggon loads of vegetable commodities. Here, over a bottle of mulled port,
+ Crony gave us the history of <span class="pagenum">[348]</span>what Covent
+ Garden used to be, when the eminent, the eccentric, and the notorious in
+ every walk of life, were to be found nightly indulging their festivities
+ within its famous precincts. "Covent Garden," said Crony, once so
+ celebrated for its clubs of wits and convents of fine women, is grown as
+ dull as <i>modern Athens</i>, and its ladies of pleasure almost as vulgar
+ as Scotch landladies; formerly, the first beauties of the time assembled
+ every evening under the Piazzas, and promenaded for hours to the soft
+ notes of the dulcet lute, and the silver tongues of amorous and persuasive
+ beaus; then the gay scene partook of the splendour of a Venetian carnival,
+ and such beauties as the Kitten, Peggy Yates, Sally Hall the brunette,
+ Betsy Careless, and the lively Mrs. Stewart, graced the merry throng, with
+ a hundred more, equally famed, whose names are enrolled in the cabinet of
+ Love's votaries. Then there was a celebrated house in Charles-street,
+ called the <i>field of blood</i>, where the droll fellows of the time used
+ nightly to resort, and throw down whole regiments of <i>black</i>
+ artillery; and then at Tom or Moll King's, a coffee-house so called, which
+ stood in the centre of Covent Garden market, at midnight might be found
+ the bucks, bloods, demireps, and choice spirits of London, associated with
+ the most elegant and fascinating Cyprians, congregated with every species
+ of human kind that intemperance, idleness, necessity, or curiosity could
+ assemble together. There you might see Tom King enter as rough as a
+ Bridewell whipper, roaring down the long room and rousing all the
+ sleepers, thrusting them and all who had empty glasses out of his house,
+ setting everything to rights,&mdash;when in would roll three or four jolly
+ fellows, claret-cosey, and in three minutes put it all into uproar again;
+ playing all sorts of mad pranks, until the guests in the long room were at
+ battle-royal together; for in those days pugilistic encounters were
+ equally common as with the present <span class="pagenum">[349]</span>times,
+ owing to the celebrity of Broughton and his amphitheatre, where the
+ science of boxing was publicly taught. Then was the Spiller's Head in
+ Clare-market, in great vogue for the nightly assemblage of the wits; there
+ might be seen Hogarth, and Betterton the actor, and Dr. Garth, and Charles
+ Churchill, the first of English satirists, and the arch politician,
+ Wilkes, and the gay Duke of Wharton, and witty Morley, the author of Joe
+ Miller, and Walker, the celebrated Macheath, and the well-known Bab Selby,
+ the oyster-woman, and Fig, the boxer, and old Corins, the clerical
+ attorney.&mdash;All "hail, fellow, well met."{6} And a friend of mine has
+ in his possession a most extraordinary picture of Hogarth's, on this
+ subject, which has never yet been engraved from. It is called St. James's
+ Day, or the first day of oysters, and represents the interior of the
+ Spiller's Head in Clare-market, as it then appeared. The principal figures
+ are the gay and dissolute Duke of Wharton, for whom the well-known Bab
+ Selby, the oyster-wench, is opening oysters; Spiller is standing at her
+ back, patting her shoulder; the figure sitting smoking by the side of the
+ duke is a portrait of Morley, the author of Joe Miller; and the man
+ standing behind is a portrait of the well-known attendant on the duke's
+ drunken frolics, Fig, the brother of Fig, the boxer: the person drinking
+ at the bar is Corins, called the parson-attorney, from his habit of
+ dressing in clerical attire; the two persons sitting at the table
+ represent portraits of the celebrated Dr. Garth, and Betterton, the actor;
+ the figures, also, of Walker, the celebrated Macheath, and Lavinia Fenton,
+ the highly-reputed Polly, afterwards Duchess of Bolton, may be recognised
+ in the back-ground.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The circumstances of this picture having escaped the notice of the
+ biographer of Hogarth is by no means singular. Mr. Halls, one of the
+ magistrates at Bow-street, has, among other choice specimens by Hogarth,
+ the lost picture of the Harlot's Progress; the subject telling her fortune
+ by the tea-grounds in her cup, admirably characteristic of the artist and
+ his story. In my own collection I have the original picture of the
+ Fish-Women of Calais, with a view of the market-place, painted on the
+ spot, and as little known as the others to which I have alluded. There
+ are, no doubt, many other equally clever performances of Hogarth's
+ prolific pencil which are not generally known to the public, or have not
+ yet been engraved. <span class="pagenum">[350]</span>in the same
+ neighbourhood, in Russel-court, at the old Cheshire Cheese, the inimitable
+ but dissolute Tom Brown wrote many of his cleverest essays. Then too
+ commenced the midnight revelries and notoriety of the Cider Cellar, in
+ Maiden-lane, when Sim Sloper, Bob Washington, Jemmy Tas well, Totty
+ Wright, and Harry Hatzell, led the way for a whole regiment more of
+ frolic-making beings who, like Falstaff, were not only, witty themselves,
+ but the cause of keeping it alive in others: to these succeeded Porson the
+ Grecian, Captain Thompson, Tom Hewerdine, Sir John Moore, Mr. Edwin, Mr.
+ Woodfall, Mr. Brownlow, Captain Morris, and a host of other highly-gifted
+ men, the first lyrical and political writers of the day,&mdash;who
+ frequented the Cider Cellar after the meetings of the <i>Anacreontic,
+ beefsteak</i>, and <i>humbug</i> clubs then held in the neighbourhood, to
+ taste the parting bowl and swear eternal friendship. In later times, Her
+ Majesty the Queen of Bohemia{7} raised her standard in Tavistock-row,
+ Covent Garden, where she held a midnight court for the wits; superintended
+ by the renowned daughter of Hibernia, and maid of honour to her majesty,
+ the facetious Mother Butler&mdash;the ever-constant supporter of Richard
+ Brinsley Sheridan, esquire, and a leading feature in all the memorable
+ Westminster elections of the last fifty years. How many jovial nights have
+ I passed and jolly fellows have I met in the snug <i>sanctum sanctorum!</i>
+ a little <i>crib</i>, as the <i>fishmongers</i> would call it, with an
+ entrance through the bar, and into which none were ever permitted to enter
+ without a formal introduction and the gracious permission of the hostess.
+ Among those who were thus specially privileged, and had the honour of the
+ <i>entré</i>, were the reporters for the morning papers, the leading
+ members of the <i>eccentrics</i>, the actors and musicians of the two
+ Theatres Royal, merry members of both Houses of
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 7 The sign of the house.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[351]</span>Parliament, and mad wags of every
+ country who had any established claim to the kindred feelings of genius.
+ Such were the frequenters of the Finish. Here, poor Tom Sheridan, with a
+ comic gravity that set discretion at defiance, would let fly some of his
+ brilliant drolleries at the <i>improvisatore</i>, Theodore Hook; who,
+ lacking nothing of his opponent's wit, would quickly return his tire with
+ the sharp encounter of a satiric epigram or a brace of puns, planted with
+ the most happy effect upon the weak side of his adversary's merriment.
+ There too might be seen the wayward and the talented George Cook,
+ gentlemanly in conduct, and full of anecdote when sober, but ever captious
+ and uproarious in his cups. Then might be heard a strange encounter of
+ expressions between the queen of Covent Garden and the voluptuary, Lord
+ Barrymore,{8} seconded by his brother, the pious Augustus. In one corner
+ might be seen poor Dermody, the poet, shivering with wretchedness, and
+ Mother Butler pleading his cause with a generous feeling that does honour
+ to her heart, collecting for him a temporary supply which, alas! his
+ imprudence generally dissipated with the morrow. Here, George Sutton
+ Manners,{9} and Peter Finnerty,{10} and James Brownly,{11} inspired by
+ frequent potations of the real
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 8 Designated Cripplegate and Newgate.
+
+ 9 The relative of the present Archbishop of Canterbury, and
+ then editor of the Satirist magazine.
+
+ 10 Peter Finnerty was a reporter on the Chronicle. The his-
+ tory of Finnerty's political persecutions in his own country
+ (Ireland), and afterwards in this, are interwoven with our
+ history. The firmness and honesty of his mind had endeared
+ him to a very large circle of patriot friends. He was
+ eloquent, but impetuous, his ideas appearing to flow too
+ fast for delivery. With all the natural warmth of his
+ country, he had a heart of sterling gold. Finnerty died
+ in 1822, very shortly after his friend Perry.
+
+ 11 James Brownly, formerly a reporter on the Times; of
+ whom Sheridan said, hearing him speak, that his situation
+ ought to have been in the body of the House of Commons,
+ instead of the gallery. Brownly possessed very rare
+ natural talents, was originally an upholsterer in Catherine-
+ street, Strand, and by dint of application acquired a very
+ correct knowledge of the tine arts: he was particularly
+ skilled in architecture and heraldry. In addition to
+ his extraordinary powers as an orator, he was a most elegant
+ critic, and a very amiable man. He died in 1822, much
+ regretted by all who knew him.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[352]</span>Rocrea whiskey, would hold forth in
+ powerful contention, until mine hostess of the <i>Finish</i>{12} would put
+ an end to the debate; and the irritation it would sometimes engender, by
+ disencumbering herself of a few of her Milesian monosyllables. Then would
+ bounce into the room, Felix M'Carthy, the very cream of comicalities, and
+ the warm-hearted James Hay ne, and Frank Phippen, and Michael Nugent, and
+ the eloquent David Power, and memory Middleton, and father Proby, just to
+ sip an emulsion after the close of their labours in reporting a long
+ debate in the House of Commons. Here, too, I remember to have seen for the
+ first time in my life, the wayward Byron, with the light of genius beaming
+ in his noble countenance, and an eye brilliant and expressive as the
+ evening star; the rich juice of the Tuscan grape had diffused an unusual
+ glow over his features, and inspired him with a playful animation, that
+ but rarely illumined the misanthropic gloominess of his too sensitive
+ mind. An histrionic star alike distinguished for talent and eccentricity
+ accompanied him&mdash;the gallant, gay Lothario, Kean. But I should
+ consume the remnant of the night to retrace more of the fading
+ recollections of the <i>Finish</i>. That it was a scene where prudence did
+ not always preside, is true; but there was a rich union of talent and
+ character always to be found within its circle, that
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 12 Mother Butler, the queen of Covent-garden, for many years
+ kept the celebrated Finish, where, if shut out of your
+ lodging, you might take shelter till morning, very often in
+ the very best of company. The house has, since she left it,
+ been shut up through the suspension of its licence. Mother
+ Butler was a witty, generous-hearted, and very extraordinary
+ woman. She is, I believe, still living, and in good
+ circumstances.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[353]</span>prevented any very violent outrage upon
+ propriety or decorum. In the present day, there is nothing like it&mdash;the
+ Phoenix,{13} Offley's,{14} the Coal-hole,{15} and what yet remains of the
+ dismembered Eccentrics,{16} bears no comparison to the ripe drolleries and
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 13 A society established at the Wrekin tavern in Broad-
+ court, in imitation of the celebrated club at Brazennose
+ College, Oxford, and of whom I purpose to take some notice
+ hereafter.
+
+ 14 The Burton ale rooms; frequented by baby bucks, black-
+ legs and half-pay officers.
+
+ 15 A tavern in Fountain-court, Strand, kept by the poet
+ Rhodes; celebrated for the Saturday ordinary.
+
+ 16 In the room, where of old the Eccentrics {*} met; When
+ mortals were Brilliants, and fond of a whet, And <i>Hecate</i>
+ environ'd all London in jet. Where Adolphus, and
+ Shorri',{**} and famed Charley Fox, With a hundred good
+ whigs led by Alderman Cox, Put their names in the books, and
+ their cash in the box; Where perpetual Whittle,{***}
+ facetiously grand, On the president's throne each night took
+ his stand, With his three-curly wig, and his hammer in hand:
+ Then Brownly, with eloquence florid and clear, Pour'd a
+ torrent of metaphor into the ear, With well-rounded periods,
+ and satire severe. Here too Peter Finnerty, Erin's own
+ child, Impetuous, frolicsome, witty, and wild, With many a
+ tale has our reason beguiled: Then wit was triumphant, and
+ night after night Was the morn usher'd in with a flood of
+ delight.
+
+ * The Eccentrics, a club principally composed of persons
+ connected with the press or the drama, originally
+ established at the Swan, in Chandos-street, Covent-garden,
+ under the name of the Brilliants, and afterwards removed to
+ the Sutherland Arms, in May's-buildings, St. Martin's-lane;
+ &mdash;here, for many years, it continued the resort of some of
+ the first wits of the time; the chair was seldom taken till
+ the theatres were over, and rarely vacated till between four
+ and five in the morning.
+
+ ** Sheridan, Charles Fox, Adolphus, and many of the most
+ eminent men now at the bar, were members or occasional
+ frequenters.
+
+ *** James Whittle, Esq., of Fleet-street, (or, as he was
+ more generally denominated, the facetious Jemmy Whittle, of
+ the respectable firm of Laurie and Whittle, booksellers and
+ publishers) was for some years perpetual president of the
+ society, and by his quaint manners, and good-humoured
+ sociality, added much to the felicity of the scene&mdash;he is
+ but recently dead.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[354]</span>pleasant witticisms which sparkled forth
+ in endless variety among the choice spirits who frequented the <i>sanctum
+ sanctorum</i> of the <i>old Finish</i>. "There is yet, however, one more
+ place worthy of notice," said Crony; "not for any amusement we shall
+ derive from its frequenters, but, simply, that it is the most notorious
+ place in London." Thither it was agreed we should adjourn; for Crony's
+ description of <i>Madame and Messieurs</i> the <i>Conducteurs</i> was
+ quite sufficient to produce excitement in the young and ardent minds by
+ which he was then surrounded. I shall not pollute this work by a
+ repetition of the circumstances connected with this place, as detailed by
+ old Crony, lest humanity should start back with horror and disgust at the
+ bare mention, and charity endeavour to throw discredit on the true, but
+ black recital. The specious pretence of selling shell-fish and oysters is
+ a mere trap for the inexperienced, as every description of expensive
+ wines, liqueurs, coffee, and costly suppers are in more general request,
+ and the wanton extravagance exhibited within its vortex is enough to
+ strike the uninitiated and the moralist with the most appalling sentiments
+ of horror and dismay. Yet within this <i>saloon (see plate)</i> did we
+ enter, at four o'clock in the morning, to view the depravity of human
+ nature, and watch the operation of licentiousness upon the young and
+ thoughtless.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0030" id="Bimage-0030">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page354.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page354th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page354" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A Newgate turnkey would, no doubt, recognize many old acquaintances; in
+ the special hope of which, Bob Transit has faithfully delineated some of
+ the most conspicuous characters, as they appeared on that occasion,
+ lending their hearty assistance in the general scene of maddening uproar.
+ It was past five o'clock in the morning ere we quitted this den of
+ dreadful depravity, heartily tired out by the night's adventures, yet
+ solacing ourselves with the reflection that we had seen much and suffered
+ little either in respect to our purses or our persons.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Blink2H_4_0009" id="Blink2H_4_0009">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ VISIT TO WESTMINSTER HALL.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ <i>Worthies thereof&mdash;Legal Sketches of the Long Robe&mdash;The
+ Maiden Brief&mdash;An awkward Recognition&mdash;Visit to Banco Regis&mdash;
+ Surrey Collegians giving a Lift to a Limb of the Late,
+ "Thus far shalt thou go and no farther"&mdash;Park Rangers&mdash;Visit
+ to the Life Academy&mdash;R&mdash;A&mdash;ys of Genius reflecting on the
+ true line of Beauty&mdash;Arrival of Bernard Black-mantle in
+ London&mdash;Reads his Play and Farce in the Green Rooms of the
+ two Theatres Royal, Drury Lane and Covent Garden&mdash;Sketches
+ of Theatrical Character&mdash;The City Ball at the Mansion House&mdash;
+ The Squeeze&mdash;Civic Characters&mdash;Return to Alma Mater&mdash;The
+ Wind-up&mdash;Term ends</i>.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[355]</span>A note from Dick Gradus invited Echo and
+ myself to hear his opening speech in Westminster Hall. "I have received my
+ <i>maiden brief</i>" writes the young counsel, "and shall be happy if you
+ will be present at my first attempt, when, like a true <i>amicus curio</i>,
+ the presence of an old school-fellow will inspire confidence, and point
+ out what may strike him as defective in my style." "We will all go," said
+ Transit; "Echo will be amused by the oratory of the bar, and I shall
+ employ my pencil to advantage in taking notes, not of <i>short hand</i>,
+ but of <i>long heads</i>, and still <i>longer faces</i>." The confusion
+ created by the building of the new courts at Westminster has literally
+ choked up, for a time, that noble specimen of Gothic architecture&mdash;the
+ ancient hall; the King's Bench sittings are therefore temporarily held in
+ the Sessions House, a small, but <span class="pagenum">[356]</span>rather
+ compact octangular building, on the right of Parliament-street. Hither we
+ hasted, at nine o'clock in the morning, to take a view of the court,
+ judges, and counsel, and congratulate our friend Gradus on his <i>entrée</i>.
+ It has been said, that the only profession in this country where talents
+ can insure success, is the law. If by this is meant talents of a popular
+ kind, the power of giving effect to comprehensive views of justice and the
+ bonds of society, a command of language, and a faculty of bringing to bear
+ upon one point all the resources of intellect and knowledge, they are
+ mistaken; they speak from former experience, and not from present
+ observation: they are thinking of the days of a Mingay or an Erskine, not
+ of those of a Marryat or a Scarlett; of the time when juries were wrought
+ upon by the united influence of zeal and talent, not when they are
+ governed by <i>precedents and practice</i>; when men were allowed to feel
+ a little, as well as think a great deal; when the now common phrase of
+ possessing the <i>ear of the court</i> was not understood, and the
+ tactician and the bully were unknown to the bar. It is asserted, that
+ one-fifth of the causes that come before our courts are decided upon mere
+ matters of form, without the slightest reference to their merits. Every
+ student for the bar must now place himself under some special pleader, and
+ go through all the complicated drudgery of the office of one of these
+ underlings, before he can hope to fill a higher walk; general principles,
+ and enlarged notions of law and justice, are smothered in laborious and
+ absurd technicalities; the enervated mind becomes shackled, until the
+ natural vigour of the intellect is so reduced, as to make its bondage
+ cease to seem burdensome. Dick, with a confidence in his own powers, has
+ avoided this degrading preparation; it is only two months since he was
+ first called to the bar, and with a knowledge of his father's influence
+ and property added to his own talents, he hopes to make a <span
+ class="pagenum">[357]</span>stand in court, previous to his being
+ transplanted to the Commons House of Parliament.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A tolerable correct estimate may be formed of the popularity of the
+ judges, by observing the varied bearings of respect evinced towards them
+ upon their entrance into court. Mr. Justice Best came first, bending
+ nearly double under a painful infirmity, and was received by a cold and
+ ceremonious rising of the bar. To him succeeded his brother Holroyd, a
+ learned but not a very brilliant lawyer, and another partial
+ acknowledgment of the counsel was observable. Then entered the Chief
+ Justice, Sir Charles Abbot, with more of dignity in his carriage than
+ either of the preceding, and a countenance finely expressive of serenity
+ and comprehensive faculties: his welcome was of a more general, and, I may
+ add, genial nature; for his judicial virtues have much endeared him to the
+ profession and the public. But the universal acknowledgment of the bar,
+ the jury, and the reporters for the public press, who generally occupy the
+ students' box, was reserved for Mr. Justice Bayley; upon whose entrance,
+ all in court appeared to rise with one accord to pay a tribute of respect
+ to this very distinguished, just, and learned man. All this might have
+ been accidental, you will say; but it was in such strict accordance with
+ my own feelings and popular opinion besides, that, however invidious it
+ may appear, I cannot resist the placing it upon record. To return to the
+ Chief Justice: he is considered a man of strong and piercing intellect,
+ penetrating at once to the bottom of a cause, when others, even the
+ counsel, are very often only upon the surface; his intuition in this
+ respect is proverbial, and hence much of the valuable time of the court is
+ saved upon preliminary or immaterial points. Added to which, he is an
+ excellent lawyer, shrewd, clear, and forcible in his delivery, very firm
+ in his judgments, and mild in his <span class="pagenum">[358]</span>language;
+ with a patient command of temper, and continued appearance of good-humour,
+ that adds much to his dignity, and increases public veneration. That he
+ has been the architect of his own elevation is much to be applauded; and
+ it is equally honourable to the state to acknowledge, that he is more
+ indebted to his great talents and his legal knowledge for his present
+ situation than to any personal influence of great interest{1}: of him it
+ may be justly said, he hath
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "A piercing wit quite void of ostentation; high-erected
+ thoughts seated in a heart of courtesy; an eloquence as sweet
+ in the uttering, as slow to come to the uttering."
+
+ <i>Sir P. Sidney's Arcadia</i>.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ It was Dick Gradus's good-luck to be opposed to Scarlett in a case of
+ libel, where the latter was for the defendant. "Of all men else at the
+ bar, I know of no one whom I so much wish to encounter," said Gradus. His
+ irritable temper, negligence in reading his briefs, and consummate
+ ignorance{2} in any thing beyond term-reports, renders him an easy
+ conquest to a quiet, learned, and comprehensive mind. The two former are
+ qualifications Gradus possesses in a very superior degree, and he proved
+ he was in no wise deficient in his opponent's great requisite; I suppose
+ we must call it confidence; but another phrase would be more significant.
+ Scarlett is a great tactician; and in defending his client, never
+ hesitates to take
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 We hear that an allusion in page 359 of this work has
+ been supposed to relate to a near relative of the respected
+ Chief Justice: if it bears any similitude, it is the effect
+ of accident alone; the portrait being drawn for another and
+ a very different person, as the reference to altitude might
+ have shown.
+
+ 2 See the castigation he received in the Courier of Friday.
+ Dec. 10, 1824, for his total ignorance of the common terms
+ of art.
+
+ "&mdash;&mdash;that trick of courts to wear
+ Silk at the cost of flattery."
+
+ <i>James Shirley's Poems</i>.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[359]</span>what I should consider the most unfair,
+ as they are ungentlemanly advantages. But there
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "be they that use men's writings like brute beasts, to make
+ them draw which way they list."
+
+ <i>T. Nash's Lenten Stuff</i>, 1599.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ His great success and immense practice at the bar is more owing to the
+ scarcity of silk-gowns{3} than the profundity of his talents. The
+ perpetual simper that plays upon his ruby countenance, when finessing with
+ a jury, has, no doubt, its artful effect; although it is as foreign to the
+ true feelings of the man, as the malicious grin of the malignant satirist
+ would be to generosity and true genius. Of his oratory, the <i>aureum
+ flumen orationis</i> is certainly not his; and, if he begins a sentence
+ well, he seldom arrives at the conclusion on the same level: he is always
+ most happy in a reply, when he can trick his adversary by making an
+ abusive speech, and calling no witnesses to prove his assertions. Our
+ friend Gradus obtained a verdict, and after it the congratulations of the
+ court and bar, with whom Scarlett is, from his superciliousness, no great
+ favourite. Owen Feltham, in his Resolves, well says, that "arrogance is a
+ weed that ever grows upon a dunghill."{4} The contrast between Scarlett
+ and his great opponent, Mr. Serjeant Copley,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 3 Generally speaking, the management of two-thirds of the
+ business of the court is entrusted to <i>four silk-gowns</i>, and
+ about twice as many <i>worsted</i> robes behind the bar.
+
+ 4 An Impromptu written in the Court of King's Bench during a
+ recent trial for libel.
+
+ The Learned Pig.
+
+ "My learned Friend," the showman cries;
+ The pig assents&mdash;the showman lies;
+ So counsel oft address a brother
+ In flattering lie to one another;
+ Calling their friend some legal varlet,
+ Who lies, and bullies, till he's Scarlett.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[360]</span>the present Attorney-General, is a
+ strong proof of the truth of this quotation. To a systematic and profound
+ knowledge of the law, this gentleman unites a mind richly stored with all
+ the advantages of a liberal education and extensive reading, not merely
+ confined to the dry pursuit in which he is engaged, but branching forth
+ into the most luxuriant and highly-cultivated fields of science and the
+ arts. On this account, he shines with peculiar brightness at <i>Nisi Prius</i>;
+ and is as much above the former in the powers of his mind and splendour of
+ his oratory, as he is superior to the presumptuousness of Scarlett's
+ vulgarity. Mr. Marryat is said to possess an excellent knowledge of the
+ heavy business of his profession; and it must be admitted, that his full,
+ round, heavy-looking countenance, and still heavier attempts at wit and
+ humour, admirably suit the man to his peculiar manner: after all, he is a
+ most persevering counsel; not deficient in good sense, and always
+ distinguished by great zeal for his client's interests. Mr. Gurney is a
+ steady, pains-taking advocate, considered by the profession as a tolerable
+ criminal lawyer, but never affecting any very learned arguments in affairs
+ of principles or precedents. In addressing a jury, he is both perspicuous
+ and convincing; but far too candid and gentlemanly in his practice to
+ contend with the trickery of Scarlett.&mdash;Mr. Common-Serjeant Denman is
+ a man fitted by nature for the law. I never saw a more judicial-looking
+ countenance in my life; there is a sedate gravity about it, both "stern
+ and mild," firm without fierceness, and severe without austerity:&mdash;he
+ appears thoughtful, penetrating, and serene, yet not by any means devoid
+ of feeling and expression:&mdash;deeply read in the learning of his
+ profession, he is yet much better than a mere lawyer; for his speeches and
+ manners must convince his hearers that he is an accomplished gentleman. Of
+ Brougham, it may be justly said,<span class="pagenum">[361]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ &mdash;&mdash;" his delights
+ Are dolphin-like; they show his back above
+ The elements he lives in:"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ his voice, manner, and personal appearance, are not the happiest; but the
+ gigantic powers of his mind, and the energy of his unconquerable spirit,
+ rise superior to these defects. His style of speaking is marked by a
+ nervous freedom of the most convincing character; he aims little at
+ refinement, and labours more to make himself intelligible than elegant. In
+ zeal for his clients, no man is more indefatigable; and he always appears
+ to dart forward with an undaunted resolution to overcome and accomplish.
+ But here I must stop sketching characters, and refer you to a very able
+ representation of the court, the bar, and jury, by our friend Transit, in
+ which are accurate likenesses of all I have previously named, and also of
+ the following worthies, Messrs. Raine, Pollock, Ashworth, Courtney,
+ Starkie, Williams, Parke, Rotch, Piatt, Patterson, Raper, Browne,
+ Lawrence, and Whately, to which are added some whom&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "God forbid me if I slander them with the title of learned,
+ for generally they are not."&mdash;Nash's Lenten Stuff, 1599.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0031" id="Bimage-0031">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page361.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page361th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page361" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ We were just clearing the steps of the court house, when a jolly-looking,
+ knowing sort of fellow, begged permission to speak to Echo. A crimson
+ flush o'erspread Tom's countenance in a moment. Transit, who was down, as
+ he phrased it, tipped me a wink; and although I had never before seen
+ either of the professional brothers-in-law, John Doe and Richard Roe, the
+ smart jockey-boots, short stick, sturdy appearance, and taking manners of
+ the worthy, convinced me at once, that our new acquaintance was one or
+ other of those well-known personages: to be brief, poor Tom was arrested
+ for a large sum by a Bond-street hotel-keeper, who had trusted him
+ somewhat too long.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[362]</span>Arrangement by bail was impossible: this
+ was a proceeding on a judgment; and with as little ceremony, and as much
+ <i>sang froid</i> as he would have entered a theatre, poor Tom was placed
+ inside a hackney coach, accompanied by the aforesaid personage and his
+ man, and drove off in apparent good spirits for the King's Bench Prison,
+ where Transit and myself promised to attend him on the morrow, employing
+ the mean time in attempting to free him from durance vile. It was about
+ twelve at noon of the next day, when Transit and myself, accompanied by
+ Tom's creditor and his solicitor, traversed over Waterloo Bridge, and bent
+ our steps towards the abode of our incarcerated friend.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "The winds of March, with many a sudden gust,
+ About Saint George's Fields had raised the dust;
+ And stirr'd the massive bars that stand beneath
+ The spikes, that wags call <i>Justice Abbot's teeth</i>."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The first glimpse of the Obelisk convinced us we had entered the confines
+ of <i>Abbot's Park</i>, as the rules are generally termed, for here Bob
+ recognised two or three among the sauntering rangers, whose habiliments
+ bore evidence of their once fashionable notoriety;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "And still they seem'd, though shorn of many a ray,
+ Not less than some arch dandy in decay."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "A very pretty <i>bit of true life</i>," said Bob; and out came the sketch
+ book to note them down, which, as we loitered forward, was effected in his
+ usual rapid manner, portraying one or two well-known characters; but for
+ their cognomens, misfortune claims exemption:&mdash;to them we say,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Thou seest thou neither art mark'd out or named,
+ And therefore only to thyself art shamed."
+ <i>J. Withers's Abuses strict and whipt</i>.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[363]</span> <a name="Bimage-0032" id="Bimage-0032">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page363.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page363 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ To be brief, we found Echo, by the aid of the crier, safely tiled in at
+ ten in twelve, happy to all appearance, and perfectly domiciled, with two
+ other equally fresh associates. The creditor and his solicitor chose to
+ wait the issue of our proposition in the lobby; a precaution, as I
+ afterwards found, to be essentially necessary to their own safety; for,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "He whom just laws imprison still is free
+ Beyond the proudest slaves of tyranny."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Although I must confess the exhibition we had of <i>freedom in Banco Regis</i>
+ was rather a rough specimen; a poor little limb of the law, who had
+ formerly been a leg himself, had, like other great lawyers, ratted, and
+ commenced a furious warfare upon some old cronies, for divers penalties
+ and perjuries, arising out of Greek prosecutions: too eager to draw the
+ blunt, he had been inveigled into the interior of the prison, and there,
+ after undergoing a most delightful pumping upon, <span class="pagenum">[364]</span>was
+ <i>rough-dried</i> by being tossed in a blanket (see plate).
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0033" id="Bimage-0033">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page364.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page364th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page364" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ This entertainment we had the honour of witnessing from Echo's room
+ window; and unless the Marshal and his officers had interfered, I know not
+ what might have been the result. A very few words sufficed to convince Tom
+ of the necessity of yielding to his creditor's wishes. A letter of licence
+ was immediately produced and signed, and the gay-hearted Echo left once
+ more at liberty to wing his flight wherever his fancy might direct. On our
+ road home, it was no trifling amusement to hear him relate
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "The customs of the place,
+ The manners of its mingled populace,
+ The lavish waste, the riot, and excess,
+ Neighbour'd by famine, and the worst distress;
+ The decent few, that keep their own respect,
+ And the contagion of the place reject;
+ The many, who, when once the lobby's pass'd,
+ Away for ever all decorum cast,
+ And think the walls too solid and too high,
+ To let the world behold their infamy."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Ever on the alert for novelty, we hopped into and dined at the Coal Hole
+ Tavern in the Strand, certainly one of the best and cheapest ordinaries in
+ London, and the society not of the meanest. Rhodes himself is a punster
+ and a poet, sings a good song, and sells the best of wine; and what
+ renders mine host more estimable, is the superior manners of the man. Here
+ was congregated together a mixed, but truly merry company, composed of
+ actors, authors, reporters, clerks in public departments, and half-pay
+ officers, full of whim, wit, and eccentricity, which, when the mantling
+ bowl had circulated, did often "set the table in a roar." In the evening,
+ Transit proposed to us a visit to the Life Academy, Somerset House, where
+ he was an admitted student; but on trying the experiment, was not able to
+ effect our introduction: you must therefore be content with <span
+ class="pagenum">[365]</span>his sketch of the <i>true sublime</i>, in
+ which he has contrived to introduce the portraits of several well-known
+ academicians <i>(see plate)</i>.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0034" id="Bimage-0034">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page365.jpg"></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page365th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page365 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ Thus far Horatio Heartly had written, when the unexpected appearance of
+ Bernard Blackmantle in London cut short the thread of his narrative.
+ "Where now, mad-cap?" said the sincere friend of his heart: "what
+ unaccountable circumstance can have brought you to the village in term and
+ out of vacation?" "A very uncommon affair, indeed, for a young author, I
+ assure you: I have had the good fortune to receive a notice from the
+ managers of the two Theatres Royal, that my play is accepted at Covent
+ Garden, and my farce at Drury Lane, and am come up post-haste to read them
+ in the green rooms to-morrow, and take the town by storm before the end of
+ the next month." "It is a dangerous experiment," said Horatio. "I know
+ it," replied the fearless Bernard; "but he who fears danger will never
+ march on to fortune or to victory. I am sure I have a sincere friend in
+ Charles Kemble, if managerial influence can ensure the success of my play;
+ and I have cast my farce so strong, that even with all Elliston's
+ mismanagement, it cannot well fail of making a hit. <i>Nil desperandum</i>
+ is my motto; so a truce with your friendly forebodings of doubts, and
+ fears, and critics' <i>scratches</i>; for I am determined 'to seek the
+ bubble reputation even in the cannon's mouth.'" Thus ended the colloquy,
+ and on the morning of the morrow Bernard was introduced, in due form, to
+ the <i>dramatis personæ</i> of the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden (see
+ plate).
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0035" id="Bimage-0035">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page366.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page366th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page366" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ There is as much difference between the rival companies of the two patent
+ theatres as there is between the habits and conduct of the managers: in
+ Covent Garden, the gentlemanly manners of Charles Kemble, and his amiable
+ desire to make all happy around him, has imparted something of a kindred
+ feeling to the <span class="pagenum">[366]</span>performers; and hence,
+ assisted by the friendly ancient Fawcett, the whole of the establishment
+ has all the united family feeling of a little commonwealth, struggling to
+ secure its independence and popularity. Here Bernard's reception was every
+ thing a young author could wish: kind attention from the company, and
+ considerative hints for the improvement of his play, accompanied with the
+ good wishes of all for its success, left an impression of gratitude upon
+ the mind of the young author, that gave fresh inspiration to his talents,
+ and increased his confidence in his own abilities. At Drury Lane the case
+ was far otherwise; and the want of that friendly attention which
+ distinguished the rival company proved very embarrassing to the early
+ buddings of dramatic genius. Perhaps a slight sketch of the scene might
+ not prove uninstructive to young authors, or fail in its intended effect
+ upon old actors. Reader, imagine Bernard Blackmantle, an enthusiastic and
+ eccentric child of Genius, seated at the green-room table, reading his
+ musical farce to the surrounding company, and then judge what must be the
+ effect of the following little scene.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Blink2H_4_0010" id="Blink2H_4_0010">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ PROGRAMME.
+ </h2>
+ <p>
+ Bernard Blackmantle reading; Mr. Elliston speaking to Spring, the
+ box-office keeper; and Mr. Winston in a passion, at the door, with the
+ master carpenter; Mr. Knight favouring the Author with a few new ideas;
+ and the whole company engaged in the most amusing way, making side
+ speeches to one another (see plate).
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ DOWTON. 'Gad, renounce me&mdash;little valorous&mdash;d&mdash;&mdash;d
+ annoying, (<i>looking at his watch</i>)&mdash;these long rehearsals always
+ spoil my Vauxhall dinner&mdash;More hints to the Author&mdash;better keep
+ them for his next piece.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[367]</span>MUNDEN (sputtering). My wigs and eyes&mdash;Dowton's
+ a better part than mine; I'll have a fit of the gout, on purpose to get
+ out of it&mdash;that's what I will.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ KNIGHT (to the Author). My dear boy, it strikes me that it might be much
+ improved. (Aside) Got an idea; but can't let him have it for nothing.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ HARLEY (to Elliston). If this piece succeeds, it can't be played every
+ night&mdash;let Fitz. understudy it&mdash;don't breakfast on beef-steaks,
+ now. If you wish to enjoy health&mdash;live at Pimlico&mdash;take a run in
+ the parks&mdash;and read Abernethy on constitutional origin.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ TERRY (to Mrs. Orger). It's a remarkable thing that the manager should
+ allow these d&mdash;&mdash;d interruptions. If it was my piece, I would
+ not suffer it&mdash;that's my opinion.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ WALLACE (to himself). What a little discontented mortal that is!&mdash;it's
+ the best part in the piece, and he wishes it made still better.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ ELLISTON (awakening). Silence there, gentlemen, or it will be impossible
+ to settle this important point&mdash;and my property will, in consequence,
+ be much deteriorated. (Enter Boy with brandy and water.) Proceed, sir&mdash;(to
+ Author, after a sip)&mdash;Very spirited indeed.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0036" id="Bimage-0036">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page367.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page367th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page367" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Enter Sam. Spring, touching his hat.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ SPRING. Underline a special desire, sir, next week? Elliston. No, Sam., I
+ fear our special desires are nearly threadbare.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Prompter's boy calling in at the door. Mr. Octavius Clarke would be glad
+ to speak with Mr. Elliston.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ ELLISTON. He be d&mdash;&mdash;d! Silence that noise between Messrs.
+ Winston and Bunn&mdash;and turn out Waterloo Tom.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ MADAME VESTRIS. My dear Elliston, do you mean to keep us here all day?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[368]</span>ELLISTON (whispering). I had rather keep
+ you all night, madame.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ SHERWIN (to G. Smith). I wish it may be true that one of our comedians is
+ going to the other house; I shall then stand some chance for a little good
+ business&mdash;at present I have only two decent parts to my back.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ LISTON (as stiff as a poker). If I pass an opinion, I must have an
+ increase of salary; I never unbend on these occasions.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ MRS. ORGER (to the author). This part is not so good as Sally Mags. I must
+ take my friend's opinion in the city.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ MISS STEPHENS (laughing). I shall only sing one stanza of this ballad&mdash;it's
+ too sentimental.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ MISS SMITHSON (aside, but loud enough for the manager to hear). Ton my
+ honour, Mr. Elliston never casts me any thing but the sentimental dolls
+ and <i>la la</i> ladies.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ G&mdash; SMITH (in a full bass voice). Nor me any thing but the rough
+ cottagers and banditti men; but, never mind, my bass solo will do the
+ trick.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ GATTIE (yawning). I wish it was twelve o'clock, for I'm half asleep, and
+ I've made a vow never to take snuff before twelve; if you don't believe
+ me, ask Mrs. G. After the hit I made in Monsieur Tonson, it's d&mdash;d
+ hard they don't write more Frenchmen.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ MADAME VESTRIS. Mr. Author, can't you make this a breeches part?&mdash;I
+ shall be <i>all abroad</i> in petticoats.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ BERNARD BLACKMANTLE. I should wish to be <i>at home</i> with Madame
+ Vestris.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ MRS. HARLOWE. Really, Mr. Author, this part of mine is a mere clod's wife&mdash;nothing
+ like so good as Dame Ashfield. Could not you introduce a supper-scene?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ At length silence is once more obtained; the author finishes his task, and
+ retires from the <i>Green-room</i> <span class="pagenum">[369]</span>looking
+ as blue as Megrim, and feeling as fretful as the renowned Sir Plagiary. Of
+ the success or failure of the two productions, I shall speak in the next
+ volume; when I propose to give the first night of a new play, with
+ sketches of some of the critical characters who usually attend. In the
+ evening, Transit, Echo, and Heartly enlisted me for the Lord Mayor's ball
+ at the Mansion House&mdash;a most delightful squeeze; and, it being during
+ Waithman's mayoralty, abounding with lots of character for my friend Bob;
+ to whose facetious pencil, I must at present leave the scene (see plate);
+ intending to be more particular in my civic descriptions, should I have
+ the honour of dining with the Corporation next year in their Guildhall.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0037" id="Bimage-0037">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page369a.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page369ath.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page369a" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The wind-up of the term rendered it essentially necessary that I should
+ return to Oxford with all possible expedition, as my absence at such a
+ time, if discovered, might involve me in some unpleasant feeling with the
+ big wigs. Hither I arrived, in due time to save a lecture, and receive an
+ invitation to spend a few weeks in the ensuing year at Cambridge, where my
+ kind friend Horace Eglantine has entered himself of Trinity; and by the
+ way of inducement, has transmitted the characteristic sketch of the
+ notorious Jemmy Gordon playing off one of his mad pranks upon the big wigs
+ of Peter-House, (see plate) the particulars of which, will, with more
+ propriety, come into my sketches at Cambridge.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0038" id="Bimage-0038">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images/page369b.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page369bth.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page369b" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ We are here all bustle&mdash;Scouts packing up and posting off to the
+ coach-offices with luggage&mdash;securing places for students, and
+ afterwards clearing places for themselves&mdash;Oxford Duns on the sharp
+ look-out for shy-ones, and pretty girls whimpering at the loss of their
+ lovers&mdash;Dons and Big wigs promising themselves temporal pleasures,
+ and their ladies reviling the mantua-makers for not having used sufficient
+ expedition&mdash;some taking their last farewell of <i>alma mater</i>, and
+ others sighing to behold the joyous faces of affectionate kindred and
+ early friends. Long <span class="pagenum">[370]</span>bills, and still <i>longer</i>
+ promises passing currently&mdash;and the High-street exhibiting a scene of
+ general confusion, until the last coach rattles over Magdalen bridge, and
+ Oxford tradesmen close their <i>oaks</i>.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Bernard Blackmantle.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0039" id="Bimage-0039">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page370.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page370 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ TERM ENDS. <a name="Blink2H_CONC" id="Blink2H_CONC">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Bimage-0040" id="Bimage-0040">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images/page371.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page371 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <hr />
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE ENGLISH SPY.
+
+ to face page
+ I.
+
+ A SHORT SET-TO AT LONG'S HOTEL; OR,
+ STOPFORD NOT GETTING THE BEST OF IT. 14
+
+ II.
+
+ COURTIERS CAROUSING IN A CADGER'S KEN. 28
+
+ III.
+
+ THE WAKE; OR, TEDDY O'RAFFERTY'S LAST
+
+ APPEARANCE. A Scene in the Holy Land. 30
+
+ IV.
+ THE CYPRIAN'S BALL AT THE ARGYLL ROOM. 42
+
+ V.
+
+ JOHN LISTON AND THE LAMBKINS; OR, THE
+
+ CITIZEN'S TREAT. 57
+
+ VI.
+
+ THE GREAT ACTOR; OR, MR PUNCH IN ALL HIS
+
+ GLORY. 62
+
+ Amusements of the lower orders. Scene in Leicester-fields.
+
+ VII.
+
+ COLLEGE GHOSTS. 66
+
+ A Frolic of the Westminster Blacks. A Scene in Dean's
+ Yard.
+
+ VIII.
+
+ THE MARIGOLD FAMILY ON A PARTY OF PLEA-
+ SURE; OR, THE EFFECT OF A STORM IN THE
+ LITTLE BAY OF BISCAY, otherwise, CHELSEA
+ REACH. 68
+
+ Hints to Fresh Water Sailors, the Alderman and family
+ running foul of the Safety. A bit of Fun for the Westminster
+ Scholars. How to make Ducks and Geese swim after they
+ are cooked. Calamities of a Cit's Water Party to Richmond.
+
+ IX.
+ THE EPPING HUNT ON EASTER MONDAY; OR,
+ COCKNEY COMICALITIES IN FULL CHASE. 73
+
+ Lots of Characters and Lots of Accidents, Runaways and
+ Fly-aways, No Goes and Out and Outers, the Flask and the
+ Foolish, Gibs, Spavins, Millers and Trumpeters. The Stag
+ against the Field. Bob Transit's Excursion with the Nacker
+ man.
+
+ X.
+
+ THE TEA-POT ROW AT HARROW; OR, THE BATTLE
+
+ OF HOG LANE. 81
+
+ Harrow boys making a smash among the Crockery, a Scene
+ Sketched from the Life, dedicated to the Sons of Noblemen
+ and Gentlemen participators in the Sport.
+
+ XI.
+
+ THE CIT'S SUNDAY ORDINARY AT THE GATE
+ HOUSE, HIGHGATE; OR, EVERY HOG TO HIS
+ OWN APPLE. 89
+
+ Another Trip with the Marigold Family. Specimens of
+ Gormandizing. Inhabitants of Cockayne ruralizing. Cits and
+ their Cubs. Cutting Capers, a scramble for a Dinner.
+
+ XII.
+ BULLS AND BEARS IN HIGH BUSTLE; OR, BILLY
+ WRIGHT'S PONY MADE A MEMBER OF THE
+ STOCK EXCHANGE. 124
+
+ Interior view of the Money Market. Portraits of well-known
+ Stock Brokers. A Scene Sketched from the Life.
+
+ XIII.
+
+ THE PROMENADE AT COWES. 162
+
+ With Portraits of noble Commanders and Members of the
+ Royal Yacht Club.
+
+ XIV.
+
+ THE RETURN TO PORT. 184
+
+ Sailors Carousing, or a Jollification on board the Piranga.
+
+ XV.
+
+ POINT STREET, PORTSMOUTH. 188
+
+ Chairing the Cockswain. British Tars and their Girls in
+ high Glee.
+
+ XVI.
+
+ EVENING AND IN HIGH SPIRITS, A SCENE AT
+
+ LONG'S HOTEL, BOND-STREET. 192
+
+ Well-known Roués and their Satellites. Portraits from the
+ Life, including the Pea Green Hayne, Tom Best, Lord W.
+ Lennox, Colonel Berkeley, Mr. Jackson, White Headed Bob,
+ Hudson the Tobacconist, John Long, &amp;c. &amp;c.
+
+ XVII.
+
+ MORNING, AND IN LOW SPIRITS, A LOCK UP
+ SCENE IN A SPONGING HOUSE, CAREY STREET.&mdash;
+ A BIT OF GOOD TRUTH. 206
+
+ For Particulars, see Work; or inquire of Fat Radford, the
+ Domini of the Domxts.
+
+ XVIII.
+
+ THE HOUSE OF LORDS IN HIGH DEBATE. 210
+
+ Sketched at the time when II. R. H. the Duke of York was
+ making his celebrated Speech upon the Catholic Question.
+ Portraits of the Dukes of York, Gloucester, Wellington, De-
+ vonshire, Marquesses of Anglesea and Hertford, Earls of Liver-
+ pool, Grey, Westmorland, Bathurst, Eldon, and Pomfret,
+ Lords Holland, King, Ellenborough, &amp;c. &amp;c. and the whole
+ Bench of Bishops.
+
+ XIX.
+
+ THE POINT OF HONOUR DECIDED; OR, THE LEADEN
+
+ ARGUMENTS OF A LOVE AFFAIR. 214
+
+ View in Hyde Park. Tom Echo engaged in an affair of
+ honour. A Chapter on Duelling.
+
+ XX.
+ THE GREAT SUBSCRIPTION ROOM AT BROOKES'S. 217
+
+ Opposition Members engaged upon Hazardous Points. Por-
+ traits of the Great and the Little well-known Parliamentary
+ Characters.
+
+ XXI.
+
+ THE EVENING IN THE CIRCULAR ROOM; OR, A
+
+ SQUEEZE AT CARLTON PALACE. 219
+
+ Exquisites and Elegantes making their way to the Presence
+ Chamber. Portraits of Stars of Note and Ton, Blue Ribands
+ and Red Ribands, Army and Navy.
+
+ XXII.
+ THE HIGH STREET, CHELTENHAM. 222
+
+ Well-known characters among the Chelts.
+
+ XXIII.
+ GOING OUT. 226
+
+ A View of Berkeley Hunt Kennel.
+
+ XXIV.
+ THE ROYAL WELLS AT CHELTENHAM; OR, SPAS-
+ MODIC AFFECTIONS FROM SPA WATERS. 245
+ Chronic Affections and Cramp Comicalities.
+
+ XXV.
+
+ THE BAG-MEN'S BANQUET. 248
+
+ A View of the Commercial Room at the Bell Inn, Chelten-
+ ham. Portraits of well-known Travellers.
+
+ XXVI.
+
+ THE OAKLAND COTTAGES, CHELTENHAM; OR, FOX
+ HUNTERS AND THEIR FAVOURITES, A TIT BIT,
+ DONE FROM THE LIFE. 268
+
+ Dedicated to the Members of the Berkeley Hunt.
+
+ XXVII.
+
+ DONCASTER RACE COURSE DURING THE GREAT
+
+ ST. LEGER RACE, 1825. 269
+
+ Well-known Heroes of the Turf. Legs and Loungers.
+
+ XXVIII.
+
+ THE COMICAL PROCESSION FROM GLOUCESTER
+
+ TO BERKELEY. 288
+
+ XXIX.
+
+ THE POST OFFICE, BRISTOL. 293
+
+ Arrival of the London Mail. Lots of News, and New
+ Characters. Portraits of well-known Bristolians.
+
+ XXX.
+ FANCY BALL AT THE UPPER ROOMS, BATH. 302
+
+ XXXI.
+ THE PUMP ROOM, BATH. 311
+
+ Visitors taking a sip with King Bladud.
+
+ XXXII.
+
+ THE OLD BEAU AND FALSE BELLE; OR, MR. B.
+
+ AND MISS L. 316
+
+ A Bath Story.
+
+ XXXIII.
+ THE PUBLIC BATHS AT BATH; OR, STEWING
+
+ ALIVE. 320
+
+ Bernard BlackmantlE and Bob Transit taking a Dip with
+ King Bladud. Union of the Sexes. Welsh Wigs and
+ Decency. No Swimming or Plunging allowed.
+
+ XXXIV.
+
+ MILSOM STREET AND BOND STREET, OR BATH
+
+ SWELLS. 326
+
+ Well-known Characters at the Court of King Bladud.
+
+ XXXV.
+
+ THE BUFF CLUB AT THE PIG AND WHISTLE,
+
+ AVON STREET, BATH. 332
+
+ A Bit of Real Life in the Territories of old King Bladud.
+
+ XXXVI.
+
+ THE BOWLING ALLEY AT WORCESTER; OR, THE
+ WELL-KNOWN CHARACTERS OF THE HAND AND
+ GLOVE CLUB. 335
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD.
+
+ 1. The Gate House, Highgate, Citizens toiling up the Hill
+ to the Sunday Ordinary 109
+
+ 2. A Lame Duck waddling out of the Stock Exchange 139
+
+ 3. The Dandy Candy Man, a Cheltenham Vignette 283
+
+ 4. The Floating Harbour and Welsh Back, Bristol. 292
+
+ 5. Bath Market-place, with Portraits of the celebrated
+ Orange Women 295
+
+ 6. The Sporting Club at the Castle Tavern. Portraits of
+ Choice Spirits 300
+
+ 7. The Battle of the Chairs 306
+
+ 8. Vignette. Portraits of Blackmantle the English Spy,
+ and Transit 343
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <hr />
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br /> <a name="Clink2H_4_0001" id="Clink2H_4_0001">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE ENGLISH SPY.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Nor rank, nor order, nor condition,
+ Imperial, lowly, or patrician,
+ Shall, when they see this volume, cry,
+ "The satirist has pass'd us by:"
+ But, with good humour, view our page
+ Depict the manners of the age.
+ Vide Work.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Clink2H_INTR" id="Clink2H_INTR">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND VOLUME.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ BERNARD BLACKMANTLE TO THE PUBLIC.
+ </h3>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "The Muse's office was by Heaven design'd
+ To please, improve, instruct, reform mankind."
+ &mdash;Churchill.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Readers!&mdash;friends, I may say, for your flattering support has enabled
+ me to continue my Sketches of Society to a second volume with that
+ prospect of advantage to all concerned which makes labour delightful&mdash;accept
+ this fresh offering of an eccentric, but grateful mind, to that shrine
+ where alone he feels he owes any submission&mdash;the tribunal of Public
+ Opinion. In starting for the goal of my ambition, the prize of your
+ approbation, I have purposely avoided the beaten track of other periodical
+ writers, choosing for my subjects scenes and characters of real life,
+ transactions of our own times, <i>characteristic, satirical, and humorous</i>,
+ confined to no particular place, and carefully avoiding every thing like
+ personal ill-nature or party feeling. My associates, the Artists and
+ Publishers, are not less anxious than myself to acknowledge their
+ gratitude; and we intend to prove, by our united endeavours, how highly we
+ appreciate the extensive patronage we have already obtained.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ BERNARD BLACKMANTLE,
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img alt="page004 (28K)" src="images2/page004.jpg" width="100%" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Clink2H_4_0003" id="Clink2H_4_0003">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img alt="page005 (100K)" src="images2/page005.jpg" width="100%" />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ ODE, CONGRATULATORY AND ADVISIORY,
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ TO BERNARD BLACKMANTLE, ESQ.
+ </h3>
+ <p>
+ ON THE COMPLETION OF HIS FIRST VOLUME OF THE SPY.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "I smell a rat."&mdash;Book of Common Parlance.
+
+ "More sinned against than sinning."&mdash;William Shakspeare.
+
+ "The very <i>Spy</i> o' the time."&mdash;Ibid.
+
+ Well done, my lad, you've run on strong
+ Amidst the bustle of life's throng,
+ Nor thrown a <i>spavin</i> yet;
+ You've gone at score, your pace has told;
+ I hope, my boy, your wind will hold&mdash;
+ You've others yet to fret.
+
+ You've told the town that you are <i>fly</i>
+ To cant, and rant, and trickery;
+ And that whene'er you doze,
+ Like Bristol men, you never keep
+ But one eye closed&mdash;so you can tweak
+ E'en then a scoundrel's nose.
+
+ Pull up, and rinse your mouth a bit;
+ It is hot work, this race of wit,
+ And sets the bellows piping;
+ Next Vol. you'll grind <i>the flats</i> again,
+ And file the <i>sharps</i> unto the grain,
+ Their very stomachs griping.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[6]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ But why, good Bernard, do you dream
+ That we Reviewers scorn the cream{1}
+ Arising from your jokes?
+ Upon my soul, we love some fun
+ As well as any 'neath the sun,
+ Although we fight in cloaks.
+
+ Heav'n help thee, boy, we are not they
+ Who only go to damn a play,
+ And cackle in the pit;
+ Like good Sir William Curtis{2} we
+ Can laugh at <i>nous</i> and drollery,
+ Though of ourselves 'twere writ.
+
+ Was yours but sky blue milk and water,
+ We'd hand you over to the slaughter
+ Of cow committee-men{3};
+ For butterflies, and "such small deer,"
+ Are much beneath our potent spear&mdash;
+ The sharp gray goose-wing'd pen.
+
+ 1 See my friend Bernard's <i>cracker</i> to the reviewers in No.
+ 12, a perfect fifth of November bit of <i>firework</i>, I can
+ assure you, good people. But it won't go off with me without
+ a brand from the bonfire in return. "Bear this bear all."
+
+ 2 Have you ever dared the "salt sea ocean," my readers, with
+ the alderman admiral? If not, know that he has as pretty a
+ collection of caricatures in his cabin, and all against his
+ own sweet self, as need be wished to heal sea-sickness. Is
+ not this magnanimity? I think so. The baronet is really "a
+ worthy gentleman."
+
+ 3 Vide advertisements of "Alderney Milk Company." What
+ company shall we keep next, my masters? Mining companies, or
+ steam brick companies, or washing companies? How many of
+ them will be in the suds anon? Pshaw! throw physic to the
+ projectors&mdash;I prefer strong beer well hopped.
+
+ But yours we feel is sterner stuff,
+ And though perchance <i>too much in huff</i>,
+ <i>More natural</i> you will swear;
+ It really shows such game and pluck,
+ That we could take with you "pot luck,"
+ And deem it decent fare.
+
+ But, 'pon our <i>conscience</i>, bonny lad,
+ (We've got <i>some</i>, boy), it is too bad
+ So fiercely to show fight;
+ Gadzooks, 'tis time when comes the foe
+ To strip and sport a word and blow,
+ My dear pugnacious wight!
+
+ 'Tis very wise, T own, to pull
+ Fast by the horns some butting bull,
+ When 'gainst yourself he flies;
+ But to attack that sturdy beast,
+ When he's no thoughts on you to feast,
+ Is very <i>otherwise</i>.
+
+ But we'll forgive your paper balls,
+ Which on our jackets hurtless falls,
+
+ Like hail upon a tower:
+ Pray put wet blankets on your ire;
+ Really, good sir, we've no desire
+ To blight so smart a flower.
+
+ Well, then, I see no reason why
+ There should be war, good Mister Spy
+ So, faith! we'll be allies;
+ And if we must have fights and frays,
+ We'll shoot at pride and poppinjays,
+
+ And folly as it flies.
+ There's field enough for both to <i>beat</i>
+ Employment for our hands, eyes, feet,
+ To mark the quarry down,
+ <i>Black game</i> and white game a full crop,
+ Fine birds, fine feathers for to lop,
+ In country and in town.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[8]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ New city <i>specs</i>, new west-end rigs,
+ New gas-blown boots, new steam-curl'd wigs,
+ New fashionable schools,
+ New dandies, and new Bond-street dons,
+ And new intrigues, and new crim cons,
+ New companies of fools.{4}
+
+ Maria Foote and Edmund Kean,
+ The "lions" just now of the scene,
+ Shall yield to newer fun;
+ For all our wonders at the best
+ Are cast off for a newer vest,
+ After a nine days' run.
+
+ Old beaux at Bath, manoeuvring belles,
+ And pump-room puppies, Melsom swells,
+ And Mr. <i>Heaviside</i>,{5}
+ And Cheltenham carders,{6} every <i>runt</i>,
+
+ 4 See note 3, page 6.
+
+ 5 Mr. Heaviside, the polite M. C. of Bath. He has the finest
+ cauliflower head of hair I over remember; but it covers a
+ world of wit, for all that, and therefore however it may
+ appear, it certainly is not the heavy side of him.
+
+ 6 Cards, cards, cards, nothing but cards from "rosy morn to
+ dewy eve" at the town of Cheltenham. Whist, with the sun
+ shining upon their sovereigns, one would think a sovereign
+ remedy for their waste of the blessed day&mdash;<i>écarte</i>, whilst
+ the blue sky is mocking the blue countenances of your thirty
+ pound losers in as many seconds. Is it not marvellous?
+ Fathers, husbands, men who profess to belong to the Church.
+ By Jupiter! instead of founding the new university they talk
+ about, they had better make it for the pupilage of perpetual
+ card-players, and let them take their degrees by the
+ cleverness in odd tricks, or their ability in shuffling. "No
+ offence, Gregory." "No wonder they have their decrepit ones,
+ their ranters."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[9]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ The playhouse, Berkeley, and "the hunt,"
+ With Marshall{7} by their side.
+
+ All these and more I should be loth
+ To let escape from one or both,
+ So saddle for next heat:
+ The bell is rung, the course is cleared,
+ Mount on your hobby, "nought afear'd,"
+ <i>Black-jacket</i> can't be beat.
+
+ "Dum <i>spiro</i> spero" shout, and ride
+ Till you have 'scalp'd old Folly's hide,
+ And none a kiss will waft her;
+ Bind all the fools in your new book,
+ That "I spy!" may lay my hook,
+ And d&mdash;n them nicely after.
+
+ An Honest Reviewer.{8}
+
+ Given at my friend, "Sir John Barleycorn's"
+ Chambers, Tavistock, Covent Garden, this the
+ 19th, day of February, 1825, "almost at odds
+ with morning."
+
+ 7 Mr. Marshall, the M. C. of Cheltenham. "Wear him in your
+ heart's core, Horatio." I knew him well, a "fellow of
+ infinite jest." A long reign and a merry one to him.
+
+ 8 My anonymous friend will perceive that I estimate his wit
+ and talent quite as much as his honesty: had he not been
+ such a <i>rara avis</i> he would have been consigned to the "tomb
+ of all the Capulets."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Clink2H_4_0004" id="Clink2H_4_0004">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ CYTHEREAN BEAUTIES.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "The trav'ller, if he chance to stray,
+ May turn uncensured to his way;
+ Polluted streams again are pure,
+ And deepest wounds admit a cure;
+ But woman no redemption knows&mdash;
+ The wounds of honour never close."
+ &mdash;Moore.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[10]</span>Tremble not, ye fair daughters of
+ chastity! frown not, ye moralists! as your eyes rest upon the significant
+ title to our chapter, lest we should sacrifice to curiosity the blush of
+ virtue. We are painters of real life in all its varieties, but our
+ colouring shall not be over-charged, or our characters out of keeping. The
+ glare of profligacy shall be softened down or so neutralized as not to
+ offend the most delicate feelings. In sketching the reigning beauties of
+ the time, we shall endeavour to indulge the lovers of variety without
+ sacrificing the fair fame of individuals, or attempting to make vice
+ respectable. Pleasure is our pursuit, but we are accompanied up the
+ flowery ascent by Contemplation and Reflection, two monitors that shrink
+ back, like sensitive plants, as the thorns press upon them through the
+ ambrosial beds of new-blown roses. In our record of the daughters of
+ Pleasure, we shall only notice those who are distinguished as <i>belles of
+ ton&mdash;stars</i> of the first magnitude in the hemisphere of Fashion;
+ and of these the reader may say, with one or two exceptions, they "come
+ like shadows, so depart." We would rather excite sympathy and pity for the
+ <span class="pagenum">[11]</span>unfortunate, than by detailing all we
+ know produce the opposite feelings of obloquy and detestation.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Unhappy sex! when beauty is your snare,
+ Exposed to trials, made too frail to bear."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Then, oh! ye daughters of celestial Virtue, point not the scoffing glance
+ at these, her truant children, as ye pass them by&mdash;but pity, and
+ afford them a gleam of cheerful hope: so shall ye merit the protection of
+ Him whose chief attribute is charity and universal benevolence. And ye,
+ lords of the creation! commiserate their misfortunes, which owe their
+ origin to the baseness of the seducer, and the natural depravity of your
+ own sex.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Clink2H_4_0005" id="Clink2H_4_0005">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ LADIES OF DISTINCTION,
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ "DANS LE PARTERRE DES IMPURES."
+ </h3>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Simplex sigillum veri."
+
+ "Nought is there under heav'n's wide hollowness
+ That moves more dear, compassion of the mind,
+ Than beauty brought t' unworthy wretchedness."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[12]</span>If ever there was a fellow formed by
+ nature to captivate and conquer the heart of lovely woman, it is that
+ arch-looking, light-hearted Apollo, Horace Eglantine, with his
+ soul-enlivening conversational talents, his scraps of poetry, and puns,
+ and fashionable anecdote; his chivalrous form and noble carriage, joined
+ to a mirth-inspiring countenance and soft languishing blue eye, which sets
+ half the delicate bosoms that surround him palpitating between hope and
+ fear; then a glance at his well-shaped leg, or the fascination of an
+ elegant compliment, smilingly overleaping a pearly fence of more than
+ usual whiteness and regularity, fixes the fair one's doom; while the young
+ rogue, triumphing in his success, turns on his heel and plays off another
+ battery on the next pretty susceptible piece of enchanting simplicity that
+ accident may throw into his way. "Who is that attractive star before whose
+ influential light he at present seems to bow with adoration?" "A <i>fallen
+ one</i>," said Crony, to whom the question was addressed, as he rode up
+ the drive in Hyde Park, towards Cumberland-gate, accompanied by Bernard
+ Blackmantle. "A <i>fallen one</i>" reiterated the Oxonian&mdash;"Impossible!"
+ "Why, I have marked the fair daughter of Fashion myself for the last
+ fortnight constantly in the drive with one of the most superb <span
+ class="pagenum">[13]</span>equipages among the <i>ton</i> of the day."
+ "True," responded Crony, "and might have done so for any time these three
+ years." In London these daughters of Pleasure are like physicians
+ travelling about to destroy in all sorts of ways, some on foot, others on
+ horseback, and the more finished lolling in their carriages, ogling and
+ attracting by the witchery of bright eyes; the latter may, however, very
+ easily be known, by the usual absence of all armorial bearings upon the
+ panel, the chariot elegant and in the newest fashion, generally
+ dark-coloured, and lined with crimson to cast a rich glow upon the
+ occupant, and the servants in plain frock liveries, with a cockade, of
+ course, to imply their mistresses have <i>seen service</i>. I know but of
+ one who sports any heraldic ornament, and that is the female Giovanni, who
+ has the very appropriate crest of a serpent coiled, and preparing to
+ spring upon its prey, <i>à la Cavendish</i>. The <i>elegante</i> in the
+ dark <i>vis</i>, to whom our friend Horace is paying court, is the <i>ci-devant</i>
+ Lady Ros&mdash;b&mdash;y, otherwise Clara W&mdash;&mdash;.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ By the peer she has a son, and from the plebeian a pension of two hundred
+ pounds per annum: her origin, like most of the frail sisterhood, is very
+ obscure; but Clara certainly possesses talents of the first order, and
+ evinces a generosity of disposition to her sisters and family that is
+ deserving of commendation. In person, she is plump and well-shaped, but of
+ short stature, with a fine dark eye and raven locks that give considerable
+ effect to an otherwise interesting countenance. A few years since she had
+ a penchant for the stage, and played repeatedly at one of the minor
+ theatres, under the name of "The Lady;" a character Clara can, when she
+ pleases, support with unusual <i>gaieté</i>: instance her splendid parties
+ in Manchester-street, Manchester-square, where I have seen a coruscation
+ of beauties assembled together that must have made great havoc in their
+ time among the hearts of the young, the gay, and the generous. Like <span
+ class="pagenum">[14]</span>most of her society, Clara has no idea of
+ prudence, and hence to escape some pressing importunities, she levanted
+ for a short time to Scotland, but has since, by the liberal advances of
+ her present delusive, been enabled to quit the interested apprehensions of
+ the <i>Dun</i> family. The swaggering belle in the green pelisse yonder,
+ on the <i>pavé</i>, is the celebrated courtezan, Mrs. St*pf**d, of
+ Curzon-street, May-fair. How she acquired her present cognomen I know not,
+ unless it was for her <i>stopping</i> accomplishment in the polite science
+ of pugilism and modern patter, in both of which she is a finished
+ proficient, as poor John D&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, a dashing savoury
+ chemist, can vouch for.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ On a certain night, she followed this unfaithful swain, placing herself
+ (unknown to him) behind his carriage, to the house of a rival sister of
+ Cytherea, Mrs. St**h**e, and there enforced, by divers potent means, due
+ submission to the laws of Constancy and Love; but as such compulsory
+ measures were not in <i>good taste</i> with the <i>protector's</i>
+ feelings, the contract was soon void, and the lady once more liberated to
+ choose another and another swain, with a pension of two hundred pounds per
+ annum, and a well-furnished house into the bargain. She was formerly, and
+ when first she came out, the <i>chère amie</i> of Tom B&mdash;&mdash;-,
+ who had, in spite of his science recently, in a short affair at Long's
+ hotel, not much the Best of it. (See plate).
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0004" id="Cimage-0004">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page015.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page015th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page015" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <h4>
+ [Please click on any of the Color Plates to enlarge them to full size]
+ </h4>
+ <p>
+ From him she bolted, and enlisted with an officer of the nineteenth
+ Lancers; but not liking the house of Montague, she obtained the Grant of a
+ furlough, and has since indulged in a plurality of lovers, without much
+ attention to size, age, persons, or professions. Of her talent in love
+ affairs, we have given some specimens; and her courage in war can never be
+ doubted after the formidable attack she recently made upon General Sir
+ John D***e, returning through Hounslow from a review, from which <i>rencontre</i>
+ she has obtained the appropriate appellation of the <i>Brazen <span
+ class="pagenum">[15]</span> Bellona</i>. A pretty round face, dark hair,
+ and fine bushy eyebrows, are no mean attractions; independent of which the
+ lady is always upon good terms with herself. The <i>belle whip</i> driving
+ the cabriolet, with a chestnut horse and four white legs, is the <i>Edgeware
+ Diana</i> Mrs. S***h, at present engaged in a partnership affair, in the
+ foreign line, with two citizens, Messrs O. R. and S.; the peepholes at the
+ side of her machine imply more than mere curiosity, and are said to have
+ been invented by General Ogle, for the use of the ladies when on active
+ service. The beautiful little Water Lily in the chocolate-coloured
+ chariot, with a languishing blue eye and alabaster skin, is Mrs. Ha****y,
+ otherwise K**d***k, of Gr&mdash;n-street, a great favourite with all who
+ know her, from the elegance of her manners and the attractions of her
+ person (being perfect symmetry); at present she is under the <i>special
+ protection</i> of a city stave merchant, and has the <i>reputation</i> of
+ being very sincere in her attachments.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "You must have been a desperate fellow in your time, Crony," said I,
+ "among the belles of this class, or you could never have become so
+ familiar with their history." "It is the fashion," replied the veteran,
+ "to understand these matters; among the <i>bons vivants</i> of the present
+ day a fellow would be suspected of <i>chastity</i>, or regarded as <i>uncivilized</i>,
+ who could not run through the history of the reigning beauties of the
+ times, descanting upon their various charms with poetical fervor, or
+ illuminating, as he proceeds, with some choice anecdotes of the <i>Paphian
+ divinities</i>, their protectors and propensities; and to do the fair <i>Citherians</i>
+ justice, they are not much behindhand with us in that respect, for the
+ whole conversation of the sisterhood turns upon the figure, fortune,
+ genius, or generosity of the admiring beaux. To a young and ardent mind,
+ just emerging from scholastic discipline, with feelings uncontaminated by
+ <span class="pagenum">[16]</span>fashionable levities, and a purse equal
+ to all pleasurable purposes, a correct knowledge of the mysteries of the
+ <i>Citherian principles of astronomy</i> may be of the most essential
+ consequence, not less in protecting his <i>morals and health</i> than in
+ the preservation of life and fortune. One half the duels, suicides, and <i>fashionable
+ bankruptcies</i> spring from this polluted source. The stars of this order
+ rise and fall in estimation, become fixed planets or meteors of the most
+ enchanting brilliancy, in proportion not to the grace of modesty, or the
+ fascination of personal beauty, but to the notoriety and number of their
+ amours, and the peerless dignity of their plurality of lovers.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Place the goddess of Love on the pedestal of Chastity, in the sacred
+ recesses of the grove of Health, veiled by virgin Innocence, and robed in
+ celestial Purity, and who among the <i>cameleon</i> race of fashionable <i>roués</i>
+ would incur the charge of <i>Vandalism</i>, or turn aside to pay devotion
+ at her shrine? but let the salacious deity of Impurity mount the car of
+ Profligacy, and drive forth in all the glare of crimson and gold, and a
+ thousand devotees are ready to sacrifice their honour upon her profligate
+ altars, or chain themselves to her chariot wheels as willing slaves to
+ worship and adore."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Let us take another turn up the drive," said I, "for I am willing to
+ confess myself much interested in this <i>new system of astronomy</i>, and
+ perhaps we may discover a few more of the <i>terrestrial planets</i>, and
+ observe the <i>stars</i> that move around their frail orbits." "I must
+ first make you acquainted with the signs of the <i>Paphian zodiac</i>,"
+ said Crony; "for every one of these attractions have their peculiar and
+ appropriate fashionable appellations. I have already introduced you to the
+ <i>Bang Bantum</i>, Mrs Bertram; the <i>London Leda</i>, Moll Raffles; the
+ <i>Spanish Nun</i>, St. Margurite; the <i>Sparrow Hawk</i>, Augusta
+ C****e{1}; the <i>Golden</i>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 See vol. i.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[17]</span><i>Pippin</i>, Mrs. C.; the <i>White Crow</i>,
+ Clara W****; the <i>Brazen Bellona</i>, Mrs. St**f**d; the <i>Edgeware
+ Diana</i>, Mrs. S**th; and the <i>Water Lily Symmeterian</i>, Ha**l*y&mdash;<i>all
+ planets</i> of the first order, carriage curiosities. Let us now proceed
+ to make further observations. The <i>jolie</i> dame yonder, in the
+ phaeton, drawn by two fine bays, is called the <i>White Doe</i>, from her
+ first deer protector; and although somewhat on the decline, she is yet an
+ exhibit of no mean attraction, and a lady of fortune. Thanks to the
+ liberality of an old hewer of stone, and the talismanic powers of the <i>golden
+ Ball</i>, deserted by her last swain since his marriage, she now reclines
+ upon the velvet cushion of Independence, enjoying in the Kilburn retreat,
+ her <i>otium cum dignitate</i>, secure from the rude winds of adversity,
+ and in the occasional society of a few old friends. The lovely Thais in
+ the brown chariot, with a fine Roman countenance, dark hair, and sparkling
+ eyes, is the favourite elect of a well-known whig member; here she passes
+ by the name of the <i>Comic Muse</i>, the first letter of which will also
+ answer for the leading initial of her theatrical cognomen. Her, private
+ history is well-known to every son of <i>old Etona</i> who has taken a <i>toodle</i>
+ over Windsor-bridge on a market-day within the last fifteen years, her
+ parents being market gardeners in the neighbourhood; and her two unmarried
+ sisters, both fine girls, are equally celebrated with the Bath
+ orange-women for the neatness of their dress and comeliness of their
+ persons. There is a sprightliness and good-humour about the <i>Comic Muse</i>
+ that turns aside the shafts of ill-nature; and had she made her selection
+ more in accordance with propriety, and her own age, she might have escaped
+ our notice; but, alas!" said Crony, "she forgets that
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'The rose's age is but a day;
+ Its bloom, the pledge of its decay,
+ Sweet in scent, in colour bright,
+ It blooms at morn and fades at night.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[18]</span>At this moment a dashing little
+ horsewoman trotted by in great style, followed by a servant in blue and
+ gold livery; her bust was perfection itself, but studded with the oddest
+ pair of <i>ogles</i> in the world, and Crony assured me (report said) her
+ person was supported by the shortest pair of legs, for an adult, in
+ Christendom. "That is the <i>queen</i> of the <i>dandysettes</i>," said my
+ old friend, "Sophia, Selina, or, as she is more generally denominated, <i>Galloping</i>
+ W****y, from a <i>long Pole</i>, who settled the interest of five thousand
+ upon her for her natural life; she is since said to have married her
+ groom, with, however, this prudent stipulation, that he is still to ride
+ behind her in public, and answer all demands in <i>propria persona</i>.
+ She is constantly to be seen at all masquerades, and may be easily known
+ by her utter contempt for the incumbrance of decent costume." "How d'ye
+ do? How d'ye do?" said a most elegant creature, stretching forth her
+ delicate white kid-covered arm over the <i>fenêtre</i> of Lord
+ Hxxxxxxx*h's <i>vis à vis</i>. "Ah! <i>bon jour, ma chère amie</i>," said
+ old Crony, waving his hand and making one of his best bows in return. "You
+ are a happy dog," said I, "old fellow, to be upon such pleasant terms with
+ that divinity. No plebeian blood there, I should think: a peeress, I
+ perceive, by the coronet on the panels." "<i>A peine cognoist, ou la femme
+ et le melon</i>," responded Crony, "you shall hear. Among the <i>ton</i>
+ she passes by the name of Vestina the Titan, from her being such a
+ finished tactician in the campaigns of Venus;. her ordinary appellation is
+ Mrs. St&mdash;h&mdash;pe: whether this be a <i>nom de guerre or a nom de
+ terre</i>, I shall not pretend to decide; if we admit that <i>la chose est
+ toute</i>, <i>et que la nom n'y fait rien</i>, the rest is of no
+ consequence. It would be an intricate task to unravel the family web of
+ our fashionable frail ones, although that of many frail fashionables
+ stands high in heraldry. The lady in question, although in 'the sear o'
+ the leaf,' is yet in high request; 'fat, fair, and forty' shall I say?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[19]</span>Alas! that would have been more suitable
+ ten years since; but, <i>n'importe</i>, she has the science to conceal the
+ ravages of time, and is yet considered attractive. No one better
+ understands the art of intrigue; and she is, moreover, a travelled dame,
+ not deficient in intellect, full of anecdote; and as <i>conjugation and
+ declension</i> go hand in hand with some men of taste, she has risen into
+ notice when others usually decline. A sporting colonel is said to have
+ formerly contributed largely to her comforts, and her tact in matters of
+ business is notorious; about two hundred per annum she derived from the
+ Stock Exchange, and her present <i>peerless protector</i> no doubt
+ subscribes liberally. To be brief, Laura has money in the funds, a
+ splendid house, carriage, gives her grand parties, and lives
+ proportionably expensive and elegant; yet with all this she has taken care
+ that the age of gold may succeed to the age of brass, that the retirement
+ of her latter days may not be overclouded by the storms of adversity. She
+ had two sisters, both gay, who formerly figured on the <i>pavé</i>, Sarah
+ and Louisa; but of late they have disappeared, report says, to <i>conjugate</i>
+ in private. Turn your eyes towards the promenade," said Crony, "and
+ observe that constellation of beauties, three in number, who move along <i>le
+ verd gazon</i>: they are denominated the <i>Red Rose</i>, the <i>Moss Rose</i>,
+ and the <i>Cabbage Rose</i>. The first is Rose Co*l**d, a dashing belle,
+ who has long figured in high life; her first appearance was in company
+ with Lord William F***g***ld, by whom she has a child living; from thence
+ we trace her to the protection of another peer, Lord Ty*****], and from
+ him gradually declining to the rich relative of a northern baronet,
+ sportive little Jack R*****n, whose favourite <i>lauda finem</i> she
+ continued for some time; but as the law engrossed rather too much of her
+ protector's affairs, so the fair engrossed rather too much of the law;
+ whether she has yet given up <span class="pagenum">[20]</span>practice in
+ the King's Bench I cannot determine, but her appearance here signifies
+ that she will accept a fee from any side; Rose has long since lost every
+ tint of the maiden's blush, and is now in the full blow of her beauty and
+ maturity, but certainly not without considerable personal attractions;
+ with some her <i>nom de guerre</i> is <i>Rosa longa</i>, and a wag of the
+ day says, that Rose is a beauty in <i>spite of her teeth</i>. The <i>Moss
+ Rose</i> has recently changed her cognomen with her residence, and is now
+ Mrs. F**, of Beaumout-street; she was never esteemed a <i>planet</i>, and
+ may be now said to have sunk into a star of the second order, a little <i>twinkling
+ light</i>, useful to assist elderly gentlemen in finding their way to the
+ Paphian temple. The <i>Cabbage Rose</i> is one of your vulgar beauties,
+ ripe as a peach, and rich in countenance as the ruby: if she has never
+ figured away with the peerage, she has yet the credit of being entitled to
+ <i>three balls</i> on her coronet, and an <i>old uncle</i> to support
+ them: she has lately taken a snug box in Park-place, Regent's-park, and
+ lives in very good style. The belle in the brown chariot, gray horses, and
+ blue liveries is now the lady of a baronet, and one of three <i>graceless
+ graces</i>, the Elxxxxx's, who, because their father kept a livery stable,
+ must needs all go to <i>rack</i>: she has a large family living by Mr.
+ V*l*b***s, whom she left for the honour of her present connexion. That she
+ is married to the baronet, there is no doubt; and it is but justice to
+ add, she is one among the many instances of such compromises in
+ fashionable life who are admitted into society upon sufferance, and falls
+ into the class of demi-respectables. Among the park beaux she is known by
+ the appellation of the <i>Doldrums</i> her two sisters have been missing
+ some time, and it is said are now rusticating in Paris." My friend
+ Eglantine had evidently fled away with the white crow, and the
+ fashionables were rapidly decreasing in the drive, when Crony, whose scent
+ of <span class="pagenum">[21]</span>dinner hour is as staunch as that of
+ an old pointer at game, gave evident symptoms of his inclination to
+ masticate. "We must take another opportunity to finish our lecture on the
+ principles of <i>Citherian astronomy</i>," said the old beau, "for as yet
+ we are not half through the list of constellations. I have a great desire
+ to introduce you to Harriette Wilson and her sisters, whose true history
+ will prove very entertaining, particularly as the fair writer has
+ altogether omitted the genuine anecdotes of herself and family in her
+ recently published memoirs." At dinner we were joined by Horace Eglantine
+ and Bob Transit, from the first of whom we learned, that a grand fancy
+ ball was to take place at the Argyll Rooms in the course of the ensuing
+ week, under the immediate direction of four fashionable impures, and at
+ the expense of General Trinket, a broad-shouldered Milesian, who having
+ made a considerable sum by the commissariat service, had returned home to
+ spend his Peninsular pennies among the Paphian dames of the metropolis.
