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Biographical Memoirs of Eminent Persons* [APRIL, 



siderahle sums by some of his literary under- 

 takings the probability is, that he has left 

 a larger fortune than he inherited. Dr. K. 

 married many years ago ; but his match 

 was an unsuitable one, and a separation soon 

 ensued. His wife, by whom he had no family, 

 is still living. A natural son of the Doctor's, 

 who has been educated at college, and is now 

 about the age of one-and-twenty, will come 

 into possession of the bulk of his property. 



Dr. Kitchiner's love of music accompanied 

 him through life ; and, to the last, he played 

 and sang with considerable taste and feel- 

 ing. Though always an epicure fond of 

 experiments in cookery, and exceedingly par- 

 ticular in the choice of his viands, and in 

 their mode of preparation for the table he 

 was regular, and even abstemious in his 

 general habits. There were times, indeed, 

 when, according to his own statement, his 

 consumption of animal food was extraor- 

 dinary. The craving was not to be re- 

 pressed, nor easily to be satisfied. Lt had 

 nothing to do with the love of eating, ab- 

 stractedly considered, but was the result of 

 some organic and incurable disease. Dr. 

 Kitcbiner's hours of rising of eating of re- 

 tiring to rest were all regulated by sj stem. 

 He was accustomed to make a good break- 

 fast at eight or nine. His lunches, to which 

 only the favoured few had the privilege of 

 entree, were superb. They consisted of 

 potted meats of various kinds, fried fish, 

 savoury pat6s, rich liqueurs, <fec. <fec., in 

 great variety and abundance. Whatever 

 credit these piquant and luxurious repasts 

 might reflect upon his hospitality aad gastro- 

 nomic taste, we confess that, in our estima- 

 tion, they said little for his medical judgment, 

 or for his kindness towards the digestive 

 functions of his friends. His dinners, unless 

 when he had parties, were comparatively 

 plain and simple ; served in an orderly man- 

 ner cooked according to his own maxims 

 and placed upon the table, invariably, within 

 five minutes of the time announced. His 

 usual hour was five. His supper was served 

 at half-past nine ; and at eleven, he was 

 accustomed to retire. His public dinners, as 

 they may be termed, were things of more 

 pomp, and ceremony, and Etiquette. They 

 were announced by notes of preparation, 

 which could not fail of exciting the liveliest 

 sensations in the epigastric region of the 

 highly favoured invitte*. One of these notes 

 we have before us ; and, though it may have 

 been seen by some of our readers, it is a 

 curiosity in itself, and is well entitled to 

 preservation : 



Dear Sir The honour of your company 

 is requested, to dine with the Committee of 

 Taste, on Wednesday next, the JOth instant. 



" The specimens will be placed upon the 

 table fit five o'clock precisely, when the 

 business of the day will immediately com- 

 merce. i have the honour to be, your most 

 obedient servant, 



W. KITCHINER, SECRETARY." 

 August, 1625. 43, Barren-street, 

 Fitzroy-syuarc. 



" At the last general meeting, it was una- 

 nimously resolved, that 



" 1st. ' An invitation to ETA BETA PI, 

 must be answered in writing, as soon as pos- 

 sible after it is received within twenty-four 

 hours at latest,' reckoning from that on which 

 it is dated ; otherwise the secretary will 

 have the profound regret to feel that the 

 invitation has been definitely declined. 



" 2d. ' The Secretary having represented, 

 that the perfection of several of the prepara- 

 tions is so exquisitely evanescent, that the 

 delay of one minute after their arrival at the 

 meridian of concoction, will render them no 

 longer worthy of men of taste ; 



" Therefore, to ensure the punctual at- 

 tendance of those illustrious gastrophilists, 

 who on grand occasions are invited to join 

 this high tribunal of taste for their own 

 pleasure, and the benefit of their country it 

 is irrevocably resolved, ' That the janitor be 

 ordered not to admit any visitor, of whatever 

 eminence of appetite, after the hour which 

 the secretary shall have announced that the 

 specimens are ready.' By order of the Com- 

 mittee, 



" WILLIAM KITCHINER, Sec." 



Latterly, Dr. Kitchiner was in the habit 

 of having a small and select party to dine 

 with him, previously to his Tuesday evenings 

 conversazione. The last of these delightful 

 meetings was on the 20th of February. The 

 dinner was, as usual, announced at five 

 minutes after five. As the first three that 

 had been invited entered his drawing room, 

 he received them seated at his grand piano- 

 forte, and struck up " See the Conquering 

 Hero comes !'* accompanying the air, by 

 placing his feet on the pedals, with a peal 

 on the kettle drums beneath the instru- 

 ment. This, to be sure, was droll ; but, at 

 all events, it was harmless. 



For the regulation of the Tuesday even- 

 ings' conversazione alluded to, Dr. K. used 

 to fix a placard over his chimney-piece, in- 

 scribed : 



" At seven come 



At eleven go." 



It is said, that upon one of these occa- 

 sions, the facetious George Colman, on ob- 

 serving this admonition, availed himself of 

 an opportunity to add the pronoun IT, making 

 the last line run " at eleven go it !" At 

 these little social meetings, a signal for sup- 

 per was invariably given at half-past nine. 

 All who were not desirous of further re- 

 freshment would then retire ; and those 

 who remained descended to the parlour to 

 partake of friendly fare, according to the 

 season of the year. In summer a cold 

 joint, a lobster salad, and some little en- 

 tremets, usually formed the repast ; in win- 

 ter, some nicely cooked little hot dishes 

 were spread upon the board, with wines, 

 liqueurs, a variety of excellent ales, <tc. 

 As these parties were composed of the lite- 

 rati, and of professors and amateurs of all 

 the liberal arts, it will readily be imagined 

 that the mind as well as the body was abun- 



