uriously in the depths of its swelling cushions, master who should be qualified to give the or musing complacently with his chin on a mas- concern a still more effectual lift in the sive gold-headed cane. With the men he was shy and mysterious; but he could talk and flat-eyes of the world. "Portraits appeared at the windows, bespeaking the characters of each-Swizzle sat with a patient at a round table, indulging in a bee'swinged bottle of port, while Mello reclined in a curiously carved chair, one be-ringed hand supporting his flowing-locked head, and the other holding a book. Swizzle's was painted by the artist who did the attractive window-blind at the late cigar-shop in the Piccadilly Circus, while Sebastian was indebted to Grant for the gentlemanly ease that artist invariably infuses into his admirable portraits."-vol. i. p. 31. Fortunately several influential members had perused the "Jaunts and Jollities," and after a lengthened negotiation the celebrated Mr. Jorrocks was prevailed upon to accept the vacant post. We must allow his biographer to introduce the prince of grocers: "At the time of which we speak Mr. Jorrocks had passed the grand climacteric, and, balancing his age with less accuracy than he balanced his books, called himself between fifty and sixty. He was a stiff, square-built, middle-sized man, with a thick neck and a large round head. A with a jaunty sidelong sort of air upon a bushy woolly, broad-brimmed, lowish-crowned hat sat nut-brown wig, worn for comfort and not deception. Indeed his grey whiskers would have acted as a contradiction if he had, but deception formed no part of Mr. Jorrocks's character. He had a fine open countenance, and though his turn-up nose, little gray eyes, and rather twisted mouth, were not handsome, still there was a combination of fun and good humor in his looks that pleased at first sight, and made one forget all the rest. His dress was generally the samea puddingy white neckcloth tied in a knot, capacious shirt-frill (shirt made without collars,) a single-breasted, high-collared buff waistcoat with covered buttons, a blue coat with metal onesdark-blue stocking-net pantaloons, and Hessian boots with large tassels, displaying the liberal dimensions of his well-turned limbs. The coatpockets were outside, and the back buttons far apart. Of course, as soon as the visitors began to muster strong at the new spa, a Master of the Ceremonies must be elected: but we regret that we cannot class the lucky candidate for this high office, Captain Miserrimus Doleful, with either the rough and jolly Esculapius of Handley Cross, or his abstemious and dandified rival. The M. C. is a mere caricature; and we resent especially the extravagant blunder the author has made in representing him as the chosen pet of Mrs. Barnington-a splendid Leeds lady, no longer in her first bloom indeed, but in the full magnificence of her matronly development. The husband of this Queen of Handley, a rich Cheshire squire, is as sick of his wife as she is of him—but though, under such circumstances, some extraneous flirtation might have seemed within the "His business-place was in St. Botolph's limits of the probable, that such a lady Lane, in the city, but his residence was in Great should have chosen to console herself with Coram Street. This is rather a curious locality, a poor, battered, ghastly Militia Captain is city people considering it west, while those in the west consider it east. The fact is that Great a monstrous incredibility. At the same Coram Street is somewhere about the centre of time, if we can overlook this glaring blun- London, near the London University, and not a der, the scenes between the wife, the hus- great way from the Euston station of the Birband, and the swain are very cleverly sus-mingham railway. Neat, unassuming houses tained so much so, that we fully expect to see them pillaged by the theatres. Some other characters of less importance, but all very nicely sketched, need not detain us. form the sides, and the west end is graced with a building that acts the double part of a readingroom and swimming-bath-" literature and lave ment" is over the door. "In this region the dazzling glare of civic At the period after the waters first began pomp and courtly state are equally unknown. to be frequented, there was on the, spot a Fifteen-year-old foot-boys, in cotton velveteens primitive farmer's pack of hounds-trench- and variously fitting coats, being the objects er-fed, as they are called-that is to say, ambition, while the rattling of pewter pots about where every man kept one. As the place four o'clock denotes the usual dinner-hour.