+ For this entertainment we resolved to obtain tickets, and as the ci-devant
+ lady H***e was to be patroness, Crony assured us there would be no
+ difficulty in that respect, added to which, he there promised to finish
+ his sketches of the Citherian beauties of the metropolis, and afford my
+ friend Transit an opportunity of sketching certain portraits both of
+ Paphians and their paramours.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0005" id="Cimage-0005">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page021.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page021 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Clink2H_4_0006" id="Clink2H_4_0006">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE WAKE;
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ OR,
+ </h3>
+ <p>
+ TEDDY O'RAFFERTY'S LAST APPEARANCE. A SCENE IN THE HOLY LAND. <span
+ class="pagenum">[22]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Twas at Teddy O'Rafferty's wake,
+ Just to comfort ould Judy, his wife,
+ The lads of the hod had a frake.
+ And kept the thing up to the life.
+ There was Father O'Donahoo, Mr. Delany,
+ Pat Murphy the doctor, that rebel O'Shaney,
+ Young Terence, a nate little knight o' the hod,
+ And that great dust O'Sullivan just out o' quod;
+ Then Florence the piper, no music is riper,
+ To all the sweet cratures with emerald fatures
+ Who came to drink health to the dead.
+ Not Bryan Baroo had a louder shaloo
+ When he gave up his breath, to that tythe hunter death,
+ Than the howl over Teddy's cowld head:
+ 'Twas enough to have rais'd up a saint.
+ All the darlings with whiskey so faint,
+ And the lads full of fight, had a glorious night,
+ When ould Teddy was wak'd in his shed.
+ &mdash;Original.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ He who has not travelled in Ireland should never presume to offer an
+ opinion upon its natives. It is not from the wealthy absentees, who since
+ the union have abandoned their countrymen to wretchedness, for the
+ advancement of their own ambitious views, that we can form a judgment of
+ the exalted Irish: nor is it from the lowly race, who driven forth by
+ starving penury, crowd our more prosperous shores, <span class="pagenum">[23]</span>that
+ we can justly estimate the true character of the peasantry of that unhappy
+ country. The Memoirs of Captain Rock may have done something towards
+ removing the national prejudices of Englishmen; while the frequent and
+ continued agitation of that important question, the Emancipation of the
+ Catholics, has roused a spirit of inquiry in every worthy bosom that will
+ much advantage the oppressed, and, eventually, diffuse a more general and
+ generous feeling towards the Irish throughout civilized Europe. I have
+ been led into this strain of contemplation, by observing the ridiculous
+ folly and wasteful expenditure of the nobility and fashionables of Great
+ Britain; who, neglecting their starving tenantry and kindred friends,
+ crowd to the shores of France and Italy in search of scenery and variety,
+ without having the slightest knowledge of the romantic beauties and
+ delightful landscapes, which abound in the three kingdoms of the Rose, the
+ Shamrock, and the Thistle. How much good might be done by the examples of
+ a few illustrious, noble, and wealthy individuals, making annual visits to
+ Ireland and Scotland! what a field does it afford for true enjoyment! how
+ superior, in most instances, the accommodations and security; and how
+ little, if at all inferior, to the scenic attractions of foreign
+ countries. Then too the gratification of observing the progress of
+ improvement in the lower classes, of administering to their wants, and
+ consoling with them under their patient sufferings from oppressive laws,
+ rendered perhaps painfully necessary by the political temperature of the
+ times or the unforgiving suspicions of the past. But I am becoming
+ sentimental when I ought to be humorous, contemplative when I should be
+ characteristic, and seriously sententious when I ought to be playfully
+ satirical. Forgive me, gentle reader, if from the collapse of the spirit,
+ I have for a moment turned aside from the natural gaiety of my <span
+ class="pagenum">[24]</span>style, to give utterance to the warm feelings
+ of an eccentric but generous heart. But, <i>allons</i> to the wake.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Plaze ye'r honor," said Barney O'Finn (my groom of the chambers), "may I
+ be <i>axing</i> a holiday to-night?" "It will be very inconvenient,
+ Barney; but&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;" "But, your honor's not the jontleman to
+ refuse a small trate o' the sort," said Barney, anticipating the
+ conclusion of my objection. There was some thing unusually anxious about
+ the style of the poor fellow's request that made me hesitate in the
+ refusal. "It's not myself that would be craving the favor, but a poor dead
+ cousin o' mine, heaven rest his sowl!" "And how can the granting of such a
+ request benefit your departed relation, Barney?" quoth I, not a little
+ puzzled by the strangeness of the application. "Sure, that's mighty <i>dare</i>
+ of comprehension, your honor. Teddy O'Rafferty was my own mother's
+ brother's son, and devil o' like o' him there was in all Kilgobbin: we
+ went to ould Father O'Rourke's school together when we were spalpeens, and
+ ate our <i>paraters</i> and butter-milk out o' the same platter; many's
+ the scrape we've been in together: bad luck to the ould schoolmaster, for
+ he flogged all the <i>larning</i> out o' poor Teddy, and all the liking
+ for't out of Barney O'Finn, that's myself, your honor&mdash;so one dark
+ night we took advantage of the moon, and having joined partnership in
+ property put it all into a Limerick silk handkerchief, with which we made
+ the best of our way to Dublin, travelling stage arter stage by the
+ ould-fashioned conveyance, Pat Adam's ten-toed machine. Many's the drap we
+ got on the road to drive away care. All the wide world before us, and all
+ the fine family estate behind,&mdash;pigs, poultry, and relations,&mdash;divil
+ a tenpenny did we ever touch since. It's not your honor that will be angry
+ to hear a few family misfortins," said Barney, hesitating to proceed with
+ his narration, "Give me my hat, fellow," said <span class="pagenum">[25]</span>I,
+ "and don't torture me with your nonsense."&mdash; "May be it an't nonsense
+ your honor means?" "And why not, sirrah?"&mdash;"Bekase it's not in your
+ nature to spake light o' the dead." Up to this point, my attention had
+ been divided between the Morning Chronicle which lay upon my breakfast
+ table, and Barney's comical relation; a glance at the narrator, however,
+ as he finished the last sentence, convinced me that I ought to have
+ treated him with more feeling. He was holding my hat towards me, when the
+ pearly drop of affliction burst uncontrollably forth, and hung on the side
+ of the beaver, like a sparkling crystal gem loosed from the cavern's roof,
+ to rest upon the jasper stone beneath. I would have given up my Mastership
+ of Arts to have recalled that word nonsense: I was so touched with the
+ poor fellow's pathos.&mdash;" Shall I tell your onor the <i>partikilars</i>?"
+ "Ay, do, Barney, proceed."&mdash;"Well, your onor, we worked our way to
+ London togither&mdash;haymaking and harvesting: 'Taste fashions the man'
+ was a saw of ould Father O'Rourke's; 'though divil a taste had he, but for
+ draining the whiskey bottle and bating the boys, bad luck to his mimory!
+ 'Is it yourself?' said I, to young squire O'Sullivan, from Scullanabogue,
+ whom good fortune threw in my way the very first day I was in London.&mdash;'Troth,
+ and it is, Barney,' said he: 'What brings you to the sate of government?'
+ 'I'm seeking sarvice and fortune, your onor,' said I. 'Come your ways,
+ then, my darling,' said he; and, without more to do, he made me his <i>locum
+ tenens</i>, first clerk, messenger, and man of all work to a Maynooth
+ Milesian. There was onor enough in all conscience for me, only it was not
+ vary profitable. For, altho' my master followed the law, the law wouldn't
+ follow him, and he'd rather more bags than briefs:&mdash;the consequence
+ was, I had more banyan days than the man in the wilderness. Divil a'care,
+ I got a character by my conduct, and a good place when I left him, as your
+ <span class="pagenum">[26]</span>govonor can testify. As for poor Teddy,
+ divil a partikle of taste had he for fashionable life, but a mighty pratty
+ notion of the arts, so he turned operative arkitekt; engaged himself to a
+ layer of bricks, and skipped nimbly up and down a five story ladder with a
+ long-tailed box upon his shoulder&mdash;pace be to his ashes! He was
+ rather too fond of the <i>crature</i>&mdash;many's the slip he had for his
+ life&mdash;one minute breaking a jest, and the next breaking a joint; till
+ there wasn't a sound limb to his body. Arrah, sure, it was all the same to
+ Teddy&mdash;only last Monday, he was more elevated than usual, for he had
+ just reached the top of the steeple of one of the new churches with a
+ three gallon can of beer upon his <i>knowledge-box</i>, and, perhaps a
+ little too much of the <i>crature</i> inside o! it. 'Shout, Teddy, to the
+ honour of the saint,' said the foreman of the works (for they had just
+ completed the job). Poor Teddy's religion got the better of his
+ understanding, for in shouting long life to the dedicatory saint, he lost
+ his own&mdash;missed his footing, and pitched over the scaffold like an
+ odd chimney-pot in a high wind, and came down smash to the bottom with a
+ head as flat as a bump. Divil a word has he ever spake since; for when
+ they picked him up, he was dead as a Dublin bay herring&mdash;and now he
+ lies in his cabin in Dyot-street, St. Giles, as stiff as a poker,&mdash;and
+ to-night, your onor, we are going to <i>wake</i> him, poor sowl! to smoke
+ a pipe, and spake an <i>horashon</i> over his corpse before we put him
+ dacently to bed with the shovel. Then, there's his poor widow left
+ childless, and divil a rap to buy paraters wid&mdash;bad luck to the eye
+ that wouldn't drap a tear to his mimory, and cowld be the heart that
+ refuses to comfort his widow!" Here poor Barney could no longer restrain
+ his feelings, and having concluded the family history, blubbered outright.
+ It was a strange mixture of the ludicrous and the sorrowful; but told with
+ such an artless simplicity and genuine traits of feeling, that I would
+ have defied the most <span class="pagenum">[27]</span>volatile to have
+ felt uninterested with the speaker. "You shall go, by all means, Barney,"
+ said I: "and here is a trifle to comfort the poor widow with." "The
+ blessings of the whole calendar full on your onor!" responded the grateful
+ Irishman. What a scene, thought I, for the pencil of my friend Bob
+ Transit!"Could a stranger visit the place," I inquired, without
+ molestation or the charge of impertinence, Barney?" "Divil a charge, your
+ onor; and as to impertinence, a wake's like a house-warming, where every
+ guest is welcome." With this assurance, I apprised Barney of my intention
+ to gratify curiosity, and to bring a friend with me; carefully noted down
+ the direction, and left the grateful fellow to pursue his course.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The absurdities of funeral ceremonies have hitherto triumphed over the
+ advances of civilization, and in many countries are still continued with
+ almost as much affected solemnity and ridiculous parade as distinguished
+ the early processions of the Pagans, Heathens, and Druids. The honours
+ bestowed upon the dead may inculcate a good moral lesson upon the minds of
+ the living, and teach them so to act in this life that their cold remains
+ may deserve the after-exordium of their friends; but, in most instances,
+ funeral pomp has more of worldly vanity in it than true respect, and it is
+ no unusual circumstance in the meaner ranks of life, for the survivors to
+ abridge their own comforts by a wasteful expenditure and useless parade,
+ with which they think to honour the memory of the dead. The Egyptians
+ carry this folly perhaps to the most absurd degree; their catacombs and
+ splendid tombs far outrivalling the habitations of their princes, together
+ with their expensive mode of embalming, are with us matters of curiosity,
+ and often induce a sacrilegious transfer of some distinguished mummy to
+ the museums of the connoisseur. The Athenians, Greeks, and Romans, had
+ each their peculiar funeral ceremonies in the exhumation, <span
+ class="pagenum">[28]</span>sacrifices, and orations performed on such
+ occasions; and much of the present customs of the Romish church are, no
+ doubt, derivable from and to be traced to these last-mentioned nations. In
+ the present times, no race of people are more superstitious in their
+ veneration for the ancient customs of their country and funeral rites,
+ than the lower orders of the Irish, and that folly is often carried to a
+ greater height during their domicile in this country than when residing at
+ home.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ It was about nine o'clock at night when Eglantine, Transit, and myself
+ sallied forth to St. Giles's in search of the wake, or, as Bob called it,
+ on a crusade to the holy land. Formerly, such a visit would have been
+ attended with great danger to the parties making the attempt, from the
+ number of desperate characters who inhabited the back-slums lying in the
+ rear of Broad-street: where used to be congregated together, the most
+ notorious thieves, beggars, and bunters of the metropolis, amalgamated
+ with the poverty and wretchedness of every country, but more particularly
+ the lower classes of Irish, who still continue to exist in great numbers
+ in the neighbourhood. Here was formerly held in a night-cellar, the
+ celebrated Beggars' Club, at which the dissolute Lord Barrymore and
+ Colonel George Hanger, afterwards Lord Coleraine, are said to have often
+ officiated as president and vice-president, attended by their profligate
+ companions, and surrounded by the most extraordinary characters of the
+ times; the portraits and biography of whom may be seen in Smith's
+ 'Vagabondiana,' a very clever and highly entertaining work. It was on this
+ spot that George Parker collected his materials for 'Life's Painter of
+ Variegated Characters,' and among its varieties, that Grose and others
+ obtained the flash and patter which form the cream of their humorous
+ works. Formerly, the Beggars' ordinary, held in a cellar was a scene
+ worthy <span class="pagenum">[29]</span>of the pencil of a Hogarth or a
+ Cruikshank; notorious impostors, professional paupers, ballad-singers, and
+ blind fiddlers might here be witnessed carousing on the profits of
+ mistaken charity, and laughing in their cups at the credulity of mankind;
+ but the police have now disturbed their nightly orgies, and the Mendicant
+ Society ruined their lucrative calling. The long table, where the
+ trenchers consisted of so many round holes turned out in the plank, and
+ the knives, forks, spoons, candle-sticks, and fire-irons all chained to
+ their separate places, is no longer to be seen. The night-cellar yet
+ exists, where the wretched obtain a temporary lodging and straw bed at
+ twopence per head; but the Augean stable has been cleansed of much of its
+ former impurities, and scarce a vestige remains of the disgusting
+ depravity of former times.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0006" id="Cimage-0006">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page029.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page029th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page029" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A little way up Dyot-street, on the right hand from Holborn, we perceived
+ the gateway to which Barney had directed me, and passing under it into a
+ court filled with tottering tenements of the most wretched appearance, we
+ were soon attracted to the spot we sought, by the clamour of voices
+ apparently singing and vociferating together. The faithful Barney was
+ ready posted at the door to receive us, and had evidently prepared the
+ company to show more than usual respect. An old building or shed adjoining
+ the deceased's residence, which had been used for a carpenter's shop, was
+ converted for the occasion from its general purpose to a melancholy hall
+ of mourning. At one end of this place was the corpse of the deceased,
+ visible to every person from its being placed on a bed in a sitting
+ posture, beneath a tester of ragged check-furniture; large sheets of white
+ linen were spread around the walls in lieu of tapestries, and covered with
+ various devices wrought into fantastic images of flowers, angels, and
+ seraphim. A large, fresh-gathered posy in the bosom of the deceased had a
+ most striking effect, when contrasted <span class="pagenum">[30]</span>with
+ the pallidness of death; over the lower parts of the corpse was spread a
+ counterpane, covered with roses, marigolds, and sweet-smelling flowers;
+ whilst on his breast reposed the cross, emblematical of the dead man's
+ faith; and on a table opposite, at the extreme end, stood an image of our
+ Redeemer, before which burned four tall lights in massive candlesticks,
+ lent by the priest upon such occasions to give additional solemnity to the
+ scene. There is something very awful in the contemplation of death, from
+ which not even the strongest mind can altogether divest itself. But at a
+ <i>wake</i> the solemn gloom which generally pervades the chamber of a
+ lifeless corpse is partially removed by the appearance of the friends of
+ the deceased arranged around, drinking, singing, and smoking tobacco in
+ profusion. Still there was something unusually impressive in observing the
+ poor widow of O'Rafferty, seated at the feet of her deceased lord with an
+ infant in her arms, and all the appearance of a heart heavily charged with
+ despondency and grief. An old Irishwoman, seated at the side of the bed,
+ was making the most violent gesticulations, and audibly calling upon the
+ spirit of the departed "to see how they onor'd his mimory," raising the
+ cross before her, while two or three others came up to the head, uttered a
+ short prayer, and then sat down to drink his sowl out of purgation. (See
+ Plate.)
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0007" id="Cimage-0007">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page030.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page030th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page030" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But the most extraordinary part of the ceremony was the <i>howl</i>, or
+ oration spoken over the dead man by a rough-looking, broad-shouldered
+ Emeralder, who descanted upon his virtues as if he had been an hero of the
+ first magnitude, and invoked every saint in the calendar to free the
+ departed from perdition. For some time decorum was pretty well preserved;
+ but on my friends Bob Transit and Horace Eglantine sending Barney out for
+ a whole gallon of whiskey, and a proportionate quantity of pipes and
+ tobacco, the dull scene of silent meditation <span class="pagenum">[31]</span>gave
+ way to sports and spree, more accordant with their feelings; and the
+ kindred of the deceased were too familiar with such amusements to consider
+ them in any degree disrespectful. There is a volatile something in the
+ Irish character that strongly partakes of the frivolity of our Gallic
+ neighbours; and it is from this feature that we often find them gay amidst
+ the most appalling wants, and humorous even in the sight of cold
+ mortality. A song was soon proposed, and many a ludicrous stave sung, as
+ the inspiring cup made the circle of the company. "Luke Caffary's
+ Kilmainham Minit," an old flash chant, and "The Night before Larry was
+ stretched," were among the most favourite ditties of the night. A verse
+ from the last may serve to show their <i>peculiar</i> character.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "The night before Larry was stretch'd,
+
+ The boys they all paid him a visit;
+ And bit in their sacks too they fetch'd,
+
+ They sweated their duds till they riz it.
+ For Larry was always the lad,
+
+ When a friend was condemn'd to the squeezer.
+ But he'd fence all the foss that he had
+
+ To help a poor friend to a sneezer,
+ And moisten his sowl before he died."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Ere eleven o'clock had arrived, the copious potations of whiskey and
+ strong beer, joined to the fumes of the tobacco, had caused a powerful
+ alteration in the demeanor of the assembled group, who now became most
+ indecorously vociferous. "By the powers of Poll Kelly!" said the raw-boned
+ fellow who had howled the lament over the corpse, "I'd be arter making
+ love to the widow mysel', only it mightn't be altogether dacent before
+ Teddy's put out o' the way." "You make love to the widow!" responded the
+ smart-looking Florence M'Carthy; "to the divil I pitch you, you bouncing
+ bogtrotter! it's myself alone that will have that onor, bekase Teddy
+ O'Rafferty wished me to take his wife as a legacy. 'It's all I've got, Mr.
+ Florence,' <span class="pagenum">[32]</span>said he to me one day, 'to
+ lave behind for the redemption of the small trifle I owe you.'" "It aint
+ the like o' either of you that will be arter bamboozling my cousin, Mrs.
+ Judy O'Rafferty, into a blind bargain," said Barney O'Finn; in whose
+ noddle the whiskey began to fumigate with the most valorous effect.
+ "You're a noble-spirited fellow, Barney," said Horace Eglantine, who was
+ using his best exertions to produce a <i>row</i>. "At them again, Barney,
+ and tell them their conduct is most indecent." Thus stimulated and
+ prompted, Barney was not tardy in re-echoing the charge; which, as might
+ have been expected, produced an instantaneous explosion and general
+ battle. In two minutes the company were thrown into the most appalling
+ scene of confusion&mdash;chairs and tables upset, bludgeons, pewter pots,
+ pipes, glasses, and other missiles flying about in all directions, until
+ broken heads and shins were as plentiful as black eyes, and there was no
+ lack of either&mdash;women screaming and children crying, making distress
+ more horrible. In this state of affairs, Bob Transit had climbed up and
+ perched himself upon a beam to make observations; while the original
+ fomenter of the strife, that mad wag Eglantine, had with myself made our
+ escape through an aperture into the next house, and having secured our
+ persons from violence were enabled to become calm observers of the affray,
+ by peeping through the breach by which we had entered. In the violence of
+ the struggle, poor Teddy O'Rafferty was doomed to experience another upset
+ before his remains were consigned to the tomb; for just at the moment that
+ a posse of watchmen and night-constables arrived to put an end to the
+ broil, such was the panic of the assailants that in rushing towards the
+ bed to conceal themselves from the <i>charlies</i>, they tumbled poor
+ Teddy head over heels to the floor of his shed, leaving his head's
+ antipodes sticking up where his head should have been; a <span
+ class="pagenum">[33]</span>circumstance that more than any thing else
+ contributed to appease the inflamed passions of the group, who, shocked at
+ the sacrilegious insult they had committed, immediately sounded a parley,
+ and united to reinstate poor Teddy O'Rafferty in his former situation.
+ This was the signal for Horace and myself to proceed round to the front
+ door, and pretending we were strangers excited by curiosity, succeeded, by
+ a little well-timed flattery and a small trifle to drink our good healths,
+ in freeing the assailants from all the horrors of a watch-house, and
+ eventually of restoring peace and unanimity. It was now past midnight;
+ leaving therefore poor Barney O'Finn to attend mass, and pay the last sad
+ tribute to his departed relative, on the morning of the morrow we once
+ more bent our steps towards home, laughing as we went at the strange
+ recollections of the wake, the row, and last appearance of Teddy
+ O'Rafferty.{1}
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ REQUIESCAT IN PACE.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 As the reader might not think this story complete without
+ gome account of the concluding ceremonies, I have
+ ascertained from Barney that his cousin Teddy was quietly
+ borne on the shoulders of his friends to the church of St.
+ Paneras, where he was safely deposited with his mother-
+ earth, a bit of a bull, by the by; and after the mourners
+ had made three circles round his ashes, and finished the
+ ceremony by a most delightful howl and prayers said over the
+ crossed spades, they all retired peaceably home, moderately
+ laden with the juice of the <i>crature</i>.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0008" id="Cimage-0008">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page033.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page033 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Clink2H_4_0007" id="Clink2H_4_0007">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE CYPRIAN'S BALL,
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ OR
+ </h3>
+ <p>
+ Sketches of Characters
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ AT THE VENETIAN CARNIVAL.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Scene.&mdash;Argyll Rooms.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[34]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Hymen ushers the lady Astrea,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ The jest took hold of Latona the cold,
+ Ceres the brown, with bright Cytherea,
+ Thetis the wanton, Bellona the bold;
+ Shame-faced Aurora
+ With witty Pandora,
+ And Maia with Flora did company bear;"
+ (And many 'tis stated
+ Went there to be mated,
+ Who all their lives have been hunting the fair. )
+
+ Blackmantle, Transit, Eglantine, and Crony's Visit to the
+ Venetian Carnival&mdash;Exhibits&mdash;Their Char-acters drawn from
+ the Life&mdash;General Trinket, the M.C.&mdash;Crony's singidar
+ Anecdote of the great Earl of Chesterfield, and Origin of
+ the Debouchettes&mdash;The Omissions in the Wilson Memoirs
+ supplied&mdash;Biographical Reminiscences of the Amiable Mrs.
+ Debouchette&mdash;Harriette and lier Sisters&mdash;Amy&mdash;Mary&mdash;Fanny&mdash;
+ Julia&mdash;Sophia&mdash;Charlotte and Louisa&mdash;Paphians and their
+ Paramours&mdash;Peers and Plebeians&mdash;The Bang Bantam&mdash;London Leda
+ &mdash;Spanish Nun&mdash;Sparrow Hawk&mdash;Golden Pippin&mdash;White Crow&mdash;
+ Brazen Bellona&mdash;Edgeware Diana
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[35]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Water Lily&mdash;White Doe&mdash;Comic Muse&mdash;Queen of the
+ Dansysettes&mdash;Vestina the Titan&mdash;The Red Rose&mdash;Moss Rose and
+ Cabbage Rose&mdash;The Doldrum Stars of Erin&mdash;Wren of Paradise&mdash;
+ Queen of the Amazons&mdash;Old Pomona&mdash;Venus Mendicant&mdash;Venus
+ Callypiga&mdash;Goddess of the Golden Locks&mdash;Mocking Bird&mdash;Net
+ Perdita&mdash;Napoleon Venus&mdash;Red Swan&mdash;Black Swan&mdash;Blue-eyed
+ Luna&mdash;Tartar Sultana The Bit of Rue&mdash;Brompton Ceres&mdash;
+ Celestina Conway&mdash;Lucy Bertram&mdash;Water Wagtail&mdash;Tops and
+ Bottoms&mdash;The Pretenders&mdash;The Old Story&mdash;Lady of the Priory&mdash;
+ Little White Morose&mdash;Queen of Trumps&mdash;Giovanni the Syren,
+ with Ileal Names "unexed&mdash;Original Portraits and Anecdotes
+ of the Dukes of M&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;and D&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, Marquisses II&mdash;&mdash;&mdash; and
+ II &mdash;&mdash;, Earls W&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, F&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, and C&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, Lords
+ P&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, M&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, and N&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, llonourables
+ B&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;c, L&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;s, and F&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;s&mdash;General Trinket&mdash;Colonel
+ Caxon&mdash;Messrs. II&mdash;b&mdash;h, R&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, D&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, and B&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;,
+ and other Innumerables.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ It was during the fashionable season of the year 1818, when Augusta Corri,
+ <i>ci-devant</i> Lady Hawke,{1} shone forth under her newly-acquired title
+ a planet of the first order, that a few amorous noblemen and wealthy
+ dissolutes, ever on the <i>qui vive</i> for novelty, projected and
+ sanctioned the celebrated Venetian carnival given at the Argyll-rooms
+ under the patronage of her ladyship and four other equally celebrated
+ courtezans. Of course, the female invitations were confined exclusively to
+ the sisterhood, but restricted to the planets and stars of Cytherea, the
+ carriage curiosities, and fair impures of the most dashing order and
+ notoriety; and never were the revels of Terpsichore kept up with more
+ spirit, or graced with a more choice collection of beautiful, ripe, and
+ wanton fair ones.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 In page 315 of our first volume we have given a brief
+ biographical sketch of her ladyship and her amours.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[36]</span>Nor was there any lack of distinguished
+ personages of the other sex; almost all the leading <i>roués</i> of the
+ day being present, from Lord p******** Tom B***, including many of the
+ highest note in the peerage, court calendar, and army list. The elegance
+ and superior arrangement of this Cytherean <i>fête</i> was in the most
+ exquisite taste; and such was the number of applications for admissions,
+ and the reported splendour of the preparations, that great influence in a
+ certain court was necessary to insure a safe passport into the territories
+ of the Paphian goddess. The enormous expense of this act of folly has been
+ estimated at upwards of two thousand pounds; and many are the dupes who
+ have been named as bearing proportions of the same, from a royal duke to a
+ Hebrew star of some magnitude in the city; but truth will out, and the
+ ingenuity of her ladyship in raising the wind has never been disputed, if
+ it has ever been equalled, by any of her fair associates. The honour of
+ the arrangement and a good portion of the expense were, undoubtedly, borne
+ by a broad-shouldered Milesian commissary-general, who has since figured
+ among the ton under the quaint cognomen of General Trinket, from his
+ penchant for filling his pockets with a variety of cheap baubles, for the
+ purpose of making presents to his numerous Dulcineas; a trifling
+ extravagance, which joined to his attachment to <i>rouge et noir</i> has
+ since consigned him to durance vile. The general is, however, certainly a
+ fellow of some address, and, as a master of the ceremonies, deserves due
+ credit for the superior genius he on that occasion displayed.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ During dinner, Crony had been telling us a curious anecdote of the great
+ Earl of Chesterfield and Miss Debouchette, the grandmother of the
+ celebrated courtezans, Harriette Wilson and sisters. "At one of the places
+ of public entertainment at the Hague, a very beautiful girl of the name of
+ Debouchette, who <span class="pagenum">[37]</span>acted as <i>limonadière</i>,
+ had attracted the notice of a party of English noblemen, who were all
+ equally anxious to obtain so fair a prize. Intreaties, promises of large
+ settlements, and every species of lure that the intriguers could invent,
+ had been attempted and played off without the slightest success; the fair
+ <i>limonadière</i> was proof against all their arts. In this state of
+ affairs arrived the then elegant and accomplished Earl of Chesterfield,
+ certainly one of the most attractive and finished men of his time, but,
+ without doubt, equally dissipated, and notorious for the number of his
+ amours. Whenever a charming girl in the humbler walks of life becomes the
+ star of noble attraction and the reigning toast among the <i>roués</i> of
+ the day, her destruction may be considered almost inevitable. The amorous
+ beaux naturally inflame the ardour of each other's desires by their
+ admiration of the general object of excitement; until the honour of
+ possessing such a treasure becomes a matter of heroism, a prize for which
+ the young and gay will perform the most unaccountable prodigies, and, like
+ the chivalrous knights of old, sacrifice health, fortune, and eventually
+ life, to bear away in triumph the fair conqueror of hearts. Such was the
+ situation of Miss Debouchette, when the Earl of Chesterfield, whose
+ passions had been unusually inflamed by the current reports of the lady's
+ beauty, found himself upon inspection that her attractions were
+ irresistible, but that it would require no unusual skill to break down and
+ conquer the prudence and good sense with which superior education had
+ guarded the mind of the fair <i>limonadière</i>. To a man of gallantry,
+ obstacles of the most imposing import are mere chimeras, and readily fall
+ before the ardour of his impetuosity; 'faint heart never won fair lady,'
+ is an ancient but trite proverb, that always encourages the devotee. The
+ earl had made a large bet that he would carry off the lady. In <span
+ class="pagenum">[38]</span>England, among the retiring and the most modest
+ of creation's lovely daughters, his success in intrigues had become
+ proverbial; yet, for a long time, was he completely foiled by the fair
+ Debouchette. No specious pretences, nor the flattering attentions of the
+ most polished man in Europe, could induce the lady to depart from the
+ paths of prudence and of virtue; every artifice to lure her into the snare
+ of the seducer had been tried and found ineffectual, and his lordship was
+ about to retire discomfited and disgraced from the scene of his amorous
+ follies, with a loss of some thousands, the result of his rashness and
+ impetuosity, when an artifice suggested itself to the fertile brain of his
+ foreign valet, who was an experienced tactician in the wars of Venus. This
+ was to ascertain, if possible, in what part of the mansion the lady slept;
+ to be provided with a carriage and four horses, and in the dead of the
+ night, with the assistance of two ruffians, to raise a large sheet before
+ her window dipt in spirits, which being lighted would burn furiously, and
+ then raising the cry of fire, the fair occupant would, of course,
+ endeavour to escape; when the lover would have nothing more to do than
+ watch his opportunity, seize her person, and conveying it to the carriage
+ in waiting, drive off secure in his victory. The scheme was put in
+ practice, and succeeded to the full extent of the projector's wishes; but
+ the affair, which made considerable noise at the time, and was the subject
+ of some official remonstrances, had nearly ended in a more serious manner.
+ The brother of the lady was an officer in the army, and both the
+ descendants of a poor but ancient family; the indignity offered to his
+ name, and the seduction of his sister, called forth the retributive
+ feelings of a just revenge; he sought out the offender, challenged him,
+ but gave him the option of redeeming his sister's honour and his own by
+ marriage. Alas! that was impossible; the earl was already engaged. A
+ meeting took place, <span class="pagenum">[39]</span>when, reflection and
+ good sense having recovered their influence over the mind of the
+ dissipated lover, he offered every atonement in his power, professed a
+ most unlimited regard for the lady, suggested that his destruction would
+ leave her, in her then peculiar state, exposed to indigence, proposed to
+ protect her, and settle an annuity of two hundred pounds per annum upon
+ her for her life; and thus circumstanced the brother acceded, and the
+ affair was, by this interposition of the seconds, amicably arranged. There
+ are those yet living who remember the fair <i>limonadière</i> first coming
+ to this country, and they bear testimony to her superior attractions. The
+ lady lived for some years in a state of close retirement, under the
+ protection of the noble earl, in the neighbourhood of Chelsea, and the
+ issue of that connexion was a natural son, Mr. Debouchette, whom report
+ states to be the father of Harriette Wilson and her sisters.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Ere man's corruptions made him wretched, he
+ Was born most noble, who was born most free.'
+ &mdash;Otway.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ So thought young Debouchette; for a more wild and giddy fellow.in early
+ life has seldom figured among the medium order of society. Whether the
+ mother of the Cyprians was really honoured with the ceremony of the
+ ritual, I have no means of knowing," said Crony; "but I well remember the
+ lady, before these her beauteous daughters had trodden the slippery paths
+ of pleasure: there was a something about her that is undefinable in
+ language, but conveys to the mind impressions of no very pure principles
+ of morality; a roving eye, salacious person, and swaggering carriage, with
+ a most inviting condescension, always particularized the elder
+ silk-stocking grafter of Chelsea, while yet the fair offspring of her
+ house were lisping infants, innocent and beautiful as playful lambs.
+ Debouchette himself was a right jolly fellow, careless of domestic <span
+ class="pagenum">[40]</span>happiness, and very fond of his bottle; and
+ indeed that was excusable, as during a long period of his life he was
+ concerned in the wine trade. To the conduct and instructions of the mother
+ the daughters are indebted for their present share of notoriety, with all
+ the attendant infamy that attaches itself to Harriette and her sisters:&mdash;and
+ this perhaps is the reason why Mrs. Rochford, alias Harriette Wilson, so
+ liberally eulogises, in her Memoirs, a parent whose purity of principle is
+ so much in accordance with the exquisite delicacy of her accomplished
+ daughter. As the girls grew up, they were employed, Amy and Harriette, at
+ their mother's occupation, the grafting of silk stockings, while the
+ junior branches of the family were operative clear starchers, as the old
+ board over the parlour window used to signify, which Brummel would
+ facetiously translate into getters up of fine linen, when Petersham did
+ him the honour of driving him past the door, that he might give his
+ opinion upon the rising merits of the family, who, like fragrant exotics,
+ were always placed at the window by their judicious parent, to excite the
+ attention of the curious. But, allons" said Crony, "we shall be late at
+ the carnival, and I would not miss the treat of such an assemblage for the
+ honour of knighthood."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A very few minutes brought Transit, Eglantine, Crony, and myself, within
+ the vortex of this most seductive scene. Waltzing was the order of the
+ night&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Endearing waltz! to thy more melting tune
+ Bow Irish jig and ancient rigadoon;
+ Scotch reels avaunt! and country dance forego
+ Your future claims to each fantastic toe.
+ Waltz&mdash;Waltz alone both legs and arms demands,
+ Liberal of feet and lavish of her hands.
+ Hands, which may freely range in public sight,
+ Where ne'er before&mdash;but&mdash;pray 'put out the light.'"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ A coruscation of bright eyes and beauteous forms shed a halo of delight
+ around, that must have warmed the cyprian's ball <span class="pagenum">[41]</span>the
+ heart and animated the pulse of the coldest stoic in Christendom. The
+ specious M. C, General O'M***a, introduced us in his best style, quickly
+ bowing each of us into the graces of some fascinating fair, than whom
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Not Cleopatra on her galley's deck
+ Display'd so much of leg or more of neck."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ For myself, I had the special honour of being engaged to the Honourable
+ Mrs. J&mdash; C******y, otherwise Padden, who, whatever may have been her
+ origin,{2} has certainly acquired the ease and elegance of
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 2 Mrs. Padden is said to have been originally a servant-maid
+ at Plymouth, and the victim of early seduction. When very
+ young,
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ coming to London with her infant in search of a Captain D&mdash;&mdash;-
+ in the D&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;e Militia, her first but inconstant
+ swain, chance threw her in her abandoned condition into the way of Colonel
+ C&mdash;&mdash;-, who was much interested by her tale of sorrow, and more
+ perhaps by her then lovely person, to obtain possession of which, he took
+ a house for her, furnished it, and (as the phrase is) <i>set her up</i>.
+ How long the duke's <i>aide-de-camp</i> continued the favourite lover is
+ not of any consequence; but both parties are known to have been capricious
+ in <i>affaires de cour</i>. Her next acknowledged protector was the
+ light-hearted George D&mdash;&mdash;-d, then a great gun in the
+ fashionable world: to him succeeded an <i>amorous thane</i>, the Irish
+ Earl of F&mdash;&mdash;-e; and when his lordship, satiated by possession,
+ withdrew his eccentric countenance, Lord Mo&mdash;f&mdash;d succeeded to
+ the vacant couch. The Venetian masquerade is said to have produced a long
+ carnival to this <i>belle brunette</i>, who seldom kept <i>Lent</i>; and
+ who hero met, for the first time, a now noble Marquess, then Lord Y&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;,
+ to whose liberality she was for some time indebted for a very splendid
+ establishment; but the precarious existence of such connexions is
+ proverbial, and Mrs. Padden has certainly had her share of fatal
+ experience. Her next paramour was a diamond of the first water, but no
+ star, a certain dashing jeweller, Mr. C&mdash;&mdash;-, whose charmer she
+ continued only until kind fortune threw in her way her present constant
+ Jack. With the hoy-day of the blood, the fickleness of the heart ceases;
+ and Mrs. Padden is now in the "sear o' the leaf," and somewhat <i>passée</i>
+ with the town. It does therefore display good judgment in the lady to
+ endeavour, by every attention and correct conduct, to preserve an
+ attachment that has now existed for some considerable time. <span
+ class="pagenum">[42]</span>Indeed it is hardly possible to find a more
+ conversational or attractive woman, or one less free from the vulgarity
+ which usually accompanies ladies of her caste. With this fair I danced a
+ waltz, and then danced off to my friend Crony, who had been excused a
+ display of agility on the score of age, and from whom I anticipated some
+ interesting anecdotes of the surrounding stars. (See Plate.)
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0009" id="Cimage-0009">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page042.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page042th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page042" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The Montagues, five sisters, all fine women, and celebrated as the stars
+ of Erin, shone forth on this occasion with no diminished ray of their
+ accustomed brilliancy; Mrs. Drummond, otherwise H&mdash;n Dr&mdash;y Ba&mdash;y,
+ Me&mdash;t&mdash;o, or Bulkly, the last being the only legal <i>cognomen</i>
+ of the fair, led the way, followed by Maria Cross, otherwise Latouche,
+ Matilda Chatterton, Isabella Cummins, and Amelia Hamilton, all ladies of
+ high character in the court of Cytherea, whose amours, were I to attempt
+ them, would exceed in volumes, if not in interest, the chronicles of their
+ native isle. Among the most interesting of the fairy group was the
+ beautiful Louisa Rowley, since married to Lord L**c**les, and that
+ charming little rosebud, the captivating Josephine, who, although a mere
+ child, was introduced under the special protection of the celebrated Mr.
+ B***, who has since been completely duped by the little <i>intriguante</i>,
+ as also was hep second lover Lord p********? who succeeded in the lady's
+ favour afterwards; but from whom she fled to Lord H****t, since whose
+ death, an event which occurred in Paris, I hear she has reformed, and is
+ now following the example of an elder sister, by preparing herself for the
+ stage. "Who is that dashing looking brunette in the turban, that is just
+ entering the room?" inquired Transit, who appeared to be mightily taken
+ with the fair incognita. "That lady, with the mahogany skin and <i>piquant</i>
+ appearance, is the favourite mistress of the poor Duke of Ma**b****h,"
+ responded Crony, "and is no other than <span class="pagenum">[43]</span>the
+ celebrated Poll&mdash;&mdash;-Pshaw! everybody has heard of the Queen of
+ the Amazons, a title given to the lady, in honour, as I suppose, of his
+ grace's fighting ancestor. Poll is said to be a great voluptuary; but at
+ any rate she cannot be very extravagant, that is, if she draws all her
+ resources from her protector's present purse. Do you observe that <i>jolie
+ dame</i> yonder sitting under the orchestra? that is the well-known Nelly
+ Mansell, of Crawford-street, called the <i>old Pomona</i>, from the
+ richness of her <i>first fruits</i>. Nelly has managed her affairs with no
+ trifling share of prudence, and although in the decline of life, she is by
+ no means in declining circumstances. H**re the banker married her niece,
+ and the aunt's cash-account is said to be a very comfortable expectancy.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The <i>elegante</i> waltzing so <i>luxuriantly</i> with H&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;
+ B&mdash;&mdash;&mdash; H&mdash;&mdash;&mdash; is the lovely Emma
+ Richardson, sometime since called Standish or Davison, a Cytherean of the
+ very first order, and the sister planet to the equally charming Ellen
+ Hanbury, otherwise Bl&mdash;&mdash;-g&mdash;&mdash;-ve, constellations of
+ the utmost brilliancy, very uncertain in their appearance, and equally so,
+ if report speaks truth, in their attachment to either Jupiter, Mars,
+ Vulcan, or Apollo. The first is denominated <i>Venus Mendicant</i>, from
+ her always pleading poverty to her suitors, and thus artfully increasing
+ their generosity towards her. Sister Ellen has obtained the appellation of
+ <i>Venus Callipyga</i>, from her elegant form and generally half-draped
+ appearance in public. Do you perceive the swarthy amazon waddling along
+ yonder, whom the old Earl of W&mdash;&mdash;-d appears to be eyeing with
+ no little anticipation of delight? that is a lady with a very ancient and
+ most fish-like flavor, odoriferous in person as the oily female Esquimaux,
+ or the more <i>fragrant</i> feminine inhabitants of Russian Tartary and
+ the Crimea; she has with some of her admirers obtained the name of <i>Dolly
+ Drinkwater</i>, from her known dislike to any <span class="pagenum">[44]</span>thing
+ <i>stronger</i> than pure French Brandy. Her present travelling cognomen
+ is Mrs. Sp**c*r, otherwise <i>Black Moll</i>; and a wag of the day, who is
+ rather notorious for the variety of his taste, has recently insisted upon
+ re-christening her by the <i>attractive nom de guerre</i> of <i>Nux Vomica</i>.
+ The little goddess of the golden locks, dancing with a well-known <i>roué</i>,
+ is Fanny My*rs, a very efficient partner in the dance, and if report be
+ true not less engaging in the sacred mysteries of Cytherea." It would fill
+ the ample page to relate the varied anecdote with which Crony illustrated,
+ as he proceeded to describe the Scyllo and Charybdes of the unwary and the
+ gay; who in their voyage through life are lured by the syrens of sweet
+ voice, and the Pyrrhas of sweet lip, the Cleopatras of modern times, the
+ conquerors of hearts, and the voluptuous rioters in pleasurable excesses,
+ of those of whom Byron has sung,&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Round all the confines of the yielding waist,
+ The strangest hand may wander undisplaced.
+ * * *
+ Till some might marvel with the modest Turk,
+ If 'nothing follows all this palming work.'"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ To draw all the portraits who figured in the fascinating scene of gay
+ delight would be a task of almost equal magnitude with the Herculean
+ labours, and one which in attempting, I fear some of my readers may
+ censure me for already dwelling too long upon: but let them remember, I am
+ a professed painter of real life, not the inventor or promoter of these
+ delectable <i>nocte Attici</i> and depraved orgies; that in faithfully
+ narrating scenes and describing character, the object of the author and
+ artist is to show up vice in all its native deformity; that being known,
+ it may be avoided, and being exposed, despised. But I must crave
+ permission to extend my notice of the Cythereans to a few more characters,
+ ere yet the mirth-inspiring notes of the band have ceased to vibrate, or
+ the graceful <span class="pagenum">[45]</span>fair ones to trip it lightly
+ on fantastic toe; this done, I shall perhaps take a peep into the
+ supper-room, drink Champagne, and pick the wing of a chicken while I
+ whisper a few soft syllables into the ear of the nearest <i>elegante</i>;
+ and then&mdash;gentle reader, start not&mdash;then&mdash;&mdash;-
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "The breast thus <i>publicly</i> resign'd to man
+ In <i>private</i> may resist him&mdash;if it can."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ But here the curtain shall drop upon all the fairy sirens who lead the
+ young heart captive in their silken chains; and the <i>daughters of
+ pleasure</i> and the <i>sons of profligacy</i> may practise the mysteries
+ of Cytherea in private, undisturbed by the pen of the satirist or the
+ pencil of the humorist.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "The scandalizing group in close conference in the left-hand corner,
+ behind Lord William Lenox and another dashing ensign in the guards, is
+ composed," said Crony, "of Mrs. Nixon, the <i>ci-devant</i> Mrs. Baring,
+ Nugent's old.flame, Mrs. Christopher Harrison, the two sisters, Mesdames
+ Gardner and Peters, and the well-known Kitty Stock, all minor
+ constellations, mostly on the decline, and hence full of envious jealousy
+ at the attention paid by the beaux to the more attractive charms of the
+ newly discovered planets, the younger sisterhood of the convent." "If we
+ could but get near enough to overhear their conversation," said Transit,
+ "we should, no doubt, obtain possession of a few rich anecdotes of the
+ Paphians and their paramours." "I have already enough of the latter," said
+ I, "to fill a dozen albums, without descending to the meanness of becoming
+ a listener. Amorous follies are the least censurable of the sins of men,
+ when they are confined to professed courtezans. The heartless conduct of
+ the systematic seducer demands indignation; but the trifling peccadillos
+ of the sons of fortune and the stars of fashion may be passed by, without
+ any serious personal exposure, since <i>time, <span class="pagenum">[46]</span>cash,
+ and constitution are the three practising physicians</i> who generally
+ effect a radical cure, without the aid of the satirist. But come, Crony,
+ you must give us the <i>nom de guerre</i> of the last-mentioned belles:
+ you have hitherto distinguished all the Cythereans by some eccentric
+ appellation; let us therefore have the list complete." "By all means,
+ gentlemen," replied the old beau: "if I must stand godfather to the whole
+ fraternity of Cyprians, I think I ought, at least, to have free access to
+ every convent in Christendom; but I must refer to my tablets, for I keep a
+ regular entry of all the new appearances, or I should never remember half
+ their designations. Mrs. N&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;has the harmonious
+ appellation of the <i>mocking bird</i>, from her silly habit of repeating
+ every word you address to her. Mrs. B&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;is called the <i>New
+ Perdita</i>, from a royal conquest she once made, but which we have only
+ her own authority for believing; at any rate, she is known to be fond of a
+ <i>New-gent</i>, and the title may on that account be fairly her own. Mrs.
+ C&mdash;&mdash;-H&mdash;&mdash;&mdash; has the honour of being
+ distinguished by the appropriate name of the <i>Napoleon Venus</i>, from
+ the similarity of her contour with the countenance of that great man.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The two sisters, Mesdames G&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;and P&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;,
+ are well known by the flattering distinctions of the red and the black
+ Swan, from the colour of their hair and the stateliness of their carriage;
+ and Kitty Stock has the poetical cognomen of <i>blue-eyed Lima</i>. Now,
+ you have nearly the whole vocabulary of love's votaries," said old Crony;
+ "and be sure, young gentlemen, you profit by the precepts of experience;
+ for not one of these frail fair ones but in her time has made as many
+ conquests as Wellington, and caused perhaps as much devastation among the
+ sons of men as any hero in the world. But a new light breaks in upon us,"
+ said Crony, "in the person of Mrs. Simmons, the <i>Tartar sultana</i>,
+ whom you may observe conversing with Lords H&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;d and P&mdash;&mdash;-m
+ in the centre of the room. Poor N&mdash;g&mdash;nt the cyprian's ball
+ <span class="pagenum">[47]</span>will long remember her prowess in battle,
+ when the strength of her passion had nearly brought matters to a point,
+ and that not a very tender one; but the swain cut the affair in good time,
+ or might have been cruelly cut himself. Messrs. H&mdash;h and R&mdash;s&mdash;w
+ could also give some affecting descriptions of the Tartar sultana's rage
+ when armed with jealousy or resentment. Her residence, No. 30, B&mdash;k&mdash;r-street,
+ has long been celebrated as the three x x x; a name probably given to it
+ by some spark who found the sultana three times more cross than even
+ common report had stated her to be." The night was now fast wearing away,
+ when Crony again directed our attention to the right-hand corner of the
+ room, where, just under the orchestra, appeared the elder sister of the
+ notorious Harriette Wilson seated, and in close conversation with the
+ Milesian M. C, O'M&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;a, who, according to his
+ usual custom, was dispensing his entertaining anecdotes of all his
+ acquaintance who graced the present scene. "That is Amy Campbell,
+ otherwise Sydenham, &amp;e., &amp;c, but now legally Bochsa, of whom
+ Harriette has since told so many agreeable stories relative to the black
+ puddings and Argyle; however, considerable suspicion attaches itself to
+ Harriette's anecdotes of her elder sister, particularly as she herself
+ admits they were not very good friends, and Harriette never would forgive
+ Amy for seducing the Duke of Argyle from his allegiance to her. Mrs.
+ Campbell was for some years the favourite sultana of his grace, and has a
+ son by him, a fine boy, now about twelve years of age, who goes by the
+ family name, and for whose support the kind-hearted duke allows the mother
+ a very handsome annuity. Amy is certainly a woman of considerable talent;
+ a good musician, as might have been expected from her attachment to the
+ harpist, and an excellent linguist, speaking the French, Spanish, and
+ Italian languages with the greatest fluency. In her person she begins to
+ exhibit the ravages of time, is somewhat <i>embonpoint</i>, with <span
+ class="pagenum">[48]</span>dark hair and fine eyes, but rather of the keen
+ order of countenance than the agreeable; and report says, that the Signior
+ composer, amid his plurality of wives, never found a more difficult task
+ to preserve the equilibrium of domestic harmony.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ By the side of this fair one, arm in arm with a well-known bookseller, you
+ may perceive Harriette Kochforte, alias Wilson, who, according to her own
+ account, has had as many amours as the Grand Seignor can boast wives, and
+ with just as little of affection in the <i>affaires de cour</i> as his
+ sublime highness, only with something more of publicity. Harriette gives
+ the honour of her introduction into the mysteries of Cytherea to the Earl
+ of Craven; but it is well known that a certain dashing solicitor's clerk
+ then living in the neighbourhood of Chelsea, and near her amiable mamma's
+ residence, first engrossed, her attention, and by whom she exhibited
+ increasing symptoms of affection, which being properly engrafted on the
+ person of the fair stockinger, in due time required a release from a
+ practitioner of another profession; an innocent affair that now lies
+ buried deep in an odd corner at the old churchyard at Chelsea, without a
+ monumental stone or epitaph to point out the early virtues of the fair
+ Cytherean. To this limb of the law succeeded the Honourable Be&mdash;1&mdash;y
+ C&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;n, who was then too volatile and capricious to pay
+ his devotions at any particular shrine for more than a week together. It
+ was this cold neglect of the honourable's that has, perhaps, secured him
+ from mention in her Memoirs; since Harriette never speaks of her beaux
+ without giving the reader to suppose they were desperately in love with
+ herself: then there was more of the dignified in an affair with an earl,
+ and Madame Harriette has a great notion of preserving her consequence,
+ although, it must be confessed, she has latterly shown the most perfect
+ indifference to the preservation of character. The the cyprian's ball
+ <span class="pagenum">[49]</span>circumstance which first gave Miss Wilson
+ her great notoriety was the affair with the young Marquis of Worcester,
+ then just <i>come out</i>, and a willing captive to her artful wiles. So
+ successfully did she inveigle her noble swain, and so completely environ
+ his heart, that in the fulness of his boyish adoration of the fair
+ Cytherean, he executed in her favour a certain promise in writing, not a
+ promise to pay, for that might have been of no consequence, nor a promise
+ of settlement, nor a promise to protect, nothing so unsettled,&mdash;nothing
+ less did the fair intriguante obtain than a full, clear, and definite
+ promise of marriage, with a sufficient penalty thereunto attached to make
+ the matter alarming and complete, with every appearance on his part to
+ ratify the contract. In this state of things, information reached his
+ Grace of B&mdash;f&mdash;t of his noble heir's intention, who not much
+ relishing the intended honour, or perhaps doubting the permanency of his
+ son's passion (for to question the purity of the lady was impossible),
+ entered into a negotiation with Harriette, by which, on condition of her
+ resigning the promise and pledging herself never to see the Marquis more
+ on familiar terms, this disinterested woman was to receive eight hundred
+ pounds per annum&mdash;so anxious was his grace to prevent a mes-alliance
+ in his family. But, alas for Harriette! jealousy for once got the better
+ of her love of gain; her pride was wounded to see a sister flirting with
+ her affianced lord, and in a moment of irritation, she in a most
+ unequivocal manner publicly asserted her right to his person: the gallant
+ yielded, the bond was __null and void, the <i>promise burnt</i>, his grace
+ relieved from the payment of eight hundred pounds per annum, and his son
+ the Marquis, profiting by past experience, not so green as to renew the
+ former obligation.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "My intention is not to pirate the lady's memoirs, and so rob her of the
+ fair gain of her professional <span class="pagenum">[50]</span>experience,"
+ said Crony, when I mentioned these circumstances to him afterwards; "I
+ only mean to supply certain trifling omissions in the biography of
+ Harriette and her family, which the fair narrator has very modestly
+ suppressed. It is but a few months since, that passing accidentally into
+ Warwick-court, Holborn, to call upon an old friend, a navy lieutenant on
+ half-pay, I thought I recognised the well-known superlative wig of the
+ dandy Rochforte, thrust longitudinally forward from beneath the sash of a
+ two pair of stairs window.&mdash;Can it be possible? thought I: and then
+ again, I asked myself, why not? for the last time I saw him he was
+ rusticating in Surrey, beating the balls about in <i>Banco Regis</i>; from
+ which black place he did not escape without a little white-washing:
+ however, he's a full Colonel of some unknown corps of South American
+ Independents for all that, and was once in his life, although for a very
+ short time, a full Cornet, in Lincoln Stanhope's regiment, the 17th
+ dragoons, I think it was, and has never clipped his mustachios since, one
+ would imagine, by their length and ferocious appearance. To be brief, I
+ had scarcely placed my glass into the orifice before my imperfect vision,
+ when Harriette appeared at the adjoining window, and instantly recognizing
+ an old acquaintance, invited me up stairs. 'Times are a little changed,'
+ said she, 'Mr. Crony, since last we met:' 'True, madam,' I responded; and
+ then to cheer the belle a little, I added, 'but not persons, I perceive,
+ for you are looking as young and as attractive as ever.' The compliment
+ did not seem to please the Colonel in the wig, who turned round, looked
+ frowningly, and then twirled the dexter side of his lip wing into a
+ perfect circle. It is not possible that this thing can affect jealousy of
+ such a woman as Harriette? thought I: so proceeded with our conversation:
+ and he shortly resumed his polite amusement of spitting upon the children
+ who were <span class="pagenum">[51]</span>playing marbles beneath his
+ window. 'I am really married to that monster, yonder,' said she, in an
+ under tone: 'How do you like my choice?' 'I am not old enough in the
+ gentleman's acquaintance to hazard an opinion on his merits,' quoth I;
+ 'but you are a woman of experience, belle Harriette, and should be a good
+ judge of male bipeds, although I cannot say much in favour of your
+ military taste.' 'And you was always a <i>quiz</i>, Crony,' retorted belle
+ Harriette: 'remember my sister Mary, who is now Mrs. Bochsa,{3} how you
+ used to annoy her about her gaudy style of dressing, when we used to foot
+ it at Chelsea:&mdash;but I 3 There were in all eight sisters of the
+ Debouchettes, and three brothers; but only one of the latter is living. Of
+ the girls, Amy is now Mrs. Bochsa; Mary, married to a nephew of Sir
+ Richard Bo****hs, a great Irish contractor; Harriette, actually married to
+ Cornet Rochforte; Fanny expired in the <i>holy keeping</i> of the present
+ Marquis of H&mdash;&mdash;-; Sophia has been raised to the peerage, by the
+ style and title of Lady B&mdash;&mdash;-k, and by her subsequent conduct
+ well deserves her elevation; Julia, an affectionate girl, clung to the
+ house of Coventry through poor Tom's days of adversity, and died early,
+ leaving some unprotected orphans; Charlotte and Louisa, younger sisters,
+ the first now about eighteen and very beautiful, although a little lame,
+ have been educated and brought up by their elder sister, the Baroness, and
+ are by her intended for the church&mdash;vestals for Hymen's altar: at any
+ rate, I hope they will escape the <i>sacrifices of Cytherea</i>. Harriette
+ is now about forty years of age: she was, when at her zenith, always
+ celebrated rather for her tact in love affairs, and her talent at
+ invention, than the soft engaging qualifications of the frail fair, which
+ fascinate the eye and lead the heart captive with delight: her
+ conversational powers were admirable; but her temper was outrageous, with
+ a natural inclination to the satirical:&mdash;to sum up her merits at
+ once, she was what a <i>connoisseur</i> would have called a bold fine
+ woman, rather than an engaging handsome one&mdash;more of the English
+ Bellona than the <i>Venus de Medici</i>. Crony's account of the Round Room
+ and belle Harriette's first views of publishing are, I have since learned,
+ strictly correct. There is not a person mentioned in her Memoirs, or
+ scarcely one of any note in the Court-guide, of whom she has at any time
+ had the slightest knowledge, that have not been applied to repeatedly
+ within the last three years, and received threats of exposure to compel
+ them to submit to extortion. <span class="pagenum">[52]</span>want your
+ assistance.' Egad, I dare say, I looked rather comical at this moment, for
+ in truth I was somewhat alarmed at the last phrase. Harriette burst into a
+ loud fit of laughter; the Colonel drew in his elegant wig, and deigned a
+ smile; while I, involuntarily forcing my hand into the pocket of my
+ inexpressibles, carefully drove the few sovereigns I had up into one
+ corner, fearing the belle Harriette had a mighty notion of laying strong
+ siege to them: in this, however, I was agreeably disappointed; for
+ recovering herself, she acknowledged she had perceived my embarrassment,
+ but assured me I need be under no alarm on this occasion, as, at present,
+ she only wanted to borrow a few&mdash;ideas: what a relief the last short
+ word afforded! 'I have been writing some sketches of my life,' said she,
+ 'and am going to publish: give me your opinion, Crony, upon its merits;'
+ and without more ceremony, she thrust a little packet of papers into my
+ hand, headed 'Sketches in the Round Room at the Opera House;' in which all
+ the characters of the Opera frequenters were tolerably well drawn, nor was
+ the dialogue deficient in spirit; but the titles were all fictitious&mdash;such
+ as my Lord Red Head, for the Marquess of H&mdash;&mdash;-d, Lord
+ Pensiveham, for P&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;m, and so on to the end of the
+ chapter. Having glanced through the contents, I recommended her to
+ Colburn, as the universal speculator in paper and print; but his highness
+ is playing <i>magnifico</i>, à la Murray, in his new mansion, it would
+ seem; for he, as I have since learned, refused to publish. At length,
+ after trying Allman and others, belle Harriette hit upon Stockdale, who
+ having made some bad hits in his time, thought a little <i>courtesanish</i>
+ scandal could not make bad worse. Under his superintendence real names
+ were substituted for the fictitious; and it is said, that the choice notes
+ of the lady are interwoven and extended, connected and illustrated, by the
+ same elegant Apollo who used to write love letters for Mary Ann, and <span
+ class="pagenum">[58]</span>love epistles to half a thousand, including
+ Bang and the Bantum, in the dark refectory of the celebrated mother Wood,
+ the Lady of the Priory, or Lisle-street Convent." "If such is the case,
+ 'how are the mighty fallen!'" said I.&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;But let us
+ return to the ball-room. As the night advanced, a few more stars made
+ their appearance in the firmament of beauty; among these, Crony pointed
+ out some of the demirespectables, attracted thither either by curiosity or
+ the force of old habit: among these was Charles Wy&mdash;h&mdash;m's bit
+ of rue, that herb of grace, the once beautiful Mrs. Ho&mdash;g&mdash;s,
+ since closely connected with the whiskered Lord P&mdash;&mdash;-, to whose
+ brother, the Honourable F&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;g, her daughter, the elegant
+ Miss W&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;n, had the good fortune to be early
+ married. In the same group appeared another star of no mean attraction,
+ the Honourable Mrs. L&mdash;&mdash;-g, whose present husband underwent the
+ ordeal of a crim. con. trial to obtain her person. 'Par nobile fratum,'
+ the world may well say of the brothers, P&mdash;&mdash;&mdash; and L&mdash;&mdash;-g;
+ while F&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;y, with all his eccentricities, has the
+ credit of being a very good husband. Three little affected mortals, the
+ Misses St&mdash;ts, Crony introduced by the name of the pretenders, from
+ the assumed modesty and great secrecy with which they carry on their
+ amours. '<i>Pas à pas on va bien loin</i>,' says the old French proverb,
+ and rightly too," remarked our ancient; "for if you boys had not brought
+ me here, I should never have known the extent of my experience, or have
+ attempted to calculate the number of my female acquaintances." In the
+ supper-room, which opened at four o'clock in the morning, Waud had spread
+ forth a banquet every way worthy the occasion: a profuse display of the
+ choicest viands of the season and delicacies of the most costly character
+ graced the splendid board, where the rich juice of the grape, and the
+ inviting ripeness of the dessert, were only equalled by the voluptuous
+ votaries who <span class="pagenum">[54]</span>surrounded the repast. It
+ was now that ceremony and the cold restraint of well regulated society
+ were banished, by the free circulation of the glass. The eye of love shot
+ forth the electric flash which animates the heart of young desire, lip met
+ lip, and the soft cheek of violet beauty pressed the stubble down of
+ manliness. Then, while the snowy orbs of nature undisguised heaved like
+ old ocean with a circling swell, the amorous lover palmed the melting
+ fair, and led her forth to where shame-faced Aurora, with her virgin gray,
+ the blue-eyed herald of the golden morn, might hope in vain to draw aside
+ the curtain and penetrate the mysteries of Cytherea. And now, gentle
+ reader, be ye of the hardy sex, who dare the glories of the healthful
+ chase and haunt the peopled stream of gay delight&mdash;or of that lovely
+ race, from which alone man's earthly joys arise, the soft-skinned
+ conquerors of hearts&mdash;be ye prudes or stoics, chaste as virgin gold,
+ or cold as alpine snow&mdash;confess that I have strictly kept my promise
+ here, nor strayed aside in all my wanderings among the daughters of
+ pleasure, to give pain to worthy bosoms or offend the ear of nicest
+ modesty. Pity for the unfortunate, and respect for the feelings of the
+ relatives of the vicious and the dissolute, has prevented the insertion of
+ many anecdotes, with which Crony illustrated his sketches of character.
+ Enough, it is presumed, has been done to show vice in all its native
+ deformity, without wounding the ear by one immoral or indelicate
+ expression. For the unhappy fair ones who form the principal portraits, it
+ should be remembered they have been selected from those only who are
+ notorious, as belles of the first order, stars of fashion, and if not
+ something indebted to fortune they would have escaped enrolment here. When
+ beauty and poverty are allied, it must too often fall a victim to the
+ eager eye of roving lust; for, even to the titled <span class="pagenum">[55]</span>profligate,
+ beauty, when arrayed in a simple garb of spotless chastity, seems
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "&mdash;&mdash;Fairer she
+ In innocence and homespun vestments spread,
+ Than if cerulean sapphires at her ears
+ Shone pendent, or a precious diamond cross
+ Heaved gently on her panting bosom white.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ But let the frail remember, that the allurements of wealth and the
+ blandishments of equipage fall off with possession and satiety; to the
+ force of novelty succeeds the baseness of desertion. For a short time, the
+ fallen one is fed like the silk-worm upon the fragrant mulberry leaf, and
+ when she has spun her yellow web of silken attraction, sinks into decay, a
+ common chrysalis, shakes her trembling and emaciated wings in hopeless
+ agony, and then flutters and droops, till death steps in and relieves her
+ from an accumulation of miseries, ere yet the transient summer of youth
+ has passed over her devoted head.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Bernard Blackmantle.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0010" id="Cimage-0010">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page055.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page055 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Clink2H_4_0008" id="Clink2H_4_0008">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE PHILOSOPHY OF LAUGHTER;
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ OR, MR PUNCH IN ALL HIS GLORY.
+ </h3>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Thoughts on the Philosophy of Laughter&mdash;Bernard Blackmantle
+ in Search of a Wife&mdash;First Visit to the Marigold Family&mdash;
+ Sketches of the Alderman, his Lady, and Daughter&mdash;Anecdote
+ of John Liston, and the Citizen's Dinner Party&mdash;Of the
+ Immortal Mr. Punch&mdash;Some Account of the Great Actor&mdash;A
+ Street Scene, sketched from the Life&mdash;The Wooden Drama&mdash;The
+ True Sublime.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0011" id="Cimage-0011">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page056.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page056th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page056" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br /> <span class="pagenum">[56]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ You may sing of old Thespis, who first in a cart,
+ To the jolly god Bacchus enacted a part;
+ Miss Thalia, or Mrs. Melpomene praise,
+ Or to light-heel'd Terpsichore offer your lays.
+ But pray what are these, bind them all in a bunch,
+ Compared to the acting of Signor Punch?
+ Of Garrick, or Palmer, or Kemble, or Cooke,
+ Your moderns may whine, or on each write a book;
+ Or Mathews, or Munden, or Fawcett, suppose
+ They could once lead the town as they pleased by the nose;
+ A fig for such actors! tied all in a bunch,
+ Mere mortals compared to old deified Punch.
+ Not Chester can charm us, nor Foote with her smile,
+ Like the first blush of summer, our bosoms beguile,
+ Half so well, or so merrily drive caro away,
+ As old Punch with his Judy in amorous play.
+ Kean, Young, and Macready, though thought very good,
+ Have heads, it is true, but then they're not of wood.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[57]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Be ye ever so dull, full of spleen or ennui,
+ Mighty Punch can enliven your spirits with glee.
+ Not honest Jack Harley, or Liston's rum mug
+ Can produce half the fun of his juggity-jug:
+ For a right hearty laugh, tie thorn all in a bunch,
+ Not an actor among them like Signor Punch.
+
+ &mdash;Bernard Blackmantle.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ It was the advice of the prophet Tiresias to Menippus, who had travelled
+ over the terrestrial globe fend descended into the infernal regions in
+ search of content, to be merry and wise;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "To laugh at all the busy farce of state,
+ Employ the vacant hour in mirth and jest."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "The merrier the heart the longer the life," says Burton in his Anatomy of
+ Melancholy. Mirth is the principal of the three Salernitan doctors, Dr.
+ Merryman, Dr. Diet, and Dr. Quiet. The nepenthes of Homer, the bowl of
+ Retenus, and the girdle of Venus, are only the ancient types of liveliness
+ and mirth, by the free use of which the mind is dispossessed of dulness,
+ and the cankerworm of care destroyed. Seneca calls the happiness of wealth
+ bracteata félicitas, tinfoiled happiness, and infelix félicitas, an
+ unhappy felicity. A poor man drinks out of a wooden dish, and eats his
+ hearty meal with a wooden spoon; while the rich man, with a languid
+ appetite, picks his dainties with a silver fork from plates of gold&mdash;but,
+ in auro bibitur venenum; the one rinds health and happiness in his
+ pottered jug, while the other sips disease and poison from his jewelled
+ cup. A good laugh is worth a guinea, (to him who can afford to pay for it)
+ at any time; but it is best enjoyed when it comes gratuitously and
+ unexpectedly, and breaks in upon us like the radiant beams of a summer sun
+ forcing its way through the misty veil of an inland fog.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ I had been paying a morning visit to a wealthy <span class="pagenum">[58]</span>citizen,
+ Mr. Alderman Marigold, and family, at the express desire of my father, who
+ had previously introduced me for the purpose of fixing my&mdash;affection
+ &mdash;tush&mdash;no, my attention, to the very weighty merits of Miss
+ Biddy Marigold, spinster; a spoiled child, without personal, but with very
+ powerful attractions to a poor Colebs. Two hours' hard fighting with the
+ alderman had just enabled me to retreat from the persecution of being
+ compelled to give an opinion upon the numerous bubble companies of the
+ time, without understanding more than the title of either; to this
+ succeeded the tiresome pertinacity of Mrs. Marigold's questions relative
+ to the movements, ondits, and fashionable frivolities westward, until,
+ fairly wearied out and disgusted, I sat down a lion exhausted, in the
+ window seat, heartily wishing myself like Liston{1} safe out of purgatory;
+ when the sound
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 John Liston, the comedian, is in private life not less
+ conspicuous for finished pleasantry and superior manners
+ than he is on the stage for broad humour; but nothing can
+ offend the actor more than an invitation given merely in the
+ expectation of his displaying at table some of his
+ professional excellences. John had, on one occasion,
+ accepted an invitation to dine with a wealthy citizen en
+ famille; the repast over&mdash;the wine had circulated&mdash;a snug
+ friend proposed the health of Mr. Liston; and John returned
+ thanks with as much dignity as a minister of state eating
+ white bait at Blackwall with the worshipful company of
+ fishmongers. Then came the amiable civilities of the lady of
+ the mansion, evidently intended to ingratiate herself with
+ the actor, the better to secure his assent to her request,
+ but not a muscle of the comedian gave the least
+ encouragement. The little citizens, who were huddled round
+ their mamma, and had been staring at the actor in anxious
+ expectation, were growing very impatient. The eldest boy had
+ already recited young Norval's speech to Lady Douglas, by
+ way of prologue; but the actor still continued mute, never
+ for a moment unbending to the smirking encourage-ment of his
+ hostess, or the jolly laugh-exciting reminiscences of his
+ ruby-faced host; as, for instance, "Lord, Mr. Liston, what a
+ funny figure you looked t'other night in Moll Flaggon!" or,
+ "How you made thorn laugh in Tony Lumpkin! and then what a
+ fright you was in Mrs. Cheshire. Couldn't you give us a
+ touch just now?" "Ay, do, Mr. Liston, pray do," vociferated
+ a dozen tongues at once, including mamma, the little misses
+ and mastery. "The children have been kept up two hours later
+ than usual on purpose," said the lady mother. "Ay, come, my
+ good fellow," reiterated the cit, "take another glass, and
+ then give us some-thing funny to amuse the young ones." This
+ was the finishing blow to Liston's offended dignity&mdash;to be
+ invited to dinner by a fat fleshmonger, merely to amuse his
+ uncultivated cubs, was too much for the nervous system of
+ the comedian to bear; but how to retreat?" I have it,"
+ thought John, "by the cut direct;" rising and bowing,
+ therefore, to the company, as if intending to yield to their
+ entreaties, he begged permission to retire to make some
+ little arrangement in his dress, to personate Vanish; when,
+ leaving them in the most anxious expectation for more than
+ half an hour, on ringing the bell, they learned from the
+ servant that Mr. Liston had suddenly Vanished by the street-
+ door, and was, of course, never seen in that direction more.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[59]</span>of a cracked trumpet in the street
+ arrested my attention. "I vonder vat that ere hinstrument can mean, my
+ dear!" said Mrs. Alderman Marigold, (advancing to the window with eager
+ curiosity). "It's wery likely some fire company's men marching to a
+ bean-feast, or a freemason's funeral obscenities," replied the alderman.
+ When another blast greeted our ears with a few notes of "See the
+ Conquering Hero comes," "La, mamma," whined out Miss Biddy Marigold, "I
+ declare, it's that filthy fellow Punch coming afore our vindow vith his
+ imperence; I prognosticated how it voud be, ven the alderman patronised
+ him last veek by throwing avay a whole shilling upon his fooleries."
+ "You've no taste for fun, Biddy," replied the alderman; at the same time
+ making his daughter and myself a substitute for crutches, by resting a
+ hand upon each shoulder. "I never laid out a shilling better in the whole
+ course of my life. A good laugh beats all the French medicine, and drives
+ the gout out at the great toe. I mean to pension Mr. Punch at a shilling a
+ veek to squeak before my vindow of a Saturday, in preference to paying six
+ guineas for a <span class="pagenum">[60]</span>box to hear all that
+ outlandish squeaking at the hopera." "La, pa, how ungenteel!" said Miss
+ Biddy; "I declare you're bringing quite a new-sense to all the square, vat
+ vith your hurdy-gurdy vonien, French true-baw-dears, and barrel
+ organ-grinders, nobody has no peace not at all in the neighbourhood."
+ During this elegant colloquy, the immortal Mr. Punch had reared his
+ chequered theatre upon the pavement opposite, the confederate showman had
+ concealed himself beneath the woollen drapery, and the Italian comedian
+ had just commenced his merry note of preparation by squeaking some of
+ those little snatches of tunes, which act with talismanic power upon the
+ locomotive faculties of all the peripatetics within hearing, attracting
+ everybody to the travelling stage, young and old, gentle and simple; all
+ the crowd seem as if magic chained them to the spot, and each face
+ exhibits as much anxiety, and the mind, no doubt, anticipates as much or
+ more delight, than if they were assembled to see Charles Kemble, Young,
+ and Macready, all three acting in one fine tragedy. There is something so
+ indescribably odd and ridiculous about the whole paraphernalia of Mr.
+ Punch, that we are irresistibly compelled to acknowledge the superiority
+ of the lignum vito Roscius over the histrionic corps of mere flesh and
+ blood. The eccentricity of this immortal personage, his foreign, funny
+ dialogue, the whim and strange conceit exhibited in his wooden drama, the
+ gratuitous display, and the unrestricted laugh he affords&mdash;all
+ combine to make Mr. Punch the most popular performer in the world. Of
+ Italian origin, he has been so long domiciled in England, that he may now
+ be considered naturalized by common consent. Indeed, I much question, if a
+ greater misfortune could befall the country, than the removal or
+ suppression of Mr. Punch and his laugh-provoking drolleries:&mdash;it
+ would be considered a national calamity; but Mirth protect <span
+ class="pagenum">[61]</span>us from such a terrible mishap! Another sound
+ from an old cracked trumpet, something resembling a few notes of "Arm,
+ Arm, ye Brave," and an accompaniment by the great actor himself of a few
+ more "tut, tut, tutura, lura, lu's," in his own original style, have now
+ raised excitement to the highest pitch of expectation. The half inflated
+ lungs of the alderman expand by anticipation, and his full foggy
+ breathings upon the window-glass have already compelled me more than once
+ to use my handkerchief to clear away the mist. The assembled group waiting
+ the commencement of his adventures, now demands my notice. What a scene
+ for my friend Transit! I shall endeavour to depict it for him. The steady
+ looking old gentleman in the fire-shovel clerical castor, how sagaciously
+ he leers round about him to see if he is likely to be recognised! not a
+ countenance to whom he is known; he smiles with self-complacency at the
+ treat he is about to enjoy; plants himself in a respectable doorway, for
+ three reasons; first, the advantage from the rise of the step increasing
+ his altitude; second, the security of his pockets from attacks behind; and
+ third, the pretence, should any Goth to whom he is known, observe him
+ enjoying the scene, that he is just about to enter the house, and has
+ merely been detained there by accident. Excellent apologist!&mdash;how
+ ridiculous!&mdash;Excessive delicacy, avaunt! give me a glorious laugh,
+ and "throw (affectation) to the dogs; I'll have none of it." Now the farce
+ begins: up starts the immortal hero himself, and makes his bow; a
+ simultaneous display of "broad grins" welcomes his felicitous entrée; and
+ for a few seconds the scene resembles the appearance of a popular election
+ candidate, Sir Francis Burdett, or his colleague, little Cam Hobhouse, on
+ the hustings in Covent Garden; nothing is heard but one deafening shout of
+ clamorous approbation. Observe the butcher's boy has stopped his <span
+ class="pagenum">[62]</span>horse to witness the fun, spite of the
+ despairing cook who waits the promised joint; and the jolly lamp-lighter,
+ laughing hysterically on the top of his ladder, is pouring the oil from
+ his can down the backs and into the pockets of the passengers beneath,
+ instead of recruiting the parish-lamp, while the sufferers are too much
+ interested in the exhibition to feel the trickling of the greasy fluid.
+ The baker, careless of the expectant owner's hot dinner, laughs away the
+ time until the pie is quite cold; and the blushing little servant-maid is
+ exercising two faculties at once, enjoying the frolics of Signor Punch,
+ and inventing some plausible excuse for her delay upon an expeditious
+ errand. How closely the weather-beaten tar yonder clasps his girl's waist!
+ every amorous joke of Signor Punch tells admirably with him; till, between
+ laughing and pressing, Poll is at last compelled to cry out for breath,
+ when Jack only squeezes her the closer, and with a roaring laugh
+ vociferates, "My toplights! what the devil will that fellow Punch do next,
+ Poll?" The milkman grins unheedful of the cur who is helping himself from
+ out his pail; and even the heavy-laden porter, sweating under a load of
+ merchandise, heaves up his shoulders with laughter, until the ponderous
+ bale of goods shakes in the air like a rocking-stone. (See Plate.)
