Up, and to Church together with my Wife, to see PALL HARLEY married this
Morning to DICK BAKER; on both Sides mighty genteel People, and their
Guests, all except ourselves, such as they do call Carriage-Company.
PALL, in a Dress of White Satin, and Orange Flowers in her Hair, very
pretty and demure, and DICK, wearing a Sky-Blue Coat, Crimson Velvet
Waistcoat, Yellow Moleskin Trousers, and Japanned Boots; with Lavender
Kid Gloves, and a Carbuncle in his Shirt-Front, a great Buck. DICK and
every Man of us with great White Favours at our Breasts, mighty
conspicuous and, methought, absurd, the Things serving neither for Use
nor Ornament. But to see how grand were old fat MR. HARLEY and MR.
BAKER, and how more grand were their fat Wives, and how fine and serious
they looked and how high they carried their Noses! And when the Ring was
put on PALL'S Finger (DICK first having fumbled for it in the wrong
Pocket), her Mother did weep, and falling for stay on MR. HARLEY, nigh
overthrew him. But the pretty modest Bridesmaids did most of all take
me; which my Wife observing, I saw, did trouble her. The Ceremony over,
and the Fees paid, and the Bride kissed by some of the old Gentlemen, we
to old HARLEY'S to Breakfast, where what WIGGYNS do call a Grand Spread,
very fine both for Show and Meats, every Dish ornamented with Flowers
and Gimcracks, the cold Chickens trimmed with Ribbons, and the
Bride-Cake, having upon it Wax CUPIDS and Turtle-Doves, was pretty. So
down we sat, DICK stiff and sheepish, and PALL also, shamefaced, and
trying to hide her Blushes with a Nosegay. PALL'S Mother in Tears, and
her Father solemn, and the Bridesmaids mostly bashful, but a little
black one that sate by me very merry, and I did by-and-by pull Crackers
with her, till my Wife suddenly thrust a Pin into my Arm, to the Quick.
The Company first silent, till a Friend of the young Pair, who did say
he had known them both from Babies, did propose their Health in a pretty
pathetic but confused Speech, and breaking down in the Midst of a
Sentence, conclude by wishing them long Life and Happiness, with great
Applause. Then the Bride-Groom to return Thanks, but, perplexed with his
Pronouns, obliged to stop short too, but, he said, overcome by his
Feelings. The Champagne flowing, we soon merrier, especially an old
Uncle of DICK'S who began to make Jokes, which did trouble the Bride and
Bride-Groom. But they presently with much Crying and Kissing, and
Shaking of Hands, away in a Coach-and-Four, amid the Cheering of the
Crowd in the Street and the Boys shouting to behold the fine Equipage;
and Servants and old Women looking on from the opposite Windows. We
eating and drinking with great Delight till late in the Afternoon, but
at last broke up, the Multitude saluting us each as we stepped into the
Street, and the Policeman and Beadle that were guarding the Door in
great State, touching their Hats. A grand Marriage Breakfast do give a
brave Treat to the Mob, in Show, and to the Company in Eating and
Drinking, and is great Fun to all but those most concerned. But to think
what a Fuss is made about most Marriages, and how little Reason for it
is shown by most People's married Life.
[Illustration: A THEATRE, SHOWYNGE YE HOUSE AMUSED BY YE COMYCKE ACTOR.