-It is proceeds to expand, a little more ambition a nice quiet street, highly popular with Punch is apparent in the hunting department. and other public characters."-vol. i. pp. 120–122. Michael Hardy, a knowing, comfortable The readers of the 'Jaunts' will perceive yeoman, takes the lead, and under his aus- that the hero of Great Coram Street has adpices the pack acquires some provincial vanced considerably in years since the date distinction. That eminent character, how-of his Surrey feats and the trip to Paris with ever, is after one glorious day's sport run to ground-gathered to his fathers; and very serious difficulty occurs as to the discovery of a fit successor-that is to say, a Countess Benwolio; but his taste and manners preserve very much the old stamp. Mrs. Jorrocks is still as fat and nearly as comely as she used to be-as proud and perhaps as He jealous of the great man: the niece Belinda | eyes?' asked a second. 'Handsomest creature has from a pale little threadpaper girl become I ever beheld! What a quiz the old girl is! a plump, rosy charmer, slighly given to co- Is she her daughter? inquired a third of Capquetry-but at heart good, and really very cession. tain Doleful, who was busy marshalling the pro'Lots of money I suppose?' pretty. Batsy, the maid, is still what we re- looks like a rich fellow, with that great sack of member-handsome, active, clever, manag- a MIntosh. The servant girl's not bad-looking-a principal personage in the establish- ing.' 'Miss for my money, I'm in love with her ment, and possessing special influence over already. I wish she'd stand up and let's see her her master. Binjamin, the boy, is as short size.' 'I lay a guinea she's a clipper. There's as when Jorrocks picked him out of the Pen- a hand! I'll be bound for it she has a good tonville Poorhouse-but his wits have been foot and ankle. None of your hairy-heel'd ones.' considerably sharpened from living several lots of dinners, I dare say? "He looks like a jolly old dog. We shall have Doleful's face years under the roof, and occasionally partak- wrinkled into half its usual size with delight, ing in the sporting excursions, of so eminent for he plainly saw he had made a hit; and most a connoisseur. fortunate were those who had cultivated his friendship through the medium of the subscription-books at the libraries, for the two-guinea trio, while the guinea men were let in at intersubscribers were immediately presented to the vals as the procession moved along."-vol. i. pp. 170, 171. in an oration, which Mrs. Jorrocks and Mr. J. and family tear themselves from Great Coram Street, and proceed to the Terminus in the same elegant vehicle which we had admired of old on the cover-side near Croydon a roomy, double-bodied phaëton, sky-blue body, red wheels picked out with black-Jorrocks and Belinda in front, Mrs. From the balcony of the Dragon the M. J. and Betsy behind-the two celebrated C. addresses the assembled beauty, fashion steeds of all-work, Xerxes, and Arter-Xerxes, Turf, Road, and Chase of Handley Cross, tandemwise-Benjamin riding postilion on the leader. In two or three short hours they are carried over what used to be a long day's journey, and arrive at the Handley Cross Station of the Lily-white sand Railway, recently opened for the purpose of supplying the metropolis with that useful article. The principal members of the hunting club are in waiting, with the charity boys and girls in their Sunday clothes, the Spa band, and in fact the élite of the now fashionable place. Mr. Jorrocks is received amidst tumultuous demonstrations of curiosity and respect. