Real Life In London, Volumes I. and II.
Anxiety and anticipation were almost exhausted, and had nearly given
place to despondency, when about three o'clock the extraordinary bustle
on shore announced the certainty of the expected event being about to
take place; and in about half an hour after, they were gratified by
seeing his Majesty descend the steps of the Hospital, attended by the
noblemen, &c. under a royal salute, and rowed to the vessel prepared to
receive him. The royal standard was immediately hoisted, and away sailed
the King, amidst the heartfelt congratulations and good wishes of his
affectionate and loyal people, the firing of cannon, the ringing of
bells, and every other demonstration of a lively interest in his safety
and welfare: leaving many to conjecture the feelings with which the
heart must be impressed of a person so honoured and attended, we shall
select a few descriptive lines from the pen of a literary gentleman,
in his opinion the most likely to be expressive of the sentiments
entertained on the occasion.
ROYAL RECOLLECTIONS.
As slow the yacht her northern track
Against the wind was cleaving;
Her noble Master oft look'd back,
To that dear spot 'twas leaving:
So loth to part from her he loves,
From those fair charms that bind him;
He turns his eye where'er he roves,
To her he's left behind him.
When, round the bowl, of other dears
He talks, with joyous seeming,
His smiles resemble vapourish tears,
So faint, so sad their beaming;
While memory brings him back again,
Each early tie that twin'd him,
How sweet's the cup that circles then,
To her he's left behind him.
Ah! should our noble master meet
Some Highland lass enchanting,
With looks all buxom, wild, and sweet,
Yet love would still be wanting;
He'd think how great had been his bliss
If heav'n had but assign'd him,
To live and die so pure as this,
With her he's left behind him.
As travelers oft look back at eve,
When eastward darkly going,
To gaze upon that light they leave,
Still faint behind them glowing.
So, ere he's been a month away,
At home we sure shall find him,
For he can never longer stay,
From her he's left behind him.
The gay assemblage before them, and the ceremony of the embarkation, the
sound of music, and the shouts of the populace, and animated appearance
of the river, which by this time seemed all in motion, amply repaid our
friends for the time they had waited; and after watching the departure
of the Royal Squadron, they returned to town; and as they passed the
London Docks, it occurred to the mind of the Hon. Tom Dashall, that his
Cousin had not yet paid a visit to these highly interesting productions
of human genius; and it was agreed that a day should be devoted to their
inspection before his departure from the Metropolis.
CHAPTER XXIX
----Where has Commerce such a mart,
So rich, so throng'd, so drained, and so supplied,
As London; opulent, enlarged, and still
Increasing London? Babylon of old
Not more the glory of the earth, than she;
A more accomplish'd world's chief glory now.
~~383~~~
According to arrangements previously made, our friends met in the
morning with a determination to shape their course eastward, in order to
take a survey of the Commercial Docks for the accommodation of shipping,
and the furtherance of trade; and the carriage being ordered, they were
quickly on their way towards Blackwall.
“The Docks of the Port of London,” said the Hon. Tom Dashall, “are of
the highest importance in a commercial point of view, and are among the
prominent curiosities of British Commerce, as they greatly facilitate
trade, and afford additional security to the merchants.”
“Yes,” said Sparkle, “and it is to be presumed, no small profit to the
share-holders of the Companies by which they were established; but I
expect your Cousin will derive more gratification from a sight of the
places themselves, than from any description we can give, and the
time to explain will be when we arrive on the spot; for it is scarcely
possible for any one to conceive the immensity of buildings they
contain, or the regularity with which the business is carried on.--” How
do ye do?” (thrusting his head out of the window, and moving his hand
with graceful familiarity,)--“I have not seen Sir Frederick since my
matrimonial trip, and now he has passed by on horseback I really believe
without seeing me; Dashall, you remember Sir Frederick Forcewit?”
“Perfectly well,” replied Tom; “but I was paying so much attention to
you, that I did not notice him. The liveliest fellow, except yourself,
in the whole round of my acquaintance.”
~~384~~~ “And you are one of the best I ever met with to gain a point by
a good turn; but take it, and make the most you can of it--I may have an
opportunity of paying you off in your own coin.”
Tallyho laughed heartily at the manner in which Sparkle had altogether
changed the conversation, but could not help remarking that Sir
Frederick had not given a specimen of his politeness, by avoiding a
return of Sparkle's salutation.
“And yet,” continued Sparkle, “he is one of the most polished men I
know, notwithstanding I think his upper story is not a bit too well
furnished: he has a handsome fortune, and a pretty wife, who would
indeed be a lovely woman, but for an affectation of manners which she
assumed upon coming to the title of Lady Forcewit: their parties are of
the most dashing order, and all the rank and fashion of the metropolis
visit their mansion.”
Sparkle, who was in his usual humour for conversation and description,
now entertained his friends with the following account of a party with
whom he had spent an evening just previous to his departure from town.
