THE MARGATE HOY. 489 



and to every thing which can happen. Behold here, a face struggling 

 to smile away the convulsive horror to which its owner is a prey. 



This latter is a miserable calico-skinned 'lusus' of Cheapside, who, 

 lately, was insultingly vociferous in jests, and cachinnatory grimaces 

 at the sufferings of both sexes. To two delicate and really respectable 

 females, his conduct was atrociously insulting. Dearly is he now re- 

 paid in the scoffs and resonant laughter of the by-standers, for the 

 wanton exhalation of that primitive cold-drawn oil of Cockney ism, 

 that incrassate vulgarity of his ' caste.' 



Who again is this prostrate in the ' lee scuppers/ the inverted 

 action of whose gastric organ has waged eruptive warfare with the by- 

 standers' boots and shoes, and the by-liers' general apparel ? It is he 

 who was lately pressing his suit so urgently in the fore part of the 

 vessel, with that simple blooming country girl, who has obtained a few 

 day's holiday from her service, to visit her friends in the neighbourhood 

 of Margate. 



It is a fresh importation from the British colonies of Boulogne 

 and Calais, whither he had emigrated to recruit his e physicals/ after 

 performing due quarantine in Farringdon-street. Should his stars 

 prove still propitious, he will shortly re-colonize to avoid a second 

 quarantine, after having duly ' exculpated' the pockets of his friends 

 and tradesmen. His appearance, as he now lies, does not, at least 

 justify the suspicion that he is a systematic debauchee ; how different 

 is the expression of his features, to what they were half an hour since, 

 when the viper-like treachery of his smile, and language, was exerted, 

 to allure and destroy the innocence of that vain unthinking girl, 

 Those despair-dashed lines of face, now offer a startling antithesis to 

 the former expression of profligate sensuality. ' Que fugit Venus/ 



And now Margate Pier came in view, seen distinctly over the ' weather 

 bow :' the breeze still freshened, and though any thing but fair, it 

 was the opinion of the captain that we should ' fetch' the pier in two 

 or three ' tacks/ 



New life and energy seemed to be given to the passengers, at the 

 thought and hopes of soon reaching land. Much of ordinary sea- 

 sickness is to be successfully combated by the exertion of great moral 

 energy, though, in the more aggravated cases, such appeal and exertion 

 are in vain. 



However, a great proportion of the company were now seen on 

 their legs, inquiring into the state of their luggage. Bottoms of bottles 

 were swilled off fragments of ' grub' either munched or thrown over- 

 board, according to the state of stomach of the party, silk handker- 

 chiefs and travelling caps taken off, and thrust into great coat pockets : 

 neck-cloths re-adjusted hats re-sumed and, not 'Marmion/ but 

 my 'portmanteau!' f where is my portmanteau ?' ' was the cry.' Each 

 person sought his own luggage, with that eager and greedy industry 

 so truly exhibitory of the most deformed and loathsome features of our 

 nature, heedless of the suffering or convenience of those around him. 



On these occasions of broad and hateful selfishness, which every one 

 must have noticed on the breaking up of a party on similar excursions, I 

 think the 'Bagman' has the art of illustrating a more cool and revolting 

 insolence, in ascertaining and securing his damnable 'bags' and other 

 branches of his travelling kit, than the members of any other ' equally 

 learned' professions can display 



