Our readers have annually anticipated a high treat from this splendid
intellectual banquet, served up by some of the master[1] spirits of
the age.
[1] We hope this epithet will not be considered ungallant--for, to
say the truth, the _ladies_ have contributed the best poetical
portion of the feast. This display of female talent has
increased in brilliancy year after year: and the _Lords_ should
look to it.
We doubt whether the comparison is refined enough for the fair
authoresses; but our fancy has led us to class their contributions to
the present feast as follow:--
_Hock--Champagne_, (_Still and Sparkling_.)
L.E.L.
Hood.
_Bucellas._
Miss Mitford.
Bernard Barton.
_Lacrymae Christi._
Mrs. Hemans.
Watts.
Delta.
_Port._
Coleridge.
Southey.
_Claret._
Montgomery,
with a due proportion of _vin ordinaire_. This comparison may be
pleasant enough as after-dinner chat, but we fear our readers will
think it like cooks circulating the Bills of Fare on the morning of
Lord Mayor's Day; and lest we should incur their displeasure, we
shall proceed with our select _course_: but we are mere disposers.
* * * * *