No lady upon earth, continued my visionary correspondent, knew how to put off her damaged wine or women with more art than she. When these grew flat, or those paltry, it was but changing the names; the wine became excellent, and the girls agreeable. She was also possessed of the engaging leer, the chuck under the chin, winked at a double-entendre, could nick the opportunity of calling for something comfortable, and perfectly understood the discreet moments when to withdraw. The gallants of these times pretty much resembled the bloods of ours; they were fond of pleasure, but quite ignorant of the art of refining upon it: thus a court-bawd of those times resembled the common lowlived harridan of a modern bagnio. Witness, ye powers of debauchery, how often I have been present at the various appearances of drunkenness, riot, guilt, and brutality! A tavern is the true picture of human infirmity: in history we find only one side of the age exhibited to our view; but in the accounts of a tavern we see every age equally absurd and equally vicious.

Upon this lady's decease the tavern was successively occupied by adventurers, bullies, pimps, and gamesters. Towards the conclusion of the reign of Henry VII. gaming was more universally practised in England than even now. Kings themselves have been known to play off at Primero, not only all the money and jewels they could part with, but the very images in churches. The last Henry played away, in this very room, not only the four great bells of St. Paul's cathedral, but the fine image of St. Paul, which stood upon the top of the spire, to Sir Miles Partridge, who took them down the next day, and sold them by auction. Have you then any cause to regret being born in the times you now live? or do you still believe that human nature continues to run on declining every age? If we observe the ac

tions

tious of the busy part of mankind, your ancestors will be found infinitely more gross, servile, and even dishonest, than you. If, forsaking history, we only trace them in their hours of amusement and dissipation, we shall find them more sensual, more entirely devoted to pleasure, and infinitely more selfish.

The last hostess of note I find upon record was Jane Rouse. She was born among the lower ranks of the people; and by frugality and extreme complaisance contrived to acquire a moderate fortune: this she might have enjoyed for many years, had she not unfortunately quarrelled with one of her neighbours, a woman who was in high repute for sanctity through the whole parish. In the times of which I speak two women seldom quarrelled, that one did not accuse the other of witchcraft, and she who first contrived to vomit crooked pins was sure to come off victorious. The scandal of a modern tea-table differs widely from the scandal of former times: the fascination of a lady's eyes at present is regarded as a compliment; but if a lady formerly should be accused of having witchcraft in her eyes, it were much better both for her soul and body that she had no. eyes at all.

In short Jane Rouse was accused of witchcraft; and though she made the best defence she could, it was all to no purpose; she was taken from her own bar to the bar of the Old-Bailey, condemned, and executed accordingly. These were times indeed! when even women could not scold in safety.

Since her time the tavern underwent several revolutions, according to the spirit of the times, or the disposition of the reigning monarch. It was this day a brothel, and the next a conventicle for enthusiasts. It was one year noted for harbouring whigs, and the next infamous for a retreat to tories. Some years ago it was in high vogue, but at present it seems declining.

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declining. This only may be remarked in general, that whenever taverns flourish most, the times are then most extravagant and luxurious." Lord! "Mrs. Quickly," interrupted I, “ you have really "deceived me; I expected a romance, and here you have been this half hour giving me only a de"scription of the spirit of the times: if you have 66 nothing but tedious remarks to communicate, seek some other hearer; I am determined to hearken "only to stories."

I had scarcely concluded, when my eyes and ears seemed open to my landlord, who had been all this while giving me an account of the repairs he had made in the house; and was now got into the story of the cracked glass in the dining-room.

ESSAY VI.

I AM fond of amusement in whatever company it is to be found; and wit, though dressed in rags, is ever pleasing to me. I went some days ago to take a walk in St. James's Park, about the hour in which company leave it to go to dinner. There were but few in the walks, and those who stayed seemed by their looks rather more willing to forget that they had an appetite than gain one. I sat down on one of the benches, at the other end of which was seated a man in very shabby clothes.

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We continued to groan, to hem, and to cough, as usual upon such occasions; and at last ventured upon conversation. "I beg pardon, sir," cried I, "but I think I have seen you before; your face is "familiar to me." "Yes, sir," replied he, "I have "a good familiar face, as my friends tell me.

I am

as

"as well known in every town in England as the "dromedary, or live crocodile. You must under"stand, sir, that I have been these sixteen years "Merry Andrew to a puppet-show; last Bartholo66 mew fair my master and I quarrelled, beat each "other, and parted; he to sell his puppets to the "pincushion-makers in Rosemary-lane, and I to "starve in St. James's Park."

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"I am sorry, sir, that a person of your appear"ance should labour under any difficulties." "O "sir," returned he, " my appearance is very much. "at your service; but, though I cannot boast of "eating much, yet there are few that are merrier: "if I had twenty thousand a year I should be very "merry; and, thank the Fates, though not worth a groat, I am very merry still. If I have three pence in my pocket, I never refused to be my "three halfpence; and if I have no money, I never 66 scorn to be treated by any that are kind enough "to pay my reckoning. What think you, sir, of a "steak and a tankard? You shall treat me now; " and I will treat you again when I find you in the "Park in love with eating, and without money to "pay for a dinner."

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As I never refuse a small expense for the sake of a merry companion, we instantly adjourned to a neighbouring ale-house, and in a few moments had a frothing tankard, and a smoaking steak spread on the table before us. It is impossible to express how much the sight of such good cheer improved my companion's vivacity. "I like this dinner, sir," says he,

for three reasons: first, because I am naturally "fond of beef; secondly, because I am hungry; ❝and, thirdly and lastly, because I get it for no"thing: no meat eats so sweet as that for which we "do not pay."

He

He therefore now fell-to, and his appetite seemed to correspond with his inclination. After dinner was over, he observed that the steak was tough; "and yet, sir," returns he, "bad as it was, it "seemed a rump-steak to me. O the delights of

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poverty and a good appetite! We beggars are the "very foundlings of nature; the rich she treats like an arrant step-mother; they are pleased with nothing; cut a steak from what part you will, and "it is insupportably tough; dress it up with pickles, "and even pickles cannot procure them an appetite. "But the whole creation is filled with good things "for the beggar; Calvert's butt cut-tastes Cham"pagne, and Sedgeley's home-brewed excels Tokay. "Joy, joy, my blood, though our estates lie no "where, we have fortunes wherever we go. If an " inundation sweeps away half the grounds of Corn"wall, I am content; I have no lands there: if the "stocks sink, that gives me no uneasiness; I am no "Jew." The fellow's vivacity, joined to his poverty. I own, raised my curiosity to know something of his life and circumstances; and I entreated, that he would indulge my desire.-"That I will, sir," said he, " and welcome; only let us drink to prevent our sleeping; let us have another tankard while we "are awake; let us have another tankard; for, ah, "how charming a tankard looks when full!"

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"You must know then, that I am very well de"scended; my ancestors have made some noise in "the world; for my mother cried oysters and my "father beat a drum: I am told we have even had

some trumpeters in our family. Many a noble"man cannot show so respectful a genealogy; but "that is neither here nor there; as I was their only "child, my father designed to breed me up to his "own employment, which was that of a drummer "to a puppet-show. Thus the whole employment "of my younger years was that of interpreter to

"Punch