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Barnington, nor any of the exclusives, have been let in to the grocership-Mr. J. has been to them merely a wealthy gentleman engaged in commercial pursuits'—and if the appearance of himself and his party be somewhat less imposing than had been anticipated, much toleration is extended to the caprices of a sporting millionnaire. No doubt the regular equipages are to come down by the slower train in the after noon. "Mr. Jorrocks, pulling short up, stood erect in the vehicle, and taking off his low-crowned hat bowed and waved it repeatedly to the company, while Mrs. Jorrocks acknowledged the compliment by frequent kisses of her hand, and Belinda's face became suffused with blushes at the publicity and novelty of her situation.-Having sufficiently exercised their lungs, hats began to rest upon their owners' heads, handkerchiefs were returned to their reticules, and amid a general buzz and exclamation of applause a rush was made at the carriage to get a closer view of Belinda. By Jove, what a beautiful girl! exclaimed Captain Percival, eyeing Belinda through his glass. 'Did you ever see such greatest familiarity, nodding round to the meet- How very good is Jorrocks's thus early joining in the cry against Cockneys! He | keen rivalry between Mrs. Barnington and proceeds:Mrs. Jorrocks in the salon-while the "Of all sitivations under the sun, none is more new M. F. H. gives his morning to the ken enviable or more 'onerable than a master of fox- nel, his day to the field, his evenings "to 'ounds! Talk of a M. P.! vot's an M. P. com- the mahogany"—that public balls and fancy pared to an M. F. H.? Your M. P. lives in a balls occur at proper intervals-and that tainted hatmosphere among other M. P.s. and the interest of the new dynasty is much loses his consequence by the commonness of the promoted by the charms of Belinda. Benoffice, and the scoldings he gets from his constituents; but an M.F.H. holds his levee in the jamin undertakes the office of whipper-in stable, his levee in the kennel, and his levee in under the tea-merchant-but Jorrocks by the 'unting-field-is great and important every and by establishes, even to his own satiswhere-has no one to compete with him, no one faction, his incompetency to hunt the pack to find fault, but all join in doing horor to him himself-and hereupon much trouble and to whom honor is so greatly due (cheers.) And alarm ensue. The grocer's blood is upoh, John Jorrocks! my good frind,' continued in for a penny in for a pound: albeit the the worthy grocer, fumbling the silver in his small-clothes with upturned eyes, 'to think that subscriptions come in poorly, a real huntsyou, after all the ups and downs of life-the man must be hired-otherwise the honor crossins and jostlins of merchandise and ungo- and glory of Great Coram Street are gone. vernable trade the sortin of sugars-the mexing Mr. Jorrocks advertises in "Bell's Life," of teas-the postins of ledgers, and handlin of and the letters that pour in are far too good inwoices, should have arrived at this distin- not to be exemplified :guished post, is most miraculously wonderful, most singularly queer. Gentlemen, this is the proudest moment of my life! (cheers.) I've now "Sir,-On hearing you want a huntsman, I take reached the top-rail in the ladder of my hambi- the liberty of writing to enquire after the place tion! (renewed cheers.) Binjimin! he ballooed I thoroly understand my business either as groom out to the boy below; Binjimin! I say, give or coachman and have been accustomed with an eye to them 'ere harticles behind the chay-hounds I live at present with John Jones Esq at the children are all among the Copenhagen Warminster as groom and gardner where I brandy and marmeylad! Vy don't you vollop leave on Thursday first if you want a servant I 'em? Vere's the use of furnishing you with a shall be glad to serve you as I am a married vip, I vonder?' "Your obedient servant JOHN CRAKETHORPE." เ "To resume,' said he, after he had seen the back of the carriage cleared of the children, and the marmalade and things put straight. "Unting, as I have often said, is the sport of kingsthe image of war without its guilt, and only fiveand-twenty per cent. of its danger. I doesn't know what the crazyologists may say, but I believes my head is nothin' but one great bump of 'unting (cheers.) 