244 Tacts towards a History of 



much depends on the capacity of the stomach. A very abste- 

 mious friend of mine, not long since, dined tete-a-tete with a 

 gentleman well known for his kindness and hospitality, and 

 not less so for his powers of bibulation. After dinner, at 

 which a fair share of many excellent wines was taken, Port 

 and Madeira were put on the table, and before the host, a 

 magnum of Claret. My friend drank his usual quantum, 

 three glasses of Madeira, during which time a great portion of 

 the magnuni had disappeared; and soon afterwards, being 

 emptied, the host said, " I think we can just manage a bottle 

 between us." The bottle was brought, and very shortly dis- 

 appeared, without the aid of the visiter. 



The same gentleman and Lord , at the Angel at 



Bury, fell in with some excellent Claret. They had disposed 

 of six bottles, when the landlord, who did not guess or guage 

 the quality of his customers (the bell being rung for a fresh 

 supply), begged very gently to hint that it was expensive stuff, 

 being fifteen shillings a bottle ! " Oh ! is it so ? then bring 

 up two bottles directly ! ■" 



We have nothing, however, in modern times, at all equal to 

 the account given of some of the ancients. The elder Cato, 

 we are told, warmed good principles with a considerable 

 quantity of good wine*. But Cicero's son exceeds all others; 

 so much so, that he got the name of Bicongius, because he 

 was accustomed to drink two congiif at a sitting. Pliny, and 

 others, abound in grand examples, that prove we have degene- 

 rated at any rate in this respect, for these convivial s were 

 neither sick nor sorry. Even that eminent debauchee, Nero, 

 was only three times sick in fourteen years. " Nam qui 

 luxurise immoderatissimse esset, ter omnino per xiv. annos 

 languit ; atque ita, ut neque vino, neque consuetudine reliqua 

 abstineret." — Sueton. de Nerone. 



The Abb^ de Voisenon, a very diminutive man, said to his 

 physician, who ordered him a quart of ptisan per hour, " Ah ! 

 my friend, how can you desire me to swallow a quart an hour ? 

 I hold only a pint." 



* Cato allowed his slaves, during the Saturnalia, four bottles of \Yine 

 per diem, 

 t Two congii are seven quarts, or eight bottles ! 