+ Inimitable actor! glorious Signor Punch! show me among the whole of the
+ dramatis persona in the patent or provincial theatres, a single performer
+ who can compete with the mighty wooden Roscius.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0012" id="Cimage-0012">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page062.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page062th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page062" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The alderman's eulogium on Mr. Punch was superlatively good. "I love a
+ comedy, Mr. Blackmantle," said he, "better than a tragedy, because it
+ makes one laugh; and next to good eating, a hearty laugh is most
+ desirable. Then I love a farce still better than a comedy, because that is
+ more provokingly merry, or broader as the critics have it; then, sir, a
+ pantomime beats both comedy and <span class="pagenum">[63]</span>farce
+ hollow; there's such lots of fun and shouts of laughter to be enjoyed in
+ that from the beginning to the end. But, sir, there's one performance that
+ eclipses all these, tragedy, comedy, farce, and pantomime put together,
+ and that is Mister Punch&mdash;for a right-down, jolly, split-my-side
+ burst of laughter, he's the fellow; name me any actor or author that can
+ excite the risibilities of the multitude, or please all ages, orders, and
+ conditions, like the squeaking pipe and mad waggeries of that immortal,
+ merry-faced itinerant. If any man will tell me that he possesses genius,
+ or the mellow affections, and that he can pass Punch,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind;'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ then, I say, that man's made of 'impenetrable stuff;' and, being too wise
+ for whimsicality, is too phlegmatic for genius, and too crabbed for
+ mellowness." Mark, what a set of merry open-faced rogues surround Punch,
+ who peeps down at them as cunningly as "a magpie peeping into a marrow
+ bone; "&mdash;how luxuriantly they laugh, or stand with their eyes and
+ mouths equally distended, staring at the minikin effigy of fun and
+ phantasy; thinking, no doubt,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "He bin the greatest wight on earth."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ And, certainly, he has not his equal, as a positive, dogmatic,
+ knock-me-down argument-monger; a dare devil; an embodied phantasmagoria,
+ or frisky infatuation. I have often thought that Punch might be converted
+ to profitable use, by being made a speaking Pasquin; and, properly
+ instructed, might hold up his restless quarter staff, in terrorem, over
+ the heads of all public outragers of decency; and by opening the eyes of
+ the million, who flock to his orations, enlighten them, at least, as much
+ as many greater folks, who make more noise than he, and who, <span
+ class="pagenum">[64]</span>like him, often get laughed at, without being
+ conscious that they are the subjects of merriment. The very name of our
+ old friend Punch inspires us in our social moments. What other actor has
+ been commemorated by the potential cup? is not the sacred bowl of
+ friendship dedicated to the wooden hero? would you forget the world, its
+ cares, vexations, and anxieties, sip of the mantling, mirth-inspiring
+ cordial, and all within is jollity and gay delight.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "For Punch cures the gout, the cholic, and the phthisic,
+ And it is to every man the very best of physic."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Honest, kind-hearted Punch! I could write a volume in thy praise, and
+ then, I fear, I should leave half thy merits untold. Thou art worth a
+ hundred of the fashionable kickshaws that are daily palmed upon us to be
+ admired; and thy good-humoured efforts to please at the expense of a
+ broken pate can never be sufficiently praised.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But now the curtain rises, and Mr. Punch steals from behind his two-foot
+ drapery: the very tip of his arched nose is the prologue to a merry play;
+ he makes his bow to the multitude, and salutes them with all the
+ familiarity of an old acquaintance. What a glorious reception does he meet
+ with from an admiring audience! And now his adventures commence&mdash;his
+ "dear Judy," the partner of his life, by turns experiences all the
+ capricious effects of love and war. What a true picture of the storms of
+ life!&mdash;how admirable an essay on matrimonial felicity! Then his
+ alternate uxoriousness to the lady, and his fondlings of that pretty
+ "kretur" with the family countenance; his chivalrous exploits on
+ horseback, and mimic capering round the lists of his chequered tilt-yard;
+ his unhappy differences with the partner of his bosom, and her lamentable
+ catastrophe; the fracas with the sheriff's substitute; and his interview
+ with that incomprehensible personage, <span class="pagenum">[65]</span>the
+ knight of the sable countenance, who salutes him with the portentous
+ address of "schalabala! schalabala! schalabala!" his successive perils and
+ encounters with the ghost of the martyred Judy; and, after his combat with
+ the great enemy of mankind, the devil himself, "propria Marte" his
+ temporary triumph; and, finally, his defeat by a greater man than old
+ Lucifer, the renowned Mr. John Ketch. Talk of modern dramas, indeed!&mdash;show
+ me any of your Dimonds, Reynolds, Dibdins, or Crolys that can compare with
+ Punchiana, in the unities of time, place, costume, and action, intricate
+ and interesting plot, situations provokingly comical and effective, and a
+ catastrophe the most appallingly surprising and agreeable. Then his
+ combats aux batons are superior even to Bradley and Blanchard; but the ne
+ plus ultra of his exploits, the cream of all his comicalities, the grand
+ event, is the ingenious trick by which Mr. Punch, when about to suffer on
+ the scaffold, disposes of the executioner, and frees himself from
+ purgatory, by persuading the unsuspecting hangman, merely for the sake of
+ instruction to an uninitiated culprit, to try his own head in the noose:
+ Punch, of course, seizes the perilous moment&mdash;runs him up to the top
+ of the fatal beam&mdash;Mr. John Ketch hangs suspended in the air&mdash;Punch
+ shouts a glorious triumph&mdash;all the world backs him in his conquest&mdash;the
+ old cracked trumpet sounds to victory&mdash;the showman's hat has made the
+ transit of the circle, and returns half-filled with the voluntary copper
+ contributions of the happy audience. The alderman drops his tributary
+ shilling, while his fat sides shake with laughter; even Mrs. Marigold and
+ the amiable Miss Biddy have become victims to the vulgar inspiration, and
+ are laughing as heartily as if they were enjoying the grimaces of the
+ first of buffos, Signor Ambrogetti. And now the curtain falls, and the
+ busy group disperse their several ways, chuckling with delight over the
+ <span class="pagenum">[66]</span>recollections of the mad waggeries of
+ immortal Mr. Punch.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ All hail! thou first great mimic chief,
+ Physician to the mind's relief;
+ Thrice hail! most potent Punch.
+ Not Momus' self, should he appear,
+ Could dim the lustre of thy sphere;
+ So hail! all hail! great Punch.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Bernard Blackmantle.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0013" id="Cimage-0013">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page066.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page066 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Clink2H_4_0009" id="Clink2H_4_0009">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE WESTMINSTER SCHOLAR.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Reminiscences of former Times&mdash;Lamentations of Old Crony&mdash;
+ Ancient Sports and Sprees&mdash;Modern Im-provements&mdash;Hints to
+ Builders and Buyers&mdash;Some Account of the School and its
+ Worthies&mdash;Recollections of old Schoolfellows&mdash;Sketches of
+ Character&mdash;The Living and the Dead.
+
+ "Fast by, an old but noble fabric stands,
+ No vulgar work, but raised by princely hands;
+ Which, grateful to Eliza's memory, pays,
+ In living monuments, an endless praise."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ From a poem by a Westminster Scholar, written during Dr. Friend's
+ Mastership, in 1699.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[67]</span> <a name="Cimage-0014" id="Cimage-0014">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page067.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page067th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page067" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "What say you to a stroll through <i>Thorney Island</i>,{1} this morning?"
+ said old Crony, with whom I had been taking a <i>déjeuné à la fourchette</i>;
+ "you have indulged your readers with all the whims and eccentricities of
+ Eton and of Oxford, and, in common justice, you must not pass by the <i>Westminster
+ blacks</i>."{2} Crony had, I learned, been a foundation scholar during the
+ mastership of Dr. Samuel Smith; when the poet Churchill, Robert Lloyd,
+ (the son of the under-master) Bonnel Thornton, George Colman the elder,
+ Richard Cumberland, and a host of other highly-gifted names, were
+ associated within the precincts of the abbey cloisters. Our way towards
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 The abbey ground, so called by the monkish writers; but,
+ since Busby's time, more significantly designated by the
+ scholars <i>Birch Island.&mdash;Vide Tidier</i>.
+
+ 2 Black&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;s from Westminster; ruff&mdash;s from Winchester;
+ and gentlemen from Eton.&mdash;<i>Old Cambridge Proverb</i>.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[68]</span>Westminster from the Surrey side of
+ Vauxhall bridge, where Crony had taken up his abode, lay through the scene
+ of his earliest recollections; and, not even Crockery himself could have
+ been more pathetic in his lamentations over the improvements of modern
+ times. "Here," said Crony, placing himself upon the rising ground which
+ commands an uninterrupted view of the bank, right and left, and fronts the
+ new road to Chelsea, and, the Grosvenor property; "here, in my boyish
+ days, used the Westminster scholars to congregate for sports and sprees.
+ Many a juvenile frolic have I been engaged in beneath the shadowy willows
+ that then o'ercanopied the margin of old father Thames; but they are
+ almost all destroyed, and with them disappears the fondest recollections
+ of my youth. Upwards, near yonder frail tenement which is now fast
+ mouldering into decay, lived the beautiful gardener's daughter, the flower
+ of Millbank, whose charms for a long time excited the admiration of many a
+ noble name, ay, and inspired many a noble strain too, and produced a
+ chivalrous rivalry among the young and generous hearts who were then of
+ Westminster. Close to that spot all matches on the water were determined;
+ and beneath yon penthouse, many a jovial cup have I partook of with the
+ contending parties, when the aquatic sports were over, in the evening's
+ cool retirement, or seated on the benches which then filled up the space
+ between the trees in front of Watermans' Hall, as the little public house
+ then used to be called. About half a mile above was the favourite
+ bathing-place; and just over the water below Lambeth palace, yet may be
+ seen Doo's house, where, from time immemorial, the Westminster boys had
+ been supplied with funnies, skiffs, wherries, and sailing-boats. The old
+ mill which formerly stood on the right-hand of the river, and from which
+ the place derived its name, has now entirely disappeared; and in lieu of
+ the <span class="pagenum">[69]</span>green fields and pleasant walks with
+ which this part of the suburbs abounded, we have now a number of square
+ brick-dust tubs, miscalled cottages <i>ornée</i>, and a strange-looking
+ Turkish sort of a prison called a Penitentiary, which from being
+ judiciously placed in a swamp is rendered completely uninhabitable.
+ Cumberland-gardens, on the opposite side, was, in former times, in great
+ vogue; here the cits used to rusticate on a summer's evening, coming up
+ the water in shoals to show their dexterity in rowing, and daring the
+ dangers of the watery element to <i>blow a cloud</i> in the fresh air, and
+ ruralise upon the 'margin of old father Thames.'
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0015" id="Cimage-0015">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page069.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page069th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page069" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But where can the Westminster boys of the present day look for amusements?
+ there's no snug spot now for a dog-tight or a badger-bait. Earl Grosvenor
+ has converted all the green lanes into Macadamised roads, and covered the
+ turf with new brick tenements. No taking a pleasant toodle with a friend
+ now along the sequestered banks, or shooting a few sparrows or fieldfares
+ in the neighbourhood of the <i>five chimnies</i>{3} not a space to be
+ found free from the encroachments of modern speculators, or big enough for
+ a bowling alley or a cricket match. Tothill-fields have altogether
+ disappeared; and the wand of old Merlin would appear to have waved over
+ and dispersed the most trifling vestiges and recollections of the past. A
+ truce with your improvements!" said Crony, combating my attempt to
+ harmonise his feelings; "tell me what increases the lover's boldness and
+ the maiden's tenderness more than the fresh and fragrant air, the green
+ herbage, and the quiet privacy of retired spots, where all nature yields a
+ delightful inspiration to the mind. There where the lovers find delight,
+ the student finds repose, secluded from the busy haunts of men, and yet
+ able, by a few strides, to mingle again at pleasure with the world, the
+ man of
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 3 Since called the Five-fields, Chelsea; and a favourite
+ resort of the Westminster scholars of that time, but now
+ built upon.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[70]</span>contemplation turns aside to consult his
+ favourite theme, and having run out his present stock of thoughtful
+ meditation, wheels him round, and finds himself one of the busy group
+ again.{4} As we advance
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 4 The Rogent's-park, formerly called Marylebone, is an
+ improve-ment of this nature. It was originally a park, and
+ had a royal palace in it, where, I believe, Queen Elizabeth
+ occasionally resided. It was disbarked by Oliver Cromwell,
+ who settled it on Colonel Thomas Harrison's regiment of
+ dragoons for their pay; but at the restoration of Charles
+ II. it passed into the hands of other possessors; from which
+ time it has descended through different proprietors, till,
+ at length, it has reverted to the Crown, by whose public
+ spirit a magnificent park is secured to the inhabitants of
+ London. The expense of its planting, &amp;c. must have been
+ enormous; but money cannot be better laid out than on
+ purposes of this lasting benefit and national ornament.
+
+ The plan and size of the park is in every respect worthy of
+ the nation. It is larger than Hyde-park, St. James's, and
+ the Greenpark together; and the trees planted in it about
+ twelve years ago have already become umbrageous. The water
+ is very extensive. As you are rowed on it, the variety of
+ views you come upon is admirable: sometimes you are in a
+ narrow stream, closely overhung by the branches of trees;
+ presently you open upon a wide sheet of water, like a lake,
+ with swans sunning themselves on its bosom; by and by your
+ boat floats near the edge of a smooth lawn fronting one of
+ the villas; and then again you catch the perspective of a
+ range of superb edifices, the elevation of which is
+ contrived to have the effect of one palace. The park, in
+ fact, is now belted with groups of these mansions, entirely
+ excluding all sight of the streets. Those that are finished,
+ give a satisfactory earnest of the splendid spirit in which
+ the whole is to be accomplished. There will be nothing like
+ it in Europe. The villas in the interior of the park are
+ planted out from the view of each other, so that the
+ inhabitant of each seems, in his prospect, to be the sole
+ lord of the surround-ing picturesque scenery.
+
+ In the centre of the park there is a circular plantation of
+ im-mense circumference, and in the interior of this you are
+ in a perfect Arcadia. The mind cannot conceive any thing
+ more hushed, more sylvan, more entirely removed from the
+ slightest evidence of proximity to a town. Nothing is
+ audible there except the songs of birds and the rustling of
+ leaves. Kensington gardens, beautiful as they are, have no
+ seclusion so perfect as this.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[71]</span>in life we cling still closer to the
+ recollections of our infancy; the cheerful man loves to dwell over the
+ scenes and frolics of his boyish days; and we are stricken to the very
+ heart by the removal or change of these pleasant localities; the loss of
+ an old servant, an old building, or an old tree, is felt like the loss of
+ an old friend. The paths, and fields, and rambles of our infancy are
+ endeared to us by the fondest and the purest feelings of the mind; we lose
+ sight of our increasing infirmities, as we retrace the joyous mementos of
+ the past, and gain new vigour as we recall the fleeting fancies and
+ pleasant vagaries of our earliest days. I am one of those," continued
+ Crony, "who am doomed to deplore the destructive advances of what
+ generally goes by the name of improvement; and yet, I am not insensible to
+ the great and praiseworthy efforts of the sovereign to increase the
+ splendour of the capital westward; but leave me a few of the green fields
+ and hedgerow walks which used to encircle the metropolis, or, in a short
+ space, the first stage from home will only be half-way out of London. A
+ humorous writer of the day observes, that 'the rage for building fills
+ every pleasant outlet with bricks, mortar,rubbish,and eternal
+ scaffold-poles, which, whether you walk east, west, north, or south, seem
+ to be running after you. I heard a gentleman say, the other day, that he
+ was sure a resident of the suburbs could scarcely lie down after dinner,
+ and take a nap, without finding, when he awoke, that a new row of
+ buildings had started up since he closed his eyes. It is certainly
+ astonishing: one would think the builders used magic, or steam at least,
+ and it would be curious to ask those gentlemen in what part of the
+ neighbouring counties they intend London should end. Not content with
+ separate streets, squares, and rows, they are actually the founders of new
+ towns, which in the space of a few months become finished and inhabited.
+ The precincts of London have more the appearance of a newly-discovered
+ colony than <span class="pagenum">[72]</span>the suburbs of an ancient
+ city.{5} And what, sir, will be the pleasant consequences of all this to
+ posterity? Instead of having houses built to encumber the earth for a
+ century or two, it is ten to one but they disencumber the mortgagee, by
+ falling down with a terrible crash during the first half life, and,
+ perhaps, burying a host of persons in their ruins. Mere paste-board
+ palaces are the structures of the present times, composed of lath and
+ plaster, and Parker's cement, a few coloured bricks, a fanciful viranda,
+ and a balcony, embellished within by the <i>décorateur</i>, and stuccoed
+ or whitewashed without, to give them a light appearance, and hide the
+ defects of an ignorant architect or an unskilful builder; while a very few
+ years introduces the occupant to all the delightful sensations of cracked
+ walls, swagged floors, bulged fronts, sinking roofs, leaking gutters,
+ inadequate drains, and other innumerable ills, the effects of an
+ originally bad constitution, which dispels any thing like the hopes of a
+ reversionary interest, and clearly proves that without a renovation equal
+ to resurrection, both the building and the occupant are very likely to
+ fall victims to a rapid consumption." In this way did Crony contrive to
+ beguile the time, until we found ourselves entering the arena in front of
+ the Dean's house, Westminster. "Here, alone," said my old friend, "the
+ hand of the innovator has not been permitted to intrude; this spot remains
+ unpolluted; but, for the neighbourhood, alas!" sighed Crony, "that is
+ changed indeed. The tavern in Union-street,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 5 For instance: in what a very short time back were the
+ Bays-water-fields, there is now a populous district, called
+ by the inhabitants "Moscow;" and at the foot of Primrose-
+ hill we are amazed by coming upon a large complication of
+ streets, &amp;c. under the name of "Portland Town." The rustic
+ and primaeval meadows of Kilburn are also filling with raw
+ buildings and incipient roads; to say nothing of the
+ charming neighbourhood of St. John's Wood Farm, and other
+ spots nearer town.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[73]</span>where Charles Churchill, and Lloyd, and
+ Bonnel Thornton used to meet and mix wit, and whim, and strong potation,
+ has sunk into a common pot-house, and is wholly neglected by the scholars
+ of the present time: not that they are a whit more moral than their
+ predecessors, but, professing to be more refined, they are now to be found
+ at the Tavistock, or the Hummums, at Long's, or Steven's; more polished in
+ their pleasures, but more expensive in their pursuits."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0016" id="Cimage-0016">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page073th.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page073th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page73" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ As we approached the centre of Dean's-yard, Crony's visage evidently grew
+ more sentimental; the curved lips of the cynic straightened to an
+ expression of kindlier feeling, and ere we had arrived at the school-door,
+ the old eccentric had mellowed down into a generous contemplatist. "Ay,"
+ said Crony, "on this spot, Mr. Black mantle, half a century ago, was I, a
+ light-hearted child of whim, as you are now, associated with some of the
+ greatest names that have since figured in the history of our times, many
+ of whom are now sleeping in their tombs beneath a weight of worldly
+ honours, while some few have left a nobler and a surer monument to exalt
+ them with posterity, the well-earned tribute of a nation's gratitude, the
+ never-fading fame which attaches itself to good works and great actions.
+ Among the few families of my time who might be styled ''<i>magni nominis</i>'
+ in college, were the Finches, the Drummonds, (arch-bishop's sons), and the
+ Markhams. Tom Steele{6} was on the foundation also, and had much fame in
+ playing Davus. The Hothams{7} were considered among the lucky hits of
+ Westminster; the Byngs{8} thought not as lucky as they should have been.
+ Mr. Drake{9}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 6 A descendant of the celebrated Sir Richard
+ Steele, the associate of Addison in the Spectator, Tatler,
+ Crisis, &amp;c.
+
+ 7 Sir Henry and Sir William Hotham, admirals in the British
+ navy.
+
+ 8 Viscount Torrington, a rear-admiral of the blue.
+
+ 9 Thomas Tyrwhitt Drake, Esq., (I believe)
+ member for Agmondesham, Bucks.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[74]</span>of Amersham was one of the best scholars
+ of his time; for a particular act of beneficence, two guineas given out of
+ his private pocket-money to a poor sufferer by a fire, Dr. Smith gave him
+ a public reward of some books. Lord Carmarthen{10} here came to the title,
+ on the death of his eldest brother. Here too he found the Jacksons, and
+ what was more, the Jacksons{11} found him. Lord Foley had, during his stay
+ here, two narrow escapes for his life, once being nearly drowned in the
+ Thames, and secondly, by a hack-horse running away with him: the last
+ incident was truly ominous of the noble lord's favourite, but unfortunate
+ pursuits{12}. Sir John St. Aubyn is here said to have formed his
+ attachments with several established characters in the commercial world,
+ as Mr. Beckett, and others; which afterwards proved of the highest
+ consequence to his pursuits and success in life. Lord Bulkley had the
+ credit of being one of the handsomest and best-humoured boys of his time,
+ and so he continued through life. Michael Angelo Taylor{13} was remarkable
+ for his close application, under his tutor Hume, and the tutor as
+ remarkable for application to him.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Hatton, junior. Lawyers, if not always good scholars, generally are
+ something better; with much strong practical sense, and a variety of all
+ that "makes a ready man; "Hatton was all this, both as to scholarship, and
+ the pertinent application of it. Though a nephew of Lord Mansfield, and
+ bred up under his auspices, he was not more remarkable than his brother
+ George for the love of bullion. His abilities were great, and they would
+ have been greatly thought of, had he been personally less locomotive. "Ah,
+ ah," said his uncle, "you'll never prosper till you learn to stay in a
+ place." He replied, "O never fear, sir, do but get me a place; and I'll
+ learn of you to stay in it."
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 10 The present Duke of Leeds.
+
+ 11 Dr. Cyril Jackson, afterwards sub-preceptor to his
+ Majesty, George the Fourth, and since canon of Christ
+ Church, Oxford. He refused the primacy of Ireland; was an
+ excellent governor of his college, and died universally
+ respected at Fulpham, in Sussex, in 1819. Dr. William
+ Jackson, his brother, who was Bishop of Oxford, was also
+ Regius Professor of Greek to that university; he died in
+ 1815.
+
+ 12 His lordship's attachment to the turf is as notorious as
+ his undeviating practice of the purest principles of honour.
+ It will not excite surprise, that such conduct has not been
+ in such pursuits successful.
+
+ 13 The member for Durham.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[75]</span>Lord Deerhurst (now Earl of Coventry) had
+ then, as now, very quick parts, and early insight into beautiful
+ composition. Whatever good thing he met with, he was always ready with an
+ immediate parallel; Latin, Greek, or from honesty into English, nothing
+ came amiss to him. He had a quick sense of the ridiculous; and could scout
+ a character at all absurd and suspicious, with as much pleasant scurrility
+ as a gentleman need have.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Banks always made his own exercises, as his exercises have since made him.
+ He was a diligent and good boy; and though an early arithmetician, and
+ fond of numbers, he was as soon distinguished for very honourable
+ indifference to number one.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Douglas (now, I believe, Marquis of Queensberry) was remarkable for the
+ worst penmanship in the school, and the economy of last moments; till then
+ he seldom thought of an exercise. His favourite exercise was in
+ Tothill-fields; from whence returning once very late, he instantly
+ conceived and executed some verses, that were the best of his day. On
+ another day, he was as prompt, and thought to have been more lucky than
+ before; when, lo, the next morning he was flogged! for the exercise was so
+ ill written, that it was not legible even by himself.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lord Maiden was remarkable for his powers of engaging, and he then, as
+ since, made some engagements, which might as well have been let alone. He
+ made an early promise of all he has since performed. He was very fond of
+ dramatic entertainments, and he enacted much; was accounted a good actor;
+ so was his crony, Jack Wilson, so well known at Mrs. Hobart's, &amp;c.,
+ for his fal de ral tit and for his duets with Lady Craven, Lady A. Foley,
+ &amp;c, &amp;c.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lord MANSFIELD, then William Murray, here began his career. When at
+ school, he was not remarkable for personal courage, or for mental bravery;
+ though one of the stoutest boys of his standing, he was often beat by boys
+ a year or two below him; and though then acute and voluble, his opinions
+ were suppressed and retracted before minds less powerful but more intrepid
+ than his own. Of his money allowance he was always so good a manager,
+ <span class="pagenum">[70]</span>that he could lend to him who was in
+ need. The famous exercise which Niçois made such a rout about, was in
+ praise of abundance: an English theme on this thesis, from Horace&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "<i>Dulce est de magno tollore acervo</i>. "
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ He was in college; and no man on earth could conjecture that in his own <i>acervo</i>
+ there would ever be aggrandizement, such as it has since occurred.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lord Stormont at school began his knack of oral imitations, and when a
+ child, could speak quite as well as afterwards; after his uncle, the
+ disgusting pronunciation of the letter o then too infected his language;
+ he made it come to the ear like an a. Humorously glancing at this
+ affectation, Onslow or Stanhope said "Murray's horse is an ass."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Markham, the Archbishop of York, made an early display of classical taste,
+ and the diligent cultivation of it. Some of his school exercises are
+ extant, and show more than a promise of that refinement and exactness,
+ which afterwards distinguished his performances at Christ Church. The
+ Latin version of the fragment of Simonides, as beautiful as any thing in
+ the whole range of poetical imitation, though published in the Oxford
+ Lachrymo as Mr. Bournes, is known to be written by Mr. Markham.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ At school, too, Markham's conversation had a particularity known to
+ distinguish it. War was his favourite topic, and caught, perhaps, from the
+ worthy major, his father, and from his crony Webb, afterwards the general.
+ It was apparent upon all occasions; when he was to choose his reading as a
+ private study, in the sixth form, Cæsar was his first book; and so
+ continuing through most of his leisure time addicted to this sort of
+ inquiry, the archbishop was afterwards able to talk war with any soldier
+ in England. But, indeed, what is there he could not talk equal to any
+ competitor? To the Archbishop Markham, and through him to Westminster,
+ attach the credit of the good scholarship of the present king. This is
+ little less than a credit to the country.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The Marquis of Stafford had fame for his English exercises; and after
+ saying this of his Wednesday nights' themes, let it also be noted, that he
+ had fame for other exercises of old England. He could ride, run, row, and
+ bat better than most of his comtemporaries; in his potations, too, he was
+ rather deep; but though deep, yet clear; and though gentle, yet not dull.
+ At once a most jolly fellow, and the most magnificent of his time,&mdash;and
+ so "<i>ab incepto processerit</i>."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The Duke of Dorset, then Sackville, (since dead) was good-humoured, manly,
+ frank, and passionately fond of various school <span class="pagenum">[77]</span>exercises;
+ as billiards, at the alehouse in Union-street, (then perhaps a tavern) and
+ <i>double-fives</i> between the two walls at the school-door. For
+ Tothill-fields fame as to cricket, he was yet more renowned: there he was
+ the champion of the town-boys against those in college; and in the great
+ annual match, he had an innings that might have lasted till the time
+ Baccelli <i>run him out</i>, had not the other side given up the game.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ As to the school itself, there it was easy to catch him out; though such
+ was his address, that he was seldom caught out. When he was in school,
+ really few boys were there to better purpose; he made several good prose
+ exercises both in English and Latin; and, what is rare for a boy of rank,
+ with but small aid from the tutor.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ At school, he shot and rowed pretty well; and as he could not always pay
+ for his boat in specie, somebody proposed a barter of <i>Tothill-fields
+ game</i>; but he had a soul above it, and what was more, at his elbow
+ another soul, saying, <i>Carpamus dulcia</i>, and of my dressing. That
+ friend was
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Lord Edward Bentinck, whose culinary fame began on the sparrows and
+ fieldfares knocked down about the Five Chimnies and Jenny's whim. At a
+ bill of fare, and the science how dinner should be put before him, he was
+ then, as since, unrivalled; yet more to his good memorial, he knew how a
+ dinner should be put before other people. For one day, as he was beginning
+ to revel in a surreptitious banquet in the Bowling-alley, his share of the
+ mess Lord Edward gave to the relief of want, which then happened to be
+ wandering by the window.&mdash;"This praise shall last."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Old Elwes, the late member for Berks, may occur, on the mention of want
+ wandering by, though, notwithstanding appearance, he suffered nobody about
+ him to be in such wants as himself. Penurious, perhaps, on small objects;
+ in those which are greater, he was certainly liberal almost to
+ prodigality. The hoarding principle might be strong in him, but in the
+ conduct of it he was often generous, always easy. No man in England
+ probably lost more money in large sums, for want of asking for it: for
+ small money, as in farthings to street beggary, few men probably have lost
+ less. What he had not sufficiently cultivated, was the habit of letting
+ money easily go. So far, he was the reverse of Charles the Second; for on
+ greater occasions, again I say it, he seemed to own the act under the
+ ennobling impulse of systematic generosity, expanding equally in
+ self-denial, and in social sympathy. He was among the most dispassionate
+ and tender-tempered men alive; and, considering <span class="pagenum">[78]</span>all
+ things, it might be reasonable to allot him the meed of meekness upon
+ earth, and of that virtue which seeketh not her own reward.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ His ruling passion was the love of ease.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The beginnings of all this were more or less discernible at school, where
+ Lord Mansfield gave him the nick-name of Jack Meggot.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ His other little particularities were the best running and walking in the
+ school, and the commencement of his fame for riding, which, in the
+ well-known trials in the Swiss Academy, outdid all competition. Worsley,
+ of the Board of Works, alone divided the palm; he rode more gracefully.
+ Elwes was by far the boldest rider.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The Duke of Portland (who died in 1809) was among the <i>delicciæ</i> of
+ each form at Westminster, in all that appertained to temper, the
+ tenderness and warmth of feeling, suavity of approach, and the whole
+ passive power of pleasing. Thus much internal worth, tempered with but
+ little of those showy powers which dazzle and seduce, gave early promise
+ that he would escape all intriguing politics, and never degrade himself by
+ the projects of party; for a party-man must always be comparatively mean,
+ even on a scale of vicious dignity; in violence, subordinate to the
+ ruffian; in chicane, below a common town-sharper.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ He had, happily, no talents for party; he was better used by nature. He
+ seemed formed for the kindliest offices of life; to appreciate the worth,
+ and establish the dignity of domestic duties; to exemplify the hardest
+ tasks of friendship and affinity; to display each hospitable charm.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ All that he afterwards did for Chace Price, and Lord Eduard, appeared as a
+ flower in its bud, in Dean's-yard and Tothill-fields, with the fruit-woman
+ under the Gateway, and the coffee-house then opposite.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ In his school-exercises, fame is not remembered to have followed any but
+ his Wednesday evening themes: some of them were incomparably the best of
+ the standing. In the rest of the school business, said the master to him
+ one day, "you just keep on this side whipping."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ His smaller habits were none remarkable, except that his diet was rather
+ more blameable in the article of wine. A little too early; a little too
+ much.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ This, probably, more than any hereditary taint, made him, in immediate
+ manhood, a martyr to the gout.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Against this, his ancestor's nostrum was tried in vain; the disease would
+ not yield, till it was overborne by abstinence, which, to the praise of
+ the duke's temper, he began and continued, with a splendour of resolution
+ not any where exceeded.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[79]</span>The duke had been long estranged from all
+ animal food but fish, and every fermented liquor. According to the old
+ Latin distich, the poetry of a water-drinker is said to be short-lived,
+ and not fit to live: was this proverbial doom extended to what was not
+ poetry, it might be checked by the prose of the Duke of Portland. Most of
+ his common letters were among the models of epistolary correspondence.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The Duke of Beaufort{14} exhibited at school more of the rudiments of a
+ country gentleman, than the rudiments of Busby; he knew a horse
+ practically, while other boys took it only from description in Virgil.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <i>Stare loco nescit</i>, was however his motto; and through all the
+ demesnes adjacent to his little reign, on the water, and in the water, he
+ was well; on horseback he was yet better; and to ride, or tie, on foot, or
+ on horseback, no boy of his time was more ready at every good turn. He
+ loved his friend; and, such were the engaging powers of his very frank and
+ pleasant manner, his friends all loved him.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Some encumbrances, <i>solito de more</i> of all boys, with the
+ coffee-house, for jellies, fruit, &amp;c, left when he left school, he
+ afterwards discharged with singular éclat.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ In regard to scholarship, he was by no means wanting; though it must be
+ owned, he wanted always to be better strangers with them. Like many other
+ boys, he knew much more than he was aware of; for he had as much aversion
+ to the Greek Epigrams, as the best critic could have; and in Terence, as
+ he could find nothing to laugh, Lloyd often raised an opposite emotion.
+ Lloyd, had he lived to this time, would have taken Terence as a main
+ ingredient in his enjoyments. So benevolent is nature to fit the feelings
+ of man to his destiny.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ M'Donald, afterwards Solicitor General, was in college, and had then about
+ him much that was remarkable for good value.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The different ranks in college are rather arduous trials of temper; and he
+ that can escape without imputation through them, and be, as it is called,
+ a junior without meanness, and a senior without obduracy, exhibits much
+ early promise, both as to talents and virtue.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ This early promise was M 'Donald's. He was well-respected in either rank,
+ and he deserved it; for he obeyed the time, without being time-serving; he
+ commanded, as one not forgetting what it was to obey.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <i>Par negotiis, neque supra</i>, characterised his scholarship.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 14 Died in 1803.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[80]</span>He had in every form sufficiency, and
+ sometimes eminence. He had more facility in Greek than most boys; his
+ English exercises were conspicuous for language and neatness of turn.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ He was a very uncorrupt boy, and his manners were rather elevated; yet it
+ is not remembered that he lost popularity even with the worst boys in the
+ school; the whole secret of which was <i>specie minus quam vi</i>. He was
+ better than he seemed. There was no pride, no offending wish at seclusion.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Though not so remarkable for book knowledge as his brother Sir James, who
+ thus, indeed, was nothing less than a prodigy, yet was M'Donald extremely
+ well and very variously read. In miscellaneous information, far more
+ accomplished than any boy of his time.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Markham, the master, had a high opinion of him; and once, in the midst of
+ strong and favourable prognostics, said, "There was nothing against him
+ but what was for him; rank and connections, and the too probable event of
+ thence advancing into life too forward and too early."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Markham spoke with much sagacity. The <i>rosa sera</i> is the thing, for
+ safe and spreading efflorescence. Well as the wreath might be about
+ M'Donald's brow, it had probably been better, if gathered less eagerly, if
+ put on later.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Cock Langford was the son of the auctioneer&mdash;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ And there never was an inheritance of qualities like it. He would have
+ made as good an auctioneer as his father; a better could not bo.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Cock Langford, so called, from the other auctioneer Cock, very early in
+ the school discovered great talents for ways and means; and, by private
+ contract, could do business as much and as well as his father.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ His exercises were not noted for any excess of merit, or the want of it.
+ He certainly had parts, if they had been put in their proper direction:
+ that was trade. In that he might have been conspicuously useful.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ As he was in college, and nothing loath in any occasion that led to
+ notice, in spite of a lisp in his speech, he played Davus in the Phormio;
+ which he opened with singidar absurdity, as the four first words terminate
+ in the letter s, which he, from the imperfection in his speech, could not
+ help mangling.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ From the patronage of Lord Orford, Mr. Langford had one of the best
+ livings in Norfolk, £1000 a year; and afterwards, I understand, very well
+ exemplified the useful and honourable duties of a clergyman resident on
+ his benefice.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Hamilton. Every thing is the creature of accident; as that <span
+ class="pagenum">[81]</span>works upon time and place, so are the
+ vicissitudes which follow; vicissitudes that reach through the whole
+ allotment of man, even to the charm of character, and the qualities which
+ produce it.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Physically speaking, human nature can redress itself of climate, can
+ generate warmth in high latitudes, and cold at the equator; but in respect
+ to mind and manners, from the law of latitude there is no appeal. Man,
+ like the plants that grow for him, has a proper sky and soil: with them to
+ flourish, without them to fade; through either kingdom, vegetable and
+ moral, in situations that are aquatic, the alpine nature cannot live.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ All this applies to Hamilton wasting himself at Westminster. "Wild
+ nature's vigour working at his root;"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ his situation should have been accordingly; where he might have spread
+ wide and struck deep.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ With more than boyish aptitudes and abilities, he should not thus have
+ been lost among boys. His incessant intrepidity, his restless curiosity,
+ his undertaking spirit, all indicated early maturity; all should have led
+ to pursuits, if not better, at least of more pith and moment than the mere
+ mechanism of dead language!
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ This by Hamilton (disdaining as a business what as an amusement perhaps
+ might have delighted him) was deemed a dead letter, and as such,
+ neglected; while he bestowed himself on other mechanism, presenting more
+ material objects to the mind.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0017" id="Cimage-0017">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page081.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page081th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page081" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Exercises out of school took place of exercises within. Not that like
+ Sackville or Hawkins, he had a ball at every leisure moment in his hand;
+ but, preferably to fives or cricket, he would amuse himself in mechanical
+ pursuits; little in themselves, but great as to what they might have been
+ convertible.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ In the fourth form, he produced a red shoe of his own making. And though
+ he never made a pocket watch, and probably might mar many, yet all the
+ interior machinery he knew and could name. The whole movement he took to
+ pieces, and replaced.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The man who is to find out the longitude, cannot have beginnings; better
+ than these. Count Bruhl, since Madge's death, the best watch-maker of his
+ time, did not raise more early wonder.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Besides this, Hamilton was to be found in every daring oddity. Lords
+ Burlington and Kent, in all their rage for porticos, were nothing to him
+ in a rage for pediments.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ For often has the morning caught him scaling the high pediments of the
+ school-door, and at peril of Ins life clambering down, opening the door
+ within, before the boy who kept the gate could come with the key. His
+ evenings set upon no less perils; in pranks with gunpowder; in leaping
+ from unusual heights into the <span class="pagenum">[82]</span>Thames. As
+ a practical geographer of London, and Heaven only knows how many miles
+ round it, omniscient Jackson himself could not know more.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ All this, surely, was intrinsically right, wrong only in its direction.
+ Had he been sent to Woolwich, he might have come out, if not a rival of
+ the Duke of Richmond, then master of the ordnance, at least a first-rate
+ engineer. In economical arts and improvements, nothing less than national,
+ he might have been the Duke of Bridgewater of Ireland. Had the sea been
+ his profession, Lord Mulgrave might have been less alone in the rare union
+ of science and enterprise.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But all this capability of usefulness and fair fame, was brought to nought
+ by the obstinate absurdity of the people about him; nothing could wean
+ them from Westminster. His grandfather Roan, or Rohan, an old man who
+ saved much money in Rathbone-place, and spent but little of it every
+ evening at Slaughter's coffee-house, holding out large promise to
+ property, so became absolute; and absolute nonsense was his conduct to his
+ grandson. He persevered in the school; where, if a boy disaffects
+ book-knowledge, his books are only bought and sold. And after Westminster,
+ when the old man died, as if solicitous that every thing about his grave,
+ but poppy and mandragora, should grow downwards, his will declared his
+ grandson the heir, but not to inherit till he graduated at Cambridge.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ To Cambridge therefore he went; where having pursued his studies, as it is
+ called, in a ratio inverse and descending, he might have gone on from bad
+ to worse; and so, as many do, putting a grave face upon it, he might have
+ had his degree. But his animal spirits, and love of bustle, could not go
+ off thus undistinguished; and so, after coolly attempting to throw a tutor
+ into the Cam&mdash;after shaking all Cambridge from its propriety by a
+ night's frolic, in which he climbed the sign-posts, and changed the
+ principal signs, he was rusticated; till the good-humour of the university
+ returning, he was re-admitted, and enabled to satisfy his grandfather's
+ will!
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ After that, he behaved with much gallantry in America; and with good
+ address in that very disagreeable affair, the contested marriage of his
+ sister with Mr. Beresford the clergyman.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Indeed, through the intercourse of private life he was very amiable. The
+ same suavity of speech, courteous attentions, and general good-nature, he
+ had when a boy, continued and improved: good qualities the more to be
+ prized, as the less probable, from his bold and eager temper, from the
+ turbulence of his wishes, and the hurry of his pursuits.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[83]</span>Jekyl had in part, when a boy, the same
+ happy qualities which afterwards distinguished him so entirely: in his
+ economy of time, in his arts of arranging life, and distributing it
+ exactly, between what was pleasant and what was grave.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ With vigorous powers and fair pursuits, the doing one thing at a time is
+ the mode to do every thing. Had Jekyl no other excellence than this, I
+ could not be surprised when he became attorney-general.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "When you got into the place of your ancestor, Sir Joseph," said the tutor
+ of Jekyl to him, "let this be your motto:
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ <i>Et properare loco, et Cesare</i>."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "Jekyl," said Mrs. Hobart one day, struck with the same address and
+ exactness, "do you know, if you were a painter, Poussin would be nothing
+ to you in the balance of a scene."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Several of his English exercises, and his verses, will not easily be
+ forgotten. And it will be remembered also, in a laughable way, that he was
+ as mischievous as a gentleman need be; the mobbing a vulgar, the hoaxing a
+ quiz, all the dialect of the Thames below Chelsea-reach, and the whole
+ reach of every thing, pleasant but wrong, which the school statutes put
+ out of reach, but what are the practice of the wits, and of every
+ gentleman who would live by the statutes. All these were among Jekyl's
+ early peculiarities, and raised his fame very high for spirit and
+ cleverness.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "So sweet and voluble was his discourse."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ He was very popular among all the boys of his time. And he had a knack yet
+ more gratifying, of recommending himself to the sisters and cousins of the
+ boys he visited.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ And he well held up in theory what he afterwards exemplified in fact. For
+ in one of the best themes of the time on this subject,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "<i>Non formosus erat, sod erat facundus Ulysses</i>,"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ he was much distinguished.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[84]</span>"But the grave has closed upon most of
+ the gay spirits of my earlier time," said Crony; "and I alone remain the
+ sad historian. Yonder porch leads to the dormitory and school-room.{15}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'There Busby's awful picture decks the place,
+ Shining where once he shone a living grace.'
+
+ 15 This school was founded by Queen Elizabeth in 1560, for
+ the education of forty boys, denominated king's scholars
+ from the royalty of their founders; besides which, the
+ nobility and gentry send their sons thither for instruction,
+ so that this establishment vies with Eton in celebrity and
+ respectability. The school is not endowed with lands and
+ possessions specifically appropriated to its own
+ maintenance, but is attached to the general foundation of
+ the collegiate church of Westminster, as far as relates to
+ the support of the king's scholars. It is under the care of
+ the dean and chapter of Westminster, conjointly with the
+ dean of Christ Church, Oxford, and the master of Trinity,
+ Cambridge, respect-ing the election of scholars to their
+ respective colleges. The foundation scholars sleep in the
+ dormitory, a building erected from the design and under the
+ superintendence of the celebrated Earl of Burlington, in the
+ reign of George the First; and in this place the annual
+ theatrical exhibitions take place; the scenery and
+ arrangements having been contrived under the direction of
+ Mr. Garrick, were presented by Archbishop Markham, the
+ former master of the school. The king's scholars are distin-
+ guished from the town-boys, or independents, by a gown, cap,
+ and college waistcoat; they have their dinner in the hall,
+ but seldom take any other meal in college; they pay for
+ education and accommodation as the town-boys; eight of them
+ are generally elected at the end of the fourth year to the
+ colleges above-named; they have studentships at Oxford, and
+ scholarships at Cambridge; the former worth from forty to
+ sixty pounds per annum, but the latter of small beneficial
+ consideration. The scholars propose themselves for the
+ foundation by challenge, and contend with each other in
+ Latin and Greek every day for eight weeks successively, when
+ the eight at the head of the number are chosen according to
+ vacancies. This contest occasions the king's scholarships to
+ be much sought after, as it becomes the ground-work of
+ reputation, and incites desire to excel. There are four boys
+ who are called Bishop's boys, from their being established
+ by Williams, Bishop of Lincoln; they have a gratuitous
+ education, and a small allowance which is suffered to
+ accumulate till the period of their admission into St.
+ John's College, Cambridge; they are distinguished by wearing
+ a purple gown, and are nominated by the dean and head-
+ master.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ What a cloud of recollections, studded with bright and variegated lights,
+ passes before my inward vision! Stars of eminence in every branch of
+ learning, science, and public duties, who received their education within
+ those walls; old Westminsters, whose fame will last as long as old
+ England's records, and who shall doubt <span class="pagenum">[85]</span>that
+ will be to the end of time? Here grew into manhood and renown the Lord
+ Burleigh, King, Bishop of London, the poet Cowley, the great Dryden,
+ Charles Montague, Earl of Halifax, Dr. South, Matthew Prior, the tragedian
+ Rowe, Bishop Hooper, Kennet, Bishop of Peterborough, Dr. Friend, the
+ physician, King, Archbishop of Dublin, the philosopher Locke, Atterbury,
+ Bishop of Rochester, Bourne, the Latin poet, Hawkins Browne, Boyle, Earl
+ of Cork and Orrery, Carteret, Earl of Granville, Charles Churchill, the
+ English satirist, Frank Nicholls, the anatomist, Gibbon, the historian,
+ George Colman, Bonnel Thornton, the great Earl of Mansfield, Clayton
+ Mordaunt Cracherode, Richard Cumberland, the poet Cowper. These are only a
+ few of the great names which occur to me at this moment; but here is
+ enough to immortalize the memory of the old Westminsters."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Clink2H_4_0010" id="Clink2H_4_0010">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ ON FEASTERS AND FEASTING.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ On the Attachment of the Moderns to Good Eating and
+ Drinking&mdash;Its Consequences and Operation upon Society&mdash;
+ Different Description of Dinner Parties&mdash;Royal&mdash;Noble&mdash;
+ Parliamentary&mdash;Clerical&mdash;Methodistical&mdash;Charitable&mdash;
+ Theatrical&mdash;Legal&mdash;Parochial&mdash;Literary&mdash;Commercial and
+ Civil Gourmands&mdash;Sketches at a Side-table, by Bernard
+ Blackmantle.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[86]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "There are, while human miseries abound,
+ A thousand ways to waste superfluous wealth,
+ Without one fool or flatterer at your board,
+ Without one hour of sickness or disgust."
+ &mdash;Armstrong.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ In such esteem is good eating held by the moderns, that the only way in
+ which Englishmen think they can celebrate any important event, or effect
+ any charitable purpose, is by a good dinner. From the palace to the
+ pot-house, the same affection for good eating and drinking pervades all
+ classes of mankind. The sovereign, when he would graciously condescend to
+ bestow on any individual some mark of his special favour, invites him to
+ the royal banquet, seats him <i>tète-à-tête</i> with the most polished
+ prince in Europe; by this act of royal notice exalts him in the public
+ eye, and by the suavity and elegance of his manners rivets his affections
+ and secures his zeal for the remainder of his life. The ministers too have
+ their state dinners, where all important questions are considered before
+ they are submitted to the grand council of the nation. The bishops dine in
+ holy <span class="pagenum">[87]</span>conclave to benefit Christianity,
+ and moralize over Champagne on the immorality of mankind. The judges dine
+ with the lord chancellor on the first day of term, and try their powers of
+ mastication before they proceed to try the merits of their fellow
+ citizens' causes. A lawyer must eat his way to the bar, labouring most
+ voraciously through his commons dinners in the Temple or Lincoln's Inn
+ Halls, before he has any chance of success in common law, common pleas, or
+ common causes in the court of King's Bench or Chancery. The Speaker's
+ parliamentary dinners are splendid spreads for poor senators; but
+ sometimes the feast is infested with rats, whom his majesty's royal
+ rat-catcher immediately cages, and contrives, by the aid of a blue or red
+ ribband, to render extremely useful and docile. Your orthodox ministers
+ dine on tithes, turtle, and Easter offerings, until they become as sleek
+ as their own velvet cushions, and eke from charity to mankind almost as
+ red in the face from the ruby tint of red port, and the sorrowful
+ recollections of sin and death. The methodist and sectarians have their
+ pious love feasts&mdash;bachelor's fare, bread and butter and kisses, with
+ a dram of comfort at parting, I suppose. The deaf, the dumb, the lame, the
+ blind, all have their annual charitable dinnerings; and even the Actor's
+ Fund is almost entirely dependent on the fund of amusement they contrive
+ to offer to their friends at their annual fund dinner. The church-wardens
+ dine upon a child, and the overseers too often upon the mite extorted from
+ the poor. Even modern literature is held in thraldom by the banquetings of
+ modern booksellers and publishers, who by this method contrive to cram the
+ critics with their crudities, and direct the operation of their servile
+ pens in the cutting up of poor authors. At the Publisher's Club, held at
+ the Albion, Dr. Kitchener and Will Jerdau rule the roast; here these
+ worthies may be heard commenting with <span class="pagenum">[88]</span>profound
+ critical consistency on culinaries and the classics, gurgling down heavy
+ potations of black strap, and making still heavier remarks upon black
+ letter bibliomania, until all the party are found labouring "<i>Dare
+ pondus idonea fumo</i>," or, in the language of Cicero, it may be justly
+ said of them, "<i>Damnant quod non intelligent</i>." The magnifico Murray
+ has his merry meetings, where new books are made palatable to certain
+ tastes by sumptuous feastings, and a choice supply of old wines. Colburn
+ brings his books into notice by first bringing his dinner <i>coteries</i>
+ into close conclave; and Longman's monthly melange of authors and critics
+ is a literary statute dinner, where every guest is looking out for a
+ liberal engagement.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0018" id="Cimage-0018">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page089.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page089th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page089" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Even the booksellers themselves feast one another before they buy and
+ sell; and a trade sale, without a trade dinner to precede it, would be a
+ very poor concern indeed. Fire companies and water companies, bubble
+ companies and banking companies, all must be united and consolidated by a
+ good dinner company. Your fat citizen, with a paunch that will scarce
+ allow him to pass through the side avenue of Temple Bar, marks his feast
+ days upon his sheet almanack, as a lawyer marks his term list with a
+ double dash, thus =, and shakes in his easy chair like a sack of blubber
+ as lie recapitulates the names of all the glorious good things of which he
+ has partaken at the annual civic banquet at Fishmonger's Hall, or the
+ Bible Association dinner at the City of London Tavern: at the mention of
+ white bait, his lips smack together with joy, and he lisps out
+ instinctively Blackwall: talk of a rump steak and Dolly's, his eyes grow
+ wild with delight; and just hint at the fine green fat of a fresh killed
+ turtle dressed at Birch's, and his whole soul's in arms for a corporation
+ dinner. Reader, I have been led into this strain of thinking by an
+ excursion I am about to make with Alderman Marigold and family, <span
+ class="pagenum">[89]</span>to enjoy the pleasures of a Sunday ordinary in
+ the suburbs of the metropolis; an old fashioned custom that is now fast
+ giving way to modern notions of refinement, and is therefore the more
+ worthy of characteristic record.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Bernard Blackmantle.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0019" id="Cimage-0019">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page089b.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page89b " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Clink2H_4_0011" id="Clink2H_4_0011">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ A SUNDAY RAMBLE TO HIGHGATE,
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ OR, THE CITS ORDINARY.
+ </h3>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Bernard Blackmantle's first Excursion with the Marigold
+ Family&mdash;Lucubrations of the Alderman on the Alterations of
+ the Times&mdash;Sketches and Recollections on the Road&mdash;The Past
+ and the Present&mdash;Arrival at the Gate House, Highgate&mdash;The
+ Cit's Ordinary&mdash;Traits of Character&mdash;The Water Drinker, the
+ Vegetable Eater, and the Punster&mdash;Tom Cornish, the
+ Gourmand&mdash;Anecdote of old Tattersall and his Beef Eater&mdash;
+ Young Tat. and the Turnpike Man.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[90]</span>"May I never be merry more," said the
+ alderman, "if we don't go a Maying on Sunday next, and you must accompany
+ us, Master Blackmantle: I always make a country excursion once a year, to
+ wit, on the first Sunday in May, when we join a very jolly party at the
+ Gate House, Highgate, and partake of an excellent ordinary."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "I thought, Pa, you would have given up that vulgar custom when we removed
+ westward, and you were elected alderman of the ward of Cheap."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Ay," said Mrs. Marigold, "if you wish to act politely to your wife and
+ daughter write to the Star and Garter at Richmond, or the Toy at Hampton
+ Court, and order a choice dinner beforehand for a select party; then we
+ should be thought something of, and be able to dine in comfort, without
+ being <span class="pagenum">[91]</span><i>scrowged</i> up in a corner by a
+ Leadenhall landlady, or elbowed out of every mouthful by a Smithfield
+ salesman."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "There it is, Mr. Blackmantle, that's the evil of a man having a few
+ pounds more in his purse than his neighbours&mdash;it makes him miserable
+ with his family at home, and prevents him associating with old friends
+ abroad. If you marry my Biddy, make these conditions with her&mdash;to
+ dispense with all Mrs. Marigold's maxims on modern manners, and be at
+ liberty to smoke your pipe where, and with whom you please."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "I declare, Pa, one would imagine you wished Mr. Blackmantle to lose all
+ his manners directly after marriage, and all respect for his intended
+ bride beforehand."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Nothing of the sort, Miss Sharpwit; but, ever since I made the last
+ fortunate contract, you and your mother have contracted a most determined
+ dislike to every thing social and comfortable&mdash;haven't I cut the
+ Coger's Society in Bride Lane, and the Glee Club at the Ram in Smithfield?
+ don't I restrain myself to one visit a week to the Jolly Old Scugs{1}
+ Society in Abchurch Lane? haven't I declined the chair of the Free and
+ Easy Johns, and given up my command in the Lumber Troop?&mdash;are these
+ no sacrifices? is it nothing to have converted my ancestors' large estate
+ in Thames Street into warehouses, and emigrated westward to be confined in
+ one of your kickshaw cages in Tavistock Square? Don't I keep a chariot and
+ a chaise for your comfort, and consent to be crammed up in a corner at a
+ concert party to hear some foreign stuff I don't understand? Plague take
+ your drives in Hyde Park and promenades in Kensington Gardens! give me the
+ society where I can eat, drink, laugh, joke, and smoke
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 Blue coat boys. The others are all well-known anacreontic
+ meetings held in the city.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[92]</span>as I like, without being obliged to watch
+ every word and action, as if my tongue was a traitor to my head, and my
+ stomach a tyrant of self-destruction."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The alderman's remonstrance was delivered with so much energy and good
+ temper, that there was no withstanding his argument; a hearty laugh, at
+ the conclusion, from Miss Biddy and myself, accompanied by an ejaculation
+ of "Poor man, how ill you are used!" from his lady, restored all to
+ good-humour, and obtained the "<i>quid pro quo</i>," a consent on their
+ parts to yield to old customs, and, for once in a way, to allow the
+ alderman to have a day of his own. The next morning early an open barouche
+ received our party, the coachman being particularly cautioned not to drive
+ too fast, to afford the alderman an opportunity of <i>luxuriating</i> upon
+ the reminiscences of olden time.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ As the carriage rolled down the hill turning out of the New Road the
+ alderman was particularly eloquent in pointing out and describing the once
+ celebrated tea gardens, Bagnigge Wells.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "In my young days, sir, this place was the great resort of city elegance
+ and fashion, and divided the town with Vauxhall. Here you might see on a
+ Sunday afternoon, or other evenings, two thirds of the corporation
+ promenading with their wives and daughters; then there was a fine organ in
+ the splendid large room, which played for the entertainment of the
+ company, and such crowds of beautiful women, and gay fellows in
+ embroidered suits and lace ruffles, all powdered and perfumed like a
+ nosegay, with elegant cocked hats and swords in their sides; then there
+ were such rural walks to make love in, take tea or cyder, and smoke a
+ pipe; you know, Mrs. Marigold, you and I have had many a pleasant hour in
+ those gardens during our courting days, when the little naked Cupid used
+ to sit astride of a swan, and the water spouted from its beak as high as
+ the <span class="pagenum">[93]</span>monument; then the grotto was so
+ delightful and natural as life, and the little bridge, and the gold fish
+ hopping about underneath it, made it quite like a terrestrial paradise{2};
+ but about that time Dr. Whitfield and the Countess of Huntingdon undertook
+ to save the souls of all the sinners, and erected a psalm-singing shop in
+ Tottenham Court Road, where they assembled the pious, and made wry faces
+ at the publicans and sinners, until they managed to turn the heads without
+ turning the hearts of a great number of his majesty's liege subjects, and
+ by the aid of cant and hypocrisy, caused the orthodox religion of the land
+ to be nearly abandoned; but we are beginning to be more enlightened, Mr.
+ Blackmantle, and Understand these <i>trading</i> missionaries and <i>Bible
+ merchants</i> much better than they could wish us to have done. Then, sir,
+ the Pantheon, in Spa Fields, was a favourite place of resort for the bucks
+ and gay ladies of the time; and Sadler's Wells and Islington Spa were then
+ in high repute for their mineral waters. At White Conduit House the Jews
+ and Jewesses of the metropolis held their carnival, and city apprentices
+ used to congregate at Dobney's bowling-green, afterwards named, in
+ compliment to Garrick's Stratford procession, the Jubilee tea-gardens;
+ those were the times to grow rich, Mr. Blackmantle, when half-a-crown
+ would cover the day's expenditure of five persons, and behave liberally
+ too."&mdash;In our way through Islington, the alderman pointed out to us
+ the place as formerly celebrated for a weekly consumption of cakes and
+ ale; and as we passed through Holloway, informed us that it was in former
+ time equally notorious for its cheese-cakes, the fame of which attracted
+ vast numbers on
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 2 Upon reference to an old print of Bagnigge Wells, I find
+ the alderman's description of the place to be a very
+ faithful portrait. The Pantheon is still standing, but
+ converted into a methodist chapel.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[94]</span>the Sunday, who, having satiated
+ themselves with pastry, would continue their rambles to the adjacent
+ places of Hornsey Wood House, Colney Hatch, and Highgate, returning by the
+ way of Hampstead to town.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The topographical reminiscences of the alderman were illustrated as we
+ proceeded by the occasional sallies of Mrs. Marigold's satire: "she could
+ not but regret the depravity of the times, that enabled low shop-keepers
+ and servants to dress equal to their betters: it is now quite impossible
+ to enjoy society and be comfortable in public, without being associated
+ with your tallow-chandler, or your butcher, or take a pleasant drive out
+ of town, without meeting your linen-draper, or your tailor, better mounted
+ or in a more fashionable equipage than yourself."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "All for the good of trade," said the alderman: "it would be very hard
+ indeed if those who enable others to cut a dash all the week could not
+ make a splash themselves on a Sunday; besides, my dear, it's a matter of
+ business now-a-days: many of your kickshaw tradesmen west of Temple Bar
+ find it as necessary to consult <i>appearances</i> in the park and watch
+ the <i>new come outs</i>, as I do to watch the stock market: if they find
+ their customers there in good feather and high repute, they venture to
+ cover another leaf in their ledger; but if, on the contrary, they appear
+ shy, only show of a Sunday, and are cut by the nobs, why then they
+ understand it's high time to close the account, and it's very well for
+ them if they are ever able to <i>strike a balance</i>."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ At the conclusion of this colloquy, we had arrived at the Gate House,
+ Highgate, just in time to hear the landlord proclaim that dinner was that
+ moment about to be served up: the civic rank of the alderman did not fail
+ to obtain its due share of servile attention from Boniface, who undertook
+ to escort our party into the room, and having announced the consequence
+ <span class="pagenum">[95]</span>of his guests, placed the alderman and
+ his family at the head of the table.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ I have somewhere read, "there is as much valour expected in feasting as in
+ fighting; "and if any one doubts the truth of the axiom, let him try with
+ a hungry stomach to gratify the cravings of nature at a crowded ordinary&mdash;or
+ imagine a well disposed group of twenty persons, all in high appetite and
+ "eager for the fray" sitting down to a repast scantily prepared for just
+ half the number, and crammed into a narrow room, where the waiters are of
+ necessity obliged to wipe every dish against your back, or deposit a
+ portion of gravy in your pocket, to say nothing of the sauce with which a
+ remonstrance is sure to fill both your ears. Most of the company present
+ upon this occasion appeared to have the organs of destructiveness to an
+ extraordinary degree, and mine host of the Gate House, who is considered
+ an excellent physiognomist, looked on with trembling and disastrous
+ countenance, as he marked the eager anxiety of the expectant <i>gourmands</i>
+ sharpening their knives, and spreading their napkins, at the shrine of
+ Sensuality, exhibiting the most voracious symptoms of desire to commence
+ the work of demolition.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A small tureen of mock turtle was half lost on its entrance, by being
+ upset over the leg of a dancing-master, who capered about the room to
+ double quick time, from the effects of a severe scalding; on which the
+ alderman (with a wink) observed, that the gentleman had no doubt caused
+ many a <i>calf s head to dance</i> about in his time, and now he had met
+ with a rich return. "I'll bring an action against the landlord for the
+ carelessness of his waiter." "You had better not," said the alderman. "Why
+ not, sir?" replied the smarting son of Terpsichore. "Because you have only
+ <i>one leg to stand on</i>." This sally produced a general laugh, and
+ restored all to good humour. On the appearance of a fine cod's head and
+ shoulders, the <span class="pagenum">[96]</span>rosy gills of Marigold
+ seemed to extend with extatic delight; while a dozen voices assailed him
+ at once with "I'll take fish, if you please." "Ay, but you don't take me
+ for a fag: if you please, gentlemen, I shall help the ladies first, then
+ myself and friend, and afterwards you may divide the <i>omnium and scrip</i>
+ just as you please."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "What a strange animal!" whispered the dancing master to his next
+ neighbour, an old conveyancer. "Yes, sir," replied the man of law, "a city
+ shark, I think, that will swallow all our share of the fish."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Don't you think, Mr. Alderman," said a lusty lady on the opposite side of
+ the table, "the fish is rather <i>high</i>?"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "No, ma'ain, it's my opinion," (looking at the fragments) "the company
+ will find it rather low."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Ay, but I mean, Mr. Alderman, it's not so <i>fresh</i> as it might be."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Why the head did whisper to me, ma'am, that he had not been at sea these
+ ten days; only I thought it rude to repeat what was told me in confidence,
+ and I'm not fond of <i>fresh things</i> myself, am I, Mrs. Marigold? Shall
+ I help you to a little fowl, ma'am, a wing, or a merry thought?"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Egad! Mr. Alderman, you are always ready to assist the company with the
+ latter."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Yes, ma'am, always happy to help the ladies to a __tit bit: shall I send
+ you the <i>recorder's nose</i>? Bless my heart, how warm it is! Here, Joe,
+ hang my wig behind me, and place that calf's-head before me." (See Plate.)
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Very sorry, ma'am, very sorry indeed," said Mr. Deputy Flambeau to the
+ lady next him, whose silk dress he had just bespattered all over; "could
+ not have supposed this little pig had so much gravy in him," as Lady
+ Macbeth says.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "I wish you'd turn that ere nasty thing right round, Mr. Deputy," growled
+ out a city <span class="pagenum">[97]</span>costermonger, "'cause my
+ wife's quite alarmed for her <i>grose</i> de Naples."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Not towards me, if you please, Mr. Deputy," simpered out Miss Marigold,
+ "because thereby hangs a tail, i.e. (tale)."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "That's my Biddy's ultimatum," said the alderman; "she never makes more
+ than one good joke a day."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "If they are all as good as the last, they deserve the benefit of frequent
+ resurrection, alderman."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Why so, Mr. Blackmantle?"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Because they will have the merit of being very funny upon a very grave
+ subject&mdash;<i>jeu d'esprits</i> upon our latter end."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Could you make room for three more gentlemen?" said the waiter, ushering
+ in three woe-begone knights of the trencher, who, having heard the fatal
+ clock strike when at the bottom of the hill, and knowing the punctuality
+ of the house, had toiled upwards with breathless anxiety to be present at
+ the first attack, and arrived at the end of the second course, <i>just in
+ time to be too late</i>. "Confound all clocks and clockmakers! set my
+ watch by Bishopsgate church, and made sure I was a quarter too fast."
+ "Very sorry, gentlemen, very sorry, indeed," said Boniface; "nothing left
+ that is eatable&mdash;not a chop or a steak in the house; but there is an
+ excellent ordinary at the Spaniards, about a mile further down the lane;
+ always half an hour later than ours." "Ay, it's a grievous affair,
+ landlord; but howsomdever, if there's nothing to eat, why we must go: we
+ meant to have done you justice to-day&mdash;but never mind, we'll be in
+ time for you another Sunday, old gentleman, depend upon it; "and with this
+ significant promise the three <i>hungarians</i> departed, not a little
+ disappointed.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Those three men are no ordinary customers," said our host; "they have
+ done us the honour to dine here <i>before</i>, and what is more, of
+ leaving nothing <i>behind</i>; one of them is the celebrated Yorkshireman,
+ Tom <span class="pagenum">[98]</span>Cornish, whom General Picton pitted
+ against a Hanoverian glutton to eat for a fortnight, and found, at the end
+ of a week, that he was a whole bullock, besides twelve quartern loaves,
+ and half a barrel of beer, ahead of his antagonist; and if the Hanoverian
+ had not given up, Tom would have eaten the rations of a whole company. His
+ father is said to have been equally gluttonous and penurious, and could
+ eat any given quantity: this person once dining with a member of the
+ Society of Friends, who was also a scion of Elwes' school, after having
+ eat enough for four moderate visitors, re-helped himself, exclaiming, 'You
+ see it's cut and come again with me! 'to which the sectarian gravely
+ replied, 'Friend, cut again thou may'st, but come again thou never
+ shalt.'"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Ay, that's a very good joke, landlord," said the alderman; "but you know
+ I am up to your jokes: you think these long stories will save your mutton,
+ but there you're wrong&mdash;they only give time to take breath; so bring
+ in the sirloin and the saddle of mutton, waiter; and when we've done
+ dinner I'll tell you an anecdote of old Tattersall and his beef-eater,
+ which occurred at this house in a former landlord's time. Come, Mr.
+ Blackmantle, let me send you a slice of the sirloin, and tell us what you
+ think of good eating."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "That the wit of modern times directs all its rage <i>ad gulam</i>; and
+ the only inducement to study is <i>erudito luxu</i>, to please the palate,
+ and satisfy the stomach. Even my friend Ebony, the northern light, has
+ cast off the anchorite, and sings thus jollily:
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'The science of eating is old,
+ Its antiquity no man can doubt:
+ Though Adam was squeamish, we're told,
+ Eve soon found a <i>dainty bit</i> out.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "We talk of the degeneracy of the moderns, as if men now-a-days were in
+ every respect inferior to their <span class="pagenum">[99]</span>ancestors;
+ but I maintain, and challenge contradiction, that there are many stout
+ rubicund gentlemen in this metropolis that might be backed for eating or
+ drinking with any Bacchanalian or masticator since the days of Adam
+ himself. What was <i>Offellius Bibulus</i>, the Roman parasite, or <i>Silenus
+ Ebrius</i>, or <i>Milo</i>, who could knock down an ox, and eat him up
+ directly afterwards, compared to Tom Cornish, or Richardson the oyster
+ eater?{3} or what are all these opposed to the Oxonian, who, a short time
+ since, went to the Swan at Bedford, and ordered dinner? a goose being
+ brought, he hacked it in a style at which Mrs. Glass would have fainted;
+ indeed so wretched was the mutilated anatomy, in appearance, from bad
+ carving, that, being perfectly ashamed of it, he seized the moment when
+ some poor mendicant implored his charity at the window, deposited the
+ remains of the goose in his apron, rang the bell, and asked for his bill:
+ the waiter gazed a moment at the empty dish, and then rushing to the
+ landlord, exclaimed, 'Oh! measter, measter, the gentleman eat the goose,
+ bones and all!' and the worthies of Bedford believe the wondrous tale to
+ this day."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ To return to Tom Cornish, our host informed us his extraordinary powers of
+ mastication were well known, and dreaded by all the tavern-keeping
+ fraternity who had Sunday ordinaries within ten miles round London, with
+ some of whom he was a regular annuitant, receiving a trifle once a year,
+ in lieu of giving them a <i>benefit</i>, as he terms the filling of his
+ voracious paunch. A story is told of his father, who is said to have kept
+ a very scanty table, that dining one Saturday with
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 3 In 1762, says Evelyn in his Diary, "one Richardson,
+ amongst other feats, performed the following: taking a live
+ coal on his tongue, he put on it a raw oyster; the coal was
+ blown on with a bellows, till it flamed in his mouth, and so
+ remained till the oyster gaped, and was quite boiled."
+ Certainly the most simple of all cooking apparatus.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[100]</span>his son at an ordinary in Cambridge, he
+ whispered in his ear, "Tom, you must eat for to-day and to-morrow." "O
+ yes," retorted the half-starved lad, "but I han't eaten for yesterday, and
+ the day before yet, father." In short, Tom makes but one hearty meal in a
+ week, and that one might serve a troop of infantry to digest. The
+ squalling of an infant at the lower end of the room, whose papa was vainly
+ endeavouring to pacify the young gourmand with huge spoonfuls of
+ mock-turtle, drew forth an observation from the alderman, that had well
+ nigh disturbed the entire arrangement of the table, and broke up the
+ harmony of the scene "with most admired disorder;" for on the head of the
+ Marigold family likening the youngster's noise to a chamber organ, and
+ quaintly observing that they always had music during dinner at
+ Fishmongers' Hall, the lady mother of the infant, a jolly dame, who
+ happened to be engaged in the shell fish line, took the allusion
+ immediately to herself, and commenced such a furious attack upon the
+ alderman as proved her having been regularly matriculated at the college
+ in Thames Street.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ When the storm subsided the ladies had vanished, and the alderman moved an
+ adjournment to what he termed the <i>snuggery</i>, a pleasant little room
+ on the first floor, which commanded a delightful prospect over the
+ adjacent country. Here we were joined by three eccentric friends of the
+ Marigold family, who came on the special invitation of the alderman, Mr.
+ Peter Pendragon, a celebrated city punster, Mr. Philotus Wantley, a
+ vegetable dieter, and Mr. Galen Cornaro, an abominator of wine, and a
+ dyspeptic follower of Kitchener and Abernethy&mdash;a trio of
+ singularities that would afford excellent materials for my friend Richard
+ Peake, the dramatist, in mixing up a new <i>monopolylogue</i> for that
+ facetious child of whim and wit, the inimitable Charles Mathews. Our first
+ story, while the wine was decantering, proceeded from the <span
+ class="pagenum">[101]</span>alderman, who having been driven from the
+ dinner table somewhat abruptly by the amiable <i>caro sposa</i> of the
+ fish-merchant, had failed in giving us his promised anecdote of old
+ Tattersall and his beef-eater. "I have dined with him often in this
+ house," said the alderman, "in my earlier days, and a pleasant, jovial,
+ kindhearted fellow he was, one who would ride a long race to be present at
+ a good joke, and never so happy as when he could trot a landlord, or knock
+ down an argument monger with his own weapons. The former host of the Gate
+ House was a bit of a screw, and old Tat knew this; so calling in one day,
+ as if by accident, Tat sat him down to a cold round of beef, by way of
+ luncheon, and having taken some half ounce of the meat, with a few
+ pickles, requested to know what he had to pay for his eating. 'Three
+ shillings, sir,' said the waiter. 'Three devils!' ejaculated Tat, with
+ strong symptoms of surprise, for in those days three shillings would have
+ nearly purchased the whole round: 'send in your master.' In walks the
+ host, and Tat renewed his question, receiving in reply a reiteration of
+ the demand, but accompanied with this explanation, that peck high or peck
+ low, it was all the same price: 'in short, sir,' said the host, 'I keep
+ this house, and I mean the house should keep me, and the only way I find
+ to insure that is to make the short stomachs pay for the long ones.' 'Very
+ well,' said Tat, paying the demand, 'I shall remember this, and bring a
+ friend to dine with you another day.' At this time Tat had in his employ a
+ fellow called Oxford Will, notorious for his excessive gluttony, a very
+ famine breeder, who had won several matches by eating for a wager, and who
+ had obtained the appellation of Tattersall's beef-eater. This fellow Tat
+ dressed in decent style, and fixing him by his side in the chaise, drove
+ up to the Gate House on a Sunday to dine at the ordinary, taking care to
+ be in excellent time, and making a previous appointment with a few friends
+ <span class="pagenum">[102]</span>to enjoy the joke. At dinner Will was,
+ by arrangement, placed in the chair, and being well instructed and
+ prepared for execution, was ably supported by Tat and his friends: the
+ host, too, who was in excellent humour, quite pleased to see such a
+ numerous and respectable party, apologised repeatedly, observing that he
+ would have provided more abundantly had he known of the intended honour:
+ in this way all things proceeded very pleasantly with the first course,
+ Will not caring to make any very wonderful display of his masticatory
+ prowess with either of the <i>unsubstantials</i>, fish or soup; but when a
+ fine <i>aitch-bone</i> of beef came before the gourmand, he stuck his fork
+ into the centre, and, unheedful of the ravenous solicitations of those
+ around him requesting a slice, proceeded to demolish the whole joint, with
+ as much celerity as the hyena would the harmless rabbit: the company
+ stared with astonishment; the landlord, to whom the waiters had
+ communicated the fact, entered the room in breathless haste; and on
+ observing the empty dish, and hearing Will direct the waiter to take away
+ the bone and bring him a clean plate, was apparently thunder-struck: but
+ how much was his astonishment increased upon perceiving Will help himself
+ to a fine young turkey, stuffed with sausages, which he proceeded to
+ dissect with anatomical ability, and by this time the company
+ understanding the joke, he was allowed uninterruptedly to deposit it in
+ his immense capacious receptacle, denominated by old Tat the <i>fathomless
+ vacuum</i>. Hitherto the company had been so completely electrified by the
+ extra-ordinary powers of the glutton, that astonishment had for a short
+ time suspended the activity of appetite, as one great operation of nature
+ will oftentimes paralyze the lesser affections of the body; but, as Will
+ became satisfied, the remainder of the party, stimulated by certain
+ compunctious visitings of nature, called cravings of the stomach, gave
+ evident symptoms of <span class="pagenum">[103]</span>a very opposite
+ nature: in vain the landlord stated his inability to produce more viands,
+ he had no other provisions in the house, it was the sabbath-day, and the
+ butchers' shops were shut, not a chop or a steak could be had: here Will
+ feigned to join his affliction with the rest&mdash;he could have enjoyed a
+ little snack more, by way of finish. This was the climax; the party,
+ according to previous agreement, determined to proceed to the next inn to
+ obtain a dinner; the landlord's remonstrance was perfectly nugatory; they
+ all departed, leaving Tat and his man to settle with the infuriated host;
+ and when the bill was brought in they refused to pay one sixpence more
+ than the usual demand of three shillings each, repeating the landlord's
+ own words, that peck high or peck low, it was all the same price."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ With the first glass of wine came the inspiring toast of "The Ladies," to
+ which Mr. Philotus Wantley demurred, not on account of the sex, for he
+ could assure us he was a fervent admirer, but having studied the wise
+ maxims of Pythagoras, and being a disciple of the Brahma school,
+ abominators of flesh and strong liquors, he hoped to be excused, by
+ drinking the ladies in <i>aqua pura</i>.&mdash;" Water is a monstrous
+ drink for Christians!" said the alderman, "the sure precursor of coughs,
+ colds, consumptions, agues, dropsies, pleurisies, and spleen. I never knew
+ a water-drinker in my life that was ever a fellow of any spirit, mere
+ morbid anatomies, starvelings and hypochondriacs: your water-drinkers
+ never die of old age, but melancholy."&mdash;"Right, right, alderman,"
+ said Mr. Pendragon; "a cup of generous wine is, in my opinion, excellent
+ physic; it makes a man lean, and reduces him to friendly dependence on
+ every thing that bars his way: sometimes it is a little grating to his
+ feelings, to be sure, but it generally passes off with an hic-cup.
+ According to Galen, sir, the waters of <i>Astracan</i> breed worms in
+ those who taste them; those <span class="pagenum">[104]</span>of <i>Verduri</i>,
+ the fairest river in Macedonia, make the cattle who drink of them black,
+ while those of Peleca, in Thessaly, turn every thing white; and Bodine
+ states that the stuttering of the families of Aquatania, about Labden, is
+ entirely owing to their being water-drinkers: a man might as well drink of
+ the river Styx as the river Thames, '<i>Stygio monstrum conforme paludi</i>,'
+ a monstrous drink, thickened by the decomposition of dead Christians and
+ dead brutes, and purified by the odoriferous introduction of gas water and
+ puddle water, joined to a pleasant and healthy amalgamation of all the
+ impurities of the common sewers.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'As nothing goes in so thick,
+ And nothing comes out so thin,
+ It must follow, of course,
+ That no-thing can be worse,
+ As the dregs are all left within.'"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "Very well, Mr. Pendragon, very well, indeed," said Mr. Galen Cornaro, an
+ eccentric of the same school, but not equally averse to wine; "'temperance
+ is a bridle of gold; and he who uses it rightly is more like a god than a
+ man.' I have no objection to a cup of generous wine, provided nature
+ requires it&mdash;but 'simple diet,' says Pliny, 'is best;' for many
+ dishes bring many diseases. Do you know John Abernethy, sir? he is the <i>manus
+ dei</i> of my idolatry. 'What ought I to drink?' inquired a friend of mine
+ of the surgeon. 'What do you give your horse, sir?' was the question in
+ reply. 'Water.' 'Then drink water,' said Abernethy. After this my friend
+ was afraid to put the question of eatables, lest the doctor should have
+ directed him to live on oats. 'Your modern good fellows,' continued John,
+ 'are only ambitious of rivalling a brewer's horse; who after all will
+ carry more liquor than the best of them.' 'What is good to assist a weak
+ digestion?' said another patient. 'Weak food and warm clothing,' was the
+ reply; 'not, <span class="pagenum">[105]</span>however, forgetting my <i>blue
+ pill</i>.' When you have dined well, sleep well: wrap yourself up in a
+ warm watch-coat, and imitate your dog by basking yourself at full length
+ before the fire; these are a few of the Abernethy maxims for dyspeptic
+ patients." I had heard much of this celebrated man, and was desirous of
+ gleaning some more anecdotes of his peculiarities. With this view I laid
+ siege to Mr. Galen Cornaro, who appeared to be well acquainted with the
+ whims of the practitioner. "I remember, sir," said my informant, "a very
+ good fellow of the name of Elliot, a bass-singer at the concerts and
+ theatres of the metropolis; a man very much resembling John Abernethy in
+ person, and still more so in manner; one who under a rough exterior
+ carried as warm a heart as ever throbbed within the human bosom. Elliot
+ had fallen ill of the jaundice, and having imbibed a very strong dislike
+ to the name of doctor, whether musical or medical, refused the
+ solicitations of his friends to receive a visit from any one of the
+ faculty; to this eccentricity of feeling he added a predilection for
+ curing every disease of the body by the use of simples, decoctions, and
+ fomentations extracted from the musty records of old Culpepper, the
+ English physician. Pursuing this principle, Elliot every day appeared to
+ grow worse, and drooped like the yellow leaf of autumn in its sear; until
+ his friends, alarmed for his safety, sent to Abernethy, determined to take
+ the patient by surprise. Imagine a robust-formed man, sinking under
+ disease and <i>ennui</i>, seated before the fire, at his side a table
+ covered with phials and pipkins, and near him his <i>vade mecum</i>, the
+ renowned Culpepper. A knock is heard at the door. 'Come in!' vociferates
+ the invalid, with stentorian lungs yet unimpaired; and enter John
+ Abernethy, not a little surprised by the ungraciousness of his reception.
+ 'Who are you?' said Elliot in thorough-bass, just inclining his head half
+ round to recognize his visitor, <span class="pagenum">[106]</span>without
+ attempting to rise from his seat: Abernethy appeared astonished, but
+ advancing towards his patient, replied, 'John Abernethy.'
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 'Elliot. Oh, the doctor!
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 'Abernethy. No, not the doctor; but plain John Abernethy, if you please.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 'Elliot. Ay, my stupid landlady sent for you, I suppose.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 'Abernethy. To attend a very stupid patient, it would appear.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 'Elliot. Well, as you are come, I suppose I must give you your fee.
+ (Placing the gold upon the table.)
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 'Abernethy (looking rather cross.) What's the matter with you?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 'Elliot. Can't you see?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 'Abernethy. Oh yes, I see very well; then tasting some of the liquid in
+ the phials, and observing the source from whence the prescriptions had
+ been extracted, the surgeon arrived at something that was applicable to
+ the disease. Who told you to take this?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 'Elliot. Common sense.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 'Abernethy putting his fee in his pocket, and preparing to depart. Good
+ day.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 'Elliot (reiterating the expression.) Good day! Why, you mean to give me
+ some advice for my money, don't you?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 'Abernethy, with the door in his hand. Follow common sense, and you'll do
+ very well.'
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Thus ended the interview between Abernethy and Elliot. It was the old
+ tale of the stammerers personified; for the professional and the patient
+ each conceived the other an imitator. On reaching the ground-floor the
+ surgeon was, however, relieved from his embarrassment by the communication
+ of the good woman of the house, who, in her anxiety to serve Elliot, had
+ produced this extraordinary scene. Abernethy laughed heartily&mdash;assured
+ her that the patient would do well&mdash;wrote a prescription for him&mdash;begged
+ <span class="pagenum">[107]</span>he might hear how he proceeded&mdash;and
+ learning he was a professional man, requested the lady of the mansion to
+ return him his fee."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Ay," said the alderman, "that was just like John Abernethy. I remember
+ when he tapped poor Mrs. Marigold for the dropsy, he was not very tender,
+ to be sure, but he soon put her out of her tortures. And when on his last
+ visit I offered him a second twenty pound note for a fee, I thought he
+ would have knocked me down; asked me if I was the fool that gave him such
+ a sum on a former occasion; threw it back again with indignation, and said
+ he did not rob people in that manner." No professional man does more
+ generous actions than John Abernethy; only it must be after his own
+ fashion.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Come, gentlemen, the bottle stands still," said Mr. Pendragon, "while you
+ are running through the merits of drinking. Does not Rabelais contend that
+ good wine is the best physic?' because there are more old tipplers than
+ old physicians.' Custom is every thing; only get well seasoned at the
+ first start, and all the rest of life is a summer's scene. Snymdiris the
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Sybarite never once saw the sun rise or set during a course of twenty
+ years; yet he lived to a good old age, drank like a centaur, and never
+ went to bed sober."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ And when his glass was out, he fell Like some ripe kernel from its shell.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "I was once an anti-gastronomist and a rigid antisaccharinite; sugar and
+ milk were banished from my breakfast-table, vegetables and puddings my
+ only diet, until I almost ceased to vegetate, and my cranium was
+ considered as soft as a custard; and curst hard it was to cast off all
+ culinary pleasures, sweet reminiscences of my infancy, commencing with our
+ first spoonful of pap, for all young protestants are papists; to this day
+ my heart (like Wordsworth's) <span class="pagenum">[108]</span>overflows
+ at the sight of a pap-boat&mdash;the boat a child first mans; to speak
+ naughty-cally, as a nurse would say, how many a row is there in the
+ pap-boat&mdash;how many squalls attend it when first it comes into contact
+ with the skull! But I am now grown corpulent; in those days I was a
+ lighter-man, and I believe I should have continued to live (exist) upon
+ herbs and roots; but Dr. Kitchener rooted up all my prejudices, and
+ overturned the whole system of my theory by practical illustrations.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Thus he that's wealthy, if he's wise,
+ Commands an earthly paradise;
+ That happy station nowhere found,
+ But where the glass goes freely round.