'Unting fills my thoughts by day, and many a good run I have in my sleep. I'm none of your fine, dandified, Rotten-row swells, that only ride out to ride 'ome again, but I loves the smell of the mornin' hair, and the werry mud on my tops when I comes home of an evenin' is dear to my 'eart (cheers.) Oh, my frinds! if I could but go to the kennel now, get out the 'ounds, find my fox, have a good chivey, and kill him-for no day is good to me without blood-l'd-I'd-l'd-drink three pints of port after dinner instead of two! (loud cheers.).... We'll soon get acquainted, and then you'll say that John Jorrocks is the man for your money. At present I've done-hoping werry soon to meet you all in the field-for the present I says adieu.' "Hereupon Mr. Jorrocks bowed, and, kissing his hand, backed out of the balcony, leaving his auditory to talk him over at their leisure."-vol. i. pp. 182-186. The dramatis persona are now mustered, and the play begins: but we have no desire to anticipate the satisfaction with which it is sure to be studied as a whole. It will be guessed that the plot embraces a man "To Mr. Jorrocks, Esq., Handley Cross," "Warminster. "Dear Sir, I take Liberty of writing those Few Lines to you Hereing that you are In Want of A Servant And I Am In Want of A Situation If you Have No Objections And I have Been in the Racing Stables Seven Years And My Age is 23 And Stands About 65 foot 6 And My Wages will be 30£ A year And If you thought I Should Suit You Direct to Mark Spraggon, North-fleet And for My Caracter Inquire of Major Barns of Horton Hall Near York And My Weight is A bout 9 stone. I am disengaged in the woman way 'Your humble Servant MARK SPRAGGON." "To J. Jorrocks, Esq. or 'For hunter 'Handley Cross." James Pigg a Newcastle-man Scotchman, as Mr. Jorrocks calls him-at length obtains the envied situation, and James's rough honesty, keenness, and local songs (or national melodies as his master phrases it) do credit to the North, whatever his drinking and swearing may do. Pigg is quite a character, and an admirable foil to the tricking, lazy rascality of the Cockney boy Benjamin. But Benjamin has other foils. We beg to give a scene in the harness-room at the Dragon-just before the Newcastle-man of assistant-waiter in the Dragon, as was the case arrives. Here we have Benjamin in the full on this occasion." double importance of the whipper-in to a think ye, Mr. Benjamin?' was the question put "When will your hounds be going out again gentleman huntsman, and the London and the London by Samuel Strong to our sporting Leviathan. Gamin among snobs. The party is a most ""Ang me if I knows,' replied the boy, with interesting one: first and foremost, seated the utmost importance, turning his top-boots beon an inverted horse pail, immediately before the fire. It's precious little consequence, fore the fire, appears Mr. Samuel Strong:-I thinks, ven we goes out again, if that gallows old governor of ours persists in 'unting the In stature he was of the middle height, square-'ounds himself. I've all the work to do! Bless built, and terribly clumsy. Nor were the de- ye, we should have lost 'ounds, fox, and all, yesfects of nature at all counteracted by the advan-terday, if I hadn't rid like the werry vengeance. tages of dress, for Strong was clad in a rural See 'ow I've scratched my mug,' added he, turnsuit of livery consisting of a footman's morning ing up a very pasty countenance. 'If I'm to 'unt jacket, with a standing-up collar made of dark the 'ounds, and risk my neck at every stride, I grey cloth, plentifully bespringled with large must have the wages of a 'untsman, or blow me brass buttons, with a raised edge, as though his tight the old 'un may suit himself.' master were expecting his crest from the Heralds' College. Moreover, the jacket, either from an original defect in its construction, or from that propensity to shrink which inferior cloths unfortunately have, had so contracted its dimensions that the waist-buttons were half-way up Samuel's back, and the lower ones were just where the top ones ought to be. The shrinking of the sleeves placed a pair of large serviceable-laooking hands in nervously striking relief. The waistcoat, broad blue and white stripe made up lengthwise, was new, and probably the tailor, bemoaning the scanty appearance of Sam's "You'll have good wages, I 'spose?' rejoined nether man, had determined to make some Samuel with a sigh, for his 'governor' only gave atonement to his front, for the waistcoast extend-him ten pounds a year, and no perquisites, or ed full four inches below his coat, and concealed the upper part of a very baggy