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HOLLY - GR O V E.

AN

EPITHALAMIC SATIRE.

CANTO III.

'TWAS post meridiem-the clock struck four,
When, widely, open'd every breakfast-door.
Eight splendid rooms, interminably, shone,
Reflecting endless beauties all their own.
Mine host, and hostess, saw no vacant seat,
Nor were their tenants slow to drink, and eat;
In truth, they did such justice to the fare,
That, while they fed, they took no time to stare:
They only ceas'd to eat, their drink to quaff,
And fill'd each interval, with hearty laugh.

10

The first slight pause, majestic Sussex rose,

And bow'd, and fed, and blew his royal nose

Told flattering tales, which buzz'd through ev'ry room-
A health-The lovely bride, and her bride-groom:

is only 2 per cent. The stalls are about four hundred, with beautiful exercising grounds, within high walls, inclosing above two acres!

The standings for carriages, is dry, boarded, and ventilated, and can accommodate about five hundred, not merely run one into another, so as to exhibit a confused, indistinguishable mass; but always clean, fit for minute inspection, and capable of delivery, on the moment, without any previous notice. They are raised to, and lowered from their stations, by a platform, which is part of the floor; and are to be found, in the fashion of all countries, from the gouty, and garden chair, to the splendid fourin-hand, and newest kite-runner, of twenty-five miles an hour!

This Bazaar, from its variety, and situation, and the spirit of its conductor, is likely to distance every effort at competition. I am surprised that no general confectionery, and refreshment room, has yet been introduced. It must prove a fortune, to its first speculator. Scarcely fewer than half a million of visitors, of either sex, with money in their pockets or reticules, can be estimated, annually, to enter this place, which is almost independent of season.

Here, while a gentleman is adding to, or diminishing his stud, the female part of his family will find no lack of amusement, during the entire circle of the hours, among the various exhibitions, and show rooms, calculated to interest every age, and every mind

From grave to gay, from lively to severe.

The motley groups furnish ample subjects of con

templation for the grave, and severe, while they may, themselves, in turn, add to the endless, stationary varieties, for the gratification of the gay and lively. In short, here may be said to exist, a world, within itself, which puts the elements at defiance, and can be visited, oh! rare commendation, and in England, too, gratuitously! though the interest of her debt is sixty millions, a year, and her standing army, including officials, and those influenced by them, nearly a million !!

The large room surpasses, in its proportions and dimensions, any one, I can bring to mind, in this kingdom; and a more gratifying in-door lounge can hardly be conceived, as the circuit of the whole may be made, without setting a foot out of the rooms; all which are so clean, that no dress, however delicate, will run the risk of being soiled.

The furniture-gallery contains an immense and superb stock. Here, from the hand-screen, to what would supply a palace, may be obtained, in one morning; all warranted to be, what is professed, by the most experienced and taste_ ful judge, in London, Mr. Oakley, late of Old Bond Street. I dare say, he little surmises what treachery supplanted him in the favor of royalty. I should observe that every department is, in like manner, consigned to the superintendence of the most practical, and competent manager that could be obtained; expense having, evidently, been a secondary consideration, with the proprietor, throughout: so that scientific opinions, may be combined, with the purchaser's caprice.

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The building, in its vastness of design, and magnificence,

of execution, is worthy of a sovereign, instead of a subject, and a tradesman! Miscuit utile, dulci.

However I may seem to have elaborated oa this topic, I still have to regret that my time, and space, compel me to leave it, dissatisfied with having done it inadequate justice.

Line 159. They may mean Townsend, Farrant, and Birnie.

This is a splendid galaxy, of which the greatest, the premier thief-taker of the united kingdom, has due precedency. Sir George Farrant's time has not yet come; but it is not for lack of matter.

Line 160. Birnie, ere while, who schools a pregnant lass.

In the suppressed pamphlet, mentioned in Memoirs of Duchess of St. Alban's-Fine Acting, p. 51, is the following anecdote of a Magistrate of the Police. This Magistrate cuts a fine figure, in the Committee of the House of Commons, with his ignorance of negociations with thieves!

“Our heroine suspected that one of her female servants was pregnant, and questioned the supposed culprit, on the subject; the girl stoutly denied the charge; contradiction enraged the lady; she declared that she would have the

truth, and sent off an express, to Oxendon Street, for Mr. Birnie, to come up to Highgate immediately, to examine the culprit. His worship obeyed-the examination took place; and his worship and the lady declaring themselves satisfied, the charge was dismissed, and so was the accused!!! Harriet refused to give the girl a character, though she diminished that injury by desiring the justice to give one, instead of herself!" These kind of inquisitions, used, I believe, in former days, to be held by juries of matrons, alias, old women!

Line 163. Nor speaks his thoughts:-'tis a mere drunken hum.

I always thought that the lady might be the author of her own injury. It was very possible that, in the oblivious moment of her orgies, she might have deposited the copious goblet, in her easy chair, into which she, indolently plumped her person, on her return, fatigued, from her excursion, and, hinc illæ lachrymæ.

She was fortunate in being so fundamentally plump, that the brittle fragments were not splintered against the bone. Harriet must have a strange sentiment of the hold she had, on the affection of her servants, to attribute such an event to wilful malice'

"To clear my quail-pipe, and refresh my soul,
Full oft I drain'd the nut-brown, spicy bowl;
Rich luscious wines, that youthful blood improve,
And warm the swelling veins, to feats of love:

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