+ Then give us wine, to drown the cares
+ Of life in our declining years,
+ That we may gain, if Heav'n think fitting,
+ By drinking, what was lost by eating:
+ For though mankind for that offence
+ Were doom'd to labour ever since,
+ Yet Mercy has the grape impower'd
+ To sweeten what the apple sour'd."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ To this good-humoured sally of Pendragon succeeded a long dissertation on
+ meats, which it is not <i>meet</i> I should relate, being for the most
+ part idle conceits of Mr. Galen Cornaro, who carried about him a long list
+ of those prescribed eatables, which engender bile, breed the <i>incubus</i>,
+ and produce spleen, until, according to his bill of fare, he had left
+ himself nothing to subsist upon in this land of plenty but a mutton-chop,
+ or a beef-steak. What pleased me most was, that with every fresh bottle
+ the two disciples of Pythagoras and Abernethy became still more vehement
+ in maintaining the necessity for a strict adherence to the theory of water
+ and vegetable economy; while their zeal had so far blinded their
+ recollection, that when the ladies returned from their walk to join us at
+ tea, they were both "<i>bacchi plenis</i>," as Colman has it, something
+ inclining from <span class="pagenum">[109]</span>a right line, and
+ approaching in its motion to serpentine sinuosities. A few more puns from
+ Mr. Pendragon, and another story from the alderman, about his friend,
+ young Tattersall, employing Scroggins the bruiser, disguised as a
+ countryman to beat an impudent Highgate toll-keeper, who had grossly
+ insulted him, finished the amusements of the day, which Mrs. Marigold and
+ Miss Biddy declared had been spent most delightfully, so rural and
+ entertaining, and withal so economical, that the alderman was induced to
+ promise he would not dine at home again of a Sunday for the rest of the
+ summer. To me, at least, it afforded the charm of novelty; and if to my
+ readers it communicates something of character, blended with pleasure in
+ the perusal, I shall not regret my Sunday trip with the Marigold family
+ and first visit to the
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ GATE HOUSE, HIGHGATE. <a name="Cimage-0020" id="Cimage-0020">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page109.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page109 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Clink2H_4_0012" id="Clink2H_4_0012">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE STOCK EXCHANGE.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ <span class="pagenum">[110]</span>
+ </h3>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Have you ever seen Donnybrook fair?
+ Or in a <i>caveau</i> spent the night?
+ On Waterloo's plains did you dare
+ To engage in the terrific fight?
+ Has your penchant for life ever led
+ You to visit the Finish or Slums,
+ At the risk of your pockets and head?
+ Or in Banco been fixed by the bums?
+ In a smash at the hells have you been,
+ When pigeons were pluck'd by the bone?
+ Or enjoy'd the magnificent scene
+ When our fourth George ascended his throne?
+ Have you ever heard Tierney or Canning
+ A Commons' division address?
+ Or when to the gallery ganging,
+ Been floor'd by a rush from the press?
+ Has your taste for the fine arte impell'd
+ You to visit a bull-bait or fight?
+ Or by rattles and charleys propell'd,
+ In a watch-house been lodged for the night?
+ In a morning at Bow-street made one
+ Of a group just to bother sage Birnie?
+ Stood the racket, got fined, cut and run,
+ Being fleeced by the watch and attorney?
+ Or say, have you dined in Guildhall
+ With the mayor and his corporate souls?
+ Or been squeezed at a grand civic ball,
+ With dealers in tallow and coals?
+ Mere nothings are these, though the range
+ Through all we have noticed you've been,
+ When compared to the famed Stock Exchange,
+ That riotous gambling scene.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[111]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ The unexpected Legacy&mdash;Bernard Blackmantle and Bob Transit
+ visit Capel Court&mdash;Characters in the Stocks&mdash;Bulls, Bears
+ and Bawds, Brokers, Jews and Jobbers&mdash;A new Acquaintance,
+ Peter Principal&mdash;His Account of the Market&mdash;The Royal
+ Exchange&mdash;Tricks upon Travellers&mdash;Slating a Stranger&mdash;The
+ Hebrew Star and his Satellites&mdash;Dividend Hunters and
+ Paragraph Writers&mdash;The New Bubble Companies&mdash;Project
+ Extraordinary&mdash;Prospectus in Rhyme of the Life, Death,
+ Burial, and Resurrection Company&mdash;Lingual Localisms of the
+ Stock Exchange explained&mdash;The Art and Mystery of Jobbing
+ exposed&mdash;Anecdotes of the House and its Members&mdash;Flying a
+ Tile&mdash;Billy Wright's Brown Pony&mdash;Selling a Twister&mdash;A Peep
+ into Botany Bay&mdash;Flats and Flat-catchers&mdash;The Rotunda and
+ the Transfer Men&mdash;How to work the Telegraph&mdash;Create a Rise&mdash;
+ Put on the Pot&mdash;Bang down the Market&mdash;And waddle out a Lame
+ Duck.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ A bequest of five hundred pounds by codicil from a rich old aunt had most
+ unexpectedly fallen to my friend Transit, who, quite unprepared for such
+ an overwhelming increase of good fortune, was pondering on the best means
+ of applying this sudden acquisition of capital, when I accidentally paid
+ him a visit in Half-moon Street. "Give me joy, Bernard," said Bob; "here's
+ a windfall;" thrusting the official notice into my hand; "five hundred
+ pounds from an old female miser, who during her lifetime was never known
+ to dispense five farthings for any generous or charitable purpose; but
+ being about to <i>slip her wind</i> and make a <i>wind-up</i> of her
+ accounts, was kind enough to remember at parting that she had a poor
+ relation, an <span class="pagenum">[112]</span>artist, to whom such a sum
+ might prove serviceable, so just hooked me on to the tail end of her
+ testamentary document and booked me this legacy, before she booked herself
+ inside for the other world. And now, my dear Bernard," continued Bob, "you
+ are a man of the world, one who knows
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'What's what, and that's as high
+ As metaphysic wit can fly.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ I am puzzled, actually bewildered what to do with this accumulation of
+ wealth: only consider an eccentric artist with five hundred pounds in his
+ pocket; why it must prove his death-warrant, unless immediate measures are
+ taken to free him from its magical influence. Shall I embark it in some of
+ the new speculations? the Milk company, or the Water company, the Flesh,
+ Fish, or Fowl companies, railways or tunnel-ways, or in short, only put me
+ in the right way, for, at present, I am mightily abroad in that respect."
+ "Then my advice is, that you keep your money at home, or in other words,
+ fund it; unless you wish to be made fun of and laughed at for a milksop,
+ or a bubble merchant, or be taken for one of the Gudgeon family, or a
+ chicken butcher, a member of the Poultry company, where fowl dealing is
+ considered all fair; or become a liveryman of the worshipful company of
+ minors (i.e. miners), where you may be fleeced à la Hayne, by legs,
+ lawyers, bankers and brokers, demireps and contractors'; or, perhaps, you
+ <span class="pagenum">[113]</span>will feel disposed to embark in a new
+ company, of which I have just strung together a prospectus in rhyme: a
+ speculation which has, at least, much of novelty in this country to
+ recommend it, and equally interests all orders of society.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 It is not surprising, we see, that lawyers, bankers, and
+ brokers are found at the bottom of most of the new schemes.
+ Their profits are certain, whatever the fate of the Gudgeon
+ family. The brokers, in particular, have a fine harvest of
+ it. Their charges being upon the full nominal amount of the
+ shares sold, they get twice as much by transferring a single
+ 100L. share in a speculation, although only 1L. may have
+ been paid on it, as by the purchase or sale of 100L.
+ consols, of which the price is 94L. Or, to make the matter
+ plainer to the uninitiated, suppose an individual wishes to
+ lay out 500L. in the stock-market. If he orders his broker
+ to purchase into the British funds, the latter will buy him
+ about 535L. three per cent, consols; and the
+ brokerage, at one-eighth per cent, will be about 13s. But
+ if the same person desires to invest the same sum in the
+ stock of a new Mine or Rail-road company, which is divided
+ into 100L. shares, on each of which say 1L. is paid, and
+ there is a premium of 1L. (as is the case at this moment
+ with a stock we have in our eye) his broker's account will
+ then stand thus:&mdash;
+
+ Bought 250 shares in the &mdash;&mdash; Company.
+
+ First instalment of 1L. paid £250 0 0
+
+ Premium L. per share 250 0 0
+
+ 500 0 0
+
+ Brokerage £ per cent, on 25,000L. stock 62 10 0
+
+ 562 10 0
+
+ Which will leave Mr. Adventurer to pay 62L. 10s. to his
+ broker, and to pay 99L. more on each of his 250 shares, when
+ the&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;company "call" for it!
+
+ Or, let us reverso the case, and suppose our speculator,
+ having been an original subscriber for 100 shares in the
+ &mdash;&mdash; company, and having consequently obtained them for
+ nothing, wishes to sell, finding them at a premium of 6s.
+ per share, and either fearing they may go lower, or not
+ being able to pay even the first instalment called for by
+ the directors. If he is an humble tradesman, he is perhaps
+ eager to realise a profit obtained without labour, and hugs
+ him-self at the idea of the hundred crowns and the hundred
+ shillings he shall put into his pocket by this pleasant
+ process. Away he posts to Cornhill, searches out a broker,
+ into whose hands he puts the letter entitling him to the 100
+ shares, with directions to sell at the current premium. The
+ broker takes a turn round 'Change, finds a customer, and the
+ whole affair is settled in a twinkling, by an entry or two
+ in the broker's memorandum-book, and the drawing of a couple
+ of cheques. Our fortunate speculator, who is anxiously
+ waiting at Batson's the return of his man of business, and
+ spending perhaps 3s. 6d. in bad negus and tough sandwiches,
+ on the strength of his good luck, is then presented with a
+ draft on a banker for 5L. neatly folded up in a small slip
+ of foolscap, containing the following satisfactory
+ particulars:&mdash;
+
+ Sold 100 shares in the&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;company&mdash;nothing paid&mdash;prem. 6s. £30
+
+ Brokerage, 1/4 per cent, on 10,000L. stock 25
+
+ By cheque 5
+
+ He stares wildly at this document, utterly speechless, for
+ five minutes, during which the broker, after saying he shall
+ be happy to "do" for him another time, throws a card on the
+ table, and exit. The lucky speculator wanders into 'Change
+ with the account in his hand, and appeals to several Jews to
+ know whether he has not been cheated: some abuse him for the
+ insinuation against so "respectable" a man as Mr.&mdash;&mdash;- the
+ broker; others laugh in his face; and all together hustle
+ him into the street. He goes home richer by 4L.. 16s. 6d.
+ than when he went out, and finds that a wealthy customer,
+ having called three times in his absence to give him a
+ particular order, had just left the shop in a rage, swearing
+ he would no longer encourage so inattentive a tradesman.&mdash;
+ <i>Examiner</i>.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Clink2H_4_0013" id="Clink2H_4_0013">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE LIFE, DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION COMPANY.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ CAPITAL.&mdash;ONE HUNDRED MILLIONS SHARES.&mdash;ONE POUND.
+ </h3>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[115]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ In this age of projectors, when bubbles are spread
+ With illusive attractions to bother each head,
+ When bulls, bears, jews, and jobbers all quit Capelcourt
+ To become speculators and join in the sport,
+ Who can wonder, when interest with intellect clashes,
+ We should have a new club to dispose of our ashes;
+ To rob death of its terrors, and make it delightful
+ To give up your breath, and abolish the frightful
+ Old custom of lying defunct in your shroud,
+ Surrounded by relatives sobbing aloud?
+ We've a scheme that shall mingle the "grave with the gay,"
+ And make it quite pleasant to die, when you may.
+ First, then, we propose with the graces of art,
+ Like our Parisian friends, to make ev'ry tomb smart;
+ And, by changing the feelings of funeral terrors,
+ Remove what remain'd of old Catholic errors.
+ Our plan is to blend in the picturesque style
+ Smirke, Soane, Nash, and Wyatville all in one pile.
+ So novel, agreeable, and grateful our scheme,
+ That death will appear like a sweet summer's dream;
+ And the horrid idea of a gloomy, cold cell,
+ Will vanish like vapours of mist from a dell.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[116]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Thus changed, who'll object a kind friend to inhume,
+ When his sepulchre's made like a gay drawing-room 1
+ A diversified, soothing commixture of trees,
+ Umbrageous and fann'd by the perfumed breeze;
+ With alcoves, and bowers, and fish-ponds, and shrubs,
+ Select, as in life, from intrusion of scrubs;
+ While o'er your last relics the violet-turf press
+ Must a flattering promise afford of success.
+ "Lie light on him, earth," sung a poet of old;
+ Our earth shall be sifted, and never grow cold;
+ No rude weight on your chest&mdash;how like ye our scheme {1}
+ Where your grave will be warm'd by a process of steam,
+ Which will boil all the worms and the grubs in their holes,
+ And preserve from decay ev'ry part but your souls.
+ Our cemetery, centred in fancy's domain,
+ Shall by a state edict eternal remain
+ To all parties open, the living or dead;
+ Or christian, or atheist, here rest their head,
+ In a picturesque garden, and deep shady grove,
+ Where young love smiles, and fashion delighteth to rove.
+ To render the visitors' comforts complete,
+ And afford the grieved mourners a proper retreat,
+ The directors intend to erect an hotel,
+ Where a <i>table d'hôte</i> will be furnished well;
+ Not with the "cold meats of a funeral feast,"
+ But a banquet that's worthy a nabob at least;
+ Of <i>lachryma christi</i>, and fine <i>vin de grave</i>,
+ And cordial compounds, a choice you may have.
+ Twice a week 'tis proposed to illumine the scene,
+ And to waltz and quadrille on the velvety green;
+ While Colinet's band and the Opera Corps
+ Play and dance with a spirit that's quite <i>con amore</i>,
+ A committee of taste will superintend
+ The designs and inscriptions to each latter end.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[117]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Take notice, no cross-bones or skulls are allowed,
+ Or naked young cherubims riding a cloud;
+ In short, no allusions that savour of death,
+ Nor aught that reminds of a friend's parting breath.
+ The inscriptions and epitaphs, elegies too,
+ Must all be poetical, lively, and new;
+ Such as never were heard of, or seen heretofore,
+ To be written by Proctor, Sam. Rogers, or Moore.
+ In lieu of a sermon, glee-singers attend,
+ Who will chant, like the cherubims, praise without end.
+ Three decent old women, to enliven the hours,
+ Attend with gay garlands and sacred flowers,
+ The emblems of grief&mdash;artificial, 'tis true,
+ But very like nature in a general view.
+ Lord Graves will preside, and vice-president Coffin
+ Will pilot the public into the offing.
+ The College of Surgeons and Humane Society
+ Have promised to send a delightful variety.
+ The Visitors all are physicians of fame;
+ And success we may, therefore, dead certainty name.
+ To the delicate nervous, who'd wish a snug spot,
+ A romantic temple, or moss-cover'd grot,
+ Let them haste to John Ebers, and look at the plan;
+ Where the grave-book lies open, its merits to scan.
+ Gloves, hatbands, and essence of onions for crying,
+ White 'kerchiefs and snuff, and a cordial worth trying,
+ The attendants have ready; and more&mdash;as time presses,
+ No objection to bury you in fancy dresses.
+ Our last proposition may frighten you much;
+ We propose to reanimate all by a touch,
+ By magic revive, if a century old,
+ The bones of a father, a friend, or a scold.
+ In short, we intend, for all&mdash;but a wife,
+ To bring whom you please in a moment to life;
+ That is, if the shares in our company rise,&mdash;
+ If not 'tis a bubble, like others, of lies.
+
+ &mdash;Bernard Blackmantle.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[118]</span>The recitation of this original <i>jeu
+ d'esprit</i> had, I found, the salutary effect of clearing my friend
+ Transit's vision in respect to the <i>speculation mania</i>; and being by
+ this time fully accoutred and furnished with the possibles, we sallied
+ forth to make a purchase in the public funds. There is something to be
+ gleaned from every event in this life, particularly by the eccentric who
+ is in search of characteristic matter. I had recently been introduced to a
+ worthy but singular personage in the city, Mr. Peter Principal, stock
+ broker, of the firm of Hazard and Co.&mdash;a man whose probity was never
+ yet called in question, and who, having realized a large property by the
+ most honourable means, was continually selected as broker, trustee, and
+ executor by all his acquaintance. To him, therefore, I introduced my
+ friend Bob, who being instantly relieved from all his weighty troubles,
+ and receiving in return the bank receipts, we proceeded to explore the
+ regions of Pluto (i.e. the money market), attended by Peter Principal as
+ our guide and instructor. On our entrance into Capel Court we were
+ assailed by a motley group of Jews and Gentiles, inhabitants of Lower
+ Tartary (i.e. Botany Bay{2}), who, suspecting we came there on business,
+ addressed us in a jargon that was completely unintelligible either to
+ Transit or myself. One fellow inquired if I was a bull,{3} and his
+ companion wished to know if Transit was a bear{4}; another eagerly offered
+ to give us <i>five eighths</i>, or sell us, at the same price, for the
+ account'{5}; while a fourth thrust his
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 2 A place so named, without the Stock Exchange, where the
+ lame ducks and fallen angels of Upper Tartary assemble when
+ expelled the house, to catch a hint how the puff's and bangs
+ succeed in the private gambling market; when if they can
+ saddle their neighbour before he is up to the variation, it
+ is thought good jobbing.
+
+ 3 Persons that purchase with a view for a rise in the
+ funds.
+
+ 4 One who sells with a view to a fall in the price of stock.
+
+ 5 A certain future day, fixed upon by the Committee of the
+ Stock Exchange, for the settlement of <i>time bargains</i>&mdash;they
+ are usually appointed at an interval of six weeks, and the
+ price of stocks on this given day determines the
+ speculator's gain or loss.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[119]</span>copper countenance into my face, and
+ offered to do business with me at a fiddle.{6} "Tush, tush," said Peter
+ Principal to the increasing multitude which now barred our passage, "we
+ are only come to take a look, and watch the operation of the market." "<i>Dividend
+ hunters</i>{7} I suppose," said a knowing looking fellow, sarcastically,
+ "ear wigging{8}&mdash;Hey, Mr. Principal, something good for the pull
+ out{9}? Well, if the gentlemen wish to put on the pot, although it be for
+ a pony,{10} I'm their man, only a little rasping,{11} you know." To this
+ eloquent appeal succeeded a similar application from a son of Israel, who
+ offered to accommodate us in any way we wished, either for the <i>call</i>{l2}
+ or <i>put</i>{13}; to which friendly offer little Principal put his direct
+ negative, and, after innumerable
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 6 When a broker has got money transactions of any conse-
+ sequence, as there is no risk in these cases, he will fiddle
+ one finger across the other, signifying by this that the
+ jobber must give up half the turn of the market price to
+ him, which he pockets besides his commission.
+
+ 7 Those who suppose by changing stock they get double
+ interest, by receiving four dividends in one year instead of
+ two; but in this they are deceived, as the jobber, when he
+ changes stock, gains the advantage; for instance, if he buys
+ consols at sixty, when he sells out there will be deducted
+ one and a half per cent. for the dividend.
+
+ 8 When bargains are done privately by a whisper, to conceal
+ the party's being a bull.
+
+ 9 Buying or selling for ready money.
+
+ 10 Pony, 25,000L.
+
+ 11 Giving greater turns to the jobbers than those regulated
+ in the market.
+
+ 12 <i>Call</i>. Buying to call more at one-eighth or one-fourth
+ above the price on a certain day, if the buyer chooses, and
+ the price is in his favour.
+
+ 13 <i>Put</i>. Selling to put more to it on a certain day, at
+ one-eighth or one-fourth under the market price.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[120]</span>attacks of this sort, we reached the
+ upper end of the court, and found ourselves upon the steps which lead to
+ the regions of Upper Tartary, (i.e.) the Stock Exchange. At this moment
+ our friend Principal was summoned by his clerk to attend some antique
+ spinster, who, having scraped together another hundred, had hobbled down
+ to annex it to her previous amount of consols. "You must not attempt to
+ enter the room by yourselves," said Principal; "but accompany me back to
+ the Royal Exchange, where you can walk and wait until I have completed the
+ old lady's <i>job</i>." While Principal was gone to invest his customer's
+ stock, we amused ourselves with observing the strange variety of character
+ which every where presents itself among the groups of all nations who
+ congregate together in this arena of commerce. Perhaps a more fortunate
+ moment for such a purpose could not have occurred: the speculative
+ transactions of the times had drawn forth a certain portion of the Stock
+ Exchange, gamblers, or inhabitants of Upper Tartary, who, like experienced
+ sharpers of another description, never suffer a good thing to escape them.
+ Capel Court was partially abandoned for exchange bubbles,{14} and new
+ companies opened a new system of fraudulent enrichment for these sharks of
+ the money market.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 14 The speculative mania, which at this time raged with un-
+ precedented violence among a large portion of his Majesty's
+ liege subjects, gave the "John Bull" a glorious opportunity
+ for one of their witty satires, in which the poet has very
+ humorously described the
+
+ BUBBLES OF 1825.
+
+ Tune&mdash;"Run, neighbours, run."
+
+ Run, neighbours, run, you're just in time to get a share
+ In all the famous projects that amuse John Bull;
+ Run, take a peep on 'Change, for anxious crowds beset us there,
+ Each trying which can make himself the greatest gull.
+ No sooner are they puff'd, than a universal wish there is
+ For shares in mines, insurances in foreign loans and fisheries.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[121]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ No matter where the project lies, so violent the mania,
+ In Africa, New Providence, Peru, or Pennsylvania!
+ Run, neighbours, run, you're just in time to get a share
+ In all the famous bubbles that amuse John Bull.
+ Few folks for news very anxious at this crisis are,
+ For marriages, and deaths, and births, no thirst exists;
+ All take the papers in, to find out what the prices are
+ Of shares in this or that, upon the broker's lists.
+ The doctor leaves his patient&mdash;the pedagogue his Lexicon,
+ For mines of Real Monte, or for those of Anglo-Mexican:
+ E'en Chili bonds don't cool the rage, nor those still more romantic, sir,
+ For new canals to join the seas, Pacific and Atlantic, sir.
+ Run, neighbours, run, you're just in time to get a share
+ In all the famous bubbles that amuse John Bull.
+ At home we have projects too for draining surplus capital,
+ And honest Master Johnny of his cash to chouse;
+ Though t'other day, Judge Abbott gave a rather sharpish slap at all.
+ And Eldon launched his thunder from the upper House.
+ Investment banks to lend a lift to people who are undone&mdash;
+ Proposals for Assurance&mdash;there's no end of that, in London;
+ And one amongst the number, who in Parliament now press their Bills,
+ For lending cash at eight per cent, on coats and inexpressibles.
+ Run, neighbours, run, you're just in time to get a share
+ In all the famous bubbles that amuse John Bull.
+ No more with her bright pails the milkman's rosy daughter works,
+ A company must serve you now with milk and cream;
+ Perhaps they've some connexion with the advertising water-works,
+ That promise to supply you from the limpid stream.
+ Another body corporate would fain some pence and shillings get,
+ By selling fish at Hungerford, and knocking up old Billingsgate:
+ Another takes your linen, when it's dirty, to the suds, sir,
+ And brings it home in carriages with four nice bits of blood, sir.
+ Run, neighbours, run, you're just in time to get a share
+ In all the famous bubbles that amuse John Bull.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[122]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ When Greenwich coaches go by steam on roads of iron railing, sir,
+ How pleasant it will be to see a dozen in a line;
+ And ships of heavy burden over hills and valleys sailing, sir,
+ Shall cross from Bristol's Channel to the Tweed or Tyne.
+ And Dame Speculation, if she ever fully hath her ends,
+ Will give us docks at Bermondsey, St. Saviour's, and St. Catherine's;
+ While side long bridges over mud shall fill the folks with wonder, sir,
+ And lamp-light tunnels all day long convey the Cocknies under, sir.
+ Run, neighbours, run, you're just in time to get a share
+ In all the famous bubbles that amuse John Bull.
+ A tunnel underneath the sea, from Calais straight to Dover, sir,
+ That qualmish folks may cross by land from shore to shore,
+ With sluices made to drown the French, if e'er they would come over, sir,
+ Has long been talk'd of, till at length 'tis thought a monstrous bore.
+ Amongst the many scheming folks, I take it he's no ninny, sir,
+ Who bargains with the Ashantees to fish the coast of Guinea, sir;
+ For, secretly, 'tis known, that another brilliant view he has,
+ Of lighting up the famous town of Timbuctoo with oil gas.
+ Run, neighbours, run, you're just in time to get a share
+ In all the famous bubbles that amuse John Bull.
+ Then a company is form'd, though not yet advertising,
+ To build, upon a splendid scale, a large balloon,
+ And send up tools and broken stones for fresh Mac-Adamizing
+ The new discover'd turnpike roads which cross the moon.
+ But the most inviting scheme of all is one proposed for carrying
+ Large furnaces to melt the ice which hems poor Captain Parry in;
+ They'll then have steam boats twice a week to all the newly-seen land,
+ And call for goods and passengers at Labrador and Greenland!
+ Run, neighbours, run, you're just in time to get a share
+ In all the famous bubbles that amuse John Bull,
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[123]</span>High 'Change was a subject full of the
+ richest materials for my friend Bob, who, without knowing more of the
+ characters than their exterior appearances of eccentricity and costume
+ exhibited, proceeded to <i>book</i>, as he termed it, the leading
+ features. Every now and then there was a rush to different parts of the
+ arena, and an appearance of great anxiety among the crowd to catch the
+ attention of a person who flourished a large parchment above their heads
+ with all the pride and importance of a field marshal's baton. This was, I
+ found, no other than the leading agent of some newly projected company,
+ who took this method of <i>indulging</i> the subscribers with shares, or
+ letting the fortunate applicants know how many of these speculative
+ chances the committee had allowed them to possess. The return of little
+ Principal afforded me a key to the surrounding group, without which their
+ peculiar merits would have been lost to the world, or have remained
+ individually unknown, like the profit of many of the modern speculations.
+ "You must not suppose," said Principal, "that great talents make great
+ wealth here, or that honourable conduct and generous feelings command
+ respect&mdash;no such thing; men are estimated upon 'Change in proportion
+ to the supposed amount of their property, and rise or fall in the worldly
+ opinion of their associates as prosperity or adversity operates upon the
+ barometer of their fortunate speculations; a lucky hit will cause a dolt
+ to be pointed out as a clever fellow, when, the next turn of the market
+ proving unsuccessful, he is despised and insulted: so much are the
+ frequenters of 'Change influenced by the most sordid and mercenary
+ feelings, that almost all of them are the willing dupes of riches and good
+ fortune. However, as you are strangers here, gentlemen, I will introduce
+ you, <i>entre nous</i>, to a few of the characters who thrive by the
+ destruction of thousands of their fellow-creatures. The bashaw in black
+ yonder, who rests his elephantic trunk against a pillar of the Exchange,
+ with his hands thrust into his breeches pockets, is the Hebrew star&mdash;the
+ Jewish luminary, a very Shiloh among the peoples of his own persuasion,
+ and, I am sorry to say, much too potent <span class="pagenum">[124]</span>with
+ the orthodox ministers of George the Fourth. The fellow's insolence is
+ intolerable, and his vulgarity and ignorance quite unbearable. He
+ commenced his career in Manchester by vending trinkets and spectacle-cases
+ in the streets of that town, from which station he gradually rose to the
+ important occupation of a dealer in <i>fag ends</i>, from which he
+ ascended to the dignity of a bill-broker, when, having the command of
+ money, and some wealthy Hebrew relatives conveniently distributed over the
+ Continent for the transaction of business, he took up his abode in London,
+ and towards the termination of the late war, when a terrible smash took
+ place among some of his tribe, he found means to obtain their confidence,
+ and having secured, by the aid of spies, the earliest foreign
+ intelligence, he rapidly made a colossal fortune in the British funds,
+ without much risk to himself. It is said he can scarcely write his own
+ name, and it only requires a minute's conversation to inform you of the
+ general ignorance of his mind; in short, he is one of Hazlitt's men, with
+ only one idea, but that one entirely directed to the accumulation of gold.
+ A few years since some of the more respectable members of the Stock
+ Exchange, perceiving the thraldom in which the public funds of the country
+ were held by the tricks and manouvres of the Jew party, determined to make
+ a stand against them: among these was a highly respected member of
+ parliament, a great sporting character, and a very worthy man. His losses
+ proved excessive, but they were promptly paid. In order to weaken his
+ credit, and, if possible, shake his confidence and insult his feelings,
+ the Jew took an opportunity, during High 'Change, of telling him, 'Dat he
+ had got his cote and vaistcote, and he should very soon have his shirt
+ into de bargain:' in this prophecy, however, Mr. Mordecai was mistaken;
+ for the market took a sudden turn, and the gentleman alluded to recovered
+ all his losses in a short time, to the great discomfiture <span
+ class="pagenum">[125]</span>of the high priest and the Jews. In private
+ life he is equally abrupt and vulgar, as the following anecdote will
+ prove, at his own table: A christian broker solicited some trifling
+ favour, observing, he had granted what he then requested to another member
+ of the house, who was his brother-in-law. 'Vary true, vary true,' said
+ Solomon Gruff, as he is sometimes called, 'but then you do not shleep vid
+ my shister, my boy; dat makes all de differance.' At present this fellow's
+ influence is paramount at most of the courts of Europe, at some of which
+ his family enjoy considerable honours; in short, he is the head of the
+ locust tribe, and the leader of that class of speculators whom a witty
+ writer has well described in the following lines, addressed to the
+ landholders:
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'The National Debt may be esteemed a mass
+ Of filth which grows corrupter every day;
+ And in this heap, as always comes to pass,
+ Reptiles and vermin breed, exist, decay.
+ 'Tis now so huge, that he must be an ass
+ Who thinks it ever can be clear'd away:
+ And the time's quickly coming, to be candid,
+ When funded men will swallow up the landed.
+ 'Then will these debt-bred reptiles, hungry vermin,
+ Fed from the mass corrupt of which I spoke,
+ Usurp your place. A Jew, a dirty German,
+ Who has grown rich by many a lucky stroke,
+ Shall rule the Minister, and all determined
+ To treat your bitter sufferings as a joke.
+ Said I, he shall! It will be nothing new;
+ The Treasury now is govern'd by a Jew.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0021" id="Cimage-0021">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page125.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page125th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page125" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The tall dandy-looking youth standing near the great man is a scion of the
+ former head of the Hebrew family: his father possessed very superior
+ talents, but was too much attached to splendid society to die rich; his
+ banquets were often graced by royalty, and his liberality and honourable
+ conduct proverbial, until misfortune produced a catastrophe that will not
+ bear <span class="pagenum">[126]</span>repeating. The very name of the
+ sire causes a feeling of dislike in the breast of the Colossus, and
+ consequently the son is no partaker in the good things which the great man
+ has to dispose of. The three tall Jews standing together are brothers, and
+ all members of the Stock Exchange; their affinity to the high priest, more
+ than their own talents, renders their fortunes promising. Observe the
+ pale-faced genteel-looking man.on the right hand side of the arena&mdash;that
+ is Major G&mdash;s, an unsuccessful speculator in the funds, but a highly
+ honourable officer, who threw away the proceeds of his campaigns in the
+ Peninsula among the sharks of the Stock Exchange and the lesser gamblers
+ of St. James's: he has lately given to the world a sketch of his own life,
+ under the assumed name of 'Ned Clinton, or the Commissary,' in which he
+ has faithfully narrated scenes and characters. The little, jolly,
+ fresh-coloured gentleman near him is Tommy B&mdash;h, a great speculator
+ in the funds, a lottery contractor, and wine merchant, and quite at home
+ in the tea trade. The immense fat gent behind him is called the dinner man
+ and M. C. of Vaux hall, of which place Tommy B&mdash;h holds a principal
+ share; his office is to write lyrics for the lottery, and gunpowder puffs
+ for the Genuine Tea Company, paragraphs for Vauxhall, and spirited
+ compositions in praise of spiritless wines: amid all these occupations it
+ is no wonder, considering his bulk, that he invariably falls asleep before
+ the dinner cloth is removed, and snores most mellifluously between each
+ round of the bottle. The sharp-visaged personage to the left of him is the
+ well known Count Bounce&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-"&mdash;"Excuse me,
+ Mr. Principal," said I, "but I happen to know that worthy well myself;
+ that is, I believe, Sam Dixon, the <i>coper</i> of Barbican, a jobber in
+ the funds, it would appear, as well as in horses, coaches, and chaises: of
+ the last named article I have had a pretty good specimen from his emporium
+ myself, <span class="pagenum">[127]</span>which, I must ever remember, was
+ at the risk of my life.&mdash;"Do you observe that stout-looking gentleman
+ yonder with large red whiskers, in a drab surtout, like a stage coachman?
+ that is the Marquis of H&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-, one of the
+ most fortunate gamblers (i.e. speculators) of the present day: during the
+ war his lordship acquired considerable sums of money by acting on his
+ priority of political information, his policy being to make one of the
+ party in power, without holding office, and by this means be at liberty to
+ act in the money market as circumstances required: among the <i>roués</i>
+ of the west he has not been less successful in games of chance, until his
+ coffers are crammed with riches; but it must be admitted he is liberal in
+ his expenditure, and often-times generous to applicants, particularly
+ sporting men, who seek his favours and assistance. The little club of sage
+ personages who are mustered together comparing notes, in the corner of the
+ Dutch Walk, are the paragraph-writers for the morning and evening press;
+ very potent personages here, I assure you, for without their kind
+ operation the public could never be gulled to any great extent. The most
+ efficient of the group is the elegant-looking tall man who has just moved
+ off to consult his patron, the Hebrew star, who gives all his foreign
+ information exclusively to the Leviathan of the press, of which paper Mr.
+ A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-r is the representative. Next to him
+ in importance, information, and talent, is the reporter for the Globe and
+ Traveller, G&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;s M&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;e,
+ a shrewd clever fellow, with considerable tact for business. Mr. F&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;y,
+ of the Courier, stands near him on his left; and if he does but little
+ with the stocks, he does that little well. The sandy-haired laddie with
+ the high cheek bones and hawk-like countenance is M'C&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-h,
+ of the Chronicle, but a wee bit of a <i>wastrell</i> in Stock Exchange
+ affairs; and the mild-looking young gentleman who is in <span
+ class="pagenum">[128]</span>conversation with him represents the mighty
+ little man of the Morning Herald. The rest of the public prints are mostly
+ supplied with Stock Exchange information by a bandy-legged Jew, a very
+ Solomon in funded wisdom, who pens paragraphs at a penny a line for the
+ papers, and puts into them whatever the projectors dictate, in the shape
+ of a puff, at per agreement. The knot of swarthy-looking athletic fellows,
+ many of whom are finger-linked together, and wear rings in their ears, are
+ American captains, and traders from the shores of the Atlantic. That
+ jolly-looking ruby-faced old gentleman in black, who is laughing at the
+ puritanical tale of his lank brother, Alderman Shaw, is the celebrated
+ grand city admiral, Sir W. Curtis, a genuine John Bull, considered worth a
+ <i>plum</i> at least, and the author of a million of good jokes. Observe
+ that quiet-looking pale-faced gentleman now crossing the arena: from the
+ smartness of his figure and the agility with which he bustles among the
+ crowd, you would suppose him an active young man of about five-and-twenty,
+ while, in fact, about sixty summers have rolled over his head; such are
+ the good effects of temperance, system, and attention to diet. Here he is
+ known by the designation of Mr. Evergreen; a name, perhaps, affixed to him
+ with a double meaning, combining in view the freshness of his age and his
+ known attachment to theatricals, of which pursuits, as a recreation, he is
+ devotedly fond. As a broker, lottery contractor, and a man of business,
+ Mr. D&mdash;&mdash;-1 stands No. One for promptitude, probity, and the
+ strictest sense of honour; wealthy without pride, and learned without
+ affectation, his company is eagerly sought for by a large circle of the
+ literati of the day, with whom, from his anecdotal powers, he is in high
+ repute: on stage affairs he is a living 'Biographia Dramatica,' and
+ Charles Mathews, it is said, owes much of his present celebrity to the
+ early advice and persevering friendship of this worthy man. The pair <span
+ class="pagenum">[120]</span>of tall good-looking gentlemen on the French
+ Walk are Messrs. J. and H&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;S***h, merchants in the
+ city, and authors at the west end of the town: here they have recently
+ been designated by the title of their last whimsical production, and now
+ figure as Messrs. Gaiety and Gravity, cognomens by no means inapplicable
+ to the temper, feeling, and talent of the witty brothers. But come," said
+ Principal, "the 'Change is now becoming too full to particularize, and as
+ this is <i>settling</i> day at the Stock Exchange, suppose we just walk
+ across to the Alley, take a look at the market, and see how the <i>account</i>
+ stands."&mdash;In passing down Saint Bartholomew Lane, accident threw in
+ our way the respected chief magistrate of the city, John Garrett, Esq. of
+ whose sire little Principal favoured us with some entertaining anecdotes.&mdash;"Old
+ Francis Garrett, who began business in the tea trade without cash, but
+ with great perseverance and good credit, <i>cut up</i> at his death for
+ near four hundred thousand pounds, and left his name in the firm to be
+ retained for seven years after his decease, when his posthumous share of
+ the profits was to be divided among his grand-children. As he generally
+ travelled for orders himself, he was proverbial for despatch; and has been
+ known to call a customer up in the morning at four o'clock to settle his
+ account, or disturb his repose in the night, if old Francis was determined
+ to make a lamp of the moon, and pursue his route. A very humorous story is
+ related of him. Arriving at Benson, near Henley, on a Sunday morning, just
+ as his customer, a Mr. Newberry, had proceeded to Church, old Francis was
+ very importunate to prevail upon the servant-maid to call him out, in
+ order that he might proceed to Oxford that night: after much persuasion
+ she was induced to accompany him to the church, to point out the pew where
+ her master sat. At their entrance the eccentric figure of the tea-broker
+ caused a general movement of recognition among the congregation; but
+ Francis, <span class="pagenum">[130]</span>nothing abashed, was proceeding
+ up the aisle with his cash instead of prayer-book in his hand, when his
+ attention was arrested by the clergyman's text, 'Paul we know, and Silas
+ we know, but who art thou?' The singular coincidence of the words, added
+ to the authoritative style of the pastor, quite staggered Francis Garrett,
+ who, however, quickly recovering, made a low bow, and then, in a true
+ business-like style, proceeded to, apologize to the reverend and
+ congregation for this seeming want of respect, adding he was only old
+ Francis Garrett, of Thames-street, the tea broker, whom every body knew,
+ come to settle a small account with his friend Mr. Newberry. The
+ eccentricity of the man was notorious, and this, perhaps, better than the
+ apology, induced the clergyman to overlook the offence; but the story will
+ long be remembered by the good people of Benson, and never fail to create
+ a laugh in the commercial room among the merry society of gentlemen
+ travellers. The son, who has deservedly risen to the highest civic
+ honours, is a worthy and highly honourable man, whose conduct since he has
+ been elected lord mayor reflects great credit upon his fellow citizens'
+ choice."&mdash;We had now mounted the steps which lead to the Stock
+ Exchange, or, as Principal, who, though one among them, may be said not to
+ be one of them, observed, we had arrived at the <i>wolves' den</i>, "the
+ secret arcana of which place, with its curious intricacies and perplexing
+ paradoxical systems and principles, I shall now," continued our friend,
+ "endeavour to explain; from which exposition the public will be able to
+ see the monster that is feeding on the vitals of the country, while
+ smiling in its face and tearing at its heart, yet cherished by it, as the
+ Lacedemonian boy cherished the wolf that devoured him. I am an enemy to
+ all monopolies," said Principal, "and this is one of the worst the country
+ is infested with. "A private or exclusive market, that is, a market <span
+ class="pagenum">[131]</span>into which the public have not the liberty or
+ privilege of either going to make, or to see made, bargains in their own
+ persons, is one where the most sinister arts are likely to prevail. The
+ Stock Exchange is of this description, and accordingly is one where the
+ public are continually gulled out of their money by a system of the most
+ artful and complicated traffic&mdash;a traffic calculated to raise the
+ hopes of novices, to puzzle the wits of out-door speculators, and sure to
+ have the effect of diminishing the property of those who are not members
+ of the fraternity.{15}
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "One of the principles of the Stock Exchange is, that the public assist
+ against themselves, which is not the less true than paradoxical. It is
+ contrary to the generally-received opinion that stocks should either be
+ greatly elevated or depressed, without some apparent cause: it is contrary
+ to natural inference that they should rise,&mdash;not from the public
+ sending in to purchase, or to buy or sell, which however frequently
+ happens. It follows, therefore, that the former is occasioned by the arts
+ of the interested stock-jobbers, and the latter by out-door speculators,
+ who have the market price <i>banged down</i> upon them by those whose
+ business and interest it is to fleece them all they can. In the language
+ of the Stock Exchange, you must be either a <i>bull or a bear,</i> a <i>buyer
+ or a seller</i>: now as it is not necessary you should have one shilling
+ of property in the funds to embark in this speculation, but may just as
+ well sell a hundred thousand pounds of stock as one pound, according to
+ the practice of time bargains, which is wagering contrary to law&mdash;so
+ neither party can be compelled to complete their agreement, or to pay
+ whatever the difference of the amount may be upon the stock when the
+ account closes: all transactions
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 15 The mode of exchanging stock in France is in public. A
+ broker stands in the situation of an auctioneer, and offers
+ it to the best bidder.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[132]</span>are, therefore, upon honour; and whoever
+ declines to pay his loss is posted upon a black board, declared a
+ defaulter, shut out of the association, and called by the community a <i>lame
+ duck</i>.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "It is not a little extraordinary, while the legislature and the judges
+ are straining every nerve to suppress low gambling and punish its
+ professors, they are the passive observers of a system pregnant with ten
+ times more mischief in its consequences upon society, and infinitely more
+ vicious, fraudulent, and base than any game practised in the hells
+ westward of Temple Bar; but we are too much in the practice of gaping at a
+ gnat and swallowing a camel, or the great subscription-houses, such as
+ White's, Brooke's, and Boodle's, would not have so long remained
+ uninterrupted in this particular, while the small fry that surround them,
+ and which are, by comparison, harmless, are persecuted with the greatest
+ severity. As there is a natural disposition in the human mind for
+ gambling, and as it is visible to all the world that many men (cobblers,
+ carpenters, and other labourers), by becoming stock-jobbers, are suddenly
+ raised from fortunes of a few pounds to hundreds of thousands, therefore
+ every falling shop-keeper or merchant flies to this disinterested seminary
+ with the same hope: but the jobbers, perceiving their transactions
+ interrupted by these persons intruding, in order to keep them at a
+ distance, formed themselves into a body, and established a market composed
+ of themselves, excluding every person not regularly known to the
+ craft.{16} As the brokers found difficulty always to meet with people that
+ would accommodate them either to buy or sell without waiting in the
+ regular
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 16 An article in their by-laws expresses, that no new member
+ shall be admitted who follows any other trade or business,
+ or in any wise is subject to the bankrupt laws: at the same
+ time it is curious to observe, that most of them are either
+ <i>soi-disant</i> merchants or shopkeepers.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[133]</span>market in the Bank, to save themselves
+ time they got accommodated among these gamblers in buying or selling as
+ they wished; at the same time they gave the jobber one-eighth per cent,
+ for such accommodation. As the loss was nothing to the broker, of course
+ this imposition was looked over, because it saved his own time, and did
+ not diminish his own commission.{17} It is clear, therefore, that the
+ Stock Exchange is a self-constituted body, without any charter, but merely
+ established at the will of the members, to the support of which a
+ subscription is paid by each individual. They are ruled by by-laws, and
+ judged by a committee, chosen from among themselves. This committee, as
+ well as the members, are regularly re-balloted once in every year; of
+ course no person is admitted within the walls of this house who does not
+ regularly pay his subscription.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "In this way has the Stock Market been established and forced from its
+ original situation by a set of jobbers and brokers, who are all, it will
+ be seen, interested in keeping their transactions from the eye of the
+ public. These men being always ready either to buy or sell, renders it
+ easy for the brokers to get their business done, having no trouble but
+ merely stepping into the Stock Exchange. If a broker wants to buy 5000L.
+ stock, or any other sum, for a principal, the jobber will readily sell it,
+ although perhaps possessing no part of it himself at the time, but will
+ take his chance of other brokers coming to put him in possession of it,
+ and may have to purchase the amount in two or three different
+ transactions,{18} but in doing that he will take care to call the price
+ lower than he sold at.{19}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 17 If the system of the private market had tended to lessen
+ the broker's commission, he would have gone or stood any
+ where else to transact business for his principals.
+
+ 18 This at present only applies to young beginners, but old
+ jobbers, who have enjoyed the system long enough, have been
+ put in pos-session of large fortunes, and are now enabled to
+ buy into or sell out of their own names to the amount of
+ hundreds of thousands.
+
+ 19 Should other brokers not come into the market to sell to
+ him, he is then obliged, at a certain hour of the day, to go
+ among his brethren to get it at the most suitable price
+ possible. This is sometimes the cause of a momentary rise,
+ and what is known by the jobbers turning out bears for the
+ day. A depression some-times takes place on the same
+ principle when they are bulls for a future day, and cannot
+ take stock.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[134]</span>After the stock is transferred from the
+ seller to the buyer, instead of the money, he will write you a draft on
+ his banker, although he has no effects to discharge the same till such
+ time as he is put in possession of it also by the broker whom he sold it
+ to; and it sometimes occurs, such drafts having to pass through the
+ clearing-house,{20} the principal is not certain whether his money, is
+ safe till the day following. In this way does the floating stock pass and
+ repass through the Stock Exchange to and from the public, each jobber
+ seizing and laying his hand on as much as he can, besides the eighth per
+ cent. certain, which the established rule gives in their favour: the price
+ frequently gives way, or rises much more to his advantage, which advantage
+ is lost to the principals, and thrown into the pockets of middle men by
+ the carelessness and indolence of the broker, who will not trouble himself
+ in looking out for such persons as he might do business with in a more
+ direct way.{21} When the Stock Market was more public, that is, when they
+ admitted the public by paying sixpence a day, competitors for government
+ loans were to be seen in numbers, which enabled ministers to make good
+ bargains for the country{22};
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 20 A room situated in Lombard-street, where the banking
+ clerks meet for the mutual exchange of drafts. The principal
+ business commences at three o'clock in the afternoon, and
+ the balances are paid and received at five o'clock.
+
+ 21 Query,&mdash;When a broker has to buy and sell for two
+ different principals, may he not act as a jobber also, and
+ put the turns into his own pocket? In such cases the jobbers
+ are convenient cloaks to disguise the transaction.
+
+ 22 The loans taken by Boyd and Co., Goldsmidt, and others,
+ were generally contracted for upon much better terms for the
+ country than those taken by the Stock Exchange; but as they
+ were contending against what is known by the interests of
+ the house, they all were ruined in their turns, as the
+ jobbers could always depreciate the value of stocks by
+ making sales for time of that they did not possess.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[135]</span>but, since the establishment of the
+ present private market, the stock-jobbers have been found to have so much
+ power over the price of stocks, after loans had been contracted for, that
+ real monied men, merchants, and bankers, have been obliged to creep in
+ under the wings of this body of gamblers, and be satisfied with what
+ portion of each loan this junto pleases to deal out to them."&mdash;In
+ this way little Principal opened the secret volume of the Stock Exchange
+ frauds, and exposed to our view the vile traffic carried on there by the
+ <i>flat-catchers of the money market</i>. In ordinary cases it would be a
+ task of extreme peril for a stranger to intrude into this <i>sanctum
+ sanctorum</i>; but as our friend, the broker, was highly respected, we
+ were allowed to pass through unmolested&mdash;a favour that will operate
+ in suppressing our notice of certain characters whom we recognized within.
+ It will, however, hardly be credited that in this place, where every man
+ is by profession a gambler, and sharping is the great qualification, so
+ much of their time is devoted to tricks and fancies that would disgrace a
+ school-boy. Among these the most prominent is hustling a stranger; an
+ ungenerous and unmanly practice, that is too often played off upon the
+ unsuspecting, who have been, perhaps, purposely invited into the den for
+ the amusement of the wolves. Another point of amusement is <i>flying a
+ tile, or slating</i> a man, as the phrases of the Stock Exchange describe
+ it. An anecdote is told of one of their own members which will best convey
+ an idea of this trick. One who was ever foremost in <i>slating</i> his
+ brothers, or kicking about a new castor, had himself just sported a new
+ hat, but, with prudence which is proverbial among the craft, he would
+ leave his new <i>tile</i> at the counting-house, <span class="pagenum">[136]</span>and
+ proceed to the Stock Exchange in an old one kept for the purpose: this
+ becoming known to some of the wags, members of the house, they despatched
+ a note and obtained the new hat, which no sooner made its appearance in
+ the house than it was thrown up for general sport; a joke in which none
+ participated more freely than the unsuspecting owner, whose chagrin may be
+ very well conceived, when, on his return to his counting-house from
+ Capel-court, he discovered that he had been assisting in kicking his own
+ property to pieces. Another trick of these wags is the screwing up a
+ number of pieces of paper longitudinally with a portion of black ink
+ inside them, and lying on the table before some person, whom they will
+ endeavour to engage in serious conversation upon the state of the market,
+ when it is ten to one if he does not roll some of these <i>twisters</i>
+ between his fingers, and from agitation or deep thought on his approaching
+ losses, or the risk of his speculations, blacken his fingers and his face,
+ to the horse-laughical amusement of the by-standers. One of the best among
+ the recent jokes my friend Bob has depicted to the life. (See Plate.) The
+ fame of Mr. Wright's brown pony had often reached the ears of his brother
+ brokers, but hitherto the animal himself was personally unknown: to
+ obviate this difficulty, some sportive wight ascertained the stable where
+ the old gentleman usually left his nag during the time he was attending
+ the market, and by a well-executed forgery succeeded in bringing the pony
+ to Capel-court, when, without further ceremony, he was introduced into the
+ house during the high bustle of the market, to the no small amusement of
+ the house and the utter astonishment of his owner.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ There is a new Stock Exchange established in Capel-court, where a number
+ of Jews, shopkeepers, and tradesmen assemble, and jobbers who have
+ emigrated from their friends in the upper house, some <span class="pagenum">[137]</span>of
+ whom have either been <i>ducks</i>, or have retired out of it on some
+ honourable occasion; but as all is conducted upon honour in this traffic
+ of gambling, these men also set up the principle of honour, on which they
+ risk what has been honourably brought away from their honourable fellow
+ labourers in the principal vineyard: these men stand generally in the
+ Alley, and, hearing what is going on in the other market (as they
+ speculate also upon the price established there), they will give advice to
+ strangers who may be on the out-look to make, as they expect, a speedy
+ fortune by dabbling in the stocks. If they find a person to be
+ respectable, they will offer to do business with him on the principle of
+ their brethren, and also exact the one-eighth per cent, as they do,
+ trusting to his honour, that (although they do not know where he lives) he
+ will appear on or before the settling day to balance the account, and pay
+ or receive the difference.{23}
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ These jobbers speculate a great deal upon puts and calls, and will give a
+ chance sometimes for a mere trifle. They have not, like the private
+ market, the public generally to work upon, the by-laws in the Stock
+ Exchange prohibiting any broker or jobber, being a regular member, from
+ dealing with them, on pain of forfeiting his right to re-enter; but,
+ notwithstanding, some of the brokers, and even the jobbers inside, will
+ run all risks when there appears a good chance of getting a turn on the
+ price in their favour: from this cause, however, the Alley, or New Stock
+ Exchange jobbers, are obliged to gamble more directly with each other;
+ consequently many get thrown to the leeward, and those who stand longest
+ are generally such as have other resources from the trade or
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 23 There have many lately entered into gambling transactions
+ with these gentlemen, and have taken the profit so long as
+ they were right in their speculations; but as soon as a loss
+ came upon them, knowing they have no black board, they walk
+ themselves coolly away with what they get.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[138]</span>occupation they carry on elsewhere. From
+ this place, called by the members of the <i>house Lower Tartary, or Hell</i>,
+ the next step of degradation, when obliged to waddle out of the court, is
+ the <i>Rotunda of New Botany Bay</i>. Here may be seen the private market
+ in miniature; a crowd of persons calling themselves jobbers and brokers,
+ and, of course, a market to serve any person who will deal with them; the
+ same system of <i>ear-wigging</i>, nods, and winks, is apparent, and the
+ same <i>fiddling, rasping</i>, and attempts at overreaching each other, as
+ in Upper Tartary, or the Den; and of course, while they rasp and fiddle,
+ their principals have to pay for the music: but as no great bargains are
+ contracted here (these good things being reserved for a select few in the
+ private market), the jobbers, who are chiefly of little note, are glad if
+ they can pick up a few shillings for a day's job, by cutting out money
+ stock for servants' and other people's small earnings. Here may be seen my
+ lord's footman from the west end of the town, who is a great politician,
+ and knows for a certainty that the stocks will be down; therefore he wants
+ to sell out his 50L. savings, to get in at less: here also may be some
+ other lord's footman, who has taken a different view of things, and wants
+ to buy; and, although their respective brokers might meet each other, and
+ transact business in a direct way, at a given price, notwithstanding they
+ either do, or they pretend to have given the jobbers the turn,{24} that
+ is, the one sold at one-eighth, and the other bought at one-fourth.&mdash;This
+ market, as in the Alley, is ruled by the prices established in the private
+ gambling market, which being the case, some will have messengers running
+ to and from this market to see how the puffs and bangs proceed; and if
+ they can saddle their neighbour before he knows the price is changed, it
+ is thought good jobbing. From the Stock
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 24 Some act both as jobbers and brokers, and will charge a
+ com-mission for selling their own stock.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[139]</span>Exchange to the Rotunda, every where, it
+ will be perceived, a system of gambling and deception is practised upon
+ the public, and the country demoralized and injured by a set of men who
+ have no principle but interest, and acknowledge no laws but those of gain.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0022" id="Cimage-0022">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page139.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page139 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ As this was settling-day, we had the gratification to observe one
+ unfortunate howled out of the craft for having speculated excessively; and
+ not being able or willing to pay his differences, he was compelled to
+ waddle{25}; which he did, with a slow step and melancholy countenance,
+ accompanied by the hootings and railings of his unfeeling tribe, as he
+ passed down the narrow avenue from Upper Tartary, proclaimed to the lower
+ regions and the world
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A LAME DUCK
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 25 Those who become ducks are not what are termed true
+ jobbers; they are those who either job or speculate, or are
+ half brokers and half jobbers, and are left to pay out-door
+ speculators' accounts; or if a jobber lend himself to get
+ off large amounts of stock, in cases where the broker does
+ not wish the house to know he is operating, he generally
+ gives him an immediate advantage in the price in a private
+ bargain; this is termed being such-a-one's bawd.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Clink2H_4_0014" id="Clink2H_4_0014">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE ISLE OF WIGHT.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ <span class="pagenum">[140]</span>
+ </h3>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Garden of England! spangle of the wave!
+ Loveliest spot that Albion's waters lave!
+ Hail, beauteous isle! thou gem of perfumed green,
+ Fancy's gay region, and enchantment's scone.
+ Here where luxuriant Nature pours,
+ In frolic mood, her choicest stores,
+ Bedecking with umbrageous green
+ And richest flowers the velvet scene,
+ Begirt by circling ocean's swell,
+ Enrich'd by mountain, moor, and dell;
+ Here bright Hygeia, queen of Health,
+ Bestows a gift which bankrupts wealth.
+
+ The Oxford Student&mdash;Reflections on the Close of a Term&mdash;The
+ Invitation&mdash;Arrival at Southampton&mdash;Remarks&mdash;The Steam Boat&mdash;
+ Advantages of Steam&mdash;Voyage to the Isle of Wight&mdash;
+ Southampton Water&mdash;The Solent Sea and surrounding Scenery&mdash;
+ Marine Villas, Castles, and Residences&mdash;West Cowes&mdash;Its
+ Harbour and Attractions&mdash;The Invalid or the Convalescent&mdash;
+ The Royal Yacht Club&mdash;Circular in Rhyme&mdash;Aquatic Sports
+ considered in a National Point of Vieio&mdash;A Night on board
+ the Rover Yacht&mdash;The Progress of Navigation&mdash;The
+ Embarkation&mdash;The Soldier's Wife&mdash;Sketches of Scenery
+ and Characters&mdash;Evening Promenaders&mdash;Excursions in the
+ Island, to Ryde, Newport, Shanklin Chine, Bonchurch, the
+ Needle Rocks&mdash;Descriptive Poetry&mdash;Morning, Noon, and Night&mdash;
+ The Regatta&mdash;The Pilot's Review&mdash;The Race Ball&mdash;Adieu to
+ Vectis.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The Oxford commemoration was just over, and the Newdigate laurels graced
+ the brow of the victor; the <span class="pagenum">[l4l]</span>last concert
+ which brings together the scattered forces of <i>alma mater</i>, on the
+ eve of a long vacation, had passed off like the note of the cygnet; the
+ rural shades of Christchurch Meadows were abandoned by the classic
+ gownsmen, and the aquatic sons of Brazen-nose and Jesus had been compelled
+ to yield the palm of marine superiority to their more powerful opponents,
+ the athletic men of Exeter. The flowery banks of Isis no longer presented
+ the attractive evening scene, when all that is beautiful and enchanting
+ among the female graces of Oxford sport like the houris upon its velvet
+ shores, to watch the prowess of the college youth: The regatta had
+ terminated with the term; even the High Street, the usually
+ well-frequented resort of prosing dons, and dignitaries, and gossiping
+ masters of arts, bore a desolate appearance. Now and then, indeed, the
+ figure of a solitary gownsman glanced upon the eye, but it was at such
+ long and fearful intervals, and then, vision-like, of such short duration,
+ that, with the closed oaks of the tradesmen, and the woe-begone faces of
+ the starving <i>scouts and bed-makers</i>, a stranger might have imagined
+ some ruthless plague had swept away, "at one fell swoop," two-thirds of
+ the population of Rhedycina. It was at this dull period of time, that a
+ poor student, having passed successfully the Scylla and Charybdis of an
+ Oxonian's fears, the great go and little go, and exhausted by long and
+ persevering efforts to obtain his degree, had just succeeded in adding the
+ important academical letters to his name, when he received a kind
+ invitation from an old brother Etonian to spend a few weeks with him in
+ the Isle of Wight, "the flowery seat of the Muses," said Horace Eglantine,
+ (the inviter), "and the grove of Hygeia; the delightful spot, above all
+ others, best calculated to rub off the rust of college melancholy,
+ engendered by hard reading, invigorate the studious mind, and divest the
+ hypochrondriac of <i>la maladie <span class="pagenum">[142]</span>imaginaire!</i>'"
+ "And where," said Bernard Blackmantle, reasoning within himself, "is the
+ student who could withstand such an attractive summons? Friendship,
+ health, sports, and pleasures, all combined in the prospective; a view of
+ almost all the blessings that render life desirable; the charm that binds
+ man to society, the medicine that cures a wounded spirit, and the cordial
+ which reanimates and brightens the intellectual faculties of the
+ philosopher and the poet; in short, the health-inspiring draught, without
+ which the o'ercharged spirit would sink into earth, a prey to black
+ despondency, or linger out a wearisome existence only to become a gloomy
+ misanthrope, a being hateful to himself and obnoxious to all the world."
+ With nearly as much alacrity as the lover displays when, on the wings of
+ anticipated delight, he hastes to seek the beloved of his soul, did I,
+ Bernard Blackmantle, pack up my portmanteau, and make the best of my way
+ to Southampton, from which place the steam boat conveys passengers,
+ morning and evening, to and from the island. Southampton has in itself
+ very little worthy the notice of the lover of the characteristic and the
+ humorous, at least that I discovered in a few hours' ramble. It is a clean
+ well-built town, of considerable extent and antiquity, particularly its
+ entrance gate, enlivened by numerous elegant shops, whose blandishments
+ are equally attractive with the more fashionable <i>magazines de modes</i>
+ of the British metropolis. The accommodations for visitors inclined to
+ bathe or walk have been much neglected, and the vapours arising from its
+ extended shores at low water are, in warm weather, very offensive; but the
+ influx of strangers is, nevertheless, very great, from its being the port
+ most eligible to embark from for either Havre de Grace, Guernsey, Jersey,
+ or the Isle of Wight. The market here is accounted excellent, and from
+ this source the visitors of Cowes are principally <span class="pagenum">[143]</span>supplied
+ with fruit, fish, fowl, and delicacies. The steam boat is a new scene for
+ the painter of real life, and the inquisitive observer of the humorous and
+ eccentric. The facility it affords of a quick and certain conveyance, in
+ defiance of wind and tide, ensures its proprietors, during the summer
+ months, a harvest of success. Its advantages I have here attempted to
+ describe in verse, a whim written during my passage; and this will account
+ for the odd sort of measure adopted, which I attribute to the peculiar
+ motion of the vessel, and the clanking of the engine; for, as everybody
+ knows, poets are the most susceptible of human beings in relation to local
+ circumstances.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ THE ADVANTAGES OF STEAM.
+
+ If Adam or old Archimedes could wake as from a dream,
+ How the ancients would be puzzled to behold
+ Arts, manufactures, coaches, ships, alike impell'd by steam;
+ Fire and water changing bubbles into gold.
+ Steam's universal properties are every day improving,
+ All you eat, or drink, or wear is done by steam;
+ And shortly it will be applied to every thing that's moving,
+ As an engine's now erecting to write novels by the ream.
+ Fine speeches in the parliament, and sermons 'twill deliver;
+ To newspapers it long has been applied;
+ In King's Bench Court or Chancery a doubtful question shiver
+ With an argument already "cut and dried."
+ Its benefits so general, and uses so extensive,
+ That steam ensures the happiness of all mankind;
+ We grow rich by its economy, and travel less expensive
+ To the Indies or America, without the aid of wind.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Here we are, then, on board the steam boat, huge clouds of smoke rolling
+ over our heads, and the reverberatory paddles of the engine just beginning
+ to cut the bosom of Southampton Water. Every where the eye of the
+ traveller feasts with delight upon the surrounding scenery and objects,
+ while his cranium is protected from the too powerful heat of a summer's
+ <span class="pagenum">[144]</span>sun by an elegant awning spread from
+ side to side of the forecastle, and under which he inhales the salubrious
+ and saline breezes, enjoying an uninterrupted prospect of the surrounding
+ country. On the right, the marine villas of Sir Arthur Pagett and Sir
+ Joseph Yorke, embowered beneath the most luxuriant foliage, claim the
+ notice of the traveller; and next the antique ruins of Netley Abbey peep
+ out between the portals of a line of rich majestic trees, bringing to the
+ reflective mind reminiscences of the past, of the days of superstition and
+ of terror, when the note of the gloomy bell reverberated through the
+ arched roofs the funeral rite of some departed brother, and, lingering,
+ died in gentle echoings beneath the vaulted cloisters, making the monkish
+ solitude more horrible; but now, as Keate has sung,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Mute is the matin bell, whose early call
+ Warn'd the gray fathers from their humble beds;
+ No midnight taper gleams along the wall,
+ Or round the sculptured saint its radiance sheds."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ At the extremity of the New Forest, and commanding the entrance to the
+ river, the picturesque fort called Calshot Castle stretches forth, like
+ the Martello Towers in the Bay of Naples, an object of the most romantic
+ appearance; and at a little distance from it rises the stately tower of
+ Eaglehurst, with its surrounding pavilions and plantations. To the
+ westward is the Castle of Hurst; and now opens to the astonished
+ traveller's view the Wight, extending eastward and westward far as the eye
+ can compass, but yet within its measurement from point to point.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ &mdash;&mdash;&mdash;"Here in this delicious garden is
+ Variety without end; sweet interchange
+ Of hills and valleys, rivers, woods, and plains;
+ Now land, now sea, and shores with forests crown'd,
+ Rocks, dens, and caves."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The coast presents a combination of romantic, pastoral, and marine
+ beauties, that are deservedly the <span class="pagenum">[145]</span>theme
+ of admiration, and certainly no spot of the same extent, in the three
+ kingdoms, perhaps in the world, can boast of such a diversity of
+ picturesque qualities, of natural charms, and local advantages&mdash;attractions
+ which have justly acquired for it the emphatic distinction of the Garden
+ of England. Every where the coast is adorned with cottages or villas, hill
+ or vale, enriched by the most luxuriant foliage, and crowned in the
+ distance by a chain of lofty downs; while in front the coasts of Gosport
+ and Portsmouth, and that grand naval station for England's best bulwarks,
+ Spithead, present a forest of towering masts and streamers, which adds
+ much to the natural grandeur of the scene. As we near Cowes we are
+ delighted with a variety of striking objects: The chaste and
+ characteristic seat of Norris, the residence of Lord Henry Seymour,
+ massive in its construction, and remarkable for the simplicity of its
+ style and close approximation to the ancient castle. On the brow of the
+ hill the picturesque towers of East Cowes Castle rise from a surrounding
+ grove, and present a very beautiful appearance, which is materially
+ increased upon nearer inspection by the rapid spread of the deep-hued ivy
+ clinging to its walls, and giving it an appearance of age and solidity
+ which is admirably relieved by the diversity of the lighter foliage. On
+ the other side projects from a point westward Cowes Castle, the allotted
+ residence of the governor, but now inhabited by the Marquis of Anglesey
+ and his family, to whose partiality for aquatic sports Cowes is much
+ indebted for its increasing consequence and celebrity. The building
+ itself, although much improved of late, is neither picturesque nor
+ appropriate; but the adjoining scenery, and particularly the marine villas
+ of Lord Grantham and the late Sir J. C. Hippesley, have greatly increased
+ the beauty of the spot, which first strikes the eye of a stranger in his
+ progress to West Cowes from <span class="pagenum">[146]</span>Southampton
+ Water. The town itself rises like an amphitheatre from the banks of a
+ noble harbour, affording security and convenience for large fleets of
+ ships to ride at anchor safely, or to winter in from stress of weather, or
+ the repair of damages. But here ends my topographical sketches for the
+ present. The inspiring air of "Home, sweet Home," played by the steward
+ upon the key bugle, proclaims our arrival; the boat is now fast drawing to
+ her moorings at the Fountain Quay, the boatmen who flock along-side have
+ already solicited the care of my luggage, and the hand of my friend,
+ Horace Eglantine, is stretched forth to welcome my arrival at West Cowes.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The first salutations over with my friend Eglantine, I could not help
+ expressing my surprise at the sailor-like appearance of his costume. "All
+ the go here, old fellow," said Horace; "we must start that long-tailed gib
+ of yours for a nice little square mizen, just enough to cover your beam
+ and keep your bows cool; so bear a hand, my boy, and let us drop down easy
+ to our births, and when properly rigged you shall go on board my yacht,
+ the Rover, and we will bear away for the westward. Only cast off that sky
+ scraper of yours before the boom sweeps it overboard, and cover your main
+ top with a Waterloo cap: there, now, you are cutter rigg'd, in good
+ sailing trim, nothing queer and yawl-like about you." In this way I soon
+ found myself metamorphosed into a complete sailor, in appearance; and as
+ every other person of any condition, from the marquis downwards, adopted
+ the same dress, the alteration was indispensably necessary to escape the
+ imputation of being considered a Goth. Among the varied sports in which
+ the nobility and gentry of England have at any time indulged, or that
+ have, from the mere impulse of the moment and the desire of novelty,
+ become popular, none have been more truly national and praiseworthy than
+ the establishment of the Royal Yacht Club. The promotion <span
+ class="pagenum">[147]</span>of aquatic amusement combines the soundest
+ policy in the pursuit of pleasure, two points but rarely united; in
+ addition to which it benefits that class of our artizans, the shipwrights,
+ who, during a time of profound peace, require some such auxiliary aid; nor
+ is it less patriotic in affording employment to sea-faring men,
+ encouraging the natural characteristic of Britons, and feeding and
+ fostering a branch of service upon which the country must ever rely for
+ its support and defence in time of peril. To the owners it offers
+ advantages and attractions which are not, in other pursuits, generally
+ attainable; Health here waits on Pleasure,&mdash;Science benefits by its
+ promotion,&mdash;friends may partake without inconvenience or much
+ additional expense,&mdash;travel is effected with economy,&mdash;and
+ change of scene and a knowledge of foreign coasts obtained without the
+ usual privations and incumbrances attendant upon the public mode of
+ conveyance. By a recent regulation, any gentleman's pleasure yacht may
+ enter the ports of France, or those of any other power in alliance with
+ England, exempted from the enormous exactions generally extorted from
+ private and merchant vessels, as harbour and other dues,&mdash;a privilege
+ of no mean consequence to those who are fond of sailing. In addition,
+ there are those, and of the service too, who contend, that since the
+ establishment of the Royal Yacht Club, by their building superior vessels,
+ exciting emulation, and creating a desire to excel in naval architecture,
+ and also by the superiority of their sailing, the public service of the
+ country has been much benefited, particularly as regards our lighter
+ vessels, such as revenue cutters and cruizers. This club, which originated
+ with some gentlemen at Cowes in the year 1815, now comprises the name of
+ almost every nobleman and gentleman in the kingdom who keeps a yacht, and
+ is honoured with that of the sovereign, and other members of his family,
+ <span class="pagenum">[148]</span>as its patrons. Cowes Harbour is the
+ favourite rendezvous; and here in the months of July and August may be
+ seen above one hundred fine vessels built entirely for purposes of
+ pleasure, and comprising every size and variety of rigging, from a ship of
+ three hundred tons burthen to the yawl of only eight or ten. It was just
+ previous to that delightful spectacle, the regatta, taking place, when the
+ roads and town presented an unusually brilliant appearance, that I found
+ myself agreeably seated on board the Rover, a cutter yacht of about thirty
+ tons, who, if she was not fitted up with all the superiority of many of
+ those which surrounded me, had at least every comfortable and necessary
+ accommodation for half a dozen visitors, without incommoding my friend
+ Horace or his jovial crew.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ I had arrived at Cowes a low-spirited weakly invalid, more oppressed in
+ mind than body; but a few trips with my friend Eglantine to sea, on board
+ the Rover, and some equally pleasant rambles among the delightful scenery
+ which surrounds the bay of Cowes, had in one week's residence banished all
+ symptoms of dispepsia and nervous debility, and set the master of arts
+ once more upon his legs again. Some idea of my condition, on leaving <i>alma
+ mater</i>, may be obtained by the following effusion of my Muse, who, to
+ do her justice, is not often sentimental, unless when sickness presses her
+ too close.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ THE INVALID.
+
+ Light-hearted Mirth and Health farewell,
+ Twin sisters of my youthful days,
+ Who through life's early spangled dell
+ Would oft inspire my humble lays.
+
+ Fancy, cameleon of the mind,
+ The poet's treasure, life, and fame,
+ Thou too art fled, with wreath to bind
+ The budding of some happier name.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[149]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Oppression's sway, or fortune's frown,
+ My buoyant spirits once could bear;
+ But now chimeras press me down,
+ And all around seems fell despair.
+
+ With fev'rish dreams and frenzied brain,
+ When Hecate spreads her veil, I'm crost;
+ My body sinks a prey to pain,
+ And all but lingering hope is lost.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ With the return of health and spirits, Horace insisted I should write the
+ "L'Allegro" to this "Il Penseroso" effusion. So, finding the jade had
+ recovered her wonted buoyancy, I prayed her mount on gayest wing, and
+ having spread her pinions to the sun, produced the following impromptu.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ THE CONVALESCENT.
+
+ Welcome, thou first great gift below,
+ Hygeian maid, with rosy glow,
+ Thrice welcome to my call.
+ Let misers hug their golden store,
+ I envy none the servile ore;
+ To me thou art all in all.
+
+ Thou spring of life, and herald fair,
+ Whose charm dispels disease and care,
+ And yields a summer joy,
+ All hail! celestial seraph, hail!
+ Thou art the poet's coat of mail,
+ His mirth without alloy.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ There is a prepossessing something in the life of a sailor which improves
+ the natural attachment of Englishmen to every thing nautical; so much so,
+ that I never heard of one in my life who was not, after a single trip,
+ always fond of relating his hair-breadth perils and escapes, and of
+ seizing every opportunity to display his marine knowledge by framing his
+ conversation <i>ship shape</i>, and decorating his oratory with a few of
+ those lingual localisms, which to a landsman must be almost unintelligible
+ without the aid of <span class="pagenum">[150]</span>a naval glossary. A
+ fortnight's tuition under the able auspices of my friend Horace had
+ brought me into tolerable good trim in this particular; I already knew the
+ difference between fore and aft, a gib, a mainsail, and a mizen;could hand
+ a rope, or let go the foresail upon a tack; and having gained the good
+ opinion of the sailing captain, I was fast acquiring a knowledge how to
+ box the binnacle and steer through the Needle's Eye. But, my conscience!
+ as the Dominie says, I could never learn how to distinguish the different
+ vessels by name, particularly when at a little distance; their build and
+ rigging being to my eye so perfectly similar. In all this, however, my
+ friend Horace was as completely at home as if he had studied naval
+ architecture at the college; the first glance of a vessel was quite enough
+ for him: like an old sportsman with the pedigree of a horse or a dog, only
+ let him see her, through his glass head or stern, or upon a lee lurch, and
+ he would hail her directly, specify her qualities and speed, tell you
+ where she was built, and who by, give you the date of her register,
+ owner's name, tonnage, length and breadth of her decks, although to the
+ eye of the uninitiated there was no distinguishing mark about her, the
+ hull being completely black, and the rigging, to a rope, like every other
+ vessel of the same class. "For instance," said Horace, "who could possibly
+ mistake that beautiful cutter, the Pearl? See how she skims along like a
+ swan with her head up, and stern well under the wind! Then, look at her
+ length; there's a bowsprit, my boy! full half the measurement of her hull;
+ and her new mainsail looks large enough to sweep up every breath of wind
+ between the sea and the horizon. Then only direct your fore lights to her
+ trim; every rope just where it should be, and not a line too much; and
+ when she fills well with a stiff breeze, not a wrinkle in all her canvas
+ from the gib to the gaff topsail. Then observe how she dips in the bows,
+ and what a breadth she <span class="pagenum">[151]</span>has; why she's
+ fit for any seas; and if the Arrow ever shoots past her, I'll forfeit
+ every shot in my lockers." "Avast there! master Horace," said our master
+ at the helm, who was an old Cowes pilot, and as bluff as a Deal sea-boat;
+ "the Pearl is a noble sailer; but a bird can't fly without wings, nor a
+ ship run thirteen knots an hour without a good stiff breeze. If the light
+ winds prevail, the Arrow will have the advantage, particularly now she's
+ cutter rigged, and has got the marquis's old mainsail up to take the wind
+ out of his eye." "Ay, ay," said Horace, "you must tell that story to the
+ marines, old boy; it will never do for the sailors." "Mayhap, your honours
+ running right a-head with the Pearl, and betting your blunt all one way;
+ but, take an old seaman's advice; may I get no more rest than a dog-vane,
+ or want a good <i>grego</i>{1} in a winter's watch, if I don't think you
+ had better keep a good look-out for the wind's changing aft; and be ready
+ to haul in your weather-braces, and bear the back-stays abreast the
+ top-br'im, ere the boatswain's mate pipes the starboard-watch a-hoy."
+ "Tush, tush, old fellow," said Horace, with whom I found Lord Anglesey's
+ cutter stood a one at Lloyd's. "May my mother sell vinegar, and I stay at
+ home to bottle it off, if I would give a farthing per cent, to be ensured
+ for my whole risk upon the grand match! Mind your weather roll, master&mdash;belay
+ every inch of that. There now; look out a-head; there's the Liberty giving
+ chase to the Julia, and the Jack-o'lantern weathering the Swallow upon
+ every tack. His Grace of Norfolk won't like that; but a pleasure hack must
+ not be expected to run against a thorough-bred racer. There is but one
+ yawl in the club, and that is the little Eliza, that can sail alongside a
+ cutter; but then Sir George Thomas is a tar for all weathers&mdash;a true
+ blue jacket&mdash;every thing so snug&mdash;cawsand rig&mdash;no topmasts&mdash;all
+ so square and trim, that nothing of his bulk can
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 A watch-coat.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[152]</span>beat him." In this way my friend
+ Eglantine very soon perfected me in nautical affairs, or, to use his
+ expression, succeeded in putting a "timber head in the ship;" and the
+ first use I made of my newly acquired information was to pen a <i>jeu
+ d'esprit</i>, in the way of a circular in rhyme, inviting the members of
+ the Royal Yacht Club to assemble in Cowes-roads. The whim was handed about
+ in MS., and pleased more from its novelty than merit; but as it contains a
+ correct list of the club at this period, and as the object of the English
+ Spy is to perpetuate the recollections of his own time, I shall here
+ introduce it to the notice of my readers.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Clink2H_4_0015" id="Clink2H_4_0015">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ A CIRCULAR,
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ ADDRESSED TO THE MEMBERS OP THE ROYAL YACHT CLUB.
+ </h3>
+ <p>
+ Come, lads, bend your sails; o'er the blue waters thronging, In barks like
+ the sea-mew that skims o'er the lave; All you to the Royal Yacht squadron
+ belonging, Come, muster at Cowes, for true sport on the wave.{1} First our
+ king,{2} Heaven bless him! who's lord of the sea, And delights in the
+ sport of the circling wave, Commands you attend him wherever ye be, Sons
+ of ocean, ye loyal, ye witty, and brave. Here Anglesey,{3} Waterloo's
+ hero, shall greet ye;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 The club generally assemble in Cowes-roads about the
+ middle of July to commence their aquatic excursions, which
+ are continued
+
+ until after the Regatta in August.
+
+ 2 His Majesty is graciously pleased to honour the club by
+ becoming its patron.
+
+ 3 The Marquis of Anglesey is a principal promoter of this
+ truly British sport, and resides with his family at Cowes
+ Castle during the season. The Pearl cutter, 113 tons, and
+ the Liberty cutter, 42 tons, are both his property.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[153]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The Pearl, and the Liberty, cutters in trim, The Welds {4} in the Arrow
+ and Julia too meet ye, The match for eight hundred affording you whim.
+ Here Grantham{5} his Nautilus, steer'd by old Hollis, Shall cut through
+ the wave like a beautiful shell; And Symonds{6} give chase in the yawl the
+ Cornwallis, And Webster{7} the Scorpion manage right well; And Williams{8}
+ the younger, and Owen{9} his dad, From the shores of Beaumaris have run
+ the Gazelle; And Craven{10} his May-fly wings o'er like a lad That is used
+ to the ocean, and fond of its swell. Come, lads, bear a hand&mdash;here's
+ Sir George hove in sight, With his little Eliza{11} so snug and so trim;
+ Tan sails, cawsand rigg'd&mdash;for all weather she's tight; You must sail
+ more than well, if you mean to beat him. Then steady, boys, steady&mdash;here's
+ Yarborough's{12} Falcon, A very fine ship, but a little too large; And
+ here is a true son of Neptune to talk on, Vice-Admiral Hope,{13} K.CB. in
+ his barge.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 4 Joseph and James Welds, Esqrs., of Southampton, the
+ wealthy and spirited owners of the Arrow yawl, 85 tons, and
+ the Julia, 43 tons. These gentlemen evince the greatest
+ spirit in challenging and sailing any of the club.