“Mrs. Stepswift is the widow lady of a dancing-master, who having
acquired some little property previous to his decease, left his partner
in possession of his wealth and two daughters, though the provision for
their education and support was but scanty. The mother had the good luck
a few years after to add to her stock ten thousand pounds by a prize in
the lottery, a circumstance which afforded her additional opportunities
of indulging her passion for dress, which she did not fail to inculcate
in her daughters, who, though not handsome, were rather pleasing and
agreeable girls; and since the good fortune to which I have alluded, she
has usually given a ball by way of introduction to company, and with the
probable view, (as they are now marriageable), to secure them husbands.
It was on one of these occasions that I was invited, and as I knew
but one of the party, I had an excellent opportunity of making my
uninterrupted remarks.”
“Then,” said Dashall, “I'll wager my life you acted the part of an
observant quiz.”
“And I should think you would be likely to win,” observed Tallyho.
~~385~~~ “I am bound to consider myself obliged,” continued Sparkle,
“for the bold construction you are kind enough to put upon my character
and conduct by your observations; but never mind, I am not to be
intimidated by the firing of a pop-gun, or a flash in the pan, therefore
I shall proceed. Upon my introduction I found the widow playing a rubber
with a punchy parson, a lean doctor, and a half-pay officer in the
Guards; and consequently taking a friend I knew by the arm, I strolled
through the rooms, which were spacious and well furnished. In the
ball-room I found numerous couples 'tripping it on the light fantastic
toe,' to the tune of 'I'll gang no more to yon town,' and displaying
a very considerable portion of grace and agility. In the other room
devoted to refreshments and cards, I met with several strollers like
myself, who being without partners, or not choosing to dance with such
as they could obtain, were lounging away their time near the centre of
the room. I was introduced to the two young ladies, who behaved with the
utmost politeness and attention, though I could easily perceive there
was a considerable portion of affectation mingled with their manners;
and I soon discovered that they operated as the load-stone of attraction
to several dandy-like beaux who were continually flocking around them.
'“My dear Miss Eliza,' said a pug-nosed dandy, whom I afterwards
understood to be a jeweller's shopman, 'may I be allowed the superlative
honor and happiness of attending you down the next dance?' The manner in
which this was spoken, with a drawling lisp, and the unmeaning attitude
of the speaker, which was any thing but natural, provoked my risibility
almost beyond forbearance; his bushy head, the fall of his cape, and the
awkward stick-out of his coat, which was buttoned tight round his waist;
the drop of his quizzing glass from his bosom, and the opera hat in his
hand, formed altogether as curious a figure as I ever recollect to have
seen; though my eyes were immediately directed to another almost as
grotesque, by the young lady herself, who informed the applicant that
she had engaged herself with Captain Scrambleton, and could not avail
herself of his intended honor; while the captain himself, with a mincing
gait, little compatible with the line of life to which it was to be
presumed he was attached, was advancing and eyeing the would-be rival
with all the apparent accuracy of a military scrutiny. The contrast of
the two figures is ~~386~~~ inconceivable--the supplicating beau on the
one hand, half double, in the attitude of solicitation, and the upright
position of the exquisite militaire, casting a suspicious look of
self-importance on the other, were irresistible. I was obliged to turn
on one side to prevent discovering my impulse to laughter. The captain,
I have since learned, turned out to be a broken-down blackleg, seeking
to patch up a diminished fortune by a matrimonial alliance, in which he
was only foiled by a discovery just time enough to prevent his design
upon Miss Eliza.”
“Mere butterflies,” exclaimed Dashall, “that flutter for a time in
sunshine with golden wings, to entrap attention, while the rays
fall upon them, and then are seen no more! but I always like your
descriptions, although you are usually severe.”
“As soon as I could recover my solemnity, 1 tound a little gentleman,
who reminded me strongly of cunning little Isaac in the Duenna,
advancing towards Miss Amelia with true dancing-master-like precision.
I soon discovered, by her holding up her fan at his approach, that
she held him in utter aversion, and found he received a reply very
derogatory to his wishes; when stepping up to her by the introduction of
my friend, I succeeded m obtaining her hand for the dance, to the great
mortification and discomfiture of Mr. O'Liltwell, who was no other than
an Irish dancing-master in miniature. There is always room enough for
observation and conjecture upon such occasions. There were, however,
other characters in the rooms more particularly deserving of notice.
In one corner I found Lord Anundrum, the ex-amateur director, m close
conversation with Mr. Splitlungs, a great tragedian, and Tom Little,
the great poet, on the subject of a new piece written by the latter,
and presented for acceptance to the former by. Mr. Splitlungs, the
intermediate friend of both. I discovered the title of this master-piece
of dramatic literature to be no other than 'The Methodical Madman, or
Bedlam besieged.' A little further on sat Dr. Staggerwit, who passes
for a universal genius: he is a great chemist, and a still greater