THE SMALL-COAL MAN.

By J. P. Esq.

Ye Buffer boys and varmint blades,
Vot follows up no rig'lar trades,

Who d'ye think ve've got to head our clan?
Vy, the prime North-country Small-coal Man!
He'll floor them nosing Beaks, I'm sure,
As makes cramp laws to hang the poor;
Fair-play for prigs, grab who grab can,
Vill be the go, with the Small-coal Man.

He ben't so big as you nor I,

But narr'un holds his conk so high;
He makes the most of his self he can,
For a tip-top swell is the Small-coal Man!
He stands no one to put on he,

For he likes to be King of his company;
He'll sport top-sawyer whenever he can,
For he's cock-a-dandy, of a Small-coal Man.

His togs and prads are of the best,
And a prime sheep's head is his varlike crest,
And that shews pluck—if not, vot can?
I twigs the dewice of the Small-coal Man.
"All right," and "no mistake," says I,
"In such like prog as all can buy,
Each cat's-meat cove will join our van,
And follow the crest of the Small-coal Man."

He says as how, ven he gets controul,
He'll make all things dog-cheap-but coal-
And "gin shall flow in each man's can,"
Says my prime little trump of a Small-coal Man.

My eyes! vot precious times for ve,
Ve'll swig all day, and ve'll live rent-free;
Ve'll make them Lords eat husks and bran,
And kiss the great toe of the Small-coal Man.

Some don't admire his mug and snout-
Give me the colour vot vont vear out;
A mixture strong, of the black and tan,
Is the varmint mug of my Small-coal Man.
Sing hip! hurrah! for my Small-coal Man,
My nice little nasty-faced Small-coal Man ;
The golden flag that decks our van,

Is the yellow mug of my Small-coal Man.

Your Carbonaro takes delight,

To pull down Kings, and to set all right,
And in vot they call Ne-a-pol-i-tan,
I'm told it means "a Small-coal Man."
Now, that e'er suits for a good flash name,
To be in every tongue the same,
That all who's up to Spence's plan,
May pass the word for the Small-coal Man.

"'Tis right down gammon all," says he,
To pretend big vigs knows more than ve,"
So each shall be free to start his plan,

Ven ve gets up our Small-coal Man.

Then hip! hurrah! for the Small-coal Man,
My out, and outer, Small-coal Man-

Oh! he's just the lad for Swing, or Dan,

66

He'll go the whole hog," vill the Small-coal Man.

J. P.

THE RAMSBOTTOM LETTERS.

WE cannot introduce this interesting and valuable collection better than by the following extract from Bull's "Fashionable Intelligence, furnished exclusively by our own reporter" (April 7, 1822), to which, indeed, the correspondence appears altogether to have owed its origin.

On Thursday last, Mrs. Ramsbottom, of Puddinglane, opened her house to a numerous party of her friends. The drawing-room over the compting-house, and the small closet upon the stairs, were illuminated in a most tasteful manner, and Mr. Ramsbottom's own room was appropriated to card-tables, where allfours and cribbage were the order of the night. Several pounds were won and lost.

The shop was handsomely fitted up for quadrilles, which began as soon as it was dark; the rooms being lighted with an abundance of patent lamps, and decorated with artificial flowers. The first quadrille was danced by

Mr. Simpson Jun. and Miss Ramsbottom.

At half-past ten the supper-room was thrown open, and presented to the admiring eyes of the company a most elegant and substantial hot repast. The mackarel and fennel-sauce were particularly noticed, as were the boiled legs of lamb and spinach; and we cannot sufficiently praise the celerity with which the ham and sausages were removed, as the respectable families of the Jewish persuasion entered the room. The port and sherry were of the first quality.-Supper lasted till about a quarter past two, when dancing was resumed, and continued till Sol warned the festive party to disperse.

The dresses of the company were remarkably elegant. Mrs. Ramsbottom was simply attired in a peagreen satin dress, looped up with crimson cord and tassels, with a bright yellow silk turban and hair to match; a magnificent French watch, chain and seals, were suspended from her left side, and her neck was adorned with a very elegant row of full-sized sky-blue beads, pendant to which was a handsome miniature of Mr. Ramsbottom, in the costume of a corporal in the Limehouse Volunteers, of which corps he was justly considered the brightest ornament.

The Misses Ramsbottom were dressed alike, in sky-blue dresses, trimmed with white bugles, blue bead necklaces, and ear-rings en suite. We never saw a more pleasing exhibition of female beauty, the sylph-like forms of the three youngest, contrasted

with the high-conditioned elegance of the two eldest, formed a pleasing variety; while the uniform appearance of the family red hair, set off by the cerulean glow of the drapery, gave a sympathetic sameness to the group, which could not fail to be interesting to the admirers of domestic happiness.

The Misses Solomons attracted particular notice, as did the fascinating Miss Louisa Doddell; and the lovely Miss Hogsflesh delighted the company after supper with the plaintive air of "Nobody coming to marry me;" Mr. Stubbs and Mr. J. Stubbs, sang "All's well," with great effect, and Mr. Doddell and his accomplished sister were rapturously encored in the duet of "Oh Nanny wilt thou gang wi' me."

Among the company we noticed

Mistresses Dawes, Bumstead, &c.; Misses Hall, Ball, Small, Wall, &c.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, Lady Morgan, Mr. Ex-Sheriff Parkins, Sir Robert Wilson, and General Pepe, were expected, but did not come.

MY DEAR MR. B.

LETTER I.

Paris, Dec. 10, 1823.

The kindness with which you put in the account of our party last year, induces my mamma to desire me to write to you again, to know if you would like to insert a journal of her travels.

My papa has retired from business: he has left the shop in the Minories, and has taken a house in Montague