+
+ 5 Lord Grantham, Nautilus, Cutter, 103 tons, a new and very
+ fast sailer.
+
+ Owner Vessel Class Tons
+
+ 6 Capt. J. C. Symonds, R.N. Adm. Cornwallis Yawl 22
+
+ 7 Sir Godfrey Webster Scorpion, Cutter 110
+
+ 8 T. P. Williams, Esq., Hussar, Schooner, 120
+ and the Blue-eyed Maid, Cutter, 39
+
+ 9 Owen Williams, Esq. Gazelle Cutter 87
+
+ 10 Earl Craven May-fly Yawl 39
+
+ 11 Sir George Thomas, Bart. Eliza Yawl 34
+
+ 12 Lord Yarborough Commodore Falcon Ship 335
+
+ 13 Vice-Admiral Sir W. Johnston Hope, K.C.B., who is here in
+ one of the Admiralty yachts.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[154]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Come, lads, spread your canvas for health and for pleasure,
+ For both are combined in this true British sport;
+ Come, muster in Cowes-roads without further leisure,
+ Blue jackets and trowsers for dresses at court.
+ See Deerhurst{14} his Mary sticks to like a lover,
+ And Lindegren's{15}Dove wings it over the main;
+ Powell's {16} Briton, 'tis very well known, is a rover,
+ In Union the Pagets{17}must ever remain;
+ Here's Smith's {18 }Jack o'lantern and Chamberlayne's Fairy,{19}
+ Earl Harborough's{20} Ann, and F. Pake's Rosabelle{21}
+ Lord Willoughby's {22} Antelope, Penleaze's {23}Mary,
+ And Gauntlet's{24}Water-sprite sails very well.
+ Come, jolly old Curtis,{25} bear up in your Emma,
+ Eight cheerily laden with turtle and port;
+ And Melville{26} set sail if you'd scape the dilemma
+ Of being too late for our aquatic sport.
+ See Norfolk {27}already is here in the Swallow,
+ And the Don Giovanni a challenge has sent,
+ Which Lyons {28} accepts, and intends to beat hollow,
+ That is if the Londoner should not repent.
+
+ Owner Vessel
+
+ 14 Viscount Deerhurst Mary
+
+ 15 J. Lindegren, Esq. Dove.
+
+ 16 J. B. Powell, Esq. Briton
+
+ 17 Right Hon. Sir A. Paget Union
+
+ 18 T. A. Smith, jun. Esq. Jack o'lantern
+
+ 19 W. Chamberlayne, Esq. Fairy
+
+ 20 Earl of Harborough Ann
+
+ 21 F. Pare, Esq. Rosabelle
+
+ 22 Lord Willoughby do Broke Antelope
+
+ 23 J. S. Penleaze, Esq. Mary
+
+ 24 Captain J. Gauntlet Water Sprite
+
+ 25 Sir William Curtis, Bart. Rebecca Maria, Yawl, 76 tons.
+ and Emma, Schooner, 132 tons.
+
+ 26 Lord Melville Admiralty Yacht 100
+
+ 27 Duke of Norfolk Swallow Yawl 124
+
+ 28 Captain Edmund Lyons (the polar navigator) had just
+ launched the Queen Mab.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[155]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ But look, what a crowd of fine yachts are arriving!
+ The Elizabeth,{29 }Unicorn,{30} Cygnet,{31} and Jane,{32}
+ The Eliza, Sabrina,{33} Madora,{34} all striving
+ To beat one another as coursing the main.
+ A fleet of small too, at anchor are riding;
+ The Margaret{35} Sapphire,{36} the Molly,{37} and Hind,{38}
+ The Orion,{39} and Dormouse{40} and Janette{41}abiding
+ The time when each vessel shall covet the wind.
+ Then, boys, bend your sails, and weigh for our regatta,
+ We've a Sylph?{42 and a Rambler{43} and a Merry Maid,{44}
+ A Syren{45} a Cherub{46} a Charlotte{47} and at her
+ A Corsair(48} who looks as if nothing afraid.
+ Here the Lord of the Isles{49} and freebooter Rob Roy,{50}
+ By a Will o' the Wisp{51} are led over the deep;
+
+ 29 J. Fleming, Esq.
+ Elizabeth
+
+ 30 H. Perkins, Esq.
+ Unicorn,
+
+ 31 J. Reynolds, Esq.
+ Cygnet
+
+ 32 Hon. William Hare
+ Jane
+
+ 33 James Maxie, Esq.
+ Sâbrina
+
+ 34 H. Hopkins, Esq.
+ Madora
+
+ 35 Hon. William White
+ Margaret
+
+ 36 James Dundas, Esq.
+ Sapphire
+
+ 37 Lieutenant-Colonel Harris
+ Charming Molly
+
+ 38 Capt. Herringham, R.N.
+ Hind
+
+ 39 James Smith, Esq.
+ Orion
+
+ 40. P. Peach, Esq.
+ Dormouse
+
+ 41 Capt. C. Wyndham, R.N.
+ Janette
+
+ 42 R. W. Newman, Esq.
+ Sylph
+
+ 43 J. H. Durand, Esq.
+ Jolly Rambler
+
+ 44 Joseph Gulston, Esq.
+ Merry-maid
+
+ 45 T. Lewin, Esq.
+ Syren
+
+ 46 T. Challen, Esq.
+ Cherub
+
+ 47 John Vassall, Esq.
+ Charlotte
+
+ 48 Corbett, Esq.
+ Corsair
+
+ 49 Colonel Seale
+ Lord of the Isles
+
+ 50 W. Gaven, Esq.
+ Rob Roy
+
+ 51 E. H. Dolatield, Esq.
+ Will o' the Wisp
+
+ And the Highland Lass{52} blushes a welcome of joy,
+ As alongside the Wombwell{53} she anchors to sleep.
+ Here the Donna del Lago{54} consorts with Rostellan,{55}
+ To the New Grove,{56} Lord Nelson{57} Louisa {58} attends,
+ Galatea{59} runs a Harrie{60} in chase of the Erin,{61}
+ And here with the Club List my Circular ends.
+
+ Owner Vessel Class Tons
+
+ 52 Lieut.-Gen. Mackenzie Highland Lass Yawl 25
+
+ 53 T. Harman, Esq. Wombivell Cutter 33
+
+ 54 S. Halliday, Esq. Lady of Die Lake Yawl 42
+
+ 55 Marquis of Thoruond Rostellan Schooner 60
+
+ 56 John Roche, Esq. New Grove Cutter 24
+
+ 57 Reverend C. A. North Lord Nelson Cutter 75
+
+ 58 Arch. Swinton, Esq. Louisa Yawl 24
+
+ 59 C. R. M. Talbot, Esq. Galatea Schooner 179
+
+ 60 Sir R. J. A. Kemys Harrier Schooner 36
+
+ 61 T. Allen, Esq. Erin Schooner 94
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[156]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "A right merrie conceit," said Horace, "and a good-humoured jingle that
+ must be gratifying to all mentioned, and will serve as a record of the
+ present list of the Yacht Club to future times. We must petition the
+ commodore to enter you upon the ship's books as poet-laureate to the
+ squadron: you shall pen lyrics for our annual club-dinner at East Cowes,
+ compose sea-chants for our cabin jollifications, sing the praises of our
+ wives and sweethearts, and write a congratulatory ode descriptive of our
+ vessels, crews, and commanders, at the end of every season; and your
+ reward shall be a birth on board any of the fleet when you choose a sail,
+ and a skin-full of grog whenever you like to command it. So come, old
+ fellow, give us a spice of your qualifications for your new office;
+ something descriptive of the science of navigation, from its earliest date
+ to the perfection of a first-rate man of war."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[157]</span> THE PROGRESS OF NAVIGATION, AN ORIGINAL
+ SONG;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Dedicated to the Members of the Royal Yacht Club.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ In the first dawn of science, ere man could unfold
+ The workings of nature, or valued dull gold;
+ Ere yet he had ventured to dare ocean's swell,
+ Or could say by the moon how the tides rose and fell;
+ A philosopher seated one day on the brink
+ Of the silvery margin thus took him to think:
+ "If on this side the waters are girted by land,
+ What controls the wide expanse, I'd fain understand."
+ Thus buried in thought had he ponder'd till now,
+ But a beautiful nautilus sail'd to and fro;
+ Just then a sly breeze raised the curls from his eyes,
+ And he woke from a dream to extatic surprise.
+ O'er his head a huge oak spread a canopy round,
+ Whose trunk being hollow, he levell'd to ground;
+ With a branch form'd a mast, and some matting a sail,
+ And thus rudely equipp'd dared the perilous gale;
+ Of the winds and the waves both the mercy and sport,
+ His bark was long tost without guidance to port,
+ And the storms of the ocean went nigh to o'erwhelm,
+ When the tail of the dolphin suggested a helm.
+ Ry degrees, the canoe to a cutter became,
+ And order and form newly-moulded the same,
+ Ropes, rigging, and canvas, and good cabin room,
+ A bowsprit, a mizen, a gib, and a boom.
+ From the cutter, the schooner, brig, frigate arose;
+ Till Britons, determined to conquer their foes,
+ Built ships like to castles, they call'd men of war,
+ The fame of whose broadsides struck terror afar.
+ Now boldly, philosophy aided by skill,
+ Bent his course o'er the blue waters sailing at will,
+ But dubious the track, for as yet 'twas unknown
+ How to steer 'twixt the poles for a north or south zone,
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[158]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Till the magnet's attraction, by accident found,
+ Taught man how the globe he could traverse around;
+ New worlds brought to light, and new people to view,
+ And by commerce connected Turk, Christian, and Jew.
+ All this while, father Neptune lay snug in his bed,
+ Till he heard a sad riot commence o'er his head,
+ Folks firing, and fighting, and sailing about,
+ When his godship popp'd up just to witness the rout;
+ It happen'd in one of those actions to be
+ When Europe combined fought the isle of the sea,
+ And, as usual, were conquer'd, sunk, fired, or run,
+ That old Neptune acknowledged each Briton his son.
+ "From this time," said his godship, "henceforth, be it known,
+ Little England's the spot for the ocean-king's throne;
+ And this charter I grant, and enrol my decree,
+ That my brave sons, the Britons, are lords of the sea."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "There's nothing like a good song," said Horace, "for conveying
+ information on nautical subjects, or promoting that national spirit which
+ is the pride and glory of our isle. I question if the country are not more
+ indebted to old Charles Dibdin for his patriotic effusions during the late
+ war, than to all the psalm-singing admirals and chaplains of the fleet put
+ together. I know that crab Gambier, and the methodist privateers who press
+ all sail to pick up a deserter from the orthodox squadron, do a great deal
+ of mischief among our seamen; for as Corporal Trim says, 'What time has a
+ sailor to palaver about creeds when it blows great guns, or the enemies of
+ his country heave in sight? a sailor's religion is to perform his duty
+ aloft and do good below; honour his king, love his girl, obey his
+ commander, and burn, sink, and destroy the foes of his country.' Here we
+ have an occasional exhibition of this sort on board the depot vessel in
+ the harbour, when the <i>Bethel</i> flag <span class="pagenum">[159]</span>is
+ hoisted, and the voice of the puritan is heard from East Cowes to
+ Eaglehurst; as if there were not already conventicles enough on shore for
+ those who are disposed to separate themselves from the established church,
+ without the aid of a floating chapel, furnished by the government agent to
+ subvert the present order of things. On this point, you know, I was always
+ a liberal thinker, but a firm friend to the church, as being essential to
+ the best interests of the state. An old college chum of ours, who has been
+ unusually fortunate in obtaining ecclesiastical preferment, thought proper
+ to send me a friendly lecture in one of his letters the other day on this
+ subject, to which I returned the following answer, and put an end to his
+ scruples, as I think, for ever: I have entitled it
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ THE UNIVERSALIST.
+
+ 'to a friend who questioned the propriety of his
+ religious opinions.
+
+ 'You ask what creed is mine? and where
+ I seek the Lord in holy prayer?
+ What sect I follow? by what rule,
+ Perhaps you mean, I play the fool?
+ I answer, none; yet gladly own
+ I worship God, but God alone.
+ No pious fraud or monkish lies
+ Shall teach me others to despise;
+ Whate'er their creed, I love them all,
+ So they before their Maker fall.
+ The sage, the savage, and refined,
+ On this one point are equal blind:
+ Shall man, the creature of an hour,
+ Arraign the all-creative Power?
+ Or, by smooth chin, or beard unshaved,
+ Decree who shall or not be saved?
+ Presumptuous priests, in silk and lawn,
+ May lib'ral minds denounce with scorn;
+ The reason's clear&mdash;remove the veil,
+ Their trade and interest both must fail.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[160]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ I hold that being worse than blind,
+ Where bigotry usurps the mind;
+ And more abhor him who for pelf,
+ Denouncing others, damns himself.
+ Look round, observe creation's work,
+ From Afric's savage to the Turk;
+ Through polish'd Europe turn your eye,
+ To where the sun of liberty
+ On western shores illumes the wave,
+ That flows o'er many a patriot's grave;
+ As varied as their skin's the creed,
+ By which they hope they shall succeed
+ In presence of their God, to prove
+ Their claim to his eternal love;
+ A claim that must and will have weight,
+ No matter what their creed or state.
+ By modes of faith let none presume
+ To fix his fellow-creature's doom.'"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "A truce with religion, Horace," said I; "it is a controversy that
+ generally ends in making friends foes, and foes the most implacable of
+ persecutors: with the one it shuts out all hope of reconciliation, with
+ the other breeds a war of extermination; so come, lad, leave theology to
+ the fathers&mdash;we that have liberal souls tolerate all creeds. More
+ hollands, steward: here's a glass to all our college acquaintance, not
+ forgetting grandmamma and the pretty nuns of Saint Clement's. Where the
+ deuce is all that singing we hear above, steward?" "On board the
+ Transport, your honour." "Ay, I remember, I saw the poor devils embark
+ this morning, and a doleful sight it was&mdash;one hundred of my
+ fellow-creatures, in the prime of life, consigned to an early grave,
+ transported to the pestilential climate of Sierre Leone: inquire for them
+ three months hence, and you shall find them&mdash;not where they will find
+ you&mdash;but where whole regiments of their predecessors have been
+ sacrificed, on the unhealthy shores&mdash;victims to the false policy of
+ holding what is worse than useless, and of enslaving the original owners
+ of the soil.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[161]</span>Liquor, and the reflection of their
+ desperate fortunes, have driven them mad, and now they give vent to their
+ feelings in a forced torrent of wild mirth, in which they would bury the
+ recollections of those they are parted from for ever. On the beach this
+ morning I witnessed a most distressing scene: wives separated by force
+ from their husbands, and children torn from the fond embraces of parents
+ whose parting sighs were all they could yield them on this side the grave.
+ 'Push off the boat, and, officer, see that no women are permitted on
+ board,' said the superintending lieutenant of the depot, with a voice and
+ manner hard and unfeeling as the iron oracle of authority. My heart
+ sickened at the sight, and the thrilling scream of a widowed wife, as she
+ fell senseless on the causeway, created an impression that my pitying Muse
+ could not resist recording.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'THE SOLDIER'S WIPE.
+
+ 'There's a pang which no pencil nor pen can express,
+ A heart-broken sigh which despondency breathes,
+ When the soul, overcharged with oppressive distress,
+ Of the tear of relief the sad bosom bereaves.
+ 'Twas thus on the shore, like a statue of grief,
+ The wife of the soldier her babe fondly press'd;
+ Not a word could she utter, no tear gave relief,
+ But sorrow convulsively heaved her soft breast.
+ Now nearer she presses&mdash;now severed for life
+ The waves bear the lord of her bosom from view;
+ Distraction suspends the red current of life,
+ And she sinks on the beach as he sighs out adieu.'"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "Zounds, old fellow, how sentimental you are growing!" said Horace: "you
+ must read these pathetic pieces to the marines; they will never do for the
+ sailors. Here, steward, bear a hand, muster the crew aft, and let us have
+ a tune, Jack's Alive, Malbrook, or the College Hornpipe;" an order that
+ was quickly carried into execution, as most of the <span class="pagenum">[162]</span>men
+ on board I found played some wind instrument, the effect of which upon the
+ stillness of the water was enchantingly sweet. During the occasional rests
+ of the band, Horace sung one of those delightful melodies, written in
+ imitation of Moore, for which he was celebrated when a boy at Eton.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ THE EVENING TIDE.
+
+ Tune&mdash;" The Young May Moon."
+ Whither so fast away, my dear?
+ The star of Eve is bright and clear,
+ And the parting day, as it fades away,
+ To lovers brings delight, my dear:
+ Then 'neath night's spangled veil, my dear,
+ Come list t' the young heart's tale sincere;
+ Yon orb of light, so chaste and bright,
+ Love's magic yields within her sphere.
+ Then through the shady grove, my love,
+ Let's wander with the cooing dove,
+ Till the starry night, to morning's light,
+ Shall break upon our wooing, love.
+ As life's young dream shall pass, my love,
+ Together let us gaily row,
+ And day by day, in sportive play,
+ Enjoy life's Meeting gloss, my love.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0023" id="Cimage-0023">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page163.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page163th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page163" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ It was on one of those warm evenings in the month of July, when scarcely a
+ zephyr played upon the wanton wave, and the red sun had sunk to rest
+ behind the Castle turrets, giving full promise of another sultry day, that
+ our little band had attracted a more than usual display of promenaders on
+ the walk extending from the Fort point to the Marine Hotel. With the
+ report of the evening gun, or, as Horace termed it, the <i>admiral's grog
+ bell</i>, we had quitted the cabin, and mustering our little party upon
+ deck, suffered the Rover to drift nearer in shore with the tide, that we
+ might enjoy the gratifying spectacle of more closely observing the young,
+ the beautiful, and the <span class="pagenum">[163]</span>accomplished <i>elegantes</i>
+ who traversed to and fro upon the beach to catch the soft whispers of the
+ saline air.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ At the Castle Causeway a boat had just landed a group of beautiful
+ children, who appeared clinging round a tall well-formed man, in a blue
+ jacket and white trowsers, resting a hand upon each of two fine boys
+ dressed in a similar style: he walked on, with a slight affection of
+ lameness, towards the Castle entrance, preceded by three lovely little
+ female fairies, who gambolled in his path like sportive zephyrs.&mdash;"There
+ moves one of the bravest men, and best of fathers, in his majesty's
+ dominions," said Horace&mdash;"the commander of the Pearl." "What," said
+ I, "the Marquis of Anglesey?" "The same&mdash;who here seeks retirement in
+ the bosom of his family, and without ostentation enjoys a pleasure, which,
+ in its pursuit, produces permanent advantage to many, and enables others,
+ his friends and relations, to participate with him in his amusements. We
+ are much indebted to the marquis for the promotion of this truly British
+ sport, who with his brothers, Sir Charles and Sir Arthur, were among the
+ first members of the Royal Yacht Club. The group of blue jackets to the
+ left, whom the marquis recognised as he passed, consist of that merry
+ fellow, Sir Godfrey Webster, who lias a noble yacht here, the Scorpion;
+ the commander of the Sabrina, James Manse, Esq. another jovial soul; the
+ two Williams's, father and son, who have both fine yachts in our roads;
+ Sir Charles Sullivan; and the Polar navigator, Captain Lyons, who has just
+ launched a beautiful little boat called the Queen Mab, with whom he means
+ to bewitch the Don Giovanni of London." "Who is that interesting female
+ leaning over the railings in front of the Gothic house, attended by a dark
+ pensive-looking swain, with a very intelligent countenance? Methinks there
+ is an air of style about the pair that speaks nobility; and yet I have
+ observed <span class="pagenum">[164]</span>they appear too fond of each
+ other's society to be fashionables." "That is the delightful Lady F. L.
+ Gower and her lord: I thought you would have recognised that star
+ instantly, from the splendid picture of her by Lawrence, which hangs in
+ the Stafford Gallery at Cleveland-house. The elegant group pacing the lawn
+ in front of the castellated mansion, on this side of Lord Gower, is the
+ amiable Countess of Craven and her family: the earl, that generous and
+ once merry-hearted soul, I lament to hear, is a victim to the gout; but it
+ is hoped a few trips on board the May-fly will restore him to health, and
+ the enjoyment of his favourite pursuit." "By my soul, Horace," said I,
+ "here comes a splendid creature, a very divinity, my boy: I' faith just
+ such a woman as might melt the heart of a corsair." "By my honour you have
+ hit the mark exactly," replied Eglantine, "for she is already the
+ corsair's bride, and Corbett feels, as he ought to do, not a little proud
+ of his good fortune. The raven-haired Graces accompanying that true son of
+ Neptune, Sir George Thomas, are daughters of the baronet, and, report
+ says, very accomplished girls. Now by all that's fascinating and charming,
+ hither comes the beautiful Miss Seymour, Mrs. Fitzherbert's <i>protégé</i>,
+ and his Majesty's little pet&mdash;an appellation I have often heard him
+ salute her by. The magnificent-looking belle by her side is a relation,
+ the charming Mrs. Seymour, acknowledged to be a star of the first
+ magnitude in female attractions. The three portly-looking gentlemen whose
+ grog-blossomed visages speak their love of the good things of this world
+ are the Admirals Scott and Hope, and that facetious of all funny senators,
+ Sir Isaac Coffin. If you are an admirer of the soft and the sentimental,
+ of the love-enkindling eye, and Madonna-like expression of countenance,
+ observe that band of Arcadian shepherdesses in speckled dresses yonder&mdash;Bristol
+ diamonds of the first and purest <span class="pagenum">[165]</span>water,
+ I assure you; and their respected father, the wealthy proprietor of
+ Miles's-court, Bristol, may well be delighted with his amiable and
+ beauteous daughters. The little dapper-looking man in the white hat yonder
+ is the liberal, good-tempered Duke of Norfolk; and the dashing <i>roué</i>
+ by his side, the legitimate heir to his title, is the Earl of Surrey,
+ whose son, the young Baron of Mowbray, follows hand in hand with Captain
+ Wollaston, an old man-of-war's man, who sails the Swallow cutter. The
+ female group assembled in front of the King's-house are the minor
+ constellations from East Cowes, and the congregated mixture of oddities
+ who grace the balconies of the Pavilion boarding-house comprise every
+ grade of society from the Oxford invalid to the retired shopkeeper, the
+ Messieurs <i>Newcomes</i> of the island." "A rich subject for a more
+ extended notice," said I, "when on some future occasion I visit Margate or
+ Brighton, where the diversity of character will be more numerous, varied,
+ and eccentric than in this sequestered spot." As the evening advanced, the
+ blue-eyed maid of heaven spread forth her silvery light across the glassy
+ surface of the deep, yielding a magic power to the soul-inspiring scene,
+ and, by reflection, doubling the objects on the sea, whose translucent
+ bosom scarcely heaved a sigh, or murmured forth a ripple on the ear; and
+ now, amid the stillness of the night, we were suddenly amused with the
+ deep-sounding notes of the key-bugle reverberating over the blue waters
+ with most harmonious effect. "We are indebted to that mad wag, Ricketts,
+ for this unexpected pleasure," said Horace; "he is an amateur performer of
+ no mean talent, and delights in surprising the visitors in this agreeable
+ manner." "Rover, a-hoy," hailed a voice from the shore; off went our boat,
+ and on its return brought an accession to our party of half a dozen right
+ merry fellows, among whom was that choice spirit, Henry Day, whose
+ facetious powers of oratory and whim are <span class="pagenum">[166]</span>universally
+ esteemed, and have often afforded us amusement, when enjoying an evening
+ among the eccentrics of London and the brilliants of the press, who
+ assemble for social purposes at the Wrekin. The Days are too well known
+ and respected as a family of long standing in the island to require the
+ eulogy of the English Spy, but to acknowledge their hospitality and
+ kindness he penned the following tribute ere he quitted the shores of
+ Vectis.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ LOVE, LAW, AND PHYSIC.
+
+ In Vectis' Isle three happy Days
+ By any may be seen:
+ First, James, who loves by social ways
+ To animate mirth's scene;
+ An honest lawyer, Henry, next
+ With speech and bottle plies you;
+ And when by fell disease perplex'd,
+ Charles physics and revives you.
+ "Love, law, and physic," here combine
+ To claim the poet's praise:
+ May fortune's sunbeams ever shine
+ On three such worthy Days.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ A few more songs and a few more grogs brought on the hour of ten; and now
+ our friends having departed to their homes, Horace and myself took a turn
+ or two upon deck, smoked out our cigars, conjured up the reminiscences of
+ our school-boy days, and having spent a few moments in admiration of the
+ starry canopy which spread its spangled brightness over our heads, we
+ sought again the cabin, drank a parting glass to old friends, turned into
+ our births, and soon were cradled by the motion of the vessel into sweet
+ repose. The events of the former evening, the novelty of the scene, and,
+ above all, the magnificence of Nature, as she appeared when viewed from
+ sea, in her diurnal progress through the transition <span class="pagenum">[167]</span>of
+ morning, noon, and night, all inspired my Muse to attempt poetic sketches
+ of the character of the surrounding island scenery. A delightful pleasure
+ I have endeavoured to convey to my readers in the following rhymes.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ MORNING IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT.
+
+ When o'er the foreland glimmering day
+ Just breaks above the eastern lulls,
+ And streaks of gold through misty gray
+ Dispels night's dark and vap'rous chills;
+ Then, when the landsman 'gins to mow
+ The perfumed crop on grounds above,
+ And sailors chant the "yeo, heave yeo,"
+ Then young hearts wake to life and love.
+ When still and slow the murmuring swell
+ Of ocean, rising from his throne,
+ O'erleaps the beach, and matin's bell
+ To prayer invites the college drone;
+ Then, when the pennant floats on high,
+ And anchor's weigh'd again to rove,
+ And tuneful larks ascend the sky,
+ Then young hearts wake to life and love.
+ When, by unerring nature's power,
+ Creation breaks the spell of night,
+ And plants their leaves expand and flow'r,
+ And all around breathes gay delight;
+ Then when the herdsman opes his fold
+ To let the merry lambkin rove,
+ And distant hills are tipt with gold,
+ Then young hearts wake to life and love,
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[168]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ NOON IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT.
+
+ When toiling 'neath meridian sun
+ The boatman plies the lab'ring oar,
+ And sportive nymphs the margin shun
+ Of ocean's pebble-parched shore;
+ Then when beneath some shadowy cliff,
+ O'er-hanging wood, or leafy vale,
+ The trav'ller rests, haul'd up the skiff,
+ Then lovers breathe their am'rous tale.
+ When Nature, languid, seems to rest,
+ Nor moves a leaf, or heaves a wave,
+ And Zephyrs sleep, by Sol caress'd,
+ And sportive swallows skim the lave;
+ Then, when by early toil oppress'd,
+ The peasant seeks the glen or dale,
+ Enjoys his frugal meal and rest,
+ Then lovers breathe their am'rous tale.
+ When close beneath the forest's pride
+ The upland's group of cattle throng,
+ And sultry heat dissevers wide
+ The feather'd host of tuneful song;
+ Then when a still, dead, settled calm
+ O'er earth, and air, and sea prevail,
+ And lull'd is ev'ry spicy balm,
+ Then lovers breathe their am'rous tale.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[169]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ EVENING IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT.
+
+ When twilight tints with sober gray
+ The distant hills, and o'er the wave
+ The mellow glow of parting day
+ Crimsons the shipwreck'd sailor's grave;
+ Then when the sea-bird seeks the mast,
+ And signal lights illume the tower,
+ And sails are furl'd, and anchors cast,
+ Then, then is love's delicious hour.
+ When o'er the beach the rippling wave
+ Breaks gently, heaving to and fro,
+ Like maiden bosoms, ere the knave
+ Of hearts has ting'd their cheek with woe;
+ Then, when the watch their vigils keep,
+ And grog, and song, and jest have power
+ To laugh to scorn the peril'd deep,
+ Then, then is love's delicious hour.
+ When Cynthia sheds her mystic light
+ In silv'ry circles o'er the main;
+ And Hecate spreads her veil of night
+ O'er hearts that ne'er may meet again;
+ Then, Anna, blest with thee, I stray
+ 'Mid scenes of bliss&mdash;through nature's bower;
+ While eve's star guides us on our way,
+ Then, then is love's delicious hour.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ It has often been observed by inquisitive travellers, that in most of our
+ country villages not only the three best houses are inhabited by the
+ lawyer, the parson, and the doctor, but three-fourths of the whole
+ property of the place is generally monopolized by the same disinterested
+ triumvirate: however true the satire <span class="pagenum">[170]</span>may
+ be in a general sense, it certainly does not apply to Cowes, where the
+ liberal professions are really practised by liberal minds, and where the
+ desire to do good outweighs the desire to grow rich. But the good people
+ of Cowes are not without their nabobs; for instance, the eastern shores of
+ the river are under the dominion of Lord Henry Seymour and Mr. Nash, who
+ there rule over their humble tenantry with mild paternal sway. On the
+ western side, the absolute lords of the soil are Messrs. Bennett and Ward:
+ the first, like other great landed proprietors, almost always an absentee;
+ and the last somewhat greedy to grapple at every thing within his reach.
+ "Who does that fine park and mansion belong to?" said a stranger,
+ surveying Northwood from the summit of the hill. "King George," replied
+ the islander. "And who owns the steam-boats, which I now see arriving?"
+ "King George," reiterated the fellow. "And who is the largest proprietor
+ of the surrounding country?" "King George." "Indeed!" said the stranger,
+ "I was not aware that the crown lands were so extensive in the Wight. Have
+ you much game?" "Ees, ees." "And who is the lord of the manor?" "King
+ George." "And these new roads I see forming, are they also done by King
+ George?" "Ees, ees, he ought to gi' us a few new ones, I think; bekase Ize
+ zure he's stopped up enou of our old ones." "What, by some new inclosure
+ act, I suppose?" "Naye, naye, by some old foreclosure acts, I expect."
+ "Why, you do not mean to say that our gracious sovereign is a money-lender
+ and mortgagee?" "No; but our ungracious king be the', and a money-maker
+ too." "Fellow, take care; you are committing treason against the Lord's
+ anointed." "Ees, ees, he be a 'nointed one, zure enou," retorted the
+ fellow, laughing outright in the traveller's face. "Sirrah," said the
+ offended stranger, "I shall have you taken before a justice." "Ees, ees,
+ Ize heard o' them ere chaps at East Cowes, but Ize <span class="pagenum">[171]</span>not
+ much respect for 'em." "Not care for the magistrate!" "Lord love you,&mdash;you
+ be one of the Mr. Newcome, Ize warrant me; why, we've gotten no zuch
+ animal here, nothing o' sort nearer as Newport; and lawyer Day can
+ out-talk the best of them there, whenever he likes." "There must be some
+ mistake here," said the stranger, cooling a little of his choler: "did you
+ not tell me, fellow, that the king of England owned all the land here, and
+ the steam-boats, and the manor, and the town, and the people, and&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-."
+ "Hold, hold thee there," said the islander; "I said, King George; and here
+ he comes, in his four-wheeled calabash, and before he undertakes to give
+ us any more new roads, I wish he'd set about mending his own queer ways"
+ However strong the current of prejudice may run against Squire Ward in the
+ island, among a few of the less wealthy residents, it must be admitted,
+ that he is hospitable even to a proverb, a sincere and persevering friend,
+ and a liberal master to his tenantry: the Christmas festivities at
+ Northwood, when the poor are plentifully regaled with excellent cheer,
+ smacks of a good old English custom, that shall confer upon the donor
+ lasting praise, and hand down his name to posterity with better chance of
+ grateful remembrance than all his mine of wealth can purchase; there are
+ some well authenticated anecdotes in circulation of George Ward, which
+ prove that he has, with all his eccentricities,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "A tear for pity, and a hand, open as day, to melting charity."
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+To his enterprising spirit Cowes is indebted for much of its present
+popularity, the facility of travelling to and from the island being
+greatly aided by the steamboats (his property) from Portsmouth and
+Southampton; but much yet remains to be done by the inhabitants
+themselves, if they wish to secure their present high partronage, and
+increase with succeeding seasons the number of their visitors. The
+promenade, admirably situate for the enjoyment of the sea <span class="pagenum">[172]</span>breeze,
+and the delightful spectacle of a picturesque harbour filled with
+a forest of beautiful pleasure yachts, is of an evening generally
+obstructed by the assemblage of a juvenile band of both sexes, of
+the very lowest description, who render it utterly impossible for the
+delicate ear of female propriety to hazard coming in contact with their
+boisterous vulgarities. The beautiful walk round the Castle battery
+is wholly usurped by this congregated mass of rabble; and yet the
+appointment of a peace-officer, a useful animal I never once saw at
+Cowes, would remove the objection, and preserve a right of way and
+good order among the crowd that would at least render it safe, if not
+pleasant, to traverse the extended shore. The visit of their royal
+highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to John Nash, Esq. the
+eminent architect, at East Cowes Castle, gave a new lustre to the
+enchanting scene, and afforded the English Spy a favourable opportunity
+for completing his sketches of the scenery and character of the island.
+Among the festivities which the presence of the royal visitors gave
+birth to, the most attractive and delightful was the grand <i>déjeuné a la
+fourchette</i>, given at St. Lawrence by the commodore of the Yacht Club,
+the Right Honourable Lord Yarborough. The invitations to meet the royal
+party were very general, including all of note and respectability on the
+island, and extending to the number of six hundred persons, for whom
+a most liberal and princely banquet was prepared upon the lawn of a
+delightful cottage, near his seat of Appuldurcombe. The spot selected
+for this entertainment was situated under a bold line of cliffs,
+extending in a semicircular form for above a mile in length, and
+inclosing one of the most romantic of nature's variegated scenes,
+abounding with hill, and dale, and rich umbrageous foliage, delightfully
+increased by the inspiring freshness of the sea breeze, and the unbroken
+view of the Channel in front, and <span class="pagenum">[173]</span>rendered still more attractive
+and picturesque by the numerous tents and temporary pavilions which had
+been erected for the accommodation of the visitors, spreading over
+a line of ground like an encampment in the Pyrenees, a similitude of
+feature that was more powerfully increased when the well-concerted echo
+of the signal bugles resounded from hill to hill, and the cannon's loud
+report, from the battery beneath, reverberating through the surrounding
+hill and dale, proclaimed for many a mile the gladsome tidings of the
+approach of royalty. The scene was, beyond description, magnificent;
+the assemblage of fashionables included a long list of noble and
+distinguished persons, who, on the approach of the duke and duchess,
+congregated upon an eminence, immediately opposite the entrance to the
+lawn, and by their loyal cheers, and smiles, and birthday suits, gave
+honest welcome to their monarch's brother, and in the fulness of their
+hearty zeal, paid a grateful tribute to their absent king. The ungenial
+state of the morning's weather had prevented many of the yachts from
+coming round, but a few jolly hearts had weathered the Needles, and
+displayed their loyalty by decorating their vessels with all the colours
+of all the nations of the world. At an appointed signal the tents were
+thrown open, and the royal party having retired to the pavilion, the
+company sat down to an entertainment, where a profusion of choice wines
+and viands covered the extended line; then commenced the interchange of
+bright eyes and soft sayings, and the rosy blush of maiden beauty tinged
+the cheek of many a sylphic form as the accomplished beau challenged the
+fair to wine with him, and many a heart from that day's sportive scene
+shall date the first impression of the soveieign passion which blends
+with life's red current all of happiness or misery here below. The
+repast over, the company again met the royal party and promenaded on
+the lawn, and while thus <span class="pagenum">[174]</span>engaged, a new delight was prepared for
+them&mdash;a scene not less congenial than peculiar to the English character,
+and one which may well uplift that honest pride of country which ever
+animates a Briton's heart. The tables being again replenished, the
+peasantry of the surrounding districts were admitted and regaled with
+unrestricted hospitality.
+
+ And round the gay board cheerful Industry shone,
+ In a pureness and brightness to wealth oft unknown;
+ 'Twas a feast where a monarch might wish to preside,
+ For the cottager's comfort's his country's pride;
+ And Benevolence smiled on the heart-moving scene,
+ And music and beauty enlivened the green,
+ While the labourer, gratefully raising the glass,
+ Gave his king, then his donor, his dame, and his lass.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The commodore's liberality is proverbial; he had sold his old yacht, the
+ Falcon, and the new vessel was not likely to be launched this season, yet
+ he would not forego the pleasure of a grand fête, and as it could not be
+ given on board his own ship, according to annual custom, he seized upon
+ this opportunity of the royal visit to unite Loyalty and Friendship under
+ one banner, and it must be recorded, that he displayed an excellence of
+ arrangement which left no wish ungratified. An excursion round the island,
+ sailing in a westerly direction, is one of most delightful amusement to a
+ lover of the picturesque; the circuit is nearly eighty miles, every where
+ presenting new features of the most beautiful variety and romantic
+ scenery, a voyage we made in the Rover in about eight hours. Clearing
+ Sconce Point, which is the first object worthy notice from Cowes, you
+ perceive the cottage, battery, and residence of Captain Farrington on the
+ rise of the hill, and beyond are Gurnet and Harness Bays closely
+ succeeding one another, the shores above being well diversified with
+ foliage and richly cultivated grounds. From this station the coast
+ gradually sinks towards Newtown River, where the luxuriant woods of
+ Swainton are perceived rising in the distance, crowned by <span
+ class="pagenum">[175]</span>Shalfleet church and a rich country as far as
+ Calbourne, the landscape bounded by a range of downs which stretch to the
+ extremity of the island. The coast at Hamsted, the farm estate of John
+ Nash, Esq. presents a very bold outline, and approaching Yarmouth, which
+ has all the appearance of an ancient French fort, the view of the opposite
+ point, called Norton, is very picturesque, presenting a well-wooded
+ promontory, adorned with numerous elegant residences; from this spot the
+ coast begins to assume a very bold, but sterile aspect, composed of steep
+ rugged slopes, and dull-coloured earthy cliffs, till the attention of the
+ voyager is suddenly arrested by the first view of the Needle rocks,
+ situate at the termination of a noble promontory called Freshwater cliffs,
+ which extend along a line of nearly three miles, and at a part called
+ Mainbench are six hundred feet above the sea level, in some places
+ perpendicular, and in others overhanging the ocean in a most terrific
+ manner; at the extreme point, or Needles, is the light-house, where the
+ view of the bays and cliffs beneath is beyond description awfully sublime,
+ and the precipices being covered with myriads of sea-fowl of all
+ description, who breed in the crannies of the rocks, if called into action
+ by the report of a gun fill the air with screams and cries of most
+ appalling import; the grandeur of the scene being much increased by the
+ singularly majestic appearance of the Needle rocks, rearing their craggy
+ heads above the ocean, and giving an awful impression of the storms and
+ convulsions which must have shaken and devoured this once enormous mass.
+ Their present form bears no resemblance to their name, which was derived
+ from a spiral rock, about one hundred and twenty feet high, that fell in
+ the year 1764, and left the present fragments of its grandeur to moulder
+ away, like the base of some proud column of antiquity. On the opposite
+ coast is Hurst Castle, a circular fort, built by Henry <span
+ class="pagenum">[176]</span>the Eighth; and on the north side of the
+ promontory is Alum Bay, the most beautiful and unique feature of the sea
+ cliffs of Albion. For about a quarter of a mile from the Needles the
+ precipice is one entire glare of white chalk, which curves round to, and
+ is joined by a most extraordinary mixture of vertical strata, composed of
+ coloured sands and ocherous earths blending into every variety of tint,
+ and so vivid and beautiful in colour, that they have been not unfrequently
+ compared to the prismatic hues of the rainbow. It was on this spot the
+ Fomone, a frigate of fifty guns, returning home, after an absence of three
+ years, with some Persian princes on board, in June, 1811, struck upon the
+ rocks and went to pieces: the appearance of a wreck, in such an
+ extraordinary situation, must have formed a combination of grand materials
+ for the painter, that would be truly sublime. At Saint Catherine's, in the
+ cliffs, is the gloomy ravine called Blackgang Chine, which should be
+ visited by the traveller at sunset, when the depth of shade materially
+ increases the savage grandeur of its stupendous and terrific effect.
+ Tradition reports, that the awful chasm beneath was formerly the retreat
+ of a gang of pirates, from which it derived its name. The total absence of
+ vegetation, and the dusky hue of the soil, combined with the obvious
+ appearance of constant decay, the dismembered fragments, and the streamlet
+ to which it owes its origin, falling perpendicularly over a ledge of hard
+ rock from above seventy feet high, producing a wild echo in the cavity
+ beneath, all conspire to render it the most striking and astonishing of
+ Nature's wildest works. The view off the Sand Rock presents the tasteful
+ marine villas of Sir Willoughby Gordon and Mrs. Arnold, whose
+ well-cultivated grounds and rich plantations reach down to the sea shore.
+ Saint Lawrence brings to view the romantic cottage of Lord Yarborough,
+ succeeded by Steep Hill, the lovely retreat of the late Earl Dysart; <span
+ class="pagenum">[177]</span>the romantic flank of Saint Boniface Down, and
+ in the distance the fairy land of Bonchurch, whose enchanting prospects
+ and picturesque scenery have so often called forth the varied powers of
+ the painter and the poet, where sportive nature, clothed in her gayest
+ vest, presents a diversified landscape, abounding with all the delightful
+ combinations of rural scenery, of rich groves, and dells, and meads of
+ green, and rocks, and rising grounds; streams edged with osiers, and the
+ lowing herd spread over the luxuriant land. As you approach East End, you
+ perceive an extensive scene of devastation, caused by the frequent
+ landslips near to Luccombe Chine, and the romantic chasm of Shanklin, from
+ which spot Sandown comes next in view, and sailing under the towering
+ Culver cliffs we arrive at the eastern extremity of the island. At
+ Bimbridge a very dangerous ledge spreads out into the sea, and gaining
+ Brading Haven the old church tower of Saint Helen's proclaims you are fast
+ gaining upon that delightful watering-place, the town of Ryde, whose
+ picturesque pier, shooting forth into the ocean, and covered with groups
+ of elegant visitors, forms an object of the most pleasing description.
+ From this point the whole line of coast to Cowes wears a rich and
+ highly-cultivated appearance, being divided into wood, arable, and pasture
+ lands, diversified by the villas of Earl Spencer, Mr. G. Player, and Mr.
+ Fleming, when, having passed Wooten Creek, the next object is Norris
+ Castle; and now, having cleared the point, you are once more landed in
+ safety at the Vine Key, and my old friend, Mrs. Harrington, whose pleasant
+ countenance, obliging manners, and good accommodation, are the universal
+ theme of every traveller's praise, has already made her best curtsy to
+ welcome you back to Cowes.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The regatta was, indeed, a glorious scene, when the harbour was literally
+ filled with a forest of masts and streamers, the vessels of the Royal
+ Yacht <span class="pagenum">[178]</span>Club spread forth their milk white
+ canvas to the gale, many of those who were riding at anchor being
+ decorated from head to stem, over-mast, with the signal colours of most of
+ the squadron and the ensigns of the different nations. On the shore, and
+ round the castle battery, the congregated groups of lovely females
+ traversed to and fro, and the witchery of blight eyes and beauteous faces
+ upon the manly hearts of the sons of Neptune must have been magically
+ triumphant. The Pearl beat the Arrow, and the Julia the Liberty,&mdash;thus
+ equalizing the victory between the contending parties. The procession of
+ the pilot boats, about forty in number, was a very animated scene; and in
+ the sailing match of the succeeding day, our little craft, the Rover, came
+ in second, and received the awarded prize. The race ball at East Cowes
+ gave the young and fair another opportunity of riveting their suitors'
+ chains, and the revels of Terpsichore were kept up with spirit until the
+ streaking blush of golden morn shone through the dusky veil which Hecate
+ spreads around the couch of drowsy night. But the day of parting was at
+ hand; the last amusement of the time was a match made between Captain Lyon
+ and a Mr. Davey, of London, to sail their respective yachts, the Queen Mab
+ and the Don Giovanni, upon the challenge of the last mentioned, a
+ stipulated distance, for a sum of two hundred guineas&mdash;an affair
+ which did not, to use a sporting phrase, <i>come off well</i>, for the Don
+ most ungallantly refused to meet his fair opponent; and being wofully
+ depressed in spirits, either from apprehension of defeat, or sea sickness,
+ or some such fresh water fears, the little Queen was compelled to sail
+ over the course alone to claim the reward of her victory.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ And now the sports of the season being brought to a conclusion, and the
+ rough note of old Boreas and the angry groanings of Father Neptune giving
+ token of approaching storms, I bade farewell to Vectis, my <span
+ class="pagenum">[179]</span>friend Horace transporting me in his yacht to
+ Southampton Water. Reader, if I should appear somewhat prolix in my
+ descriptions, take a tour yourself to the island, visit the delightful
+ scenery with which it abounds, participate in the aquatic excursions of
+ the place, and meet, as I have done, with social friends, and kind hearts,
+ and lovely forms, and your own delightful feelings will be my excuse for
+ extending my notice somewhat beyond my usual sketchy style.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ FAREWELL TO VECTIS.
+
+ Blest isle, fare thee well! land of pleasure and peace,
+ May the beaux and the belles on thy shores still increase:
+ How oft shall my spirit, by absence opprest,
+ Revisit thy scenes, and in fancy be blest,
+ In the magic of slumber still sport on thy wave,
+ And dream of delights that I waken to crave.
+ Farewell, merry hearts! fare ye well, social friends!
+ Adieu! see the Rover her canvas unbends;
+ Land of all that is lovely for painting or verse,
+ Farewell! ere in distance thy beauties disperse,
+ Now Calshot is passed, now receding from view,
+ Once more, happy Vectis, a long, last adieu.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0024" id="Cimage-0024">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page179.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page179 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Clink2H_4_0016" id="Clink2H_4_0016">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ PORTSMOUTH IN TIME OF PEACE.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ <span class="pagenum">[180]</span>
+ </h3>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Where now are the frolicsome care-killing souls,
+ With their girls and their fiddlers, their dances and bowls?
+ Where now are the blue jackets, once on our shore
+ The promoters of merriment, spending their store?
+ Where now are our tars in these dull piping times?
+ Laid up like old hulks, or enlisted in climes
+ Where the struggle for liberty calls on the brave,
+ The Peruvians, the Greeks, or Brazilians to save
+ From the yoke of oppression&mdash;there, Britons are found
+ Dealing death and destruction to tyrants around;
+ For wherever our tars rear the banner of fame,
+ They are still the victorious sons of the main.
+
+ A Trip to Portsmouth on board the Medina Steam-Boat&mdash;The
+ Change from War to Peace&mdash;Its Consequences&mdash;The Portsmouth
+ Greys&mdash;The Man of War's Man&mdash;Tom Tackle and his Shipmate&mdash;
+ Lamentation of a Tar&mdash;The Hero Cochrane&mdash;An old
+ Acquaintance&mdash;Reminiscences of the past&mdash;Sketches of Point-
+ Street and Gosport Beach&mdash;Naval Anecdotes&mdash;"A Man's like a
+ Ship on the Ocean of Life."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "Bear a hand, old fellow!" said Horace Eglantine one morning, coming down
+ the companion hatchway of the Rover: "if you have any mind for a
+ land-cruise, let us make Portsmouth to-day on board the steamer, while our
+ yacht goes up the harbour to get her copper polished and her rigging
+ overhauled." In earlier days, while yet the light-heartedness of youth
+ <span class="pagenum">[181]</span>and active curiosity excited my boyish
+ spirit, I had visited Portsmouth, and the recollection of the scenes I
+ then witnessed was still fresh upon my memory. The olive-branch of peace
+ now waved over the land of my fathers; and while the internal state of the
+ country, benefited by its healing balm, flourished, revived, invigorated
+ and prosperous, Portsmouth and Gosport, and such like sea-ports, were
+ almost deserted, and the active bustle and variety which but now reigned
+ among their inhabitants had given way to desolation and abandonment: at
+ least such was the account I had received from recent visitors. I was,
+ therefore, anxious from observation to compare the present with the past;
+ and, with this view, readily met the invitation of my friend Horace
+ Eglantine. The voyage from Cowes to Portsmouth on board the steam-boat,
+ performed, as it now is, with certainty, in about an hour and a half, is a
+ delightful excursion; and the appearance of the entrance to the harbour
+ from sea, a most picturesque and imposing scene. The fortifications, which
+ are considered the most complete in the world, stretching from east to
+ west, on either side command the sea far as the cannons' power can reach.
+ Nor is the harbour less attractive, flanked on each side by the towns of
+ Gosport and Portsmouth, and filled with every description of vessel from
+ the flag-ship of England's immortal hero, Nelson, which is here moored in
+ the centre, a monument of past glory, to the small craft of the trader,
+ and the more humble ferry-boat of the incessant applicant, who plys the
+ passenger with his eternal note of "Common Hard, your honour."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ One of my companions on board the Medina was an old man of war's man,
+ whose visage, something of the colour and hardness of dried salmon,
+ sufficiently indicated that the possessor had weathered many a trying
+ gale, and was familiar with all the vicissitudes of the mighty deep. With
+ the habitual roughness of <span class="pagenum">[182]</span>his manners
+ was combined a singular degree of intelligence, and he evinced a
+ disposition to be communicative, of which I found it very agreeable to
+ avail myself. On approaching the harbour, my attention was arrested by the
+ sight of a number of boats rowed by men arrayed in a grotesque uniform of
+ speckled jackets, whose freights, to judge from appearances, must have
+ been of no common weight, as the rowers seemed compelled to use a degree
+ of exertion little inferior to that employed by galley-slaves. I inquired
+ of my nautical Mentor who these men were, and in what description of
+ service they were occupied. "Them, master," replied he, releasing the quid
+ from his mouth, and looking with his weather-eye unutterable things; "they
+ are the <i>Portsmouth Greys</i>." My countenance spoke plainly enough that
+ this reply had by no means made me <i>au fait</i> to the subject of my
+ question, and my informant accordingly proceeded&mdash;"Shiver my timbers,
+ mate, they are as rum a set, them boat's crews, as ever pulled an oar&mdash;chaps
+ as the public keeps out of their own pocket for the public good; and it's
+ been but just a slip, as one may say, between the cup and the lip, as has
+ saved a good many on 'em from being run up to the yard-arm. Some on 'em
+ forgot to return things as they <i>found</i> rather too easy, and some,
+ instead of writing their own name, <i>by mistake</i> wrote somebody's
+ else's; so government sent 'em here, at its own charge, to finish their <i>edication</i>.
+ You see the <i>floating academy</i> as is kept a purpose for 'em," said
+ he, pointing to the receiving-hulk for the convicts at this station, which
+ was lying in the harbour: "them as is rowing in the boats," added the
+ talkative seaman, "has been a getting stones, and ballast, and such like,
+ for the repairs of the harbour; they does all the rough and dirty jobs as
+ is to be done about the works and place&mdash;indeed, we calls 'em the <i>Port
+ Admiral's skippers</i>." I now fully understood the import of the term <i>Portsmouth
+ Greys</i>, which had before been an enigma to <span class="pagenum">[183]</span>me;
+ and comprehended that the unhappy beings before me were of
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ The ill-fated children of suff'ring and sin,
+ With conscience reproaching and sorrow within;
+ Bosoms that mis'ry and guilt could not sever,
+ Hearts that were blighted and broken for ever:
+ Where each, to some vice or vile passion a slave,
+ Shared the wreck of the mind, and the spirit's young grave.
+ Whose brief hist'ry of life, ere attain'd to its prime,
+ Unfolded a volume of madness and crime,
+ Such as leaves on the forehead of manhood a stain
+ Which tears over shed seek to blot out in vain;
+ A stain which as long as existence will last,
+ Embitt'ring the future with thoughts of the past.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ I might have indulged much longer in these reflections, but my musing mood
+ was interrupted by the Medina reaching her destination, and we disembarked
+ safely at Portsmouth Point.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0025" id="Cimage-0025">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page184.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page184th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page184" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ On landing, the worthy veteran, who had, by his confabulation during the
+ voyage, claimed, in his own opinion, a right of becoming my companion for
+ a time, a privilege which, in such a scene, and at such a place, it will
+ easily be believed I was not averse from granting him, proceeded along
+ with me <i>carpere iter comités parati</i>, up Point Street, and at one of
+ the turnings my friend made a sudden stop. "My eyes!" he exclaimed, "may I
+ perish, but that is my old messmate, Tom Tackle. Many's the can of flip
+ we've scuttled while on board the <i>Leander</i> frigate together; and
+ when we were obliged to part convoy and go on board different ships, there
+ was above a little matter of brine about both our eyes." At this moment
+ Tom Tackle came up with us: the warmth of affection with which his old
+ shipmate had spoken of him had interested me not a little in his favour,
+ and his mutilated frame spoke volumes in behalf of the gallantry he had
+ displayed in the service of his country. One eye was entirely <span
+ class="pagenum">[184]</span>lost; one coat-sleeve hung armless by his
+ side; and one vanished leg had its place superseded by a wooden
+ substitute. I gazed upon the "unfortunate brave" with mingled pity and
+ veneration; yet, so true is the observation of the ancient,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "<i>Res sunt humanæ flobilo ludibrium</i>"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ That is, human feelings and affairs are a singular compound of the
+ ludicrous and the lamentable, that I could not avoid giving way to my
+ mercurial disposition, and congratulating my fellow-voyager on the ease
+ with which he had recognized his old comrade by his present remaining
+ half. "Lord help your honour!" said he, "a seaman's weather-gauge is made
+ for squalls&mdash;foul weather or fair&mdash;in stays or out of trim&mdash;sailing
+ all right before the wind, or coming up under jury-masts; he's no tar that
+ cannot make out an old friend at a cable's length, and bring to without
+ waiting for signals of distress. Shiver my timbers, if I should not know
+ my old messmate here while there's a timber rib left in his hulk, or a
+ shoulder-boom to hang a blue jacket on. But, my toplights, Tom!" continued
+ he, "where's all the girls, and the tiddlers, and the Jews, and
+ bumboat-women that used to crowd all sail to pick up a spare hand ashore?
+ Not a shark have I seen in the harbour, and all the old grog-shops with
+ their foul-weather battens up and colours half-mast." "All in mourning for
+ Mr. Nap, shipmate," said Tom; "we've had no fun here since they cooped him
+ up on board the Bellerophon, and stowed him away at St. Helena. All the
+ Jews have cut and run, and all the bumboat-women retired upon their
+ fortunes; the poor landlords are most of them in the bilboes at
+ Winchester: and as for a pretty girl&mdash;whew!&mdash;not such an article
+ to be had at Point now, either for love or money: and all this comes of
+ the peace&mdash;shiver my odd forelight! mate, if it lasts much longer, it
+ will be the ruin of the navy.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[185]</span>How I long to hear the sound of the
+ boatswain's whistle once more! 'Up hammocks, boys&mdash;clear the decks,
+ and prepare for action! 'that's the way to live and be merry; then the
+ music of a good broadside pouring into an enemy's under-works, and cutting
+ her slap in two between wind and water&mdash;that's glory, my christian!
+ May I never taste grog again, if we are not all ruined by the peace.
+ There's only one fighting fellow left of the old stock of commanders, and
+ they have turned him out of the navy lest he should infect the
+ psalm-singers. Look out a-head there, shipmate; d'ye see that fine
+ frigate, the Peranga, now lying oft' Spithead, and can you ever forget
+ Basque Roads and the gallant Cochrane? I just got a glimpse of his figure
+ head t'other morning, coming up Point here; so I hauled to and threw my
+ shattered hulk slap across his headway, lowering my top-gallants as I
+ passed round under his bows. 'Officer,' said he, 'you and I should know
+ one another, methinks.' 'Success attend your honour,' said I; 'do you
+ remember your master-gunner when you captured the Spanish galleon, who
+ carried away a spar or two in the action?' 'What, Tom Tackier said he:
+ 'Heaven help thee, lad! I'd give the bounty of a good boat's crew if I
+ could put you into sailing-trim and commission again; but here, officer,
+ is something to drink to old acquaintance with, and if you can find your
+ way on board the Peranga to-morrow, I'll take care they don't throw you
+ over the ship's side before you have had a skinfull of grog: 'so seizing
+ fast hold of my single tin with both his grappling-irons, I thought he
+ would have shook it out of the goose-neck at parting; and when I went on
+ board next day, he treated me like a port-admiral, and sent me on shore
+ with every cranny well-filled, from my beef-tub to my grog-bucket, and put
+ a little more of the right sort o' stuff" in my jacket pockets to pay
+ harbour dues with. That's the commander for me! And now I hear, after
+ having taken <span class="pagenum">[186]</span>and destroyed all the
+ Spanish king's navy, he's off to give the Grand Signor a taste of his
+ quality. My forelights! how I should like to see him with his double rows
+ of grinders wide open, bearing down upon a whole fleet of Mussulmen&mdash;there'd
+ be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing o' teeth among the Turks! I wouldn't
+ give my wooden pin for the whole of the Grand Sultan's flotilla. But come,
+ shipmate, may I never want 'bacca, if we don't drink his health, and that
+ 'ere gemman you've taken in tow shall join us, if he likes." I was too
+ much amused to desire to part company just yet, and the good-humoured tars
+ perceiving my bent, linked themselves to each arm, and in this way,
+ laughing at the curiosity we provoked, did our party reach the middle of
+ Point-street, and brought ourselves to anchor under the head of old
+ Admiral Benbow, where Tom assured us we should be supplied with the best
+ of grog and ship-stores of the first quality. Horace had proceeded to
+ escort some ladies, whom he met with on board the steamboat, to the house
+ of a friend in the High-street, where I had appointed to meet him in the
+ space of an hour. Sitting myself down therefore with my two jovial
+ associates, I determined to humour the frolic which had brought me into
+ the society of such eccentric characters. "Shiver my timbers! Jem," said
+ the one-legged mariner, "but you never make any inquiries after Betsy
+ Bluff, among your other old friends. It's true, the wench has got spliced
+ again, to be sure; but then, you know, she waited three years, and had the
+ log-books overhauled first." "Ay, ay, Tom, so they say she did; but I
+ never believed 'em: howsomedever, that wasn't the worst of it; for having
+ got my will and my power in her possession, she drew all my pay and
+ prize-money, and when at last I got home from an enemy's keeping, I had
+ not a shot left in the locker to keep myself. But the mischief did not end
+ even there, for she disgraced me, <span class="pagenum">[187]</span>and
+ the British flag, by marrying a half-starved tailor, and setting him up in
+ the Sally port with the money that I had been fighting the enemies of my
+ country for. May I never get groggy again, if I couldn't have forgiven her
+ freely if she'd taken some honest-hearted fellow, like yourself, in tow,
+ who had got disabled in the service, or consorted with a true man of war's
+ man, all right and tight; but to go and lash herself alongside of such a
+ crazy land lubber as this ninth degree of manhood&mdash;may I never taste
+ 'bacca again if Bet's conduct is bearable! She's no wife of mine, Tom; and
+ when I go to pieces, a wreck in this world, may I be bolted into old
+ Belzy's caboose if she shall be a copper fastening the better for Jem
+ Buntline!" During the recital of this story the countenance of the old tar
+ assumed a fiery glow of honest indignation, and when he had finished the
+ tale, his fore lights gave evident signs that his heart had been long
+ beating about in stormy restlessness at the remembrance of his wife's
+ unfaithfulness. "Cheer up, messmate," said Tom; "I see how the land lies.
+ Come, fill your pipe, and I'll sing you the old stave I used to chant on
+ Saturday nights, when we messed together on board the Leander.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ A man's like a ship on the ocean of life,
+ The sport both of fair and foul weather,
+ Where storms of misfortune, and quicksands of strife,
+ And clouds of adversity gather.
+ If he steers by the compass of honour, he'll find,
+ No matter what latitude meets him,
+ A welcome in every port to his mind,
+ And a friend ever ready to greet him.
+ If love takes the helm in an amorous gale,
+ Of the rocks of deception beware,
+ Steer fairly for port, and let reason prevail,
+ And you're thus sure to conquer the fair.
+ For the Bay of Deceit keep a steady look out,
+ Steer clear of the shoals of distress,
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[188]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Yet ever be ready to tack and about
+ When the black waves of misery press.
+ Like a vessel, digest out in all colours, d'ye see,
+ Are the virtues and vices of life:
+ Blue and red are the symbols of friendship and glee,
+ White and black of ill-humour and strife.
+ True worth, like true honour, is born of no clime,
+ But known by true courage and feeling,
+ Where power and pity in unison chime,
+ And the heart is above double dealing."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0026" id="Cimage-0026">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page189.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page189th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page189" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Ay, Tom, now you're on the right tack&mdash;a good song, and a jovial
+ friend, and let the marines blubber about love and lullaby, it'll never do
+ for the sailors. As we are overhauling old friends, do you remember
+ Charley Capstan, the coxswain's mate of the Leander V "Shiver my timbers,
+ but I do; and a bit of tough yarn he was, too: hard as old junk without,
+ and soft as captain's coop meat within. Wasn't I one of the crew that
+ convoyed him up this very street when returning from a cruise off the
+ Straits, we heard that Charley's old uncle had slipt his cable, and left
+ him cash enough to buy out and build a ship of his own? That was a gala,
+ messmate! There was Charley, a little fat porpoise, as round as a
+ nine-pounder, mounted on an eighteen gallon cask of the real Jamaica,
+ lashed to a couple of oars, and riding astride, on his messmates'
+ shoulders, up to the Point. Then such a jolly boat's crew attended him,
+ rigged out with bran new slops, and shiners on their topmasts, with the
+ Leander painted in front, and half a dozen fiddlers scraping away 'Jack's
+ alive,' and all the girls decked out in their dancing dresses, with
+ streamers flying about their top-gallants, and loose nettings over their
+ breastworks&mdash;that was a gala, messmate! And didn't Charley treat all
+ Point to the play that night, and engage the whole of the gallery cabin
+ for his own friends' accommodation; and when the reefers in the hold
+ turned saucy, didn't you and two or three more <span class="pagenum">[189]</span>drop
+ down upon 'em, and having shook the wind out of their sails, run up the
+ main haliards again, without working round by the gangway?" "Right, Tom,
+ right; and don't you remember the illumination, when we stuck up ten pound
+ of lighted candles round the rim of the gallery before the play began, and
+ when Jane Shore was in the midst of her grief, Charley gave the signal,
+ and away they went, like a file of marines from a double broadside, right
+ and left, tumbling about the ears of the reefers and land lubbers in the
+ chicken coops below? Those were the days of glory, messmate, when old Jack
+ Junk, who had never seen a play before, took it all for right down arnest
+ matter o' fact; and when poor Mrs. Shore came to ask charity of that
+ false-hearted friend of hers, what was jealous of her, and fell down at
+ the door, overcome by grief and hunger, poor Jack couldn't stand it no
+ longer; so after suffering the brine to burst through the floodgates of
+ his heart, till he was as blind as our chaplain to sin, he jumped up all
+ at once, and made for the offing, blubbering as he went, 'May I be
+ blistered, if ever I come to see such cruel stuff as this again!' Then
+ didn't Stephen Collins, and Kelly, and Maxfield, the three managers, come
+ upon deck, and drink success to the Leander's crew, out of a bucket of
+ grog we had up for the purpose, and the ould mare of Portsmouth sent his
+ compliments to us, begging us not to break our own necks or set fire to
+ the playhouse? Another glass, Jem, to the crew of the Leander: don't you
+ remember the ducking ould Mother Macguire, the bum-boat woman, received,
+ for bringing paw-paw articles on board, when we came in to refit?" "May I
+ never want 'bacca, if I shall ever forget that old she crocodile! Wasn't
+ it her that brought that sea-dragon, Bet Bluff, on board, and persuaded me
+ to be spliced to her? shiver her timbers for it!" "Avast there! messmate,"
+ said Tom: "when you <span class="pagenum">[190]</span>can't skuttle an
+ enemy, it's best to sail right away from her hulk before she blows up and
+ disables her conqueror. May I never get groggy, if I shall ever forget the
+ joke between you and the old Sheenie, when you threatened to throw him
+ overboard for selling you a dumb time-keeper. 'Blesh ma heart,' said the
+ Jew, while his under works shook like a cutter's foresail going about,
+ 'how could you expect de vatch to go well, ven de ship vas all in
+ confushion?' an excuse that saved him from sailing ashore in a
+ skuttle-bucket." "Have you weathered Gosport lately?" inquired Jem: "there
+ used to be a little matter of joviality going forward there upon the beach
+ in war time, but I suppose it's all calm enough now." "All ruined by the
+ peace; and all that glorious collection of the kings and queens of
+ England, and her admirals and heroes, which used to swing to and fro in
+ the wind, when every house upon the beach was a grog-shop, are past,
+ vanished, or hanging like pirates in tatters; the sound of a fiddle never
+ reaches their ears; and the parlour-floors, where we used to dance and
+ sing till all was blue, are now as smooth and as clean as the decks of
+ Lord Nelson's flag ship, the Victory, which lies moored in our harbour,
+ like a Greenwich pensioner, anchored in quiet, to drop to pieces with old
+ age. You may fire a nine-pounder up the principal street at noon-day now
+ and not hurt any body; and if the peace lasts much longer, horses may
+ graze in their roads, and persons receive pensions for inhabiting the
+ vacant houses." The period within which I had promised to join Horace
+ Eglantine had now elapsed. It was no easy task to separate myself from my
+ nautical friends, and the amusement they had afforded me demanded some
+ acknowledgment in return; calling, therefore, for a full bowl of punch, we
+ drank success to the British navy, toasted wives and sweethearts, honoured
+ our gracious king, shook <span class="pagenum">[191]</span>hands at
+ parting, like old friends, and having promised to renew my acquaintance
+ before I left Portsmouth, I bade adieu to jolly Jem Buntline and what
+ remained of his noble messmate, the lion-hearted Tom Tackle.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Cimage-0027" id="Cimage-0027">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page191.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page 191 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <hr />
+ <p>
+ <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+ <h1>
+ EVENING, AND IN HIGH SPIRITS.
+ </h1>
+ <p>
+ A SCENE AT LONG'S HOTEL. <span class="pagenum">[192]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Sketches of Character&mdash;Fashionable Notorieties&mdash;Modern
+ Philosophy&mdash;The Man of Genius and the Buck&mdash;"A short Life
+ and a merry one "&mdash;A Short Essay on&mdash;John Longs&mdash;Long Corks
+ &mdash;Long Bills&mdash;Long Credits&mdash;Long-winded Customers&mdash;The
+ Ancients and the Moderns, a Contrast by Old Crony.
+
+ Ye bucks who in manners, dress, fashion, and shiny,
+ So often have hail'd me as lord of your gang&mdash;
+ "O lend me your ears!" whilst I deign to relate
+ The cause of my splendour, the way to be great;
+ My own chequered life condescend to unfold,
+ And give a receipt of more value than gold;
+ Reveal t' ye the spot where the graces all dwell,
+ And point out the path like myself to excel.
+ &mdash;Pursuits of Fashion.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Only contrive to obtain the character of an eccentric, and you may ride
+ the <i>free horse</i> round the circle of your acquaintance for the
+ remainder of your life. If my readers are not by this time fully satisfied
+ of my peculiar claims to the appellation of an <i>oddity</i>, I have no
+ hopes of obtaining pardon for the past whims and fancies of a volatile
+ muse, or anticipating patronage for the future wanderings of a restless
+ and inquisitive humorist. But my bookseller, a steady, persevering,
+ inflexible sort of personage, whose habits of business are as rigid as a
+ citizen of the last century, or a puritan of the Cromwell commonwealth,
+ has lately suffered the marble muscles of his frigid countenance to unbend
+ with a sort of mechanical <span class="pagenum">[193]</span>inclination to
+ an expression of&mdash;what shall I say&mdash;lib&mdash;lib&mdash;liberality;
+ no, no, that will never do for a bookseller&mdash;graciousness&mdash;ay,
+ that's a better phrase for the purpose; more characteristic of his manner,
+ and more congenial to my own feelings. Well, to be plain then, whenever a
+ young author can pass through an interview with the headman of the firm
+ without hearing any thing in the shape of melancholy musings, serious
+ disappointments, large numbers on hand, doubtful speculation, and such
+ like pleasant innuendoes, he may rest satisfied that his book is selling
+ well, and his publisher realizing a fair proportion of profit for his
+ adventurous spirit. I am just now enjoying that pleasant gratification,
+ the reflection of having added to my own comforts without having detracted
+ from the happiness of others. In short, my scheme improves with every
+ fresh essay, and my friend Bob Transit, who has just joined me in a bottle
+ of iced claret at Long's, has been for some minutes busily engaged in
+ booking mine host and his exhibits; while I, under pretence of writing a
+ letter, have been penning this introduction to a chapter on fashion and
+ its follies, annexing thereunto a few notes of characters, that may serve
+ to illustrate that resort of all that is exquisite and superlative in the
+ annals of high ton. "Evening, and in High Spirits," &mdash;a scene worthy
+ of the acknowledged talent of the artist, and full of fearful and
+ instructive narrative for the pen of the English Spy. Seated snugly in one
+ corner of Long's new and splendid coffee-room, we had resolved on our
+ entering to depart early; but the society we had the good fortune to be
+ afterwards associated with might have tempted stronger heads than those of
+ either Bob Transit the artist, or Bernard Blackmantle the moralist.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0001" id="Dimage-0001">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page193.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page193th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page193" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Waiter, bring another bottle of iced claret, and tell Long to book it to
+ the king's lieutenant." "By the honour of my ancestry," said the
+ Honourable Lillyman Lionise, "but I am devilishly cut already."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[194]</span>"You do well, mighty well, sir, to swear
+ by the honour of your ancestors; for very few of your modern stars have a
+ ray of that same meteoric light to illumine their own milky way."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "That flash of your wit, lieutenant, comes upon one like the electric
+ shock of an intended insult, and I must expect you will apologize."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Then I fear, young valiant, you will die of the disease that has killed
+ more brave men than the last twenty years' war."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "And what is that, sir, may I ask?"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Expectation, my jewel! I've breakfasted, dined, supped, and slept upon it
+ for the last half century, and am not one step higher in the army list
+ yet."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "But, lieutenant, let me observe that&mdash;that&mdash;"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "That we are both pretty nigh bosky, and should not therefore be too
+ fastidious in our jokes over the bottle."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Enter Waiter. "The claret, gentlemen. Mr. Long's compliments, and he
+ requests permission to assure you that it is some of the late Duke of
+ Queensberry's choice stock, marked A one."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Which signifies, according to Long's edition of Cocker, that we must pay
+ double for the liqueur. Come, Lionise, fill a bumper; and let us tails of
+ the lion toast our caput, the sovereign, the first corinthian of his day,
+ and the most polished prince in the world."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Tiger, Tiger,"{1} ejaculated a soft voice in the adjoining box; "ask Tom
+ who the trumps are in the next stall, and if they are known here, tell
+ them the Honourable Thomas Optimus fills a bumper to their last toast."
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 Since the death of the Earl of Barrymore, Tom has
+ succeeded to the "vacant chair" at Long's; nor is the Tiger
+ Mercury the only point in which he closely resembles his
+ great prototype.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[195]</span>A smart, clever-looking boy of about
+ fifteen years of age darted forward to execute the honourable's commands;
+ when having received the requisite information from the waiter, he
+ approached the lieutenant and his friend, and with great politeness, but
+ no lack of confidence, made the wishes of his master known to the <i>bon
+ vivants</i>; the consequence was, an immediate interchange of civilities,
+ which brought the honourable into close contact with his merry neighbours;
+ and the result, a unanimous resolution to make a night of it.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ At this moment our <i>tête-à-tête</i> was interrupted by the appearance of
+ old Crony, who, stanch as a well-trained pointer to the scent of game, had
+ tracked me hither from my lodgings; from him I learned the lieutenant was
+ a fellow of infinite jest and sterling worth; a descendant of the
+ O'Farellans of Tipperary, whose ancestry claimed precedence of King Bryan
+ Baroch; a specimen of the antique in his composition, robust, gigantic,
+ and courageous; time and intestine troubles had impaired the fortunes of
+ his house, but the family character remained untainted amid the
+ conflicting revolutions that had convulsed the emerald isle. Enough,
+ however, was left to render the lieutenant independent of his military
+ expectations: he had joined the army when young; seen service and the
+ world in many climates; but the natural uncompromising spirit which
+ distinguished him, partaking perhaps something too much of the pride of
+ ancestry, had hitherto prevented his soliciting the promotion he was
+ fairly entitled to. Like a majority of his countrymen, he was cold and
+ sententious as a Laplander when sober, and warm and volatile as a
+ Frenchman when in his cups; half a dozen duels had been the natural
+ consequence of an equal number of intrigues; but although the scars of
+ honour had seared his manly countenance, his heart and person were yet
+ devoted to the service of the ladies. Fame had trumpeted forth his prowess
+ in the wars of <span class="pagenum">[196]</span>Venus, until notoriety
+ had marked him out an object of general remark, and the king's lieutenant
+ was as proud of the myrtle-wreath as the hero of Waterloo might be of the
+ laurel crown.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But see, the door opens; how perfumed, what style! Long bows to the earth.
+ What an exquisite smile! Such a coffee-house visitor banishes pain: While
+ Optimus rising, cries "Welcome, Joe Hayne! May you never want cash, boy&mdash;here,
+ waiter, a glass; Lieutenant, you'll join us in toasting a lass. I'll give
+ you an actress&mdash;Maria the fair." "I'll drink her; but, Tom, you have
+ ruined me there. By my hopes! I am blown, cut, floor'd, and rejected, At
+ the critical moment, sirs, when I expected To revel in bliss. But, here's
+ white-headed Bob, My prime minister; he shall unravel the job. And if
+ Jackson determines you've not acted well, I'll mill you, Tom Optimus,
+ though you're a swell." "Sit down, Joe; be jolly&mdash;'twas Carter alone
+ That has every obstacle in your way thrown. Nay, never despair, man&mdash;you'll
+ yet be her liege; But rally again, boy, you'll carry the siege." Thus
+ quieted, Joe sat him down to get mellow; For Joe at the bottom's a hearty
+ good fellow.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Have you heard the report," said Optimus, "that Harborough is actually
+ about to follow your example, and marry an actress? ay, and his old flame,
+ Mrs. Stonyhewer, is ready to die of love and a broken heart in
+ consequence."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Just as true, my jewel, as that I shall be gazetted field-marshal; or
+ that you, Mr. Optimus, will be accused of faithfulness to Lady Emily. Our
+ young friend here, the rich commoner, has given currency to such a variety
+ of common reports, that the false jade grows bold enough to beard us in
+ our very teeth."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Why, zounds! lieutenant," said Lionise, "how very sentimental you are
+ becoming."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "It's a way of mine, jewel, to appear singular in some sort of society."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[197]</span>"And satirical in all, I'll vouch for
+ you, lieutenant;" said Optimus.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "By Jasus, you've hit it! if truth be satire, it's a language I love,
+ although it's not very savoury to some palates."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Will the duke marry the banker's widow, Joel that's the grand question at
+ Tattersall's, now your match with Maria's off, and Earl Rivers's
+ greyhounds are disposed of. Only give me the office, boy, in that
+ particular, and I'll give you a company to-morrow, if money will purchase
+ one; and realize a handsome fortune by betting on the event."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Then I'll bet Cox and Greenwood's cash account against the
+ commander-in-chief's, that the widow marries a Beau-clerc, becomes in due
+ time Duchess of St. Alban's, and dies without issue, leaving her immense
+ property as a charitable bequest to enrich a poor dukedom; and thus,
+ having in earlier life degraded one part of the peerage, make amends to
+ the Butes, the Guildfords, and the Burdetts, by a last redeeming act to
+ another branch of the aristocracy."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "At it again, lieutenant; firing ricochet shot, and knocking down duck and
+ drake at the same time."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Sure, that has been the great amusement of my life; in battle and abroad
+ I have contrived to knock down my share of the male enemies of my country;
+ in peace and at home I've a mighty pleasant knack of winging a few female
+ bush fighters."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "But the widow, my dear fellow, is now a woman of high {2} character; has
+ not the moral Marquis of Hertford undertaken to remove all &mdash;&mdash;&mdash;and
+ disabilities? and did he not introduce the lady to the fashionable world
+ at his own hotel, the Piccadilly (peccadillo) Guildhall? Was not the fête
+ at Holly Grove attended by H.R.H. the Duke of York, and Mrs. C&mdash;y,
+ and all the virtuous portion of our nobility? and has she not since been
+ admitted to the parties at the Duke of "Query&mdash;did Mr. Optimus mean
+ <i>high</i> as game is <i>high</i>?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[198]</span>Devonshire's, and what is still more
+ wonderful, been permitted to appear at court, and since, in the royal
+ presence, piously introduced to the whole bench of Bishops?"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "By Jasus, that's true; and I beg belle Harriette's pardon. But, I well
+ remember, I commanded the cityguard in the old corn-market, Dublin, on the
+ very night her reputed father, jolly Jack Kinnear, as the rebels called
+ him, contrived to wish us good morning very suddenly, and took himself off
+ to the sate of government."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ I shall be obliged to entertain the world with a few of her eccentricities
+ some day or other; the ghost of poor Ralph Wewitzer cries loudly for
+ revenge. The sapient police knight, when he <i>secured the box of letters</i>
+ for his patroness, little suspected that they had all been <i>previously
+ copied</i> by lieutenant Terence O'Farellan of the king's own. A mighty
+ inquisitive sort of a personage, who will try his art to do her justice,
+ spite of "leather or prunella."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The party was at this moment increased by the arrival of Lord William, on
+ whose friendly arm reposed the Berkley Adonis&mdash;"<i>par nobile fratrum</i>."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Give me leave, lieutenant," said his lordship, "to introduce my friend
+ the colonel." "And give me leave," whispered Optimus, "to withdraw my
+ friend Hayne, for 'two suns shine not in the same hemisphere.'"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "The man that makes a move in the direction of the door makes me his
+ enemy," said the lieutenant, loudly. And the whole party were immediately
+ seated.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Hitherto, my friend Crony and myself had been too pleasantly occupied with
+ the whim, wit, and anecdote of the lieutenant, to pay much attention to
+ the individuality of character that surrounded the festive board; but,
+ having now entered upon our second bottle, the humorist commenced his
+ satirical sketches.&mdash;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Holding forth to the gaze of this fortunate time The extremes of the
+ beautiful and the sublime."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[199]</span>"Suppose I commence with the pea-green
+ count," said Crony. "I know the boy's ambition is notoriety; and an artist
+ who means to rise in his profession should always aim at painting
+ first-rate portraits, well-known characters; because they are sure to
+ excite public inquiry, thus extending the artist's fame, and securing the
+ good opinion of his patrons by the gratification of their unlimited
+ vanity. The sketch too may be otherwise serviceable to the rising
+ generation; the Mr. Greens and Newcomes of the world of fashion, if they
+ would avoid the sharks who infest the waters of pleasure, and are always
+ on the anxious <i>look-up</i> for a nibble at a new 'come out.'
