Punch (16.1849)

133 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

MANNE^^ND'CVSToNs-6f?j* EWGlysHe-IN '1849 N° , 4

X)rawvn&e: RooM .bAY SaWTeJAMeS'iya-SnUETE-

Mr. Pips his Diary.

Thursday, March 29lh, 1349. To see the Nobilitv aud Geutrv, and It did more and more amaze me to observe how high they carried

other great Company, go to the Queen's Drawmg-Room, with a
Friend to St. James's Street, where did stand in Front of Boodle's
Club-House in the Rain, which was heavy, and spoiled my Paris Hat,
cost me Twelve Shillings. But the Sight of the Show was almost
worlh the Damage; for the red and blue Uniforms of the Army and
Navy Officers with their Orders on their Breasts, and their Cocked
Hats and Plumes in their Laps, and the Ladies of Quality in their
Silks and Satins of all manner of Colours, and their Hair crowned with
Ostrich Feathers, and sparkling with Pearls and Diamonds, did much
delight mc to behold. I do not remember that when I was a Boy, I
was ever more taken with a Pageant at Bartholomew Fair. Though
I wish I could have had as good a View of the Gentlefolks within the
Carriages as I had of the Lackeys outside, who, with their supercilious
Airs, and their Jackanapes Garb, did divert me more than ever. I do
continually marvel at the enormous Calves of those Varlets, for which
one might almost think they were reared, like a sort of Cattle. Indeed,
I should have believed that their Stockings were padded, if I had not

heir Noses, especially as most of them had Posies in their Bosoms;
whereas they looked'as though, instead, there were some unsavoury
Odour beneath their Nostrils. But much as the Servants re-
sembled Zanies and Harlequins, yet did some of their Masters
look not much better ; being dressed in a Court Suit, which me-
thinks do make a Gentleman seem a sort of embroidered Quaker
—I do greatlv wonder why the ugliest Apparel of any Period in English
History should be pitched upon for the Court Dress. But the splendid
Carriages painted with Coats of Arms, and the stately caparisoned
Horses, did make a rare Show; and among them what Sport to mark
the Hack Cabs that were not suffered to enter at the Palace Gate;
so the Fares had to alight and walk on Foot the rest of the Way to the
Drawing Room: and so into the Presence of Her. Majesty in dirty
Boots : which, now I bethink me, was not seemly; the rather as many
of them are Half Pav Officers, and other poor but loyal Subjects, who could
afford no better than a Cab. But good lack ! it did most t.ckle me to view
the Sheriff's Coach, which for magnificence did exceed the Fairy's Cha-

Been one of them wince when a Horse chanced to lay hold of his Leg. riot in the Opera-Play of Cinderella; and great Sport it was to hear and