Part 11 (2/2)

”The terrace, which fronts the Thames, is s.p.a.cious, and commands a beautiful view of part of the river, including Blackfriars, Waterloo, and Westminster Bridges. It is reared on a grand rustic bas.e.m.e.nt, having thirty-two s.p.a.cious arches. The arcade thus formed is judiciously relieved by projections ornamented with rusticated columns, and the effect of the whole of the terrace from the water is truly grand and n.o.ble. There is however, at present, no admission for the public to it; but, in all probability, it will be open to all when the edifice is completed, which would form one of the finest promenades in the world, and prove to be one of the first luxuries of the metropolis.

”That statue in the centre is a representation of our late King, George the Third, with the Thames at his feet, pouring wealth and plenty from a large Cornucopia. It is executed by Bacon, and has his characteristic cast of expression. It is in a most ludicrous situation, being placed behind, and on the brink of a deep area.

”In the vestibule are the rooms of the Royal Society, the Society of Antiquarians, and the Royal Academy of Arts, all in a very grand and beautiful style. Over the door of the Royal Academy is a bust of Michael Angelo; and over the door leading to the Royal Society and Society of Antiquarians, you will find the bust of Sir Isaac Newton.

”The Government-offices, to which this building is devoted, are objects of great astonishment to strangers, being at once commodious and elegant, and worthy the wealth of the nation to which they belong. The hall of the Navy office is a fine room with two fronts, one facing the terrace and river, and the other facing the court. On the right is the Stamp-office: it consists of a mult.i.tude of apartments: the room in which the stamping is executed is very interesting to the curious. On the left you see the Pay-office of the Navy.

”The princ.i.p.al thing to attract notice in this edifice is 99~~the solidity and completeness of the workmans.h.i.+p in the masonry, and indeed in every other part.”

After taking a rather prolonged view of this elegant edifice, they again sallied forth into the Strand, mingling with all the noise and bustle of a crowded street, where by turns were to be discovered, justling each other, parsons, lawyers, apothecaries, projectors, excis.e.m.e.n, organists, picture-sellers, bear and monkey-leaders, fiddlers and bailiffs. The barber and the chimney-sweeper were however always observed to be careful in avoiding the touch of each other, as if contamination must be the inevitable consequence.

”My dear fellow!” exclaimed a tall and well-dressed person, who dragged the Honourable Tom Dashall on one side--”you are the very person I wanted--I'm very glad to see you in town again--but I have not a moment to spare--the blood-hounds are in pursuit--this term will be ended in two days, then comes the long vacation--liberty without hiring a horse--you understand--was devilishly afraid of being nabb'd just now--should have been dished if I had--lend me five s.h.i.+llings--come, make haste.”

”Five s.h.i.+llings, Diddler, when am I to be paid? you remember--' When I grow rich' was the reply.”

”Know--yes, I know all about it--but no matter, I'm not going to settle accounts just now, so don't detain me, I hate Debtor and Creditor.

Fine sport to-morrow, eh--shall be at the Ring--in cog.--take no notice--disguised as a Quaker--Obadiah Lankloaks--d----d large beaver hat, and hide my physog.--Lend me what silver you have, and be quick about it, for I can't stay--thank you, you're a d----a good fellow, Tom, a trump--shall now pop into a hack, and drive into another county--thank ye--good day--by by.”

During this harangue, while Tost was counting his silver, the ingenious Mr. Diddler seized all he had, and whipping it speedily into his pocket, in a few minutes was out of his sight.

Sparkle observing Dashall looking earnestly after Diddler, approached, and giving him a l.u.s.ty slap on the shoulder--”Ha! ha! ha!” exclaimed he, ”what are you done again?”

”I suppose so,” said Dashall; ”confound the fellow, he is always borrowing: I never met him in my life but ~100~~he had some immediate necessity or other to require a loan of a little temporary supply, as he calls it.”

”I wonder,” said Sparkle, ”that you are so ready to lend, after such frequent experience--how much does he owe you?”

”Heaven only knows,” continued Tom, ”for I do not keep account against him, I must even trust to his honour--so it is useless to stand here losing our time--Come, let us forward.”

”With all my heart,”, said Sparkle, ”and with permission I propose a visit to the Bona.s.sus, a peep at St. Paul's, and a chop at Dolly's.”

This proposition being highly approved of, they continued their walk along the Strand, towards Temple Bar, and in a few minutes were attracted by the appearance of men dressed in the garb of the Yeomen of the Guards, who appeared active in the distribution of hand-bills, and surrounded a house on the front of which appeared a long string of high and distinguished names, as patrons and patronesses of the celebrated animal called the Bona.s.sus. Crossing the road in their approach to the door, Tallyho could not help admiring the simple elegance of a shop-front belonging to a grocer, whose name is Peck.

”Very handsome and tasty, indeed,” replied Sparkle; ”that combination of marble and bra.s.s has a light and elegant effect: it has no appearance of being laboured at. The inhabitant of the house I believe is a foreigner, I think an Italian; but London boasts of some of the most elegant shops in the world.” And by this time they entered the opposite house.

CHAPTER IX

”In London my life is a ring of delight, In frolics I keep up the day and the night; I snooze at the Hummums till twelve, perhaps later, I rattle the bell, and I roar up the Waiter; 'Your Honour,' says he, and he makes me a leg; He brings me my tea, but I swallow an egg; For tea in a morning's a slop I renounce, So I down with a gla.s.s of good right cherry-bounce.

With--swearing, tearing--ranting, jaunting--slas.h.i.+ng, smas.h.i.+ng--smacking, cracking--rumbling, tumbling --laughing, quaffing--smoking, joking--swaggering, Staggering: So thoughtless, so knowing, so green and so mellow, This, this is the life of a frolicsome fellow.”

~101~~UPON entering the house, and depositing their s.h.i.+lling each to view this newly discovered animal from the Apalachian mountains of America, and being supplied with immense long bills descriptive of his form and powers--”Come along (said Sparkle,) let us have a look at the most wonderful production of nature--only seventeen months old, five feet ten inches high, and one of the most fas.h.i.+onable fellows in the metropolis.”

”It should seem so,” said Tallyho, ”by the long list of friends and visitors that are detailed in the commencement of the bill of fare.”

”Perhaps,” said Tom, ”there are more Bon a.s.ses than one.”

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