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "The young exquisite's connexion with the fancy, or rather with the lowest
+ branch of that illustrious body, the bruising fraternity and their boon
+ companions, had been, though not an avowed, a real source of jealousy to
+ many of his dear bosom friends at Long's hotel, from the moment of the
+ count's making his <i>début</i>,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ '<i>Imberbis juvenis, tandem custode remote</i>,'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ into the fashionable world. That he would be ultimately floored by his
+ milling <i>protégés</i> it did not require the sagacity of a conjurer to
+ foresee; nor was it likely that the term of such a catastrophe would be so
+ tediously delayed, as to subject any one who might be eager to witness its
+ arrival to that sickness of the heart which arises from hope deferred. But
+ this process for scooping out the Silver (or Foote) Ball, as he has since
+ been designated, by no means suited the ideas of the worthies before
+ alluded to. The learned Scriblerus makes mention of certain <i>doctors</i>,{3}
+ frequently seen at White's in his day, of a modest and upright appearance,
+ with no air of overbearing, and habited like true masters of arts in black
+ and white only. They were justly styled, says the above high authority,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 3 A cant phrase for dice,
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[200]</span>subtiles and graves, but not always
+ irrefragabiles, being sometimes examined and, by a nice distinction,
+ divided and laid open. The descendants of these doctors still exist, and
+ have not degenerated, either in their numbers or their merits, from their
+ predecessors. They take up their principal residence in some well-known
+ mansions about the neighbourhood of the court, and many of the gentlemen
+ who honoured the count with their especial notice on his <i>entrée</i>
+ into public life are understood to be familiarly acquainted with them. Now
+ could they have only instilled into the young gentleman a wish to be
+ introduced to these doctors, or once prevailed upon him to take them in
+ hand for the purpose of deciding what might be depending upon the result
+ of the investigation; nay, could they even have spurred him on to an
+ exhibition of his tactics, in manoeuvring
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Those party-colour'd troops, a shining train,
+ Drawn forth to combat on the velvet plain;'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ they could have so delightfully abridged the task which to their impatient
+ eyes appeared to be much too slow in executing, could have spared their
+ dear friend so much unnecessary time and labour in disencumbering himself
+ of the superfluity of worldly dross which had fallen to his share. A
+ little <i>cogging, sleeving, and palming</i>; nay, a mere spindle
+ judiciously planted, or a few long ones introduced on the weaving system,
+ could have effected in one evening what fifty milling matches, considering
+ the 'glorious uncertainty' attaching to pugilistic as well as legal
+ contests, might fail to accomplish. By this method, too, the person in
+ whom they kindly took so strong an interest would, even when he had lost
+ every thing, have escaped the imputation of having dissipated his
+ property. It would have been comfortably distributed in respectable
+ dividends among a few gentlemen of acknowledged talent, instead of
+ floating in air like the leaves of the
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[201]</span>Sibyl, and alighting in various parts of
+ the inner and outer ring; now depositing a few cool hundreds in the
+ pockets of a sporting Priestley bookseller, or the brother of a
+ Westminster Abbott; now contributing a small modicum to brighten the
+ humbler speculations of the Dean-street casemen, or the Battersea
+ gardener.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "But to this conclusion Horatio would not come. He was good for backing
+ and betting on pugilists, but on the turf he would do little, and at the
+ tables nothing. His zealous friends had therefore no chance in the way
+ they would have liked best; but being men of the world, and knowing, like
+ Gay's bear, that
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'There might be picking
+ Ev'n in the carving of a chicken,'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ they did not disdain to make the most in their power by watching the
+ motions of his hobby, and if this was not a sufficient prize to furnish
+ much cause for exultation, it was at least one that it would have been
+ unwise to reject.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "A contemporary writer has exerted to the utmost the very little talent he
+ possesses to represent the peagreen's uniform resistance to all the
+ temptations of cards and dice, as a proof of his possessing a strength of
+ mind and decision of character rarely found in young men of his fortune
+ and time of life. In the elegant language of this apologist, the count, by
+ this prudent abstinence, 'has shown himself not half so green as some
+ supposed, and the sharps, and those who have tried on the grand mace with
+ him, have discovered that he was no flat.' How far this negative eulogium
+ may be gratifying to the feelings of the individual on whom it is
+ bestowed, I will not say; in my character of English Spy I have been under
+ the necessity of carefully observing this fortunate youth, <i>depuis que
+ la rose venait d'eclore</i>, in other words, from the time that he became,
+ or rather might <span class="pagenum">[202]</span>have become, his own
+ master; and I should certainly not attribute his refraining from the
+ tables to any superior strength of mind: indeed, it would be singular if
+ such a characteristic belonged to a man whose own hired advocate could
+ only vindicate his client's heart at the expense of his head. Pope tells
+ us, that to form a just estimate of any one's character, we must study his
+ ruling passion; and by adopting this rule, we shall soon obtain a
+ satisfactory clew both to the exquisite count's penchant for the
+ prize-ring, and his aversion to the <i>hells</i>. Some persons exhibit an
+ inexplicable union of avarice and extravagance, of parsimony and
+ prodigality&mdash;something of this kind is observable in the gentleman in
+ question. But self predominates with him in all; and being joined to
+ rather alow species of vanity, and a strong inclination to be what is
+ vulgarly called <i>cock of the walk</i>, it has uniformly displayed itself
+ in an insatiate thirst for notoriety. Now pugilists, from the very nature
+ of their profession, must be public characters; while the gamester, to the
+ utmost of his power, does what he does 'by stealth, and blushes to find it
+ fame.' To be the patron of some noted bruiser, to bear him to the field of
+ action in your travelling barouche, accompanied by Tom Crib the XX
+ champion, Tom Spring the X champion, Jack Langan and Tom Cannon the
+ would-be champions, and Lily White Richmond, is sure to make your name as
+ notorious, though perhaps not much more reputable, than those of your
+ associates; but the man who, like 'the youth that fired the Ephesian
+ dome,' aims at celebrity alone, in frequenting the purlieus of the
+ gaming-house only 'wastes his sweetness on the desert air.' Moreover, the
+ members of the Ebony Clubs being compelled to assume the appearance, and
+ adopt the manners, insensibly imbibe too much of the feelings of
+ gentlemen, to be likely to pay, to the most passive <i>pigeon</i> that
+ ever submitted to <i>rooking</i>, the cap in hand homage rendered by a
+ <span class="pagenum">[203]</span>practitioner within the pins and binders
+ of the prize-ring to the swell who takes five pounds worth of benefit
+ tickets, or stands a fifty in the stakes for a milling match.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="page203" id="page203"></a> <br /> <a href="images2/page203.jpg">ENLARGE
+ TO FULL SIZE</a><br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img alt="page203th (92K)" src="images2/page203th.jpg" width="100%" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ "These motives seem to me sufficient to have prompted the count's
+ predominating attachment to the prize-ring and its heroes, which, however,
+ having as I have before remarked, been viewed with no favourable eye by
+ some of his comrades, his recent ill-luck at Warwick could hardly be
+ expected to escape the jests and sarcasms of his bottle companions."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "'Fore God," said Optimus, "this backing of your man against the black
+ diamond has been but a bad spec. Out heavyish I suppose, ay, Joe?"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Count. Why, a stiffish bout, I must confess; and what's more, I'm not by
+ any means without my suspicions about the correctness of the thing.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Optimus. What, cross and jostle work again? a second edition of Virginia
+ Water? But I thought you felt assured that Cannon would not do wrong for
+ the wealth of Windsor Castle?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Count. True, I did feel so, and others confirmed me in my assurance, but I
+ believe I was wofully mistaken; and curse me if I don't think they were
+ all in the concern of doing me.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Optimus. Was not there a floating report about the bargeman receiving a
+ thousand to throw it over?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Count. Something of the sort; but I don't believe it. Two bills for five
+ hundred, but so drawn that they could not be negotiated. I shall
+ certainly, said the count, give notice to the stake-holders not to give up
+ the battle-money for the present.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Optimus. Pshaw! that will never do. A thing of that nature must be done at
+ the time. Besides, Cannon stood two hundred in his own money, and says he
+ will freely pay his losses.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Count. A pretty do that, when he had a cheque <span class="pagenum">[204]</span>of
+ mine for the sum he put down. But I've stopped payment of that at my
+ banker's.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Optimus. And will as surely be obliged to revoke that order, as well as to
+ give up disputing the stakes. No, no, Joe; get out of the business now as
+ you can, and cut it. I always thought and told you, that I thought your
+ man had no chance. But his going to fight so out of condition, in a
+ contest where all his physical powers were necessary, does look as if you
+ had been put in for a piece of ready made luck. But what could you expect?
+ Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? That a gentleman can patronize
+ such fellows!
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Count. I am still of opinion that the spirit of national courage is much
+ promoted&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Optimus. Spirit of a fiddle-stick! Nonsense, man; that card will win no
+ trick now. You, like others might have thought so once; but you have seen
+ enough by this time to know that the system is on altogether a different
+ tack; that its stanchest upholders and admirers are bullies, sharpers,
+ pickpockets, pothouse keepers, coachmen, fradulent bankrupts, the Jon
+ Bee's and big B's, and all the lowest B's of society in station and
+ character, whose only merit, if such it can be called, is the open
+ disclaiming of any thing like honour or principle. And after having been a
+ patron of such a set of wretches, you will end by becoming, according to
+ circumstances, the object of their vulgar abuse, or the butt of their
+ coarse ridicule.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "The latter, I understand,"said Lord William, "is pretty much the case
+ already. A friend of mine was telling me, that one of the precious
+ brotherhood, on hearing that Joe meant to dispute his bets, asked what
+ better could be expected from a Foote-mam out of place?"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "No more of that, Hal, if thou lovest him," exclaimed Optimus, who
+ immediately perceived, by his <span class="pagenum">[205]</span>countenance,
+ that the last hit had been too hard. Much more has been said upon this
+ affair than it is worth. Let us change the subject.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "By my conscience," exclaimed the lieutenant, "and here's an excellent
+ episode to wind up the drama with, headed, 'The Foote Ball's farewell to
+ the Ring:' I'll read it you, with permission, and afterwards, colonel, you
+ shall have a copy of it for next Sunday's 'Age;' it will save the
+ magnanimous little B., your accommodating editor, or his locum tenens, the
+ fat Gent, the trouble of straining their own weak noddles to produce any
+ more soft attempts at the scandalous and the sarcastic.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "By the honour of my ancestry," rejoined the Gloucestershire colonel, "do
+ you take me for a reporter to the paper in question?"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Why not?" said the lieutenant, coolly: "if you are not a reporter and a
+ supporter too, my gallant friend, by the powers of Poll Kelly but you are
+ the most ill-used man in his majesty's dominions!"
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Sir, I stand upon my honour," said the colonel, petulantly.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "By the powers, you may, and very easily too," whispered O'Farellan, in a
+ side speech to his left hand companion; "for it has been trodden under
+ Foote by others these many months. To be plain with you, colonel, there
+ are certain big whispers abroad, that you and your noble associate, the
+ amiable yonder, with that beautiful obliquity of vision, which is said to
+ have pierced the heart of a northern syren, are the joint Telegraphs of
+ the Age. Sure no man in his senses can suspect Messieurs the Conducteurs
+ of knowing any thing of what passes in polished life, or think&mdash;
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Ah, my dear Wewitzer," said Belle Harriet, now Mrs. Goutts, speaking to
+ the late comedian, of some female friend, "she has an eye! an eye, that
+ would pierce through a deal board." "By heavens," said Wewitzer, "that
+ must be then a gimhlet eye." <span class="pagenum">[206]</span>of charging
+ them with any personal knowledge of the amusing incidents they pretend to
+ relate, beyond a certain little wanton's green room <i>on dits</i>, or the
+ chaste conversations of the blushless naiads who sport and frolic in the
+ Cytherian mysteries which are nightly performed in the dark groves of
+ Vauxhall. Take a word of advice from an old soldier, colonel: It is worse
+ than leading a forlorn hope to attempt to storm a garrison single handed;
+ club secrets must be protected by club laws, for 'tis an old Eton maxim,
+ that tales told out of school generally bring the relater to the block.
+ But my friend Stanhope will no doubt explain this matter with a much
+ better grace when he comes in contact with the tale-bearer."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Hem," instinctively ejaculated Horace C&mdash;&mdash;-t, the once elegant
+ Apollo of Hyde Park, "thereby hangs a tale; 'tis a vile Age, and the
+ sooner we forget it, the better&mdash;I am for love and peace." "i.e. a
+ piece" responded the lieutenant. Horace smiled, and continued, "Come, Tom
+ Duncombe, I'll give our mutual favourite, the female Giovanni. Lads, fill
+ your glasses; we toast a deity, and one, too, who has equal claims upon
+ most of us for the everlasting favours she has conferred."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "'Fore Gad, lieutenant," simpered out Lord William, squaring himself round
+ to resume the conversation with the veteran, "if you do not mind your
+ hits, we must positively cut. My friend, the colonel, will certainly set
+ his blacks{5} upon you, and I shall be obliged to speak to little
+ magnanimous, the ex-Brummagem director, to strike off a counterfeit
+ impression of you in his scandalous Sunday chronicle, 'pon honour, I
+ must."
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 5 A very curious tradition is connected with a certain
+ castle near Gloucester, which foretells, that the family
+ name shall be extinct when the race of the blacks* cease to
+ be peculiar to the family; a prophecy that I think not very
+ likely to be fulfilled, judging by the conduct of the
+ present race of representatives.
+
+ * A species of Danish blood-hound, whose portraits and names
+ are carved in the oaken cornice of one of the castle
+ chambers.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[207]</span>"The divil a care," said the lieutenant,
+ laughingly; "to arms with you, my lord William; my fire engine will soon
+ damp the ardour of little magnanimous, and an extra dose of Tom Bish's
+ compounds put his friend, the fat Gent, where his readers have long been,
+ in sweet somniferous repose. But zounds, gentlemen, I am forgetting the
+ count, whose pardon I crave, for bestowing my attention on minor
+ constellations while indulged with the overpowering brilliancy of his
+ meteoric presence."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "The 'Farewell to the Ring,'" vociferated the count. "Come, lieutenant,
+ give us the episode: I long to hear all my misfortunes strung together in
+ rhyme."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "By the powers, you shall have it, then; and a true history it is, as ever
+ was said or sung in church, chapel, or conventicle, with only one little
+ exception&mdash;by the free use of poetic license, the satirist has fixed
+ his hero in a very embarrassing situation&mdash;just locked him up at
+ Radford's steel Hotel in Carey Street, Chancery Lane, coning over a long
+ bill of John Long's, and a still longer one of the lawyers, with a sort of
+ codicil, by way of refresher, of the house charges, and a smoking detainer
+ tacked on to its tail, by Hookah Hudson, long enough to put any
+ gentleman's pipe out.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0002" id="Dimage-0002">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page207.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page207th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page207" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ There's the argument, programme, or fable. Now for the characters; they
+ are all drawn from the life by the English Spy (see plate), under the
+ amusing title of 'Morning, and in Low Spirits, a scene in a Lock-up
+ House;' a very appropriate spot for a lament to the past, and
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "'Tis past, and the sun of my glory is set.
+ How changed in my case is the fortune of war!
+ With no money to back, and no credit to bet,
+ No more in the Fancy I shine forth a star.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[208]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Accursed be the day when my bargeman I brought
+ To fight with Jos. Hudson!&mdash;the thought is a sting.
+ I sighing exclaim, by experience taught,
+ Farewell to Tom Cannon, farewell to the ring!
+
+ "By the Blackwater vict'ry made drunk with success,
+ Endless visions of milling enchanted my nob;
+ I thought my luck in: so I could do no less
+ Than match 'gainst the Streatham my White-headed Bob.
+
+ "I've some reason to think that there, too, I was done;
+ For it oft has been hinted that battle was cross'd:
+ But I well know that all which at Yately I won,
+ With a thousand <i>en outre</i> at Bagshot I lost.
+
+ "At Warwick a turn in my favour again
+ Appear'd, and my crest I anew rear'd with pride;
+ Hudson's efforts to conquer my bargeman were vain,
+ I took the <i>long odds</i>, and I floor'd <i>the flash side</i>.
+
+ "But with training, and treating, and sparring, and paying
+ For all through the nose, as most do in beginning
+ Their fancy career, I am borne out in saying,
+ I was quite out of pocket in spite of my winning.
+
+ "So when Bob fought old George, being shortish of money,
+ And bearing in mem'ry the Bagshot affair,
+ In my former pal's stakes I stood only <i>a pony</i>,
+ (Which was never return'd, so I'm done again there).
+
+ "To be perfectly safe, on the old one I betted;
+ For the knowing ones told me the thing was made right:
+ If it had been, a good bit of blunt I'd have netted;
+ But a double X spoilt it, and Bob won the fight.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[209]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "But the famed stage of Warwick, and Ward, were before me&mdash;
+ I look'd at Tom Cannon, and thought of the past;
+ I was sure he must win, and that wealth would show'r o'er me,
+ So, like Richard, I set all my hopes on a cast;
+
+ "And the die was soon thrown, and my luck did not alter&mdash;
+ I was floor'd at all points, and my hopes were a hum;
+ I'm at Tattersall's all but believed a defaulter,
+ And here, in a spunging house, shut by a bum.
+
+ "'Mid the lads of the fancy I needs must aspire
+ To be quite <i>au fait</i>; and I have scarcely seen
+ Of mills half a score, ere I'm fore'd to retire&mdash;
+ O thou greenest among all the green ones, Pea Green!
+
+ "And what have I gain'd, but the queer reputation
+ Of a whimsical dandy, half foolish, half flash?
+ To bruisers and sharpers, in high and low station,
+ A poor easy dupe, till deprived of my cash.
+
+ "All you who would enter the circle I've quitted,
+ Reflect on my fate, and think what you're about:
+ By brib'ry betray'd, or by cunning outwitted,
+ In the Fancy each novice is quickly clean'd out.
+
+ "For me it has lost its attractions and lustre;
+ The thing's done with me, and I've done with the thing:
+ The blunt for my bets I must manage to muster,
+ Then farewell to Tom Cannon, farewell to the ring!"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The reading of this morceau produced, as might have been expected,
+ considerable merriment on the <span class="pagenum">[210]</span>one hand,
+ and some little discussion upon the other; the angry feelings of the
+ commander in chief and his pals overbalancing the mirthful by their
+ solemnly protesting against the exposure of the secrets of the prison
+ house, which, in this instance, they contended, were violently distorted
+ by some enemy to the modern accomplishment of pugilism. In a few moments
+ all was chaos, and the stormy confusion of tongues, prophetk: of the
+ affair ending in a grand display and milling catastrophe; the
+ apprehensions of which induced John Long, and John Long's man, to be on
+ the alert in removing the service, <i>en suite</i>, of superb cut glass,
+ which had given an additional lustre to the splendour of the dessert. The
+ arrival of other characters, and the good humour of the count, joined to a
+ plentiful supply of soda water and iced punch, had, however, the effect of
+ cooling the malcontents, who had no sooner recovered their wonted
+ hilarity, than old Crony proceeded to particularize, by a comparison of
+ the past with the present, interspersing his remarks with anecdotes of the
+ surrounding group. "These are your modern men of fashion," said Crony;
+ "and the specimen you have this day had of their conduct and pursuits an
+ authority you may safely quote as one generally characteristic.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 'To support this new fashion in circles of <i>ton</i>. New habits, new
+ thoughts, must of course be put on; Taste, feeling, and friendship, laid
+ by on the shelf, And nothing or worshipp'd, or thought of, but&mdash;self.'
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0003" id="Dimage-0003">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page210.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page210th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page210" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "It was not thus in the days of our ancestors: the farther we look back,
+ the purer honour was. In the days of chivalry, a love promise was a law;
+ the braver the knight, the truer in love: then, too, religion, delicacy,
+ sentiment, romantic passion, disinterested friendship, loyalty to king,
+ love of country, a thirst for fame, bravery, nay, heroism, characterized
+ <span class="pagenum">[211]</span>the age, the nation, the noble, the
+ knight, and esquire. Mercy! what 'squires we have now-a-days! At a more
+ recent date, all was courtliness, feeling, high sentiment, proud and lofty
+ bearing, principle, the word inviolable, politeness at its highest pitch
+ of refinement: lovers perished to defend their ladies' honour; now they
+ live to sully it: the nobility and the people were distinct in dress and
+ address; but, above all, amenity and good-breeding marked the distinction,
+ and the line was unbroken. Now, dress is all confusion, address far below
+ par, amenity is a dead letter, and as to breeding, it is confined to the
+ breeding of horses and dogs, except when law steps in to encourage the
+ breeding of disputes; not to mention the evils arising from crossing the
+ old breed; nor can we much wonder at it, when we reflect on the altered
+ way of life, the change of habits, and the declension of virtue, arising
+ from these very causes.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Each hopeful hero now essays to start
+ To spoil the intellect, destroy the heart,
+ To render useless all kind Nature gave,
+ And live the dupe of ev'ry well dress'd knave;
+ To herd with gamblers, be a blackleg king,
+ And shine the monarch of the betting ring.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "Men of family and fashion, in those golden days, passed their time in
+ courts, in dancing-rooms, and at clubs composed of the very cream of birth
+ and elegance. You heard occasionally of Lord Such-a-one being killed in a
+ duel, or of the baronet or esquire dying from cold caught at a splendid <i>fête</i>,
+ or by going lightly clad to his magnificent vis-à-vis, after a select
+ masquerade; but you never read his death in a newspaper from a catarrh
+ caught in the watch-house, from &amp; fistic fight, or in a row at a hell&mdash;things
+ now not astonishing, since even men with a title and a name of rank pass
+ their time in the stable, at common hells, at the Fives-court&mdash;the
+ hall of infamy; in the watch-house, the justice-room, and make the finish
+ in <span class="pagenum">[212]</span>the Fleet, King's Bench, or die in
+ misery and debt abroad. In the olden times, a star of fashion was quoted
+ for dancing at court, for the splendour of his equipages, his running
+ footmen and black servants, his expensive dress, his accomplishments, his
+ celebrity at foreign courts, his fine form, delicate hand, jewels,
+ library, &amp;c. &amp;c. Now fame (for notoriety is so called) may be
+ obtained by being a Greek, or Pigeon, by being mistaken for John the
+ coachman, when on the box behind four tits; by being a good gentleman
+ miller, by feeding the fancy, standing in print for crim. con., breaking a
+ promise of marriage once or twice, and breaking as many tradesmen as
+ possible afterwards; breaking the watchman's head on the top of the morn;
+ and lastly, breaking away (in the skirmish through life) for Calais, or
+ the Low Countries. There is as much difference between the old English
+ gentleman and him who ought to be the modern representative of that name,
+ as there is between a racer and a hack, a fine spaniel and a cross of the
+ terrier and bull dog. In our days of polish and refinement, we had a Lord
+ Stair, a Sedley, a Sir John Stepney, a Sir William Hamilton, and many
+ others, as our ambassadors, representing our nation as the best bred in
+ the world; and by their grace and amiability, gaining the admiration of
+ the whole continent. We had, in remoter times, our Lords Bolingbroke,
+ Chesterfield, and Lyttleton, our Steele, &amp;c, the celebrated poets,
+ authors, and patterns of fashion and elegance of the age. We had our
+ Argyle,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'The state's whole thunder form'd to wield,
+ And shake at once the senate and the field.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ We had our virtuosi of the highest rank, our rich and noble authors in
+ abundance. The departed Byron stood alone to fill their place. The
+ classics were cultivated, not by the learned profession only, but by the
+ votaries of fashion. Now, our Greek scholars are of <span class="pagenum">[213]</span>another
+ cast.{6} In earlier days the chivalrous foe met his opponent in open
+ combat, and broke a lance for the amusement of the spectators, while he
+ revenged his injuries in public. Now, the practice of duelling{7} has
+ become almost a profession, and the privacy with which it is of necessity
+ conducted renders it always subject to suspicion (see plate); independent
+ of which, the source of quarrel is too often beneath the dignity of
+ gentlemen, and the wanton sacrifice of life rather an act of bravado than
+ of true courage.{7}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 6 "Adeipe nunc Danaûm insidiai, et&mdash;&mdash;ab uno, Disce
+ omnes!"
+
+ The Greek population of the fashionable world comprises a
+ very large portion of society, including among its members
+ names and persons of illustrious and noble title, whose
+ whole life and pleasure in life appears to "rest upon the
+ hazard of a die." The modern Greek, though he cannot boast
+ much resemblance to Achilles, Ajax, Patroclus, or Nestor,
+ is, nevertheless, a close imitator of the equally renowned
+ chief of Ithaca. To describe his person, habits, pursuits,
+ and manners, would be to sketch the portrait of one or more
+ <i>finished roués</i>, who are to be found in most genteel
+ societies. The mysteries of his art are manifold, and
+ principally consist in the following rules and regulations,
+ put forth by an old member of the corps, whose conscience
+ returned to torture him when his reign of earthly vice was
+ near its close.
+
+ ELEMENTS OF GREEKING. 1. A Greek should be like a mole,
+ visible only at night. 2. He should be a niggard of his
+ speech, and a profligate with his liquor, giving freely, but
+ taking cautiously. 3. He must always deprecate play in
+ public, and pretend an entire ignorance of his game. 4. He
+ must be subtle as the fox, and vary as the well-trained
+ hawk; never showing chase too soon, or losing his pigeon by
+ an over eager desire to pluck him. 5. He must be content to
+ lose a little at first, that he may thereby make a final hit
+ decisive. 6. He must practise like a conjuror in private,
+ that his slippery tricks in public may escape observation.
+ Palming the <i>digits</i> requires no ordinary degree of agility.
+ 7. He must secure a confederate, who having been pigeoned,
+ has since been enlightened, and will consent to decoy others
+ to the net. 8. He should have once held the rank of captain,
+ as an introduction to good society, and a privilege to bully
+ any one who may question his conduct. 9. He must always put
+ on the show of generosity with those he has plucked&mdash;that
+ is, while their bill, bond, post obit, or other legal
+ security is worth having.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[214]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 10. He should be a prince of good fellows at his own table,
+ have the choicest wines for particular companies, and when a
+ grand hit cannot be made, refuse to permit play in his own
+ house; or on a decisive occasion, let his decoy or partner
+ pluck the pigeon, while he appears to lose to some
+ confederate a much larger sum.
+
+ 11. He must not be afraid to fight a duel, mill &amp; rumbustical
+ green one, or bully a brother sharper who attempts to poach
+ upon his preserves.
+
+ 12. He must concert certain signals with confederates for
+ <i>working the broads</i> (i.e. cards), such as fingers at whist:
+ toe to toe for an ace, or the left hand to the eye for a
+ king, and so on, until he can make the fate of a rubber
+ certain. On this point he must be well instructed in the
+ arts of <i>marked cards, briefs, broads, corner bends, middle
+ ditto, curves, or Kingston Bridge</i>, and other arch tricks of
+ <i>slipping, palming, forcing</i>, or even <i>substituting</i>,
+ whatever card may be necessary to win the game. Such are a
+ few of the elements of modern Greeking, contained in the
+ twelve golden rules recorded above, early attention to which
+ may save the inexperienced from ruin.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0004" id="Dimage-0004">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page214.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page214th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page214" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 7 ELEMENTS OF DUELLING.
+
+ "The British Code of Duel," a little work professing to give
+ the necessary instructions for <i>man-killing according to
+ honour</i>, lays down the following rules as indispensable for
+ the practice of principals and seconds in the pleasant and
+ humane amusement of shooting at each other. "1. To choose
+ out a snug sequestered spot, where the ground is level, and
+ no natural, terrestrial, or celestial line presenting itself
+ to assist either party in his views of sending his opponent
+ into eternity. 2. To examine the pistols; see that they are
+ alike in quality and length, and load in presence of each
+ other. 3. To measure the distance; ten paces of not less
+ than thirty inches being the minimum, the parties to step to
+ it, not from it. 4. To fire by signal and at random; it
+ being considered unfair to take aim at the man whose life
+ you go out to take. 5. Not to deliver the pistols cocked,
+ lest they should go off un-expectedly; and after one fire
+ the second should use his endeavours to produce a
+ reconciliation. 6. If your opponent fire in the air, it is
+ very unusual, and must be a case of extreme anguish when you
+ are obliged to insist upon another shot at him. 7. Three
+ fires must be the ultimatum in any case; any more reduces
+ duel to a conflict for blood," says the code writer; "if
+ the parties can afford it, there should be two surgeons in
+ attendance, but if economical, one mutual friend will
+ suffice; the person receiving the first fire, in case of
+ wound, taking the first dressing. 8. It being always
+ understood that wife, children, parents, and relations are
+ no impediment with men of very different relative stations
+ in society to their meeting on equal terms." The <i>consistency,
+ morality, justice, and humanity of this code, I
+ leave to the gratifying reflection of those who have most
+ honourably killed their man</i>.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[215]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'For, as duelling now is completely a science,
+ And sets, the Old Bailey itself at defiance;
+ Now Hibernians are met with in every street,
+ 'Tis as needful to know how to shoot as to eat.'
+
+ The following singular challenge is contained in a letter
+ from Sir William Herbert, of St. Julian's, in Monmouthshire,
+ father-in-law to the famous Lord Herbert, of Cherbury, to a
+ gentleman of the name of Morgan. The original is in the
+ British Museum.
+
+ "Sir&mdash;Peruse this letter, in God's name. Be not disquieted.
+ I reverence your hoary hair. Although in your son I find too
+ much folly and lewdness, yet in you I expect gravity and
+ wisdom.
+
+ "It hath pleased your son, late at Bristol, to deliver a
+ challenge to a man of mine, on the behalf of a gentleman (as
+ he said) as good as myself; who he was, he named not,
+ neither do I know; but if he be as good as myself, it must
+ either be for virtue, for birth, for ability, or for calling
+ and dignity. For virtue I think he meant not, for it is a
+ thing which exceeds his judgment: if for birth, he must be
+ the heir male of an earl, the heir in blood of ten earls;
+ for, in testimony thereof, I bear their several coats.
+ Besides, he must be of the blood royal, for by my
+ grandmother Devereux I am lineally and legitimately
+ descended out of the body of Edward IV. If for ability he
+ must have a thousand pounds a year in possession, a thousand
+ pounds more in expectation, and must have some thousands in
+ substance besides. If for calling and dignity, he must be
+ knight or lord of several seignories in several kingdoms, a
+ lieutenant of his county, and a counsellor of a province.
+
+ "Now to lay all circumstances aside, be it known to your
+ son, or to any man else, that if there be any one who
+ beareth the name of gentleman, and whose words are of
+ reputation in his county, that doth say, or dare say, that I
+ have done unjustly, spoken an untruth, stained my credit and
+ reputation in this matter, or in any matter else, wherein
+ your son is exasperated, I say he lieth in his throat, and
+ my sword shall maintain my word upon him, in any place or
+ province, wheresoever he dare, and where I stand not sworn
+ to observe the peace. But if they be such as are within my
+ governance, and over whom I have authority, I will for their
+ re-formation chastise them with justice, and for their
+ malaport misdemeanour bind them to their good behaviour. Of
+ this sort, I account your son, and his like; against whom I
+ will shortly issue my warrant, if this my warning doth not
+ reform them. And so I thought fit to advertise you hereof,
+ and leave you to God.
+
+ "I am, &amp;c.
+
+ "WM. HERBERT."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[216]</span>"The art of fencing formerly
+ distinguished the gentleman, who then wore a sword as a part of his dress.
+ He is now contented with a regular stand-up fight, and exhibits a fist
+ like a knuckle-bone of mutton&mdash;hard, coarse, and of certain
+ magnitude. The bludgeon hammer-headed whip, or a vulgar twig, succeeds the
+ clouded and amber-headed cane; and instead of the snuff-box being rare,
+ and an article of parade, to exhibit a beauty's miniature bestowed in
+ love, or that of a crowned head, given for military or diplomatic
+ services, all ranks take snuff out of cheap and vulgar boxes, mostly of
+ inferior French manufacture, with, not unfrequently, indecent
+ representations on them; or you have wooden concerns with stage coaches,
+ fighting-cocks, a pugilistic combat, or an ill-drawn neck and neck race
+ upon them. The frill of the nobleman and gentleman's linen once bore
+ jewels of high price, or a conceit, like a noted beauty's eye, set in
+ brilliants less sparkling than what formed the centre. Now, a fox, a stag,
+ or a dog, worthily occupies the place of that enchanting resemblance. In
+ equitation, we had Sir Sydney Meadows, a pattern and a prototype for
+ gentlemen horsemen. The Melton hunt now is more in vogue, and the sons of
+ our nobility ride like their own grooms and postboys&mdash;ay, and dress
+ like them too. Autrefois, a man of fashion might be perceived ere he was
+ seen, from a reunion <span class="pagenum">[217]</span>of rich and costly
+ perfumes. Now, snuff and tobacco, the quid, the pinch, and the cigar,
+ announce his good taste. The cambric pocket-handkerchief was the only one
+ known in the olden times. The belcher (what a name! ) supplies its place,
+ together with the bird's eye, or the colours of some black or white boxer.
+ An accomplished man was the delight of all companies in former times. An
+ out and outer, one up to every thing, down as a nail or the knocker of
+ Newgate, a trump, or a Trojan, now carry the mode of praise; one that can
+ <i>patter flash, floor a charley, mill a coal-heaver</i>, come coachey in
+ prime style, up to every rig and row in town, and down to every move upon
+ the board, from a nibble at the club to a dead hit at a hell; can swear,
+ smoke, take snuff, lush, play at all games, and throw over both sexes in
+ different ways&mdash;he is the finished man. The attributes of a modern
+ fine gentleman are, to have his address at his club, and his residence any
+ where; to lounge, laugh, lisp, and loll away the time from four to eight,
+ when having dressed, eat his olives, he goes to Almack's if he can, or
+ struts into Fop's Alley at the Opera in boots, in defiance of decency or
+ the remonstrance of the door-keepers; talks loud to be noticed; and having
+ handed some woman of fashion to her carriage, gets in after her without
+ invitation, and, as a matter of course, behaves rudely in return; makes a
+ last call at the club in his way home to learn the issue of the debate,
+ and try his luck at French hazard or fleecing a novice. (See Plate.)
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0005" id="Dimage-0005">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page217.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page217th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page217" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ If his fortune should be one thousand per annum, his income may be
+ extended to five, by virtue of credit and credulity. If he comes out very
+ early in life, say eighteen, he will scarcely expect to be visible at
+ twenty-four; but if he does not appear until he is twenty-one, and then
+ lives all his days, he may die fairly of old age, infirmity, and
+ insolvency, at twenty-six. His topographical knowledge of town is bounded
+ by the fashionable <span class="pagenum">[218]</span>directory, which
+ limits his recognition, on the north, by Oxford-street, on the east, by
+ Bond-street, on the south, by Pall Mall, and on the west, by Park-lane.
+ Ask him where is Russell Square, and he stares at you for a rustic;
+ inquire what authors he reads, and he answers Weatherbey and Rhodes; ask
+ what are their works, and he laughs outright at your ignorance of the
+ 'Racing Calendar,' 'Annals of Sporting,' 'Boxiana,' and 'Turf
+ Remembrancer;' question his knowledge of science, it consists in starch <i>à
+ la Brummel</i>{8}; of mathematics, in working problems on the cards; of
+ algebra, in calculating the long odds, or squaring the chances of the
+ dice; he tells you, his favourite book is his betting account, that John
+ Bull is the only newspaper worth reading, and that you must never expect
+ to be admitted into good society if the cut of your coat does not bear
+ outward proofs of its being fabricated either in Saint James's Street or
+ Bond Street; that the great requisites are <i>confidence, indifference,
+ and nonchalance</i>; as, for instance, George Wombwell being thrown out of
+ his tilbury on High gate Hill, when driving Captain Burdett, and both
+ being dreadfully bruised, George is picked
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 8 When Brummel fell into disgrace, he devised the starched
+ neckcloth, with the design of putting the prince's neck out
+ of fashion, and of bringing his Royal Highness's muslin, his
+ bow, and wadding, into contempt. When he first appeared in
+ this stiffened cravat, tradition says that the sensation in
+ St. James's-street was prodigious; dandies were struck dumb
+ with envy, and washerwomen miscarried. No one could conceive
+ how the effect was produced&mdash;tin, card, a thousand
+ contrivances were attempted, and innumerable men cut their
+ throats in vain experiments; the secret, in fact, puzzled
+ and baffled every one, and poor dandy L&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;d died raving
+ mad of it; his mother, sister, and all his relations waited
+ on Brummel, and on their knees implored him to save their
+ kinsman's life by the explanation of the mystery; but the
+ beau was obdurate, and L&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;d miserably perished.
+
+ When Brummel fled from England, he left this secret a legacy
+ to his country; he wrote on a sheet of paper, on his
+ dressing-table, the emphatic words, "Starch is the man."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[219]</span> up by a countryman, when he inquires,
+ very coolly, if 't'other blackguard is not quite dead:' his amours are
+ more distinguished by their number than attractions, and the first point
+ is, not attachment, but notoriety; the lady always being the more
+ desirable, in proportion to the known variety of her gallants; that of all
+ the pleasures of this life, there is nothing like a squeeze at court (see
+ plate), or being wedged into a close room at a crowded rout.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0006" id="Dimage-0006">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page219.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page219th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page219" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A ruffian was never thought of by our forefathers; the exquisite was; but
+ he was more sublimated than the exquisite of the nineteenth century. The
+ dandy is of modern date; but there is some polish on him&mdash;suppose it
+ be on his boots alone. Shape and make are attended to by him; witness the
+ Cumberland corset, and his making what he can of every body. Then, again,
+ he must have a smattering of French, and affect to be above old England.
+ When he smokes, he does it from vanity, to show his <i>écume de mer</i>
+ pipe. He may have a gold snuff-box and a little diamond pin; and when he
+ swears, he lisps it out like a baby's lesson. Sometimes (not often) he
+ plays upon the guitar; and the peninsular war may have made a man of him,
+ and a linguist too; but he is far below the ancient exquisites (who
+ touched the lute, the lyre, and violoncello). And he is an egotist in
+ every thing&mdash;in gallantry, in conversation, in principle, and in
+ heart. Nor has the deterioration of the gentleman been confined to England
+ only&mdash;polite and ceremonious France has felt her change. The
+ Revolution brought in coarse and uncivilised manners. The awkward and
+ unsuccessful attempt at Spartan and Roman republican manners; the citizen
+ succeeding to Monsieur; the blasphemous, incredulous, atheistical
+ principles instilled into the then growing generation of all classes; the
+ system of equality, subversive of courtliness, and the obliging attentions
+ and suavities of society, poisoned at once the source <span class="pagenum">[220]</span>of
+ morals and of manners; for there can be nothing gentlemanlike in atheism,
+ radicalism, and the level, ling system. To this state of things succeeded
+ a reign of terror, assassination, and debauchery; and lastly, a military
+ despotism, in which the private soldier rose to the marshals baton; a
+ groom in the stables of the Prince of Condé saw himself ennobled; peers
+ and generals had brothers still keeping little retail shops; and a
+ drum-boy lived to see his wife&mdash;a washerwoman, or fish vender&mdash;a
+ duchess (Madame Lefevre). How can we expect breeding from such materials?
+ Bayonets gave brilliancy to the imperial court; and the youth of the
+ country were all soldiers, without dreaming of the gentleman, except in a
+ low bow and flourish of the hat; a greater flourish of self-praise, and a
+ few warm, loose, and dangerous compliments to the fairer sex, became more
+ than even the objects of their passion, but less so of their attentions
+ and prepossessing assiduities. This military race taught us to smoke, to
+ snuff, to drink brandy, and to swear; for although John Bull never was
+ backward in that point, yet St. Giles's and not St. James's, was the <i>rendezvous</i>
+ for those who possessed that brutal and invincible habit. These were not
+ amongst the least miseries and curses which the war produced; and they
+ have left such mischievous traces behind them, that the mature race in
+ France laugh at the old court, and at all old civil and religious
+ principles, whilst our demoralized youth play the same game at home. And
+ if a Bolingbroke or a Chesterfield was now to appear, he would be quizzed
+ by all the smokers, jokers, hoaxers, glass-cockers, blacklegs, and
+ fancy-fellows of the town, amongst whom all ranks are perfectly lost, and
+ morality is an absolute term. O tempora! O Moses! (as the would-be Lady
+ Sckolard said.) Nor does Moses play second best in these characters of the
+ day. Moses has crept into all circles; from the ring to the peerage and
+ baronetage, the stage, the <span class="pagenum">[221]</span>race-course;
+ and our clubs are tinged with the Israelitish: they may lend money, but
+ they cannot lend a lustre to the court, or to the gilded and painted
+ saloons of the <i>beau monde</i>. The style of things is altered; we mean
+ not the old style and new in point of date, but in point of brilliancy in
+ the higher circles. Our ancestors never bumped along the streets, with a
+ stable-boy by their side, in a one-horse machine, which is now the <i>bon
+ ton</i> in imitation of our Gallic neighbours, whose equipage is measured
+ by their purse. Where do you now see a carriage with six horses, and three
+ outriders, and an <i>avant courier</i>, except on Lord Mayor's day? Yet
+ how common this was with the nobility <i>d'autrefois</i>. Two grooms are
+ no longer his Grace's and my Lord's attendants, but each is followed by
+ one groom in plain clothes, not very dissimilar from the man he serves. Do
+ we ever see the star of nobility in the morning, to guard him who has a
+ right to it from popular rudeness and a confusion of rank? All is now
+ privacy, concealment, equality in exterior, musty and meanness: not that
+ the plain style of dress would be exceptionable, if we could say in verity&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'We have within what far surpasseth show.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ But the lining is now no better (oftentimes worse) than the coat. Our
+ principles and our politeness are on a par&mdash;at low-water mark. The
+ tradesman lives like the gentleman, and the nobleman steps down a degree
+ to be, like other people, up to all fashionable habits and modern customs;
+ whilst the love for gain, at the clubs, on the turf, in the ring, and in
+ private life, debases one part of society, and puts down the other, which
+ becomes the pigeon to the rook. Whilst all this goes on, the press
+ chronicles and invents follies for us; and there are men stupid enough to
+ glory in their depravity, to be pleased with their own deformity of mind,
+ body, or dress, of their affectations, <span class="pagenum">[222]</span>and
+ their leading of a party. There is something manly in the Yacht Club, in a
+ dexterously driving four fleet horses in hand, in reining in the proud
+ barb, and in gymnastic exercises: but the whole merit of these ceases,
+ when my Lord (like him of carroty beard) becomes the tar without his
+ glory, and wears the check shirt without the heart of oak&mdash;when the
+ driver becomes the imitator of the stage and hackney box&mdash;when the
+ rider is the unsuccessful rival of the jockey; and the frequenter of the
+ gymnastic arena becomes a bruiser, or one turning strength into money, be
+ the bet or the race what it may.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Shades of our ancestors! whose fame of old
+ In ev'ry time the echoing world has told!
+ Whose dauntless valour and heroic deeds,
+ Each British bosom yet enraptur'd reads!
+ Deeds, which in ev'ry country, clime, and age,
+ Have fill'd the poet's and historian's page;
+ Of ev'ry muse the theme, and ev'ry pen:
+ Ye I invoke! and ye, my countrymen,
+ If British blood yet flows within your veins,
+ If for your country aught of love remains,
+ O make your first, your chief, your only care,
+ That which first rais'd and made you what you were.'"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0007" id="Dimage-0007">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page222.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page222 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2H_4_0001" id="Dlink2H_4_0001">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ CHELTONIAN CHARACTERS.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ A TRIP TO THE SPAS.
+ </h3>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2HCH0001" id="Dlink2HCH0001">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ CHAPTER I.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ <span class="pagenum">[223]</span>
+ </h3>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Bernard Blackmantle and Bob Transit pay a Visit to the
+ Chelts&mdash;Privileges of a Spy&mdash;Alarm at Chelten-him&mdash;The rival
+ Editors&mdash;The setting of a great Son&mdash;How to sink in
+ Popularity and Respect&mdash;A noble Title&mdash;An old Flame&mdash;
+ Poetical <i>jeu d'esprit</i>, by Vinegar Penn&mdash;Muriatic Acid&mdash;An
+ Attorney-General's Opinion on Family Propensities given
+ without a Fee!!&mdash;The Cheltenham Dandy, or the Man in the
+ Cloak, a Sketch from the Life-Noble Anecdote of the Fox-
+ hunting Parson&mdash;Bury-ing alive at Berkeley&mdash;Public
+ Theatricals in private&mdash;"A Michaelmas Preachment," by an
+ Honest Reviewer&mdash;A few Words for Ourselves&mdash;The Grand
+ Marshall&mdash;Interesting Story of a former M. C.
+
+ "Oh, I've been to countries rare;
+ Seen such sights, 'twould make you stare."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0008" id="Dimage-0008">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page223.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page223th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page223" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "That last chapter of yours, Blackmantle, on John Long and John Long's
+ customers, will long remain a memorial of your scrutinizing
+ qualifications, and, as I think, will prevent your taking your port,
+ punch, pines, or soda-water in Bond-street for some time to come, lest
+ 'suspicion, which ever haunts the guilty mind,' should in the course of
+ conversation convict you; and then, my dear fellow, you would certainly go
+ off pop like the last-mentioned article in the above reference to the
+ luxuries of Long's hotel." <span class="pagenum">[224]</span>"Bravo, Bob
+ Transit!" said I; "this comes mighty well from you, sir, my <i>fidus
+ achates</i>.&mdash;'<i>A bon chat bon rat</i>'&mdash;the <i>fidus and
+ audax</i> satirists of the present times. And who, sir, dares to doubt our
+ joint authority? are we not the very spies o' the age?
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Joint monarchs of all we survey;
+ Our right there is none to dispute.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ From the throne to, the thatched cottage, wherever there is character,
+ 'there fly we,' and, on the wings of merry humour, draw with pen and
+ pencil a faithful portraiture of things as they are; not tearing aside the
+ hallowed veil of private life, but seizing as of public right on public
+ character, and with a playful vein of satire proving that we are of the
+ poet's school;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Form'd to delight at once and lash the age.'
+
+ At this season of the year fashion cries out of
+ Town; so, pack up, Master Robert, and
+ Let us to Chelt's retiring banks,
+ Where beaux and beauties throng,
+ To drink at Spas and play rum pranks,
+ That here will live in song.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ What Cheltenham was, is no business of ours; what it is, as regards its
+ buildings, salubrious air, and saline springs, its walks, views,
+ libraries, theatre, and varieties, my friend Williams, whose shop at the
+ corner of the assembly rooms is the grand lounge of the literati, will put
+ the visitor into possession of for the very moderate sum of five
+ shillings. But, reader, if you would search deeper into society, and know
+ something of the whim and character of the frequenters and residents of
+ this fashionable place of public resort, you must consult the English Spy,
+ and trace in his pages and the accompanying plates of his friend Bob
+ Transit the faithful likenesses of the scenes and persons who figure in
+ the maze of fashion, <span class="pagenum">[225]</span>or attract
+ attention by the notoriety of their amours, the eccentricity of their
+ manners, or the publicity of their attachments to the ball or the
+ billiard-room, the card or the hazard-table, the turf or the chase; for in
+ all of these does Cheltenham abound. From the <i>cercle de la basse to the
+ cercle de la haute</i>, from the nadir to the zenith, 'I know ye, and have
+ at ye all'&mdash;ye busy, buzzing, merry, amorous groups of
+ laughter-loving, ogling, ambling, gambling Cheltenham folk.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'A chiel's among ye taking notes,
+ And faith, he'll print them.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ To spy out your characteristic follies, ye sons and daughters of pleasure,
+ have we, Bernard Blackmantle and Robert Transit, esquires, travelled down
+ to Cheltenham to collect materials for an odd chapter of a very odd book,
+ but one which has already established its fame by continued success, and,
+ as I hope owes much of its increasing prosperity to its characteristic
+ good-humour; so, without more preface, imagine a little dapper-looking
+ fellow of about five feet something in altitude, attended by a tall
+ sharp-visaged gentleman in very spruce costume, parading up and down the
+ High-street, Cheltenham&mdash;lounging for a few minutes in Williams's
+ library&mdash;making very inquisitive remarks upon the passing
+ singularities&mdash;and then the little man most impertinently whispering
+ to his friend with the Quixotic visage, book him, Bob&mdash;when out comes
+ the note book of both parties, and down goes somebody. Afterwards see them
+ popping into this shop, and then into the other, spying and prying about&mdash;occasionally
+ nodding perhaps to a London actor, who shines forth here a star of the
+ first magnitude; John Liston, for instance, or Tyrone Power&mdash;then
+ posting off to the well walks, or disturbing the peaceful dead by ambling
+ over their graves in search of humorous epitaphs&mdash;making their way
+ down to the Berkeley kennel in North-street (See Plate), <span
+ class="pagenum">[226]</span>or paying a visit to the Paphian divinities at
+ the Oakland cottages under the Cleigh Hills&mdash;trotting here and there&mdash;making
+ notes and sketches until all Cheltenham is in a state of high excitement,
+ and the rival editors of the Chronicle and Journal, Messrs. Halpine and
+ Judge, are so much alarmed that they are almost prepared to become
+ friends, and unite their forces for the time against the common enemy.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0009" id="Dimage-0009">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page226.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page226th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page226" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Imagine such an animated, whispering, gazing, inquiring scene, as I have
+ here presented you with a slight sketch of, and, reader, you will be able
+ to form some idea of the first appearance of the English Spy and his
+ friend the artist, among the ways and walks of merry Cheltenham. Then here
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'At once, I dedicate my lay
+ To the gay groups that round me swarm,
+ Like May-bees round the honied hive,
+ When fields are green, and skies are warm
+ And all in nature seems alive.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Time was, a certain amorous colonel carried every thing here, and bore
+ away the belle from all competitors; the hunt, the ball, the theatre, and
+ the card-party all owned his sovereign sway; although it must be admitted,
+ that, in the latter amusement, he seldom or ever hazarded enough to
+ disturb his financial recollections on the morrow. But time works wonders&mdash;notoriety
+ is of two complexions, and what may render a man a very agreeable
+ companion to foxhunters and frolicsome lordlings, is not always the best
+ calculated to recommend him in the eyes of the accomplished and the rigid
+ in matters of moral propriety. But other equally celebrated and less
+ worthy predilections have been trumpeted forth in courts and newspapers,
+ until the fame of the colonel has spread itself through every grade of
+ society, and, unlike that wreath which usually decks the gallant soldier's
+ brow, a cypress chaplet binds the early gray, and makes admonitory signal
+ of the ill-spent past. The wrongs of an injured <span class="pagenum">[227]</span>and
+ confiding husband, whose fortunes, wrecked by the false seducer, have left
+ him a prey to shattered ruin, yet live in the remembrance of some honest
+ Cheltenham hearts; and although these may feel for the now abandoned
+ object of his illicit passion, there are but few who, while they drop a
+ tear of pity as she passes them daily in the street, do not invoke a
+ nobler feeling of indignation upon the ruthless head of him who forged the
+ shafts of misery, and pierced at one fell blow the hearts of husband,
+ wife, and children! What father that has read Maria's hapless tale of woe,
+ and marked the progress of deceptive vice, will hereafter hazard the
+ reputation of his daughters by suffering them to mix in Cheltenham society
+ with the branded seducer and his profligate associates? Gallantry, an
+ unrestricted love of the fair sex, and a predilection for variety, may all
+ be indulged in this country to any extent, without betraying confidence on
+ the one hand or innocence upon the other, without outraging decency, or
+ violating the established usages of society. While the profligate confines
+ his sensual pleasures with such objects as I allude to within the walls of
+ his harem, the moralist has no right to trespass upon his privacy; it is
+ only when they are blazoned forth to public view, and daringly opposed to
+ public scorn, that the lash of the satirist is essentially useful, if not
+ in correcting, at least in exposing the systematic seducer, and putting
+ the inexperienced and the virtuous on their guard against the practice of
+ profligacy. It is the frequency and notoriety of such scenes that has at
+ last alarmed the Chelts, who, fearing more for their suffering interests
+ than for their suffering fellow-creatures, begin to murmur rather loudly
+ against the Berkeley Adonis, representing that the town itself suffers in
+ respectability and increase of visitors, by its being known as the
+ rendezvous of the bloods and blacks of Berkeley. The truth of this
+ assertion may be gathered from the <span class="pagenum">[228]</span>following
+ <i>jeu d' esprit</i>, only one among a hundred of such squibs that have
+ been very freely circulated in Cheltenham and the neighbourhood within the
+ last year.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'NEWS FROM CHELTENHAM.
+
+ 'The season runs smartly in Cheltenham's town,
+ The gossips are up, and the colonel is down;
+ He has taken the place of the famous Old Gun {1}
+ That exploded last year, and created some fun.
+ Were no lives then lost? some say, Yes! and some, No!
+ The report even shook the old walls of Glasgow.{2}
+ And the Bushe was found out to be no safe retreat,
+ For in love, as in war, you may chance to be beat;
+ And a hell-shaming fellow can never be reckon'd,
+ Whate'er he may publish, a capital second.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "But now having had our fling at his vices, let us speak of him more
+ agreeably; for the fellow hath some qualifications which, if humour suit,
+ enables him to shine forth a star of the first magnitude among <i>bons
+ vivants</i> and sporting characters, who ride, amble, and vegetate upon
+ the banks of the Chelt. Such is his love of hunting, a pleasure in which
+ he not only indulges himself, but enables others, his friends, to
+ participate with him, by keeping up a numerous stud of thirty well trained
+ horses, and a double pack of fox-hounds, that no appropriate day may be
+ lost, nor any opportunity missed, of pursuing the sports of the chase.
+ This is as it should be, and smacks of that glorious spirit which animated
+ his ancestors; although the violence of his temper will sometimes break
+ out even here, in the field, when some young and forward Nimrod, unable to
+ restrain his fiery steed, <i>o'er-caps</i> the hounds, or crosses the
+ scent. As the Chelts are, or have been, greatly benefited by the hounds
+ being kept alternately during the hunting months between
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 A good-morrow to you, Captain Gun.
+
+ 2 Miss Glasgow, divine perfection of antique virgin purity!
+ what could the poet mean by this allusion?
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[229]</span>Cheltenham and Gloucester, they must at
+ least feel some little gratitude to be due to the man who is the cause of
+ such an increase of society, and consequent expenditure of cash. But, say
+ they, we lose in a fourfold degree; for the respectable portion of the
+ fashionable visitants have of late cut us entirely, to save their sons and
+ daughters from pollution and ruin, by association or the force of example.
+ 'Tis not in the nature of the English Spy rudely to draw aside the
+ curtain, even to expose the midnight revelries and debaucheries, of which
+ he possesses some extraordinary anecdotes; events, which, if recorded
+ here, would, in the language of the poet,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Give ample room, and verge enough,
+ The characters of hell to trace;
+ How through each circling year, on many a night,
+ Have Severn's waves re-echoed with affright
+ The shrieks of (maids) through Berkeley's roofs that ring.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "But let these tales be told hereafter, as no doubt they will be, by the
+ creatures who now pander to vice, when the satiated and the sullen chief
+ sinks into decay, or cuts from his emaciated trunk the filthy excrescences
+ which, like poisonous fungus, suck the sap of honour and of life. The
+ colonel hath had many trials in this life, and much to break down a noble
+ and a proud spirit. In earlier days, a question of birthright, while it
+ cut off one entail, brought on another, which entailed a name, not the
+ ancient gift of a monarch, but one still more ancient, and, according to
+ Dodsley's Chronology of the Kings of England, the origin of British
+ sovereignty itself&mdash;a '<i>filius nullius,</i>' a title that left it
+ open to the wearer to have established his own fame, and to have been the
+ architect of a nobler fortune; for
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Who nobly acts may hold to scorn
+ The man who is but nobly born.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "Had the colonel acted thus, there is little doubt but long ere this the
+ kind heart of his Majesty would have <span class="pagenum">[230]</span>warmed
+ into graciousness as he reflected upon the untoward circumstances which
+ removed from the eldest born of an ancient house the honours of its
+ armorial bearings; the <i>engrailed bar</i> might have been erased from
+ the shield, and the coronet of nobility have graced the elder brother,
+ without invading the legal designation or claims of the legitimate
+ younger; but
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ I sing of a day that is gone and past,
+ Of a chance that is lost, and a die that's cast.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ And even now, while I am sermonizing on late events but too notorious, the
+ busy hum of many voices buzzes a tale upon the ear that sickens with its
+ unparalleled profligacy; but the English Spy, the faithful historian of
+ the present times, refuses to stain his pages by giving credit to, or
+ recording, the imputed profligate connexion. Adieu, <i>monsieur</i> the
+ colonel; fain would I have passed you by without this comment; but your
+ association with the black spirits of the 'Age'{3} has placed you upon a
+ pedestal, the proper mark for satire to shoot her barbed arrows at.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "But let us take a turn down the High Street; and as I live here comes an
+ old flame of the colonel's, Miss R*g*rs, who is now turned into Mrs.
+ E***n, and who, it is said, most wickedly turned her pen, and pointed the
+ following <i>jeu d'esprit</i> against her late protector, when he was laid
+ up by a serious accident, which happened to his knee after the more
+ serious loss of a&mdash;<i>Foote</i>.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 3 "A fellow-feeling makes us wondrous kind" says Pope; and
+ it would appear so from the intimacy which subsists between
+ the colonel and his jackall Bunn, the would-be captain, who
+ it is said is the <i>filius nullius</i> of old Ben Bunn the
+ <i>conveyancer</i>, not of legal title or estate by roll of
+ parchment, but of the very soil itself. Lord W. Lennox, too,
+ no doubt, prides himself upon the illegitimate origin of his
+ ancestry; and the publisher of the infamous scandals
+ manufactured in the Quadrant is also of the same kidney,
+ being the reputed natural son of jolly old Bardolph Jennyns.
+ What the remaining portion of the coterie spring from, the
+ Gents and Bs., the sensitive nose of a sensible man will
+ very easily discover.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[231]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'To Cupid's colonel help, ye people all;
+ He's missed his <i>Footing</i>, 'Pride has had a fall;'
+ The knee's uncapp'd, the calf laid open quite,
+ The Foote presents the most distressing sight;
+ Its form so perfect, pity none were nigh,
+ With warning voice to guard from injury.
+ Waltzers! your peerless partner view,
+ The gallant gay Lothario quite <i>perdu;
+ Sans Foote</i> to rest upon, his claims deny'd
+ To take a birth by English nobles' side.
+ Let him to Cheltenham, 'tis not to go far;
+ He's sure to find a <i>seat&mdash;on Irish car</i>.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "I am told, but I cannot discover the allusion myself, that Miss B*g*rs
+ was prompted to this effusion of the satiric muse by the green-eyed
+ monster, Jealousy, Observe that machine yonder, rumbling up the street
+ like an Irish jaunting-car, that contains the numerous family of M***r,
+ the vinegar merchant, whose lady being considered by the Chelts as
+ lineally descended from the Tartar race, they have very facetiously
+ nicknamed muriatic acid. The mad wag with the sandy whiskers yonder, and
+ somewhat pleasant-looking countenance, is a second-hand friend of the
+ colonel's; mark how he is ogling the young thing in the milliner's shop
+ through the window: his daily occupation, making assignations, and his
+ nightly amusement, a new favourite. A story is told of his father, a
+ highly respected legal character in the Emerald Isle, that, on being asked
+ by a friend why his son had left the country, replied, 'By Jasus, sir, it
+ was high time: sure I am there's enough of the family left behind. Is not
+ his lady in a <i>promising</i> way, and both his female servants, and
+ those of two or three of his friends, and are not both mine in a similar
+ situation? Zounds, sir, if he had remained here much longer, there would
+ not have been a single female in the whole country. However, 'Good wine,
+ they say, needs no Bushe,' so I shall leave him unmarked by his family
+ cognomen, lest this <span class="pagenum">[232]</span>should be taken as a
+ puff-card of his capabilities, and thereby add to the list of his
+ Cytherean exploits. In a late affair, when the colonel was called out (but
+ did not come), Sir Patrick beat about the Bushe for him very judiciously,
+ and by great skill in diplomacy enabled his friend to come off second
+ best. But here comes one who stands at odds with description, and attracts
+ more notice in Cheltenham than even the colonel, his companions, and all
+ the metropolitan visitory put together. If I was to lend myself to the
+ circulation of half the strange tales related of him by the Chelts, I
+ could fill a small-sized volume; but brevity is the soul of wit, and the
+ eccentric Mackey, with all his peculiarities and strange fancies for
+ midnight mastications, has a soul superior to the common herd, and a
+ 'heart and hand, open as day, to melting charity.' It is strange, 'passing
+ strange,' that one so rich and fond of society, and well-descended withal,
+ should choose thus to ape the ridiculous; a man, too, if report speaks
+ truly, of no ordinary talents as a writer on finance, and an expounder of
+ the solar system. Vanity! vanity! what strange fantasies and eccentric
+ fooleries dost thou sometimes fill the brain of the biped with, confining
+ thy freaks, however, to that strange animal&mdash;man. The countenance of
+ our eccentric is placid and agreeable, and, provided it was cleared of a
+ load of snuff, which weighs down the upper lip, might be said to be,
+ although in the sear o' the leaf, highly intellectual; but the old Scotch
+ cloak, the broad-brimmed hat of the covenanter, the loose under vest, the
+ thread-bare coat shaking in the wind, like the unmeasured garment of the
+ scarecrow, and the colour-driven nankeens, grown short by age and frequent
+ hard rubbings; then, too, the flowing locks of iron gray straggling over
+ the shoulders like the withered tendrils of a blighted vine&mdash;all
+ conspire to arrest the attention of an inquisitive eye; yet the Chelts
+ know but little <span class="pagenum">[233]</span>about his history,
+ beyond his being a man of good property, the proprietor of the Vittoria
+ boarding-house, inoffensive in manners, obliging in disposition, and
+ intelligent in conversation. His great penchant is a midnight supper,
+ stewed chicken and mushrooms, or any other choice and highly-seasoned
+ dish; to enjoy which in perfection, he hath a maiden sleeping at the foot
+ of his bed ready to attend his commands, which, it is said, are
+ communicated to her in a very singular way; no particle of speech being
+ used to disturb the solemn silence of the night, but a long cane reaching
+ downwards to the slumbering maid, by certain horizontal taps against her
+ side, propelled forward by the hand of the craving <i>gourmand</i>, wakes
+ her to action, and the banquet, piping-hot from the stew-pan, smokes upon
+ the board, unlike a vision, sending up real and enchanting odoriferous
+ perfumes beneath his olfactory organs. Extraordinary as this account may
+ appear, it is, I believe, strictly true, and is the great feature of the
+ eccentric's peculiarities, all the minor whims and fancies being of a
+ subordinate and uninteresting nature. I shall conclude my notice of him by
+ relating an action that would do honour to a king, and will excuse the
+ eccentric with the world, although his follies were ten times more
+ remarkable. During the suspension of payments by one of the Cheltenham
+ banks, and when all the poorer class of mechanics and labourers were in a
+ most piteous situation from the unprecedented number of one pound
+ provincial notes then in circulation, Mr. Mackey, to his eternal-honour be
+ it related, and without the remotest interest in the bank, stepped nobly
+ forward, unsolicited and unsupported, gave to all the poor people who held
+ the one pound notes the full value for them, reserving to himself only the
+ chance of the dividend. Ye Berkeleys, Ducies, Lennoxes, Cravens, Hammonds,
+ Bushes, Molineauxes, and Coventrys, and all the long list of Cheltenham
+ gay! <span class="pagenum">[234]</span>show me an action like this ye have
+ done&mdash;a spirit so noble, when did you display?&mdash;Do you see that
+ rosy-gilled fellow coming this way, with a hunting-whip in his hand? in
+ costume, more like a country horse-dealer than a country clergyman; yet
+ such he was, until the bishop of the diocese removed the clerical
+ incumbrance of the cassock, to give the wearer freer license to indulge
+ his vein for hunting, coursing, cock-fighting, and the unrestricted
+ pleasures of the table and the bottle. A good story is told of him and his
+ friend, the colonel, who, having invited some unsophisticated farmer to
+ partake of the festivities of the castle, laid him low with strong
+ potations of <i>black strap</i>, and in that state had him carried forth
+ to the stable-yard, where he was immured up to his neck in warm
+ horse-dung, the pious ex-chaplain reading the burial-service over him in
+ presence of the surviving members of the hunt."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Who the deuce is that pleasant-looking fellow," said Bob, "who appears to
+ give and gain the <i>quid pro quo</i> from every body that passes him?"
+ "That, my dear fellow, is the Grand Marshal of all the merry meetings
+ here, and a very gentlemanly, jovial, and witty fellow; just such a man as
+ should fill the office of master of the ceremonies, having both seen and
+ experienced enough of the world to know how to estimate character almost
+ at a first interview; he is highly and deservedly respected. There is a
+ very affecting anecdote in circulation respecting his predecessor, the
+ detail of which I much regret that I have lost; but the spirit of the
+ affair was too strongly imprinted upon my memory to be easily obliterated.
+ He had, it appears, loved a beauteous girl in early life, and met with a
+ reciprocal return; but the stern mandate of parental authority prevented
+ their union. The lover, almost broken-hearted, sought a distant clime,
+ and, after years of peril, returned to England, bringing with him a wife.
+ The match had been one <span class="pagenum">[235]</span>of interest, and
+ they are seldom those of domestic bliss. It proved so here&mdash;he became
+ dissipated, and squandered away the property he had possessed himself of
+ by marriage. In this situation, he collected together the wreck of his
+ fortunes, and retired to Cheltenham, where his amiable qualities and
+ gentlemanly conduct endeared him to a large circle of acquaintance, and,
+ in the end, he was induced to accept the situation of master of the
+ ceremonies. Time rolled on, and his former partner being dead, he was,
+ from his volatile and thoughtless disposition, again plunged in
+ difficulties, and imprisoned for debt. The circumstance became known to
+ her at whose shrine in early life he had vowed eternal devotion: with a
+ still fond recollection of him, who alone had ever shared her heart, she
+ hastened to the spot, and, being now a wealthy spinster, paid all his
+ debts and released him from durance. Gratitude and love both pointed out
+ the course for the obliged M. c. to pursue; but, alas! there is nothing
+ certain in the anticipations of complete happiness in this life. The lady
+ fell suddenly sick, and died on the very day they were to have been
+ married, leaving him sole executor of her property. The calamitous event
+ made such a deep impression upon a feeling mind, already shaken by trouble
+ and disease, that finding his prospects of bliss again blighted without a
+ chance of recovery, he fell into a state of despondency, and was, within a
+ week, laid a corpse by the side of his first love. At the post-office,&mdash;purposely
+ placed out of the way by the sagacious Chelts to give strangers the
+ trouble of making inquiries,&mdash;I received the following whim from the
+ same witty pen who wrote me, anonymously, an inauguration ode to commence
+ my second volume with." "Who is this whimsical spirit in the clouds?" said
+ Bob. "Ay, lad," I retorted, "that's just the inquiry I have been making
+ for the last eight months: <span class="pagenum">[236]</span>although it
+ would appear we have&mdash;<i>ad interim</i>&mdash;been running, riding,
+ racing, rowing, and sailing together in various parts of the kingdom, you
+ perceive, Bob, there are more Spies than ourselves at work. However, this
+ must be some protecting geni who hovers over our heads and fans the air on
+ silken wing, wafting zephyr-like the ambrosial breeze, where'er our merry
+ fancies stray. Anon, 'we'll drink a measure the table round;' and if we
+ forget the 'Honest Reviewer,' may we lose all relish for a racy joke, and
+ be forgotten ourselves by the lovers of good fellowship and good things."
+ "Which we never shall be," said Bob; "for those eccentric <i>tomes</i> of
+ ours must and will continue to amuse a laughter-loving age, when we are
+ booked inside and bound for t'other world." There was not a little
+ egotism, methought, about friend Transit's eulogy; but as every parent has
+ a sort of poetical licence allowed him in praising his own bantlings,
+ perhaps the patronage bestowed by the public upon the English Spy may
+ excuse a little vanity in either the author or the artist. "But you are
+ the great magician o' the south yourself, Bernard," continued Transit,
+ "and will you not use your power, you who can 'call spirits from the vasty
+ deep'" "True, Bob; I can call, but will they come when I shall command?
+ However, let us retire to our inn, and after dinner we'll chant his lay;
+ and if he dances not to the music of his own metre, then hath he no true
+ inspiration in him, and is a poet without vanity, a <i>vara avis</i> who
+ delighteth not in receiving the reward of merit; so on, old fellow, to our
+ quarters, where we will
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Carve the goose, and quaff the wine,'
+ And wish our sprite were here to dine&mdash;
+ We'd give him hearty cheer;
+ A welcome such as hand and heart
+ To kindred spirits should impart,
+ Where friendship reigns sincere.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[237]</span>We would punish him for sending his odes
+ to us without sending his family cognomen therewith. Have we not done him
+ immortal honour&mdash;placed him in front of our second volume like a
+ golden dedication, and what is more, selected him from many a pleasant
+ whim, to stand by our side; the only associate who can claim one line
+ engrafted on to the never-ending fame of the English Spy?&mdash;But to the
+ 'Preachment;' let us have another taste of his quality."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2H_4_0003" id="Dlink2H_4_0003">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ A SECOND ODE TO BERNARD BLACKMANTLE, ESQ.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ or A MICHAELMAS-DAY PREACHMENT.
+ </h3>
+ <p>
+ BY AN HONEST REVIEWER.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "<i>Iterumque, iterumque vocabo</i>."&mdash;Ancient Classics.
+
+ "'Tis a lucky day, boy, and we'll do goods on't."
+ &mdash;Winter's Tale.
+
+ "Ours is the skie,
+ Where at what fowle we please our hawks shall flie."
+ &mdash;Anon.
+
+ Ay, here I come once more, great sir,
+ Out of pure love to minister
+ Some golden truths to thee;
+ Faustus ye're not, nor Frankenstein,
+ Yet, being up to trap, I ween
+ You'll need a sprite like me.
+
+ Eve watch'd you closely, my young squire,
+ Since at vol. two I cool'd the ire
+ That left a little stain;
+ And therefore wonder not, sweet Spy,
+ Since both of us at follies fly,
+ Your "Tonson comes again."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[238]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ This is the day of Michaelmas.
+ Many would say, ay, "let that pass"
+ As a forgotten thing.
+ Not so with us, our rent we pay,
+ And do we not, on quarter-day,
+ Our taxes to the king?
+
+ Since, then, "our withers are unwrung,"
+ And we need wish no blister'd tongue
+ To creditors and duns,
+ Let's carve the goose, and quaff the wine,
+ And toast September twenty-nine,
+ Nor mark how fast time runs.
+
+ We've clone the same; that is, we've quaffd,
+ And sung, and danced, and drunk, and laugh'd,
+ When we were half seas over;
+ I don't mean tipsy, bless you, no!
+ But when we pass'd, like dart from bow,
+ Cowes Roads on board the Rover.
+
+ So pipe all hands; for though no gale
+ From sea-wash'd shores distend our sail,
+ We'll man a vessel here.
+ This room's our ship; this wine's our tide;
+ And the good friends we sit beside,
+ The messmates of our cheer.
+
+ Ay, this looks well; now till the glass
+ To king, to country, and our lass,
+ And all of pluck and feather;
+ That done around, and nothing loth,
+ Since we are "learned Thebans" both,
+
+ We'll have some talk together.
+ You've been to Cheltenham, I find,
+ And, zounds! you really ride the wind,
+ To Bath and Worcester too;
+ To South'ton and the Isle of Wight,
+ As if increase of appetite
+ With every new dish grew.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[239]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ But it was really <i>infra dig</i>.
+ Spite of your old horse and new gig,
+ You did not, some fine morn,
+ Drive up to Malcolm Ghur, d'ye see,{4}
+ And leave two pretty cards for me
+ And Sir John Barleycorn.
+
+ We would have been your chorus, sir,
+ Or, an' you pleased, your trumpeter,
+ And <i>lioned</i> you about;
+ Have shown you every pretty girl,
+ And every <i>nouvelle</i> quadrille twirl,
+ And every crowded rout.
+
+ At eight o' morns have call'd you down,
+ (What would they say of that in town?)
+ To swallow pump-room water;
+ At eight o' nights have call'd you up,
+ (Our grandams used just then to sup),
+ To 'gin the dinner slaughter.
+
+ Have whisk'd you o'er to Colonel B's,
+ Or drove you up to Captain P's,
+ Dons unto Cheltenham steady.
+ But I forget the world, good lack,
+ Have play'd enough with such a pack
+ Of great court-cards already.
+
+ 4 Malcolm Ghur, one of the very prettiest of the many pretty
+ newly-erected mansions that give a character to the environs
+ of Cheltenham. To its proprietor do I owe much for
+ hospitality; a merrier man, withal, dwells not in my
+ remembrance; he is of your first-rate whist players, though
+ he rarely now joins in the game. As the chaplain of the
+ county-lodge of F. M. he is much distinguished; and, at the
+ dinners of the Friendly Brothers&mdash;which are luxurious
+ indeed, and all for the "immortal memory" of William, king
+ of that name, and whose portrait ornaments their reading-
+ room&mdash;who better than he can "set the table in a roar"?
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[240]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Have set you down at ten pound whist
+ With A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-y, and the <i>au fait</i> list,{5}
+ Turning your nights to days;
+ Or, somewhat wiser, bid you mix
+ Where less expensive are odd tricks,
+ And where friend R&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-n plays.{6}
+
+ Have made you try a double trade,
+ By clapping you in masquerade,
+ To jaunt at fancy-balls;
+ You would have seen some merry sights
+ On two or three particular nights,
+ In good Miss&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-'s halls.{7}
+
+ You could have gone as harlequin,
+ Or clad yourself in Zamiel's skin,
+ Your tending spirits we;
+ Or "Peeping Tom" may be more apt,
+ Since all are in your record clapp'd
+ We send to Coventry.
+
+ 5 Colonel A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;y, certainly tho first whist player of the
+ rooms.
+
+ If he ever drilled a company of raw recruits half as well as
+ he manages a handful of bad cards, he must have been the
+ very admirable Crichton of soldiership.
+
+ 6 Mr. R&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;n, a facetious and good-humoured son of Erin;
+ true
+
+ as clock-work to the board of green cloth, though he has
+ been an age making a fortune from it.
+
+ 7 Among the most fashionable amusements of Cheltenham are
+ the fancy-balls, given by two or three of the principal
+ sojourners in that place, of card-playing, scandal,
+ freemasonry, and hot water&mdash;God knows how many are in the
+ latter ingredient! The most splendid I recollect was
+ given by Colonel&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-, or rather Miss&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-, whose
+ <i>protégé</i> he married; touching which alliance, there is a
+ story of some interest and much romance. Of that, as Pierce
+ Egan says very wittily in every critique, "of that anon."
+ There certainly was some fun and humour displayed by a few
+ of the characters on the particular evening I mention; the
+ two best performers were a reverend gentleman as
+ one of Russell's waggoners, inimitably portrayed, and
+ Captain B. A&mdash;&mdash;-e, not the author of "To Day," but his
+ brother, as an Indian prince. The dress, appearance, and
+ language to the life.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[241]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Yet still you've shown us, my smart beau,
+ Things that we should and should not know,
+ Vide the Oakland cots.
+ Bernard Blackmantle, learned Spy,
+ Don't you think hundreds will cry fie,
+ If you expose such plots?
+
+ You should have told them as I do,
+ And yet I love your hunters too,
+ That nothing is so vile
+ As strutting up and down a street,8
+ Dirt-spatter'd o'er from head to feet,
+ In the horse-jockey style.
+
+ <i>Ne sutor ultra crep</i>, should tell
+ These red-coats 'tis a paltry swell,
+ Such careless customs backing;
+ If they must strut in spurs and boots,
+ For once I'd join the chalk recruits,
+ And shout, "Use Turner's Blacking."
+
+ Howe'er, push on&mdash;there are of all,
+ Good, bad, high, low, and short, and tall,
+ That seek from you decrees.
+ Fear not, strike strong&mdash;you must not fly&mdash;
+ We will have shots enough&mdash;I'm by,
+ A Mephistopheles.
+
+ 8 There surely is much and offensive vanity in the practice
+ adopted by many members of the B. H. of appearing on the
+ pro-menades and in the rooms of Cheltenham, bespattered o'er
+ with the slush and foam of the hunting field. Every
+ situation has its decent appropriations, and one would
+ suppose comfort would have taught these Nimrods a better
+ lesson. It is pardonable for children to wear their
+ Valentines on the 14th of February, or for a young ensign to
+ strut about armed <i>cap à pie</i> for the first week of his
+ appointment; but the fashion of showing off in a red jerkin,
+ soiled smalls, mudded boots, and blooded spurs, is not
+ imitable: there is nothing of the old manhood of sport in
+ it; foppery and fox-hunting are not synonymous. Members of
+ the B. H. look to it; follow no leader in this respect. Or,
+ if you must needs persevere, turn your next fox out in the
+ ball-room, and let the huntsman's horn and the view halloo
+ supersede the necessity of harps and fiddle-strings.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[242]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ We'll learn and con them each by heart, Set them in note books by our art,
+ Each lord, and duke, and tailor. From Dr. S&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;{9} to
+ Peter K&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, U&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, O&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;,
+ and I&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, and E&mdash;&mdash;-, and A&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;,
+ Down to the ploughman Naylor.{10}
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Then let them sow their crop of cares, Their flowers, their weeds, their
+ fruit, their tares, Not looking ere they leap. We, like the folks in
+ Jamie's book{11} Will i' the dark sharp up our hook, And, my own Barnard,
+ reap.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 9 Dr. S&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-e, a very singular, but a very hearty kind
+ of Caleb Quotem. He has been soldier, and sailor, doctor,
+ and, I believe, divine. He is as well known at the best
+ parties as the Wells and the Market-house. He gives feasts
+ fit for the gods at home, and invariably credits his
+ neighbours' viands as being Jove's nectar or the fruits of
+ Paradise, so as to him they be not forbidden. Short commons
+ could not upset his politeness. His anecdotes have a spice
+ of the old courtier about them; but the line old <i>chanson à
+ boire</i>, from Gammar Gurton's Needle,
+
+ "Back and side go bare, go bare,
+ Both foot and hand go cold;
+ But belly, God send good ale enough,
+ Whether it be new or old;"
+
+ he really gives beautifully, and with a spice of the olden
+ time quite delightful.
+
+ 10 Mr. Naylor, of the Plough hotel; an excellent Boniface,
+ a good friend, and a merry companion. As a boy, I recollect
+ him keeping the Castle at Marlborough; at "frisky
+ eighteen," I have contributed to his success at the Crown at
+ Portsmouth; and I now, older, and it may be, a little wiser
+ grown, patronize him occasionally at Cheltenham.
+
+ 11 Vide Hogg's Brownie of Bodsbeck.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2H_4_0004" id="Dlink2H_4_0004">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ A TRIP TO THE SPAS.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ <span class="pagenum">[243]</span>
+ </h3>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2HCH0002" id="Dlink2HCH0002">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ CHAPTER II.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ The Spas&mdash;Medicinal Properties&mdash;Interesting specimens of
+ the Picturesque&mdash;"Spasmodic Affections from Spa Waters"&mdash;
+ Grotesque Scripture&mdash;The Goddess Hygeia&mdash;Humorous Epitaph&mdash;
+ Characters in the High Street&mdash;Traveller's Hall, or Sketches
+ in the Commercial Room at the Bell Inn, Cheltenham.
