Sailors Carousing, or a Jollification on board the Piranga.
XV.
POINT STREET, PORTSMOUTH. 188
Chairing the Cockswain. British Tars and their Girls in
high Glee.
XVI.
EVENING AND IN HIGH SPIRITS, A SCENE AT
LONG'S HOTEL, BOND-STREET. 192
Well-known Roues and their Satellites. Portraits from the
Life, including the Pea Green Hayne, Tom Best, Lord W.
Lennox, Colonel Berkeley, Mr. Jackson, White Headed Bob,
Hudson the Tobacconist, John Long, &c. &c.
XVII.
MORNING, AND IN LOW SPIRITS, A LOCK UP
SCENE IN A SPONGING HOUSE, CAREY STREET.--
A BIT OF GOOD TRUTH. 206
For Particulars, see Work; or inquire of Fat Radford, the
Domini of the Domxts.
XVIII.
THE HOUSE OF LORDS IN HIGH DEBATE. 210
Sketched at the time when II. R. H. the Duke of York was
making his celebrated Speech upon the Catholic Question.
Portraits of the Dukes of York, Gloucester, Wellington, De-
vonshire, Marquesses of Anglesea and Hertford, Earls of Liver-
pool, Grey, Westmorland, Bathurst, Eldon, and Pomfret,
Lords Holland, King, Ellenborough, &c. &c. and the whole
Bench of Bishops.
XIX.
THE POINT OF HONOUR DECIDED; OR, THE LEADEN
ARGUMENTS OF A LOVE AFFAIR. 214
View in Hyde Park. Tom Echo engaged in an affair of
honour. A Chapter on Duelling.
XX.
THE GREAT SUBSCRIPTION ROOM AT BROOKES'S. 217
Opposition Members engaged upon Hazardous Points. Por-
traits of the Great and the Little well-known Parliamentary
Characters.
XXI.
THE EVENING IN THE CIRCULAR ROOM; OR, A
SQUEEZE AT CARLTON PALACE. 219
Exquisites and Elegantes making their way to the Presence
Chamber. Portraits of Stars of Note and Ton, Blue Ribands
and Red Ribands, Army and Navy.
XXII.
THE HIGH STREET, CHELTENHAM. 222
Well-known characters among the Chelts.
XXIII.
GOING OUT. 226
A View of Berkeley Hunt Kennel.
XXIV.
THE ROYAL WELLS AT CHELTENHAM; OR, SPAS-
MODIC AFFECTIONS FROM SPA WATERS. 245
Chronic Affections and Cramp Comicalities.
XXV.
THE BAG-MEN'S BANQUET. 248
A View of the Commercial Room at the Bell Inn, Chelten-
ham. Portraits of well-known Travellers.
XXVI.
THE OAKLAND COTTAGES, CHELTENHAM; OR, FOX
HUNTERS AND THEIR FAVOURITES, A TIT BIT,
DONE FROM THE LIFE. 268
Dedicated to the Members of the Berkeley Hunt.
XXVII.
DONCASTER RACE COURSE DURING THE GREAT
ST. LEGER RACE, 1825. 269
Well-known Heroes of the Turf. Legs and Loungers.
XXVIII.
THE COMICAL PROCESSION FROM GLOUCESTER
TO BERKELEY. 288
XXIX.
THE POST OFFICE, BRISTOL. 293
Arrival of the London Mail. Lots of News, and New
Characters. Portraits of well-known Bristolians.
XXX.
FANCY BALL AT THE UPPER ROOMS, BATH. 302
XXXI.
THE PUMP ROOM, BATH. 311
Visitors taking a sip with King Bladud.
XXXII.
THE OLD BEAU AND FALSE BELLE; OR, MR. B.
AND MISS L. 316
A Bath Story.
XXXIII.
THE PUBLIC BATHS AT BATH; OR, STEWING
ALIVE. 320
Bernard BlackmantlE and Bob Transit taking a Dip with
King Bladud. Union of the Sexes. Welsh Wigs and
Decency. No Swimming or Plunging allowed.
XXXIV.
MILSOM STREET AND BOND STREET, OR BATH
SWELLS. 326
Well-known Characters at the Court of King Bladud.
XXXV.
THE BUFF CLUB AT THE PIG AND WHISTLE,
AVON STREET, BATH. 332
A Bit of Real Life in the Territories of old King Bladud.
XXXVI.
THE BOWLING ALLEY AT WORCESTER; OR, THE
WELL-KNOWN CHARACTERS OF THE HAND AND
GLOVE CLUB. 335
ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD.
