Part 6 (1/2)

Advertis.e.m.e.nt: ”Bear's grease has virtues, many, great and rare; To hair decay'd, life, health, and vigour giving;

'Tis sold by----, fam'd for cutting hair,

At -----.----------------------------------- living.

Who then would lose a head of hair for trying?

A thousand tongues are heard 'I won't,' replying;

T----r no doubt with bear's grease can supply A thousand more, when they're dispos'd to buy.

No deception!--Seven Bears publicly exhibited in seven months, and not an agent on the globe's surface.--Sold upon oath, from 1L. to 10s. 6d. The smallest child will direct to ----, near the church--a real Bear over the door, where a good peruke is charged 1L.. 10s. equal to those produced by Mr. T., at B----ss's, for 2L. 12s. 6d.--Scalp 10s. 6d.~and 6d. only for hair-cutting--never refusing one s.h.i.+lling.

N. B. Bear's-grease effects wonders for the knees &c. of horses.”

~57~~resided in the vicinity of Cornhill, and was for many years brought up under his roof as his nephew; in which situation, the elegance of his person, the vivacity of his disposition, and the general information he acquired, became subjects of attraction. His education was respectable for his situation, and his allowance liberal. His father however marrying a young lady of some property, and he, 'gay, light, and airy,'

falling into bad hands, found his finances not sufficient to support the company he kept, and by these means involved himself in pecuniary difficulties, which, however, (if report say true) were more than once or twice averted by the indulgent parent. In the course of time, the family was increased by two sons, but he continued the flower of the flock. At length it was intended by his father to retire, in part, from business, and leave its management to this young man, and another who had been many years in his service, and whose successful endeavours in promoting his interest were well deserving his consideration; and the writings for this purpose were actually drawn up. Previous however to their execution, he was dispatched to Edinburgh, to superintend an extensive concern of his father's in that city, where, meeting with an amiable young lady with some expectations, he married without the consent of his parent, a circ.u.mstance which drew down upon him the good man's displeasure.

”Not at all dismayed at this, he almost immediately left his father's shop, and set up business for himself in the same neighbourhood, where he continued for two or three years, living, as it was supposed, upon the produce of his matrimonial connexion. At length, however, it was discovered that he was insolvent, and bankruptcy became the consequence.

Here he remained till affairs were arranged, and then returned to London with his wife and two children.

”In the mean time, the legitimate family of his father had become useful in the business, and acquainted with his former indiscretions, which, consequently, were not likely to be obliterated from the old gentleman's recollection. Without money and without prospect, he arrived in London, where, for some unliquidated debt, he was arrested and became a resident in the King's Bench, from which he was liberated by the Insolvent Debtor's Act. Emanc.i.p.ated from this, he took small shops, or rather rooms, in various parts of the city, vainly endeavouring to ~58~~support the character he had formerly maintained. These however proved abortive.

Appeals to his father were found fruitless, and he has consequently, after a series of vicissitudes, been compelled to act as a journeyman.

In the career of his youth, he distinguished himself as a das.h.i.+ng, high-spirited fellow. He was selected as fuegel man to a regiment of Volunteers, and made himself conspicuous at the celebrated O. P. row, at the opening of Covent Garden Theatre, on which occasion he attracted the notice of the Caricaturists,{1} and was generally known in the circles of High Life, by his attendance on the first families on behalf of his father.

But perhaps the most remarkable circ.u.mstance took place at his deceased parent's funeral. Being so reduced at that time as to have no power even of providing the necessary apparel to manifest the respect, grat.i.tude, and affection, he had ever entertained for the author of his being; and as a natural son has no legal claims upon his father, so naturally nothing was left for him; he applied by letter to the legitimates for a suit of mourning, and permission to attend the remains of their common father to the last receptacle of mortality, which being peremptorily refused, he raised a subscription, obtained clothing, with a gown and hatband, and, as the melancholy procession was moving to the parish church, which was but a few yards distance, he rushed from his hiding-place, stationed himself immediately in the front of the other attendants upon the occasion, and actually accompanied the corpse as chief mourner, having previously concerted with his own mother to be upon the spot. When the body was deposited in the vault, he took her by the hand, led her down the steps, and gave some directions to the bearers as to the situation of the coffin, while the other mourners, panic-struck at the extraordinary circ.u.mstances in which they found themselves, turned about and walked in mournful silence back, ruminating on the past with amazement, and full of conjecture for the future.

1 A caricature of a similar nature to the one alluded to by Dashall in this description, was certainly exhibited at the time of the memorable 0. P. row, which exhibited a young man of genteel appearance in the pit of Covent Garden Theatre, addressing the audience. It had inscribed at the bottom of it,

Is this Barber-Ross-a?

in allusion (no doubt) to the tragedy of Barbarossa.

~59~~”It was an extraordinary situation for all parties,” said Bob; ”but hold, who have we here?--Egad! there is an elegant carriage drawn up to the door; some Lord, or n.o.bleman, I'll be bound for it--We can't be seen in this deshabille, I shall make my escape.” And saying this, he was hastening out of the room.

”Ha! ha! ha!” exclaimed Tom, ”you need not be so speedy in your flight.

This is one of the fas.h.i.+onable requisites of London, with whom you must also become acquainted; there is no such thing as doing without them--dress and address are indispensables. This is no other than one of the decorators.”

”Decorators!” continued Bob, not exactly comprehending him.

”Monsieur le Tailleur--'Tin Mr. W----, from Cork Street, come to exhibit his Spring patterns, and turn us out with the new cut--so pray remain where you are.”

”Tailor--decorator,” said Bob--”Egad! the idea is almost as ridiculous as the representation of the taylor riding to Brentford.”

By this time the door was opened, and Mr. W. entered, making his bow with the precision of a dancing-master, and was followed by a servant with pattern-books, the other apparatus of his trade. The first salutations over, large pattern-books were displayed upon the table, exhibiting to view a variety of fancy-coloured cloths, and measures taken accordingly. During which time, Tom, as on the former occasion, continued his enquiries relative to the occurrences in the fas.h.i.+onable world.

”Rather tame, Sir, at present: the Queen's unexpected visit to the two theatres was for a time a matter of surprise--the backwardness of Drury Lane managers to produce 'G.o.d Save the King,' has been construed into disloyalty to the Sovereign--and a laughable circ.u.mstance took place on his going to the same house a few nights back, which has already been made the subject of much merriment, both in conversation and caricature.

It appears that Mr. Gloss'em, who is a _s.h.i.+ning character_ in the theatrical world, at least among the minors of the metropolis; and whose father was for many years a wax-chandler in the neighbourhood of Soho, holds a situation as clerk of the cheque to the Gentlemen Pensioners of his Majesty's household, as well as that of Major Domo, manager and proprietor of a certain theatre, not half a mile from Waterloo Bridge.