+
+ "For walks and for waters, for beaux and for belles,
+ There's nothing in nature to rival their wells."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Inquisitive traveller, if you would see the Well-walks in perfection, you
+ must rise early, and take a sip of the saline aperients before you taste
+ of the more substantial meal which the <i>Plough</i>-man. Naylor, or the
+ Cheltenham <i>Bell</i>-man, or the <i>Shep-herd</i> of the <i>Fleece</i>,
+ will be sure to prepare for your morning mastication. Fashion always
+ requires some talismanic power to draw her votaries together, beyond the
+ mere healthful attractions of salubrious air, pleasant rides, romantic
+ scenery, and cheerful society; and this magnet the Chelts possess in the
+ acknowledged medicinal properties of their numerous spas, the superior
+ qualities of which have been thus pleasantly poetized:&mdash;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "They're a healthful, and harmless, and purgative potion,
+ And as purely saline as the wave of the ocean,
+ Whilst their rapid effects like a&mdash;&mdash;
+ &mdash;&mdash;Hush! never mind;
+ We'll leave their effects altogether behind."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ In short, if you wish to obtain benefit by the drinking of the waters, you
+ must do it <i>dulcius ex ipso fonte</i>, as my Lord Bottle-it-out's
+ system, the nobleman who originally planned the Well-walks, of sending it
+ home <span class="pagenum">[244]</span>to the drinkers in bed, has long
+ since been completely exploded; while, on the other hand, its rapid
+ effects have been very faithfully delineated by my friend Transit's view
+ of the Royal Wells, as they appeared on the morning of our visitation,
+ presenting some very interesting specimens of the picturesque in the
+ Cruikshank style, actually drawn upon the spot, and affording to the eye
+ of a common observer the most indubitable proofs of the active properties
+ of the
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Sulphate of soda, and oxide of iron,
+ And gases, that none but the muse of a Byron
+ Would attempt to describe in the magic of sound,
+ Lest it made a report ere he'd quitted the ground;
+ And poets are costive, as all the world knows,
+ And value no fame that smells under their nose.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "Would you like to take off a glass of the waters, sir?" said a very
+ respectable-looking old lady to my friend Transit, who was at that moment
+ too busily engaged in taking off the water-drinkers to pay attention to
+ her request. "There's a beautiful contortion!" exclaimed Bob; sketching a
+ beau who exhibited in his countenance all the horrors of cholera, and was
+ running away as fast as his legs could carry him. "See, with what alacrity
+ the old gentleman is moving off yonder, making as many wry faces as if he
+ had swallowed an ounce of corrosive sublimate&mdash;and the ladies too,
+ bless me, how their angelic smiles evaporate, and the roseate bloom of
+ their cheeks is changed to the delicate tint of the lily, as they partake
+ of these waters. What an admirable school for study is this! here we can
+ observe every transition the human countenance is capable of expressing,
+ from a ruddy state of health and happiness, to one of extreme torture,
+ without charging our feelings with violence, and knowing that the pains
+ are those of the patient's own seeking, and the penalties not of any long
+ duration." In short, my friend Bob furnished, instanter, the subject of
+ "Spasmodic Affections from, <span class="pagenum">[245]</span>Spa Waters,"
+ (see plate); certainly one of his most spirited efforts.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0010" id="Dimage-0010">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page245.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page245th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page245" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But we must not pass by the elegant structure of Montpelier Spa, the
+ property of Pearson Thompson, esquire, whose gentlemanly manners, superior
+ talents, and kind conduct, have much endeared him to all who know him as
+ an acquaintance, and more to those who call him their friend. Passing on
+ the left-hand side of the upper well-walk, we found ourselves before this
+ tasteful structure, and were much delighted with the arrangement of the
+ extensive walks and grounds by which it is surrounded:&mdash;a
+ health-inspiring spot, and as we are told,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Where Thompson's supreme and immaculate taste
+ Has a paradise form'd from a wilderness waste;
+ With his walks rectilineous, all shelter'd with trees,
+ That shut out the sunshine and baffle the breeze,
+ And a field, where the daughters of Erin{12}may roam
+ In a fence of sweet-brier, and think they're at home."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ The Sherborne Spa, but recently erected, is indeed a very splendid
+ building, and forms a very beautiful object from the High-street, from
+ which it is plainly seen through a grove of trees, forming a vista of
+ nearly half a mile in length, standing on a gentle eminence, presenting on
+ both sides gravelled walks, with gardens and elegant buildings, that
+ display great taste in architecture. The Pump-room is a good specimen of
+ the Grecian Ionic, said to be correctly modelled from the temple on the
+ river Ilissus at Athens, and certainly is altogether a work worthy of
+ admiration. The grotesque colossal piece of sculpture which crowns the
+ central dome, as well as the building, has been wittily described by the
+ author of the "Cheltenham Mail."
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 12 The great number of Irish families who reside and
+ congregate at Cheltenham fully justifies the poet's
+ particular allusion to the fair daughters of Erin.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[246]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "And then lower down, in fine Leckampton stone,
+ We've the fane of <i>Ilissus</i> in miniature shown;
+ And crown'd with Hygeia&mdash;a bouncer, my lud!
+ And as plump, ay, as any princess of the blood,
+ Carved in stone, but a good imitation of wood:
+ With her vest all in plaits, like some ancient costume,
+ But or Roman or Grecian, I'm loth to presume,
+ So I cannot be <i>poz</i> yet I blush to confess,
+ That her limbs are shown off in a little undress;
+ Whilst the goddess herself, <i>en bon point</i> as she is,
+ With her curls <i>à la Grecque</i>, and but little <i>chemise</i>,
+ Is so plump and so round, my dear sir, it is plain,
+ She must bring <i>the robust</i> into fashion again."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Coming back through the churchyard from Alstone Spa, we discovered the
+ following humorous epitaph.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Here lies John Ball;
+ An unfortunate fall,
+ By crossing a wall,
+ Brought him to his end."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Peace to his manes! But, with such a notice above him to excite attention,
+ it is well he hears not, or ten times a clay his sleep might be sadly
+ disturbed. Once more we are in the High Street, where I shall just sketch
+ two or three singularities, without which my notice of the eccentrics of
+ Cheltenham might be deemed imperfect.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The dashing knight coming this way on horseback, with his double-pommelled
+ saddle, is a well-known Cheltenham resident, whose love of the good things
+ of this world induced him to look into the kitchen for a helpmate, and he
+ found one, who not only supplies his table with excellent dishes, but also
+ furnishes the banquet with a liberal quantity of sauce. The group of <i>roués</i>
+ to the right, standing under the portico (I suppose I must call it) to the
+ rooms, is composed of that good-humoured fellow Ormsby, who sometimes
+ figures here as an amateur actor, and, whether on or off the stage, is
+ generally respected for the amiable qualities of his heart. The <span
+ class="pagenum">[247]</span>gentleman with the <i>blue bauble</i> round
+ his neck is, or was, a lieutenant-colonel, and still loves to fire a great
+ gun now and then, when he gets into the trenches before Seringapatam; but
+ I must leave others to unriddle the character, while I pay my respects to
+ another military hero, who is no less famous among the Chelts for his
+ attachment to the stage&mdash;Lieutenant-colonel B*****ll, of whom it
+ would be difficult for any one who knew him to speak disrespectfully. Sir
+ John N****tt and his son, who are here called the inseparables, finish the
+ picture upon this spot, with the exception of my old friend the jack of
+ trumps, R*l*y, whose arch-looking visage I perceive peeping out like the
+ first glance of a court card in the rear of a bad hand; but let him pass:
+ the mirror of the English Spy reflects good qualities as well as bad ones,
+ and I should not do him justice if I denied him a fair proportion of both.
+ Descending to observe the eccentrics in a more humble sphere, who can pass
+ by the dandy candy man with his box of sweetmeats, clean in person as a
+ new penny, and his sturdy figure most religiously decorated with lawn
+ sleeves, and a churchman's <i>tablier</i> in front; while his ruddy
+ weather-beaten countenance, and hairy foraging cap, give him the
+ appearance of a Scotch presbyterian militant in the days of the
+ covenanters. Then, too, his wares cure all diseases, from a ravaging
+ consumption to a frame-shaking hooping cough; and not unlikely are as
+ efficacious as the nostrums of the less Mundivagant professors of patent
+ empiricism. Of all men in the world your coach <i>cad</i> has the quickest
+ eye for detecting a stranger; and who but Sam Spring, the box-book keeper
+ of Drury Lane, whose eternal bow has grown proverbial, could ask an
+ impudent question with more politeness than Mr. Court, the <i>chargé de
+ affaires</i> in the High Street, for the conflicting interests of half a
+ hundred coach proprietors 1 "Do you travel to-day, sir?&mdash;Very happy
+ to send for your luggage&mdash;Go by the early coach, sir?&mdash;Our
+ porter <span class="pagenum">[248]</span>shall call you up, only let me
+ put you down at our office." Thus actually bowing you into his book a week
+ before you had any serious intention of travelling, by the very
+ circumstance of reminding you of the mode by which you intend to reach
+ home. I could add to these sketches a few singularities among the trading
+ brotherhood of the Chelts; but we may meet again: and after all it would,
+ perhaps, be considered invidious to point out the honest tradesman to
+ public notice, merely because he has caught something of the
+ eccentricities of his betters, or, like them, is led away by the force of
+ example.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ ERRATA.
+
+ In Chapter I, page 223, Contents, dele hi, and for Penn,
+ read pun. The Man in the Cloak, noble Anecdote of, instead
+ of the Fox* hunting Parson,&mdash;Printer.
+</pre>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img alt="page248 (25K)" src="images2/page248.jpg" width="100%" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2H_4_0006" id="Dlink2H_4_0006">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ TRAVELLER'S HALL.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ <span class="pagenum">[249]</span>
+ </h3>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Sketches in the Commercial Room at the Bell Inn,
+ Cheltenltam&mdash;The Traveller's Ordinary&mdash;Trade Puns&mdash;Bolton
+ Trotters and Trottees&mdash;Song, All the Booksellers&mdash;Curious
+ Sporting Anecdote of a Commercial Man&mdash;Song, The Knight of
+ the Saddle Bags&mdash;Private Theatricals in Public&mdash;Visit to
+ the Oakland Cottages, a Night Scene.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ An invitation to dine with the traveller to a London house in the paper
+ and print line, yclept booksellers, introduced the English Spy and his
+ friend, the artist, to the scene here presented (see plate).
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0011" id="Dimage-0011">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page249.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page249th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page249" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Reader, if you wish to make a figure among the Chelts and be thought any
+ thing of, you will, of course, domicile at the Plough; but if your object
+ is a knowledge of life, social conversation, a great variety of character,
+ and a never-failing fund of mirth and anecdote, join the gentleman travellers
+ who congregate at the Bell or the Fleece, where you will meet with merry
+ fellows, choice viands, good wine, excellent beds, and a pretty
+ chambermaid into the bargain. Your commercial man is often a fellow of
+ infinite jest, a travelling vocabulary of provincial knowledge, and a
+ faithful narrator of the passing events of the time. Who can speak of the
+ increasing prosperity, or calculate upon the falling interests of a town,
+ so well as your flying man of business 1 The moment he enters a new place
+ he expects the landlord to be ready, cap in hand, to welcome him; he first
+ sees his horse into a stall, and lectures the ostler upon the art of
+ rubbing him down&mdash;orders boots to <span class="pagenum">[250]</span>bring
+ in his travelling bags or his driving box, and bids the waiter send the
+ chambermaid to show him his bed-room&mdash;grumbles that it is too high
+ up, has no chimney in the apartment, or is situate over the kitchen or the
+ tap-room&mdash;swears a tremendous oath that he will order his baggage to
+ be taken to the next house, and frightens the poor girl into the giving
+ him one of the best bed-apartments, usually reserved for the coffee-room
+ company. Returning below, he abuses the waiter for not giving him his
+ letters, that have been waiting his arrival a week, before he went up
+ stairs&mdash;directs boots to be ready to make the circuit of the town
+ with him after dinner, carrying his pattern-books, perhaps half a
+ hundred-weight of Birmingham wares, brass articles, or patterns of coffin
+ furniture; and having thus succeeded in putting the whole house into
+ confusion, only to let them know that the Brummagem gentleman has arrived
+ on his annual visit to the Chelts, with a new stock of every thing
+ astonishing in the brass line, he places himself down at a side table, to
+ answer to his principals for being some days later on his march than they
+ had concluded&mdash;remits a good sum in bills and acceptances, and adds
+ thereunto a sheet of orders, that will suffice to keep the firm in good
+ temper for a week to come: sometimes, indeed, the postscript contains a
+ hint of an expected "whereas," or strong suspicions of an act of
+ insolvency, but always couched in the most consolatory terms, hoping the
+ dividend will turn out to be better than present circumstances might lead
+ them to expect. In his visits to his customers he is the most courteous,
+ obliging fellow imaginable; there is no trouble he thinks too much if he
+ is likely to obtain his last account and a fresh order; then, too, his
+ generosity is unbounded: he invites the tradesman to take wine with him at
+ his inn, inquires kindly after all the family, hopes business is thriving,
+ makes an offer of <span class="pagenum">[251]</span>doing any thing for
+ him along the road, and bows himself and his pattern-cards out of the
+ shop, with as much humility and apparent sense of obligation as the most
+ expert courtier could put on when his sovereign deigns to confer upon him
+ some special mark of his royal favour. It is at his inn alone that his
+ independence breaks forth, and here he often assumes as much consequence
+ as if he was the head of the firm he represents, and always carried about
+ him a <i>plum</i> at least in his breeches pocket. This is a general
+ character, and one, too, formed upon no slight knowledge of commercial
+ men; but with all this, the man of the world will admire them and seek
+ their company; first, that his accommodations are generally better, and
+ the charges not subject to the caprice of the landlord; and, secondly, for
+ the sake of society; for what on earth can be more horrible than to be
+ shut up in a lone room, a stranger in a provincial town, to eat, drink,
+ and pass the cheerless hour, a prey to solitude and <i>ennui</i>?
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But there is sometimes a little fastidiousness about these <i>knights of
+ the saddle-bag</i>, in admitting a stranger to hob and nob with them; to
+ prevent a knowledge, therefore, of our pursuits, my friend Bob was
+ instructed, before entering the room, to sink the arts, and if any
+ inquisitive fellow should inquire what line he travelled in, to reply, in
+ the print line; while your humble servant, it was agreed, should represent
+ some firm in the spring trade; and thus armed against suspicion, we boldly
+ marched into the commercial-room just as the assembled group of men of
+ business were sitting down to dinner, hung our hats upon a peg, drew our
+ chairs, uninvited, to the table, fully prepared to feel ourselves at home,
+ and do ample justice to the "bagmen's banquet."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The important preliminary point settled, of whom the duty of chairman
+ devolved on, a situation, as I understood, always filled in a commercial
+ room by <span class="pagenum">[252]</span>the last gentleman traveller who
+ makes it his residence, we proceeded to business. The privilege of finding
+ fault with the dinner, which, by the by, was excellent, is always conceded
+ to the ancients of the fraternity of traders; these gentlemen who, having
+ been half a century upon the road, remember all the previous proprietors
+ of the hotel to the fifteenth or twentieth generation removed, make a
+ point of enumerating their gracious qualities upon such occasions, to keep
+ the living host and representative <i>up to the mark</i>, as they phrase
+ it. For instance&mdash;the old buck in the chair, who was a city tea
+ broker, found fault with the fish: "There vas nothing of that ere sort to
+ be had good but at Billingsgate, where all the best fish from all the
+ vorld vas, as he contended, to be bought cheaper as butcher's meat." The
+ result of which remark induced the young wags at the table to finish a
+ very fine brill, without leaving him a taste, while he was abusing it.
+ "This soup is not like friend Birch's," said Mr. Obadiah Pure, a gentleman
+ in the drug line; "it hath a watery and unchristianlike taste with it."
+ "Ay," replied a youngster at the bottom of the table, with whom it
+ appeared to be in request, "I quake for fear while I am eating it, only I
+ know there can be no drugs in it, or you would not find fault with a
+ customer." "Thou art one of the newly imported, friend," replied Mr. Pure,
+ "and art yet like a young bear, with all thy troubles to come." "True,"
+ said the wag, "thou may be right, friend; but I shall not be found a <i>bruin</i>
+ with thy materials for all that." This sally put down the drug merchant
+ for the rest of the dinner-time. "You had better take a little fish or
+ soup before they are cold," said the chairman, to a bluff-looking
+ beef-eater at his back, who was arranging his papers and samples. "Sir, I
+ never eat warm wittals, drink hot liquors, wear a great coat, or have my
+ bed warmed." "The natural heat of your <span class="pagenum">[253]</span>constitution,
+ I suppose, excuses you," said I, venturing upon a joke. "Sir, you had
+ better heat your natural meal, while it is hot, without attempting to heat
+ other people's tempers," was the reply; to which Bob retorted, by saying,
+ "It was quite clear the gentleman was not mealy-mouthed." "This beef
+ smells a little of Hounslow Heath," said a jeweller's gentleman, on my
+ right. "Why so, sir?" was inquired by one who knew him. "Because it has
+ hung rather too long to be sightly." "You should not have left out the
+ chains in that joke, Sam," said his friend; "they would have linked it
+ well together, and sealed the subject." "Who takes port?" inquired the
+ chairman. "I must sherry directly after dinner, gentlemen," said one.
+ "What," retorted the company, "boxing the wine bin! committing treason, by
+ making a sovereign go farther than he is required by law. Fine him, Mr.
+ Chairman." "Gentlemen, it is not in my power; he is a bottle conjuror, I
+ assure you, 'a good man and true;' he only retires to bleed a patient, and
+ will return instanter." "Happy to take a glass of wine with you, sir."
+ "What do you think of that port, sir?" "Excellent." "Ay, I knew you would
+ say so; the house of Barnaby Blackstrap, Brothers, and Company, of Upper
+ Thames Street, have always been famous for selling wines of the choicest
+ vintage. Do me the honour, sir, of putting a card of ours in your pocket:
+ I sent this wine into this house in Jennings's time, for the grand dinner,
+ when the first stone of the new rooms over the way was laid, and John
+ Kelly, the proprietor, took the chair. You are lucky, sir, in meeting me
+ here; they always pull out an odd bottle from the family bin, marked A&mdash;1,
+ when I visit them." "Yes, and some <i>odd sort</i> of wine at any other
+ time," grumbled out a queer-looking character at a side table opposite.
+ "That's nothing but spleen, Mr. Sable," said the knight of the ruby
+ countenance: "you and I have met occasionally at this house together now
+ for three and twenty years; and although I never <span class="pagenum">[254]</span>come
+ a journey without taking an order from them, I thank heaven, I never knew
+ you to receive one yet: many a dead man have we seen in this room, but
+ none of them requiring a coffin plate to tell their age, and very few of
+ them that were like to receive the benefit of resurrection." "I shall book
+ you inside, Mr. Blackstrap,'' replied Sable, "for joking on my articles of
+ trade, which is contrary to the established usage of a commercial room."
+ "Do any thing you like but bury me," said the <i>bon vivant</i>."
+ Gentlemen, as chairman, it is my duty to put an end to all grave subjects.
+ Will you be kind enough to dissect that turkey?" "I don't see the bee's
+ wing in this port, Mr. Blackstrap, that you are bouncing about," said a
+ London traveller to a timber-merchant. "No, sir," said the humorist, "it
+ is not to be seen until you are a deal higher in spirits; the film of the
+ wing is seldom discernible in such mahogany-coloured wine as this." "Sir,
+ I blush like rose wood at your impertinence." "Ay, sir, and you'll soon be
+ as red as logwood, or as black as ebony, if you will but do justice to the
+ bottle," was the reply. "There is no being cross-grained with you," said
+ the timber-merchant. "Not unless you cut me," retorted Blackstrap, "and
+ you are not sap enough for that." "Gentlemen," continued the facetious
+ wine-merchant, "if we do not get a little fruit, I shall think we have not
+ met with our dessert; and although there may be some among us whose
+ principals are worth a plum, there are very few of their representatives,
+ I suspect, who will offer any objections to my reasons." Thus pleasantly
+ apostrophised, the fruit made its appearance, and with it a fresh supply
+ of the genuine Oporto, which our merry companion, Blackstrap, called "his
+ <i>old particular</i>." One of his stories, relative to a joke played off
+ upon the Bolton trotters, by his friend Sable, the travelling undertaker,
+ is too good to be lost. In Lancashire the custom of hoaxing is called
+ <span class="pagenum">[255]</span><i>trotting</i>, and in many instances,
+ particularly at Bolton, is still continued, and has frequently been played
+ off upon strangers with a ruinous success. Sable had, it would appear,
+ taken up his quarters at a commercial inn, and, as is usual with
+ travellers, joined the tradesmen in the smoking room at night to enjoy his
+ pipe, and profit, perhaps, by introduction in the way of business. The
+ pursuit of the undertaker and dealer in coffin furniture was no sooner
+ made generally known, than it was unanimously agreed to trot him, by
+ giving him various orders for articles in his line, which none of the
+ parties had any serious intention of paying for or receiving. With this
+ view, one ordered a splendid coffin for himself, and another one for his
+ wife; a third gave instructions for an engraved plate and gilt ornaments;
+ and a fourth chose to order an elegant suite of silver ornaments to
+ decorate the last abode of frail mortality: in this way the company were
+ much amused with the apparent unsuspecting manner of Sable, who carefully
+ noted down all their orders, and pledged himself to execute them
+ faithfully. The Bolton people did not fail to circulate this good joke, as
+ they then thought it, among their neighbours, and having given fictitious
+ names, expected to have had additional cause for exultation when the
+ articles arrived; but how great was their surprise and dismay, when in a
+ short time every order came, directed properly to the person who had given
+ it! Coffins and coffin-plates, silk shrouds and velvet palls, and all the
+ expensive paraphernalia of the charnel-house were to be seen carried about
+ from the waggon-office in Bolton, to be delivered at the residences of the
+ principal inhabitants. Many refused to receive these mementoes of their
+ terrestrial life, and others denied having ever ordered the same. Sable,
+ however, proved himself too <i>fast a trotter</i> for the Bolton people;
+ for having, by the assistance of the waiter, obtained the true description
+ of his <span class="pagenum">[256]</span>customers on the night of the
+ joke, and finding they were most of them wealthy tradesmen, he very wisely
+ determined to humour the whim, and execute the orders given, and in due
+ course of time insisted upon payment for the same. Thus ended the story of
+ the Bolton trotters, which our merry companion concluded, by observing,
+ that it put an end to sporting, in that way, for some time; and by the
+ chagrin it caused to many of the trottees, distanced them in this life,
+ and sent them off the course in a galloping consumption.{1} "There's
+ honour for you," said Sable, "civilized a
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 <i>A Bolton definition</i>.&mdash;When the Bolton Canal was first
+ pro-posed, the Athenians (for that Bolton is the Athens of
+ Lancashire no one can doubt) could not well understand how
+ boats were to be raised above the level of the sea. A lock
+ to them was as incom-prehensible as Locke on the Human
+ Understanding. A celebrated member of a celebrated trotting
+ club was amongst the number of those who could not
+ comprehend the mystery. Unwilling to appear ignorant upon a
+ question which formed the common topic of conversation, he
+ applied to a scientific gentleman in the neighbourhood for
+ an accurate description of a lock. It happened that the man
+ of science had on one occasion been a <i>trottee</i>, and was
+ glad to have an opportunity of retaliation. "A lock," said
+ he, "is a quantity of sawdust congealed into boards, which,
+ being let down into the water in a perpendicular slope-
+ level, raises it to the declivity of the sea above!"&mdash;" Eh?"
+ said the Athenian, "what dun yo' say?" The gentleman
+ repeated his description, and the worthy Boltonian recorded
+ every word in the tablet of his memory. Sometime afterwards
+ he had the honour of dining with some worshipful brothers of
+ the quorum, men as profoundly ignorant of the law as any of
+ the unpaid magistracy need to be, but who, having seen
+ canals, knew well enough what locks were. Our Athenian took
+ an early opportunity of adverting to the proposed "cut," and
+ introduced his newly-acquired learning in the following
+ terms: "Ah! Measter Fletcher, it's a foine thing a lock;
+ yo' know'n I loike to look into them theere things; a lock
+ is a perpendicular slop level, which, being let into the
+ sea, is revealed into boards, that raises it to the
+ declivity of the sea above!"&mdash;As it is the province and
+ privilege of the ignorant to laugh at a greater degree of
+ ignorance than their own, it may be supposed that their
+ worships enjoyed a hearty laugh at the expense of their
+ Attic brother.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[257]</span>whole district of English barbarians by
+ one action, and, what is more, they have never ventured to trot with any
+ one of our fraternity since."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The conversation now took a turn relative to the affairs of trade; and if
+ any one had been desirous of knowing the exact degree of solvency in which
+ the whole population of the county of Gloucester was held by these flying
+ merchants and factors, they might easily have summed up the estimate from
+ the remarks of the company. They were, however, a jovial party; and my
+ friend Bob and myself had rarely found ourselves more pleasantly
+ circumstanced, either as regarded our social comforts, or the continued
+ variety of new character with which the successive speakers presented us.
+ As the evening approached our numbers gradually diminished, some to pursue
+ their journeys, and others to facilitate the purposes of trade. The
+ representative of the house of Blackstrap and Co., his friend Sable, the
+ timber merchant, our inviter the bookseller, and the two interlopers,
+ remained fixed as fate to the festive board, until the chairman, and
+ scarce any one of the company, could clearly define, divide, and arrange
+ the exact arithmetical proportions of the dinner bill. After a short
+ cessation of hostilities, during which our commercial friends despatched
+ their London letters, and Bob and the English Spy, to escape the suspicion
+ of not having any definable pursuit, emigrated to the High Street; we
+ returned to our quarters, and found the whole party debating upon a
+ proposition of the bon vivants, to have another bottle, and make a night
+ of it by going to the theatre at half price; a question that was
+ immediately carried, <i>nemine contradicente</i>. Mr. Margin, our esteemed
+ companion, who represented the old established house of Sherwood and Co.,
+ was known to sing a good stave, and what was still more attractive, was
+ himself a child of song&mdash;one of the inspired of the nine, who, at the
+ Anacreontic Club, held in Ivy Lane, would often amuse <span class="pagenum">[258]</span>the
+ society with an original chant; "whose fame," as Blackstrap expressed it,
+ "had extended itself to the four corners of the island, wherever the
+ sporting works of Sherwood and Co., or the travelled histories of the
+ Messrs. Longmans, have found readers and admirers." "Gentlemen," said Mr.
+ Margin, "my songs are all of a local nature; whims written to amuse a
+ meeting of the trade for a dinner at the Albion or the London, when the
+ booksellers congregate together to buy copyrights, or sell at a reduced
+ price the refuse of their stock. But, such as it is, you shall have it
+ instanter."
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ ALL THE BOOKSELLERS;
+
+ A NEW SONG, BY A LONDON TRAVELLER.
+
+ Tune&mdash;Family Pride&mdash;Irish air.
+
+ First, Longmans are famous for travels,
+ Will Sherwood for sporting and fun,
+ Old Ridgway the science unravels
+ How politic matters are done.
+
+ The ponderous tomes of deep learning,
+ The heavy, profound, and the flat,
+ By Baldwin and Cradock's discerning,
+ Are cheaper by half to come at.
+
+ Baines deals out to methodist readers
+ Cant, piously strung into rhyme;
+ While Rivingtons, 'gainst the seceders,
+ With church and king Hatchard will chime.
+
+ John Murray's the lords' own anointed,
+ I mean not indeed to blaspheme,
+ But the peers have him solely appointed
+ To sell what their highnesses scheme.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[259]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Colburn defies Day and Martin
+ To beat him with " Real Japan;"
+ If puffing will sell books, 'tis certain,
+ He'll rival the bookselling clan.
+
+ Catechisms for miss and for master,
+ For ladies who're fond oft, romance,
+ Sheriff Whittaker publishes faster
+ Than booksellers' porters can dance.
+
+ Operatives, mechanics, combiners,
+ Knight and Lacey will publish for you;
+ They'll tickle ye out of your shiners,
+ By teaching the power o' the screw.
+
+ An Architect looks out for Taylor,
+ A General Egerton seeks;
+ Tommy Tegg at the trade is a railer,
+ But yet for a slice of it sneaks.
+
+ Richardson furnishes India
+ With all books from Europe she buys;
+ Near St. Paul's, in Old Harris's window,
+ The juveniles look for a prize.
+
+ Cadell is Scotch Ebony's factor,
+ Collecting the news for Blackwood;
+ John Miller 's the man for an actor,
+ America 's done him some good.
+
+ The Newmans of fam'd Leadenhall
+ In very old novels abound;
+ While Kelly, respected by all,
+ As Sheriff of London is found.
+
+ Will Simpkin supplieth the trade
+ From his office in Stationers' Court;
+ And Stockdale too much cash has made
+ By publishing Harriette 's report.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[260]</span>THE ENGLISH SPY
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Antiquarians seek Arch of Cornhill;
+ Joe Butterworth furnishes law;
+ And Major his pockets will fill
+ By giving to Walton <i>éclat</i>.
+
+ Where, with old Parson Ambrose, the legs
+ Once in Gothic Hall pigeons could fleece,
+ There, Hurst and Co. now hang on pegs
+ The fine arts of Rome and of Greece.
+
+ John Ebers with Opera dancers
+ Is too much engaged for to look
+ How the bookselling business answers,
+ And publishes only "Ude's Cook."
+
+ Hookham and Carpenter both are
+ As cautious as caution can be;
+ While Andrews, nor Chapple, a sloth are
+ In trade, both as lib'ral as free.
+
+ Billy Sams is a loyal believer,
+ And publishes prints by the score;
+ But his likeness, I will not deceive her,
+ Of Chester <i>is not con amore</i>.
+
+ If the world you are ganging to see,
+ Its manners and customs to note,
+ In the Strand, you must call upon Leigh,
+ Where you'll find a directory wrote.
+
+ Cincinnatus like, guiding the plough,
+ On Harding each farmer still looks;
+ Clerc Smith is the man for a bow,
+ And his shop is as famous for books.
+
+ <i>Facetiæ</i> collectors, give ear,
+ Who with Mack letter spirits would deal;
+ If rich in old lore you'd appear,
+ Pay a visit to Priestley and Weale.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[261]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ There's Ogle, and Westley, and Black,
+ With Mawman, and Kirby, and Cole,
+ And Souter, and Wilson&mdash;alack!
+ I cannot distinguish the whole.
+
+ For Robins, and Hunter, and Poole,
+ And Evans, and Scholey, and Co.
+ Would fill out my verse beyond rule,
+ And my Pegasus halts in the Bow.
+
+ The radicals all are done up;
+ Sedition is gone to the dogs;
+ And Benbow and Cobbett may sup
+ With their worthy relations the Hogs.
+
+ So here I will wind up my list
+ With Underwood, Callow, and Highley;
+ Who bring to the medicals grist,
+ By books on diseases wrote dryly.
+
+ Just one word at parting I crave&mdash;
+ If Italian, French, German, or Dutch,
+ To bother your noddle you'd have,
+ Send to Berthoud, or Treuttel and Wurtz,
+
+ Or Zotti, or Dulau, or Bohn,
+ But they're all very good in their way;
+ Bossange, Bothe, Boosey and Son,
+ All expect <i>Monsieur Jean</i> Bull to pay.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "A right merrie conceit it is," said Blackstrap, "and an excellent
+ memoranda of the eminent book-sellers of the present time." "Ay, sir,"
+ continued the veteran; "all our old ballads had the merit of being useful,
+ as well as amusing. There was 'Chevy Chase, and 'King John and his
+ Barons,' and 'Merry Sherwood,' all of them exquisite chants; conveying
+ information to the mind, and relating some grand historical fact, while
+ they charmed the ear. But <span class="pagenum">[262]</span>your modern
+ kickshaws are all about 'No, my love, no,' or 'Sigh no more, lady,' or
+ some such silly stuff that nobody cares to learn the words of, or can
+ understand if they did. I remember composing a ballad in this town myself,
+ some few years since, on a very strange adventure that happened to one of
+ our commercial brethren. He had bought an old hunter at Bristol to finish
+ his journey homeward with, on account of his former horse proving lame,
+ and just as he was entering Cheltenham by the turnpike-gate at the end of
+ the town, the whole of the Berkeley Hunt were turning out for a day's run,
+ and having found, shot across the road in full cry. Away went the dogs,
+ and away went the huntsmen, and plague of any other way would the old
+ hunter go: so, despite of the two hundred weight of perfumery samples
+ contained in his saddle-bags, away went Delcroix's deputy over hedge and
+ ditch, and straight forward for a steeple chase up the Cleigh Hills; but
+ in coming down rather briskly, the courage of the old horse gave way, and
+ down he came as groggy before as a Chelsea pensioner, smashing all the
+ appendages of trade, and spilling their contents upon the ground, besides
+ raising such an odoriferous effluvia on the field, that every one present
+ smelt the joke.&mdash;But you shall have the song."
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ THE KNIGHT OF THE SADDLE-BAGS;
+
+ A TRUE RELATION OF A TRAVELLER'S
+ ADVENTURE AT CHELTENHAM.
+
+ Tune&mdash;The Priest of Kajaga.
+
+ A knight of the saddle-bags, jolly and gay,
+ Rode near to blithe Cheltenham's town;
+ His coat was a drab, and his wig iron-gray,
+ And the hue of his nag was a brown.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[263]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ From Bristol, through Glo'ster, the merry man came;
+ And jogging along in a trot,
+ On the road happ'd to pass him, in pursuit of game,
+ Of Berkeley's huntsmen a lot.
+
+ Tally-ho! tally-ho! from each voice did resound;
+ Hark forward! now cheer'd the loud pack;
+ Sir knight found his horse spring along like a hound,'
+ For the devil could not hold him back.
+
+ Away went sly Reynard, away went sir knight,
+ With the saddle-bags beating the side
+ Of his horse, as he gallop'd among them in fright;
+ 'Twas in vain that the hunt did deride.
+
+ Now up the Cleigh Hills, and adown the steep vale,
+ Crack, crack, went the girths of his saddle;
+ Sir knight was dismounted, O piteous tale!
+ In wasjies the fishes might paddle.
+
+ As prostrate he lay, an old hound that way bent
+ Gave tongue as he pass'd him along;
+ Which attracted the pack, who thus drawn by the scent,
+ Would have very soon ended his song.
+
+ For O! it was strange, but, though strange, it was true!
+ With perfumery samples, his bags
+ With essences, musks, and rich odours a few,
+ He had joined peradventure the nag's.
+
+ The field took the joke in good-humour and jest;
+ Sir knight was invited to dine
+ At the Plough the same day, where a fine haunch was dress'd,
+ And Naylor gave excellent wine.
+
+ From that time, 'raong the Chelts, has a knight of the bag
+ Been look'd on as a man of spirit;
+ For who but a knight could have hunted a nag
+ So laden, and come off with merit?
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[264]</span>A visit from two of the commercial
+ gentlemen of the Fleece gave Blackstrap another opportunity of showing
+ off, which he did not fail to avail himself of in no very measured paces,
+ by ridiculing the rival house, and extending his remarks to the taste of
+ the frequenters. To which one of them replied, "Mine host of the fleece is
+ no 'wolf in sheep's clothing,' but a right careful good shepherd, who
+ provides well for his flock; and although the fleece hangs over his door,
+ it is not symbolical of any fleecing practices within." "Ay," said the
+ other, defending his hotel; "then, sir, we live like farmers at a
+ harvest-home, and sleep on beds of down beneath coverings of lamb's wool;
+ and our attendant nymphs of the chamber are as beautiful and lively as
+ Arcadian shepherdesses, and chaste as the goddess Diana." "Very good,"
+ retorted Blackstrap; "but you know, gentlemen, that the beaux of this
+ house must be better off for the belle. We will allow you of the Fleece
+ your rustic enjoyments, seeing that you are country gentlemen, for your
+ hotel is certainly out of the town." A good-natured sally that quickly
+ restored harmony, and called forth another song from the muse of
+ Blackstrap.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ HEALTH, COMPETENCE, AND GOOD-HUMOUR.
+
+ Let titles and fame on ambition be shed,
+ Or history's page of great heroes relate;
+ The motto I'd choose to encircle my head
+ Is competence, health, and good-humour elate.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[265]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ The chaplet of virtue, by friendship entwined,
+ Sheds a lustre that rarely encircles the great;
+ While health and good-humour eternally find
+ A competence smiling on every state.
+
+ No luxuries seeking my board to encumber,
+ Contented receiving what Providence sends;
+ Age brightens with pleasure, while virtue may number
+ Competence, health, and good-humour as friends.
+
+ Then, neighbours, let's smile at old Chronos and care;
+ Still shielded with honour, we're fearless of fate:
+ With the sports of the field and the joys of the fair,
+ We've competence, health, and good-humour elate.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ At the conclusion of this fresh specimen of our chairman's original
+ talent, it was proposed we should adjourn to the theatre, where certain
+ fashionable amateurs were amusing themselves at the expense of the public.
+ "Sir, I dislike these half and half vagabonds," said Blackstrap, with one
+ of his original gestures, "who play with an author before the public, that
+ they may the more easily play with an actress in private. Yon coxcomb, for
+ instance, who buffoons Brutus, with his brothers, are indeed capital
+ brutes by nature, but as deficient of the art histrionic as any biped
+ animals well can be. I remember a very clever artist exhibiting a picture
+ of the colonel and his mother's son, Augustus, with a Captain Austin, in
+ the exhibition of the Royal Academy for the year 1823, in the characters
+ of Brutus, Marc Antony, and Julius Cæsar, which caused more fun than
+ anything else in the collection, and produced more puns among the
+ cognoscenti than any previous work of art ever gave rise to. The Romans
+ were such rum ones&mdash;Brutus was a black down-looking biped, with gray
+ whiskers, and a growl upon his lip; Marc Antony, without the remotest mark
+ of the ancient hero about him; and <span class="pagenum">[266]</span>Cassius
+ looked as if he had been cashiered by the commander of some strolling
+ company of itinerants for one, whose placid face could neither move to
+ woe, nor yield grimace; and yet they were all accounted excellent
+ likenesses, perfect originals, like Wombwell's bonassus, only not quite so
+ natural."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ During this rhapsody of Blackstrap's, Transit on the one side, and the
+ English Spy on the other, endeavoured to restrain the torrent of his
+ satire by assuring him that the very persons he was alluding to were the
+ amateurs on the stage before him; and that certain critical faces behind
+ him were paid like the painter, of whom he had previously spoken, to
+ produce flattering portraits in print, and might possibly make a satirical
+ sketch of the bon vivant at the same time; an admonition that had not the
+ slightest effect in abridging his strictures upon amateur actors. But as
+ the English Spy intends to finish his sketches on this subject, in a visit
+ to the national theatres, he has until then treasured up in his mind's
+ stores the excellent and apposite, though somewhat racy anecdotes, with
+ which the comical commercial critic illustrated his discourse.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The "liquor in, the wit's out," saith the ancient proverb; and, although
+ my "Spirit in the Clouds" had already hinted at the dangerous consequences
+ likely to result from a visit to the "Oakland Cottages," yet such was the
+ flexibility of my friend Transit's ethics, his penchant for a spree, and
+ the volatile nature of his disposition, when the ripe Falerian set the red
+ current mantling in his veins, that not all my philosophy, nor the sage
+ monitions of Blackstrap, nor thought, nor care, nor friendly intercession
+ could withhold the artist from making a pilgrimage to the altar of love.
+ For be it known to the amorous beau, these things are not permitted to
+ pollute the sanctity of the sainted Chelts; but in a snug convent, situate
+ a full mile and a half from Cheltenham, at the extremity <span
+ class="pagenum">[267]</span>of a lane where four roads meet, and under the
+ Cleigh Hills, the lady abbess and the fair sisters of Cytherea perform
+ their midnight mysteries, secure from magisterial interference, or the
+ rude hand of any pious parochial poacher. Start not, gentle reader; I
+ shall not draw aside the curtain of delicacy, or expose "the secrets of
+ the prison-house:" it is enough for me to note these scenes in half tints,
+ and leave the broad effects of light and shadow to the pencils of those
+ who are amorously inclined and well-practised in giving the finishing&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;touch.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ But to return to my friend Transit. Bright Luna tipt with silvery hue the
+ surrounding clouds, and o'er the face of nature spread her mystic light;
+ the blue concave of high heaven was illumined by a countless host of
+ starry meteors, and the soft note of Philomel from the grove came upon the
+ soul-delighted ear like the sweet breathings of the Eolian harp, or the
+ celestial cadences of that heart-subduing cherub, Stephens; when we set
+ out on our romantic excursion. Reader, you may well start at the
+ introduction of the plural number; but say, what man could abandon his
+ friend to such a dangerous enterprise? or what moralists refuse his
+ services where there was such a probability of there being so much need
+ for them? But we are poor frail mortals; so a truce with apology, or
+ prithee accept one in the language of Moore:
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Dear creatures! we can't live without them,
+ They're all that is sweet and seducing to man;
+ Looking, sighing, about and about them,
+ We dote on them, die for them, do all we can."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ To be brief: we found excellent accommodation, and spent the night
+ pleasantly, free from the sin of single blessedness. Many a choice
+ anecdote did the Paphian divinities furnish us with of the <i>gay
+ well-known</i> among the Chelts; stories that will be told again and again
+ over the friendly bottle, but must not be recorded <span class="pagenum">[268]</span>here.
+ Whether Transit, waking early from his slumbers, was paying his devotions
+ to Venus or the water-bottle, I know not; but I was awoke by him about
+ eight in the morning, and heard the loud echo of the huntsman's hallo in
+ my ear, summoning me to rise and away, for the sons of Nimrod had beset
+ the house; information which I found, upon looking through the window, was
+ alarmingly true, but which did not appear either to surprise or affright
+ the fair occupants of the cottages, who observed, it was only some of the
+ "Berkeley Hunt going out," (See Plate), who, if they did not find any
+ where else, generally came looking after a brush in that neighbourhood.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0012" id="Dimage-0012">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page268.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page268th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page268" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Then the best thing we can do," said Transit, "is to brush off, before
+ they brush up stairs and discover a couple of poachers among their game."
+ This, however, the ladies would by no means admit, and the huntsmen
+ quickly riding away, we took our chocolate with the lady abbess and her
+ nuns, made all matters perfectly pleasant, saluted the fair at parting,
+ and bade adieu to the Oakland Cottages.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Upon our return to our inn, we received a good-humoured lecture from
+ Blackstrap, who was just, as he phrased it, on the wing for Bristol and
+ Bath, "where" said he, "if you will meet me at old Matthew Temple's, the
+ Castle Inn, I will engage to give you a hearty welcome, and another bottle
+ of the old particular;" a proposition that was immediately agreed to, as
+ the route we had previously determined upon. One circumstance had, during
+ our sojourn in the west, much annoyed my friend Transit and myself; we had
+ intended to have been present at the Doncaster race meeting for 1825, and
+ have booked both the betting men and their betters. Certainly a better bit
+ of sport could never have been anticipated, but we were neither of us
+ endowed with ubiquity, and were therefore compelled to cry content in the
+ west when our hearts and inclinations were in the <span class="pagenum">[269]</span>north.
+ "If now your 'Spirit in the Clouds,' your merry unknown, he that sometimes
+ shoots off his witty arrows at the same target with ourselves, should
+ archly suspect that old Tom Whipcord was not upon the turf, I would
+ venture a cool hundred against the field, that we should have a report
+ from him, 'ready cut and dried,' and quite as full of fun and whim as if
+ you had been present yourself, Master Bernard, aided and assisted by our
+ ally, Tom Whipcord of Oxford." "Heaven forgive you, Blackmantle, for the
+ sins you have laid upon that old man's back! You are not content with
+ working him hard in the 'Annals' every month, but you must make him mount
+ the box of some of the short stages, and drive over the rough roads of the
+ metropolis, where he is in danger of having his wheel locked, or meeting
+ with a regular upset at every turn." Though Bob has given sufficient
+ proofs of his spirit in danger, I certainly never suspected him to be
+ possessed of the spirit of divination, and yet his prophetic address had
+ scarcely concluded before Boots announced a parcel for Bernard
+ Blackmantle, Esq. forwarded from London, per favour of Mr. Williams. And,
+ Heaven preserve me from the charge of imposing upon my reader's credulity!
+ but, as I live, it was his very hand&mdash;another sketch by my attendant
+ sprite, "the Spirit in the Clouds," and to the very tune of Transit's
+ anticipations, and my wishes.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2H_4_0007" id="Dlink2H_4_0007">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ A FAMILIAR EPISTLE TO BERNARD BLACKMANTLE, ESQ.,
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ HUMOROUS DESCRIPTION OF DONCASTER
+ </h3>
+ <p>
+ RACES, THE GREAT ST. LEGER, HORSES, AND CHARACTERS, IN 1825. BY AN HONEST
+ REVIEWER,
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ ALIAS "The spirit in the clouds."{1}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come
+ To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly,
+ To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride
+ On the curl'd clouds; to thy strong bidding, task
+ Ariel, and all his quality.
+
+ Prospero. Why, that's my spirit!
+ Shakspeare&mdash;Tempest.
+
+ "Good morrow to my worthy masters; and a merry Christmas
+ to you all!"&mdash;The Bellman.
+
+ "Mendiei, mimi, balatrones."&mdash;Hor.
+ "Mimics, beggars, and characters of all sorts and sizes."
+ &mdash;Free Translation.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ My Good Mr. Spy,
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Will you not exclaim, Mercy upon us! here is a text and title as long and
+ as voluminous as a modern publication, or the sermon of the fox-hunting
+ parson, who, when compelled to
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 See last number of the Spy, Part XXI. p. 273.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[271]</span>preach on a saint's day, mounted the
+ pulpit in his sporting toggery, using his gown as "a cloak of
+ maliciousness?" But have patience, sweet Spy; be kindly-minded, dear
+ Bernard: like John of Magna Charta memory, "I have a thing to say;" and do
+ now be a good attentive Hubert to hear me out.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Indeed, since you have inspirited, if not inspired me, by the 'immortal
+ honour' of dubbing me your 'associate,' I were wanting in common gratitude
+ not to attempt, by the return of moon, for I believe that luminary, like
+ your numbers, comes out new every fourth week, to convey to you the
+ swellings-over of my gratitude for the kind and fine things you have been
+ pleased to cheer me with; although even yet, though the time will come, I
+ can neither withdraw my vizor, nor disclose my 'family cognomen.'
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0013" id="Dimage-0013">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page271.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page271th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page271" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ It was true, and joy it was 'twas true, that we were at rowings, sailings,
+ feastings, and dancings together, but how comes it we were not at the
+ great racings together? that neither you, nor your ministers, they who,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "&mdash;&mdash;correspondent to command,
+ Perform thy spiriting gently&mdash;&mdash;"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ were at the grand muster of the North, the Doncaster meeting? Bernard, I
+ tell thee all the world was there; from royalty and loyalty down to the
+ dustman and democracy. Then such "sayings and doings," a million of hooks
+ could hardly have had an eye to all. You have read of the confusion of
+ tongues, of "Babel broke loose," of the crusaders' contributory encampment
+ peopled by dozens of nations; you have seen the inside of a patent theatre
+ on the first night of a Christmas pantomime, or mingled in an Opera-house
+ masquerade; have listened to a Covent-garden squabble, a Billingsgate
+ commotion, or a watch-house row; but in the whole course of your life,
+ varied as <span class="pagenum">[272]</span>it has been, active as it has
+ proved, you never have, never could have experienced any thing at all to
+ eclipse or even to equal the "hey, fellow, well met" congregatory musters,
+ and the "beautiful and elegant confusions" of Doncaster town in the race
+ week of (September) eighteen hundred and twenty-five!
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ I am not, however, about to inflict upon you a "list of the horses," nor
+ "the names, weights, and colours of the riders;" but I cannot help
+ thinking that the English Spy will not have quite completed his admirable
+ gallery of portraits, and his unique museum of curiosities for the benefit
+ and delight of posterity, if he omit placing in their already splendid
+ precincts two or three heads and sketches, which the genius of notoriety
+ is ready to contribute as her own, and which to pass over would be as
+ grievous to miss, as Mrs. Waylett's breeches,{2} characters at the
+ Haymarket Theatre, or a solution of Euclid by one of Dr. Birkbeck's
+ "operatives."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Allow me, then, who am not indeed "without vanity," once more to "stand by
+ your side," or rather for you, and to attempt, albeit I have not your
+ magic pencil, another taste of my quality, by dashing off <i>con amore</i>
+ the lions of the North.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 2 There frequently occur circumstances in a younker's life
+ which lie never, in all his after career, forgets. I
+ remember a very worthy and a very handsome old gentlewoman,
+ the wife of an eminent physician, once being exceedingly
+ wroth, it was almost the only time I ever knew her seriously
+ angry, because a nephew of hers asserted all women were,
+ what in the vulgate is called "knock-knee'd," and almost
+ threatened to prove the contrary. Had she lived in our days,
+ the truth, almost on any evening on our stage, might be
+ ascertained, and I fear not at all to the satisfaction of
+ the defender of her sex's shape. Nature never intended women
+ to wear the breeches, and the invention of petticoats was
+ the triumph of art. Why will Eve's daughters publicly
+ convince us they are not from top to toe perfect?
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[273]</span>As, however, some that attend my sitting
+ are quite as difficult to manage as the conspirators of Prospero's isle,
+ it may be as well if, like Ariel, I sing to them as I lay on the colours
+ of identification. Bear in mind still, that I am a "spirit in the clouds,"
+ and, therefore, there can be nothing of "<i>michin malachi</i>" in my
+ melody.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ I love a race-course, that I do;
+ But then, good folks, it is as true,
+ Only don't blab, I tell it you,
+ I can't love all its people;
+
+ For though I'm somewhat down and fly,
+ Is slang gone out, sweet Mister Spy?
+ Of trade with them I am as shy
+ As jumping from a steeple.
+
+ Yet what with fashion's feather'd band,
+ And pawing steeds, and crowded stand;
+ Its sights are really very grand,
+ Which to deny were sin.
+
+ But then, though fast the horses run,
+ Few gain by "clone," and "done," and "done,"
+ For what a damper to the fun!
+ Those "only laugh who win."
+
+ Oh! what a mixture must we greet
+ In rooms, at inns, on turf, in street;
+ Be "hand and glove" with all we meet,
+ Old files, and new-bronzed faces!
+
+ With marquis, lord, and duke, and squire,
+ We now keep up the betting fire;
+ And then the guard of the "Highflyer"
+ We book at Northern races.{3}
+
+ 3 A song would be no song at all without notes; I must
+ there-fore try a few. I can assure you they are not mere
+ humming ones. <i>Allons</i>&mdash;"all is not gold that glitters,"
+ neither is it all "prunella" that blows a horn upon the
+ stern of a coach. The "York Highflyer" I really am not to go
+ down gratis "next jour-ney" for puffing it is a good coach,
+ and the guard is a good guard, and he ventured a "good bit"
+ of money on the Léger, and was "floored," for "Cleveland"
+ was a slow one. However, it didn't balk his three days'
+ holiday, nor spoil his new coat, nor blight his nosegay. I
+ saw him after his defeat, looking as rosy as Pistol, and
+ heard him making as much noise as one; "nor malice domestic
+ nor foreign levy" could hurt him.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[274]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Look in that room,{4} judge for yourself;
+ See what a struggle's made for wealth,
+ What crushings, bawlings for the pelf,
+ 'Twixt high heads and low legs.
+
+ That is Lord K&mdash;&mdash;,{5} and that Lord D&mdash;&mdash;-,{5}
+ That's Gully{6}; yon's fishmonger C;{5}
+ A octree-man that; that, Harry Lee,{5}
+ Who stirr'd Mendoza's pegs.
+
+ Or walk up stairs; behold yon board,
+ Rich with its thrown-down paper hoard,
+ But oh! abused, beset, adored
+ By wine-warm'd folks o' nights.
+
+ The playing cog, the paying peer,
+ Pigeon and Greek alike are here;
+ And some are clear'd, and others clear;
+ Ask Bayner,{6} and such wights.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 4 The new subscription room; where down stairs more than
+ the "confusion of tongues" prevails, and above a man's
+ character, if in-sured, would go under the column of "trebly
+ hazardous." It is really a pity that hone-racing should
+ appear so close a neighbour to gambling as it does at
+ Doncastor.
+
+ 5 My men of letters are not merely alphabet men, but bona
+ fide characters of consideration upon the turf. I confess
+ Lord Kennedy is a bit of a favourite of mine, ever since I
+ saw him so good-natured at the pigeon-shooting matches at
+ Battersea; and greatly rejoiced was I to find him unplucked
+ at the more desperate wagerings of the North. He really is
+ clever in the main, and no subject for St. Luke's, though he
+ depends much on a bedlamite. Gulley, Crock-ford, and Bland,
+ need no character; and every body knows Harry Lee fought a
+ pluck battle with old Dan. But it is "box Harry" with
+ fighters now.
+
+ 6 Poor Rayner of C. G. T.&mdash;hundreds at one fell swoop! all
+ his morning's winnings gone in one evening's misfortune. Let
+ him think on't when next he plays "the School of Reform."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[275]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Nay, thick as plagues of Egypt swarm
+ These emblems of the devil's charm,
+ When the fall'n angel works a harm
+ To Eve's demented brood;
+
+ Worse than of famish'd shark the maw,
+ Worse than snake's tooth, or tiger's claw,
+ The gambler's fish{7} spits from its maw
+ Hell's poison-filled food!
+
+ But, halt! Who're they so deep in port,
+ Who jostle thus the dons of sport,
+ With all th' assumed airs of court,
+ From which indeed they are?
+
+ But not from court of Carlton,
+ Nor James's Court, nor any one;
+ But where "the fancy" used to run
+ To see the creatures spar.
+
+ The one's a diamond, that you see,
+ But yet a black one I agree,
+ And in the way of chancery
+ A smart Ward in his time;
+
+ The other he's from Vinsor down,
+ And though a great gun in that town,
+ Has lately been quite basted brown,
+ And gone off&mdash;out of time.{8}
+
+ 7 The spotted ball now, worse in its woe-causing than the
+ apple of Ida, is disgorged from a splendidly gilded fish.
+ What a pity it is that the eternal vociforators of "red
+ wins, black loses," et vice versa, could not be turned into
+ Jonahs, and their odd fish into a whale, and let all be cast
+ into the troubled waters (without a three days' redemption)
+ they brew for others!
+
+ 8 "There never were such times." X Xs, in the ring, and
+ failures in the Fives Court, overcome us now without our
+ special wonder; for boxers are become betters to extents
+ that would make the fathers of the P.R. bless themselves and
+ bolt. Cannon and Ward were, however, both on the right side,
+ and the nods with which they honoured their old acquaintance
+ were certainly improvements upon the style of the academy
+ for manners in Saint Martin's Street.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[276]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Look, here's a bevy; who but they!
+ Just come to make the poor Tykes pay
+ The charge of post-horses and chay,
+ That brought them to some tune;
+
+ Lo! Piccadilly Goodered laughs,
+ As when some novice, reeling, quaffs
+ His gooseberry wine in tipsy draughts,
+ At his so pure saloon.{9}
+
+ Good gracious, too! (oh, what a trade
+ Can oyster sales at night be made!)
+ Here swallowing wine, like lemonade,
+ Sits Mrs. H's man{10}!
+
+ And by the Loves and Graces all,
+ By Vestris' trunks, Maria's shawl,
+ There trots the nun herself, so tall,
+ A flirting of a fan,
+
+ And blushing like the "red, red rose,"
+ With paly eyes and a princely nose,
+ And laced in Nora Crinas clothes,
+ (Cool, like a cucumber,)
+
+ With beaver black, with veil so green,
+ And huntress boots 'neath skirt quite clean,
+ She looks Diana's self&mdash;<i>a quean</i>,
+ In habit trimm'd with fur.
+
+ And Mr. Wigelsworth he flew,{11}
+ And Miss and Mistress W.
+ To bow and court'sy to the new
+ Arrival at their Boy;
+
+ 9 "Lightly tread, 'tis hallow'd ground." I dare not go on;
+ you have been before me, Bernard: (vide vol. i. p. 295, of
+ Spy). But really it will be worth while for us to look in on
+ Goodered some fine morning, say three, a.m., when he gets
+ his print of Memnon home, to which, at Sheardowns, he was so
+ liberal as to subscribe. He will discourse to you of the
+ round table!
+
+ 10 "If I stand here, I saw him."&mdash;Shakespeare, Hamlet.
+
+ 11 The host of the Black Boy at Doncastor, who really pro-
+ vided race ordinaries in no ordinary way.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[277]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Though he was Black, yet she was fair;
+ And sure I am that nothing there
+ With that clear nymph could aught compare,12
+ Or more glad eyes employ.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ But where there is, after all, but little reason in many of the scenes
+ witnessed at the period I quote, why should I continue to rhyme about
+ them? Let it therefore suffice, that with much of spirit there was some
+ folly, with a good deal of splendour an alloy of dross, and, with real
+ consequence, a good deal of that which was assumed. Like a showy drama,
+ the players (there was a goodly company in the north), dresses (they were
+ of all colours of the rainbow), and decorations (also various and
+ admirable), during the time of performance, were of the first order; but
+ that over, and the green and dressing rooms displayed many a hero sunk
+ into native insignificance, and the trappings of Tamerlane degenerated to
+ the hungry coat of a Jeremy Diddler (and there were plenty of "Raising the
+ Wind" professors at Doncaster), or the materiel of the king and queen of
+ Denmark to the dilapidated wardrobe of Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Daggerwood.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <i>Mais apropos de le drame, Monsieur L'Espion</i>, what is your report of
+ our theatres? Have you seen the monkeys? Are they not, for a classic
+ stage, grand,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ &mdash;&mdash;Those happiest smiles
+ That play'd on her ripe lip, seem'd not to know
+ What guests were in her eyes, which parted thence
+ As pearls from diamonds dropt. In brief,
+ Her room would be a rarity most beloved,
+ If all could so become it."
+
+ Shakespeare, a little altered.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ I would just say here, that if any disapprove of my picture of the lady,
+ they may take Bernard Blackmantle's <span class="pagenum">[278]</span><i>magnifique,
+ et admirable</i>? Do they not awake in you visions of rapturous delight,
+ as you contrast their antics and mimicry, their grotesque and beautiful
+ grimaces, their cunning leers, with the eye of Garrick, the stately action
+ of Kemble, the sarcasm of Cooke, the study of Henderson, the commanding
+ port of Siddons, the fire of Kean, the voice of Young, the tones of
+ O'Neill? When you see them, as the traveller Dampier has it, "dancing from
+ tree to tree over your head," and hear them "chattering, and making a
+ terrible noise," do you not think of Lord Chesterfield, and exclaim, "A
+ well-governed stage is an ornament to society, an encouragement to wit and
+ learning, and a school of virtue, modesty, and good manners?" Do you not
+ feel, when you behold the flesh and blood punch and man-monkey of Covent
+ Garden Theatre "twist his body into all manner of shapes," or "Monsieur
+ Gouffe," of the Surrey, "hang himself for the benefit of Mr. Bradley,"
+ that we may pay our money, and "see, and see, and see again, and still
+ glean something new, something to please, and something to instruct;" and,
+ lastly, in a fit of enthusiasm, exclaim,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "To wake the soul by tender strokes of art,
+ To raise the genius and to mend the heart,
+ To make mankind in conscious virtue bold,
+ Live o'er each scene, and be what they behold;"
+ For this great Jocko's self first leap'd the stage;
+ For this was puffd in ev'ry well-bribed page,
+ From evening "Courier" down to Sunday "Age!"{13}
+
+ 13 It is suspicious, to say the least of it, this excess of
+ praise to an old representation; for, after all, punch, the
+ original punch, punch in the street, though not so loud, is
+ ten times more to "our manner born," and much more original.
+ That the beings who banish legitimate performers should
+ puff, till we grow sick, a "thing of shreds and patches!"
+ But "the world is still deceived by ornament."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[279]</span>But Charles Kemble pays well on
+ occasions, and gold would make "Hyperion" of a "satyr." Seriously, Mr.
+ Blackmantle, the town is overrun with monkeys; they are as busy, and as
+ importunate, as Lady Montague's boys on May day, or the Guy Fawkes
+ representatives on the fifth of November. They are "here, there, and every
+ where," and the baboon monopolists of Exeter 'Change and the Tower are
+ ruined by the importation:&mdash;a free trade in the article with the
+ patentees of our classic theatres, as the purchasing-merchants, has done
+ the business for Mr. Cross and the beef-eaters. Like the Athenian
+ audience, the "thinking people" of England are more pleased with the mimic
+ than the real voice of nature; and the four-footed puggys of the Brazils,
+ like the true pig of the Grecian, are cast in the shade by their reasoning
+ imitator! In short, not to be prosy on a subject which has awakened poetry
+ and passion in all, hear, as the grave-diggers say, "the truth on't."{13}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ When winter triumph'd o'er the summer's flame,
+ And C. G. opened, Punchinello came;
+ Each odd grimace of monkey-art he drew,
+ Exhausted postures and imagined new:
+ The stage beheld him spurn its bounded reign,
+ And frighten'd fiddlers scraped to him in vain;
+ His seven-leagued leaps so well the fashion fit,
+ That all adore him&mdash;boxes, gallery, pit,{14}
+
+ 13 It is suspicious, to say the least of it, this excess of
+ praise to an old representation; for, after all, punch, the
+ original punch, punch in the street, though not so loud, is
+ ten times more to "our manner born," and much more original.
+ That the beings who banish legitimate performers should
+ puff, till we grow sick, a "thing of shreds and patches!"
+ But "the world is still deceived by ornament."
+
+ 14 One Dr. Samuel Johnson has something like this, but then
+ his lines were in praise of a "poor player," of a man who
+ wasted much paper in writing dramas now thought nothing of.
+ This is his doggrel.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[280]</span>But I must have done. Christmas will
+ soon be here, and "I have a journey, sirs, shortly to go" to be prepared
+ for its delights, and to fit myself for its festivities; and yet I am
+ unwilling, acute Bernard, merry Echo, cheerful Eglantine, correct Transit,
+ to "shake hands and part," without tendering the coming season's
+ congratulations; so if it like you, dear spies o' the time, I will, like
+ the swan, go off singing.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Marching along with berried brow,
+ And snow flakes on his "frosty pow,"
+ See father Christmas makes his bow,
+ And proffers jovial cheer;
+
+ About him tripping to and fro,
+ Picking the holly as they go,
+ And kiss-allowing misletoe,
+ His merry elves appear.
+
+ Then broach the barrel, fill the bowl,
+ And let us pledge the hearty soul,
+ Though swift the waning minutes roll,
+ And time will stay for none;
+
+ Lads, we will have a gambo still,
+ For though we've made the foolish feel,
+ And shamed the sinner in his ill,
+ Our withers are unwrung.
+</pre>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "When learning's triumph o'er her barb'rous foes
+ First rear'd the stage, immortal Skakspeare rose;
+ Each change of many-colour'd life he drew,
+ Exhausted worlds, and then imagined new;
+
+ Existence saw him spurn her bounded reign,
+ And panting Time toil'd after him in vain:
+ His powerful strokes presiding truth impress'd,
+ And unresisted passion storm'd the breast."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[281]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ No poison in the cup have ye,
+ In all your travell'd history,
+ Pour'd for the hearty, good, and free;
+ This will your book evince:
+
+ So "here's the King!"fill, fill for him,
+ Then for our Country, to the brim;
+ With it, good souls, we'll sink or swim.
+ Huzzah! 'tis gall'd jades wince!
+
+ But now, adieu; o'er hill and plain
+ I scud, ere we shall meet again;
+ Meantime, all prosp'rous be your reign,
+ And friends attend in crowds;
+
+ Before your splendid course is o'er,
+ And Blackmantle shall please no more,
+ You'll know, though yet I'm doom'd to soar,
+ Your Spirit in the Clouds.{15}"
+
+ November, 1825.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Adieu, thou facetious sprite, and may the graybeard Time tread lightly on
+ thy buoyant spirits! Meet thee or not hereafter, thou shalt live in my
+ remembrance a cherished name, long as memory holds her influence o'er the
+ eccentric mind of Bernard Blackmantle. Here, too, must Transit and myself
+ take a farewell of merry Cheltenham, ever on the wing for novelty: our
+ sketches have been brief, but full of genuine character; nor can they, as
+ I hope, be considered in any instance as violating our established rule&mdash;of
+ being true to nature, without offending the ear of chastity, or exciting
+ aught but
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 15 "A. word to the wise," &amp;c. Get honest "Tom Whipcord" to
+ take you by his hand on Valentine's night to the "noctes"
+ muster of the <i>Sporting Annals</i> gents. You will know me by a
+ brace of "bleeding hearts" in my plaited neckerchief, and a
+ blue bunch of ribbons in my sinister side, as big as the
+ Herald newspaper, the gifts of my lady-love.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[282]</span>the approving smile of the lovers of
+ mirth, and the patrons of life's merriments. We had intended to have drawn
+ aside the curtain of the theatre and the castle, and have shown forth to
+ the gaze of the public the unhallowed mysteries which are sometimes
+ performed there; but reflection whispered, that morality might find more
+ cause to blush at the recital than her attendants would benefit by the
+ exposure; and is is lamentably true, that some persons would cheerfully
+ forfeit all claim to respectability of character for the honour of
+ appearing in print, depicted in their true colours, as systematic and
+ profligate seducers. To disappoint this infamous ambition, more than from
+ any fear of the threatened consequences, we have left the sable colonel
+ and his dark satellites to grope on through the murky ways of waywardness
+ and intrigue, without staining our pages with a full relation of their
+ heartless conduct, since to have revived the now forgotten tales might
+ have given additional pain to some beauteous victims whose fair names have
+ dropped into Lethe's waters, like early spring flowers nipped by the
+ lingering hand of slow-paced winter; or, in other instances, have
+ disturbed the repose of an unsuspecting husband, or have stung the aged
+ heart of a doting parent&mdash;evils we could not have avoided, had we
+ determined upon rehearsing the love scenes and intrigues of certain
+ well-known Cheltenham amateurs.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Adieu, merry Chelts! we're for quitting our quarters;
+ Adieu to the chase, to thy walks and thy waters,
+ To thy hunt, ball, and theatre, and card tables too,
+ And to all thy gay fair ones, a long, long adieu!
+
+ Blackmantle and Transit, the Spy and his friend,
+ Through Gloucester and Bristol, to Bath onward bend.
+ To show how amused they have been in your streets,
+ They give you, at parting, this man of sweetmeats;
+
+ A character, famous as Mackey, the dandy,
+ The London importer of horehound and candy;
+ The cheapest of doctors, whose nostrums dispense
+ A cure for all ills that affect taste or sense,
+
+ I doubt not quite as good as one half your M.D.'s,
+ Though sweet is the physic and simple the fees;
+ This, at least, you'll admit, as we dart from your view
+ That our vignette presents you with a sweet adieu!
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2H_4_0008" id="Dlink2H_4_0008">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ A VISIT TO GLOUCESTER AND BERKELEY.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Sketches on the Mood&mdash;Singular Introduction to an old
+ Friend&mdash;A Tithe Cause tried&mdash;A strange Assemblage of
+ Witnesses&mdash;Traits of Character&mdash;Effects of the Farmers'
+ Success&mdash;An odd Cavalcade&mdash;Rejoicings at Berkeley.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[284]</span>The road from Cheltenham to Gloucester
+ affords a good view of the Cotswold and Stroudwater Hills, diversified by
+ the vales of Evesham, Gloucester, and Berkeley, bounded on the east by the
+ Severn, and presenting in many situations a very rich picturesque
+ appearance. We are not of the dull race who dwell on musty records and
+ ancient inscriptions, or travel through a county to collect the precise
+ date when the first stone of some now moss-crowned ruin was embedded in
+ the antique clay beneath. Let the dead sleep in peace; we are not <i>anti-queer-ones</i>
+ enough to wish the mouldering reliques of our ancestors arrayed in
+ chronological order before our eyes, nor do we mean to risk our merry
+ lives in exploring the monastic piles and subterranean vaults and passages
+ of other times. No; our office is with the living, with the enriched
+ Gothic of modern courts, and the finished Corinthian capitals of society,
+ illustrating, as we proceed, with choice specimens of the rustic and the
+ grotesque; now laughing over our wine with the Tuscan bacchanal, or
+ singing a soft tale of love in the ear of some chaste daughter of the
+ composite order; <span class="pagenum">[285]</span>trifling perhaps a
+ little harmless badinage with a simple Ionic, or cracking a college joke
+ with a learned Doric; never troubling our heads, or those of our readers,
+ about the origin or derivation of these orders, whether they came from
+ early Greece or more accomplished Home; or be their progenitors of Saxon,
+ Norman, Danish, or of Anglo-Saxon character, we care not; 'tis ours to
+ depict them as they at present appear, leaving to the profound
+ topographers and compilers of county histories all that relates to the
+ black letter lore of long forgotten days.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Gloucester is proverbial for its dulness, and from the dirty appearance of
+ the streets and houses, was, by my friend Transit, denominated the black
+ city; a designation he maintained to be strictly correct, since it has a
+ cathedral, a bishop, and a black choir of canonicals, and was from
+ earliest times the residence of a black brotherhood of monks, whose black
+ deeds are recorded in the black letter pages of English history; to which
+ was added another confirmatory circumstance, that upon our entrance it
+ happened the assizes for the county had just commenced, and the black
+ gowns of Banco Regis, and of the law, were preparing to try the blacks of
+ Gloucestershire, out of which arose a black joke, that will long be
+ remembered by the inhabitants of Berkeley, and the tenantry of the sable
+ colonel.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ We had made our domicile at the Ham Inn, by the recommendation of our
+ Cheltenham host, where we met with excellent accommodations, and what,
+ beside, we could never have anticipated to have met with in such a place,
+ one of the richest scenes that had yet presented itself in the course of
+ our eccentric tour.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The unusual bustle that prevailed in every department of the inn, together
+ with a concatenation of sounds now resembling singing and speaking, and
+ the occasional scraping of some ill-toned violins above our heads, induced
+ us to make a few inquisitive <span class="pagenum">[286]</span>remarks to
+ mine host of the Ham, that quickly put us in possession of the following
+ facts.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ It appeared, that a suit respecting the right of the vicar of Berkeley to
+ the great tithes of that town had been long pending in the court of
+ Chancery, in which the reverend was opposed to his former friend, the
+ colonel, the churchwardens of Berkeley, and the whole of the surrounding
+ tenantry. Now this cause was, by direction of the Lord Chancellor, to be
+ tried at these assizes, and, in consequence, the law agents had been most
+ industrious in bringing together, by subpoena, all the ancient authorities
+ of the county, the aged, the blind, and the halt, to give evidence against
+ their worthy pastor; and as it is most conducive to success in law, the
+ keeping witnesses secure from tampering, and in good-humour with the
+ cause, the legal advisers had prepared such festive cheer at the Bam, for
+ those of the popular interest, as would have done honour to the colonel's
+ banquet at the castle. Such was the information we obtained from our host,
+ to whose kind introduction of us to the lawyers we were afterwards
+ indebted for a very pleasant evening's amusement.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ We were ushered into the room by one of the legal agents as two gentlemen
+ from London, who, being strangers in the place, were desirous of being
+ permitted to spend their evening among such a jovial society. The
+ uproarious mirth, and rude welcome, with which this communication was
+ received by the company, added to the clouds of smoke which enveloped
+ their chairman, prevented our immediate recognition of him; but great and
+ pleasant indeed was our surprise to find the most noble, the very learned
+ head of the table, to be no other than our old Eton <i>con.</i> little
+ Dick Gradus, to whose lot it had fallen to conduct this action, and defend
+ the interests of the agriculturalists against the mercenary encroachments
+ of the church militant. This was indeed no common cause; and the greatest
+ difficulty <span class="pagenum">[287]</span>our friend Gradus had to
+ encounter was the restricting within due bounds of moderation the
+ over-zealous feelings of his witnesses. It was quite clear a parson's
+ tithes, if left to the generosity of his parishioners, would produce but a
+ small modicum of his reverence's income. The jovial farmer chuckled with
+ delight at the prospect of being able to curtail the demands of his
+ canonical adversary. "Measter Carrington," said he, "may be a very good
+ zort of a preacher, but I knows he has no zort of business with tithing my
+ property; and if zo be as the gentleman judge will let me, gad zooks! but
+ I will prove my words, better than he did the old earl's marriage, when he
+ made such a fool of himsel' before the peers in parliament." "That's your
+ zort, measter Tiller," resounded from all the voices round the table. "Let
+ the clergy zow for themselves, and grow for themselves, as the varmers do;
+ what a dickens should we work all the week for the good of their bodies,
+ when they only devote one hour in the whole seven days for the benefit of
+ our zouls?" "That's right, Measter Coppinger," said some one next to the
+ speaker; "you are one hundred years of age, and pray how many times have
+ you heard the parson preach?" "I never zeed him in his pulpit in the whole
+ courze of my life; but then you know that were my fault, I might if I
+ would; but I'ze been a main close attendant upon the church for all that:
+ during the old earl's lifetime, I was a sort of deputy huntsman, and then
+ the parson often followed me; and when I got too old to ride, I was made
+ assistant gamekeeper, and then I very often followed the parson; so you
+ zee I'ze a true churchman, every inch of me; only I don't like poaching,
+ and when his reverence wants me to help him sack his tithes, old Jack
+ Coppinger will tell him to his head, he may e'en carry the bag himself."
+ "A toast from the chair! Let's hear the lawyer' zentiments on this
+ zubject," said another; with which request Gradus complied, by giving,
+ "May he who <span class="pagenum">[288]</span>ploughs and plants the soil
+ reap all its fruits!" "Ay, Measter Gradus, that is as it should be,"
+ reiterated a farmer on his right, "zo I'll give you, 'The varmers against
+ the parsons,' and there's old Tom Sykes yonder, the thatcher, he will give
+ you a zong about the 'tithe pig and the tenth child,' a main good stave, I
+ do azzure you." A request which the old thatcher most readily complied
+ with, to the great delight of all present; for independent of his dialect,
+ which was of the true rich west-country character, there was considerable
+ wit and humour in the song, and an archness of manner in the performer,
+ that greatly increased the good-humour of the society. In this way the
+ evening was spent very pleasantly; and as the cause was to come on the
+ first thing on the ensuing morning, Transit and myself determined to await
+ the issue, anticipating that, if our merry-hearted companions, the
+ rustics, should be successful, there would be no lack of merriment, and
+ some exhibition of good sport both for the pen and pencil.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ We had strayed after breakfast to view the cathedral, which is very well
+ worthy the attention of the curious, and certainly contains some very
+ ancient relics of the great and the good of earliest times. On our return,
+ the deafening shouts of the multitude, who were congregated outside the
+ Sessions House, proclaimed a favourable verdict for the farmers, who, in
+ the excess of their joy at having beaten their reverend adversary, gave
+ loose to the most unrestrained expressions of exultation: a messenger was
+ immediately despatched to Berkeley to convey, express, the glad tidings;
+ and the head farmers of the parish, with whom were the church-wardens,
+ determined to commemorate their victory by roasting a bullock whole on the
+ brow of the hill which overlooked their vicar's residence, and for the
+ preparation of which festivity they also sent their instructions. The next
+ grand point was, how to <span class="pagenum">[289]</span>convey the
+ witnesses, who were very numerous, to the scene of action, a distance of
+ eighteen miles. To have despatched them in post-chaises, could they have
+ found a sufficient number in Gloucester, was neither in accordance with
+ economy, nor with the wishes of the parties themselves, who were very
+ anxious to have a grand procession, and enjoy themselves as they went
+ along in smoking, singing, drinking, and proclaiming their triumph to
+ their neighbours and friends. Mine hostess of the Ram, with every female
+ in her establishment, had been, from the moment the verdict was given to
+ the departure of the group, busily engaged in making large blue favours,
+ of the colonel's colour, to decorate the hats of the visitors, until Mr.
+ Boots arrived with the dismaying intelligence, that not another yard of
+ riband, of the colour required, could be obtained in all the city of
+ Gloucester. With equal industry and perseverance the host himself had put
+ in requisition every species of conveyance that he could muster, which was
+ calculated to suit the views of the parties, and form a grand cavalcade;
+ without much attention to the peculiar elegance of the vehicles, to be
+ sure, but with every arrangement for social comfort. It had been decided
+ that my friend Transit and myself should accompany Richard Gradus, Esq.
+ the solicitor to the fortunate defendants, in a post coach in front,
+ preceded by four of mine host's best horses, with postillions decorated
+ with blue favours, and streamers flying from the four corners of the
+ carriage; and now came the marshalling of the procession to follow.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0014" id="Dimage-0014">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page289.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page289th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page289" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ One of the colonel's hay vans had been supplied with seats, lengthwise, in
+ which the first division of farmers placed themselves, not, however,
+ forgetting to take in a good supply of ale and pipes with them; next in
+ order was one of the old-fashioned double-bodied stages, which had not
+ been cleaned, or out of the coach-yard, for twenty years before, and both
+ in the <span class="pagenum">[290]</span>inside and on the roof of which
+ the more humble rustics and farmers' labourers were accommodated: this
+ vehicle was drawn by four cart horses, of the roughest description; the
+ rear of the whole being brought up by a long black funeral hearse, with
+ three horses, unicorn fashion, on the roof of which the men sate sidewise,
+ while the interior was, by Gradus's orders, well filled with casks of the
+ best Gloucester ale. About a dozen of the farmers, on horseback, rode by
+ the side of the vehicles; and in this order, with the accompaniment of a
+ bugle in the hay van, and a couple of blind fiddlers scraping on the
+ centre of the roof of the hearse, did we sally forth in most grotesque
+ order, amid the joyous acclamations of the multitude, on our way to
+ Berkeley, every countenance portraying exultation and good-humour, and
+ every where upon the road meeting with a corresponding welcome. A more
+ humorous or whimsical procession cannot well be imagined, men, animals,
+ and vehicles being perfectly unique. By the time we had reached our
+ destination, the potent effects of the Gloucester ale, added to the
+ smoking and vociferous expressions of joy that attended us throughout, had
+ left very few of our rustic friends without the visible and outward signs
+ of their inward devotions to the jolly god. On our arrival near to
+ Berkeley, we were met by crowds of the joyous inhabitants, and proceeded
+ onward to the spot selected for the festive scene, where we found the
+ bullock already roasting on the top of the hill, and where also they had
+ pitched a tent, and brought some small cannon, with which they fired a <i>feu
+ de joie</i> on our arrival, taking special care to point their artillery
+ in the direction of the vicar's residence. On the opposite side of the
+ road was the church; and it is not a little singular, that the steeple,
+ belfry, and tower are completely detached from the body of the building.
