people, the wretched, helpless, doating, credulous, meddlesome people, who are always ready to lick the hands, not just then raised to shed their blood or rivet on their chains. There was here an idol to pull down, and an idol to set up. There was an imperial title and meretricious frontispiece to the spurious volume of Liberty. There was the mock-majesty of an empty throne behind the real one, and the impertinence of mankind was interested to thrust the unwelcome claimant into it., City patriots stood a chance of becoming liege men, and true to a Queen of their own choosing. The spirit of faction was, half merged in the spirit of servility. There was a rag-fair of royalty every one carried his own paints and patches into the presence of the new Lady of Loretto-there was a sense of homage due, of services and countenance bestowed on Majesty. This popular farce had all the charm of private theatricals. The Court of St. James's was nothing to the make-believe Court at Kew. The King was a sort of state-fixture; but the Queen-Consort, the favourite of the rabble, was, herself one of them. The presence-doors were flung open, and every blackguard and blockhead rushed in, What an opportunity to see, to hear, to touch a Queen! To gratify the itch of loyalty by coming in contact with the person of the Sovereign was a privilege reserved for a few; but to receive this favour at the Queen's hands was a distinction common to all! All the trades of London came to kiss the Queen's hand; Presby-. terian parsons knelt to kiss the hands of their royal mistress; the daughters of country curates and of city knights sipped loyalty from the back of her Majesty's hand. Radicals and reformers contended who should be foremost in paying homage to the Queen; there was a race for precedence, quarrelling and pulling of caps between the wives of distinguished orators and caricaturists, at the very footsteps of the throne; while Mr. Alderman Wood, * A "A gentle Husher, Vanity by name," strove to keep the peace, and vindicate the character of civic dames for courtly manners. Mr. Place, Mr. Hone, Mr. Thelwall, Sir Richard Phillips, kissed her Majesty's hand; Mr. Cobbett alone was not invited, it was thought he might bite. What a pity that it was before Mr. Irving's time, or he might have thrown in the casting-weight of his perfect mind and body, and ousted both the King and Bergami! In the midst of all this, his Majesty went to the play, bowed to the boxes, the pit, the gallery, and to the actors, and you would suppose in four days' time, that a whisper had never been uttered to imply that the King not only was not the most graceful man in his dominions, but the best of monarchs and of husbands. The Queen and her pic-nic parties were no more thought of. What a scene for history to laugh at! We have heard it bitterly lamented by persons whose interest it is that it should be otherwise, that the dress of the male nobility and gentry of England was never so poor and pretensionless as at present. We are disposed to agree with the remark in their sense of richness, * This is bien trouvé, but not quite correct.-ED. magnificence, and fancy; and have reason to believe that it is applicable to Europe generally, setting aside military finery, and the extra- ́ vagant and tasteless decoration thereunto appertaining. In the days of Elizabeth and James, however, strange to say, we were thought even to give the French the go-by, in the article of dress, especially as to expensiveness. At the coronation of James I. there was a knight whose cloak cost him 5001. of the then currency; and at the marriage of Elizabeth, daughter of James I. Lady Wotten had a gown, of which the embroidery was valued at 501. a yard. The Lady Arabella Stuart had four gowns, which cost 15001. and the wardrobe of Elizabeth, for richness and variety, is proverbial. Sir Walter Raleigh (a proof that a penchant for personal decoration is not an uniform proof of weakness) was especially noted for the magnificence of his apparel. There is a remarkable picture of this worthy, which will serve to convey an idea of the gaiety and splendour of his dress. It is a white satin pinked vest, close-sleeved to the wrist; over the body a brown doublet, finely flowered and embroidered with pearl. In the feather of his hat a large ruby and pearl drop at the bottom of the sprig, in place of a button his trunk or breeches, with his stockings and ribbon garters, fringed at the end, all white, and buff shoes with white ribbon. On great court days, Raleigh's shoes were so gorgeously covered with precious stones, as to have exceeded the value of 66001. He had also a suit of armour of solid silver, with sword and belt blazing with diamonds, rubies, and pearls, whose