Punch: Punch (17.1849)

162

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

i/\NNlER| and Cvstoms of > Elnguyshe- in- 1849- W°. 32.

yAm^ie-avlts-at >'9 Docks SHowyng£ a paptye Tastynge.

Mr. Pips

Thursday, October 11, 1849.—To the Docks, to meet Mb. Sokeb, and
go over the Wine Yaults with a Tasting-Order, and taste the Wine
there before it hath undergone any Roguery for the Market. Found
there Sokeb, and Mb. Wagstaffe, and Swilby, and Swype, and 5 or 6
more, and with them Mb. Goodfellowe, who had gotten Sokes the
Order. First to the Quay, heaped witli Barrels of Wine, close as
Pebbles on a Beach, and one huge Barrel, they did tell me, holding 625
Gallons, and I wondering how it could have been hoisted ashore, Mb.
WagsTAFEE did say, by an Adjutant, or Gigantic Crane. Then, through
all Manner of Ca-ks and Tubs, and Bales of Merchandise, to St,
Katberine's Dock, and down to the Vault, where a Cooper forthwith
did wait on us wi h a Couple of Glasses, and gave each Man a flat Stick
with a Lamp at the farther End, to see our Way, and we looked like Goblins
with Torches in a Pantomime. The Vault almost quite dark.onlv lighted
by Sconces from the Roof, and the farthest Sconce looking Half-a-Mile
off, and all this Space full of Barrels of Wine! The Roof supported by
Rows of Columns ; and the Vault altogether like the Crypt of a Cathe-
dral, but 20 rimes as big, and more than 20 sweeter; the Air smelling of
Wine very strong, which alone did make me feel giddy. Strange to
see the Mildew hanging in all Sorts of Forms from the Roof, which
many do mistake for Cobwebs, but some call Fungus, and Db. Limbeck,
the Chymist, do tell me is mostly Nitrate of Lime. The Cooper did
lead us to the Wine we were to taste, and pretty to see him tap the
Barrel by boring a Hole in it with a Gimlet. We did drink, all round,

his Diary.

a good Ale-glass each of excellent Sherry, all except Mb. Gooi>-
fellowe ; and I did wonder to see him taste the Wine, and call it rare
good Stuff, and yet spit it out, but found by and by that he was
wise. Next, to the London Dock; and Mb. Goodfellowe did give
us Biscuit, and recommend us to eat, and I did take his Advice, and
glad I did. Here, more Curiosities in Mildew, hanging from the Roof;
and one a Festoon as big as the great Sausage in the Pork-Shop at the
Corner of Bow Street. A good Story from the Cooper, of a Visiter
that would needs take a Specimen of the Mildew away, and put it in
his Hat, and with the Moisture of his Head, it melted and blackened
his Face, and served him right, that—like more than enough Sight-
Seers—could not keep his Hands from Picking. To several Vaults,
and tasted Wine in each; all very vast, but the East Vault the biggest,
and do contain more thousand Pipes, and cover more Acres than I
doubt, by Reason of*the Wine I drunk, I can remember. After tasting
so much, our Party very jolly and noisy, and did begin to dance and
sing, and flourish their Lamps like Playhouse Devils ; and methought
I did see the Meaning of the Notice outside, that Ladies could not be
admitted after 1 o'Clock. Coming into the open Air, our Company
could scarcely stand ; and Mb. Goodfellowe did see them into two
Cabs, and I home on Foot—I fear not very straight—and my Wife
wondering at the Redness of my Nose. Good Lack, to see the Quantity of
Goods and Wine in t he Docks ; and to think what a great and mighty
Nation we are, and what Oceans of Liquor we do swill and guzzle!