1. The Gate House, Highgate, Citizens toiling up the Hill
to the Sunday Ordinary 109
2. A Lame Duck waddling out of the Stock Exchange 139
3. The Dandy Candy Man, a Cheltenham Vignette 283
4. The Floating Harbour and Welsh Back, Bristol. 292
5. Bath Market-place, with Portraits of the celebrated
Orange Women 295
6. The Sporting Club at the Castle Tavern. Portraits of
Choice Spirits 300
7. The Battle of the Chairs 306
8. Vignette. Portraits of Blackmantle the English Spy,
and Transit 343
THE ENGLISH SPY.
Nor rank, nor order, nor condition,
Imperial, lowly, or patrician,
Shall, when they see this volume, cry,
"The satirist has pass'd us by:"
But, with good humour, view our page
Depict the manners of the age.
Vide Work.
INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND VOLUME.
BERNARD BLACKMANTLE TO THE PUBLIC.
"The Muse's office was by Heaven design'd
To please, improve, instruct, reform mankind."
--Churchill.
Readers!--friends, I may say, for your flattering support has enabled me
to continue my Sketches of Society to a second volume with that prospect
of advantage to all concerned which makes labour delightful--accept this
fresh offering of an eccentric, but grateful mind, to that shrine where
alone he feels he owes any submission--the tribunal of Public Opinion.
In starting for the goal of my ambition, the prize of your approbation,
I have purposely avoided the beaten track of other periodical
writers, choosing for my subjects scenes and characters of real
life, transactions of our own times, _characteristic, satirical, and
humorous_, confined to no particular place, and carefully avoiding every
thing like personal ill-nature or party feeling. My associates, the
Artists and Publishers, are not less anxious than myself to acknowledge
their gratitude; and we intend to prove, by our united endeavours, how
highly we appreciate the extensive patronage we have already obtained.
BERNARD BLACKMANTLE,
ODE, CONGRATULATORY AND ADVISIORY,
TO BERNARD BLACKMANTLE, ESQ.
ON THE COMPLETION OF HIS FIRST VOLUME OF THE SPY.
"I smell a rat."--Book of Common Parlance.
"More sinned against than sinning."--William Shakspeare.
"The very _Spy_ o' the time."--Ibid.
Well done, my lad, you've run on strong
Amidst the bustle of life's throng,
Nor thrown a _spavin_ yet;
You've gone at score, your pace has told;
I hope, my boy, your wind will hold--
You've others yet to fret.
You've told the town that you are _fly_
To cant, and rant, and trickery;
And that whene'er you doze,
Like Bristol men, you never keep
But one eye closed--so you can tweak
E'en then a scoundrel's nose.
Pull up, and rinse your mouth a bit;
It is hot work, this race of wit,
And sets the bellows piping;
Next Vol. you'll grind _the flats_ again,
And file the _sharps_ unto the grain,
Their very stomachs griping.
~6~~
But why, good Bernard, do you dream
That we Reviewers scorn the cream{1}
Arising from your jokes?
Upon my soul, we love some fun
As well as any 'neath the sun,
Although we fight in cloaks.
Heav'n help thee, boy, we are not they
Who only go to damn a play,
And cackle in the pit;
Like good Sir William Curtis{2} we
Can laugh at _nous_ and drollery,
Though of ourselves 'twere writ.
Was yours but sky blue milk and water,
We'd hand you over to the slaughter
Of cow committee-men{3};
For butterflies, and "such small deer,"
Are much beneath our potent spear--
The sharp gray goose-wing'd pen.
1 See my friend Bernard's _cracker_ to the reviewers in No.
12, a perfect fifth of November bit of _firework_, I can
assure you, good people. But it won't go off with me without
a brand from the bonfire in return. "Bear this bear all."
2 Have you ever dared the "salt sea ocean," my readers, with
the alderman admiral? If not, know that he has as pretty a
collection of caricatures in his cabin, and all against his
own sweet self, as need be wished to heal sea-sickness. Is
not this magnanimity? I think so. The baronet is really "a
worthy gentleman."
3 Vide advertisements of "Alderney Milk Company." What
company shall we keep next, my masters? Mining companies, or
steam brick companies, or washing companies? How many of
them will be in the suds anon? Pshaw! throw physic to the
projectors--I prefer strong beer well hopped.
But yours we feel is sterner stuff,
And though perchance _too much in huff_,
_More natural_ you will swear;
It really shows such game and pluck,
That we could take with you "pot luck,"
And deem it decent fare.
But, 'pon our _conscience_, bonny lad,
(We've got _some_, boy), it is too bad
So fiercely to show fight;
Gadzooks, 'tis time when comes the foe
To strip and sport a word and blow,
My dear pugnacious wight!