value was not easily calculated. We know of nothing to equal this, except Prince Esterhazy and his diamond-covered coat. "But fools rush on, where angels fear to tread."We never read a finer illustration of the occasional happy confidence of ignorance, than the following anecdote of Cheselden:-" This celebrated surgeon, going into an obscure country town, found a blacksmith, who, with the best intention and the utmost confidence, was in the habit of performing the operation for extracting the cataract. Pleased with his talents, Mr. C. took pains to instruct him; and at a subsequent period enquiring what had been his success, the man replied, "Ah, Sir, you spoiled my trade; for after you explained to me what I had been doing, I never dared try again. A "Constant Reader" is informed, that there will be a Title-page and Index to the LITERARY EXAMINER for the half-year ending with December. LONDON:-Published by HENRY L. HUNT, 38, Tavistock-street, Covent-garden, and 22, Old Bond-street. Price Fourpence; or, if stamped for country circulation free of postage, Sevenpence. Sold all Booksellers and Newsvenders in town; and by the following Agents in the countryall WE supplied last week a description of the country mansion of the noble pair to whom Don Juan became a guest; we now proceed to a brief sketch of the company of which he formed a part: The noble guests, assembled at the Abbey, The Duches of Fitz-Fulke; the Countess Crabbeya bug Miss Bombazeen, Miss Mackstay, Miss O'Tabby, y la loopa Also the Honourable Mrs. Sleep, Who look'd a white lamb, yet was a black-sheep. A mob of women of quality are then given collectively, which leads to a few brief observations on the points of female character which approaches the verge of admissibility to well-bred circles: The poet is of opinion that " appearances" form the joint on which things hinge in the celestial regions of high rank, although after all there is much uncertainty :— I can't exactly trace their rule of right, Also a So-So Matron boldly fight Her way back to the world by dint of plottery, And shine the very Siria of the spheres, Escaping with a few slight, scarless sneers. 声 This point dispatched, the author goes on with the description of the guests: VOL. I. I have seen more than I'll say :--but we will see The party might consist of thirty three Of highest caste-the Brahmins of the ton. 21 J There was Parolles too, the legal bully, And senate: when invited elsewhere, truly, He shows more appetite for words than war. * There was Lord Pyrrho too, the great freethinker; There was the Duke of Dash, who was a a-duke, Aye, every inch a" duke; there were twelve peers. There were the six Miss Rawbolds-pretty dears! There were four Honourable Misters, whose Honour was more before their names than after મ Whom France and Fortune lately deigir'd to waft here, But the clubs found it rather serious laughter, Sir Henry Silvercup, the great race-winner. Who did not hate so much the sin as sinner; There was Jack Jargon the gigantic guardsman; A great tactician, and no less a swordsman, Who ate, last war, more Yankees than he kill'd. There was the waggish Welch Judge, Jefferies Hardsman, In his grave office so completely skill'd, That when a culprit came for condemnation, The following sketch is of very general recognition: I had forgotten-but must not forget- Smooth speech, his first and maidenly transgression With this debut, which made a strong impression, And rank'd with what is every day display'd "The best first speech that ever yet was made.". Proud of his "Hear hims!" proud too of his vote Proud of his learning (just enough to quote);、 With memory excellent to get by rote, With wit to hatech a pun or tell a story, Graced with some merit and with more effrontery, 27 ,ch “His Country's pride," he came down to the country. Does Lord Byron deal in generalities or individualization, in the subsequent pair of portraits 2 There also were two wits by acclamation, i Longbow from Ireland, Strongbow from the Tweed, “ Both lawyers and both men of education 3.1 a 19 With which the winds of heaven can claim accord, Of Strongbow's talk you would not change a word; As to the mode of spending time: Though nameless in our language:-we retort Or on the morning papers read their lectures, We, of course, must extract an equal quantity in description of the female arrangements: The ladies some rouged, some a little pale Met the morn as they might. In fine, they rode, A The following quip at old Isaac Walton will mightily enrage the quiet and sapient association of anglers: Then there were billiards; cards too, but no dice;- Boats when 'twas water, skaiting when 'twas ice, And angling too, that solitary vice, Whatever Isaac Walton sings or says! |