pair of blue plush shorts, that were met again by very tight drab gaiters, that evidently required no little ingenuity to coax together to button. A six-shilling hat, with a narrow silver band, and binding of the same metal, and a pair of darned white Berlin gloves, completed the costume of this figure servant. "What'n a chap is your old gen'leman?' inquired the first pair boy out.' "Oh, hang me if I knows,' replied Benjamin; precious rum 'un, I assure you. While he's wery well-then it's Bin this, and Bin that, and you'll be a werry great man, Bin, and such like gammon; and then the next minute, perhaps, he's in a regular sky-blue, swearing he'll cut my liver and lights out, or bind me apprentice to a fiddler--but then I knows the old fool, and he knows he carnt do without me, so we just battle and jog on the best way we can together.' 166 Binjimin' was the very converse of Samuel a little puny, pale-faced, gin-drinking-looking, Cockney, with a pair of roving pig eyes, peering from below his lonk white hair, cut evenly round his head, as though it had been done by the edges of a barber's basin. 'stealings,' as the Americans honestly call them. "Precious little of that, I assure you,' replied Benjamin-' at least the old warment never pays me. He swears he pays it to our old 'oman, but I believe he pockets it himself, an old ram; but I'll have a reckoning with him some of these odd days. What'n a blackguard's your master?' "Hush!" replied Samuel, astonished at Ben's freedom of speech, a thing not altogether understood in the country. A bad 'un, I'll be bound," continued the little rascal, or he wouldn't see you mooning about in such a rumbustical apology for a coat, with laps that scarce cover you decently;' reaching behind the aged postboy, "On the boiler-side of the fire, away from the and taking up Mr. Samuel's fan-tail as he spoke. door-for no one has a greater regard for No. I. 'I never sees a servant in a cutty coat without than himself-sat the renowned Benjamin Brady, swearing his master's a screw. Now these droll in a groom's drab frock-coat reaching down to things, such as you have on, are just vot the his heels, a shyblue waistcoat, patent cord great folks in London give their flunkies to carry breeches, with grey worsted stockings, and slip- coals and make up fires in, but never to go stapers, airing a pair of very small mud-stained top-ring from home with. Then your country folks boots before the fire, occasionally feeling the get hold of them, and think, by clapping such scratches on his face, and the bites the fox in-clowns as you in them, to make people believe flicted on his nose the previous day. Next him that they have other coats at home. Tell the sat the 'first pair boy out,' a grey-headed old man truth now, old baggy-breeches, have you another of sixty, whose jacket, breeches, boots, entire coat of any sort?' person in fact, were concealed by a long brownholland thing, that gave him the appearance of sitting booted and spurred in his night-shirt. Then came the ostler's lad, a boy of some eight or nine years old, rolling about on the flags, playing with the saddle-room cat; and the circle was made out by Bill Brown (Dick the ostler's one-eyed helper), Tom,' a return postboy, and a lad who assisted Bill Brown, the one-eyed helper of Dick the ostler, when Dick himself was acting the part fustian one.' Yee'as,' replied Samuel Strong, 'I've a "Vot, you a fustian coat!' repeated Benjamin in astonishment; 'vy, I thought you were a flunky! "So I am,' replied Samuel, 'but I looks arter a hus and shay as well.' "Crikey! cried Benjamin; 'here's a figure futman wot looks arter an 'oss and chay! Vy, you'll be vot they call a man of 'all vork,' a "Yee'as, and sow.' "And ploo ?" "Never tried-dare say I could though.' "Whoy, she's a widder woman, that lives a'back o' the church. She's a son aboard a steamer, and she goes to see him whiles.' Your governor s an apothecary, I suppose, by that queer button,' observed Benjamin, eyeing Sam's coat-wot we call a chemist and druggist in London. Do you look arter the red and green winder bottles now? Crikey! he don't look as though he lived on physic altogether, does he?' added Benjamin, turning to Bill Brown, the helper, amid the general laughter of the company. "My master's a better man than ever you'll be, you little ugly sinner,' replied Samnel Strong breaking into a glow, and doubling a most serviceable-looking fist on his knee. "We've only your word for that,' replied Benjamin; he don't look like a werry good 'un by the way he rigs you out. 