'Tis very wise, T own, to pull
Fast by the horns some butting bull,
When 'gainst yourself he flies;
But to attack that sturdy beast,
When he's no thoughts on you to feast,
Is very _otherwise_.
But we'll forgive your paper balls,
Which on our jackets hurtless falls,
Like hail upon a tower:
Pray put wet blankets on your ire;
Really, good sir, we've no desire
To blight so smart a flower.
Well, then, I see no reason why
There should be war, good Mister Spy
So, faith! we'll be allies;
And if we must have fights and frays,
We'll shoot at pride and poppinjays,
And folly as it flies.
There's field enough for both to _beat_
Employment for our hands, eyes, feet,
To mark the quarry down,
_Black game_ and white game a full crop,
Fine birds, fine feathers for to lop,
In country and in town.
~8~~
New city _specs_, new west-end rigs,
New gas-blown boots, new steam-curl'd wigs,
New fashionable schools,
New dandies, and new Bond-street dons,
And new intrigues, and new crim cons,
New companies of fools.{4}
Maria Foote and Edmund Kean,
The "lions" just now of the scene,
Shall yield to newer fun;
For all our wonders at the best
Are cast off for a newer vest,
After a nine days' run.
Old beaux at Bath, manoeuvring belles,
And pump-room puppies, Melsom swells,
And Mr. _Heaviside_,{5}
And Cheltenham carders,{6} every _runt_,
4 See note 3, page 6.
5 Mr. Heaviside, the polite M. C. of Bath. He has the finest
cauliflower head of hair I over remember; but it covers a
world of wit, for all that, and therefore however it may
appear, it certainly is not the heavy side of him.
6 Cards, cards, cards, nothing but cards from "rosy morn to
dewy eve" at the town of Cheltenham. Whist, with the sun
shining upon their sovereigns, one would think a sovereign
remedy for their waste of the blessed day--_ecarte_, whilst
the blue sky is mocking the blue countenances of your thirty
pound losers in as many seconds. Is it not marvellous?
Fathers, husbands, men who profess to belong to the Church.
By Jupiter! instead of founding the new university they talk
about, they had better make it for the pupilage of perpetual
card-players, and let them take their degrees by the
cleverness in odd tricks, or their ability in shuffling. "No
offence, Gregory." "No wonder they have their decrepit ones,
their ranters."
~9~~
The playhouse, Berkeley, and "the hunt,"
With Marshall{7} by their side.
All these and more I should be loth
To let escape from one or both,
So saddle for next heat:
The bell is rung, the course is cleared,
Mount on your hobby, "nought afear'd,"
_Black-jacket_ can't be beat.
"Dum _spiro_ spero" shout, and ride
Till you have 'scalp'd old Folly's hide,
And none a kiss will waft her;
Bind all the fools in your new book,
That "I spy!" may lay my hook,
And d--n them nicely after.
An Honest Reviewer.{8}
Given at my friend, "Sir John Barleycorn's"
Chambers, Tavistock, Covent Garden, this the
19th, day of February, 1825, "almost at odds
with morning."
7 Mr. Marshall, the M. C. of Cheltenham. "Wear him in your
heart's core, Horatio." I knew him well, a "fellow of
infinite jest." A long reign and a merry one to him.
8 My anonymous friend will perceive that I estimate his wit
and talent quite as much as his honesty: had he not been
such a _rara avis_ he would have been consigned to the "tomb
of all the Capulets."
CYTHEREAN BEAUTIES.
"The trav'ller, if he chance to stray,
May turn uncensured to his way;
Polluted streams again are pure,
And deepest wounds admit a cure;
But woman no redemption knows--
The wounds of honour never close."
--Moore.
~10~~Tremble not, ye fair daughters of chastity! frown not, ye
moralists! as your eyes rest upon the significant title to our chapter,
lest we should sacrifice to curiosity the blush of virtue. We are
painters of real life in all its varieties, but our colouring shall
not be over-charged, or our characters out of keeping. The glare of
profligacy shall be softened down or so neutralized as not to offend the
most delicate feelings. In sketching the reigning beauties of the time,
we shall endeavour to indulge the lovers of variety without sacrificing
the fair fame of individuals, or attempting to make vice respectable.
Pleasure is our pursuit, but we are accompanied up the flowery ascent
by Contemplation and Reflection, two monitors that shrink back, like
sensitive plants, as the thorns press upon them through the ambrosial
beds of new-blown roses. In our record of the daughters of Pleasure, we
shall only notice those who are distinguished as _belles of ton--stars_
of the first magnitude in the hemisphere of Fashion; and of these the
reader may say, with one or two exceptions, they "come like shadows,
so depart." We would rather excite sympathy and pity for the
~11~~unfortunate, than by detailing all we know produce the opposite
feelings of obloquy and detestation.
