30 Oyster-Day in London. QJAN. 



duals, who began to inquire eagerly about the quality and price of the 

 commodity of which they came in search. The appearance of one inte- 

 rested me. The expression of his countenance was mild and amiable, 

 with a certain quickness and intelligence in his eye. He wore powder, 

 and was extremely well dressed. The master of the shop attended upon 

 hjm, and addressed him as an old customer, at the same time honouring 

 him with the title of " Doctor." The doctor spoke to him in the lan- 

 guage of patronage. He inquired into the appearance of business, the 

 state of the market and then entered into a dissertation on the introduc- 

 tion of oysters, as an article of food the method of rearing and fatten- 

 ing the various sorts their peculiarities and their different modes of 

 preparation for the table. I wished I had met him in the morning he 

 would have saved me a world of anxiety and pain. My old idea of 

 becoming the Hume and Smollett of oysters began to return. My dis- 

 gust began sensibly to subside. I thought I had been hasty, and wished 

 of all things to make the doctor's acquaintance. " Mr. Crackclaw," said 

 he, " I believe this is the fifth fourth of August that I have eaten oysters 

 at your house ; and I must say, nowhere do I eat them in such perfec- 

 tion." Mr. Crackclaw bowed, and begged to know to what he could 

 have the honour of serving him, at the same time hinting that the doctor 

 looked fatigued. <{ Why, we have had some heavy business before us 

 to-day," returned the dignitary : " I have presided at the meeting of 

 our Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Some atrocious 

 cases one particularly barbarous : a monster of a butcher was convicted 

 in the fact of would you believe it ? of slaughtering lambs in the pre- 

 sence of each other ! Conceive, in a humane and civilized country, any- 

 thing so barbarous ! The poor victims were proved to have actually 

 trembled with horror at the sight of the frightful operation on their com- 

 panions, and to have offered the most violent resistance as each was 

 dragged forth in its turn. I think I never heard a more wanton and 

 aggravated case. The fellow had a good deal to say not a word of 

 which, of course, could we pay attention to. In consideration of his 

 having a character for industry, honesty, and for supporting a wife and 

 sixteen children creditably, I was satisfied with his being sent for two 

 months only to the tread-mill !" " Very kind of you, sir, to take care of 

 poor dumb animals," said the master of the shop. " In the cause of 

 humanity, Mr. Crackclaw," said this benevolent and sensitive gentle- 

 man, " I consider nothing too great a sacrifice. Put me down a couple 

 of dozen of your finest fish between the bars to roast." The order was 

 quickly executed ; and the hissing and spirting of these victims of huma- 

 nity were magnified in my mind into shrieks and groans. " Bless me !" 

 quoth the doctor, " those are fine, lively fish, indeed ! Some prefer 

 stewing their oysters ; in which case, Mr. Crackclaw, never allow your 

 liquor to boil ; and ever while you live, beard your fish/' " Beard your 

 grandmother !" cried a voice at his elbow, proceeding from a tall, thin 

 personage, with a mouth like an half-open oyster, who had just before 

 entered, and seated himself in the next box. The doctor had not time 

 to resent, or even express surprise at, this unceremonious remark ; for 

 the gentleman, without the slightest apology or hesitation, proceeded. 

 " Give me oysters in puris naiuralibus, as we say at Cambridge ; none of 

 your stews, or roasts, or kickshaws ; and as to bearding them, that be 



! Here, Crackclaw, send me up three dozen for a whet, and some 



bread and butter." 



