Up, and after Breakfast, to which a new laid Egg at this Time of Year
cost me 2d., to Hyde Park to see the Skating on the Serpentine, very
admirable and mighty good Mirth. The Members of the Skating Club, with
their Booth by the Ice mighty select, yet do as it were perform for the
Amusement of the British Publique. Pretty to see them cut out Figures of
8, and in a Sort dance Quadrilles upon the Ice, which I very much wish I
could do myself, but cannot skate at all, and never could, but whenever
I tried to always tumbled down, generally a Squat, which hurt me. Upon
the Ice all sorts of People high and low, great and little, old and
young, Women and Children, indeed a Multitude of the British Publique
altogether. With their Hollaing and Shouting a continual Roar like the
Cawing and Clacking of innumerable Rooks and Jackdaws. Pretty to see the
Chairs and Forms on the Brink of the Ice, where dirty Boys and Men do
ply with Skates for Hire, and kneeling and screwing and straping them on
to Skater's Feet turn a good Penny. Many fine Girls also, both fair and
black, skating in their warm Furs and Muffs mighty snug and elegant,
please me most of all; and a Troop of Schoolgirls walk two and two along
the Shore very pretty. Fun to see how the Skaters do throw themselves
into all manner of Postures, and how many of them tumble down, and
sprawl about, and roll over one another topsy-turvy, and kick their
Heels in the Air. Also the Unskilful beginning to learn to skate helped
on to the Ice, and an old Woman pulled on by a lively Urchin, make me
laugh heartily. But the most ridiculous Sight the Lower Sort, not
skating but sliding, Butcher Lads, and Costermongers, and Street Boys
with Sticks and Bludgeons in their Hands, and some in their Mouths short
Pipes, smoking while they slide, which I wonder how they can. Good Lack,
to see them come the Cobbler's Knock as they say, and keep the Pot
a-boiling! Likewise how of a Fellow upon the Ice with a Potato Can upon
a Fire-Basket, they buy and eat roast Potatoes which the Sellers cry
_Taturs all hot!_ The Street Boys, too, where the Ice at the Sides thin,
flock together nigh the Edge, and throw Stones breaking the Ice, and I
did hear one of the Varlets as his Pebble crash through cry, "There goes
a Window," and could not but laugh, though I would fain have boxed his
Ears. On Top of a Pole in one Part of the Ice a Board marked
"Dangerous," nevertheless many so foolhardy as to skate close to it,
until at last the Ice broke and a Fool went in and was like to have
drowned, but the Humane Society's Men did come with Drags, and one of
them fish him out by the Scuff of his Trowsers, mighty laughable. They
carry him off to the Receiving House, where they chafe and wrap him in
warm Blankets to bring him to, and give him hot Brandy and Water to
recruit him and send him Home Comfortable, and so reward him for his
Folly, and encourage other Fools to imitate his silly Example. Methinks
such an idle Companion were well served if, instead of getting hot Grog,
he were sent Home with a good Hiding.
[Illustration: _A FASHIONABLE CLUB. FOUR O'CLOCK P.M._