"Unhappy sex! when beauty is your snare,
Exposed to trials, made too frail to bear."
Then, oh! ye daughters of celestial Virtue, point not the scoffing
glance at these, her truant children, as ye pass them by--but pity, and
afford them a gleam of cheerful hope: so shall ye merit the protection
of Him whose chief attribute is charity and universal benevolence. And
ye, lords of the creation! commiserate their misfortunes, which owe
their origin to the baseness of the seducer, and the natural depravity
of your own sex.
LADIES OF DISTINCTION,
"DANS LE PARTERRE DES IMPURES."
"Simplex sigillum veri."
"Nought is there under heav'n's wide hollowness
That moves more dear, compassion of the mind,
Than beauty brought t' unworthy wretchedness."
~12~~If ever there was a fellow formed by nature to captivate
and conquer the heart of lovely woman, it is that arch-looking,
light-hearted Apollo, Horace Eglantine, with his soul-enlivening
conversational talents, his scraps of poetry, and puns, and fashionable
anecdote; his chivalrous form and noble carriage, joined to a
mirth-inspiring countenance and soft languishing blue eye, which sets
half the delicate bosoms that surround him palpitating between hope and
fear; then a glance at his well-shaped leg, or the fascination of an
elegant compliment, smilingly overleaping a pearly fence of more than
usual whiteness and regularity, fixes the fair one's doom; while the
young rogue, triumphing in his success, turns on his heel and plays
off another battery on the next pretty susceptible piece of enchanting
simplicity that accident may throw into his way. "Who is that attractive
star before whose influential light he at present seems to bow with
adoration?" "A _fallen one_," said Crony, to whom the question
was addressed, as he rode up the drive in Hyde Park, towards
Cumberland-gate, accompanied by Bernard Blackmantle. "A _fallen one_"
reiterated the Oxonian--"Impossible!" "Why, I have marked the fair
daughter of Fashion myself for the last fortnight constantly in the
drive with one of the most superb ~13~~equipages among the _ton_ of
the day." "True," responded Crony, "and might have done so for any
time these three years." In London these daughters of Pleasure are like
physicians travelling about to destroy in all sorts of ways, some
on foot, others on horseback, and the more finished lolling in their
carriages, ogling and attracting by the witchery of bright eyes; the
latter may, however, very easily be known, by the usual absence of all
armorial bearings upon the panel, the chariot elegant and in the newest
fashion, generally dark-coloured, and lined with crimson to cast a rich
glow upon the occupant, and the servants in plain frock liveries, with
a cockade, of course, to imply their mistresses have _seen service_. I
know but of one who sports any heraldic ornament, and that is the female
Giovanni, who has the very appropriate crest of a serpent coiled, and
preparing to spring upon its prey, _a la Cavendish_. The _elegante_
in the dark _vis_, to whom our friend Horace is paying court, is the
_ci-devant_ Lady Ros--b--y, otherwise Clara W----.
By the peer she has a son, and from the plebeian a pension of two
hundred pounds per annum: her origin, like most of the frail sisterhood,
is very obscure; but Clara certainly possesses talents of the first
order, and evinces a generosity of disposition to her sisters and
family that is deserving of commendation. In person, she is plump and
well-shaped, but of short stature, with a fine dark eye and raven locks
that give considerable effect to an otherwise interesting countenance. A
few years since she had a penchant for the stage, and played repeatedly
at one of the minor theatres, under the name of "The Lady;" a character
Clara can, when she pleases, support with unusual _gaiete_: instance her
splendid parties in Manchester-street, Manchester-square, where I have
seen a coruscation of beauties assembled together that must have made
great havoc in their time among the hearts of the young, the gay,
and the generous. Like ~14~~most of her society, Clara has no idea of
prudence, and hence to escape some pressing importunities, she levanted
for a short time to Scotland, but has since, by the liberal advances of
her present delusive, been enabled to quit the interested apprehensions
of the _Dun_ family. The swaggering belle in the green pelisse
yonder, on the _pave_, is the celebrated courtezan, Mrs. St*pf**d, of
Curzon-street, May-fair. How she acquired her present cognomen I know
not, unless it was for her _stopping_ accomplishment in the polite
science of pugilism and modern patter, in both of which she is a
finished proficient, as poor John D------, a dashing savoury chemist,
can vouch for.
