To please my Wife, did take her this Evening to MADAME TUSSAUD her Wax
Works; a grand large Room, with Gilding, lighted up very splendid: cost
2s., and a Catalogue 6d. The Wax Figures showy: but with their painted
Cheeks and glassy Eyes--especially such as nod and move--do look like
Life in Death. The Dresses very handsome, and I think correct; and the
Sight of so many People of Note in the Array of their Time, did much
delight me. Among the Company Numbers of Country Folk, and to see how
they did stare at the Effigies of the QUEEN, and the PRINCE, and the
DUKE OF WELLINGTON, and the KING OF THE BELGIANS, and the PRINCESS
CHARLOTTE that was, and GEORGE THE FOURTH in his Coronation Robes, grand
as a Peacock! The Catalogue do say that his Chair is the very one
wherein he sat in the Abbey; but it look like a Play-House Property, and
little thought the King where it would come down to figure! A Crowd of
Dames gazing at the Group of the Royal Family, calling the Children
"Dears" and "Ducks," and would, I verily believe, have liked to kiss
their Wax Chaps. My Wife feasted her Eyes on the little Princes and
Princesses, I mine upon a pretty, modest, black Maid beside me, and she
hers on me, till my Wife spying us, did pinch me with her Nails in the
Arm. Pretty, to see the Sovereign Allies in the last War, and bluff old
BLUCHER, and BONAPARTE and his Officers, in brave Postures, but stiff.
Also the two KING CHARLESES, and OLIVER, together; CHARLES THE FIRST
protesting against his Death-Warrant, and his Son Backing him; and
CARDINAL WOLSEY looking on. LORD BYRON in the Dress of a Greek Pirate,
looking Daggers and Pistols, close to JOHN WESLEY preaching a Sermon;
and methought, if all MADAME TUSSAUD'S Figures were their Originals
instead, what Ado there would be! Many of the Faces that I knew very
like; and my LORD BROUGHAM I did know directly, and LISTON in _Paul
Pry_. But strange, among the Kings to see him that was the Railway King;
and methinks that it were as well now if he were melted up. Thence to
the NAPOLEON Rooms, where BONAPARTE'S Coach, and one of his Teeth, and
other Reliques and Gimcracks of his, well enough to see for such as care
about him a Button. Then to the Chamber of Horrors, which my Wife did
long to see most of all; cost, with the NAPOLEON Rooms, 1s. more; a Room
like a Dungeon, where the Head of ROBESPIERRE, and other Scoundrels of
the great French Revolution, in Wax, as though just cut off, horrid
ghastly, and Plaster Casts of Fellows that have been hanged: but the
chief attraction a Sort of Dock, wherein all the notorious Murderers of
late Years; the foremost of all, RUSH, according to the Bill, taken from
Life at Norwich, which, seeing he was hanged there, is an odd Phrase.
Methinks it is of ill Consequence that there should be a Murderers'
Corner, wherein a Villain may look to have his Figure put more certainly
than a Poet can to a Statue in the Abbey. So away again to the large
Room, to look at JENNY LIND instead of GREENACRE, and at 10 of the Clock
Home, and so to Bed, my Wife declaring she should dream of the Chamber
of Horrors.
[Illustration: _DEERE STALKYNGE IN YE HYGHLANDES._