Nov. 21st, 1840.—Princess Royal brought in, and "ordered to be laid on
the table," like a _bill_.
Dec. 3rd.—Bill Jones found under the table, and ordered to be sent to
the _Counter_ like a _willain_. ("_So much for Buckingham!_")
A little girl, a stranger in the palace
Came, and the nation there was nothing sad in;
Aladdin's lamp then brightened joy's full chalice,
How very different when they found _a lad in_!
The little boy's intrusion proved annoyant,
The little girl made all a little buoyant?
ORIGINAL NOTES.
FROM THE
BIRMINGHAM MUSICAL FESTIVAL FOR 1840.
SEPT. 23.—Birmingham Musical Festival.—Ordered a cab; made for
Euston-square Station; landed awkwardly; got into port; ran against a
man; trod on his toe; gave my own port-man-teau to the porter. Paid my
fare; had the satisfaction of hearing the clerk say, "That's the
ticket!" Was told I must be sure to shew it when called upon; said,
"Very well;" always did like to have something to shew for my money.
Travelled briskly; steam engine a giant apparatus—a sort of Colossus of
Roads; found they'd got me into a line; couldn't help it; obliged to go;
been a long while going. Arrived at last; put up at the Hen and
Chickens; thought, from the sign of the house, charges might be fowl;
agreeably surprised to find them fair.
_Monday._—Attended rehearsal. Splendid hall; grand interior; glorious
outside; ruined the builders. Brought the stone from the Isle of
Anglesea; sent the architects to the Isle of Dogs. Good rehearsal; noble
orchestra; organ finely developed. Knynett acted non-conductor; stamped
as if he was paying stamp duty; very droll; took the flats in, put the
orchestra out. Glorious array of singers: Miss Birch stuck to her perch;
Miss Hawes obeyed the laws; Dorus Gras—made no _faux pas_; Braham's
throat gave tenor note; Phillips shone in barritone; big Lablache gave
bass _sans tache_; Cramer led with cap on head; Loder and Cooke played
by book; Dragonetti and Linley worked very well-o, on deep contra basso
and violoncello; bassoon of Beauman bothered _no_ man; horn of Platt
came in pat; Harper's trumpet obligato, capitally took its part-o; Cook
played show-boy with his hautboy; and, to end without a blunder, Chipp's
drum had, its leather under, half a ton of smothered thunder. Heard 'em
play; remembered the railroad, and couldn't help thinking that I'd got
off the _line_ into the _chords_.
_Tuesday._—Festival began. Shop full; a crammer for Cramer. You've heard
of the Chiltern Hundreds, they're nothing to the Birmingham thousands.
The seats were all uniform, but no uniform for the _staff_ officers,
only ribbons in their button-holes; beaux with bows. Singers came on,
and performance went off admirably.
_Wednesday._—Town crowded; weather wet, but the people pouring in faster
than the rain; music hall made fine shelter; full again; Mendelsohn's
hymn of praise produced lots of praise of him; people delighted;
performance stupendous; singers tired; Phillips almost knocked up; went
out to refresh himself; strolled too far, and was quite knocked down;
robbed of his purse by three brutal button-makers; he treated them to
some sovereigns; they treated him to an extra allowance of punch; he was
bruised considerably, but his watch and his barritone escaped without
injury; heard a _tallow_ chandler say, that Phillips and Mendelsohn were
the heroes of the day, but that Mendelsohn had the glory of the
_composition_, and Phillips of the _whacks_!
_Thursday._—Influx of nobility—nobs and bobs—Sir Robert Peel among the
latter.
_Friday._—Festival over; grand fancy ball at night:
Drinking, dancing, all revel, no rest; proggery, toggery, all of the
best; whisking, frisking, whirling about, till daylight comes, driving
the candle-light out: then tired, not fired, their pillows they clinch,
and the festival's come to its very last pinch.