On a certain night, she followed this unfaithful swain, placing herself
(unknown to him) behind his carriage, to the house of a rival sister of
Cytherea, Mrs. St**h**e, and there enforced, by divers potent means,
due submission to the laws of Constancy and Love; but as such compulsory
measures were not in _good taste_ with the _protector's_ feelings,
the contract was soon void, and the lady once more liberated to choose
another and another swain, with a pension of two hundred pounds per
annum, and a well-furnished house into the bargain. She was formerly,
and when first she came out, the _chere amie_ of Tom B-----, who had,
in spite of his science recently, in a short affair at Long's hotel, not
much the Best of it. (See plate).
[Illustration: page015]
From him she bolted, and enlisted with an officer of the nineteenth
Lancers; but not liking the house of Montague, she obtained the Grant
of a furlough, and has since indulged in a plurality of lovers, without
much attention to size, age, persons, or professions. Of her talent in
love affairs, we have given some specimens; and her courage in war can
never be doubted after the formidable attack she recently made upon
General Sir John D***e, returning through Hounslow from a review, from
which _rencontre_ she has obtained the appropriate appellation of the
_Brazen ~15~~ Bellona_. A pretty round face, dark hair, and fine bushy
eyebrows, are no mean attractions; independent of which the lady is
always upon good terms with herself. The _belle whip_ driving the
cabriolet, with a chestnut horse and four white legs, is the _Edgeware
Diana_ Mrs. S***h, at present engaged in a partnership affair, in the
foreign line, with two citizens, Messrs O. R. and S.; the peepholes at
the side of her machine imply more than mere curiosity, and are said to
have been invented by General Ogle, for the use of the ladies when
on active service. The beautiful little Water Lily in the
chocolate-coloured chariot, with a languishing blue eye and alabaster
skin, is Mrs. Ha****y, otherwise K**d***k, of Gr--n-street, a great
favourite with all who know her, from the elegance of her manners and
the attractions of her person (being perfect symmetry); at present she
is under the _special protection_ of a city stave merchant, and has the
_reputation_ of being very sincere in her attachments.
"You must have been a desperate fellow in your time, Crony," said I,
"among the belles of this class, or you could never have become so
familiar with their history." "It is the fashion," replied the veteran,
"to understand these matters; among the _bons vivants_ of the
present day a fellow would be suspected of _chastity_, or regarded as
_uncivilized_, who could not run through the history of the reigning
beauties of the times, descanting upon their various charms with
poetical fervor, or illuminating, as he proceeds, with some
choice anecdotes of the _Paphian divinities_, their protectors and
propensities; and to do the fair _Citherians_ justice, they are not much
behindhand with us in that respect, for the whole conversation of the
sisterhood turns upon the figure, fortune, genius, or generosity of
the admiring beaux. To a young and ardent mind, just emerging from
scholastic discipline, with feelings uncontaminated by ~16~~fashionable
levities, and a purse equal to all pleasurable purposes, a correct
knowledge of the mysteries of the _Citherian principles of astronomy_
may be of the most essential consequence, not less in protecting his
_morals and health_ than in the preservation of life and fortune. One
half the duels, suicides, and _fashionable bankruptcies_ spring
from this polluted source. The stars of this order rise and fall in
estimation, become fixed planets or meteors of the most enchanting
brilliancy, in proportion not to the grace of modesty, or the
fascination of personal beauty, but to the notoriety and number of their
amours, and the peerless dignity of their plurality of lovers.
"Place the goddess of Love on the pedestal of Chastity, in the sacred
recesses of the grove of Health, veiled by virgin Innocence, and robed
in celestial Purity, and who among the _cameleon_ race of fashionable
_roues_ would incur the charge of _Vandalism_, or turn aside to pay
devotion at her shrine? but let the salacious deity of Impurity mount
the car of Profligacy, and drive forth in all the glare of crimson and
gold, and a thousand devotees are ready to sacrifice their honour upon
her profligate altars, or chain themselves to her chariot wheels as
willing slaves to worship and adore."
"Let us take another turn up the drive," said I, "for I am willing to
confess myself much interested in this _new system of astronomy_, and
perhaps we may discover a few more of the _terrestrial planets_, and
observe the _stars_ that move around their frail orbits." "I must first
make you acquainted with the signs of the _Paphian zodiac_," said Crony;
"for every one of these attractions have their peculiar and appropriate
fashionable appellations. I have already introduced you to the _Bang
Bantum_, Mrs Bertram; the _London Leda_, Moll Raffles; the _Spanish
Nun_, St. Margurite; the _Sparrow Hawk_, Augusta C****e{1}; the _Golden_
1 See vol. i.