Percival Leigh

“ Here I thought to hale her at once by Force away; but seeing a stout middle-aged Gentleman doing the very Thing, and how mean it looked, did forbear; and in the Meanwhile the Shopman did beg, as he said, to tempt her with a superior Assortment of Ribbons. She rummaging over this Frippery, I to gaze about the Shop, and with Fellow-Feeling did mark an unhappy small Boy, while his Mother was comparing some three-score different Pieces of Satin, perched on a Stool, out of Patience. My Wife would have 5s. ”

“ But much as the Servants resembled Zanies and Harlequins, yet did some of their Masters look not much better; being dressed in a Court Suit, which methinks do make a Gentleman seem a sort of embroidered Quaker. ”

“ But the splendid Carriages painted with Coats of Arms, and the stately caparisoned Horses, did make a rare Show; and among them mighty droll to mark the Hack Cabs that were not suffered to enter at the Palace Gate; so the Fares had to alight and walk on Foot the Rest of the Way to the Drawing-Room: and so into the Presence of Her Majesty in dirty Boots: which, now I bethink me, was not seemly; the rather as many of them are Half Pay Officers, and other poor but loyal Subjects, who could afford no better than a Cab. ”

“ Skitt do call Baits, and a Draper's Shop a Lady-Trap. Presently fhe recollected that she wanted a Collar; so we into the Shop, where some sixty or eighty Ladies fitting before the Counters, examining the Wares, busy as Blue-Bottle Flies at a Sugar Cask. Behind the Counters the Shopmen and Assistants, showing off the Goods, and themselves also, with mighty dainty Airs, every one of them, almost, Narcissus his Image. But I fear me they owe their pale delicate Looks and languid Ways in Part to the Want of sufficient Air and Exercise; which is a sad Consideration. ”

“ Methought how jolly these fine People must be, and how happy they looked compared to a Beggar Boy whom I did spy squatting on the Grass: yet no Doubt many of them have Troubles enough, and some may be even short of Cash to pay for their Vanities. ”

“ This is why they do keep up a Nuisance which did well nigh poison me; though one of them at a Meeting did declare that he thought Smithfield salubrious, and did send his Children to walk there for Change of Air, which if it were for the better, methinks that Gentleman's Dwelling-House should be a sweet Abode. All but the Citizens do say that Parliament ought to abolish this Nuisance ”

“ Then there were the Guards, in full Uniform on Horseback, with their Helmets on their Heads and their Swords drawn, about one under each Lamp Post, mounting Guard, very warlike to look upon, and I believe this is the heaviest Part of their Duty. ”

“ TO-NIGHT to an Evening Party with my Wife, to Sir Hilary Jinks's, whereunto we had been bidden to come at 10 of the Clock; for Sir Hilary and her Ladyship have taken to keeping rare Hours. Thereat was a goodly Company of about an hundred, and the Women all very fine, my Wife being in her last Year's Gown, which I am tired of, and do hate to see. We did fall to dancing Quadrilles, wherein I made one, and had for my Partner a pretty little black Damsel, whom after the Dance was ended, did hand to a Sofa, and thereon sit me by her Side ”