FEEDING TIME. 123 



venture to cherish a dream of certainty that, whilst 1 am your 

 chairman ; — I mean, gentlemen, that whilst each person, I address 

 is unanimously of one mind, that all the world cannot restrain 

 your honorable designs. Gentlemen, I really feel, from the 

 very bottom of my soul, that I am — (hem, hem) really, gentlemen, 

 my feelings overpower me ; (tremendous cheers) and, gentlemen, 

 I will do you the honour of drinking your very good health; — 

 (hem) that is, gentlemen, before I sit down, I will do myself the 

 honour of drinking your healths." (loud applause) 



When the wine and grog begin to tell, the natural philosopher 

 may commence making observations on the various phenomena 

 which present themselves, as the patients are progressing towards 

 the great crisis : they are comfortable, exhilarated, merry, chatty, 

 joyous, voluble, glorious, oratorical, vocal, valiant, top-heavy, 

 pugnacious, outrageous. The line of direction has a wonderful 

 propensity to fall without the base ; and each bacchanal has a 

 surprising notion that his neighbour's lap is the most convenient 

 place to rest in. Some few content themselves with a birth on 

 the floor ; till, after being walked on, tumbled over, and kicked 

 about, for half an hour, they crawl under the table; where their 

 melancholy moans and stentorious gruntings, are drowned for a 

 time by the uproar of such companions as are doing their best to 

 get into a similar condition. 



Order, of course, walks out as soon as the brandy and port get 

 in ; and those who would restore tranquillity contrive to make 

 five times more noise than all the rest of the assemblage : — 

 " Order, gentlemen." " Chair, chair." " Sit down, gentlemen." 

 '* Tell that long man, with the hole in his elbow, to take off his 

 hat." " Order, order, pray gentlemen order." " Be so good, sir, as 

 to stand down off the table." " Chair, chair." "O ! Ned, you 

 thief, you 've drunk my jug of grog, and filled it with water." 

 "Order, order." 



" Pray, Mr. Bullsnipe, what did you — (hiccough) mean by 

 saying that I so — (hie.) old my vote ? Sir, I ^11 have — (hie.) you 

 to know — (hie.) that I wants satisfac — (hie.) action." 



" I can assure you, my dear friend, that my observations 

 referred to you in your public and political capacity, solely.*^ 



" Did n't you, when you made your — (hie.) speech, say that 

 I was a traitor, and a scou — (hie.) oundrel ? " 



" Yes, but, my dear fellow, nothing personal was intended — 

 pray do n't strangle me — no personal offence was meant, I only 

 spoke on public grounds." 