'Ow many slaveys does he keep?" ་ "Slaveys? repeated Samuel; slaveys? what be they?" 666 and talliho! till they bring the street-keeper to make them quiet." tone "You had a fine run t'other day, I hear,' observed Joe, the deputy-helper, in a deferential to Mr. Brady. Uncommon replied Benjamin, shrugging up his shoulders at the recollection of it, and clearing the low bars of the grate out with his toe. They tell me your old governor tumbled off,' continued Joe, and lost his hoss.' 6 Wery like,' replied Benjamin with a grin. A great fat beast! he's only fit for vater carriage !"--Vol. i. pp. 224--232. After the Newcastle-man's installation the affairs of the Hunt assumed a much more agreeable appearance-and we are entertained with a variety of field-scenes, exhibiting the noblest of our sports in a style of description not inferior, we think, even to Mr. Apperley's. But, spirited as these are, and highly as they are set off by the picturesque peculiarities of the illustrious grocer, we must not be tempted to quote them. We are, in fact, still more pleased with the hero in his evening uniform-"a sky-blue coat lined with pink silk, canary waistcoat and shorts, pink gauze-silk stockings, and French-polished pumps,"-than when arrayed in the scarlet of the morning. His jolly countenance free and easy manners, unconquerable good humor, and delightfully open vanity, cannot but recommend him to the hospitable 'Vy, cookmaids and such-like h'animals-attentions of the neighboring gentry whose women in general.' "Ow, two-one to clean the house and dress the dinner, t'other to milk the cows and dress the childer.' 666 Oh, you 'ave childer, 'ave you, in your 'ouse?' exclaimed Benjamin in disgust. 'Well, come, ours is bad, but we've nothing to ekle that. I wouldn't live where there are brats for no manner of consideration.' "You've a young missis, though, havn't you?" inquired the aged postboy: there was a young lady came down in the chay along with the old folk.5 covers are included in "Mr. Jorrocks's country." We have him dining with the young Earl of Ongar amidst a most distindrunk"-is soused into a cold bath at night, guished company, where he gets "werry and finds his face painted like a zebra in the morning-all without the least disturb ance of his equanimity; for "sport is sport" 'pleasure as we like it"-are of old the maxims of Coram Street. Indeed, we might go over a dozen different dinners, from the "That's the niece,' replied Benjamin-"a lordly castle to the honest farmer's homejolly nice gal she is too-her home's in Vite- stead, without finding him once put out. chapel--often get a tissey out of her-that's to Jorrocks is, in fact, bore-proof. Scarcely say, the young men as follows her, so it comes a sympton of flinching even when he is to the same thing. Green-that's him of Tooley planted right opposite to a celebrated exStreet-gives shillings because he has plenty; president of the Geological Society, who then Stubbs, wot lives near Boroughbridge-the place the rabbits come from-gives half crowns, because he hasn't much. Then Stubbs is such a feller for kissing of the gals. 'Be'have yourself, or I'll scream,' I hears our young lady say, as I'm a listening at the door. Don't,' says he, kissing of her again, you'll hurt your throat,-let me do it for you.' Then to hear our old cove and he talk about 'unting of an evening over their drink, you'd swear they were as mad as hatters. They jump, and shout, and sing, * We fancy this proverbial similitude has no re ference to the makers of hats; but originated during the early phrenzy of the Quakers. (unlike the learned and gallant President) has never had any familiarity with the chances of the field. This philosopher was spunging on some great Duke or Marquess not far off; but Jorrocks and he are acci dentally thrown together at the festive board of a certain ultra-liberal squire, who, after a fashion, patronises both the whip and the hammer, but whose chief glory is having been put on the commission under the late, and we trust last, administration of the Whigs: |