+ The vicar, dreading the riotous joy of his parishioners upon <span
+ class="pagenum">[291]</span>this occasion, had locked up the church, and
+ issued his mandate to the wardens to prevent a merry peal; but these
+ persons insisting that as the church was detached from the belfry, the
+ vicar had no authority over it, they directed the ringers to give them a
+ triple bob major, which canonical music was merrily repeated at intervals,
+ to the great dismay of the parson, who, over and above the loss he was
+ likely to sustain in his future interests, had by this defect suffered
+ under a legal expenditure of some thousands of pounds. The colonel did not
+ show, perhaps from prudential motives of respect to his old friend, but
+ his agents were well instructed in their duty, and there was no lack of a
+ plentiful supply of provision and ale for his tenantry to make right merry
+ with. Thus ended our trip to Berkeley, where, after taking a view of the
+ castle on the following morning, and surveying the delightful scenery with
+ which that most ancient building is surrounded, we bade adieu to our
+ friend Gradus, and mounted the Cheltenham coach, as it passed through, on
+ our way to Bristol.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0015" id="Dimage-0015">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page291.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page291 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0016" id="Dimage-0016">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page292.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page292 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2H_4_0009" id="Dlink2H_4_0009">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ A DAY IN BRISTOL.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ A Glance at the Bristolians&mdash;Their Pursuits and
+ Characteristics&mdash;The London Mail&mdash;A Walk to the Hot Wells
+ and Clifton&mdash;Blackmantle and Transit start for the
+ Territories of King Bladud.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[292]</span>The worthy Bristolians must not feel
+ offended if we pass them by rather briefly; had ours been a tour of
+ business, connected with commercial pursuit instead of a search after whim
+ and character, we should no doubt have found materials enough to have
+ filled a dozen chapters; but such pursuits are foreign to the eccentric
+ volumes of the English Spy, whose sole aim is humour, localized, and
+ embracing characteristic scenes. Such is the above sketch, which struck
+ Transit and myself, as we took a stroll down Bridge-street while our
+ breakfast was preparing at the White Hart; it was a bit of true life, and
+ cannot fail to please: but, after all, Bristol resembles London so
+ closely, at least the <span class="pagenum">[293]</span>eastern part of
+ the metropolis, that although we saw much that would have been worthy the
+ attention of the antiquary and the curious in their several churches and
+ museums, or might, with great advantage, have been transferred to the note
+ book of the topographer, yet we met with none of that peculiar whimsical
+ character that distinguishes the more fashionable places of resort. The
+ sole object of the Bristolians is trade, and every face you meet with has
+ a ledger-like countenance, closely resembling the calculating citizen of
+ London, whose every thought is directed to the accumulation of wealth, by
+ increased sales of merchandize, or the overreaching his neighbour in
+ taking the first advantage of the market.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0017" id="Dimage-0017">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page293.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page293th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page293" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The arrival of the London mail, which comes in about ten o'clock in the
+ morning, afforded Transit another opportunity of picking up what little of
+ character there was to be found. At Bristol there is always a great
+ anxiety to obtain the London news and price current; so much so, that the
+ leading merchants and others assemble in front of the Post-office, which
+ also joins the Exchange, to wait the arrival of the mail (see Plate), and
+ receive the letters of advice which are to regulate their concerns. It is
+ but justice to add, there is no place in the kingdom of the same distance
+ to which the conveyance is quicker, and the facility of delivery more
+ promptly attended to. After breakfast we took a stroll round the docks,
+ and then bent our steps towards the heights, and along the delightful walk
+ which leads to the Hot Wells and Clifton.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ To attempt a just description of the magnificent and romantic scenery
+ which surrounds Clifton, as it is viewed from the Downs, would occupy more
+ space than our limits will allow us to devote to the beauties of
+ landscape; and would, besides, interfere with an intention which Transit
+ and myself have in view at some future period of our lives, namely, the
+ making a topographical and characteristic tour through the United
+ Kingdoms, which being divided into counties, <span class="pagenum">[294]</span>and
+ embracing not only the historical and the picturesque, will be enlivened
+ by all the humorous vagaries, eccentric characters, and peculiar sports of
+ each, written in a colloquial style; and embracing the lingual localisms,
+ proverbs, and provincialisms of the inhabitants: thus producing a humorous
+ but most correct view of the present state of society and manners. The
+ materials for such a work have gradually presented themselves during the
+ progress of the present eccentric volumes; but, as our object here has
+ been good-humoured satire joined to comic sketches of existing persons and
+ scenes, more in the way of anecdote than history, we hope to meet with the
+ same kind friends in a more extended work, among those who have journeyed
+ onwards with us through two years&mdash;pleasantly we must suppose, by
+ their continued support; and profitably, we are gratefully bound to
+ acknowledge, to all parties interested. An early dinner at Clifton, and a
+ pleasant walk back by the terrace-road, brought us once more into the busy
+ streets of Bristol, where after sauntering away the time until five
+ o'clock, we mounted a Bath coach, and started forwards with a fresh
+ impetus, and much promise of amusement, to explore the territories of King
+ Bladud.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0018" id="Dimage-0018">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page294.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page294 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0019" id="Dimage-0019">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page295.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page295 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2H_4_0010" id="Dlink2H_4_0010">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ SKETCHES IN BATH.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ <span class="pagenum">[235]</span>
+ </h3>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ First View of the elegant City&mdash;Meeting with Old Blackstrap
+ &mdash;Domicile at the Castle Tavern&mdash;Matthew and Mrs. Temple
+ worthy Characters&mdash;Sportsmans Hall&mdash;Bath Heroes of the Turf
+ the Ring, and the Chace&mdash;Portraits and Peculiarities drawn
+ from the Life.
+
+ May I ne'er flutter in the thoughtless train
+ With fashion's elves, the giddy, and the vain;
+ May I ne'er stroll again with Milsom swells
+ To Tully's shop, or lounge with pump-room belles;
+ May I no more to Sidney Gardens stray,
+ If, Bath, I wrong thee in my hum'rous lay.
+ Court of King Blad', where crescents circling rise
+ Above each other till they reach the skies;
+ And hills o'er-topping with their verdant green
+ The Abbey Church, are in the distance seen:
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[296]</span>Where inns invite ye, and where lodgings
+ smile A ready welcome to some Grecian pile; Where chairmen wait ye, ready
+ to attend And box ye up upon your latter end; Where summer breezes on
+ Hygeia wait, And cards and fashion hold their courts of state. Hither
+ we're come to Bath, to spy and tell What reigning follies mark the beau
+ and belle; What stars eccentric move within thy sphere, Or who's the
+ greatest lion of the year. "Have at ye all," we satirists give no quarter;
+ Yet shall our mirth prove grateful as Bath water.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The distant appearance, or first glimpse of the city of Bath, is enough to
+ impress a stranger with the most favourable opinions of the place. The
+ regularity of the streets, and the tasteful character of the architecture
+ of the principal buildings, are certainly superior to that of any other
+ place of public resort in England; added to which, there is an attention
+ to cleanliness apparent in the costume of the lower classes that is not so
+ conspicuous in other places. "Blest source of health! seated on rising
+ ground, With friendly hills by nature guarded round; From eastern blasts
+ and sultry south secure, The Air's balsamic, and the soil is pure."
+ Surrounded by delightful scenery, and guarded from the piercing north
+ winds by the hilly barriers of nature, the spot seems above all others
+ best calculated to restore the health of the valetudinarian, whose
+ constitution has become shattered and infirm by a course of fashionable
+ dissipation, or a lengthened residence in the pestilential climates of the
+ Indies. "Sweet Bath! the liveliest city of the land; Where health and
+ pleasure ramble hand in hand, Where smiling belles their earliest visit
+ pay, And faded maids their lingering blooms delay. Delightful scenes of
+ elegance and ease! Realms of the gay, where every sport can please." <span
+ class="pagenum">[297]</span>Thus sings the Bath poet, Bayly; who, if he is
+ somewhat too servile an imitation of Moore in his style, has certainly
+ more of originality in his matter than generally distinguishes poems of
+ such a local nature. One of the greatest characters in the city of Bath
+ was the worthy host of our hotel, the Castle; at whose door stood the
+ rubicund visage of our Cheltenham friend, Blackstrap, ready to give us a
+ hearty welcome, and introduce us to Matthew Temple, who making one of his
+ best bows, led the way into the coffee-room, not forgetting to assure us
+ that Mistress Temple, who was one of the best women in the world, would
+ take the greatest care that we had every attention paid to our commands
+ and comforts; and, in good truth, honest Matthew was right, for a more
+ comely, good-humoured, attentive, kind hostess exists not in the three
+ kingdoms of his Gracious Majesty George the Fourth. In short, Mrs. Temple
+ is the major-domo of the Castle, while honest Matthew, conscious of his
+ own inability to direct the active operations of the garrison within
+ doors, beats up for recruits without; attends to all the stable duty and
+ the commissariat, keeps a sharp look-out for new arrivals by coach, and a
+ still sharper one that no customer departs without paying his bill; and
+ thus having made his daily bow to the inns and the outs, honest Matthew
+ retires at night to take his glass of grog with the choice spirits who
+ frequent Sportsman's Hall, a snug little smoking room on the left of the
+ gateway, where the heroes of the turf and the lads of the fancy nightly
+ assemble to relate their sporting anecdotes, sing a merry chaunt, book the
+ long odds, and blow a friendly cloud in social intercourse and good
+ fellowship.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ I do not know that it matters much at what end of Bath society I commence
+ my sketches; and experience has taught me, that the more fashionable
+ frivolities of high life seldom present the same opportunity for the <span
+ class="pagenum">[298]</span>study of character, which is to be found in
+ the merry, open-hearted, mirthful meetings of the medium classes and the
+ lower orders. The pleasure we had felt in Blackstrap's society at
+ Cheltenham, induced us to engage him to dine in the coffee-room, with our
+ early friends Heartly and Eglantine, both of whom being then at Bath, we
+ had invited to meet us, in the expectation that Dick Gradus, having
+ arranged his legal affairs at Berkeley, would, by the dinner hour, arrive
+ to join such a rare assemblage of old Eton <i>cons</i>&mdash;a
+ gratification we had the pleasure to experience; and never did the festive
+ board resound with more pleasant reminiscences from old friends: the
+ social hour fled gaily, and every fresh glass brought its attendant joke.
+ Heartly and Eglantine had, we found, been sufficiently long in Bath to
+ become very able instructors to Transit and myself in all that related to
+ the haute class, and old Barnaby Blackstrap was an equally able guide to
+ every description of society, from the mediums down to the strange
+ collections of vagrant oddities which are to be found in the back Janes
+ and suburbs of the city of Bath. It has been well said, in a spirited
+ reply to the Reverend Mr. Ek&mdash;r&mdash;s&mdash;l's illiberal satire,
+ entitled "The Bath Man," that "London has its divisions of good and bad
+ sets as well as Bath; nay, every little set has its lower set; Bank looks
+ down contemptuously upon wealth; those who are asked to Carlton Palace cut
+ the muligatawny set; the ancient aristocracy call law-lords and <i>parvenues</i>
+ a bad set; and so downward through the whole scale of society, from
+ Almack's to a sixpenny hop, 'still in the lowest deep a lower deep,' and
+ human pride will ever find consolation that there is something to be found
+ beneath it. Plain men, accustomed to form their notions of good and evil
+ on more solid foundations than grades of fashionable distinctions, will
+ not consent to stigmatize as bad any class of society because there may
+ happen to <span class="pagenum">[299]</span>be a class above it." And what
+ better apology could we desire for our eccentric rambles through every
+ grade of Bath society? with us every set has its attractions, and I have
+ known my friend Transit cut a nobleman and half a dozen honourables for
+ the delightful gratification of enjoying the eccentricities of a beggars'
+ club, and being enabled to sketch from the life the varied exhibition of
+ passion and character which such a meeting would afford him. It will not,
+ therefore, create any surprise in my readers, that our first evening in
+ Bath should have been devoted to the social pipe; the pleasant account
+ Blackstrap gave us of the sporting party, in Matthew Temple's snuggery,
+ induced us to adjourn thither in the evening, where we might enjoy life,
+ smoke our cigars, join a little chaffing about the turf and the ring, sip
+ our punch and grog, enjoy a good chaunt, and collect a little character
+ for the pages of the English Spy. To such as are fond of these amusements,
+ most heartily do I recommend a visit to the Sporting Parlour at the
+ Castle, where they will not fail to recognise many of the jovial
+ characters represented in the opposite page; and as old Time pays no
+ respect to worth and mellow-hearted mortals, but in his turn will mow down
+ my old friend Matthew and his merry companions, I am desirous to
+ perpetuate their memory by a song, which will include all of note who upon
+ this occasion joined the festive scene.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0020" id="Dimage-0020">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page300.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page300 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2H_4_0011" id="Dlink2H_4_0011">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ SPORTSMAN'S HALL.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ A SCENE AT THE CASTLE.
+ </h3>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[300]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Come all you gay fellows, so merry and witty,
+ Ye Somerset lads of the elegant city,
+ Ye sons of the turf who delight in a race,
+ And ye Nimrods of Bath who are fond of the chase;
+ Come join us, and pledge us, like true brothers all,
+ At old Matthew Temple's, the Castle and Ball.
+
+ Will Partridge, the father of sports, in the chair,
+ With honest George Wingrove will welcome you there,
+ While Handy, who once on two horses could ride,
+ And merry Jack Bedford will meet you beside;
+ Then for sport or for spree, or to keep up the ball,
+ We've an excellent fellow, you'll own, in Bill Hall.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[301]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Captain Beaven, a yeoman of merry renown,
+ Will keep up the joke with the gay ones from town,
+ While, if you'd go off in a canter or speed,
+ You've only to take a few lessons with Mead;
+ Then Sharland can suit every beau to a T,
+ So haste to the Castle, ye lovers of glee.
+
+ Sweet Margerim, clerk of the course, will be found
+ With any young sportsman to trot o'er the ground,
+ Though his Honesty, since at Wells races 'twas tried,
+ It must be admitted, has bolted aside;
+ The Newcombe's are good at all sports in the ring,
+ While, like Chanticleer, Hunt the Cocker will sing.
+
+ Jack Langley, the fam'd 'Squire Western of Bath,
+ A jolly fox-hunter, who's fond of a laugh,
+ With mellow Tom Williams, of Brewers a pair,
+ Are the bacchanals form'd for to banish dull care;
+ Then haste to the Castle, ye true merry sprites,
+ Where the song, and the chase, and the fancy delights.
+
+ Give a host more to name of the jovial and free,
+ That my song would extend till to-morrow d'ye see:
+ But a truce to particulars; take them all round,
+ There's nothing in Bath like themselves to be found;
+ Where harmony, friendship, and mirth can combine,
+ The pleasures of life with kind hearts and good wine.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ And in good truth, there is no place within the dominions of King Bladud,
+ where the social man can find more cheerful companions, the sporting man
+ more kindred spirits, and the lovers of the characteristic and the
+ humorous meet with a greater variety of genuine eccentricity, unalloyed
+ with any baser or offensive material. Matthew Temple himself is a great
+ original, pure Somerset, perfectly good-natured, ever ready to oblige, and
+ although for many years the commander-in-chief of the Castle, is yet in
+ all the chicanery of his
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[302]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ profession, and the usual obtrusiveness of a landlord, as unlike the
+ generality of his brethren as a raw recruit is to an effective soldier.
+ Old Master William Partridge is also worthy of notice as the father of the
+ turf, and then if you would ride to hounds, no man in Bath can mount you
+ better, or afford you such good corn, great attentions, and a warm stall
+ for a prime hack. Rich in anecdote, and what is still better, with a
+ charitable purse and a worthy heart, there are few men who have earned for
+ themselves more respect in this life, or deserve it better, than William
+ Handy, Esq. the once celebrated equestrian, who having realized a handsome
+ competency, retired, some years since, to Bath, to enjoy his <i>otium cum
+ dignitate</i>: here, at an advanced age, with all the spirits of youth,
+ and a lively interest in every thing relating to sporting, you will meet
+ with the character I have described; and, take my word for it, will not be
+ disappointed in the likeness. Among the bon vivants of Sportsmans' Hall I
+ must not omit that care-killing soul Captain Beaven, whose easy flow of
+ good-humour and love of good sport is not less conspicuous than his love
+ for a pretty lass, and his delight in a good song and a cheerful glass.
+ Honest George Wingrove, a wealthy baker, and the patriarch of the room,
+ will never prove a crusty customer, I am sure; and if that good-looking
+ fellow Mead, the riding-master, does sometimes "o'erstep the modesty of
+ nature" in his mode of addressing his pupils, adopting the familiar style
+ of addressing them by their christian name&mdash;as, for instance, "set
+ upright, Sally; more forward, Eliza; keep your rein-hand more square,
+ Ellen;" and soon; he hath, however, yet many good points that amply
+ compensate for this perverseness of habit. Among the genuine good ones,
+ the real thing, as the sporting phrase has it, not a biped in Bath beats
+ Tom Williams, who, agreeable to our Eton Gradus, is good at every thing: a
+ more jovial, worthy-hearted, respected soul breathes not within the merry
+ court of King Bladud, and very <span class="pagenum">[303]</span>few there
+ that can rival him in a good horse, a long run, or as a lively companion.
+ Tom is married to the sister of Bartley, the comedian, and carries with
+ him into private life the estimation which ever attends him in public. For
+ a rum story, a bit of real life, or a roguish joke, who shall excel Jack
+ Bedford? And then, if your honour would knock the balls about, why "Jack's
+ the lad" to accommodate you. And little Bill Hall, who keeps the Kingston
+ billiard-rooms, will be most happy to make his best bow to you without any
+ view to the mace. But, i' faith, I am sketching away here in Sportsman's
+ Hall at old Matthew Temple's, and could continue so to do for another
+ chapter; forgetting, as Transit says, that we have yet to traverse the
+ whole city of Bath through, spying into the vagaries and varieties of the
+ more polished, and taking a slight occasional glance at the lowest grade
+ of society, in order to diversify and keep up the chiaroscuro of our
+ pictures.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0021" id="Dimage-0021">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page303.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page303th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page303" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+Merry reader, for such I hope thou art, we have now travelled on for
+nearly two years together; and many a varied scene in life's pilgrimage
+have we set before you, from the gilded dome of royalty to the humble
+shed of the Emeralder; but our visit to Bath will afford you a richer
+treat than aught that has yet preceded it. It was when the party broke
+up at Temple's, and that was not before the single admonition of old
+father Time had sounded his morning bell, that a few <i>bon vivants</i>
+of the Castle, accompanied by the English Spy and his merry friends,
+sallied forth in quest of strange adventure; for it must be admitted,
+that in the elegant city
+
+ "Candles and ladies' eyes oft shine most bright,
+ When both should be extinguish'd for the night."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ A fancy ball at the Upper Rooms on this night had attracted all the
+ elegance, fashion, and beauty to be found within the gay circle of
+ pleasure, and thither <span class="pagenum">[304]</span>we bent our steps,
+ having first provided ourselves with the necessary introductions. The
+ scene above all others in the fascination of gay life and the display of
+ female charms is a fancy ball; a species of entertainment better suited to
+ the modest character of our countrywomen than the masquerade, and, in
+ general, much better liked in this country, where the masked
+ entertainment, unless in private, is always avoided by females of rank and
+ character. One of the most amusing scenes which first presented itself to
+ our notice on approaching the entrance to the rooms was the eager anxiety
+ and determined perseverance of the liveried Mercuries and Bath
+ dromedaries, alias chairmen, to procure for their respective masters and
+ mistresses a priority of admission; an officious zeal that was often
+ productive of the most ludicrous circumstances, and, in two or three
+ instances, as far as indispensable absence from the pleasures of the night
+ could operate, of the most fatal effects. A well-known city beau, who had
+ been at considerable expense in obtaining from London the splendid dress
+ of a Greek prince, was completely upset and rolled into the kennel by his
+ chairmen running foul of a sedan, in which Lord Molyneaux and his friend
+ Lord Ducie had both crammed themselves in the dress of Tyrolese
+ chieftains. The Countess of D&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, who personated
+ Psyche, in attempting to extricate herself from an unpleasant situation,
+ in which the obstinacy of her chairmen had placed her, actually had her
+ glittering wings torn away, unintentionally, from her shoulders by the
+ rude hand of a Bath rustic, whose humanity prompted him to attempt her
+ deliverance. Old Lady L&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;, in the highest state
+ of possible alarm, from feeling her sedan inclining full twenty degrees
+ too much to the right, popped her head up, and raising the top part of the
+ machine, screamed out most piteously for assistance, and on drawing it
+ back <span class="pagenum">[305]</span>again, tore off her new head-dress,
+ and let her false front shut in between the flap of the chair, by which
+ accident, all the beautiful Parisian curls of her ladyship were rendered
+ quite flat and uninteresting. An old gentleman of fortune, who was
+ suffering under hypochondriacal affection, and had resolved to attempt Sir
+ John Falstaff, received the end of a sedan pole plump in his chest, by
+ which powerful application he was driven through the back part of the
+ machine, and effectually cured of "<i>la maladie imaginaire</i>" by the
+ acuteness of a little real pain. The flambeau of a spruce livery servant
+ setting fire to the greasy tail of a Bath chairman's surtout produced a
+ most awkward <i>rencontre</i>, by which a husband and wife, who had not
+ been associated together for some years, but were proceeding to the ball
+ in separate chairs, were, by the accidental concussion of their sedans in
+ a moment of alarm, actually thrown into each other's arms; and such was
+ the gallantry of the gentleman, that he marched into the ball-room bearing
+ up the slender frame of his heretofore forsaken rib, to whom he from that
+ time has become reunited. The lady mayoress of the city was excessively
+ indignant on finding her preeminence of <i>entrée</i> disputed by the wife
+ of a Bristol butcher; while the chair of the master of the ceremonies was
+ for some time blocked in between the sedans of two old tabbies, whose
+ expressions of alarm, attempts at faintings, and little flights of
+ scandal, had so annoyed the poor M. C. that when he entered the ball-room,
+ he felt as irritable as a tantalized lover between two female furies. In
+ short, the scene was rich in amusement for the group of merry hearts who
+ had left the Castle in quest of adventure; and while we were enjoying the
+ ludicrous effects produced by the jostling of the sedans, my friend
+ Transit had sketched the affair in his usual happy style, and designated
+ it thus: <span class="pagenum">[306]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2H_4_0012" id="Dlink2H_4_0012">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ THE BATTLE OF THE CHAIRS.
+ </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "The chairs are order'd, and the moment comes,
+ When all the world assemble at the rooms."
+</pre>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img alt="page306 (198K)" src="images2/page306.jpg" width="100%" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ For the ball-room itself, it was the most splendid scene that the magic
+ power of fancy could devise. The variety of characters, the elegance of
+ the dresses, and the beauty of the graceful fair, joined to their playful
+ wit and accomplished manners, produced a succession of delights which
+ banished from the heart of man the recollection of his mortal ills, and
+ gave him, for the passing time, a semblance of Elysian pleasures. The
+ rooms are admirably calculated for this species of entertainment, and are,
+ I believe, the largest in England; while the excellent regulations and
+ arrangements adopted by the master of the ceremonies to prevent any of
+ those unpleasant intrusions, too often admitted into mixed assemblies,
+ deserved the highest commendation. It is from scenes of this description
+ that the writer on men <span class="pagenum">[307]</span>and manners
+ extracts his characters, and drawing aside from the mirth-inspiring group,
+ contemplates the surrounding gaieties, noting down in his memory the
+ pleasing varieties and amusing anecdotes he has there heard; pleasantries
+ with which at some future time he may enliven the social circle of his
+ friends, or by reviving in print, recall the brightest and the best
+ recollections of those who have participated in their gay delights.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "In this distinguish'd circle you will find
+ Many degrees of man and woman kind."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ And as I am here "life's painter, the very Spy o' the time," I shall
+ endeavour to sketch a few of the leading Bath characters; most of the gay
+ well-known being upon this occasion present, and many an eccentric star
+ shining forth, whose light it would be difficult to encounter in any other
+ circle. The accompanying view of the rooms by Transit will convey a
+ correct idea of the splendour of the entertainment, and the fascinating
+ appearance of the assembled groups.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Ranged on the benches sit the lookers-on,
+ Who criticise their neighbours one by one;
+ Each thinks herself in word and deed so bless'd,
+ That she's a bright example for the rest.
+ Numerous tales and anecdotes they hatch,
+ And prophesy the dawn of many a match;
+ And many a matrimonial scheme declare,
+ Unknown to either of the happy pair;
+ Much delicate discussion they advance,
+ About the dress and gait of those who dance;
+ One stoops too much; and one is so upright,
+ He'll never see his partner all the night;
+ One is too lazy; and the next too rough;
+ This jumps too high, and that not high enough.
+ Thus each receives a pointed observation,
+ Not that it's scandal&mdash;merely conversation."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ A three months' sojournment at Bath had afforded my friend Eglantine an
+ excellent opportunity for <span class="pagenum">[308]</span>estimating
+ public character, a science in which he was peculiarly well qualified to
+ shine; since to much critical acumen was joined a just power of
+ discrimination, aided by a generosity of feeling that was ever enlivened
+ by good-humoured sallies of playful satire. To Horace Eglantine, I may
+ apply the compliment which Cleland pays to Pope&mdash;he was incapable of
+ either saying or writing "a line on any man, which through guilt, through
+ shame, or through fear, through variety of fortune, or change of interest,
+ he would ever be unwilling to own." It too often happens that the cynic
+ and the satirist are themselves more than tinged with the foibles which
+ they so severely censure in others. "You shall have a specimen of this
+ infirmity," said Horace, "in the person of Peter Paul Pallet; a reverend
+ gentleman whom you will observe yonder in the dress of a Chinese mandarin.
+ Some few years since this pious personage took upon himself the task of
+ lashing the prevailing follies of society in a satire entitled Bath
+ Characters, and it must be admitted, the work proves him to have been a
+ fellow of no ordinary talent; but an unfortunate amour with the wife of a
+ reverend brother, which was soon after made public, added to certain other
+ peculiarities and eccentricities, have since marked the satirist himself
+ as one of the most prominent objects for the just application of his own
+ weapon."
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Come hither, Paul Pallet, your portrait I'll paint:
+ You're a satirist, reverend sir, but no saint.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ But as some of his characters are very amusing, and no doubt very correct
+ portraits of the time, 1808, my readers shall have the advantage of them,
+ that they may be the better able to contrast the past with the present,
+ and form their own conclusions how far society has improved in morality by
+ the increase of methodism, the influx of evangelical breathings, or the
+ puritanical pretensions of bible societies. I shall pass by his
+ description of the club; gaming ever was <span class="pagenum">[309]</span>and
+ ever will be a leading fashionable vice, which only poverty and ruin can
+ correct or cure. The clergy must, however, be greatly delighted at the
+ following picture of the cloth, drawn by one of their holy brotherhood.
+ "The Bath church," says the satirist, "is filled with croaking ravens,
+ chattering jays, and devouring cormorants; black-headed fanatics and
+ white-headed 'dreamers of dreams;' the aqua-fortis of mob politics, and
+ the mawkish slip-slop of modern divinity; rank cayenne pepper, and genuine
+ powder of post!" Really a very flattering description of our clerical
+ comforters, but one which, I lament to say, will answer quite as well for
+ 1826, with, perhaps, a little less of enthusiasm in the composition, and
+ some faint glimmerings of light opposed to the darkness of bigotry and the
+ frauds of superstition. Methodism is said to be on the wane&mdash;we can
+ hear no better proof that true religion and good sense are coming into
+ fashion. The sketch of Mrs. Vehicle, by the same hand, is said to have
+ been a true copy of a well-known female gambler; it is like a portrait of
+ Sir Joshua Reynolds, a picture worthy of preservation from its intrinsic
+ merits, long after the original has ceased to exist: how readily might it
+ be applied to half a score card-table devotees of the present day!
+ "Observe that <i>ton</i> of beauty, Mrs. Vehicle, who is sailing up the
+ passage, supported like a nobleman's coat of arms by her amiable sisters,
+ the virtuous widow on one side, and the angelic Miss Speakplain on the
+ other. By my soul! the same roses play upon her cheeks now that bloomed
+ there winters ago, the natural tint of that identical patent rouge which
+ she has enamelled her face with for these last twenty years; her gait and
+ presence, too, are still the same&mdash;<i>Vera incessa patuit Dea</i>;
+ she yet boasts the enchanting waddle of a Dutch Venus, and the modest brow
+ of a Tower-hill Diana. Ah, Jack, would you but take a few lessons from my
+ old friend <span class="pagenum">[310]</span>at the science of shuffle and
+ cut, you would not rise so frequently from the board of green cloth, as
+ you now do, with pockets in which the devil might dance a saraband without
+ injuring his shins against their contents. Why, man, she is a second
+ Breslaw with a pack; I have known her deal four honours, nine trumps to
+ herself three times in the course of one rubber, and not cut a higher card
+ to her adversary than a three during the whole evening. Sensible of her
+ talents, and of the impropriety of hiding them in a napkin, she chose
+ Bath, independence, and her own skill in preference to a country
+ parsonage, conjugal control, and limited pin-money. Her <i>caro sposo</i>
+ meanwhile retired to his living; and now blesses himself on his escape
+ from false deals, odd tricks, and every honour but the true one." One more
+ sketch, and I have done; but I cannot pass by the admirable portrait of a
+ Bath canonical, "Jolly old Dr. Mixall, rosy as a ripe tomata, and round as
+ his own right orthodox wig,
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'With Atlantean shoulders, fit to bear
+ The weight of mightiest monarchies!'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Awful and huge, he treads the ground like one of Bruce's moving pillars of
+ sand! What a dark and deep abyss he carries before him&mdash;the grave
+ insatiate of turtle and turbot, red mullet and John Dories, haunches and
+ pasties, claret, port, and home-brewed ale! But his good-humour alone
+ would keep him at twenty stone were he to cease larding himself for a
+ month to come; and when he falls, may the turf lie lightly on his stomach!
+ Then shall he melt gently into rich manure;
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'And fat be the gander that feeds on his grave.'"
+
+ "But now for the moderns," said Horace; "for the
+ enchanting fair,
+
+ 'Whose snow-white bosoms fascinate the eye,
+ Swelling in all the pride of <i>nudity</i>;
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[311]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ The firm round arm, soft cheek, and pouting lip,
+ And backs exposed below the jutting hip;
+ To these succeed dim eyes, and wither'd face»,
+ And pucker'd necks as rough as shagreen cases,
+ But whose kind owners, hon'ring Bladud's ball,
+ Benevolently show their little all.'"
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ But I must not particularize here, as I intend sketching the more
+ prominent personages during a morning lounge in Milsom-street; when,
+ appearing in their ordinary costume, they will be the more easily
+ recognised in print, and remain a more lasting memorial of Bath
+ eccentrics,
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img alt="page311 (27K)" src="images2/page311.jpg" width="100%" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2H_4_0013" id="Dlink2H_4_0013">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ SKETCHES IN BATH&mdash;CHAPTER II.
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ <span class="pagenum">[312]</span>
+ </h3>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Well-known Characters in the Pump-room taking a Sip with
+ King Bladud&mdash;Free Sketches of Fair Game&mdash;The awkward
+ Rencontre, or Mr. B&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;and Miss L.&mdash;Public Bathing or
+ stewing alive&mdash;Sober Thoughts&mdash;Milsom-street Swells&mdash;A
+ Visit to the Pig and Whistle, Avon-street&mdash;of the Buff
+ Club.
+
+ To the pump-room we went, where the grave, and the gay,
+ And the aged, and the sickly, lounge time away;
+ Where all the choice spirits are seen making free
+ With the sov'reign cordial, the true <i>eau de vie</i>.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0022" id="Dimage-0022">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page312.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page312th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page312" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The <i>déjeuné</i> over, the first place to which the stranger in Bath is
+ most desirous of an introduction is the Pump-room; not that he anticipates
+ restoration to health from drinking the waters, or imagines the virtues of
+ immortality are to be found by immersion in the baths; but if he be a
+ person of any condition, he is naturally anxious to <i>show off</i> make
+ his bow to the gay throng, and, at the same time, elucidate the exact
+ condition of Bath Society. If, however, he is a mere plebeian in search of
+ novelty, coupling pleasure with business, or an invalid sent here by his
+ doctors to end his days, he is still anxious, while life remains, to see
+ and be seen; to observe whom he can recognise among the great folks he has
+ known in the metropolis, or perchance, meet consolation from some
+ suffering fellow citizen, who, like himself, has been conveyed to Bath to
+ save his family the misery of seeing him expire beneath his own roof.
+ "What an admirable variety of character does this scene present," said
+ Transit, who, on our first <span class="pagenum">[313]</span>entrance, was
+ much struck with the magnificence of the rooms, and still more delighted
+ with the immense display of eccentricities which presented themselves. "I
+ must introduce you, old fellow," said Eglantine, "to a few of the oddities
+ who figure here. The strange-looking personage in the right-hand corner is
+ usually called Dick Solus, from his almost invariably appearing abroad by
+ himself, or dangling after the steps of some fair Thespian, to the single
+ of whom he is a very constant tormentor. Mrs. Egan of the theatre, 'who
+ knows what's what,' has christened him Mr. Dillytouch; while the heroes of
+ the sock and buskin as invariably describe him by the appellation of
+ Shake, from an unpleasant action he has both in walking and sitting. The
+ sour-visaged gentleman at this moment in conversation with him is the
+ renowned Peter Paul Pallet, esq., otherwise the Reverend Mr. M&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-.
+ Behind them appears a celebrated dentist and his son, who has attained the
+ rank of M.D., both well known here by the titles of the Grand Duke of
+ Tusk-aney and Count Punn-tusk-y, a pair of worthies always on the lookout
+ for business, and hence very constant attendants at the promenade in the
+ Pump-room. The old gentleman in the chintz morning-gown hobbling along on
+ crutches, from the gout, is a retired vinegar merchant, the father of a
+ Chancery M.P., of whom the Bath wags say, 'that when in business, he must
+ always have carried a sample of his best vinegar in his face.'" At this
+ moment old Blackstrap advanced, and requested permission to introduce to
+ our notice Jack Physick, an honest lawyer, and, as he said, one of the
+ cleverest fellows and best companions in Bath. Jack had the good fortune
+ to marry one of the prettiest and most attractive actresses that ever
+ appeared upon the Bath stage, Miss Jamieson, upon which occasion, the wags
+ circulated many pleasant <i>jeux d'esprits</i> on the union of "love, law,
+ and physic." The arrival of a very pompous gentleman, who appeared to
+ <span class="pagenum">[314]</span>excite general observation, gave my
+ friend Eglantine an opportunity of relating an anecdote of the eccentric,
+ who figures in Pultney-street under the cognomen of the Bath bashaw.
+ "There," said Horace, "you may see him every morning decorated in his
+ flannel <i>robe de chambre</i> and green velvet cap, seated outside in his
+ balcony, smoking an immensely large German pipe, and sending forth clouds
+ of fragrant perfume, which are pleasantly wafted right or left as the wind
+ blows along the breakfast tables of his adjoining neighbours. This
+ eccentric was originally a foundling discovered on the steps of a door in
+ Rath, and named by the parochial officers, Parish: by great perseverance
+ and good fortune he became a Hambro' merchant, and in process of time
+ realized a handsome property, which, much to his honour and credit, he
+ retired to spend a portion of among the inhabitants of this city, thus
+ paying a debt of gratitude to those who had protected him in infancy when
+ he was abandoned by his unnatural parents. The little fellow yonder with a
+ military air, and no want of self-conceit, is a field-officer of the Bath
+ volunteers, Adjutant Captain O'Donnel, a descendant from the mighty King
+ Bryan Baroch, and, as we say at Eton, no <i>small beer man</i>, I assure
+ you." "Who is that gigantic fellow just entering the rooms'?" said
+ Heartly. "That is Long Heavisides," replied Eglantine, "whom Handsome Jack
+ and two or three more of the Bath wits have christened, in derision, Mr.
+ Light-sides, a right pleasant fellow, quite equal in intellect and
+ good-humour to the altitude of his person, which, I am told, measures full
+ six feet six." "Gentlemen," said the facetious Blackstrap, "here comes an
+ old lady who has paid dearly for a bit of the Brown, lately the relict of
+ the late Admiral M'Dougal, and now fresh at seventy the blooming wife of a
+ young spark who has just attained the years of discretion, at least, as
+ far as regards <span class="pagenum">[315]</span>pecuniary affairs; for
+ before leading the old lady into church, she very handsomely settled three
+ thousand per annum upon her Adonis, as some little compensation to his
+ feelings, for the rude jests and jeers he was doomed to bear with from his
+ boon companions." "Eyes right, lads," said Eglantine; "the tall stout
+ gentleman in a blue surtout and white trowsers is General B&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-."
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Pshaw! never mind his name," said Heartly; "what are his peculiarities?"
+ "Why&mdash;imprimis, he has a lovely young female commander in chief by
+ his side&mdash;is a great reader with a very little memory. A very good
+ story is told of him, that I fear might be applied with equal justice to
+ many other great readers; namely, that some wags having at different times
+ altered the title-page, and pasted together various leaves of a popular
+ Scotch novel, they thus successfully imposed upon the General the task of
+ reading the same matter three times over&mdash;by this means creating in
+ his mind an impression, not very far from the truth, that all the works of
+ the Great Unknown bore a very close similitude to each other; an opinion
+ which the General is said to maintain very strenuously unto this hour. Of
+ all the characters in the busy scene of life which can excite a
+ pleasurable sensation in the close observer of men and manners, is your
+ gay ancient, whether male or female; the sprightly Evergreens of society,
+ whose buoyant spirits outlive the fiery course of youth, while their
+ playful leafage buds forth in advanced life with all the freshness,
+ fragrance, and vigour of the more youthful plants. Such," said Eglantine,
+ "is the old beau yonder, my friend Curtis, who is here quaintly
+ denominated the Everlasting.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0023" id="Dimage-0023">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page315.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page315th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page315" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The jolly Bacchanalian, who accompanies him in his morning's lounge, is
+ Charles Davis, a right jolly fellow, universally respected, although, it
+ must be admitted, he is a <i>party</i> man, since in a <span
+ class="pagenum">[316]</span>show of hands, Charles must always,
+ unfortunately, be on one side." A promenade up and down the room, and a
+ visit to the goddess Hygeia, for such, I suppose, the ancient matron who
+ dispenses the healing draught must be designated, gave us an opportunity
+ of observing the fresh arrivals, among whom we had the pleasure to meet
+ with an old naval officer, known to Heartly, a victim to the gout, wheeled
+ about in a chair, expecting, to use his own sea phrase, to go to pieces
+ every minute, but yet full of spirits as an admiral's grog bottle, as fond
+ of a good joke as a fresh-caught reefer, and as entertaining as the
+ surgeon's mate, or the chaplain of the fleet. "I say, Master Heavtly,"
+ said the captain, "the frigate yonder with the brown breast works, and she
+ with the pink facings, look something like privateers. My forelights,
+ Master Heartly, but if I had the use of my under works, I should be for
+ firing a little grape shot across their quarters to see if I could not
+ bring them into action!" "And I will answer for it, they would not show
+ any objection to lie alongside of you, captain," said Eglantine, "while
+ you had got a shot left in your locker. Mere Cyprian traders, captain,
+ from the Gulf of Venus, engaged in gudgeon bawling, or on the lookout for
+ flat fish. The little craft, with the black top, is called the
+ Throgmorton; and the one alongside the Ormsby of Berkeley is the Pretty
+ Lacy, a prime frigate, and quite new in the service. If you have a mind to
+ sail up the Straits of Cytherea, captain, I can answer for it we shall
+ fall in with a whole fleet of these light vessels, the two Sisters; the
+ Emery's; the yawl, Thomson; that lively little cutter, Jackson; the
+ transports, King and Hill; the lugger, Lewis; and the country ship, the
+ Lady Grosvenor, all well found, and ready for service, and only waiting to
+ be well manned. A good story is just now afloat about the Lacy, who, being
+ recently taken up for private trade by Commodore Bowen, was <span
+ class="pagenum">[317]</span>discovered to be sailing under false colours.
+ It appears, that during the commander's absence a dashing enemy, the
+ captain of the Hussar, a man of war, had entered the cabin privately, and
+ having satisfied himself of the state of the vessel, took an opportunity
+ to overhaul the ship's stores, when drinking rather freely of some choice
+ love-age, a cordial kept expressly for the commodore's own use, he was
+ unexpectedly surprised by the return of the old commander on board; and in
+ making his escape through the cabin window into a boat he had in waiting,
+ unfortunately left his time-piece and topmast behind. This circumstance is
+ said to have put the commodore out of conceit with his little frigate, who
+ has since been paid off', and is now chartered for general purposes." At
+ this little episode of a well-known Bath story, the captain laughed
+ heartily, and Transit was so much amused thereat, that on coming in
+ contact with the commodore and the captain in our perambulations, he
+ furnished the accompanying sketch of that very ludicrous scene, under the
+ head of
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ The Bath beau and frail belle,
+ Or Mr. B&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;and Miss L&mdash;&mdash;-.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ An excellent band of music, which continues to play from one to half past
+ three o'clock every day during the season, greatly increases the
+ attraction to the rooms, and also adds much to the cheerfulness and gaiety
+ of the scene. We had now nearly exhausted our materials for observation;
+ and having, to use Transit's phrase, booked every thing worthy of note,
+ taken each of us a glass of the Bath water, although I confess not
+ swallowing it without some qualmish apprehensions from the recollection of
+ the four lines in Anstey's Bath Guide.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "They say it is right that for every glass,
+ A tune you should take that the water may pass;
+ So while little Tabby was washing her rump,
+ The ladies kept drinking it out of the pump."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[318]</span>A very pleasant piece of satire, but
+ somewhat, as I understand, at the expense of truth, since the well from
+ which the water in the pump room is obtained is many feet below the one
+ that supplies the baths; situation certainly assists the view of the
+ satirist. I ought not to pass over here the story told us by our old
+ friend Blackstrap, respecting the first discovery of these waters by
+ Bladud, the son of Lud Hudibras, king of Britain; a fabulous tale, which,
+ for the benefit of the city all true Bathonians are taught to lisp with
+ their horn book, and believe with their creed, as genuine orthodox; and on
+ which subject my friend Horace furnished the following impromptu.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Oh, Lud! oh, Lud! that hogs and mud{1}
+ Should rival sage M.D.'s;
+ And hot water, in this quarter,
+ Cure each foul disease.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "Throw physic to the dogs, I'll have none on't,'" said Horace: "if hot
+ water can effect such wonders, why, a plague on all the doctors! Let a man
+ be content to distil his medicine fresh from his own teakettle, or make
+ his washing copper serve the double purpose for domestic uses and a
+ medicated bath.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'But what is surprising, no mortal e'er view'd
+ Any one of the physical gentlemen stew'd.
+ From the day that King Bladud first found out these bogs,
+ And thought them so good for himself and his hogs,
+ Not one of the faculty ever has tried
+ These excellent waters to cure his own hide;
+ Though many a skilful and learned physician,
+ With candour, good sense, and profound erudition,
+ Obliges the world with the fruits of his brain,
+ Their nature and hidden effects to explain.'
+
+ 1 See the fabulous account alluded to in Warner's History of
+ Bath, where Bladud is represented to have discovered the
+ properties of the warm springs at Beechen Wood Swainswick,
+ by observing the hogs to wallow in the mud that was
+ impregnated therewith, and thus to have derived the
+ knowledge of a cure for 'tis leprous affection.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[319]</span>But <i>allons</i>, lads," said Horace,
+ "we are here to follow the fashion, and indulge in all the eccentricities
+ of the place; to note the follies of the time, and depict the chief
+ actors, without making any personal sacrifice to correct the evil. Our
+ satire will do more to remove old prejudices when it appears in print,
+ aided by Bob Transit's pencil, than all our reasonings upon the spot can
+ hope to effect, although we followed Mr. M'Culloch's economy, and lectured
+ upon decency from break of day to setting sun. In quitting the pump-room
+ we must not, however, omit to notice the statue of Beau Nash, before which
+ Transit appears, in <i>propria personæ</i>, sketching off the marble
+ memento, without condescending to notice the busts of Pope and Newton,
+ which fill situations on each side; a circumstance which in other times
+ produced the following epigram from the pen of the witty earl of
+ Chesterfield.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "The statue plac'd the busts between
+ Adds satire to the strength;
+ Wisdom and Wit are little seen,
+ But Folly at full length."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Such is the attachment of man to the recollections of any thing associated
+ with pleasure, that it is questionable if the memory of old Joe Miller is
+ not held in higher estimation by the moderns than that of Father Luther,
+ the reformer; and while the numerous amusing anecdotes in circulation tend
+ to keep alive the fame of Nash, it is not surprising that the merry pay
+ court to his statue, being in his own dominions, before they bow at the
+ classic shrine of Pope, or bend in awful admiration beneath the bust of
+ the greatest of philosophers.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "'Twas said of old, deny it now who can,
+ The only laughing animal is man."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ And we are about to present the reader with a right merry scene, one, too,
+ if he has any fun in his composition, or loves a good joke, must warm the
+ cockles <span class="pagenum">[320]</span>of his heart. Who would ever
+ have thought, in these moralizing times, when the puritans are raising
+ conventicles in every town and village, and the cant of vice societies has
+ spread itself over the land, that in one of our most celebrated places of
+ fashionable resort, there should be found baths where the young and the
+ old, the beauteous female and the gay spark, are all indiscriminately
+ permitted to enjoy the luxurious pleasure together. That such is the case
+ in Bath no one who has recently participated in the pleasures of immersion
+ will dispute, and in order to perpetuate that gratification, Bob Transit
+ has here faithfully delineated the scene which occurred upon our entering
+ the King's Bath, through the opening from the Queen's, where, to our great
+ amusement and delight, we found ourselves surrounded by many a sportive
+ nymph, whose beauteous form was partially hidden by the loose flannel
+ gown, it is true; but now and then the action of the water, produced by
+ the continued movements of a number of persons all bathing at the same
+ time, discovered charms, the which to have caught a glimpse of in any
+ other situation might have proved of dangerous consequences to the fair
+ possessors. The baths, it must be admitted, are delightful, both from
+ their great extent and their peculiar properties, as, on entering from the
+ Queen's Bath you may enjoy the water at from 90 to 96 degrees, or
+ requiring more heat have only to walk forward, through the archway, to
+ obtain a temperature of 116. The first appearance of old Blackstrap's
+ visage floating along the surface of the water, like the grog-blossomed
+ trunk of the ancient Bardolph, bound up in a Welsh wig, was truly
+ ludicrous, and produced such an unexpected burst of laughter from my merry
+ companions, that I feared some of the fair Naiads would have fainted in
+ the waters from fright, and then Heaven help them, for decency would have
+ prevented our rushing to their assistance. The notices to prevent
+ gentlemen <span class="pagenum">[321]</span>from swimming in the baths
+ are, in my opinion, so many inducements or suggestions for every young
+ visitor to attempt it. Among our mad wags, Horace Eglantine was more than
+ once remonstrated with by the old bathing women for indulging in this
+ pleasure, to the great alarm of the ladies, who, crowding together in one
+ corner with their aged attendants, appeared to be in a high state of
+ apprehension lest the loose flannel covering that guards frail mortality
+ upon these occasions should be drawn aside, and discover nature in all her
+ pristine purity&mdash;an accident that had very nearly happened to myself,
+ when, in endeavouring to turn round quickly, I found the water had
+ disencumbered my frame of the yellow bathing robe, which floated on the
+ surface behind me.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0024" id="Dimage-0024">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page321.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page321th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page321" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ One circumstance which made our party more conspicuous, was, the rejection
+ of the Welsh wigs, which not all the entreaties of the attendant could
+ induce any of the wags to wear. The young ladies disfigure themselves by
+ wearing the black bonnets of the bathing women; but spite of this
+ masquerading in the water, their lovely countenances and soul-subduing
+ eyes, create sensations that will be more easily conceived than prudently
+ described. A certain facetious writer, who has published his "Walks
+ through Bath," alluding to this practice, speaks of it as having been
+ prohibited in the fifteenth century. How long such prohibition, if it ever
+ took place, continued, it is not for me to know; but if the Bath
+ peripatetic historian had made it his business to have seen what he has
+ described, he would have found, that the practice of bathing males and
+ females together in <i>puris naturalibus</i> was still continued in high
+ perfection, in spite of the puritans, the Vice Society, or the prohibition
+ of Bishop Beckyngton.{2}
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 2 It appears, that about the middle of the fifteenth century
+ it was the custom for males and females to bathe together,
+ in puris naturalibus, which was at length prohibited by
+ Bishop Beckyngton, who ordered, by way of distinction, the
+ wearing of breeches and petticoats; this indecency was
+ suppressed, after considerable difficulty, at the end of the
+ sixteenth century, (quere, what indecency does our author of
+ the "Walks through Bath" mean? the incumbrance of the
+ breeches and petticoats, we must imagine). It also seems,
+ that about 1700 it was the fashion for both sexes to bathe
+ together indiscriminately, and the ladies used to decorate
+ their heads with all the advantages of dress, as a mode of
+ attracting attention and heightening their charms. The
+ husband of a lady in one of the baths, in company with Beau
+ Nash, was so much enraptured with the appearance of his
+ wife, that he very im-prudently observed, "she looked like
+ an angel, and he wished to be with her." Nash immediately
+ seized him by the collar, and threw him into the bath; this
+ circumstance produced a duel, and Nash was wounded in his
+ right arm: it however had the good effect of establishing
+ the reputation of Nash, who shortly after became master of
+ the ceremonies.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[322]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "You cannot conceive what a number of ladies
+ Were wash'd in the water the same as our maid is:
+ How the ladies did giggle and set up their clacks
+ All the while an old woman was rubbing their backs;
+ Oh! 'twas pretty to see them all put on their flannels,
+ And then take the water, like so many spaniels;
+ And though all the while it grew hotter and hotter,
+ They swam just as if they were hunting an otter.
+ 'Twas a glorious sight to behold the fair sex
+ All wading with gentlemen up to their necks,
+ And view them so prettily tumble and sprawl
+ In a great smoking kettle as big as our hall;
+ And to-day many persons of rank and condition
+ Were boil'd, by command of an able physician."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ From the baths we migrated to the grand promenade of fashion, Milsom
+ Street, not forgetting to take a survey of the old Abbey Church, which, as
+ a monument of architectural grandeur without, and of dread monition
+ within, is a building worthy the attention of the antiquarian and the
+ philosopher; while perpetuating the remembrance of many a cherished name
+ to worth, to science, and to virtue dear, the artist and the amateur may
+ derive much gratification from examining the many excellent <span
+ class="pagenum">[323]</span>pieces of sculpture with which the Abbey
+ abounds. But for us, gay in disposition, and scarcely allowing ourselves
+ time for reflection, such a scene had few charms, unless, indeed, the
+ English Spy could have separated himself from the buoyant spirits with
+ which he was attended, and then, wrapt in the gloom of the surrounding
+ scene, and given up to serious contemplation, the emblems of mortality
+ which decorate the gothic pile might have conjured up in his mind's eye
+ the forms of many a departed spirit, of the blest shades of long-lost
+ parents and of social friends, of those who, living, lent a lustre to the
+ arts, of witty madcaps frost-bitten by the sable tyrant Death, nipped in
+ the very bud of youth, while yet the sparkling jest was ripe upon the
+ merry lip, and the ruddy glow of health upon the cheek gave earnest of a
+ lengthened life&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;But, soft! methinks I hear my reader
+ exclaim, "How now, madcap, moralizing Mr. Spy? art thou, too, bitten by
+ the desire to philosophize, thou, 'the very Spy o' the time,' the merry
+ buoyant rogue who has laughed all serious scenes to scorn, and riding over
+ hill, and dale, and verdant plain upon thy fiery courser, fleet as the
+ winds, collecting the cream of comicalities, and, beshrew thee, witling,
+ plucking the brightest flowers that bloom in the road of pleasure to give
+ thy merry garland's perfume, and deck thy page withal, art thou growing
+ serious? Then is doomsday near; and poor, deserted, care-worn man left
+ unprotected to the tempest's rage!" Not so, good reader, we are still the
+ same merry, thoughtless, laughing, buoyant sprite that thou hast known us
+ for the last two years; but the archer cannot always keep his bow upon the
+ stretching point; so there are scenes, and times, and fancies produced by
+ recollective circumstances and objects, which create strange conceits even
+ in the light-hearted bosom of the English Spy. Such was the train of
+ reflections which rushed in <span class="pagenum">[324]</span>voluntarily
+ upon my mind as I noted down the passing events of the day, a practice
+ usual with me when, retiring from the busy hum of men, I seek the
+ retirement of my chamber to commit my thoughts to paper. I had recently
+ passed through the depository where rest the remains of a tender mother&mdash;had
+ sought the spot, unnoticed by my light-hearted companions, and having
+ bedewed with tears of gratitude her humble grave, gave vent to my
+ feelings, by the following tribute to a parent's worth.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ MY MOTHER'S GRAVE.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Beneath yon ivy-mantled wall,
+ In a lone corner, where the earth
+ Presents a rising green mound, all
+ Of her who lov'd and gave me birth
+
+ Lies buried deep. No trophied stone,
+ Or graven verse denotes the spot:
+ Her worth her epitaph alone,
+ The green-sward grave her humble lot.
+
+ How silent sleep the virtuous dead!
+ For them few sculptured honours rise,
+ No marble tablet here to spread
+ A fame&mdash;their every act implies.
+
+ No mockery here, nor herald's shield,
+ To glitter o'er a bed of clay;
+ But snow-drops and fresh violets yield
+ A tribute to worth pass'd away.
+
+ Tread lightly, ye who love or know
+ En life's young road a parent's worth,
+ Who yet are strangers to the woe
+ Of losing those who gave you birth,
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[325]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Who cherish'd, fondled, fed, and taught
+ From infancy to manhood's pride,
+ Directing every opening thought,
+ Teaching how Reason's power should guide.
+
+ Ye rich and bold, ye grave and gay,
+ Ye mightiest of the sons of men,
+ Wealth, honours, fame shall sink away,
+ And all be equalized again;
+
+ Save what the sculptor may pourtray,
+ And any tyrant, fool, or knave
+ Who has the wealth, may in that way
+ His name from dull oblivion save;
+
+ That is, he may perpetuate
+ His worthlessness, his frauds, and crimes;
+ No matter what his tomb relate,
+ His character lives with the times.
+
+ Shade of my parent! couldst thou hear
+ The voice of him, thine only child,
+ Implore thy loss with filial tear,
+ And deck thy grave with sonnets wild,
+
+ 'Twould all thy troubles past repay,
+ Thy anxious cares, thy hopes and fears,
+ To find as time stole life away,
+ Thy mem'ry brighten'd with his years.
+
+ Yes, sacred shade! while mem'ry guides
+ This ever wild eccentric brain,
+ While reason holds or virtue chides,
+ Still will I pour the filial strain.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "What," said my old friend Horace Eglantine, after reading this tribute to
+ parental worth, "Bernard Blackmantle moralizing; our Spy turned <span
+ class="pagenum">[326]</span>monody-maker, writing epitaphs, and elegies,
+ and odes to spirits that have no corporal substance, when there are so
+ many living subjects yet left for his merrier muse to dwell upon? Come,
+ old fellow, shake off this lethargy of the mind, this vision of past
+ miseries, and prepare for present merriments.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'The streets begin to fill, the motley throng
+ To see and to be seen, now trip along;
+ Some lounge in the bazaars, while others meet
+ To take a turn or two in Milsom-street;
+ Some eight or ten round Mirvan's shop remain,
+ To stare at those who gladly stare again.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ In short, my dear fellow, we are all waiting your company to join the
+ swells in Milsom-street; where, I have no doubt, you will find many a star
+ of fashion, whose eccentricities you will think justly entitles him to a
+ niche in your gallery of living characters.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 'Lords of the creation, who, half awake,
+ Adorn themselves their daily lounge to take;
+ Each lordly man his taper waist displays,
+ Combs his sweet locks, and laces on his stays,
+ Ties on his starch'd cravat with nicest care,
+ And then steps forth to petrify the fair.'
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ Such, for instance, is that roué yonder, the very prince of Bath fops,
+ Handsome Jack, whose vanity induces him to assert that his eyebrows are
+ worth one hundred per annum to any young fellow in pursuit of a fortune:
+ it should, however, be admitted, that his gentlemanly manners and great
+ good-nature more than compensate for any little detractions on the score
+ of self-conceit. What the son is, the father was in earlier life; and the
+ old beau is not a little gratified to observe the estimation in which his
+ son is held by the fair sex, on account of his attractive person and still
+ more prepossessing manners.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "You have heard of Peagreen Hayne's exploits at Burdrop Park; and here
+ comes the proprietor of the <span class="pagenum">[327]</span>place,
+ honest Tom Calley, as jovial a true-hearted English gentleman as ever
+ followed a pack of foxhounds, or gloried in preserving and promoting the
+ old English hospitalities of the table: circumstances, the result of some
+ hard runs and long odds, have a little impaired the family exchequer;
+ however the good wishes of all who know him attend him in adversity. But
+ the clouds which have for a time obstructed his sunshine of mirth are fast
+ wearing away, and when he shall return to the enjoyment of his patrimonial
+ acres, he will be sure to meet a joyous welcome from all surrounding him,
+ accompanied with the heartfelt congratulations of those to whom in Bath he
+ is particularly endeared. The smart little fellow driving by in his
+ cabriolet is beau Burgess, a single star, and one of no mean attraction
+ among the fair spinsters, who can estimate the merits and admire the
+ refulgence of ten thousand sovereign attendant satellites.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0025" id="Dimage-0025">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page327.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page327th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page327" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Bath is, perhaps, now the only place in the kingdom where there is yet to
+ be found a four-in-hand club; a society of gentlemen Jehus, who formerly
+ in London cut no inconsiderable figure in the annals of fashion, and who,
+ according to our mode of estimating the amusements of the gay world, were
+ very unfairly satirized, seeing, that with the pursuit of pleasure was
+ combined the additional employment of a large number of mechanics, and a
+ stimulus given, not only to the improvement of a noble breed of horses,
+ but to the acquirement of a knowledge, the perfection of which in the
+ metropolis is particularly necessary to the existence of the peripatetic
+ pleasures of his majesty's subjects. Here we have Colonel Allen, who puts
+ along a good team in very prime style, and having lately been spliced to a
+ good fortune, is a perfect master in the <i>manage</i>-ment of the bit.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ "Squire Richards is, also, by no means a contemptible knight of the
+ ribbons, only he sometimes measures <span class="pagenum">[328]</span>his
+ distance a little too closely; a practice, which if he does not improve
+ upon, may some day, in turning a corner, not bring him off right. 'A
+ follower of the Buxton school and a true knight of the throng,' says old
+ Tom Whipcord in the Annals of Sporting, 'must not expect to drive four
+ high-bred horses well with an opera-glass stuck in his right ogle.' A bit
+ of good advice that will not only benefit the squire if he attends to it,
+ but perhaps save the lives of one or two of the Bath pedestrians. The
+ leader of the club, who, by way of distinction from his namesake the
+ colonel, is designated Scotch Allen, is really a noble whip, putting along
+ four horses in first-rate style, all brought well up to their work, and
+ running together as close and as regular as the wheels of his carriage.
+ The comical little character upon the strawberry pony is the Bath Adonis;
+ a fine specimen of the Irish antique, illustrated with a beautiful
+ brogue,and emblazoned with a gold coat of arms. The amours of old B&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;-in
+ Bath would very well fill a volume of themselves; but the anecdote I gave
+ you in the Pump-room of little Lacy and her paramour will be sufficient to
+ show you in what estimation he is held by the ladies." "Give me leave to
+ introduce you to a Raer fellow," said Heartly; "an old friend of mine, who
+ has all his lifetime been a wholesale dealer in choice spirits, and having
+ now bottled off enough for the remainder of his life, is come to spend the
+ evening of his days in Bath among the bon vivants of the elegant city,
+ enjoying the tit bits of pleasure, and courting the sweet society of the
+ pretty girls. By heavens! boys, we shall be found out, and you, Mr. Spy,
+ will be the ruin of us all, for here comes our old sporting acquaintance,
+ Charles Bannatyne, with his Jackall at his heels, accompanied by that mad
+ wag Oemsby, the Cheltenham amateur of fashion, and the gallant little
+ Lieutenant Valombre, who having formerly made a rich capture of Spanish
+ dollars, is perhaps upon the look-out here <span class="pagenum">[329]</span>for
+ a frigate well-laden with English specie, in order to sail in consort, and
+ cruize off the straits of independence for life. Well, success attend
+ him," said Heartly; "for he well deserves a good word whether at sea or on
+ shore. The military-looking gentleman yonder, who is in close conversation
+ with that rough diamond, Ellis, once a London attorney, is the
+ highly-respected Colonel Fitzgerald, whom our friend Transit formerly
+ caricatured under the cognomen of Colonel Saunter, a good-humoured joke,
+ with which he is by no means displeased himself." "But, my dear fellows,"
+ said Transit, "if we remain fixed to this spot much longer, we shall have
+ the eyes of all the <i>beau monde</i> upon us, and stand a chance of being
+ pointed at for the rest of the time that we remain in Bath." A piece of
+ advice that was not wholly unnecessary, for being personally known to a
+ few of the sporting characters, our visit to the elegant city had spread
+ like wildfire, and on our appearance in Milsom-street, a very general
+ desire was expressed by the beaux to have a sight of the English Spy and
+ his friend Transit, by whose joint labours they anticipated they might
+ hereafter live to fame.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ One of the most remarkable personages of the old school still left to Bath
+ is the celebrated Captain Mathews, the author of "a short Treatise on
+ Whist," and the same gentleman who at an early period of life contested
+ with the late R. B. Sheridan, upon Lansdowne, for the fair hand of the
+ beauteous Miss Lindly, the lady to whom the wit was afterwards married. In
+ this way did my pleasant friends Heartly and Eglantine continue to furnish
+ me with brief notices of the most attractive of the stars of fashion who
+ usually lounge away the mornings in Milsom-street, exchanging the familiar
+ nod and "How d'ye do?" and holding sweet discourse among their fragrant
+ selves upon the pursuits of the <i>haute classe</i>, the merits of the
+ last new novel, or the fortune of the last unmarried feminine <span
+ class="pagenum">[330]</span>arrival. To these may be added reminiscences
+ of the last night's card-table and remarks upon the Balls at the rooms;
+ for
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "Two musical parties to Bladud belong,
+ To delight the old rooms and the upper;
+ One gives to the ladies a supper, no song,
+ And the other a song and no supper."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ "The <i>jolie</i> dame to the right," said Horace, "is the mother of
+ England's best friend, the Secretary for the Foreign Department, George
+ Canning, a man to whom we are all indebted for the amalgamation of party,
+ and the salvation of the country The clerical who follows immediately
+ behind Mrs. Hunn is a reverend gentleman whose daughters both recently
+ eloped from his house on the same morning attended by favoured lovers to
+ bind with sacred wreaths their happy destinies at the shrine of Hymen." We
+ had now reached the bottom of the street again, after having made at least
+ a dozen promenades to and fro, and were on the point of retiring to our
+ hotel to dress for dinner, when Heartly directed my attention to a dashing
+ roue, who, dressed in the extreme of superlative style, was accompanied by
+ a beautiful piece of fair simplicity in the garb of a Puritan. "That,"
+ said my friend, "is the beautiful Miss D**T&mdash;one of the faithful,
+ whom the dashing Count L***c***t has recently induced to say ay for life:
+ thus gaining a double prize of no mean importance by one stroke of good
+ luck&mdash;a fine girl and a fine fortune into the bargain." I must not
+ forget our friend the consulting surgeon H***ks, or omit to notice that in
+ Bath the faculty are all distinguished by some peculiar title of this
+ sort, as, the digestive Physician, the practical Apothecary, and the
+ operative Chemist; a piece of quackery not very creditable to their
+ acknowledged skill and general respectability. At dinner we were again
+ joined by our facetious <span class="pagenum">[331]</span>friend
+ Blackstrap, who, to use his own phraseology, having made "a good morning's
+ work of it," hoped he might be permitted to make one among us, a request
+ with which we were most willing to comply. In the evening, after the
+ bottle had circulated freely, some of our party proposed a visit to the
+ theatre, but as Bath theatricals could not be expected to afford much
+ amusement to London frequenters of the theatres royal, Transit suggested
+ our sallying forth for a spree;" for," said he, "I have not yet booked a
+ bit of true life since I have been in Bath. The pump-room, the bathers,
+ and the swells in Milsom-street, are all very well for the lovers of
+ elegant life; but our sporting friends and old college chums will expect
+ to see a genuine touch or two of the broad humour of Bath&mdash;something
+ suburban and funny. Cannot you introduce us to any thing pleasant of this
+ sort!" said Transit, addressing Blackstrap: "perhaps give us a sight of
+ the interior of a snug convent, or show us where the Bath wonderfuls
+ resort to carouse and sing away their cares."&mdash;"It is some years
+ since," said Blackstrap, "that in the company of a few merry wags, I paid
+ a visit to the Buff-club in Avon-street: but as you, gentlemen, appear
+ disposed for a little fun, if you will pledge yourselves to be directed by
+ me, I will undertake to introduce you to a scene far exceeding in
+ profligacy and dissipation the most florid picture which our friend
+ Transit has yet furnished of the back settlements in the Holy-land." With
+ this understanding, and with no little degree of anticipatory pleasure,
+ did our merry group set forth to take a survey of the interior of the long
+ room at the Pig and Whistle in Avon-street. Of the origin of this sign,
+ Blackstrap gave us a very humorous anecdote: the house was formerly, it
+ would appear, known by the sign of the Crown and Thistle, and was at that
+ time the resort of the Irish Traders who visited Bath to dispose of their
+ linens. One of these Emeralders <span class="pagenum">[332]</span>having
+ lost his way, and being unable to recollect either the name of the street
+ or the sign of his inn, thus addressed a countryman whom he accidentally
+ met: "Sure I've quite forgotten the sign of my inn." "Be after mentioning
+ something like it, my jewel," said his friend. "Sure it's very like the
+ Pig and Whistle," replied the enquirer. "By the powers, so it is:&mdash;the
+ Crown and Thistle, you mean;" and from this mistake of the Emeralder, the
+ house has ever since been so designated. Upon our visit to this scene of
+ uproarious mirth, we found it frequented by the lowest and most depraved
+ characters in society; the mendicants, and miserable of the female sex,
+ who, lost to every sense of shame or decency, assemble here to indulge in
+ profligacies, the full description of which must not stain the pages of
+ the English Spy.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0026" id="Dimage-0026">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page332.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page332th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page332" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ As a scene of low life, my friend Transit has done it ample justice, where
+ the portraits of Lady Grosvenor as one of the Cyprian frequenters is
+ designated, the Toad in a Hole, and Lucy the Fair, will be easily
+ recognised. A gallon of gin for the ladies, and a liberal distribution of
+ beer and tobacco for the males, made us very welcome guests, and insured
+ us, during our short stay, at least from personal interruption. It may be
+ asked why such a house is licensed by the magistracy; but when it is known
+ that characters of this sort will always be found in well-populated
+ places, and that the doors are regularly closed at eleven o'clock, it is
+ perhaps thought to be a measure of prudence to let them continue to
+ assemble in an obscure part of the suburbs, where they congregate together
+ under the vigilant eye of the police, instead of being driven abroad to
+ seek fresh places of resort, and by this means increase the evils of
+ society.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The next morning saw my friend Transit and myself again prepared to
+ separate from our friends Heartly and Eglantine, on our way to Worcester,
+ <span class="pagenum">[333]</span>where we had promised to pay a visit to
+ old Crony on our road back to London. Reader, if our sketches in Bath are
+ somewhat brief, remember we are ever on the wing in search of novelty, and
+ are not disposed to stay one day longer in any place than it affords fresh
+ food for pen and pencil In the characters we have sketched we disclaim any
+ thought of personal offence; eccentrics are public property, and must not
+ object to appear in print, seeing that they are in the journey through
+ life allowed to ride a free horse, without that curb which generally
+ restrains the conduct of others But I must here take my farewell of the
+ elegant city of that attractive spot of which Bayley justly sings
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "In this auspicious region all mankind
+ (Whate'er their taste) congenial joys may find;
+ Here monied men may pass for men of worth;
+ And wealthy Cits may hide plebeian birth.
+ Here men devoid of cash may live with ease,
+ Appear genteel, and pass for what they please."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2H_4_0014" id="Dlink2H_4_0014">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ WAGGERIES AT WORCESTER.
+ </h2>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[334]</span>The meeting with an old friend at
+ Worcester induced us to domicile there for the space of three days, during
+ which time I will not say we were laid up with Lavender, but certainly
+ near enough to scent it. Most of our Worcester acquaintance will however
+ understand what is meant by this allusion to one of the pleasantest
+ fellows that ever commanded the uncivil customers in the Castle, since the
+ time of the civil wars. The city is perhaps as quiet a dull place as may
+ be found within his majesty's dominions, where a cannon-ball might be
+ fired down the principal street at noon-day without killing more than the
+ ruby-nosed incumbent of a fat benefice, a superannuated tradesman, or a
+ manufacturer of crockery-ware. No stranger should, however, pass through
+ the place without visiting the extensive China works of Messrs. Flight and
+ Barr, to which the greatest facility is given by the proprietors; and the
+ visit must amply repay any admirer of the arts. A jovial evening, spent
+ with our old friend of the Castle, had ended with a kind invitation from
+ him to partake of a spread at his hotel on the following morning; but such
+ was the apprehensions of Transit at the idea of entering this mansion of
+ the desolate, from being troubled with certain qualmish remembrances of
+ the previous night's debauch, that not all my intreaties, nor the repeated
+ messages of the worthy commander of the Castle, could bring our friend
+ Transit to book.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[335]</span>To those who know my friend John, and
+ there are few of any respectability who do not both know and admire him,
+ his facetious talent will require but little introduction. Lavender is
+ what a man of the world, whose business it has been to watch over the
+ interests of society, should be, superior in education and in mind, to any
+ one I ever met with filling a similar situation: the governor of the
+ Castle is a companion for a lord, or to suit the purposes of justice,
+ instantly metamorphosed into an out and outer, a regular knowing cove,
+ whose knowledge of flash and the cant and slang used by the dissolute is
+ considered to be superior to that of any public officer. A specimen of
+ this will be found in the following note, which a huge fellow of a turnkey
+ brought to my bedside, and then apologised for disturbing me, by pleading
+ the governor's instructions.
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ "QUEER COVES,
+
+ "I hope you have left your dabs,{1}
+ and nobs,{2} all right: perhaps prime legs{3} is queer in
+ the oration-box{4} from a too frequent use of the
+ steamer{5} last darky.{6} I make this fakement{7} to let
+ you know I and morning spread are waiting.
+
+ Steel-hotel, Yours, &amp;c.
+
+ June 9, 1825. LOCKIT."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0027" id="Dimage-0027">
+ <!-- IMG --></a> <a href="images2/page335.jpg">ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE</a><br />
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page335th.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page335" />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <br /><br />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ My readers will very readily conceive that with such a companion we were
+ not long in tracing out what little of true life was to be found in
+ Worcester, and certainly one of the pleasantest scenes in which we
+ participated was a visit to the Subscription Bowling Alley, where, in the
+ summer time, the most respectable of the inhabitants of Worcester meet
+ every evening
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ 1 Beds.
+
+ 2 Heads.
+
+ 3 Cruikshank..
+
+ 4 Cranium.
+
+ 5 A pipe.
+
+ 6 Night.
+
+ 7 A note.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[336]</span>for recreation; and a right pleasant
+ company we found them. The Caleb Quotem of the society, Dr. Davis, united
+ in one person all the acquirements of the great original: he not only
+ keeps the time of the city, but keeps all the musicians of the place in
+ time; regulates the watch and the watches, and plays a solo <i>à la
+ Dragonetti</i> upon the double bass. Sam Swan is another choice spirit,
+ who sings a good chant, lives well respected, and sails down the stream of
+ time as pleasantly as if he was indeed a royal bird.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ An old Burdettite, Will Shunk, recognised in us a partizan of the
+ government candidate at one of the Westminster Elections: "But, sir," said
+ Will, "politics and I have nearly parted; for you must know, I am
+ tolerably <i>well breeched</i>, and can fairly say I am hand and glove
+ with all the first nobility in the kingdom." A truth to which Captain
+ Corls readily assented by explaining that Master William Shunk was a
+ first-rate glover, and considered worth a plum at least: "in short, sir,"
+ said the captain, "he is a nabob here, and brings to my mind some of the
+ eastern princes with whom I have met during my Campaigns in the East." The
+ very mention of which exploit induced our friend the governor to tip us
+ the office, and the joke was well humoured until silver Powell, who they
+ say comes from Norfolk, interrupted our travels in India, with, "Captain,
+ can't you see that ere Athlantic fellow, the governor, is making fun of
+ you to amuse his London friends." A hint that appeared to strike the
+ Captain very forcibly, for it struck him dumb. A good-humoured contest
+ between honest Joe Shelton, and Probert the school-master, elicited some
+ very comical exposures in the way of recriminations. Joe, it would appear,
+ is an artist in economy; and an old story about a lobster raised Joe's ire
+ to its height, and produced the Lex taliones on Probert, <span
+ class="pagenum">[337]</span>whose habits of frugality wanted his
+ competitor's humour to make them pass current. Transit, who had been
+ amusing himself with sketching the characters, had become acquainted with
+ a sporting Reverend, whose taste for giblets had proved rather expensive;
+ and who was most desirous of appearing in print: a favor merry Stephen
+ Godson, the lawyer, requested might also be extended to him." "Ay," said
+ John Portman, "and if you want a character for your foreground rich in
+ colour, my phiz is much at your service; and here's George Brookes, the
+ radical, to form a good dark object in the distance." In this way the
+ evening passed off very pleasantly. Our friend had made the object of our
+ visit to the Bowling Alley known to some few of his intimates,
+ circumstance that I have no doubt rather operated to prevent a display of
+ some of those good-humoured eccentricities with which it is not
+ unfrequently marked. Upon my return to town, I received a farewell ode
+ from my Spirit in the Clouds, evidently written under a misconception that
+ the English Spy was about to withdraw himself for a time, from his
+ sketches on men and manners, when in fact, although his labours will here
+ close with the completion of a Second Volume, his friends will find, that
+ he is most desirous of still engaging their attentions in a new form,
+ attended not only by all his former associates, but uniting in his train
+ the brightest and the merriest of all the choice Spirits of the Age.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2H_4_0015" id="Dlink2H_4_0015">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ BERNARD BLACKMANTLE TO HIS READERS.
+ </h2>
+ <p>
+ To prevent a misconception, and do himself justice, the author of the
+ English Spy feels it necessary to state, that in every instance the
+ subjects for the Plates illustrating this work have been furnished by his
+ pen, and not unfrequently, the rough ideas have <span class="pagenum">[338]</span>first
+ emanated from his own pencil; while he states this fact to prevent error,
+ he is most anxious to acknowledge the great assistance he has derived from
+ the inimitable humour and graphic skill in the execution of the designs,
+ by his friend Robert Transit.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0028" id="Dimage-0028">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page338.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page338 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dlink2H_4_0016" id="Dlink2H_4_0016">
+ <!-- H2 anchor --> </a>
+ </p>
+ <div style="height: 4em;">
+ <br /><br /><br />
+ </div>
+ <h2>
+ A SHORT ODE AT PARTING,
+ </h2>
+ <h3>
+ FROM HIS "SPIRIT IN THE CLOUDS"
+ </h3>
+ <p>
+ TO THE ENGLISH SPY. <span class="pagenum">[339]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Prospero. Now does my project gather to a head;
+ My charms crack not; my spirits obey:
+ &mdash;&mdash;How's the day?
+
+ Ariel. On the sixth hour; at which time, my lord,
+ You said our work should cease.
+
+ &mdash;Shakspkare's Tempest.
+
+ So fare you well; I have left you commands.
+ Ibid.&mdash;As you like it.
+
+ "'Tis true, and pity 'tis, 'tis true,"
+ That though on fairest winds we flew,
+ I in the clouds, beneath them you,
+ We still must parted be;
+
+ And that, e'en whilst the world still hung
+ On what you wrote, and what I sung,
+ Enamour'd of our double tongue,
+ Exits my Bernard B&mdash;&mdash;-.
+
+ Well, all great actors must have pause,
+ When toiling in a patriot cause,
+ And ere another scene he draws,
+ New characters to cast,
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[340]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ Secure of having played his part,
+ As nature dictates, from the heart,
+ 'Tis fair before another start,
+ He brush up from the last.
+
+ But how will humbugs of the age,
+ (I don't mean Mr. B.'s dull page,)
+ Crow that they scape satiric rage,
+ And get off in whole skins;
+
+ How will dramatic fools rejoice!
+ No more is heard great Bernard's voice,
+ And that, Heav'n knows, there is a choice,
+ Their flummery begins.{1}
+
+ But go your ways; it may be wise,
+ To let these puny, pestering flies
+ Buzz about people's ears and eyes,
+ A season or two longer;
+
+ There must be evil mixed with good,
+ A bottom to the clearest flood,
+ And let them stand where others stood,
+ Till shown who is the stronger.
+
+ Then, fortune-hunting squires of Bath,
+ Fine as the Burmese jewell'd Rath,{2}
+ Pray totter o'er your Bond-street path,
+ A respite short is yours.
+
+ 1 I speak of would-be actors (male and female), vain and
+ incompetent managers, flippant and unequal critics, puffed
+ and translating authors, in short, of all before and behind
+ the curtain who have injured, or may injuro, the legitimate
+ drama. Let the theatres, like our trade, be free, and
+ monopoly thrive not, and for their success the Spirit will
+ ever pray; at present, it is "a mad world, my masters;" and
+ I am afraid Mr. Rayner with his long and set speeches, as
+ chairman of Thomas's Shakspeareans, will not mend the
+ matter. We note this to him in a friendly way; seeing, that
+ he is a worthy fellow, and a clever Caliban, and really
+ loves Shakspeare next to Newmarket and Doncaster.
+
+ 2 The Burmese carriage is certainly a curious machine
+ of Indian workmanship; but it is, we should fancy, mere
+ outside&mdash;fine to look at, but a "rum one to go," like the
+ be-togged, be-booted, be-spurred, furred, and cloaked half
+ pays, fortune-hunters, gentlemen with the brogue, &amp;c. that
+ pay their court so assiduously to Mrs. Dolland's cheesecakes
+ and Mr. Heaviside's quadrilles. But the world is often
+ ornament caught.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[341]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ And daughter-selling mothers, still
+ Lure the young boys, their eyes may kill,
+ To wed your flesh and blood, and fill
+ Your purse, and pay your tours.
+
+ Ye London blacks, ye Cheltenham whites,{3}
+ Ye turners of the days to nights,
+ Make, make the most of all your flights,
+ Whilst I and Bernard doze;
+
+ But still be sure, by this same token,
+ We still shall sleep with one eye open{4}
+ And the first hour our nap is broken,
+ You'll pay for't through the nose.
+
+ 3 There are indeed "black spirits and white spirits" of all
+ sorts and sizes, at all times and places; and a well-cut
+ coat and a white satin dress are frequently equally
+ dangerous glossings to frail and cunning mortality within.
+ To be sure, we have brought down the "tainted wethers of
+ dame Nature's flock" with the double barrels of wit and
+ satire, right and left; but like mushrooms or mole-hills,
+ they are a breeding, increasing species, and it will be only
+ a real battue of sharp-shooting that will destroy the
+ coveys. Nevertheless,
+
+ "I have a rod in pickle,
+ Their&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;"
+
+ I declare the Spirit is growing earthly.
+
+ 4 The Bristol men "down along," sleep, they say, in this way
+ and hence is it rare for Jew or Gentile, Turk or infidel, to
+ get the blind side of them. Some of them, however, have ere
+ now been done brown, and that too by being too fanciful and
+ neat in their likings. These tales of the sleepers of an
+ eye are too good to be lost; they shall be bound up in the
+ volume of my brain, hereafter to be perused with advantage.
+ At present,
+
+ "I hear a voice thou canst not hear;
+ I see a hand thou canst not see;
+ It calls to me from yonder sphere,
+ It points to where my brethren be."
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[342]</span>
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+ When that time comes, and come it must,
+ For what we say is not pie-crust,
+ To yield to every trifling thrust,
+ England shall see some fun.
+
+ Like "eagles in a dove-cote," we
+ Both rooks and pigeons will make flee,
+ Whilst every cashless company
+ Shall, laugh'd at, "cut and run."
+
+ Thus telling painted folly's sect,
+ What they're to look to, what expect,
+ My farewell words I now direct
+ To thee, migrating Spy;
+
+ That done, deliver'd all commands,
+ I man a cloud-ship with brave hands,
+ And sail to (quitting mortal lands),
+ My parlour in the sky.
+
+ Bernard, farewell; may rosy health
+ Companion'd by that cherub wealth,
+ Be constant to you, like myself,
+ Your own departing spirit.
+
+ Not that you're going to die; no, no,
+ You'll only take a nap or so;
+ But yet I wish you, 'fore you go,
+ These blessings to inherit.
+
+ Bernard, farewell; pray think of me,
+ When you ride earth, or cross the sea;
+ On both, you know, I've been with thee,
+ And sung some pretty things;
+
+ Great Spy, farewell; when next you rise
+ To make of fools a sacrifice,
+ You'll hear, down-cleaving from the skies,
+ The rustle of my wings.
+
+ January, 1826.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ <span class="pagenum">[343]</span>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Bernard Blackmantle and Bob Transit,
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <a name="Dimage-0029" id="Dimage-0029">
+ <!-- IMG --></a>
+ </p>
+ <div class="fig">
+ <img src="images2/page343.jpg" width="100%" alt="Page343 " />
+ </div>
+ <p>
+ THE END. <br /> <br />
+ </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+
+
+
+
+
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